Jil Sander Spring 2009 Campaign

The fact that a fashion group with german origins has published an amazingly outstanding advertising campaign for spring 2009 is worth a post. The campaign shot by the belge photograper Willy Vanderperre captures all the characteristic criterias Jil Sander stands for: Timelessness, Classicism and Minimalism. It's a "Natasha Poly only" campaign styled by Oliver Rizzo who is a stylist, consultant and freelance fashion editor.

Richard Avedon VS The Sartorialist

Richard Avedon: August 1957

"Homage to Munkácsi" Place Francois Premier Paris

The Sartorialist: September 2008

Ralph Lauren Fashion Show, New York

Exhibition: Fashion In The Mirror

UK's first independent gallery devotet to photography, the Photographers' Gallery, currently hosts the amazing exhibition "Fashion In The Mirror". It is curated by Michel Mallard and Raphaëlle Stopin (organizers of the annual International Fashion and Photography Festival in Hyères ).

The exhibition features works by 21 world-class photographers such as Nick Knight, Ines van Lamsweerde & Vidoodh Matadin, Steven Meisel, Juergen Teller, Mario Testino and many more. It deals with self reflection in fashion photography and provides a rare look behind the scenes.

In the pictures photographers observe themselves during work, which means they are mainly included in the photo itself. The shoot becomes a kind of self-portrait revealing the secrets of glamour and seduction.

"Fashion In The Mirror": Self-Reflection in Fashion Photography

July 18 - September 8
The Photographers’ Gallery
5 & 8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7HY
Tube Station: Leicester Square

A Parisian Ad...Longchamp Autumn/Winter 2008/09

The french brand Longchamp offering handbags, travel bags, luggage, wallets, briefcases, small leather goods and fashion accessories named Kate Moss face of the brand in 2005. In 2008 they publish the most stunning campaign shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott.

Kate Moss appears as a young and beautiful Brigitte Bardot look-alike and you can hardly notice the age difference between her and french actor Gaspard Ulliel. They make the perfect matching parisien couple spending a lazy afternoon in Café Flore.

Brigitte Bardot, herself, at Café Flore

The Triangle Of Happiness

Photographer James Gooding's latest photography project deals with the Triangulation of happiness which points represent where someone lives, works and shops. James Gooding himself wrote about the idea for the project the following "I began painting a series of visual images in my mind about my own life. Soon I found myself completely preoccupied thinking about where others found happiness in their day, different careers, different lifestyles, and geographical circumstances that define this state of human existence in a modern society." This made him document the life of eight expatriates living in different corners of the United States.

Triangles vary with each person which leads to the conclusion that happiness varies for each of us. "In this collection of images, I have tried to understand my subjects through conversations that took place and observations made over the course of days I spent with them. I am presenting them ‘in their now’ and as ‘my direct experience of them. With this in mind, I invite the viewer to reflect on the central image of their triptychs as to what I have seen to be the most significant point of their triangle", Gooding writes.

I personally appreciate the self-concerning aspect of this theory. By reflecting the triangles of others I started to think about mine. Happiness is the most important goal to reach in life. Every human searches for it and only few of them find it. To visualize the comlexity of this matter was an exceptional idea and an enrichment for everyone who is interested.

edward - live - lockwood, NV

edward - work - reno, Nv

edward - shop - patrick, Nv

View:
www.jamesgooding.com
www.galeriedujour.com

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld For Miu Miu

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld is the new model for the Miu Miu Spring Campaign shot by Marc Segal and styled by Elisabeth Sulcer.
I like the idea of putting on the scene in an unoccupied house. It adds a misterious something to the campaign which matches with the collection. With regards to the make-up and hair-style I am a bit disappointed. I have to admit that I am getting bored of the "Amy Style". You see these girls everywhere on the street copying her and now you even recognize her style in a Miu Miu campaign which stood for creativity all the time. Besides it is amazing to see that a healthy and happy looking girl like Julia got involved to promote two very different labels. It can be argued that arises from the fact of being the daughter of Carine, but I would reinterpret it in a positive way. No one needs to stick to the unhealthy and skinny look most of the models count on these days, but one needs to have a certain something - not only for creation but also presentation.

Preview (Source: Blackbook Magazine)

What A Combination! Kate And Hedi!

Hedi Slimane's recent exhibition "Kate Liberation" which opened in Gallery Koyanagi in Tokyo on March 8th caught my attention. Not only because of the results itself, but also because of the characters who worked on this project. Slimane is one of the greatest fashion designers ever who has a background in furniture design, fragrance, store design and photography. Hi might even be one of the most respected designer of all time well known for the slim silhouette of his clothes. He braught back the skinny jean and Kate made it famous. Kate changed the fashion attitude from 80's to the 90's and made Calvin Klein cool. Hedi did the same with Dior Homme. Kate is the role model Hedi preferes and she is the ex-girl friend of his close friend Pete. These are exactly the facts that make this collaboration that interesting. What came out?

Photos show off Kate posing in a vintage style room. The work of Kate and Hedi is simple (a pack of cigarettes and a camera) and elaborately perfect. The most glamorous way to celebrate International Women's Day (less statement but more beauty).

Kate's Liberation - Gallery Koyanagi Koyanagi

Bldg 8F Ginza 1-7-5 - Chuo-ku 104-0061 - Tokyo
Phone: +81-3 . 35611896
Fax: +81-3 . 35633236

Happy Valentines...

Yesterday midnight in bed, already dark and ready to fall asleep, my baby suddenly said he had a present for me. I did not understand and thought it was a joke.

He said something like..."You know it's Valentine's.". No, I didn't because we made the decision to ignore this commercial event. He handed it over in the dark and let me guess. I had no clue...We switched on the light and there it was.

A lovely photology of the italian fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri.
It is a great source of inspiration especially for hair and make-up. The photos are incredibly glamorous and colourful, totally different from editorials you find in recent magazine's. The book consists of a significant selection of his fashion shoots. I invite you to have a quick look...

Disruption: OFF BREAK

I shortly have to interrupt my off-break to post about the Diane von Furstenberg Spring-Summer 2008 Womens Ad Campaign I adore.

The campaign is as special as the whole set up:
The famous french photographer François-Marie Banier walked with Natalia through the streets of Paris taking pictures whenever he saw the need for it. No stylists were present - the two of them were working alone.

"We went outside, and just walked around and talked," Vodianova recalled of the day and a half in Paris. "François-Marie would take pictures of me and, sometimes, he saw something special, he would...say, 'Don't move.' Then he would take the picture."

The pictures combine photography, painting and words, Banier adding dashes of color to the black-and-white photographs. A negative aspect of the campaign could be seen in not representing a clothing brand properly. I personally don't think so as fashion is art and why not play with this fact?

A link to an online art gallery along with further information on the project (like the making-of video clips) is available on the DvF Projects Site. It provides a great view inside their work and is a source of endless inspiration.

Von Fuerstenberg's explanation reveals the following: "I loved the idea of telling the story in an online art gallery," she said. "It shares the experience as an insider and preserves the integrity of the project....The film and the images reflect the story beautifully and show the emotion."

The campaign can be adored in March's magazine issues or now:

A. F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E.

"What is this feeling called love.
Why me, why you, why here, why now.
It doesn't make no sense no. It's not convenient no.
It doesn't fit my plans no.
It's something I don't understand.
F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E."
PULP (Modern Marriage)
This PULP song is one of my favorite love songs. There is now better way to express love in words without sounding neither unreal nor unromantic. Now that I talked about the lyrics, I found the perfect site visualizing this F.E.E.L.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E.

Style.com directed me to the Love Website of Cartier which has been created to present their L.O.V.E. collection.
The site consists of course of the presentation of their collection which is classic, simple and classy and very well well known. So I don't think I need to blah on that one...
What is even nicer, is spending some time in the "Love Story" Section. It features short films which have been exclusively created to show how decisions made by your heart can influence your whole live.
Shoul you are still longing for more love after watching the short films, I suggest to visit the "Love Gallery" which introduces artworks from contemporary artists from all over the world, such as Flavia de Rin, Zoe Mendelson, Camille Henrot, Charwei Tsai, Yuko Takeyama, Marion Poussier and John Maeda who provide visualizations in form of films, short clips, photos and illustrations.
Should you suffer from a lack of love try:
http://www.love.cartier.com/

Jalousie...A Story In Buenos Aires (Source V Magazine)

Are you jealous? I am not afraid to say that I am a jealous girl when it comes to real love. I wonder if real love can even exist without jealousie...The following artistic LOVE/HATE photo story published in V Mag shot by young argentine filmmaker SEBASTIAN FAENA. Actually, I did not know that jealousie could be that glamorous.

SUDDENLY BUENOS AIRES

International superstar Angela arrives in town for her Blonde Venus world tour.

And to be with her man, a local bolero singer.

One night Angela watches Dolores perform.

Dolores had always been the other woman.

Until now.

Angela was suddenly abandoned.

And there could be no more self-deception.

All she wanted now was solitude in her despair.

And revenge.

The world wanted her and her alone, so none of the rest would ever matter

Photography: Sebastian Faena

Styling: Sofia Achaval

Fashion editor: Brian Molloy

Makeup: Sebastián Correa for Helena Rubenstein

Hair: Jeff Francis (The Wall Group)

Director of photography: Paola Rizzi A.D.F

Assistant director: Cecilia Glick

Stylist assistant: Grace Kapin

I am curious to see what comes next from Sébastian Faena born in 1980 in Buenos Aires. He is originally a film maker and seems to become a rising star on the fashion photographer's sky. This is worth to follow up on.