Category: Photography
Fashionable Selby x
There’s a new book out by the Photographer Todd Selby – Fashionable Selby – opening the door to the sort of voyeurism that really tickles my fancy: Designers at work..
(Photo by Todd Selby)
Dries Van Noten quietly arranging beautiful flowers.
(Photo by Todd Selby)
A highly organised bohemian Isabel Marant.
(Photo by Todd Selby)
A Marant mood board with a lust-worthy bracelet.
(Photo by Todd Selby)
Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain at work on a stunning parquet floor.
(Photo by Todd Selby)
Inspiration from every corner: Carla Sozzani, Italian gallerist and founder of Galleria Carla Sozzani and the creator of 10 Corso Como in Milan.
(Photo by Todd Selby)
Surrounded by colour: Pascale Mussard, Artistic Director of Hermes Petit H.
It’s thinking you have that little bit of knowledge to know what they’re really like and what makes them tick..the reality behind the curtain. Even though you know in your mind, you’re still seeing what they want you to see….but it helps that each profile is accompanied by Selby’s watercolour portraits and illustrated questionnaires, revealing answers to personal questions.
It sounds delicious non?
Laters, Kate x
Into the Night..
Take a look behind the curtain…photos from AW14 after-show Paris party scene..
A walk on the wild side from the safety of your computer screen..
(I can only hope this photo has been photoshopped. I don’t think my boobs were ever like that…let alone whilst dancing..)
And then you start to think..there’s no colour, it’s not very chic…black and white dominates…It’s as if anti-fashion is the name of the game for fear of putting a foot wrong…which feels like the beast is eating itself from the inside out.
There are the exceptions. Little tasters.
But they’re an oddity rather than the rule (Loving that handle!)
(All photos by Maxime Ballesteros, Style.com)
Between you and me..I think it’s best to dream about what it’s like..I suspect we had more fun at the school quiz!!
Laters, Kate x
Still Time!
Which should be the title of these beauties – the classically posed family portraits of old. And they’re providing further inspiration for my Seven Every Day Sins project (see previous post)..thinking aloud…the temptation is with the potential resources at hand to plan fantasy, surreal, out of this world..but I think maybe that’s too easy/obvious?..I’m thinking that at initial glance things should appear relatively normal. It’s then the clues that give the meaning…
Take portrait no.2 – a dreamy pose. But have 2 women instead, the one standing up is wearing green with a spider clip nestled in her hair. The lady sitting down is wearing designer black, dripping in jewels…and the symbols of mourning..black ribbon, Victorian jet jewellery. There could be a handbag open with more clues..Behind them on the wall is a portrait – maybe of a child – or maybe a still life of flowers? roses, carnations, chrysanthemums all have different meanings depending on their colour.. to the side an old fashioned clock with a moth clinging to the side. The wallpaper is made up of pasted fifty pound notes. (verging on the too surreal?) The lady in green has her eye closed…but the lids are painted to look like they’re open. Neither are smiling.
(photo from optic optic.com)
They do say the eye are the windows to the soul…
If you haven’t done so already there’s still time to vote (it goes without saying – a huge thank you if you have!).. the link to the competition site works straight through if you are signed into Facebook, if you’re not it takes you to ‘sign in’ and then the general website. If you end up at the general website, go to photography – trending – and look for the only orange picture(!) called ‘Seven photos of Every Day Sin in Modern Times’ and click on that…. you’ll see the full application/film and the ‘support’ button on the right hand side….
All you’ve done – all you’ve tried to do is really appreciated xxx
Laters, Kate x
Help!
Arrggghhhh – Computers, links..don’t you just love ’em? I know from my stats just how many of you have tried to help – a huge thank you to you all! – it really is appreciated…But I think I’ve worked out the problem..
For those that haven’t seen this post – I’ve mind blowingly entered myself for a competition to win 2-3 weeks working with the photographer Rankin..but I need support! All the info is down below..but there’s been an issue with the link – I think part of the problem is that the competition is set up on Facebook – the link works straight through if you are signed into Facebook, if you’re not it takes you to ‘sign in’ and then the general website. If you end up at the general website, go to photography – trending – and look for the only orange picture(!) called ‘Seven photos of Every Day Sin in Modern Times’ and click on that and you’ll see the full application/film and the ‘support’ button on the right hand side…. I’m going off now to see if I can find another way, by-passing Facebook..wish me luck.. xxxxxx
Little update – tried to get in via Samsung site, but then takes you again to the Facebook App site..oh joy!
I responded to a tweet..it said, if your passion lies in food, music or photography; if you want to take your talent to the next level; if you have a big idea, project, an ambition…Samsungs Launching People is for you..apply now..
So I did..
And what a prize is at stake…working for 2-3 weeks with the world renown portrait and fashion photographer Rankin..using all the technology Samsung has to offer….
Can you imagine? It’s the creative equivalent of a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory…and all you had to do was come up with an idea and make a 2 minute film..
The downside? I saw the tweet late so I’ve only 24 hours to gain support – the deadline is the 6 March…but I’m OK..despite never using iMovie before I’ve made the film!
The upside? I LOVE my project idea…I want to create 7 pictures based on the modern day equivalent of the seven deadly sins using symbolism and imagery to create a multilayered story. I’ve always been fascinated by paintings such as Arnolfini portrait by Jan Van Eyck with it’s picture within a picture:
The more you look, the more you see..outside the window there’s a tree with cherry blossom so we know it’s summer, but the main charters are wearing furs – not because it’s cold, but as a symbol of wealth. The bed is red for passion. Her dress is green for hope..but there’s more…many scholars believe this is in fact a memorial picture and the wife is in fact dead. On the mirror are painted scenes from the Passion of Christ..on his side they’re all to do with life..on her side, death. Above them is a candelabra..on his side the candle is lit..on her side, the candle is out…
Using the seven deadly sins as a vehicle for developing this concept would be a fascinating brain-fry of creative juices…for example instead of Envy..think the exploration of the accumulation of material things and the pitfalls of debt..think green, think fur coat no knickers, think style over substance and then the emotional architecture starts building…the characters can have meaning – narcissists, prima donnas, queen bees…the clothes they wear..the colours..the way they interact..the situation they’re in..the tattoos..the meaning behind the tattoo..it can all flow into a deeper sense of understanding and recognition but all drawn seamlessly together.
Where I need your help is to support my project – press the ‘support’ button on the main website at the top right hand corner (NB – NEW LINK!) – Please, please give it a ‘support’ – pass it on to others…tweet, shout, mail..round up the postman and his three-legged dog..whatever it takes…this really would be like winning the lottery…
It’s always scary putting yourself up for something, but as I said to a friend the other day, if you believe you can or can’t, it’ll be true..and if you never try, you never, ever know….
Thank you!!
Laters, Kate x
La Dolce Vita..
(Lara Stone, Vogue France Mar 14)
When I looked at Dolce &Gabbana SS14 for the first time I could feel the bright sun of Sicily and the shadows of a lemon tree flickering above. There was cherry blossom. luscious gold jewellery, lazy lunches, fresh homemade pasta and carafes of wine.
(D&G SS14 Garage UK)
So it’s always fascinating to see the magazines then take the clothes and present them to us within the spirit of their publication.
( Fioia Italy Feb 14)
They have the resources to create another glossy world…to give us the chance to hold a physical dream in our hands.
(Glamour Italy Mar 14)
(Hunger UK)
(Vanity Fair, Italy, Feb)
(L’Officiel France Mar 14)
(Marie Claire, Italy Mar 14)
(Numero France Mar 14)
(Harper’s Bazaar, UK mar 14)
(All photos from Dolce &Gabbana)
Like the Sirens on the cliffs they call us saying, just by re-mortgaging your house you too can be like me…Or…are they works of Art in their own right? Adding subtle layers of message and mystery..
It’s your call.
Laters, Kate x
Moments in Time x
There’s one New Years Resolution I’ve slam dunked..I’ve embraced growing younger gracefully by going back to school.
Each week I’ve been studiously at my desk at Putney School of Art learning properly about Photography…and I’ve loved it.
It’s not that I didn’t like the photos I was taking..I just didn’t really know how I was doing it and whether I could do it better. A bit like our brains or computers, we now have these incredible beasts of cameras that we rarely take out of first gear..
Thinking about short term, long term, quality, light, composition…it’s such a peaceful place away from the clamour of family life and I have thoroughly appreciated the time to think of nothing else other than the moment.
Some of these photos were taken on a field trip we did as a class around the streets of London, others are from my beautiful nieces christening last weekend.
Watching for a photo is like waiting for little pockets of opportunity. Often I think – if only they’d look up. But then the sweet spot happens and it’s like the nectar of the Gods.
Is the process getting something right? Or does it go beyond that? All I know is that to break the rules, you first have to know them..and that learning as an adult is the best drug ever.
Laters, Kate x
Flutter by..
The Butterfly is appearing everywhere – McQueen, Valentino and here – with this stunning silk jacquard skirt by the New York label Tome that you just want to touch and treasure. I love the way it’s been styled with the long gloves against the short, loose v-necked cashmere jumper.
Freedom, innocence, peace, good luck, nature, femininity…the butterfly is a powerful symbol throughout the world.
(Cinemagraph from Anne Street Studio..the founders of the Art of Cinemagraph)
But there’s also it’s fragile beauty and delicate symmetry. No wonder we humans are obsessed with capturing it’s heart and soul, if only in an ethereal Cinemagraph. This butterfly was let lose after it’s photoshoot, into the wilds of Manhattan because true beauty should only be admired….
Laters, Kate x
Tracing Traceloops..
Artist/graphic designer/ Animator Mathias Brownis re-working the art of rotoscoping – an animation technique where animations trace real footage from by frame to create live-action animations with a hand-drawn feel – and then mashing it up with gifs to surprising effect.
Tumble also choose him as one of their Talents with special access to New York Fashion Week.
A new set of eyes is always liberating.
For more pictures and insights check out his website. I so want to play…
Laters, Kate x
Happy Valentines! xxx
You live with me always.
Your love will carry me all my days,
as I will live my life, cherishing
my love for you.
Even when we are finally parted,
I will remember,
and search for you.
Earthly love,
Pedestrian and earthbound
Soaring into the sky.
XXXXXX
The Sapeurs.. xxx
Suave and sophisticated, the title Sapeur comes from la SAPE, an abbreviation of Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes – The Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. Over the past twenty five years it’s emerged as a brightly coloured African subculture inspired by the myth of Parisian elegance and Dandyism.
Mostly centred around Brazzaville and Kinshasa, the adjacent Capitals of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo respectively, the Sapeurs cultivate their refined gentility amid their countries war-torn, extreme poverty.
But despite this nations history, Sapeurs are pacifists – for them style is about being respectful with a pure attitude and impeccable manners.
Creativity is paramount – although many will spend whatever they have on clothes, it’s not about the money, it’s about style and being flamboyant in oneself, despite the circumstances.
(All the pictures above by Baudouin Mouanda)
They are ordinary people, with ordinary jobs who break free by transforming their dusty pavements into fabulous fashion runways. But the truth is these characters are teachers, creatures of spirit with a powerful, requisite flair and passion.
(Photo by Hector Mediavilla)
Sharp and sly, like poetry in motion with their hearts turned to the sun, they demand that there can be great riches in small spaces..their irresistible sense of pride says you can be whatever you want to be…and sometimes we all need that fairytale.
(Photo by Hector Mediavilla)
A very short documentary – worth watching! x
To those that say their style is part of a legacy of cultural imperialism and a post-colonial carry-over they say:
‘White people invented the clothes..but we turned them into an art form’
Personally, I doff my bright yellow trilby to them.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 