Editorial

There have been several great editorials this month.  This one comes from Russian Vogue, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier featuring model Maryna Linchuk in ‘The House of Culture’. I think it’s so interesting how the cultural mix of high fashion with Russian, Spanish and Chinese elements, interpreted through tailoring and silhouette, come together to make something worth looking at and which reflects the research that must have gone into the concept. The simple hair and make-up with almost no accessories let the clothes speak for themselves.
 

Editorial

This editorial comes out of the pages of Italian Vogue. Photographer Marco D’Amico uses double exposure  to create these surreal shots. Styled by Italo Pantano and modelled by Anna Juzova this series  is a glimpse into the future. I think it also references Egypt, with a certain sphinx-like quality.  I love the braided hair which gives her already angular face an even more sculpted edge and I really like that each look has great statement jewellery (my favourite thing in the world). The muted colour palette is just right: add pattern to this and the concept would have become a bit lost and more kaleidoscopic.

Source: FashionGoneRogue.com

Shade

I’ve just bought this new lampshade for my bedroom and I just love the effect it has on the walls and ceiling – simple pleasures!  It’s made out of metal with a lattice design that creates the illusion of Moroccan opulence around the room, lovely.

Editorial

This editorial comes from Flair magazine and it is absolutely stunning. Photographed by Jean-Francois Campos, featuring model Denisa Dvorakova and styled by fashion editor Vittoria Cerciello, these photos are just so incredible.  There is something really exciting about the positions of her body and the bold tribal patterns of the make-up on her face, contrasting with the softer lines of the landscape.  The angularity of the model set against the vast emptiness of the background have the effect of  making her look like both a futuristic alien and an ancient goddess. Obviously some of this has been achieved in post, but there is something about the feel of these photos and the way that as art they transcend both the fashion and the location….  Amazing sums it up.

Source:FashionGoneRogue.com

Play that Dune

I worked as the assistant on this spring campaign and now it’s officially in Dune windows and online.  I loved the Bridget Bardot feel, all the great block colours and the stagey cutouts used for the set.  The photos below are from the Dune website with the exception of the last two, which I took on my Blackberry outside their shop in Covent Garden.

The Met Ball 2011

This year’s Met Ball was an homage to Alexander McQueen, in connection with the much anticipated ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’  exhibition which opens at the MET in NYC tomorrow (until 31st July).   I’m hoping to see it when I’m over there in a couple of weeks time. Some years I feel there is more to criticize than compliment at the Met Ball, but this year I’m going to overlook all the faux pas and nearly misses to concentrate on the good selection of people who got it right.

First then, Liv Tyler in Givenchy. Does anyone look bad in couture Givenchy? I’ve yet to see it. Even though this is an incredibly elegant, oragami, feathered Ricardo Tisci invention, the ultimate in design and couture,  she carries it off as if this dress was custom made for her.  And I love the simple uber glossy hair.

Amber Valletta in Stella McCartney. Stella dressed a surprisingly large number of the A-listers last night and I thought this stood out as one of the best. I love the peacock feather pattern framing the hem of the bodice against the plain skirt. It’s simple but super elegant and I love the big statement earrings. It’s a far cry from Stella’s last questionable  lemons and oranges collection.

Beyonce, in figure hugging Emilio Pucci. Now she is all woman. It is a pretty full on look with the high collar and I think she carries it off, firstly because of her amazingly curvy body, but also because of the smile. If she’d been too pouty and with big hair it would have made it far too much. I love the extra lace on the cleavage.

Blake Lively in Chanel. She looks amazing, there really is no if, but or maybe about it. I think the darker almost strawberry blonde hair really suits her and this dress shows off her enviable figure. The draping is beautifully subtle and I love the nude bodice with the delicate silver embroidery.

Brooklyn Decker in Michael Kors. It’s bright, very bright, but she looks young and fresh . Her shorter hair suits her so much better and makes her stand out amongst the usual blonde-extensioned swim wear models. I love the fact that the shoes are nude so that they look like her legs just continue to the floor. Great cocktails rings with a good smallish bag makes the whole outfit one of my favourite; simple elegance.

Christina Ricci in Zac Posen. This dress is really quite something. It’s slightly corpse bride but at the same time delicate and intricate like a line drawing. The insane sculpting on it makes it spectacular, though it’s a shame about the jutting hip bones. It’s totally different from what I’d normally expect Posen to do, and although it does reference his more familiar pleating and homage to a woman’s figure, it’s dark beauty definitely moves it into Alexander McQueen territory.

Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen. Well she would, wouldn’t she? One of the few woman who doesn’t get over powered by a Big Bird’s date night outfit, although she shouldn’t have worn the tights! This really is an incredible piece of artistry, with its beautiful lilac colour and dramatic silhouette.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. Her eclectic style can be hit and miss for me, but this is beautiful. She looks like  a sexy grown up woman, the slit is pretty damn high but with long sleeves and a high neck she can get away with it. I like the Veronica Lake hair and the red lips. It looks effortless which is one of the qualities of great style.

Doutzen Kroes in Giambattista Valli. It’s big and red and I love it. Yes, it blends a little into the carpet but I love how it relies totally on the shape and the girl inside it to carry it off. Despite its huge train this is suprisingly simple but many an actress or model would easily get swallowed up in the red mist. I  love that there are no accessories and the hair and make-up are kept simple.

Ginnifer Goodwin suprisingly in Topshop. It’s quite a look but I think it works for her and, although I think this can go either way as a description but here it’s meant as a compliment, it’s because she’s kooky. I love her pixie hair cut and the super strong blue eye makeup. The dress is stunning colour and although I think the ruched sides would be widening on most people she seems to carry it well. I love the turquoise and green necklace; I think I want that more than the dress and shoes!

Karolina K in Jean Paul Gaultier. She’s a model therefore she can get away with looks like this. It’s interesting, it’s different, it requires time to take in all the details from the lace straps, the feather hand bracelet to the messy bun. Top model, top look.

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton. I’m on the fence but I wanted to give her some marks for trying. Although I think full length is needed for the MET ball, this is something a bit alternative. She always trys different looks out and I’ve seen photos taken from varying angles where it looks great and where it really doesn’t. Maybe if she’d gone for large coloured jewellery, bigger hair and some other shoe, but somehow the sleek hair and diamond earrings bring it away from high fashion.

Michelle Williams in custom made Miu Miu and it’s another that I love. Since Miu Miu and Erdem used lots of swallow motifs a couple of seasons ago they have become a much seen symbol. Here I love the way the birds catch the light on this grown up and sexy dress.  Her hair is just right for it too, she looks so great with it short.

Rachel Wood in Gucci. Burgundy, dark purple, aubergine,whatever you want to call, it is one of my favourite colours. It looks amazing against her white skin and I love the double layers over the bust and the hint of grey sparkle. Gothic and feminine and sensuous.

Shalom Harlow in Marchesa. Only a 5’11 plus model could handle this typically Marchesa dress, with its strong silhouette and curving fabric lines. It looks both structured and fluid as water. I like the small detail  of the feather covering her parting.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen. The hair is a little full on, slightly too Dallas and hard. But wow, the dress is stunning, with its incredible beading detail and great body-framing seaming. Incidentally, I also love the white number with the yellow sleeves just to the side of her.

Vera Wang in, shockingly, Vera Wang. Although she is painfully thin, I love the colour and the pleating that goes all the way down the front; it looks bohemian and yet chic. I also like the grecian leafed headdress.

PictureSource: Zimbio

Cover Try x3

It’s the May cover play-offs between some of Europe’s Vogues; lots of different looks, lots of great models with lots of attitude.

Starting with Paris Vogue starring Kate Moss, photographed by Mert & Marcus. As you will know if you read my blog, I am not a massive Kate Moss fan but this cover and the editorial that goes with it (which I will post up later) sees her looking better to me than she has in a long time; you still get the ever present open mouth but somehow here this expression seems to work. Take away the hands from this cover and it immediately becomes less interesting, they add some sexual drama and a provocative energy. I like the nonchalant tilt of the head and the hair looks great flowing to one side. Paris Vogue’s new editor, Emmanuelle Alt, has produced an eye-catching and confident cover number 2.

Next up is Russian Vogue. Model Maryna Linchuk shot by Patrick Demarchelier in an ethnic meets rock mood. Again the full editorial is incredible and I will post on that later. I think this cover is so strong, with great ‘stage presence’ (if you can use that term to describe a magazine cover).There is a simplicity about the grey background and the slicked hair.  I love the mix of the African inspired necklaces with a beautifully crafted period feel dress and then there’s the languor of the strategically placed black gloved right hand. With the bare foot to finish it off, this is an intriguing cover thought through from top to toe.

And finally Vogue Germany, featuring model Julia Stegner photographed by Alexi Lubomirski. This has a real Gucci campaign sexiness to it. Your eye is drawn to the stubbled man in the shadows, used almost as a leaning post for the golden girl. It could have been all about seduction, but there is an air of wariness and also of danger about the picture which I find really interesting.

Source: FashionGoneRogue.com