The RANDOM INSPIRATION: Seaside

The weather has been acting pretty weird these past couple of days. Yesterday it was hailing and this morning it was raining... Not exactly perfect weather conditions for a relaxing Sunday by the sea. Instead, here are some random seaside pictures I love!

The RUNWAY ~ (Wo)Man Ray

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Fall-Winter 2011/2012 Ready-To-Wear collection takes varied inspirations: Disney's 101 Dalmatians, Dracula and Strangler in the night. Though the expertly fashioned garments, the results it's a lot of confusion and not a main clear theme collection. He should't have let the 101 Dalmatians out of the showroom!  

Castelbajac's show draws upon a surrealism undercurrent with citations of Elsa Schiaparelli eccentric hats, Dalì's mustache and Man Ray's masterpieces. A collection he dubbed "Woman Ray". Nevertheless it's another example that can be added to the long list of the use of art icons in fashion. Unfortunately not a good one. The positive thing is that using famous photographs by Man Ray on the dresses might be an efficient way to practise art history these days. There was no creative effort. Castelbajac creative phase culminated in the presentation of the moodboard. A mere copy and paste on the dress that is symptomatic of a lack of inspiration. Or to be precise, inspiration it's the only thing which he have thought. 'A propos, do you remember Victor and Rolf Fall 2008 collection? ...

The OFF-CATWALK ~ New York Fashion Week by Photodiarist 2

Another fabulous Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2011 has come to an end in New York. Here the second part of  the Newyorker photoblogger The Photodiarist, a few photographs of the people attending the shows or hanging around the venue. The Photodiarist met quite a few of the big name fashion bloggers and a number of well known editors and creative directors, including Anna Wintour, Emmanuelle Alt, Grace Coddington, Glenda Bailey and Anna Dello Russo. As I always suggest you and for those of you who haven't noticed her work, check them out here. For those readers who are less into fashion and more into her usual works, don't worry. The Photodiarist didn't change into a fashion blog. She promised the blog will soon return to normal. 

"I must say, it has been a good fashion week for me. I only wish I had the time (and not as much work) to go to London, Milan and Paris. Since NYFW comes around only twice a year, I must indulge in a little street/fashion week style".

The OFF-CATWALK ~ New York Fashion Week by Photodiarist

Newyorker photoblogger The Photodiarist is in action at New York Fashion Week. I've already written about her  works here and here Interesting to see how this photographer turns her lens on the well-dressed people of New York . She says: "I am a diarist of ordinary moments that move me. I gravitate towards black and white photography but still celebrate color. I love the candid capture but respect the power of the choreographed moment. I study the rules of phos+graphis but am compelled periodically to ignore them". My suggestion? Check out daily The Photodiarist for a new yorker perspective.

The PHOTO ~ Erik Madigan Heck

Erik Madigan Heck is not your average 25-year-old in the fashion and art industry’s. This guy has a portfolio and cv that is hard to compete with. Having photographed for designers such Lanvin, Rick Owens, Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rodarte and Helmut Lang. 

Erik’s work as a photographer, publisher and cultural theorist has intertwined significantly with the world of ‘A’ in 2010, as can be seen in Giambattista Valli’s A#10. The work of photographer and nomenus quarterly Erik Madigan Heck is consistently noteworthy. I am personally most impressed by the distinct style of photography he has developed. His shoots have a rinasciment aura.  

The PHOTO ~ Nirrimi

These pictures of the photographer nirrimi are so lovely and wistful and sharp and witty...the recurring pops of vivid red are a fascinating counterpoint to the overall sense of softness. She says about her: 

"teenage gypsy with a camera in my hands and the entire world at my feet. it's a tough job to choose which moments to keep alive forever, but i live for it".

"i have a feeling my pictures will evolve as my life does, into more warmth and realness. i'm finding my feet and planting them in the soil much deeper now. but the gypsy blood still flows. joyous new years. make memories you are proud to keep".

The PHOTO ~ Ulyana

Here some works of the russian talented photographer Ulyana Sergeenko. She brings 1940/1950’s fashion back not only in her personal outfits but also in her shoots.

 

 

The PHOTO ~ Alvaro Beamud Cortes

Alvaro selfportrait

Some time ago I stumbled upon Alvaro Beamud Cortes’ portfolio. I love this young and talentuous photographer. He captures the Essence of Femininity. His work is not only dynamic, it also showcases his eye for composition and color, as well as his skills in the photo manipulation department.

Alvaro, originally from Valencia, is currently the creative director of one of the sleekest fashion magazines in Spain, 5 Magazine at only 28 he has a great vision for what is going. Alvaro's eye for detail has enabled the magazine to lead the pack and constantly deliver fashion editorials that convey beauty, style and a fresh point of view - with the hottest new models in every issue.

Forever the multitasker, Alvaro has managed to juggle parallel lives as a creative director and a well-travelled photographer. His journeys in Italy and Morocco are a major influence on his work, and it is this creative balance that has allowed him to publish in international magazines including Flair, L'Officiel, Biba and Ponytail, to name but a few.

The PHOTO ~ The Photodiarist

New York 6th Avenue and Bleeck

Here are some pictures of the newyorker blogger Photodiarist. Her works move me. A newyorker Inspiration. My suggestion? Check out The Photodiarist for a new yorker perspective.

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Mr Newton in Paris

A few of Mr Newton snapshots from around town on day two of Paris Fashion Week…

The PHOTO ~ The Photodiarist

Here are some pictures of the newyorker blogger Photodiarist. Her works move me. A newyorker Inspiration. She says: "I am a diarist of ordinary moments that move me. I gravitate towards black and white photography but still celebrate color. I love the candid capture but respect the power of the choreographed moment. I study the rules of phos+graphis but am compelled periodically to ignore them". My suggestion? Check out The Photodiarist for a new yorker perspective.

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Milan Fashion Week by Tommy Ton

One of my favourite photoblogger, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil blog, is back in action at Milan Fashion Week.

The OFF-CATWALK ~ London fashion week by Tommy Ton

One of my favourite photoblogger, Tommy Ton of Jak& Jil blog, is back in action at London Fashion Week.

The PHOTO ~ Quentin Shih for Christian Dior

It's time for round two. Chinese photographer Quentin Shih was commissioned by the house of  Dior to produce a series of images, using the last couture collection. The images would be displayed in the boutiques windows for the reopening of the Dior boutique in Shanghai. I like the douce colours.

The Chinese photographer Quentin Shih already collaborated with Christian Dior back in 2008, producing the beautiful series of photographs titled "Stranger in the Glass Box".

The ART ~ Cecil Beaton

"Perhaps the world’s second-worst crime is boredom; the first is being a bore".

Some people claim there is art in everything, others that there in an art of doing everything more or less well. Surely Cecil Beaton was an exception: there was definitely art in everything he did, but he also had a very special skill, a sort of art in composing perfect images and putting together inspiring scrapbooks.

No wonder then that publishing house Assouline decided to release a volume dedicated to Beaton's wonderful collages. Introduced by James Danziger, Beaton – The Art of the Scrapbook is a 392-page volume dedicated to a man who was also a chronicler of fashion, style, people and places. The scrapbook pages collected in this thick tome are selected from the forty-two volumes owned by the Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s in London and are a sort of revised version of the 1937 anthology Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook.