Friday, March 30, 2012

Denni Elias, Paris


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Taylor Tomasi Hill, before Missoni


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Paloy Horwang, Milan


Monday, March 26, 2012

Phil Oh, Milan

Phil Oh a.k.a Mr Street Peeper

Thursday, March 22, 2012

A girl can write...

There are gazillions of blogs out there in the blogosphere...majority are visual. I think that's because these days we are so busy, that an image is the quickest, easiest and globally understood way of communicating a piece of information (or sharing an opinion or expressing oneself). May be it is also because some people do not have the time to write or are just not very good at expressing their thoughts in writing. I mean... uploading a photo takes about 5 seconds... whilst writing something readable will take a lot longer. Another reason why people (e.g. me) don't write very often is for lack of inspiration. Like right now - I felt the urge to write something so instead of going to bed like I should be, I'm sitting here frantically trying to get the words out of my head and onto a paper (fine, computer screen... call it whatever you want!)

So I guess what I am trying to say is that pleasant writers are very hard to come by and that's exactly why I don't follow very many lifestyle blogs. There are 3 blogs that I actually enjoy reading: Liberty London Girl,  Cruella blog and as of a few months ago Oui Non Maybe. All three are very different.. the first is a fashion insider who requires no introduction, second a witty "dig-deeper" style blog which analyses various media articles and society in general from an incredibly intelligent and opinionated perspective, and finally a true lifestyle blog about a gal living in London and letting you in on her everyday life.

At this point in time I feel that I should make the necessary disclosure and admit that the last one happens to be written by a friend of mine but I assure you that it is not the reason you are reading about it here! It is incredibly difficult to reflect your personality in your writing.. and I think Sarah does a brilliant job at that. Or, as our slightly tipsy mutual friend put it to me the other day "I'm f***ing loving Sarah's blog by the way!". What can I say.. I couldn't agree more :)

Anyway, I guess the point of this post is that sometimes it is good to just slowdown, shut up and read something well written. That's why I wanted to share the love! Enjoy!

p.s. I'm pretty sure Sarah wouldn't like me posting a massive photo of her on here. The allure of blogging is after all somewhat in the element of anonymity, so instead I post a photo of her bracelet :)

p.p.s  S is an Instagram junkie - you've been warned!

xx  

Yulia Bordovskih before Jil Sander


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Poncho, Milan


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ulyana Sergeenko, outside John Galliano



This was the first season that I photographed Ulyana Sergeenko. I first spotted her at Paris Fashion Week in March last year but I was a little hesitant. Firstly, back then I wasn't sure who she was exactly, she had a cloud of street style photographers surrounding her wherever she appeared and I had suspicions that she might be one of those people who "dress for press". But I kept her on my radar and every time I would go back to Russia for a visit I would look out for her in the fashion magazines. Turns out, she doesnt dress for press, but rather her dress sense is very much an extension of who she is. Ulyana's style is consistently chic with a tinge of nostalgia for the 1950's when women were feminine, fragile and demure. Ulyana is a fashion designer and her label is very much an extension of her distinctive personal style. You can see Ulyana's latest lookbook here.
xx

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Burnt Orange Gilet... Milano


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Psalm 44:21 ...


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe

I'm a street style blogger. This means I spend the entire fashion week in my Converse shoes. It is practically impossible to wear anything else. I mean I've tried the oxfordy looking flats, I've tried tiny heels from Zara but at the end of the day only in Converse can you make it back to the hotel room and be able to do it all over again the next day and for the rest of the fashion month. 

Reality ... (Dvora, me and Nyanzi at Paris Fashion Week)

Having said that, I must confess that I get an extreme case of shoe envy especially when it comes to other bloggers. Obvious example - Hedvig. By the end of the Paris Fashion Week I started suspecting that Hedvig is a superior human being to everyone else as she spend the entire fashion month running around in super high heels. And I'm talking not your 'pretend' chunky heel or kitten heel, I'm talking the real deal, 6 inch and up! I cannot even begin to imagine what her podiatrist bill comes to at the end of that torturous month.

When surrounded by such eye candy, I feel doubly inadequate in my little converse shoes. As a self-confessed shoeaholic, fashion week for me is akin to teetotaling at a bachelor party in Ibiza. 

As a result of the "shoe situation" and me being 5 foot tall (I'm strong believer that ladies who are tall and skinny - basically the model types - can get away with wearing flats and still looking good.. I mean they can get away with pretty much anything!), I gave up the notion of dressing up for fashion week entirely. 

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the quality of my photographs is directly proportional to the level of my physical comfort. If I am cold or my feet hurt or (the greatest evil of all) I am hungry then I am less likely to care about the fashionistas around me and focus my energy on fixing the problem - buying extra socks, overpaying for an umbrella outside the Tuileries, running around the block in Milan trying to find a cafe that 'looks good' (what a travesty!) - you name it, i've done it.

So where does this leave me? This leaves me in jeans, converse shoes, with a warm scarf around my neck and chewing something from the cafe in the closest proximity (crepes, panini, peanut butter sandwich).

I really do hope that one day I will find that perfect shoe that will be beautiful and comfortable and I will be running around taking photos and still looking fabulous! Until then… jeans and converse it is.

xx    

What I wish I was wearing :) (click the arrows to slideshow)

Leather and Denim, Paris


Sunday, March 11, 2012

Michelle Harper, Paris





Thursday, March 8, 2012

French chic, Grand Palais

Loving this colour scheme...camel, brown and red - it just works. By the way does anyone know the name of this french fashion editor?? xx

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Natalia Alaverdian, Jardins des Tuileries

Natalia Alaverdian - Fashion Editor, Harpers Bazaar Russia 

Natalia is always a bit understated in her personal style and rarely wears screaming, attention seeking outfits. However, she is a very bold and talented stylist and has the ability to brilliantly transcribe her vision onto the pages of numerous editorials that she has styled. You can check out her work at www.nataliaalaverdian.com. 

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Simone Marchetti - Before Viktor & Rolf, Paris


And the award for best on [fashion] field goes to..... Simone Marchetti!

I find that generally, men don't like to be photographed all that much (or at least the ones that you want to photograph don't), which is a shame really because with all the countless street style blogs out there, there is still a tangible void in the blogosphere when it comes to men's style. I don't know whether it has anything to do with the overpowering machismo which still underpins so many cultures. What I do know however, is that men around the world, though some in secret, are hungry for style direction. In today's world where fashion is no longer a measure of status but rather a way of self-expression, both men and women are craving style rather than actual fashion. A few may judge me when I say that, as a gross generalisation, women are a little more intuitive when it comes to colour. Which is why I think style inspiration from street style blogs is so valuable. And which is why I am surprised that there not that many good gentlemen style blogs. It's like a cheat sheet on how to combine colours and put together non conventional looks (well that's certainly how I tend to use them :)).

Anyway, I digress... The point of this post was to share my newfound love for the man in the picture above (who thankfully, doesn't mind being photographed). I spotted Simone both at Milan and Paris fashion weeks and every time I saw him, he made my day a little brighter. I love seeing wearable style. And that is exactly what Simone is about - every outfit he wore at fashion week you could put on any more or less respectable gentleman on the street and he would wear it proudly without feeling inadequate.

For me that's what real fashion is about - when anyone, fashion savvy or not, can recognise that THIS is beautiful, tasteful and aesthetically stimulating.

Oh and did I mention that Simone also happens to be an exceptionally nice, friendly and generally lovely to everyone kinda person?! Well, he is!

p.s. you can also see Simone's look from Milano here    

xx

More printed trousers...


Flower print is the new black - that's old news. If you haven't heard it yet then you must've been living under a rock. A slightly more current issue is how exactly does one wear this weird and wonderful (and amazingly comfortable) style WELL. The thing about flower print, especially when we are talking about trousers, is that it presumably should inhabit the "day" section of your wardrobe. The only problem  is  that it (the print) is  so "loud" that at times feel that I have to be in the right mood to wear it.

In my opinion this young lady has managed the "day flower print trouser" look beautifully. The jacket makes the look more casual whilst not clashing with the print and heels balance the look by adding a certain softness by way of their pastel colour. LOVE! xx

Issey Miyake - AW 2012 show review

The Issey Miyake AW 2012 show was held at the beautiful Grand Palais on Champs Elysees but that was pretty much the only romantic thing about it. Yoshiuki Miyamae presented a collection that is high tech and is best viewed in 3D glasses. The show commenced with the demonstration of the steam stretch concept fabric that the designer used to define this collection.

However for me the fascination lay in the shapes. The highlight was definitely the outerwear, where complex shapes were complemented by the clashing fabric and colour combinations. Padding, mesh, silk, knitting - you name it, it was all there on the catwalk in colours that varied from icy cold blues to burnt orange, red and charcoal.

Speaking of charcoal... an odd one out - classically tailored pant suit left me a little confused as it did not seem to fit the otherwise very progressive and almost high-tech looking collection. Overall wearable yet exciting and hopefully practical pieces to look forward to next winter. If there are two things to remember from this collection, it would be 'coats' and 'steam stretch fabric'.


Monday, March 5, 2012

Vika Gazinskaya, after Viktor & Rolf, Paris


It is always nice to find inspiration when you don't expect it. While Milan fashion week gave me a completely new perspective of men's style and inspired me to shoot more gentlemen, Paris fashion week surprised me with an abundance of beautifully dressed Russians. Although Vika & Co have been bloggers' favourites for a number of seasons, for me this was the first season when I got to shoot these ladies. In the photo above Vika is wearing one of her own designs. I'm loving the relaxed jumper paired with the printed trouser. Oh and don't forget the eye make-up - in case you haven't noticed - straight off the Dries Van Noten catwalk :) 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Karlie Kloss, Outside Viktor & Rolf


Anna Dello Russo - Outside Haider Ackermann


Paris Fashion Week - behind the scenes


Thought I would share some of the "action shots" from the Paris Fashion Week - always fun :)


Jardins des Tuileries

Bloggers, hangers on'ers and sundry others
outside Viktor & Rolf
World Fashion channel at work

Nadia, Pete Navey, Jason (Citizen Couture), Tamu and Anne Catherine

Katy Perry and her blue hair

Where is Wally? Katy Perry being mobbed by photographers
The Aussie club - Australian model Montana being shot by a bunch of Aussie photogs 
Facehunter at work

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Elisa Nalin - Outside Emporio Armani