ALPHA

After a day of hunting for photographers for a Photography Brief I have discovered some great new image makers who I had never heard of before..but my favourite find of the day was Inez and Vinoodh, not because of their ostensible photographic composition or tone, but because of the post production and artist direction they apply creative great depth and sophistication of mediums. 

This photographic duo have come to attention at the perfect time to influence both my Photographic Brief and also my personal endeavours to become more creative graphically. Having worked with Balenciaga, Viktor and Rolf and Stella McCartney to name a mere few I was suprised at not hearing the names of Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin before.

But the best thing I found while researching these guys a little further was this beautifully crafted alphabet which encompasses the ideas of fashion image and graphic additions I was considering for my own Easter Project of....creating my own alphabet. Lucky!

Here's my first attempt..it has a long way to go..and another 25 letters too!

My Prada J....Perhaps a Jil Sander or Jean Paul Gautier look would work better though, a nice underlying theme to add to my alphabet!

HI SHOES

My attempt to start my marketing report has met it's first point of distraction. Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony..why must you do this to me. I love almost every pair of shoes on the website...'ERE...but these really popped from the page. I adore the huge 1970's worthy bleached wood heels and the subtle minimal details on the leather on each shoes. 

Huge love for the bow topped slip on clogs and the sex appeal ridden utility boots. WOW.

GRAPHIC

Inspired by recent lectures about composition and graphic elements I have just had a little delve in the area, one which I haven't really tried before..but now look forward to practising more often.

I'm pretty happy with these and once I pick a favourite (..please comment and let me know your favourite!!) I may have a bit of a blog makeover and use one of these as a header.

P.S

I love this...

DEMENTIA

Whilst looking obsessively at the A/W shows of the recent London fashion I thought I could see this trend forming and now that the show season is complete I have cast an eye over more of what is on offer for the coming season and created a gallery of the very WI inspired looks.

Designers who referenced the ageing population's love of knitting and somewhat senile pattern clashes include Vivienne Westwood, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Missoni and Hermes, but most notably House of Holland and Christopher Kane championed the look with their new age take on OAP chic. 

Whilst Kane opted for futuristic opulence with laminated crochet and fluid filled plastic trims, Henry Holland gave the trend a real sense of juxtaposition which create a very gin and tonic fuelled bedraggled look. Holland's hectic budgy and bingo prints where matched with more knitting circle crochet, pop sock length striped socks, animal print and oodles of figure defining pearl embellishment.

More sophisticated fashion houses such as Hermes and pattern renowned Missoni expressed the trend through texture and layering. Hermes made awfully putrid 1970's geometry is mustard and terracota shades work (some how!!) and accesorised with pendants which resembled panic buttons and pill boxes. Missoni's patterns were far more delicate and kindhearted, with lavender and mauve layers of demure shirts and buttoned up knitwear. 

Of course many of the high end looks were topped with fantastically cateract worthy eyewear, whilst Westwood opted for full of velcro rollers and headscarves for her Red Label show.

I can't wait to see if the high street recreates this look and feel the seemingly unconsidered layering of print and texture will translate really well to the way we dress next season. It's a totally new and playful take on the vintage aesthetic...i'm just not sure i'm prepared to go the whole hog on this one.

INSPIRE

I've begun to think about my uni report for a UK brand's move to the US market. I have chosen to use Whistles as my brand and am really excited to plan the Visual Merchandising and Interior Design of a flagship US store. Again Studio Too Good has shown me some amazing examples of creativity..here's a few collage's of my favourtite projects...

This company shows so much creativity and risk taking...which always appears to have produced an amazing outcome.

...check out more projects 'ERE.

SELF SERVICE

No.34: It features my creative idol Venetia Scott, a gorgeous photoshoot with the epically womanly Lara Stone and a beautifully clean, minimalistic and colour considerate layout. I need to get my hands on this journal.

Check out the blog 'ERE.

GLASTONBURY

And while i'm on the subject of festival vibes...

You have got to watch this video. It's stunning and got me pining for Glastonbury to come around again, so many memories of getting weirded out in the surreal layers of Shangri La, finding secret sets in The Park and chilling at 5am by the Stone Circle. Being with the best people, waiting for the gorgeous sun to rise again, ready for another day at where is truly my favourite place on earth. 

(I'm not feeling the intro but the visuals are so gorgeous, they sent a shiver!)

And here's a shoot by Corinne Day featuring Gemma Ward at Glastonbury 2005 for Vogue UK.

Seriously, it's a pretty stylish place to be.

Little fact: Corinne also photographed Pete Doherty of The Libertines and Babyshambles for this shoot, she got him to pose with an £8000 Martin Margiela Designer Snake. Doherty proceeded to throw the faux reptilian into the crowd after 30 seconds of his performance and it was ripped to shreds.

H&M MAG

I love these images from H&M's magazine. True 1970's 'band aid' this shoot really reminds me of Almost Famous. I love the references to music because it doesn't take an insider to know how much music influences fashion and vice versa. This girl is a little bit Bianca Jagger, a little bit Lux from the Virgin Suicides.

I love the 1970's female perfection look.

Possibly one of the sexiest eras, with wild child treases and figure hugging denim but everything feels so naturalistic. Topshop Unique were so on the money last September.

This is my favourite piece from the ready to wear collection now available online, shame it costs the same amount of money as a festival ticket eh!?

...you can read more about my obsession with this collection 'ERE.

FERALFEST

Following on from the images I found yesterday I made this mood board for Urban Outfitters..I wanted to show the festival look of 2011 which I think will pull together sporty colour blocking and dark hippy feral elements such as feathers and Nomad style prints and fringing.

I also had a play with a Photoshop techniques I learnt this week to add a graphic element...

"A naughty festival vibe with this season's paint box colour pops and feral nomad references."

BLOCKS

Inspired by the UO shoot.

Reminiscent of 1970's Burning Man, Glastonbury Mud, Teenage Campouts, Your Gran's Holiday Snaps, Escapism and Fairytales.

WIW

What I wore on Tuesday...

Dressing down full on sequins.

Dress - French Connection

Leather Jacket - Found

Gem - Topshop

Belt - Vintage

..reminds me of my magazine spread from last term's portfolio which was inspired by Ashish's use of sequins as day wear and understating luxury.

(See my report of Ashish's latest collection 'ERE)

UO PROJECTS

Looking over the Urban Outfitters website today I found this shoot and instantly loved it, the setting totally reminds me of a place near home where I shot a music video for a college project.

The beauty of these photographs is their honesty, the clothes do not adhere to trend..nor are they luxurious, the models are not outer worldly wide eyes beings and the scenery is naturalistic and raw. The narrative of the images portrays the escapism of Urban Outfitter's consumer, it's no frills but works so well. The animalistic, survival aesthetic creates a feeling of adventure and care-freeness. The photos could be those from the disposable camera of a group of friends. Just love 'em....

See the set and read an interview with the photographer 'ERE

And check out some more of Viktor Vauthier's work 'ERE

RI

..made some mood boards today to send of with a placement application for River Island. 

Here they are.....

CHALLENGING

..the 30 day music challenge isn't working out so well.

But here is an amazing mix from Blawan to make up for it. After witnessing his Filthy Tech House on Tuesday at Lost Boyz Club I am going to be keeping a very close eye, this guy has a huge presence on the stage check him out 'ERE.

Or for something a little more mainstream..check the Dazed Digital playlist 'ERE

DRAIN.

This is the A1 sized demon which has drained my brain for the past week.

Each side features a different area of exploration for an illustrated essay..and after my presentation i'm still not sure which to pick...I found the convergence of Architecture and Fashion in Modernist and Post-Modernist far more interesting than I had expected. But the evolution of Androgyny is undeniable fascinating....comment if you have a favourite.

Photo's aren't exactly artistically poised but you get the idea.