“I’m not sweet Estella, try as I might. I never was. I’m Cruella, born brilliant, born bad, and a little bit mad.”
And no. This is not a movie review.
It won’t be because I’d be biased to the actors, biased to the fashion, and biased to Disney. Although trust me on this: fashion design does not look that easy. So let’s skip it, and let’s just say I’m hooked and, well, addicted.
Cruella, in this back story, has a whole lot of layers into her character. She tells the story of being true to oneself. She previews what it means to be part of a family that is not connected by blood. She shows how to exude control, power, and ownership of what belongs to her: talent. She also embodies great fashion legends that shook the fashion industry throughout history. Legends like Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Dior, and my ultimate favorite, Alexander McQueen. They spoke out loud. This is the part of Cruella I am too excited about.
Like the character, I am hungry to make a statement. Unlike her, I don’t have the guts to do it.
But it isn’t too late, right?
I once go by the name Auie. It was a childhood nickname given by my friends who I barely speak to nowadays. I chose to go by Aurea when I began to explore individuality. It was a name given by my mom but no one has ever used it unless formally. Then everyone here called me Aurea because it’s my first name, simply that. I never reintroduced Auie, because what was the point. What Auie had was various experiences. Aurea came out of fear to hide the failures Auie was too embarassed to accept.
Cruella was born out of anger, but she’s always been inside of Stella. What’s great about Cruella was that she was never afraid to admit that she was “born brilliant, born bad, and a little bit mad”. She was never afraid to own her two-toned hair, her crazy eyes, and her brilliant looks. She was not afraid to challenge those who were on top of the game. Knowing the truth of her past angered her, but it lit a fire that started the psychotic character every dog lovers were afraid of.
I was never afraid of her when I was a kid watching 101 Dalmations. I was thrilled by her passion and how she will get what she wanted badly, even if it meant swimming in a goo of molasses. I watched Cruella de Ville, more than I did the dogs. (Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like fur and I don’t intend to skin dogs! I love dogs! So did Cruella, actually).
I really don’t have much of a point to this story. I simply loved the movie. Loved the fashion. Loved the hair. Loved that I have another fashion movie to add to the list of favorite fashion movies. I don’t even know how to end this little tidbit, so let’s just end it with a period.
