A fool's paradise is a wise man's hell!

A fool's paradise is based on false hope, and trust me that is the worst kind of hope there is! I know I am the mistress of belief in Pandora's Box, sometimes the hope that tomorrow will be a better is all we have. I spent along time chanting that mantra over the last few years personally and professionally.

Fortunately it hasn't been a fool's paradise, but we did have moments of hell on earth. Still that's what builds a team ;)

It has been a long time since my efforts at work have felt so appreciated; it was nice to be able to stand my team down early Wednesday afternoon and tell them all to go home and sleep and that I would see them all at 13:00 today. I've worked places where the attitude is : Finish the project. We will buy you a new family! 

Profanity is the one language all programmers know best.

Programmer /n./ 

A red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects

So it's a wise woman's paradise today, a moment when my mind can rest with a well deserved lie in. It is that pause before you shout "NEXT!" and get your keyboard at the ready! Bring it on! It is a precious short lived moment when you get to enjoy what you delivered, after all in IT you are only as good as your last delivery, and I get my next krypton factor challenge this afternoon.

Dress: Paradise by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Mary Janes by Bordello

I've never been to me

Isotopes and dating

1940 Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14. It's existence had been hypotehesised in 1934. There are 3 naturally occurring isotopes of carbon  on Earth, Carbon-12 which comprises approximately 99% of Carbon, followed by Carbon-13 which accounts for the majority of the remaining 1% with Carbon-14 occurring in trace amounts.

Carbon-14 decays in Nitrogen-14 and it is this process that is used for radio carbon dating, it can determine the approximate age of organic carbon based substances up to an age of 60,000 years.

Carbon is amazing stuff, we are made of it. In fact in the first Star Trek movie, humanoid life is referred to by V'Ger as "carbon units". Carbon sharing the same valence pattern as Silicon (which we base computers on). If there were no carbon, then there would be no life, no lead in your pencil (as in graphite) and no diamonds!

LOL I did Genetics and Biochemistry before I wandered into computer programming! Science will always be my first love.

When I have a moment of feeling under pressure and have that moment of you know what, it would be easier to walk away from this. I remind myself that a diamond is a lump of coal that just stuck to it's job!

So what better way to celebrate, dating, diamonds and a bit of lead in your pencil that the Vivien of Holloway stunning black halterneck sarong dress. I love this dress, it starts off particularly well with a halterneck. I think these are very flattering to your shoulders and allow you to make the most of your back. The sweetheart neckline is a timeless classic that draws attention to the decollete and bust. The sarong wrap cascades beautifully down the pencil skirt drawing your eye and it is beautifully fitted over your derriere. The matching bolero is just lovely.

Dress: Sarong Dress in Black by Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Kurt Geiger



Rihanna - Diamonds

Shirley Bassey - Diamonds are forever

Once the genie has escaped

Today in 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the Island of Elba. He then began his second conquest of France, which culminated in the Battle of Waterloo. In 1952 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed an atomic bomb.

The Battle of Waterloo and the end of the Napoleonic war kick started the industrial revolution. Britain 1815-1851, a time when the north was a powerhouse and Manchester was called Cottonopolis. I live near where the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals join. The advances in technology and transport were revolutionary and shape how we live today. 

The problem with technology is once you have invented it you can't put the genie back in the bottle. It is out and you have to deal with it and all it's unintended consequences. I remember The Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Checkpoint Charlie. Nuclear capability, rogue states and weapon proliferation isn't going to go away.  

So today I wanted something that would tie these themes together so I chosen Captain in Navy. I love this style of dress. I live the collar, and the piping it is very flattering and the buttons make it very smart. A tailored fitted pencil skirt makes the most of your curves and legs. It can be worn with or without a belt. This is one of my no brainer dresses which given that my brain feels like a zombie PC on a bot net, is just what I need. 

Dress: Captain in Navy by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: White Mary Janes by Bordello

The cherries of immortality

Cherries can symbolize fertility, merrymaking, and festivity. In Japan, where cherry blossoms are the national flower, cherries represent beauty, courtesy, and modesty. The ancient Chinese regarded the fruit as a symbol of immortality. One Chinese legend tells of the goddess Xi Wang Mu, in whose garden the cherries of immortality ripen every thousand years.

I adore cherries, when I was little before I had my ears pierced I would get the "double cherries" and hang them over my ears pretending they were earrings. Seriously though cherries and dark chocolate? I'm sold LOL

I wanted to wear something fun again today, we are all tired at work and we are on the last straight so it is about keeping going. Circles skirts make me smile because you look like a spinning top when you twirl and spin round in them and a cherry print just makes people smile. I will team it with a bolero for work.

I really do like the cut of the Bernie Dexter halterneck dresses and the prints are beautiful too, I like the sweetheart neckline it is pretty and feminine and when teamed with a halterneck it is monkey fashion heaven!

Dress: Belle in Cherry Print by Bernie Dexter

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Cherry Pie

Cartoon are good but Manga is better

I needed to make myself smile this morning as I am back in the office again today, it has been a hard slog but worth it. I have decided that I am going to treat myself this evenign with some good old fashioned Manga! I love the Japanese cartoons, they take me back to university and the early days of dating my husband. I knew he fancied me when he got me the Akira limited edition box set in Japanese with subtitles.

 

I am going to partake in Akira and Fist of the North star, and possibly a bit of ghost in the shell or appleseed. We used to do Mnaga and Disney nights on a Friday at university when they had Manga on chaneel 4 at 2am in the morning. I loved the theme tune by celtic frost, you had to play spot the movie and when the clips changed you had to say the film it was from, I was unbeatable.

 

The obsession with Mnaga started at an early age it was " Force Battle of the Planets" and "Ulyssess 31" that did it. They were unbelievealby cool and how could you not like the phoenix?

 

Today's dress is called "Home sewing made easy" and it is a cartoon number by Folter, when it comes to easy home sewing "Grandma" is the best! She rocks (this is mini Marv's Grandma) she has just finished altering 4 dresses and a suit for me! How exciting :)

 

Dress: Home sewing made easy Folter

Shoes: Aldo

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Manga Trailer

 

 

I think the red head in the sailor outfit had a more profound effect on me than you would think! She kicked ass though.

Seeing spots, or joining up the dots?

Well I am definately seeing spots this week, and in terms up integrating systesm we have definately joined up the dots! I've been in work today getting ready for Monday when we throw the switch. Fortunately this isn't in the vein of Wednesday Addam's we won't be playing "Is there a god?".....If there is I hope they have root access.

To cheer myself up I have gone for curly bouncy hair and my "smartie" halterneck, because lord knows today I need to be smart in the clever sense. My boss has been a star and has kept the caffeine and chocolate flowing. It is a good job that I am starting to go to the gym with Ais next wewk. I'll be a fat code monkey and then I will fall outof the tree! Not good.

 

Still cracking puzzle!!

Top: Multi- colour polka dot halterneck by Vivien of Holloway

Capri pants: Dangerous Curves by Deadly Dames

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

 

Biscuit tin buffer overflow!

It has been a long week at the office, we've been getting in early and staying late. I've been battling with a CRM system for a new product campaign, not to mention getting the product tested and finished! The tech team has been going all guns, our boss asked what he could do and we jokingly said biscuits and hot chocolate :) 

As Ais later said, We've got a biscuit tin capacity issue, it's critical! The only way to avert disaster is to eat some now! I was stressing forcing an execution point in a binary on a live server at the time.......I was somewhat preoccupied, but still capable of reminding everyone that each biscuit was 80 calories. 

Anyway he also bought the word largest jar of options hot chocolate! How happy am I? I am going to enjoy that today, with my Crunchie and The Cure. Not the entire jar! It has been a hard slog at work, with really very long days. The coffee flask hath been running dry! The outrage. It's not good when two litres doesn't get you through the day. Ahh programmers - machines that convert caffeine into code.

I wanted something smart, stylish but relaxing for Friday, so I chose for my rolled collar V neck top with 3/4 length dolmen sleeves that are flattering to your arms, teamed with capri pants. 

Top: Rock Steady

Capri Pants: Dangerous Curves by Deadly Dames at Pin up Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Shaking it Like a Polaroid Picture! With Wanda and Raileen

1947 - Edwin Land demonstrated the Polaroid Land Camera to the Optical Society of America in New York City. It was the first camera to take, develop and print a picture on photo paper all in about 60 seconds. The photos were black and white. The camera went on sale the following year. Another step towards "instant sharing images" and a milestone on the way to the technology advances that allow this blog. 

In honour of the "Polaroid" I have stayed with the 1940s style and opted for a dress called Raileen, I think this is a very demure dress. Timeless, classic, the ultimate in glamour and allure, the dark navy midnight blue colour is just the perfect shade for my colouring. It features a round neckline trimmed with a delicate ivory lace which adds just the right touch of flirty, femininity. Raileen has a quarter length sleeve also trimmed in lace for added coverage. It has a fitted bodice with a slight flared skirt cut right below the knees. This dress is form fitting throughout, without ever compromising on class or style.

This is the kind of dress I would wear to eat Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop cafe. Here's "To Wanda!". That is one good film.

One thing I will never do is settle for second best, I could never be Evelyn Couch at the beginning of the film, in fact Ed would have been out on his arse years before (actually I would have never settled for Ed in the first place) As I am always saying it is better to be on your own for the right reasons than be with someone for the wrong ones. Don't ever stay with people who take you for granted or from habit, if they don't treat you right and value others more then flush the handle and move on! It is their loss, trust me :) Ruth's husband learned that the hard way, and it cost him very dearly - his wife, his son and in the end his very life. 

Dress: Raileen by Stop Staring!

Shoes: From the copious collection of Marvellous Marv in honour of the shoe goddess Bernice

Hey Ya - Outkast

 

I love this song - and it still amuses me that Polaroid had to respond to it's popularity by putting a message on the Home Page of their website saying "Don't shake your polaroids before they are developed".........Love it! - plus when it comes to shaking it, bellydancers have a distinct advantage!

Merv V Madam Undersecretary Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge

Marv says it's the Battle for Hogwart's dress where the dogs and I take on the Crazy pink cat lady AKA Dolores Umbridge. The truly unpleasant thing about her is that she actually seems to believe that she is doing the right thing, despite her actions being abusive and morally wrong. 

 

She is the epitome of the "Do Gooder" and if there is one thing I have little tolerance for it is the self righteous who hide behind laws, god or institutions to bully and degrade and abuse people in the name of what they deem is "right". I wouldn't be me if I wasn't taking on the world (+ their cats) looking fabulous whilst I am winning.  

Beverley is made from beautiful material, it  has a wonderful vibrant mint green backing and then in a cross hatched or waffle design, there are flecks of coloured wool giving it a boucle look. It has lots of texture and dimension. The dress didn't come with a belt so I originally teamed it with the green one from Joannie but Marv was on the ball and came up with the idea of layering belts! I think it looks fantastic.

Dress: Beverly by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Disturbia: Land of Confusion

Labi Siffre: Something inside so strong

First They Came - Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me

Nancy: Regan, Drew or Boy?

Today's dress is called Nancy, a name which has several connections for me. When I was little I remember my sister bookcase was full of Nancy Drew Mysteries, they had really exciting but rather scary pictures on the front. They were scooby doo stories for big girls!  

Nancy Reagan was the First Lady at this time too, and I remember my Nana thinking it said something about her that she got an act put through senate for funds to hire jewellery when she had an audience with the Queen. You have to give the woman points for attempting to take on the crown jewels! The last connection is of course the phrase "nancy boy" which makes me think of Placebo the band.

I like the simplistic styling of Nancy she is made from a beautiful shiny blue material that cascades over your curves without clinging. The folded back neckline with a subtle V draws your attention to the buttons in a semi circle which act to draw attention to your face. It is nicely fitted over the bust and tapers beautifully into a pencil skirt.

I think this dress is great for the office, shopping with the girls of even a spot of lunch. She's a very versatile dress balancing cute with comfortable.

Dress: Nancy by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Placebo - Nancy Boy

Renaissance man or a teenage mutant hero turtle?

In 1564, the renaissance artist Michaelangelo passed away in Rome. He was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Despite making few forays beyond the arts, his versatility in the disciplines he took up was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist in his lifetime, and ever since then he has been held to be one of the greatest artists of all time. 

The film "The Agony and Ecstasy" with Carlton Heston and Rex Harrison, is Hollywood's attempt to dramatise the life and time of Michaelangelo. It was a good film, you can't go wrong with a bit of Charlton but I would have preferred that it had covered the one true regret of his life. Late in his life, Michelangelo nurtured a great love for the poet and noble widow Vittoria Colonna, whom he met in Rome in 1536 or 1538 and who was in her late forties at the time. They wrote sonnets for each other and were in regular contact until she died. Condivi recalls Michelangelo's saying that his sole regret in life was that he did not kiss the widow's face in the same manner that he had her hand.

The Renaissance means rebirth or to be reborn. The overarching concept is one of change and difference. So I wore a skirt and top because I haven't worn one in weeks(nearly months)! I love the colours in this ensemble. I like the cold but bright baby tiffany blue top and I love the white skirt with the blue flowers because it is so unusual. I think you get an entirely different look depending on whether you wear the top in (smart) or out,  which is a bit more homely.

The skirt is as comfortable as it is cute! A sexy, curve-hugging silhouette, a high waist with  yoke, and a provocative back slit, with a wide collar and half sleeves the Doris top is the perfect companion to any vintage-style skirt or capri pants.

Pencil Skirt: Blue Floral by Pinup Couture at Pinup Girl Clothing

Top: Doris in Baby Blue from Pinup Couture at Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Schuh

What's your favourite Sunday?

I would be hard pushed to choose my favourite kind of Sunday. There are so many different ones to enjoy for different reasons. There is the Sunday where you just stay in bed until you wake up, the Sundays where you never really leave your pyjamas, except to shower and then get in to different pyjamas. The Sundays that start with fresh strong coffee, porridge, danish pastries or a super indulgent full English breakfast, or the Sundays in the park playing with the dogs, or on the beach. Walks along the canal, or by the river, not forgetting the Sundays that start with yoga or the ones where you just lie on the sofa watching films. 

I am going to have a relax and read Sunday this week, complete with scented candles and a bath (though the book is a bit on the hefty side for the bath, but I'll persevere).

Top: Black Miss Fancy Mesh Shirt

Capri Pants: Dangerous Curves in Black by Deadly Dames at Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Polymaths and replicants

Today is the birthday of Sir Francis Galton, I studied at the Galton Laboratory when I was at UCL doing postgraduate research, though sadly they have now closed the lab down.

Francis Galton was a Victorian polymath: anthropologist, tropical explorer, geographer, inventor, meteorologist, proto-geneticist, psychometrician, and statistician. He was the cousin of Charles Darwin and coined the famous phrase "Nature versus Nurture", he also gave the world the concept of the standard deviation (a measure to quantify the normal variation) and discovered the properties of a Bivariate normal distribution and it's relationship to regression analysis. He also introduced the concept of correlation. He was a pioneer of the use of normal distribution and was the first to explain and document the phenomenon of "regression towards the mean".

He was also one of the first to attempt to study the biology of genius and greatness in human populations, and as such was a proponent of eugenics (It is a social philosophy advocating the improvement of human hereditary traits through the promotion of higher reproduction of more desired people and traits, and reduced reproduction of less desired people and traits).

All of which makes me think of the Tyrell corporation in Blade Runner - "More human than human" and the genetically engineered replicants who are stronger, cleverer and more agile than humans. Today's dress is called Pris after Daryl Hannah's character. As a film I find it makes me ask "What does it mean to be human?", I always found it interesting that the Replicants are supposed to lack empathy, and yet Roy is far more eloquent in his rage, grief and fear than Deckard--an updated Frankenstein's monster who paraphrases the poet William Blake even as he fights for his life.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."

Pris is a pretty dress which is futuristic and retro and the same time. It is a modern blend of heavy weight knit and panels of meredith satin - all of which combine to emphasise an hour glass shape. The sweetheart / scalloped neckline frames the decollete and bust beautifully, and your curves are defined by an adjustable underbust band.

Dress: Pris by Laura Byrne at Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoe: Kurt Geiger

The Friday Bombshell

1946 – ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, is formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Standing for Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer was the first electronic general-purpose computer. It was Turing-complete, digital, and capable of being reprogrammed to solve a full range of computing problems. 

It was programmable in the sense that you physically rewired it, setting switches and moving cables. It is interesting to note that the vast majority of programming on the ENIAC was carried out by 6 women. Sadly the ENIAC lacked the ability to store a program but it is still an IEEE milestone. (They added a primitive ROM program store in 1948 at the cost of performance, but reprogramming time dropped by an order of magnitude).

Like the Difference and Analytical Engines of Babbage, and Colossus invented by Turing the ENIAC was created to solve a problem for the military, it was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. Ballistics is the mechanical science that deals with the flight, behaviour and effect of projectiles, including bullets, "gravity" bombs and rockets.

So my inner geek thought it would be fun to celebrate the ENIAC by wearing Bombshell by Stop Staring! 

Bombshell is a 1930's art deco style dress with a beautiful designed neckline, the piping, 3 buttons and double 'tie' are beautiful. The inverse sweetheart neckline piping on the body is very flattering to your figure. The red box pleats and the buttons finish this dress of beautifully. Striking and stunning, Bombshell packs a punch.

Dress: Bombshell Stop Staring!

Shoes: Aldo

Who said it had to be on your sleeve?

Love comes in all shapes and sizes and far too often we restrict ourselves to the "romantic saccharine sweet" love so over commercialised by the card manufacturers. There is the love you have for your parents, your siblings, your extended family, the way you love your friends, dare I say the way you love your job? Pets we love them as well. The most important love is the love you show yourself.

I am not referring to narcissism, instead I am focusing on the fact that you have to love yourself before anyone can love you. People cannot give you that which you fail to give yourself. It works for so many things, if you don't respect yourself no one else will, if you don't believe in yourself why should anyone else? So if you ever have to choose between loving, respecting and believing in yourself, or in someone else then CHOOSE YOU!!! Why? Because it shows you have self esteem, that you know what is and isn't acceptable behaviour and that you have morals and boundaries. What better way to show a healthy bit of self love and observe Valentine's day than by bringing out your sexier side? 

Sexy doesn't refer to fake boobs and fake eyelashes and perma tan, and it doesn't come from dressing like a glamour model or behaving like a fishwife. That's cheap and tacky!! Real sexiness comes from your love of life, or as the French say ‘joie de vivre’ and nothing is more attractive. A person who loves life has a twinkle in their eye and only ever needs to wear their sparkling smile to be beautiful - Love life, love yourself xx

Happy Valentines! 

I proverbially wear my heart on my sleeve so when I saw this dress I thought it would be funny to wear it in nearly the right place (it's just left of centre really, so closer than my sleeve). The black heart is subtle suits the dress whilst still maintaining a fun and slightly quirky edge.

I love the shaped high collar at the back and the open at the front. The exaggerated sweet heart neckline that the heart shapes makes is adorable and I think it is has the benefit of being flattering to your bust. The tapering shape of the heart accentuates our curves and the black button that is off set on the waist adds a nice detail acting almost as a "beauty spot" on the dress.

Dress: Veronica Dress in Green with a Black Heart Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Tea not soup dragons, and green gunpowder

It has been a while since I indulged in one of 1940s Afternoon Tea dresses, the virtues of which have previously be extolled in this post "The best tom boy in disguise dress ever" this one comes with a classic Chinese dragon print. It is a lovely dress to finish the Chinese theme on, having gone full circle - starting and finishing with dragons.

So it is afternoon tea dragons rather than soup dragons today. My Dad only drank Japanese and Chinese tea, formosa oolong, lapsang suchong, Jasmine, Rose Petal to name a few but the most memorable was green gunpowder. 

My Dad was a headmaster, he was the head of an all boys school in one of the more challenging schools. One day he got a phone call from the police, the school had been broken into (again) and they had got into his office trying to get to the vending machines on the corridors.

The police were a little perplexed and had asked him to come to the school. Father arrived to find a pile of tea up against the door, with a trail heading towards his desk, behind his desk there was a pile of struck matches! As he said - they had to be clever enough to read "Green Gunpowder" know what gunpowder might do, and stupid enough to think you might keep it in a jar next to the kettle.

Dress: Afternoon Tea Dress in Dragon Print by Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Madam Butterfly V Pagoda all served with pancakes

I love Chinese and oriental dresses so seeing as the Chinese like to continue a celebration I am running with it. Today is another classic Chinese style, this time with an usual neckline. I like the double collar that is accented with the blue ribbons at the front. It is beautifully fitted with two small slits at the front. The butterfly print is ever so pretty and it reminds me that we all need butterflies. Without them we wouldn't see the potential beauty in the changes in life, I think we all start off as caterpillars and grow into ourselves.

 

Butterflies also make me think of the time that my Mum and Dad went to see Madam Butterfly, Dad always regaled the story so well. 

 

Madam Butterfly was standing on the porch of the pagoda looking longingly towards Pinkerton who is just about to depart. She is singin her aria arms reaching out towards her departing lover......all the time singing her beautiful aria....... 

 

Now at this point it's worth noting that you have an opera singer in full flow and this is not a lady to be trifled with. She starts to move towards him under full steam as does the pagoda, for a few feet feet..... Madam Butterfly comes to an abrupt halt her skirt is hooked on the pagoda..... She can't move.......the audience start to titter quietly, Pinkerton marches across the stage, unhooks the dress to the cheers of the audience. 

 

The performers never missed a note for the whole episode! Fantastic.

 

So here's to butterflies, and life being like one.

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine.  ~Jeffrey Glassberg

Just in case butterflies weren't sunshine enough, it is also pancake day. I have to confess I am a purist when it comes to pancakes, the classics really are the best; lemon and sugar - the bitter sweet sharp contrast, that is wonderfully contradictory.

Dress: Ruby by Bettie Page Clothing
Shoes: Schuh

Fine porcelain and china doll's

I'm continuing with my Chinese theme with a classic number. The Chinese style dress never dates this design and style has truly stood the test of time (along with the Sari). I grew up surrounded by antique dolls made of porcelain and had dragons at the bottom of the fruit bowl (which could explain the amount of fruit I eat). 

When I was little I remember going to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with my Mum and Dad at the local Cinema (which incidentally is still one of the few independent cinemas in the UK!). I remember it for several reasons 1. The opening title - Anything goes 2. We were sat next to someone who was studying A-level maths so he and my Dad had a massive geek out over ice creams (which the lady brought round on a tray and she had the doily hat any everything). 3. All the way home Mum explained that the word thug came from the "thugee" cult, and where lots of other exciting words came from too like The Vandals.  

Ah yes, memories of the cinema.  I had Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom on VHS (wow - I remember betamax too which was actually a better technical solution) I wore the beginning out because I kept watching it! I was 9 when I first got a bad case of "dress desire" when I saw the red and gold number .......I still look at it and think WOW good dress :) I would so love to find a replica of that dress, it's just stunning. 

Dress: China Doll Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Anything Goes