Marilyn

Marilyn Monroe's face is never far from our minds but having recently seen My Week With Marilyn I have been thinking about her more. Hers is the face I think of when I imagine a beautiful, feminine woman. The film also made me realise that she as stylish too, she wore quite simple, classic clothes in colours that worked for her most of the time and when she dressed up, she really dressed up.

There are probably women who were or are technically more naturally beautiful, more quirky certainly, who perhaps have or had higher IQs and certainly who were happier but she was truly beautiful and her enigma and star quality are unquestionable, even after so many decades. She had a grace and a uniqueness that I know I don't and won't have.

But we can all try to be our best- as Marilyn did- she wasn't an advocate or bed hair or the no make up look. This Emerald Street article about Marilyn Monroe's beauty secrets is so interesting- it shows that even someone who really didn't have to try did everything she could to look her best. I am going to try and highlight my face just like Norma- Jean to see if I can capture a whisper of her vivacity. I might also dab on some Chanel No 5 in her honour.


Image from from the blog Kiss and Make- Up.

What perfume would they wear? Lisbeth Salander

Lisbeth Salander is a modern hero and one of most brilliantly written characters to emerge in this or any decade. If you haven't read the books in the Millennium trilogy or seen the brilliant Swedish language films then do. The stories are gritty yes, hard yes but also totally consuming- and at once modern and timeless. I haven't seen the new English language film made by David Fincher but he seems the perfect choice- though Noomi Rapace is Lisbeth for me.

I asked the question on twitter of what perfume Lisbeth might wear. Okay she isn't perhaps the first women you think of when you wonder about how they smell- and as one person said of cigarettes is pretty likely. She is such a real character though that I think she would wear a scent of some kind- perhaps not a terribly conventional one. I have suggested Bvlgari black for her and Penhaligon's Sartorial was also suggested by @SalwaAzar and I can see that.

So what do you think, what fragrance would Lisbeth Salander wear?