mothers over everything...

happy mother's day, lovelies...hope you had a great sunday.  i did!
besos jenna pearle*

video voyeur- madonna's bedtime stories

since i haven't given you a video voyeur fix in a few weeks, i decided on a double feature today to make up for lost time.  the artist is the mega icon madonna ciccone.  both of these videos are during a softer, curvier and calmer point in her life.  she ran back and forth between the classy and durrty looks.  besides the classic eighties hits, this bedtime stories album had some of my absolute favorite madonna songs.  here are two cuts i especially enjoyed: 'secret' and 'take a bow.'  and talk about some beautiful visuals!!!  clear and breathtaking, madonna videos could do no wrong whether it be black and white or color. 
bullfighting in spain, veils, red lips, forbidden passion...you know all of these elements are right up my alley ('take a bow').  and as for 'secret', voluptuous curves, nose rings, retro hood shots, fur coats and platinum blonde coifs and seedy lounges...whats not to love?!  keep in mind, this is around the time rumors of a pregnant madonna began to swarm.  is she or isn't she?  she wasn't but classic madonna couldn't help but feed the flames (hence the end of the video).  anyhow, both videos were madge at her finest.  if i had to choose one more video from that era and album, it would be 'human nature' where madonna donned a dominatrix suit and cornrows and proceeded to break out of the boxes society kept trying to put her in.  ahhh!  the good ol' days...................................besos jenna pearle*

ps.  did you notice the artwork in the passionista power collage up top?

madonna motif

madonna has often been called a style chameleon but i vehemently disagree. chameleons change, blending into their environment. while there is no denying madonna louise ciccone knows how to make a change, her bold choices rarely ever reflect whats happening around her. on the contrary, we (the environment) follow her blindly.

i don't have enough time or space to really disect the many motifs madonna has given us. that said, i can't help but discuss some of my favorites with you. of course, we recall how it all began*. the punky, pop temptress with the dance background. we met madonna decked in lacey fingerless gloves, rubber and spiked jewelry, two (maybe three) toned hair and a mischievous attitude.

and do you remember the Papa Don't Preach', 'Cherish' cutesie look? Or, should i refer to it as the True Blue stage? there wasn't much to dislike with this short, blonde sweet maddy. soon, we were introduced to the italian-american stunner in ' like a prayer' ... this was my first opportunity to see m.c stripped of all the armor. it was just madge as a brunette in a simple dress and make-up.

things took a turn for the odd during the erotica time period and i must admit, i lost interest. forgive me, i was twelve. i did enjoy the Deeper seventies vibe but the sex book just wasn't for me. (check debi mazar in the deeper video)

i made my way back to madge during the "secrets" era. ms. ciccone had gained perspective, weight and feminity (well, a softer femininity). think back to the video with the spanish bullfighter. the vail, the tailored suit, the architecture, the colors (esp. the crimson lips)...gorgeous!!!! it was madonna who needed to "take a bow."

madonna would make her way down the earthy, mystical kaballah phase, making a few stops on the urban cowboy, female pimpstress and English lady train.

it would be nearly impossible to contest the influence madonna has had on the pop culture world. tweens can thank their lucky stars (silly pun intended) ms. madonna and her look-alike heir to the throne, lourdes have created a line of clothing based on their own eclectic style. its very 80's madonna but so cute. now you don't have to take the time to cook up your own personal, creative style. you can just pick up their instant version at your nearby macy's. voila!

xoxo jenna pearle*

icons of style

twiggy, bianca jagger, gabrielle "coco" chanel, sofia coppola, rachel zoe, carrie bradshaw, grace jones, brigitte bardot ect...this book is filled with the faces who shaped fashion. its a must for anyone interested in style icons or at the very least strong women.

xoxo jenna pearle*

ps. the author is simone werle

men i'm in the mood for...jesus luz

if found, please call 1-800-MAD-ONNA

xoxo jenna pearle*

80s baby

what i remember about my 80's childhood fashion:

acid wash jeans*sweater dresses* charm bracelets* stopwatches* la gear* travel foxes* spandex* adidas sweat suit* scrunchies* banana clips* crimping iron* leg warmers* jellies* pearls* coca cola clothes* door knocker earrings* multi-colored plastic earrings* leggings* shoulder pads* accessories galore

music icons:

prince, michael jackson, madonna, janet jackson, cindy lauper, phil collins, janet jackson, anita baker, whitney houston, george michael, jody watley, salt n pepa, culture club

favorite toys:

handheld video games, perfection, cabbage patch kids, get in shape girl, super mario bros./ mike tyson's punchout bubble bobble, Qbert, pacman, my first white boombox with purple and pink buttons...

update coming soon for favorite 80s movies

ur favorite 80s baby, jenna pearle*

mama knows best...link up

http://momstyleicons.blogspot.com/

i'm pretty lucky. both of my parents are extremely stylish. it would be basically impossible not to have that passion for fashion in my blood. today, however, i will focus on my mom. i am not being biased when i say, my mom is/was a fox! gorgeous! i've seen the pictures of her in her minis, hot pants and go-go boots (despite the comfortable, Carribean weather) before my time. i can clearly recall observing her during my childhood (eighties baby), doing the wall street shuffle in power skirt suits, beautiful dresses and pretty coats. my mom was a chameleon, winning the reinvention war with madonna (i had no idea what her hair color or length was). she had all the eighties dresses, jumpsuits and colored jeans one could ever imagine. what could be better than that, you ask?! her taking just as much effort to transform me into a style mini maven, as well. yes, i ,too, had the best sweater dresses, skirt suits, denim skirts, bubble gum jeans, pearls and colorful pocketbooks in the whole of p.s whatever it was. and this was brooklyn, so thats saying something. so thank you, mom, for impeccable taste (even if ours is not identical).

speaking of stylish moms, there is a blog dedicated to this exact homage. its called My Mom, The Style Icon and is run by the fabulous Piper Weiss. the concept is people with hot moms send photos of their subjects in their heyday (in one of her finest outfits, of course) and Weiss will publish it. absolutely love it!!! not only does it make you smile, it can also give you some tips on what it takes to be a hot mama. so, check it out: http://momstyleicons.blogspot.com/

i guarantee that (unless you're made of concrete) this blog will make you smile. and, hey, why not participate and send in a pic of your favorite fashion icon/mom?

hugs n kisses from the daughter of a diva, jenna pearle

it don't matter if its black & white-madonna ed.

i love black and white photography. so i got a brilliant idea! (wonder if you know where this is going) why not feature a black and white beautiful pic every week? no one objected and so here we are. first up...madonna (said in a chi chi poo poo french accent, of course) take it all in!

pic is from suicide blonde on tumblr

and taken by steven meisel