you get a gun and name it after a girlfriend

Jean-Luc Godard once said, "all you need for a movie is a gun and a girl." While I am not promoting or advocating violence by any means, I think that in life sometimes all you need is a girl with a gun. I don't know ... I'm very random sometimes. 

Sylvie Vartan tries her hand at weaponry (and of course looks stunning - can you believe how incredible her hair looks here?)

Another popular yé-yé girl, France Gall, poses alongside her mentor - and perhaps partner-in-crime - Serge Gainsbourg

Armed, wigged, and dangerous - Anita Pallenberg tries a new look on in Performance

Who could forget Natalie Portman as the precocious badass Mathilda in Léon?

Marilyn Monroe takes Cupid to a whole other level, ditching a bow and arrow for some heavier artillery for gettin' those hearts to fall in love

Makes sense that Anna Karina, wife and muse to Godard, was so often seen toting a gun in his movies, such as in Pierrot Le Fou and Made in USA

Ann-Margret dares any of her critics to 'make her day' - she's got a gun in hand and bullets strapped around her waist

Brigitte Bardot channels Bonnie Parker (or, perhaps, more accurately, channels Faye Dunaway-channeling-Bonnie Parker) in the promo video for her duet with Serge Gainsbourg, "Bonnie and Clyde" 

Farrah Fawcett perhaps takes her role as gun-toting glamazon in Charlie's Angels a bit too far in these photo shoots. With aim as spectacular as her looks, it's no surprise that no man was left standing

The unparalleled Faye Dunaway wowed critics and fashionistas alike with her performance as Bonnie Parker, the gun-slingin', beret-wearing beauty who captured the eye - and heart - of Clyde Barrow

The late great Jane Russell made a name for herself as a bombshell gun moll in such films as The Outlaw

I don't know what looks more dangerous - Louise Brooks' deadly stare or the two guns that she's holding

Anita Pallenberg and Michele Breton explore the gun belonging to on-the-run gangster Chas, played by James Fox, in their sixties masterpiece Performance

Marilyn Monroe looks somehow so innocent with her gun - and of course, ever the bombshell, she wears lipstick. The gal knew that even more important than the right to bear arms was the right to look fabulous while doing so

Karen Elson gives Little Red Riding Hood quite a daring twist - let's see the big bad wolf try to get Elson's Red, who looks fierce with her gun and five-inch heels

France Gall is perhaps the only gal in the world who can pose alongside a rifle and large stuffed animals and have it look completely normal and actually charming

The November 1936 cover of Vogue Magazine shows that even guns can be in fashion from time to time

Title: from "I Remember Every Kiss" (Jens Lekman)

when i'm down and i feel like giving up, i think again, i whip my hair back and forth

It's much more than just a hair flip (that would be too Bieberesque) - it's a hair whip. Apparently it's quite hard to master, because there are instructions how to do it properly. If you don't feel like reading (and really - who ever does these days?), then just take some pointers from the women who have done it right

The supermodel spawn of Keith Richards and Patti Hansen, the uber cool Theodora Richards

I don't know about y'all, but whenever I'm nude from the waist down in the middle of a meadow, I love whipping my hair

Jane Birkin, who possessed the most lusted-after locks of the sixties, put her enviable head of hair to good use

The lovely Lauren Hutton in the pages of Vogue during the sixties

Amanda Seyfried is cleverly masked behind her cascade of blonde curls

Dakota Fanning tries her hand (or head, more precisely) at the whip

Like Theodora Richards, Georgia May Jagger is the daughter of a Rolling Stone (care to guess which one?) and his supermodel spouse (his former wife Jerry Hall)

Kate Moss whips and flips effectively in her Topshop campaign

She's portrayed Brigitte Bardot and been the Marianne of France, but Laetitia Casta faced her most difficult challenge of her career when she was asked to whip back and forth

The fashion house Lanvin certainly knows what the modern day woman wants - ferocious dresses and headbanging good fun - as revealed in their Spring 2011 campaign

A beautiful photograph by Lina Scheynius

Patti Hansen, alongside her then-beau Keith Richards, attending one of Bebe Buell's concerts

A strikingly non-short haired Twiggy, captured by Richard Avedon, in one of my favorite photographs ever

A young Jane Fonda does her best bombshell impression

A Janis Joplin-inspired shoot for Fashion Rocks Magazine

I was on the search for the "unbelievable" (according to a Facebook group dedicated to it) hair flip made by Gaga in the "Video Phone" video. Alas, I could not find an image. But, as you can see, Gaga hair tosses are not an uncommon phenomenon. 

The lovely Jane Birkin, in the book Birds of Britain

Gossip Girl starlet Leighton Meester (with locks like that, is it any surprise she's a spokesmodel for Herbal Essences?) 

Ann-Margret shows off her moves - and catches the eye of all the fellahs - in Bye Bye Birdie

The woman nine-year-old who started it all: Willow 

I love this dreamy video of Lily Donaldson, captured by her father, photographer Matthew Donaldson. A two-second, 360 degree hair spin is slowed down to a hypnotic degree, turning the brief moment into a 1,000-frames-per-second work of art. 

Title: from "Whip My Hair" (Willow Smith)

you don't look different but you have changed

I have always thought it was interesting to see how modern day celebrities compare (looks-wise/style-wise, usually - hey, what can I say, I'm quite vain!) to retro gods and goddesses. I've collected images over the years and just now have overcome my laziness enough to put some of them up. Let's see how these newbies stack up against the old pros:

Ann-Margret ... Isla Fisher 

Not just do these two beauties share a similar shade of fiery red, but their penchant for wearing their hair in wavy styles tousled and teased lends more similarities. Strong eyes and dark, arched brows complete the look. Looks like Isla's been taking some cues from sex kitten Ann - just look at that perfect pout she's rockin'! 

Bianca Jagger ... Penelope Cruz

The former Mrs. Mick Jagger is one of my style icon mainstays - she managed to make such masculine pieces as tuxedos and bowler hats into pieces appropriate for the modern 70's power woman. Her relaxed elegance oozed sexuality. Always sporting a loose fit, whether in a tailored suit or Halston gown, Bianca always managed to look like she was curled up at home in sweats (even when on the banquette at Studio 54).  Her style has transcended to another foreign babe, Penelope Cruz, who mirrors B's loose masculine lounge suit, mussed-up hair, kohl-rimmed eyes and nude lip. 

Edie Sedgwick ... Nicole Richie

The pets, the baubles, the dyed blonde hair, the long jersey dresses - nothing else can match the dramatic eye makeup that both Edie and Nicole are sporting. Though Nicole's look is arguably a Edie-Twiggy hybrid (mainly due to the slicked down hair and the way the eye socket is outlined in black around a white lid - more the Twiggy style than Edie), the sixties mod socialite look that Nicole is evoking here was a look all of Edie's own. 

Dress Like a Cupcake Should Feel

I love this mantra, created by UK illustrator Hennie Haworth. When I think of dressing like a cupcake, I think of dressing like I was six years old again, pretending I was Eloise at the Plaza or Grace Kelly on the French Riviera. Flirty dresses with full skirts in shades of pink, lavender, yellow, and cream - made even better by layers of crinoline underneath. Hair that looks like frosting, decorated with pink streaks, glitter, feathers, or bows. Lace, silk, satin, and sparkle! The look should be romantic and innocent. The idea should be to live inside of a 1950s movie, I personally have always wanted to live in an Audrey Hepburn movie. For Audrey, the answer is always to go to Paris and reinvent herself. Or to buy a new Givenchy dress.

Never say no to champagne before breakfast, chocolate-covered strawberries for lunch, or macaroons for dinner, and always keep room for dessert. Wear shoes because they look delicious with frilly ankle socks; not just high heels, but sparkly oxfords and pink marabou mules. Sit in front of a vanity mirror for hours and primp while listening to your best girl friends Eartha Kitt, Julie London, and Peggy Lee on vinyl. Buy perfume with bottles or names that excite you. Names that come to mind are Lolita Lempicka, Pink Sugar (how delish does that sound?), Dolly Girl, Princess, Blush, Daisy, Maybe Baby.

Here are some images that inspire me to indulge my inner cupcake:

An image from the endlessly inspiring Miss Dior Cherie campaign, helmed by Sofia Coppola and photographed by Tim Walker. Imagine running around Paris, popping into Dior and Ladurée, all while Brigitte Bardot's "Moi Je Joue" plays in the background.

Another Sofia Coppola project, Marie Antoinette, was described by the director as "the essence of Marie Antoinette's spirit ... She was in a total silk and cake world." In the memory of the Queen of France, I say, Let Them Eat Cupcakes!

The real-life "California Gurl" Katy Perry looks cotton candy-licious with a lavender wig and glittery and glowing skin.

Nothing says girlie quite like a ruffly dress with a heart-shaped back.

Holly Golightly knew that a tiara was the perfect way to add a little icing on top of an outfit.

Ruffle perfection! Actresses Mia Wasikowska, Amanda Seyfried, and Rebecca Hall look lovely in layered chiffon numbers in Vanity Fair.

When tired of prancing through the streets of Paris, a true Miss Dior Cherie knows to catch a ride from a group of balloons.

Design label Ban.do is excellent at designing delicious headwear that is sure to satisfy your sartorial sweet tooth.

Michelle Williams is every inch a pixie princess in delicate lace and rhinestone hair accessories.

An over-the-top mix of stripes, polka dots, and every color in the rainbow is a great way to channel your inner cupcake.

Vogue Korea shows us how the modern-day Alice would look at a Wonderland tea party.

Style maven Susie Bubble takes a cue from raspberry macaroons.

In the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor, the designer shows off his confectionary creation.

Dita von Teese dresses like the most luxurious cupcake in the world in an 'outfit' (if you can call it that) of baby pink, glittery rhinestones, and feathers.

Lily Allen is caught in a mod romance in the music video for "The Fear."

In Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, Amy Adams swaths herself in silks, furs, feathers, and satins, focusing on a cheerful color palette of pale pink, Robin's Egg blue, and gold.

Princess Grace Kelly - need I say more?

Kelly Osbourne strikes a pose in a pink dress, accessorizing with sparkly jewels and lavender hair.

Mischa Barton looks like a romantic bohemian adorned with feathers galore.

Beautiful hair hues: baby pink and pale purple.

The Pink Ladies of Grease look like sweet treats in the final scene of the film.

When I hit retirement age, I hope I am one-eighth as cool as the pastel-toned ladies of Juicy Couture.

Amanda Seyfried looks darling in Miu Miu platforms (which I Die for) and a ballerina sweater.

Ann-Margret looks the polar opposite of the sex kitten she would become as she stars in Bye Bye Birdie as sweet-as-apple-pie teenager Kim MacAfee.

One of my favorite Vanity Fair covers featured the young starlets of Hollywood in retro-inspired outfits of a pastel palette.

Another image from Miss Dior Cherie finds our heroine in a bakery. How perfect to look at cupcakes while dressed like one!

Zooey Deschanel - a quirky cupcake in a dreamy creation by fairy tale enthusiast Erin Fetherston.

Doris Day knows better than to match her outfit to her pups - she matches her dogs to her outfit!

Gossip Girl's Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena (Blake Lively) are the ultimate dream team in scruptious outfits perfect for strolling the Parisian streets.

Betsey Johnson, a wild cupcake if there ever was one, rechannels Eloise at the Plaza to include zebra rugs and hot pink boas.

So delightful you could just eat her up! Amy Adams gets smooched on the set of the Vanity Fair cover photo shoot.

Well-hearsed in the stories of princesses (from The Princess Diaries to Ella Enchanted), Anne Hathaway looks every bit a princess at the Met Ball.

What better way to channel your inner cupcake than to accessorize with large curls, oversized glittery sunnies, and pink flowers in your hair?

When the option to wear flowers in your hair is no longer available, feather headdresses in pastel hues is a more-that-suitable second option.

Grace Kelly looks sweet as a treat in her beach get-up in To Catch a Thief.

I cannot get over how delish Debbie Reynolds looks in this fab outfit in Singin' In The Rain.

Channeling Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face is a near impossible task, but when paired with a handful of pink balloons, it's easy to get in the mood to strike a pose.

I'm more than a bit obsessed with Miu Miu's newest collection, a gathering of pinks, whites, rhinestones, printed birds, and prairie-style shoulders. This would be my dream cupcake wardrobe.

I love this vintage-y photo of a group of gals in these delightfully delicious swim caps with bright lipstick and eye shadow to match.

Another image from Miss Dior Cherie. A girl can't help but be inspired by the sweet indulgence.

I think the important thing is to seek the sweetness of a cupcake everyday, and, if you can manage it, in everything. Life is much more fun to look at it through rose-tinted glasses, no?