Everything is Beautiful

New Blog

2011-03-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hello,
I've started a new fashion blog, please check it out here: www.quillandcloak.wordpress.com (link doesn't work). Thanks!

meditation

2010-07-24T17:44:00.001-07:00

source 1.2.3.4
xo

interview with naomi nowak

2010-07-08T14:35:00.001-07:00

Naomi Nowak is a painter, illustrator, and graphic novelist who holds the sacred gift of endless creativity, always inspired by the world around her, things seen and unseen. Please check out the interview I did with her here.

For more information and to see more of her work please visit her website and blog.
xo

tip of the hat

2010-07-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

Piers Atkinson is a grandmaster of hats, the kind of hats that define an entire look. His pieces are carefully crafted works of art, running the gamut from somber, delicate veils to brazen, colorful crowns of bouquets and pom poms. Regardless of the theme, his playful sense of humor always shines through. See the rest of his work here.

starburst

2010-07-06T16:42:00.001-07:00

Photo by Olivier Zham
xo

a celebration of texture

2010-05-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

I will always think of fashion as an artform, one of the more democratic forms of art that almost everyone can relate to.
Sandra Backlund

Sandra Backlund Autumn/Winter 2010 Lookbook
See the rest here
Read interview here

xo

the palpable obscure

2010-05-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

Being a pretty major fan of black metal, I have to say that this blog is much, much cooler than mine. A wealth of inspiration for getting back to my roots in the richly varied world of fashion.

brandi strickland

2010-05-13T13:17:00.001-07:00

I mean, wow. See the rest of her work here.

in other oak news...

2010-05-04T18:15:00.001-07:00

...an editorial from their magazine, Oak-a-zine, issue #4.

Photo source here
xo

la foret

2010-05-04T17:06:00.001-07:00

Photo source 1.2.3.4.5
xo

happy full moon

2010-04-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold,
A Night or two ago --
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below --

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde --
Her Cheek -- A Beryl hewn --
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known --

Her lips of Amber never part --
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friends she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will --

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star --
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door --

Her Bonnett is the Firmament --
The Universe -- Her Shoe --
The Stars -- the Trinkets at Her Belt --
Her Dimities -- of Blue --

-Emily Dickinson

xo

wish list from oak

2010-04-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

I'm more into their accessories and shoes rather than the clothing, especially these...

watch by la mer

shoes by oak

earrings by ymk for castro

go shopping at Oak here
xo

heartsong

2010-04-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

photo source here
xo

spectrum

2010-04-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

photo source 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10
xo

from times past to present

2010-04-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Feminine, whimsical, and a bit undone, Gary Graham's 2010 Spring collection is a strong one for this up-and-coming designer. If you're not convinced, check out his latest Fall collection as well. Here is a designer with a strong personal vision, who is managing to manifest this vision into clothes that are versatile and modern. I'm really excited to see future collections...

see the rest here
xo

the nothing

2010-04-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

Photography by Maria Baranova ... her use of black is quite dramatic, don't you think?

found via A quickening...
xo

the cool girl

2010-04-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

all photos by David Shama
xo

i want to dream in watercolors

2010-04-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

photo source here
xo

summer days

2010-04-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Yelena Yemchuk continues to inspire me with her latest editorial for Elle US. Every image captures the essence of lazy summer days, and she manages to make each photo special with unique details - the portrait with a rooster, the little girl off in the distance by the lake, the rainbow playing off a hill... her work is always so full of character and subtle narrative, making it consistently enjoyable and fascinating.

photo source here
xo

bubbles

2010-04-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Every year, in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, there is Roppongi Art Night, an outdoor art festival featuring installations and performances that go from dusk to dawn. For this one night the entire landscape changes with lights and sculptures and performances like this one - "Reve d'Herbert" by French street theater troupe Compagnie des Quidams. Amidst the glowing cherry blossoms, these white, ghostly figures came out and and slowly transformed into giant, illuminated bubbles. The successive images below give a general idea, but I imagine the spectacle in person was quite breathtaking. Note to self - must attend Roppongi Art Night at least once in my life.

photo source here
xo

ariana page russell

2010-04-13T18:23:00.001-07:00

My friend Ariana is an amazing photographer who creates works that are intriguing, innovative and beautiful. She was gracious enough to do an interview with me, in which she discusses the ideas and methods behind her work. The interview became an article for Thirds Magazine, check it out here. If you're in the area, she'll be having a show in Seattle at Platform Gallery, opening May 13.

Check out her website here
Thank you Ariana!
xo

silk trousers

2010-04-10T16:59:00.001-07:00

There is something incredibly luxurious about them...

photo source 1.2.3
xo

panels & cutouts

2010-04-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

Two methods of design I'm enjoying right now, exemplified by two designers. Paneled looks are by Lauren Kovin, cutouts are by Laura Mackness for Weekday.

Lauren Kovin

Laura Mackness

photo source here and here
xo

look into my eyes

2010-04-09T16:56:00.001-07:00

the latest beauty feature from Fashion156
see the rest here
xo

la muse

2010-04-08T21:51:00.001-07:00

Where do I begin - the styling, the hair, the soft light filtering through, the grimy art studio with old paint cans everywhere... basically, I love everything about this editorial. And the Ann Demuelemeester outfit is probably my favorite.

by Karel Kuehne for Quality Magazine #6 April 2010
see the rest here
xo

in the distant present

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

This editorial is incredible, every photo reminded me of an oil painting, even the black and white ones... are you familiar with Gerhard Richter? Perhaps I will do a post about him sometime.

by Aneta Bartos for Zoo Spring 2010
photo source here
xo

it's not only your looks, but your happiness too

2010-04-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

If you have any interest in classic film heroines, I strongly suggest checking out this girls tumblr. Not only does she post stunning images of female film stars from 1900-1960, but she's also an actual film buff as well! For most of the images she provides interesting information about the actress or film, and every week she post a "Friday Movie", with information about the heroine and the plot, and a link to watch it. I went through her entire tumblr in one sitting.

Theda Bara

Pina Menichelli

Martha Mansfield

Kim Novak

Lillian Gish

Chantal Goya

Greta Garbo

Elizabeth Taylor

Clara Bow

Bette Davis

All images from Classic Film Heroines

Also, here's an image of Anna Pavlova in costume for the video in my previous post.

reverie

2010-04-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

interview..david bowie and alexander mcqueen

2010-03-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

David Bowie: Do you ever work in the visual arts?
Alexander McQueen: No, but I just did a show the other day. I don't know if you heard, but we did this show, it was on water and we did this kind of cocoon for this girl made of steel rods and it was in the form of a three dimensional star and it was covered in this glass fabric so you could see through it and this girl was inside it, but we had all these butterflies flying around her inside it. So she was picking them out of the air and they were landing on her hand. It was just about the girl's own environment. So I was thinking about the new millennium, how in the future thinking you would carry around your home like a snail would. She was walking along in the water with a massive star covered in glass and the butterflies and death-faced moths were flying around her and landing on her hand and she was looking at them. It was really beautiful. It threw a lot of people completely sideways.

Excerpt from a spirited interview with Alexander McQueen by David Bowie, originally from Dazed and Confused Issue 26, November 1996. Read the rest here.

eyes & bells

2010-03-29T16:35:00.001-07:00

Josefin Arnell

Betina Moller

Photo source here
xo

stine ladefoged

2010-03-29T14:28:00.001-07:00

Sculptural knitwear by recent fashion graduate Stine Ladefoged.

Photo source here
xo

be an individual

2010-03-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

I had to post this, I keep seeing it on blogs and it has to be one of my favorite street style images as of late. Unfortunately, I can't figure out who took it, how embarrassing! If you know, please tell me!

Photo source here
xo

ruby aldridge

2010-03-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I love her look - tweed coat, tie dye scarf, studded bag, black leggings...

But most of all I love her hair.

Photo source here
xo

the soul, the body

2010-03-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Photo source 1/2/3/4/5/6
xo

looking good

2010-03-24T13:32:00.001-07:00

Jethro Cave in a recent editorial for GQ... new haircut, fantastic scarf.

Photo source here
xo

bohemian paradise

2010-03-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

I'm sensing a pattern with my style inspiration lately, first with the Vanessa Bruno post, then the Sartorialist look, now this. Kenzo encapsulates everything I love right now, loose and luxurious layers, vibrant colors, and the hat... oh the hat, I think I need to get one. A good fedora can be a timeless addition to any wardrobe.

Photo source here
xo

from scarf to turban

2010-03-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Does anybody know how this is done? Seems like a great idea, instant glamour!

Photo source here
xo

packing 101 with anna dello russo

2010-03-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Too good not to share...

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

patti smith

2010-03-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

"I have neither the discipline nor the desire to turn into someone else."
Read the New York Times article on her style here.

layered

2010-03-22T10:37:00.001-07:00

Photo source here
xo

the dane

2010-03-22T10:32:00.001-07:00

Photo source here
xo

contributions

2010-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

This past week I did a couple of fashion articles for two fantastic sites. Salt&Prep is a fun and classy fashion blog for teens, and Thirds is a beautiful online magazine with articles about art, fashion, music and more.

article @ Salt&Prep
article @ Thirds

Check it out!
xo

PS. Big thanks to Michelle and Carly, very nice ladies and I hope to work with them again soon! :)

yuli sato

2010-03-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

I am drawn to her work for all of the simple pleasures portrayed - swimming pools, collecting seashells, sleeping in trees, building forts. Considering she is a relatively young photographer, I'm excited to see where her work takes her. See the rest here.

time traveler

2010-03-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Gabriella Marina Gonzalez, A/W 2010. The press release is really beautiful -

Her current work was inspired by exploring feelings of emotional restrain and uncertainly about her position in time. She uses escapism to create a subconscious reality were time has no boundaries and she can bounce from past to future to collect data in an attempt to discover her purpose in the present. This is were she developed her designs for the current collection. the collection mixes periods and materials to create a historical camouflage making it difficult to associate with at particular period in documented time.this allows her to jump from era to era collection data unnoticed in hopes of one day understanding the world, human nature and herself. the collection was hand made entirely with her own hands in a long and meditative state adding a personal and emotional connection to each individual piece. she believes this transfers a bit of her aura to the piece in hope that the glow will shine acting like a light house of hope to lost and weary roamers so that they will know they are not alone.the collection consist mostly of brown and cream leathers, bronze fixtures and old stamps which gives the appearance of being made from reminisce of an abandoned victorian house. the t-shirt imagery is representative of a nameless ghost who explores the timeless subconscious world as people run with fear of the unknown. the platform shoes are an tool for the explorer. There towering heights create a pedestal form which she can look over crowded,infinite seas of people trying to stay afloat while searching for answers on this busy planet.

Photo source here
xo

shadow play

2010-03-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Photo source here
xo

quiet drama

2010-03-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

A look from John Galliano Fall 2010, photo by Olivier Zahm.

Galliano described the woman of this collection as being "as strong and fine as the needle of a compass." Beautiful.

Photo source here
xo

orange + red

2010-03-12T16:41:00.001-08:00

Mix them together and you get this lovely, vibrant color that will go quite nicely with all of the beige that is so popular right now.

Photo source 1.2.3
xo

happy friday

2010-03-12T16:30:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

last look

2010-03-10T12:29:00.000-08:00

From the Alexander McQueen Fall 2010 RTW collection...exquisite as ever.

See the rest here
xo

the traveling dancer

2010-03-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Although Vanessa Bruno says she was inspired by dancers for her fall collection, all I could think of as I looked through it was a woman traveling the world in search of adventure. Perhaps a dancer traveling the world? Okay that might be a stretch but it's a nice idea isn't it? My conception of it may be due to the functionality present in many of the pieces: large rain hats, fur-lined boots, the blazers and coats with a strap attached to hang it off your shoulder. At certain points the looks were downright nomadic. Dont' get me wrong, the dancer presence was certainly there, lots of leggings, wraparound jerseys and translucent layers.
The durability of the outerwear was contrasted with light and flowing dresses in feminine shades of peach and heather gray. For the most part, however, the palette consisted of the colors of autumn leaves - dusty pinks, chocolate browns, olive greens, burnt orange, plums and yellows. Perhaps a literal palette for the fall season, but it's really what makes this season so beautiful and special in the first place.

See the rest here
xo

lover strikes again

2010-03-10T08:54:00.001-08:00

And I mean that in the best way possible... last season I was immediately enamored with the zombie-grunge induced looks, and this season I am equally pleased with their collection titled The Harvest. Perhaps it is the fact that they continue to create clothes that are both wearable and unique. This season they have included the perfect combination of light and dark pieces, perhaps calling on the rhythms of day and night that play such an important role in the seasons and the harvest. Powder blues recall the midday sky, beige recalls the blades of wheat in the fields, and soft plums recall wildflowers scattered across the earth. Midnight blues and blacks recall the starry sky at night, and deep magenta recalls the last fires of the sunset. Romantic and down to earth (pardon the pun), there are looks to be worn out in the fields as well as ones to be worn out on the town.

Photo source here
xo

crystal power

2010-03-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Detail shot from the latest Lanvin show... sublime.
Photo source here
xo

the coolest pantsuit in the world.

2010-03-08T10:48:00.001-08:00

wow
Photo source here
xo

chimera

2010-03-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Photo source here
xo

2010-03-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

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roses and cigarettes

2010-03-06T14:34:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

instant classic

2010-03-06T13:54:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

all that glitters

2010-03-06T13:52:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

alien formations

2010-03-05T07:46:00.001-08:00

Gareth Pugh Fall 2010 RTW

Click images to enlarge, see the rest here.
xo

put on a pretty face

2010-03-04T14:10:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

one step at a time

2010-03-04T14:04:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

the queen

2010-03-04T10:59:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

spring romance

2010-03-04T10:46:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

lina scheynius

2010-03-03T09:30:00.001-08:00

Lina Scheynius is a photographer based in Sweden who creates images that are incredibly intimate, often titling collections as diaries. She invites you into her personal life and her dreams, questioning the borders of reality. There is an ethereal quality in her work that creates a sense of innocence and fantasy, while the subjects are often quite raw and literal. She steers away from digital, uses only natural lighting, and never retouches or crops the images, allowing for organic results that still hold their own magic. Definitely a photographer worth checking out, she also sells Polaroids that include a small note about when, where, and why the photo was taken.
xo

jewel tones

2010-03-02T22:36:00.001-08:00

Chris Benz

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Proenza Schouler

Reem Acra

One of my favorite trends from the Fall 2010 collections.
xo

power suit

2010-02-28T15:20:00.001-08:00

The Bottega Veneta Fall collection seems to have recreated the power suit, a sort of Melanie Griffith from Working Girl for 2010. Each look commands a presence with sweeping lines and broad silhouettes. There is a careful fusion of masculine and feminine that results in this image of power and success.

Masculine forms are created with strong shoulders and a straight waist. The shoulders are often pronounced with ruffles, padding, and various forms of leather "armor". In the day wear the waist is often left uncinched, creating straight lines down the sides of the figure. Some pieces are made entirely out of leather for a harder look. Feminine aspects are introduced in softer fabrics and draping, with cinched waists and flowing dresses. The silhouettes are long and towering, creating the vision of woman who is more of a queen than a princess.

This is not an emphasis on androgyny but rather an emphasis on the woman who has captured several dimensions of her own inherent nature, and can step out as such.

Click on images to enlarge, see the rest here

xo

laugh a little

2010-02-28T14:42:00.001-08:00

Three collections for Fall 2010 that made me smile, and remind us all not to take fashion too seriously...

Topshop Unique

Prada

Meadham Kirchhoff

(Click images to enlarge)

xo

rain dance

2010-02-27T19:14:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

where do you come from, where are you going

2010-02-26T11:57:00.001-08:00

Photo source here
xo

the dark side

2010-02-26T10:05:00.001-08:00

Black can mean a lot of things to a lot of people; it is dark, ambiguous, rebellious, sinister, spiritual, classy, sexy, and on and on. In Japan it symbolizes nobility, age and experience. For the Fall 2010 collection, Frankie Morello chose to play with black as the medium, exploring the possibilities and connotations that it holds.

The risk of working with only one color is that it's easy to create a look that is bland and indistinguishable. Black is no exception, a lot of people run to it because it is versatile, stylish, and flattering. Morello proves, however, that it can also be very interesting and fresh.

By working with texture (I love the quilted fabric and leather), drapery, and translucence, Morello creates shapes and textures to play with the eye and produce structured variation. Since black absorbs light, reflective objects and glittering fabric were included to provide the contrast of luminescence.

There are also plenty of references to black classics - the leather biker jacket, the little black dress, punk rock t-shirts - even a black funereal veil was included in one of the pieces. This collection really was an ode to black, bringing a new life to the color that will always have a huge presence in the fashion world, whether we like it or not.

See the rest of the collection here.
xo

dream tee

2010-02-25T21:26:00.001-08:00

From kinky Parisian designers Lick My Legs. Reminds me of Catwoman, and Catwoman rules.
xo

debut

2010-02-25T17:38:00.001-08:00

Looks captured by the Sartorialist from the brilliant Reed Krakoff debut collection for Fall 2010.
xo

here comes the sun

2010-02-24T12:09:00.002-08:00

Photo source here
xo

expressions

2010-02-24T10:11:00.002-08:00

I love these expressions of Karmen Pedaru, as captured by the Photodiarist. Portraits of a fantastic model by a fantastic photographer.
xo

lest we forget spring

2010-02-23T12:57:00.002-08:00

Peter Jensen Spring 2010 RTW
See the rest here
xo

jazz hands

2010-02-22T12:37:00.002-08:00

My latest and greatest thrift store find... Capezio tap shoes!!! They actually fit, and now I'm ready to take some lessons.
xo

balletic by ben toms and katie shillingford

2010-02-22T11:37:00.002-08:00

Incredible. See the rest here.
xo

behind the curtain

2010-02-22T10:40:00.002-08:00

Vena Cava

Marchesa

Sao Paulo Fashion Week

Alexander Wang

Charlie Le Mindu

A few images from backstage...
Photo source 1.2.3.4.5.6
xo

shoemakers

2010-02-21T13:55:00.002-08:00

Japanese shoemakers Kokochi have a really fun blog in which they share photos of their shoes, workshop and process. The text is in Japanese, but the images alone are quite interesting. I love their shoes too, organic and playful.
xo

i want it all.

2010-02-20T15:32:00.002-08:00

...especially this:
Helmut Lang Fall 2010 RTW
See the entire collection here
xo

arboreal

2010-02-19T16:36:00.002-08:00

For his Fall 2010 collection, Brian Reyes said he drew his inspiration from trees. I'm not sure there could be anything more romantic.
Photo source here
xo

let's go to salzburg!

2010-02-19T16:05:00.002-08:00

Karen Walker approaches each season almost like a jazz musician. She introduces an idea, evolves it in a few directions, and then loops it back around to a fully formed composition. She called the Fall collection Salzburg, USA—an imaginary place where an American take on old-world European wardrobe traditions resides. - Style.com

Photo source here
xo

christian cota explores cubism

2010-02-18T14:55:00.002-08:00

In cubist artworks, objects are broken up, analyzed, and re-assembled in an abstracted form—instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context. Often the surfaces intersect at seemingly random angles, removing a coherent sense of depth. The background and object planes interpenetrate one another to create the shallow ambiguous space, one of cubism's distinct characteristics. (Wikipedia)

I always enjoy it when a designer chooses a specific process as the theme for their collection. Whether the process is preconceived or original, it creates a cohesiveness that is elusive yet still tangible to the unknowing eye. When the process is revealed, it is equally interesting to explore how the designer approached the inevitable limitations and rules applied to their creations. Cota approached the process of cubism with a playfulness and steadfast eye for aesthetic appeal. Deconstructing and reconstructing the pieces created new textures and volume that pulled together the looks in a delightful way. Along with breaking down the fabrics, he also broke down the prints, splashing paint on fabrics in his bath tub, then having them digitally rendered. This method ultimately led to one design and palette rendered in three different perspectives.

While Cota may have not touched on some of the characteristics of cubism, he clearly drew his inspiration from it, and succeeded in creating a collection that celebrates many of the features of this artistic movement. And in the end, he simply created a beautiful line of clothes.
Photo source here
xo

i'm out to sea, don't bother me

2010-02-17T08:40:00.002-08:00

Some images from a recent getaway... this is the true nature of the Pacific Northwest, brutal and majestic.
xo

looking back to serenity

2010-02-16T09:54:00.002-08:00

My favorite Fall 2010 collection so far... Marc Jacobs has created a vision that calls us back to a place that is serene, feminine, and dignified. These looks can be considered conservative, but full of personality as well. So lovely!
Photo source here
xo

popsicle

2010-02-12T20:38:00.002-08:00

I'm really hoping these popsicle colors dyed into the ends of long hair will actually catch on... I might even try it myself, once my hair grows out a bit more.
Photo source here
xo

2010-02-11T13:08:00.002-08:00

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rip alexander mcqueen

2010-02-11T08:40:00.002-08:00

Alexander McQueen died today - an exceptional designer who was a master of tailoring and expressed originality beyond anything I could ever imagine. His work is one, if not the reason I became so enamored with fashion in the first place. When I first began this post I was cutting and pasting a million images from his collections, but soon realized that no number would do him justice. Every collection is like a breath of fresh air, something new and exciting.
He is exceptional in the fact that his pieces were always terrifyingly beautiful - shocking, breathtaking, revolting, whimsical, yet always holding a distinctly British element as well.
It breaks my heart, he inspired so many, and will be sorely missed.
xo

eric guillemain

2010-02-10T18:21:00.002-08:00

I found a new photographer I like, his work strikes me as minimal and raw, there is a certain honesty in the photos that I really enjoy. His blog is appropriately titled Before Fashion, you can also see his web portfolio here.
Also, an excerpt from an inspiring interview with Lou Doillon:

You both like to explore. Physically and professionally. Eric, you completely changed jobs.

Eric: Yes.

- and Lou – you’re all over the place.

Lou: I try [laughs].

A renaissance girl.

Lou: Yes, I do many things. But I am curious, how did you get to where you are now?

Eric: Well, I was in a band in Paris, but went to New York and found myself in a place that was convenient for me at the right moment where I needed new energy and a cut from anything in my past.

Lou: And you started assisting a photographer?

Eric: Yeah, this photographer was searching for a French guy, nothing specific, he needed to have a French assistant, not a photo assistant. And I was French. It was the easiest resume requirement in my life. I had never taken a picture before, but I started taking portraits at home, just to have fun. People saw my portraits and they asked me to do more. I sent some to Surface magazine and ended up being an ‘Avant Garde’ photographer. It was maybe the 50th picture of my life. I shot my first fashion story last September, in 2007, and I just followed a path like in a labyrinth. Looking at the signs, going right or left, without asking any questions.

Lou: How much did you try to carve out this ‘path’ for yourself?

Eric: I didn’t push anything. I didn’t ask for anything. I was just sensing something here, something there. And I was following, that’s it. I didn’t try to force anything. I was just answering to what was coming. Surrendering to something bigger than me, I guess. Yeah, maybe like in this novel “The Alchemist.”

Do you plan the pictures or sketch a lot beforehand?

Eric: I’m trying to connect in a simple way, in an honest way. I’m improvising a lot, depending on the models or the person. Like in music, improvising from a few chords, getting in the mood and then you have a few songs or you have nothing at all. I didn’t go to an art school, I don’t have any technique at all and I don’t need a ‘perfect’ picture. I just trust my own feelings. It’s simple.

Never underestimate the forces of intuition... I look forward to where this labyrinthine path takes him.
xo

drip

2010-02-10T12:12:00.004-08:00

Photo source here
xo

jellyfish

2010-02-09T09:13:00.002-08:00

Photo source here
xo

roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll

2010-02-05T08:46:00.002-08:00

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.
Isak Dinesen

xo

morning breaks

2010-02-05T08:12:00.002-08:00

We now have a squirrel friend named Lucky who comes by every morning for breakfast, almonds and oatmeal. First he goes for the almonds, one at a time, picking it up and finding the perfect place to bury it. His method for burying is shovel with paws, push almond into ground with nose, and shovel dirt on top. Then he moves on to the next, and the next, carefully disbursing the almond treasures. Finally, when he work is done, he eats his oatmeal and goes on his way. Every morning he waits patiently on the patio. One time we forgot to feed him and he knocked down a piece of firewood to hit the door and get our attention. What a clever beast!
Photo source 1.2
xo

70's revival

2010-02-03T16:54:00.002-08:00

Long, braided hair, scarves, furs, camel coats, wide-brimmed hats, billowing silhouettes, high-waisted pants... if Riccardo Tisci is doing it, you can bet many more will follow. The 70's are back, whether you like it or not! (Personally, I love it)
Photo source 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8
xo

chainsaw massacre

2010-01-21T11:09:00.002-08:00

It makes me happy to see an editorial that highlights the well-deserving Viktor & Rolf collection... and so beautifully done as well. Now I just need to get my hands on the latest issue of Dazed & Confused...
Photo source here
xo

special message for the day

2010-01-21T10:53:00.002-08:00

By the way this artist makes the letters out of Ring Pops left to melt against the wall... pretty genius.
Photo source here
xo

ghost in a dress

2010-01-12T11:42:00.002-08:00

I found this over at We Find Wildness, and it's just too cool to not repost...

Several years ago, an old black dress made of velvet caught my attention in a second-hand shop. I examined the garment carefully. There was no label. The style of the dress was from the twenties. The seams revealed the dress was handmade. The owner of the shop told me that she had bought it in Paris. I tried the dress on and it fitted me perfectly. I became intrigued by the history of the dress. Who was the woman who had had the dress made? What was her life story?

The main theme and primary driving force of my work is my interest in old clothing. In my photographs, I use discarded clothes from second-hand shops and flea markets. I am interested in old garments, because they carry silent, unknown stories and histories. The unavoidable fact that I will never know the actual stories and personal histories connected with the clothes arouses my curiosity. The clothes remain silent withholding their secrets. Little by little, personal histories are absorbed into the collective history.

For me, a piece of clothing represents, above all, its former wearer. It tells you that somebody has been present. However, the person who wore it is now gone. The faded colours and tears in the fabric show the signs of the time passed. By freezing the garment or letting the wind fill it with air, I am able to create a sculptural space, which reminds me of its former user. This "Imaginary Meeting" represents, for me, the subtle distinction between absence and presence.

When I place clothes into a landscape, I create an installation. In this sense, landscape can be considered as a stage. Bringing these two elements (landscape and clothes) together, I create a dialogue - an interaction. My aim is to suggest and bring forth potential stories, mental images and associations.

Riita Paivalainen

All images by Riita Paivalainen
Photo source here
xo

you're a gem

2010-01-10T22:44:00.002-08:00

Photo source here
xo

the calm before the storm

2010-01-10T13:34:00.002-08:00

Photo source here
xo

writer's block

2010-01-10T13:27:00.002-08:00

You know this feeling, right?
Photo source here
xo