Comics

I grew up with a love for reading. When I was a kid I devoured Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, The Babysitters's Club, Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables and any book my mom gave me.

But I was especially fond of comic books. My favourites were Archie, Calvin and Hobbes, Tintin and Asterix. I would just read them for hours and hours and I fell in love with all the characters.

When I was a teenager and through most of my early twenties, I forgot about comic books for a while until I discovered the graphic novel; Fables, Watchmen, Batman, Y: The Last Man are just a few of the ones I am currently obsessed with.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the women in these stories; how they are represented, what they mean to me personally and how their clothes reflect women in general. I guess I've been thinking about it because I am considering getting a tattoo of James Jean's Sally Jupiter (from Watchmen.)


In Watchmen, Sally Jupiter is a strong, kick-ass babe who loves fighting crime and making sure her hair is set juuuust right. In her heyday, she goes through many challenges, including surviving a sexual attack, but she still manages to keep on fighting. Her costume is a deliberate tease; fashioned to fool criminals (and men) into thinking she is a diminutive sex kitten.

But it's also a deliberate statement that says she is in control, she is liberated and she is sexually free and in charge. She can be sexy and still catch the bad guys.

The portrayal of women in comic books (especially how they are dressed) has always fascinated me, if even it's subconsciously. The clothes are usually skin tight and revealing, and you would think that Cat Woman would have a hell of a time fighting crime in a leather bodysuit.

The clothes always seemed to restrict the women; just as women in real life have historically been oppressed by their corsets, their high heels, their tight jeans.

And sure, sex sells. Men make up a large comic book readership but I feel that women are gaining on them. And although the women in comic books still wear titillating clothes, their personalities and actions make the clothes stand as a symbol of female power; they are taking back their sexuality once owned by men and making it their own and controlling it.

And that is definitely something I can root for.

Here are some other favourite comic book characters and their amazing outfits.

Cinderella- Fables


Wonder Woman

Bat Girl

Cat Woman
Dark Phoenix

In an artsy mood

Even though I haven't moved out yet, and haven't even picked out an apartment, I am planning the art that's going up on the walls.

I've become obsessed with comic books the last couple of months; graphic novels like Fables, Y: The Last Man, V for Vendetta, Batman and Watchmen have captured my imagination.

But Fables, specifically their covers, have really caught my attention. Artist James Jean draws fantastically beautiful art for the cover of Fables. You may recognize his name because he drew the haunting nymph/fairies from the Prada S/S 08 collection.
His drawings evoke feelings of pleasure, fantasy and danger.

Look at these:




While many comic book covers are very straight-forward and cartoonish; Jean's covers are intelligent and thought-provoking; you have to look closely to see all the details and the full story.

These are some of my favourite which I plan on putting up in my future apartment:

This is probably my favourite cover. I love the soft colours combined with Cinderella's sex appeal and her fatalness. It's just a sexy drawing.

My second favourite cover is called "Suffer Not." The drawing shoes Hansel (of Hansel and Gretel fame) drowning two so-called witches. The image is so powerful to me because it is frightning. It makes me uncomfortable to look at because it is at once a beautiful drawing but it depicts murder. I love that.

A noose, a flying monkey and a soldier's helmet. What's going on in this drawing? If you've read the story you would know, but on its own, it's a mystery. I like the sense of lonliness and isolation I get when I look at it.

I just really like the wolf in this picture. It's a bit Asian in the drawing with the long, curvy brushstrokes and the green eyes.

Kick ass women in revealing dresses trying to kill each other? What's not to love?

I am a huge fan of Scheherazade's One Thousand and One Nights, so this genie drawing really excites me because it evokes all of those ancient stories of Aladin and his magic lamp.


Since I'm a huge Watchmen fan, I was so excited when I learned that Jean painted a portrait of Sally Jupiter that was used in the movie (it can be seen in the Comedian's room.)

I was even more excited when I learned that I could buy a print replica of it. And so I did. Along with a beautiful alien-like Christmas print.

Here they are:

It's done in the 50's pin-up girl style. You can buy it here.


I'm attracted to this drawing because there are many elements which I love about it. First of all, it's about Christmas which is my favourite time of the year, and secondly, it has weird alien-like beings in it. That combimation makes it awesome. You can buy it here.

Anyways I'm really excited to frame them and hang them up. Once I get that apartment of course.

Fan Expo 2008 aka the highlight of my life because I met Edward James Olmos

Me and Rorschach!

So today I can die a happy woman because I met Edward James Olmos (Bill Adama from Battlestar Galactica) and Brent Spiner (Data from Star Trek) at the Fan Expo in Toronto.
I attended three celebrity question and answer periods featuring Spiner, Olmos along with Aaron Douglas (Chief from Battlestar Galactica) and finally Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings.) It was beyond cool seeing my favorite TV and movie actors in person. I got to sit right up at the front with my borrowed press pass and took lots of photos. Brent even gave my friend props!
The great thing about these actors is that they are so personable and approachable and are really grateful to be there and truly love their fans.
After the Q&As I went to the autograph line to meet Olmos, and while I couldn't afford $60 for an autograph we did chat for a few minutes and he almost cried when we talked about the end of the series which made me almost cry.
Anyways, I took a bunch of photos of the people dressed up as their favorite animé/sci-fi/comic book/horror hero. Some of the pics (like one of me with Rorscharch) are on another camera so I'll be posting those later. The amount of time these people must have taken to put together their costumes is incredible because they were so detailed and true to the character.
(Photos copyright Chloe Tejada)


And even though this isn't fashion related, a couple of pics of my heroes for anyone who is interested:

Edward James Olmos

Aaron Douglas

Brent Spiner

Sean Astin



Update: Here's a video of Olmos speaking at the Fan Expo Q&A:

Entering Geekhood...T-shirts I would kill to have

When I was at the Fan Expo yesterday there were tons of really cool geeky shirts with Battlestar Galactica logos, Batgirl, Sesame Street, Watchmen, you name it. Unfortunately every shirt I liked only game in XL and even XXXL. I asked one of the vendors why there was nothing less that a Large size and he said he didn't know, but whoever ordered the shirts never thought to order smaller sizes. As if girls don't buy geeky shirts! I would say at least half of the people at the convention were women and judging by all the spandex, micro minis and midriff baring tees, these women weren't extra large.
I have to resort to buying the tees online but at least I get a discount since I wasn't able to find my size there.
Here are the shirts I desperately want to wear:

Rorschach from Watchmen Ok this one wasn't actually at the Expo but I wish it was. Found it on EBay.

Batgirl
She's a sexy vixen. You can buy it through mtctoys.com

Cookie Monster


I love his googly crazy eyes when he eats those cookies. Mmmm. Cookies. Buy it through stylinonline.com

Family Guy

If you've seen the episode where Peter fights the chicken then you will find this hilarious.
Buy it through stylinonline.com

Family Guy
Herbert is a sick old pedophile but I love him. Buy it through stylinonline.com

Batman
I used to watch the old show with Adam West as Batman with my Dad and I loved it. BTW- Adam West as the mayor on Family Guy makes me laugh my guts out. "Adam Weeee? Who the Hell is Adam Weee?" Buy it through stylinonline.com

Battlestar Galactica


Because Kara and Lee should be together forever. Even if it's just on this shirt. Buy it through stylinonline.com


Battlestar Galactica
Cylons are hot and they will kill you. Buy it through stylinonline.com

Quick update: Fan expo!

Yesterday I went downtown to the Fan Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The costumes were beyond crazy cool and I got the chance to take a few pics. I'll be going again tomorrow so I'll post all the pics when I get back. There was a very authentic-looking Rorschach from the graphic novel, Watchmen, a couple of bad guys from Resident Evil, lots of Trekkies and even more animé characters milling about. I picked up "The Killing Joke" and I hope I can get it signed by the artist, Brian Bolland. Star Trek's Data (Brent Spiner) was there signing autograph for a massive lineup of fans. Battlestar Galactica's Edward James Olmos (Bill Adama) was also there (charging $60 for an autograph!) as was BSG's Chief (Aaron Douglas.)
But the costumes was what really made the event a real spectacle. Every step I took I would point and shout with glee at a person dressed as a character I love.
Tomorrow I'm going to sit in on the Q&As with Spiner, Olmos and Lord of the Rings's Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee.) Hopefully I can score a couple of autographs without shelling out my bag budget.
I can't wait to show you guys the pics!

Ever wondered what it's like to be a costume designer?

Michael Wilkinson is the costume designer for the new movie Watchmen which looks freaking amazing. The movie is based on the graphic novel which explores the meaning of what it means to be a "super hero," the end of the world and the deteriorating morals of mankind.
The video clip shows costume sketches, the warehouse that holds all of the clothes, the research, the decisions on how they chose the fabrics and colours and tons of behind-the-scenes set action.

An excuse to post the Watchmen trailer

While watching the trailers before The Dark Knight (I love Heath Ledger btw,) one trailer blew my mind and almost overshadowed the movie. Actually not really true because I loved the movie and everything else pales in comparison; but the trailer is definitely one of the best I've ever seen.
Watchmen is a movie based on a graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and is considered one of the best ever written. Ever! If you go to a bookstore and ask the employees what they recommend for a beginner, they will always say Watchmen.
Here is the Wikipedia description of the novel:

Watchmen is set in 1985, in an alternative history United States where costumed adventurers are real and the country is edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union (the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight). It tells the story of a group of past and present superheroes and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own. Watchmen depicts superheroes as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neuroses and failings, and who—with one notable exception—lack anything recognizable as super powers. Watchmen's deconstruction of the conventional superhero archetype, combined with its innovative adaptation of cinematic techniques and heavy use of symbolism, multi-layered dialogue, and metafiction, has influenced both comics and film.

Sounds like it could be an amazing movie eh? You bet your comic-movie-loving ass it could!



When I saw the trailer, I actually forgot about my Dark Knight/Heath excitement for a minute. That's how good it is. The Smashing Pumpkins song "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning" thumps its way through a visual orgy of tortured, mutilated heroes; sexy women walking through fire, murder and amazing special effects that will kick 300's ass.

And because I really believe that this graphic novel will change your life, buy it here.

But this is a fashion blog, not a pop culture blog so I must mention the costumes!
There aren't that many photos up yet so I grabbed the few available.

This is Nite Owl. He sort of has a Batman feel going on with the hood but this costume is less chesty and more rough and even spiritual with the symbols across the chest.

This is Ozymandia. I love the Eye of Horus on his belt; possibly it's there to symbolize protection. The whole outfit reminds me of some powerful God, with the muscular legs popping out and the gold-plated shoulders.
Rorschach's costume is literally an Rorschach ink blot on his mask. The ink blot test was used to examine personality traits and although I don't know much about this character, it is interesting to see his face and therefore personality hidden behind this psychological test. Wonder what it means?

I like how The Comedian has this massive shotgun and is being all bad ass but wears this tiny little "Robin" mask.

And finally the hot superhero! It looks as if The Silk Spectre wears nothing but thigh-high leather boots and gloves but she is actually wearing a costume behind the hair folks! The costume (watch the trailer) doesn't really leave anything to the imagination but it is erotic in a powerful way.