Lyv’s Library 📚
Hey, I'm Lyv! This is my masterlist. Browse around and see what you might like. Be sure to check out my BIO and REQUEST RULES for more info. Happy reading!
REQUESTS ARE: OPEN
Legend: ANGST/FLUFF/SMUT/SERIES
cherry valley forever
h
will byers stan first human second
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"

JBB: An Artblog!
art blog(derogatory)
Xuebing Du
Peter Solarz
d e v o n
Misplaced Lens Cap
KIROKAZE
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

if i look back, i am lost
ojovivo
AnasAbdin

Andulka

tannertan36
One Nice Bug Per Day
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
seen from Spain
seen from Germany
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Brazil
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Ireland

seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye

seen from Malaysia
seen from Russia
seen from Lithuania
seen from Argentina
seen from Oman
seen from United States
seen from Philippines
@halfrican-heat
Lyv’s Library 📚
Hey, I'm Lyv! This is my masterlist. Browse around and see what you might like. Be sure to check out my BIO and REQUEST RULES for more info. Happy reading!
REQUESTS ARE: OPEN
Legend: ANGST/FLUFF/SMUT/SERIES

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
“YOU MINES,” chap 1, texts.
olderman!smoke x younger!sassy!black!fem reader.
synopsis: smoke told himself he wasn’t interested in no woman after he got divorced, but once he got his dark brown eyes on you.. his thought changed. and knew he needed you.
Smoke had seen her before—once at the corner store, twice outside his cousin Sammie’s little recording studio. Thick thighs and glossier lips than any sermon should allow, attitude rolled up in a sundress and a mean ass strut. She was the type to cuss out a man just for breathing near her car too long, then wink when you backed off. Dangerous in the way only a brat with body and bite could be. He never asked her name. Just took mental snapshots like a pervert and kept it pushing. Until Sammie decided to throw that damn pool party.
Smoke didn’t even wanna be there. Sun too hot, kids too loud, Bluetooth speaker blasting new trap over old R&B. But then she came through the backyard gate wearing a two-piece that looked like it had been painted on, skin glistening like God had oiled her up Himself, and all that irritation turned into something else. Something low and heavy that settled right behind his zipper.
She had on big hoop earrings, slick lip gloss, a see-through cover-up that did absolutely nothing, and when she dipped into the pool, ass first, his mouth went dry like a prayer lost in wind.
So he waited. Watched her sip Casamigos and sass Sammie’s homeboys, ass perched on the edge of a pool float like she knew what kind of show she was giving.
Then, when the sun dipped low and folks started rolling blunts and ordering pizza, Smoke slid up beside her with a red solo cup and a smirk. His chains glinting. Chest exposed. Cigar smoke curling out from his lips like he didn’t care about her little “I got a man” spiel.
“You always look this good when you disrespectin’ people’s peace?” he asked. She didn’t even look at him. Just sipped. “I got a man.” Smoke raised a brow. “I ain’t ask who you go home to. I asked about the goodness.”
“Still not your business, grandpa.” He chuckled. “You call me grandpa, but I’m the one got your knees twitchin’ every time I lick my lips.” She did glance at him then. Sharp. Saucy. “Boy, if I give you my number, will you shut up?”
“Not a chance,” he grinned. “But you’ll give it to me anyway.”bShe stared. Hard. Then sighed like he was an inconvenience she secretly liked and typed her number into his phone. “Don’t text me dumb shit. And don’t act surprised if I don’t respond. I’m with somebody.”
“Happily?” Smoke asked, mouth twitching.bShe scoffed, twisting her face like he said something nasty. “Mind ya business, smoke signal.” But when she walked away, hips swaying, she didn’t take her number back. And that was all the green light Smoke needed. The next couple of weeks were cat-and-mouse. She played hard. He played harder.
Smoke: What you doin?
[ ♡ ]: Literally layin’ on my man chest. Leave me alone.
Smoke: He know you textin me?
[ ♡ ]: you got dementia or sum? or are you just old? well we know you old so i guess what im asking is are you slow??? cause you keep pursuing me when you know i gots me a man already. that’s kinda slow don’t you think?
Smoke: Neither. Just a problem I’m tryin’ to fix. You.
Sometimes she wouldn’t respond for a day. Sometimes she’d FaceTime him late, hair tied up and voice all sleepy, actin’ like it was an accident. Then hang up quick. Smoke knew what she was doin’. So when he saw her at that restaurant, sitting with some corny ass man in a salmon polo and bootcut jeans, he snapped.
He didn’t give himself time to think.
As soon as that man stood to go to the bathroom, Smoke got up from his own table, crossed the floor like judgment day on a deadline, and pulled her right out of her seat.
“Smoke?! What the fuck—”
He had her in the women’s bathroom, door locked, body against tile before she could protest again.
“You outta your mind,” she hissed. “Draggin’ me in here like—”
“Like what?” he snarled, voice dark with heat. “Like you mine? ‘Cause that’s what you been actin’ like. Textin’ me at midnight, wearin’ dresses like that, and sittin’ here with a bitch-ass man like I ain’t watchin’ you give away my seat.”
“You got me out here lookin’ stupid, ma,” he growled, stepping in so close her breath hitched. “Havin’ me text you, dream about you, damn near obsess over you—while you sittin’ across some weak-ass nigga like he worth your time?”
“I told you—”
“I don’t give a fuck what you told me,” he barked, getting in her face. “Your mouth sayin’ ‘I’m with somebody,’ but your pussy probably drippin’ just lookin’ at me.” She scoffed before shaking her head and saying “You delusional.” “Nah, baby,” he whispered, brushing his nose against her jaw. “I’m the cure.”
Then he dropped to his knees.
The sound of her panties tearing made her suck in a breath. He threw one of her legs over his shoulder and kissed her inner thigh slow. Then he dove in.
No tease. No sweet start. He ate her like punishment—rough, messy, and focused. “Oh my God, Smoke—” “Shut up,” he growled between strokes of his tongue. “Let me work.” His mouth wrapped around her clit while two thick fingers slid into her. She grabbed his hair, but it only egged him on. His beard was soaked. Her thighs trembled.
She came once—so hard her voice broke—and he didn’t stop.
Didn’t let her stop.
He slowed his tongue, flicked, licked deep. Worked her back up. Sucked her until she was moaning in high-pitched gasps, begging with her eyes. “Mmm… this pussy so soft,” he muttered between licks, “actin’ like it belong to someone else, but this shit was made for me.” She moaned just from his words, When the second orgasm hit, her whole body arched, nearly sliding down the wall.
“Thaaaat’s it,” he whispered, licking his lips. “Look at that… two fuckin’ times. Ain’t even touched my dick yet.” She whimpered, eyes glassy, lips parted. Only then did he stand, licking his lips, eyes heavy with lust.“Now,” he said, voice low and dark, “turn around.”
She barely had time to catch her breath before he spun her around and bent her over the counter. Her cheek hit the mirror, fogging the glass with every pant. He pulled himself free and pushed in slow, making sure she felt every inch.
“Fuck…” he groaned, head dropping to her shoulder. “So damn tight. Greedy little pussy. Been waitin’ for me.” Her nails raked down his back. “Shut up and fuck me—” “Oh, I’m gon’ do more than that.”
His hips rolled, deep and slow at first, then sharp and mean. Her hands braced against the mirror, her moans echoing through the bathroom. “Bet he don’t fuck you like this,” Smoke rasped, biting her shoulder. “Bet he don’t fill you like this.”
“Y-you’re so cocky—” “You like me cocky. You want a man who make you cry from dick.” He pulled out just to watch her drip, then slammed back in, hands gripping her thighs like possession. Each thrust hit like a promise.
“I ain’t lettin’ you go,” he whispered against her throat. “Not after this. Not after you squirted.” She moaned and nodded at his words, after a few more thrusts they found themselves both cunning together in harmony as moans and whines fell out of their mouths. Smoke thrusted deep inside her a few more times to make sure his seed was planted deeeep inside her,
Once he pull out, he put himself back into his pants and pulled up her panties. Whispering praises into her ears as he did so. He smiled at the state she was in, her ass looked wrecked. And he loved every second of it. “Cmon mama, let’s go tell this nigga youn need his ass no more.” She lightly nodded, completely out of it but complying to what he said.
She looked disheveled. Eyes glassy, dress rumpled, lipgloss gone. They walked out together. Smoke smoothed her hair down with a smug hand. She stopped in front of the dude waiting at her booth. “I… uh—” she looked back at Smoke, who just tilted his head, daring her.
“I’m not with you no more,” she said softly.
The man blinked. “Wait, what?” She didn’t answer. Just grabbed her purse, ignored the confusion on his face, and followed Smoke out with her head bowed—but a tiny smirk pulling at her lips.
….THREE WEEKS LATER.
They’d been out on six dates. Three ended in car sex. Two in her apartment. One in the back of a restaurant kitchen where he made her bite down on his wallet to stay quiet.
Now they sat on a rooftop at sunset. She had on a soft yellow dress that looked like it was made of petals. Smoke watched her sip wine and talk shit about everyone she didn’t like. She was laughing when she suddenly went quiet.
“Tell me about her.” He looked over. “Who?”
“Your ex. Annie.” He sighed. “She was strong. Kinda a little crazy like you. Loved hard. But I was gone a lot. Years. I used to disappear on business, disappear into shadows. Thought she’d always wait. She didn’t.” She nodded. Sipped. “You gonna do that to me?”
Smoke leaned in, resting his heavy hand on her thigh.
“That was a long time ago, a different world, a different era. I wasn’t as mature as I am now mama. Youn gotta worry bout nothing like that. I’m not goin’ nowhere.” She hummed before tilting her head. “Promise?” “I don’t make promises,” he said, tracing the edge of her wine glass with one finger, “but I do claim what’s mine.”
She squinted. “So I’m yours?”
He grinned, gold tooth glinting. “I already proved it. You walkin’ funny for three days after I ate you in a public bathroom, remember?” She blushed. Then smirked. “Yeah. You do got good memory. Maybe you don’t got dementia after all.”
Smoke leaned over and kissed her—slow and deep, like he could taste every bratty word she ever said and still crave the next one.
Because no matter how stubborn she acted…
She was his.
And Smoke? He wasn’t lettin’ her go.
ooo chile i need me a smoke in my life idc idc idc!!!! he so fine like . like omg. i’d let him ruin me , whatever he want whenever he wanttttt. anywaysss , @cremeful for the older man!smoke idea, (i fucking loved those fics omg.)
@kodaswrld & @cursed-carmine for the dividers!
btw, “AT THE SAME DAMN TIME” chapter two should be out soon. i will be tagging everyone whom asked to be tagged!!! which speaking of , if you’d like to be on my tag list just in general, not just in certain fics. tell me inna comments.
ignore errors. i do not proof read, & never will.
k but like…the concept of having a full length mirror in your bedroom and smoke is sitting at the foot of the bed, you in his lap with your legs hiked open. both of his hands are occupied, one hand holding of your arms back and the other is on your super sensitive pussy. two hooked fingers rhythmically pressing in and out, the tips pressing against your g-spot with precision. his thumb swiping against your engorged clit, that pleasure button throbbing at the touch. you were being pushed past your limits, you’ve already came four times already and yet…you can’t bring yourself to beg for mercy. the wet and sticky sounds of your pussy in conjunction with your gasping whimpers were the only thing filling the room along with the occasional groans of praise from smoke.
“why ain’t you lookin’ at yo’self, hm?” he purrs in your ear. the baritone vibrates across your skin sending a shiver of pleasure to your core. “don’t ‘chu wanna look at your pretty face?”
you mewl in response. your eyes were shut, focused on the heavenly feeling of his talented hands and how they so very very close to making you cum for the fifth time this evening. how dare he ask such a question when he knows damn well why.
I can’t when your fingers are so determined to make me squirt again. you wanted to retort…but with your brain so fogged with pleasure all you manage to let out was one word.
“please.”
it was small, whiny. you don’t have to open your eyes yet to know your full plump lips were pouting.
“please, what?” smoke chuckles, quickening his ministrations. his fingers pressing deeper into your sweet spot causing your hips to buck and your arms to squirm in his firm grip.
“please.” you huffed, hips trying to move in lieu with his hand.
“my baby wanna cum? is that it?" he mocked, peppering kisses on the heated skin of your neck.
you nod mindlessly, moans progressively getting louder and his strokes more faster and deliberate. "mhm! 'm gonna-cum.."
"look in the mirror for me, baby." he instructs you softly. "I want 'chu to look at your pretty face and cum. you gon' be daddy's baby and do that for me?"
you clenched at his words, god you hated him. no-you loved him. so damn much. with the small amount of willpower you had left, you finally opened your eyes. pretty, brown, doll-like eyes that were at first hazy and unfocused from lust. once you focused on the mirror in front of you, the view was sinful.
a thin layer of sweat glistened on your honey brown skin, your breasts heaving with every moan and thrust of smoke's fingers. your curly coils were frizzed at the top of your head. lips were kiss bitten and swollen from previous sessions. and your pussy...fat, glistening with creamy arousal, your clit protruding like a shiny pearl from between your swollen lips, relentlessly being assaulted by his thumb. but the most sinful part of it all was him.
the coy smile that played at his lips watching you admire yourself. his eyes sparkled with lust. the way he positions you at his disposal to pull every bit of resistance out of you. it was overwhelming.
"that wasn't hard now was it, hm?" his voice returns to your ear. "whatchu' gon do for daddy, now?"
"gonna cum!" you squeaked, thighs quivering as you feel yourself returning to that peak of orgasm. "don't s-stop please..."
"let go, baby." he nips at your ear. "give it to me."
and you graciously oblige him. you body stills and your sensitive cunt gushes clear arousal, staining your thighs, his, and the bottom of the mirror. your breath comes in uneven gasps, pants, and whines. your back collapses on his chest as he gently praises you. he slowly pulls his fingers out and traces them against your lips, an invitation for you to open. he groans as you mindlessly suck on his fingers, cleaning your sweet tangy taste of arousal off them before you finally let go, full leaning back into his embrace. your arms free from his grasp to collapse at your sides.
"you better clean my damn mirror, elijah.." you mumble, eyes fluttering closed as your body relaxes, earning another chuckle out of him.
"I will baby, I will."
You two bicker so much, your children think you actually hate each other.
“You’re too fuckin grown to not eat your greens.”
“I’m not the old hag needing to eat them with every meal, am I?”
“You talk so damn much over the movie, I can’t hear shit. fuck me.”
“You have bad ears any way old man, turn it down.”
“And hear you even more? Don’t think so.”
“It said make a right and you turn left?”
“You don’t know your right from left, you’re losing your brain from old age, woman.”
“I’m well enough to know what ‘right’ looks like, idiot, the roads not blocked so park there before we have to walk even farther.”
It’s… a lot lol. And your daughter who’s 17, asks you about it while you put away the dishes, more than concerned. You giggle, looking out towards the garden.
“You see those sunflowers out there don’t you?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Your father gave them to me as a gift when you turned three. Every year more grow and they flourish. Look up the meaning of ‘em and then get back to me.” You wink over at her and go back to your task.
Love, loyalty and Adoration. Is what popped up on google.
It makes her think more about how you and your husband interact. The way you always eat whatever he doesn’t finish & vice versa. The way he puts a comforter on you when you sleep on the couch and pulls you into his lap, or carries you upstairs before the movie ends. How dad always keeps your favorite snacks filled and you two always move in tandem, you never have to ask what the other needs or what needs to be done. You two are in sync, you coming and hugging dad from the side when he’s stressed, how dad takes all the kids out when you need your ‘mommy moment.’ Dad does laundry while you cook, and that project you’ve been dreaming about is already half way done because Dad already built it out for you.
“Your kid thinks we don’t like each other hubby.” You say, painting the dog house the bright red, on your hands and knees.
He’s quick, “I don’t like you.” He’s staring from the patio set, your ass is still as perfect as ever in the paint stained capris your wearing. Youve gotten sexier over the last 20 years together, more curves, wrinkles and stretch marks. Gorgeous girl. He could wreck you right now on this Thursday afternoon, if your kids weren’t about to wake up from a nap.
You huff, standing up, “We have to be a good example! I don’t want them thinkin I hate yo—“
Before you can get another word out, you slip on the tray of paint you barely noticed was right under your feet. The love of your life is fast, protecting your head as you both fall to the ground but paint flies all over the both of you.
Your breath is caught in your throat, in shock, but he curses, eyes flying all over you in worry, “Dummy, watch were you’re goin!”
You burst into a fit of laughter, eyes closing as your smile brighter than the sun. Eyes crinkling. Laughter just like a melody. He scuffs in his head, ‘Clumsy ass.’ You’re beautiful. His wife is still so wonderful. He can’t help but kiss you on the full lips.
You speak softly, tantalizing, “again.” Another kiss. “Again.” Another kiss. “More.” And he gives you a long kiss, wanting.
Oh, this is what love is. Ever lasting, a cool glass of lemonade on a day summer day, so refreshing. Adoring— that man loves you. And you, him.
˚₊·—̳͟͞͞♡ Simon, Toji, Sukuna, Suguru, Smoke, Joel, Eren, Keegan,
‧₊˚﹒♡﹗₊˚⊹❀𝓸𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓯𝓲𝓵𝓶𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰…‧₊˚﹒♡﹗₊˚⊹❀
baby makin’. onyankopon.
𓊆ྀི warnings .ᐟ + word count— 6.7K, original!blackfemreader, husband!onyankopon, mechanic!onyankopon, southerncoded!onyankopon, southernwife!femreader, shy!femreader, jealous!onyankopon, aggressive!onyankopon, sweet!onyankopon, ovulation!, dominant!onyankopon, breeding kink!, floor sex, doggy style, pet names, dirty talk, aggressive pet names, squirting, creaming, condomless sex, pussy eating, dick sucking, overstimulation, minors are not welcome! 𓊇ྀི
メモ。— couldn’t even tell you where this one came from, had a lot on my mind. but it’s nasty, real southern, real black, real cutesy. enjoy, teehee.
ビジュアル。ビジュアル。
ASKING YOUR HUSBAND FOR ANOTHER BABY WASN’T ON THE AGENDA TODAY. It happened in the exact way it had the first time—your body trembling and writhing, brainless as you released those three words to him. However, you couldn’t lie to yourself. This was kinda your fault.
It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, either. Being fucked so good your mind went blank sounded like a treat, but it wasn’t all in the matter of how you got there, but more so why.
You’d been with Onyankopon for about three years now, still reeling from the excitement of newlywed bliss each time you stared down at your ring. You had also welcomed your baby boy into the world, Asaan, motherhood bringing you a sense of peace and patience you’d never had your entire life.
It was perfect, really. You had a modern farmhouse in Arabi, Louisiana. Wrapped in crisp white siding with black trim, surrounded by sprawling land where the sunsets painted the sky in hues of gold and lavender every evening. Close enough to New Orleans for convenience, but far enough to feel like you had your own private paradise. The open concept living space always smelled like vanilla and clean linen from the candles you burned while cleaning—floors so shiny you could see your reflection as you chased after little five month old Asaan crawling around.
And Onyankopon? God. Even after a long day at his auto shop in the city—grease under his nails, muscles aching from lifting engines all day—he never failed to make sure you felt cherished. He’d walk through that door, drop his bag by the stairs, and immediately scoop up Asaan with one arm while pulling you into his chest with the other.
His deep voice rumbled against your ear, “Missed y'all like hell.”
No matter how tired he was, he’d sit at that kitchen island just to watch you move around cooking dinner—his heavy lidded eyes traced every sway of your hips as if he hadn’t memorized them already.
Even when work drained him dry—Never cold. Never dismissive. Just a kiss pressed to your temple before bed, or calloused fingers grazing over yours when he thought you needed reassurance more than he needed rest—because loving y’all came easy for him, even when life didn't always match up that way.
But today.
Today had been a little—different.

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BRU PLZ STOP TAGGING Y'ALL FICS WRONG, I DON'T WANT TO READ A OC X WHOEVER,
I WANT MY F*CKING X READER
Hailey Hatchner is THE WORST
No can we talk about it? Because there were so many more compromises than literally trying to force your husband to give up the job he loves. You knew who he was when you married him.
wanted to share my favorite tiktok
this has a very Vine energy and I like it
[Video ID:
There is a poster on a store wall that says ‘Halloween is here,’ but there is a line break separating ‘Halloween’ to ‘Hallo’ and ‘Ween.’
Man behind camera: Hallo! Ween is here!
The camera pans to another man who strums a small string instrument.
Other man: I am Ween
End ID]
What’s the description leaves out is that “Hallo! Ween is here!” Is said in a very silly, perky German accent.
i still hate y’all bitches who say oc x canon shit is cringe like bitch you have ANY idea how flattered i would be if someone made an oc for my fantasy world? how utterly PSYCHED my ass would be they loved a character so much they fleshed out one themselves just 2 be with one of mine? fuck y’all haters
And whata fucking bout it? Who gives a fuck? Does it hurt you, does it break into your home and steal your meemaw’s ashes? Does it spit on your holy symbol? No? Then shut the fuck up
they make me so fucking happy

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
The unforgettable mirror scene between Uncle Phil (#JamesAvery) and Aunt Viv (#JanetHubert) exudes intimacy and devotion—showcasing a dynamic rarely seen on television.
What makes this scene even more iconic is its profound representation of a dark-skinned Black woman being loved in the most beautiful and unapologetic way.
Uncle Phil speaks life and love into his wife, Aunt Viv. As they stand before the mirror, Uncle Phil’s words become a reflection of her beauty, not just physically but in the essence of her entire being. It is a raw and genuine portrayal of a husband uplifting his wife, offering her unwavering support and adoration. His affirmations are not simply compliments, but a deep acknowledgment of her worth and beauty.
This moment broke barriers, as it depicted a form of Black love that was rarely highlighted in mainstream media at the time. Together, they shattered stereotypes, presenting a love that celebrates Black women, especially dark-skinned women, as deserving of tenderness, respect, and deep admiration.
This scene resonates far beyond the script, the scene offers a powerful reminder that love—Black love—can be soft, nurturing, and full of light.
🎥 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
My sister genuinely, for real, met her girlfriend at a meet up for retyping poetry on vintage typewriters above a feminist bookstore, and I just want to say I’m thrilled the manic pixie dream girls of the world are moving on from whiny mediocre dudes and finding eachother instead.
She has just informed me that her girlfriend also OWNS an aquamarine typewriter that writes in CURSIVE and they have a running picnic date at a baby goat farm, FOR REAL, I had no words.
Here you go y’all. Go find the manic pixie dream girl typewriter lesbian of your dreams:
Upside, you may end up with someone like my sister’s girlfriend. Downside, you could end up with my baby sister and friends, she is HIGH MAINTENANCE.
Hi friends, Baby Sister here:
First off, my girlfriend says I am NOT high maintenance, and ppl being jealous of our super cute relationship is only fun if they are jealous that she snagged me and not just that I snagged her. She was like “but you are cool and quirky and fun and it’s not fair if they think that only YOU lucked out! I got lucky too!” yes she is perfect and I DO scream in my pillow about it.
To everyone in the tags: go to weird events when you see them advertised. Get a weird cursive typewriter (requested pics below, apparently it’s a Royal Aristocrat). Learn skills so someday you can embroider the koi pond from the goat farm for your girlfriend to have in her apartment like I did. Ask if the friend you’ve had for years and have feelings for has feelings in return BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY DO. SAPPHICS OF TUMBLR: ALL YOU HAVE TO LOSE IS YOUR CHAINS
Did you really put this into the rest of the advice like it was equally useful.
Are you really advising tumblr to prepare themselves for the moment they need to embroider the ornamental koi pond from the Buddhist baby goat farm. This is your life advice.
the decrease in costuming quality over the last 20 years has been soooo precipitous & nauseating. i’m not even talking abt marvel’s cg supersuits or anything this time, look at the fabric quality, structure, layering, character, and craftsmanship of older costumes in 102 dalmations (2000) vs cruella (2021)
ever after (1998) vs cinderella (2021)
lord of the rings (2001-2003) vs the rings of power (2022)
this trend should upset you not just because it looks cheap, but because it suggests a strong anti-art and anti-labor movement in film and tv making. don’t forget costumers are unionized
I WORK IN COSTUMES AND CAN TALK ABOUT THIS MORE SPECIFICALLY
It's not just that we're unionized, though that absolutely plays into the financial aspect of it to a degree. There is 100% not just an anti-labor and anti-artistic sentiment, but also just an overall shift from these productions being treated as less like storytelling and performance, like they were in the past, and more like corporate investments and business endeavors. Everything is bottom line vs potential profits, marketability, and modern trends, or what will trend on tiktok, and you have to design to that constantly.
It's also that filmmaking has developed the expectation of making movies on such a short production time that there's no time to MAKE amazing beautiful pieces like this. A good gown may take weeks or months to complete and many rounds of fittings and mockups, and might be very heavy or restrictive to actors and limit how long they can shoot in a given costume. From my experience, things are decided on one day and have to be ready to shoot in a few weeks, and that's only if the writers aren't constantly having to make last second changes because the directors and producers change their visions constantly on a dime, down to the very last minute, and there's nothing we can do as the costume team except make it happen or make a REALLY good case for why we can't just find some cheap option fast that would work instead. So you might spend thousands on that beautiful dress only for them to completely cut the scene, change the context entirely in rewrites, or just decide they don't like the dress and want something else.
And because directors and producers get last say, and often they have Bad Taste and want things that are modern and marketable, and often will think things look great that are actually pretty unfitting for the character or make no sense for the design of the film, they insist on bad choices that then get pushed through to the end result of the film. Actors do this too sometimes, like what happened with Emma Watson and Belle's dress in the live action Beauty and the Beast remake, but usually only the big name actors have enough star power to swing full changes like that.
And of course, yes, there's not enough budget for high quality work. Costumers, like everyone else on film sets right now, are expected to stretch the budgets they're given to 'make it work' because so many have (in order to make the producers happy and keep their jobs). And in return, quality goes down, because in order to build a costume you need good fabric, embellishments, and labor. Good fabric costs a lot of money, embellishments cost a lot of money, hand fitting and skilled labor cost a lot of money, and costume budgets are being given none of that because the studios are incredibly strict and frugal with what they expect you to spend so they can make the most profit off of a given project, so cuts to quality end up being made somewhere in order to make up the difference and get the actors clothed.
I've rambled enough, but basically, yes, unions, but also there's a lot of deeper layers that go into why these things have been declining that are all interconnected and related to the general commodification of art and framing of art as content to consume rather than stories to tell that's happened in the past ten years or so.
and it results in VERY VERY GOOD costumers being hampered
Rings of Power? that was Kate Hawley. who also did Crimson Peak (2015) and produced costumes like this:
so it's not always a skill issue, to be sure
To continue with “it’s not always a skill issue”, Jenny Beavan designed the costumes both for Ever After and Cruella.
It just shows what a talented designer can do with time and resources (and no interfering from directors, producers or actors).
I rewatched The Mummy the other day for the first time in like 20 years, and enjoyed it so much I decided to watch the second one right after…
Big mistake.
I turned it off after not even 15 minutes because the costuming (specifically on Evie) was atrocious. It looked like there was no longer a budget, and the fashion didn’t even make sense for the time period. It completely took me out of the fantasy.
LET COSTUME DESIGNERS DO THEIR DAMN JOBS!!!

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star-crossed lovers :)
All I’m saying is a Native American actress portraying Katniss Everdeen would have made a lot of sense and also added multiple layers to the political commentary.
The book description is vague, but there’s a clear racial connotation in the internal politics of District 12 and how Katniss is perceived, and I just think it would have been interesting to explore.
Inspired by this fanart on Instagram by @myrthena, directly linked below!