Seven people dinner, dead or alive

I've mixed it up, some people I want to have really good and serious conversations with but seem to still have a certain level of social awareness, and some who seem like fun but would still be willing to participate in a proper conversation. I've had Shopenhauer as my imaginary friend for a while now, I am certain he was full of dry humour that people don't seem to appreciate but that I see all over his writing. So he definitely gets to sit next to me. The rest are arranged in a manner that shakes up their comfort zone on one side and on the other they might be with someone they could have a good conversation with, possibly, when not participating in a general, table wide conversation. I've got Darren Criss on my other side because he seems like a fun person to hang out with, so provides a necessary easing up of the athmosphere while still being perfectly happy with engaging in serious conversations elsewhere.

1. Arthur Schopenhauer

2. Virginia Woolf

3. Coco Chanel

4. Natalie Portman

5. Jean-Paul Sartre

6. Kristen Stewart

7. Darren Criss

How would you arrange your dinner table?

Taylor Momsen doesn't shock me

Across the fashion world online I've been made aware of a cover that I would normally never even know exists, as I am sure most girls everyone seems so worried about wouldn't either (refer to roughly the 99% I outline below).

The argument is that she is only 17, having people wondering "where her parents are" and how any magazine could be OK with sending out a message like that to "young confused teenagers". The message being that wearing stripper heels, sheer tops and underwear with some guns is cool (and shouldn't be).

Now... um. Am I the only one not bothered by this? I'm a pacifist (considering some of the people I've seen being upset about this cover are not) but there are much younger girls handling guns in cinema left and right, and it's merely a role. And yes, I know that a role is different to having a girl being photographed as herself in guns.

Chloë Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl in Kick Ass

Natalie Portman in Leon the Professional as Mathilda

No, it's not a good message to send out to teenage girls, but it's not like she's the first one. As a teenager you take "inspiration" in what resonates with you. A cover more or less makes no difference, especially one on a magazine I didn't even know existed (sorry) and that I'm sure the MAJORITY of teenage girls don't either. I think people forget that any teenager who actually knows or would pick up that magazine would be resonating with that image already. Yes, it's reinforcing and that's "not good", but I do have to say growing up with these tough young female roles in popular culture and thinking they are mega cool didn't make me any less of a pacifist and I do think helped me be a the woman I am today. No, it's not hypocritical because there's a difference between reality and fantasy and guess what, even teenagers know that. We have to stop holding all teenagers accountable for the daftness of 1%.

On my way home yesterday I saw a poster that pointed out exactly what I keep thinking when I see a scandal such as the above being blown out of proportion. 99% of young people in London are making a positive and real contribution to London community.

I don't find Taylor Momsen's cover very cool or inspiring. I find it quite bland, actually (especially in comparison to these other two I've shown). And I think it's impact or importance would have been a hell of a lot less if so many hadn't been so close mindedly outraged by it and spread the image across the internet. You're just helping spread the message, in case you hadn't noticed. And by the way - young girls are much more likely to see the image ON YOUR BLOG (yes I'm talking to you fashion bloggers), than actually see the magazine itself. I don't mind having it on mine because I know only a certain type of teenager will actually like it, and that won't change with or without this one cover.

Lira Leirner is looking for a model

In lieu of finding models that represent what I am looking for with my fashion label I have started collecting images in order to have something to work with for my first big campaign. As you can see, Natalie Portman is my favourite. She has that smoldering but not overtly sexy look, is strong yet fragile, feminine but not overtly girly, caring, elegant, natural yet glamorous.

Emily Blunt and Liv Tylor are very much representative of the soft yet strong look that I like as well, and the other girls capture an essence of what I look for in the respective images. Please note there is a reason I chose those specific images and not others - they don't always look the same, none of us do, yet this is what I am looking for. That is why I have chosen to include images rather than just name certain people. This doesn't apply to the images of my friends as they are always beautiful (I'm lucky, I guess) and doesn't apply to Natalie Portman either - she nails it in pretty much every picture I've ever seen of her. I haven't written down the names after every picture because I know you all know who they are.

For this specific look I am also lucky enough to know some women personally who capture what I am looking for.

Emily from Fashion Foie Gras, Julie my friend from Munich

Kristin from The Clothes Whisperer

I have also sourced some images of models could work that are in a closer vicinity, namely some London based model agencies. The following images are all sourced form their respective websites.

Alona from from Sapphires Model Management


Bruna from Premier Model Management


Fernanda from Premier Model Management (uh, you wanna bet she's Brazilian?)


Lauren Elise from Nevs Model Agency


Zara Young from Nevs Model Agency

I'll be happy to hear of any contributions and suggestion you may have if you believe you've found an image, a person or even a model that might want to get involved with representing Lira Leirner and captures what I am looking for. The shoot is to take place in November and the style will aim to look similar to this image in terms of the photographic direction - mysterious glossiness with a natural beauty and strong expressions.

Disclaimer: This is a very picture heavy post which I have sourced from google under the name of the respective actresses and models and I was therefore not able to link up each one. If you see your image up here please let me know and I shall link it up. Thank you

Brighton on a G(r)ay day

The last time I went to a parade I was still a teenager who wore bright neon stretchmini skirts with sheer tops and platform boots. The Love Parade in Berlin was like having participated in a historical event, and being small did not bide well for any breathing needs until I jumped on one of the carriages and danced away up there in the mighty height.

It is now many years later and I have been invited to join my dear friends Sarah from Sarah Scribble an Mariana from Sketchbook Magazine to enjoy the Gay Pride Parade in Brighton.



Bearing witness to my parade naievety, I asked Mariana which heels she'll be wearing, prompting her to say: "Darling, I know making dresses is your thing but this is gay pride day... prepare for mud and bring flat shoes. Leave the Pradas. Besides, the spotlight will be robbed by tons of guys with massive boobs wearing feathers and 18 inch heels. One can't beat that."

She knows me well. I am wearing Prada (well, Miu Miu) and am also wearing Lira Leirner. However, I do think I am wearing appropriate gear... Hopefully.

Red Miu Miu pointed kitten heel wellies
Calvin Klein tights
Blue Zara jeans shorts
Red and white check customized Modern Toss "Buy more shit or we're all fucked" cotton shirt
Black roubd Proenza Shouler sunglasses
Red cotton Old Navy jacket
Yellow kid leather Stuart Bannocks badge
Black Yorkshire Pearl bracelet
Red Le Pliage Longchamp 1990 bag
Red rubber script necklace from a Brazilian designer boutique

And in the bag, just in case, I ticked these necessities:
- An extra red and white striped navy Bona shirt in case I get wet/ sweaty
- A red and white striped cashmere Royal Cashmere jumper in case I get cold
- A red lambswool Enrico Coveri scarf for the way home when it gets even colder
- A case for the Yorkshire Pearl bracelet in case I deem in too wild/ dangerous to be wearing it
- Hand wipes to stay clean after eating outside, which will inevitably happen, I'm sure
- Some funky 2010 sunglasses

All kitted out I am now on my way to bright Brighton but lo and behold, there are black clouds on the horizon. Begone, clouds!! If only weather wishes came true...

I met a funky couple on the train who fell in love with my Proenza Shouler sunglasses. And believe it or not, the guy cited my favourite movie as a reason!

What he had actually done was point out something that should have been very clear to me but wasn't. Ha pointed out that the liking of those big round glasses came from one of my favourite movies of all time starring two of my favourite actors (Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman), which I watched when I was about her age in the film. No wonder I love these sunglasses, the mind feeds the brain with nostalgia in mysterious ways.

Natalie Portman in Leon the Professional, with Jean Reno wearing the coveted sunglasses

Did anyone else just notice that Natalie Portman's name is included in my blog name? Hmm weird coincidence.

You can always see a happy Portmanteau when there's ice cream and sea in abundance, no matter how gray the clouds.

Twitter before lunch - the waitress hated me. As many of them do, and I don't blame them. Even Mariana was shocked at my picky eating habits. Apologies. And then we were off to explore Brighton and its quirky corners, filled with seaside theme, amusement and sexual innuendos.

Totally looks like London except from the steep and winding roads

I'm not sure you could find a road name like that anywhere else except maybe Las Vagas - and even there it wouldn't be represented in such a wholesome, suburban and antique way.

What a beautiful sign. It does have the word "balls" in it, excuse my dirty mind. I am in Brighton after all

This is the kind of merchandise you come across. I would have been traumatized as a child if that's what I could find in every corner shop when being sent out to get some milk...

Hotel and Restaurant opportunity

The gray seaside

Rocking it! And spending unnecessary wea£th along the way

Thank you for a great day, Mariana! England must be the only place in the world where a parade starts in the morning and finishes before lunch (aka tea) time.