Everyone Loves A Bit of Bailey..

I think it is definitely true to say that David Bailey changed the face of fashion photography in the 60's. He was innovative, quirky and ridiculously talented as he helped create and then capture the 'Swinging London' of the 60's. Born on the 2nd of January 1938, Bailey is regarded one of Britain's best photographers. Each and every single one of his photographs oozed freshness and the image quality was unquestionable, all thanks to his beloved hassleblad. 

He was launched into celebrity status by his 'Box of Pin-Ups' which was published in 1964, that contained everybody who was anybody in the 60's: from Mick Jagger, The Beatles, fellow photographer Cecil Beaton, Jean Shrimpton to the East End gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray (somewhat controversially!). His success only continued to soar as he shot a record breaking 800 pages for British Vogue in one year alone..!

Aside from his photographic success in his own right, who could mention Bailey without a particular 60's icon popping to mind? Bailey and Jean Shrimpton were a match made in heaven.. Of his lover and muse, Bailey said: "She was magic and the camera loved her too. In a way she was the cheapest model in the world - you only needed to shoot half a roll of film and then you had it. She had the knack of having her hand in the right place, she knew where the light was, she was just a natural." 

Jean Shrimpton

Mick Jagger

Bailey and Shrimpton

Fascinated by the sharpness of Baileys images, and intrigued by analogue-induced frame, i decided to step away from the digital age for a day and try my hand at using a hassleblad. EVERYTHING was 10 times harder. I had to manually figure out my exposure with a little clicky-machine thing (excuse my lack of technical vocabulary), adjust to a square frame which completely altered my perspective on composition, and on top of this the lens was flipped... so if i wanted to aim my camera upwards i had to move down, and the right and left was opposite too. On top of all this, i had to manually focus each frame while attempting to hold the heavy camera still... AND I HADNT EVEN STARTED THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS... Using a hassleblad was one of the best photographic experiences i've had to date, it was challenging and it tested my patience several times... But it made a refreshing change from absent-mindedly pushing a button and then loading the image onto a cyber-world of pixelated colours. The nurturing, lengthy process of developing your film makes you love each image all the more, and believe it or not, i do actually miss that cramped, chemical smelling, pitch black room where all the magic happens. There really isn't anything more magical than seeing your picture evolve onto a previously plain sheet of glossy photo paper in seconds.

My Hasselblad Experience, Model - Tally Dowds

Remember Me?

Okay, so i realise i haven't posted anything in two years. It seems I had become the victim of Britain's ruthless A-Level system which barely awards you anytime for sleep.. let alone a blog, or god-forbid a social life?! So my 14 year school career has finally ended which only means one thing.. i actually have time to indulge in my photography and get this blog back up and running.
So... Dear my beautiful followers, i apologise for my long-winded absence but I'm back.. like it or not.
Ciao for now xoxo

Kate Moss: Louis Vuitton's Secret Weapon

        2nd show running, and "Kate the great is back". This time floating down the runway in a white floral lace dress on a marabou ostrich feather-embellished skirt paired with white courts and hair held back in a gold alice band. Totally contrasting her previous LV appearance as she stormed down the runway in a dominatrix-esque costume dramatically smoking a cigarette. Jacobs had his models descending onto the catwalk from an all-white carousel. And talking of Jacobs, Rumour has it he may be going to Dior to replace John Galliano after his fall from grace.

                 

                        Naughty Kate raised infamy with her cheeky
                cigarette on the runway.

 

  Jacobs using none other than Miss Jamie Hince
 to keep 2011's wedding spirit alive

TREND ALERT.

CHOKERS. 
Yes, they really are making a come back.  It's been a while since our necks felt the familiar pressure of chokers but the time is right for their return and we predict that, before long, they'll be adding a glamour injection to wardrobes at every time of day. Seen in the classic form of pearls on the Donna Karen runway, and also with a feminine floral edge at Valentino. While McQueen truly embraced the fetish trend and embellished his choker with silver studs paired with metal skull caps.

Dress up simple necklines with baubles that catch the light and add a dose of glamour.
Wear over a fur coat for a clever play on texture.
If you're doing a big necklace, leave the earrings off - or work a small, co-ordinating pair.
Wrap multiple strands of pearls around your neck for a quick take on the Forties trend.

Beautiful In Bottega Veneta

     Emma Watson managed to steal the show once again at the final Happy Potter premiere as she rolled up wearing a Bottega Veneta dress - part canvas corset, part satin skirt which first hit the runway in February at the label's fall/winter 2011 show in Milan. Emma topped off her outfit with Lorraine Schwartz earrings and a side-parted, slicked-down 'do. In my opinion she looked gorgeous however critics have accused her dress as being ill fitting and looking unfinished. This dress has also been spotted on Sarah Jessica Parker immediately after EW debuted the gown at the premiere on a photoshoot for vogue shot by Mario Testino. This dress looked like it was made for the young star however SJP also looked as glamourous as ever. Not only was this dress spotted on EW and SJP, but Michelle Dockery donned the gown during a Downtown Abbey shoot for Vogue. Who do you think owned the dress? For me, Emma wins everytime..

Stripes, The bolder the better.

No...I'm not talking zebra, or nautical. I mean BIG, BOLD, BRIGHT. Make an impact this summer with a bold striped maxi.

 all by topshop

Versace announces collaboration with H&M!

       Despite Donatella Versace's previous claims in 2008 that "to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand" as she has had to "work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section" and " a high street diffusion line simply wasn't the Versace way", she has announced a collaboration with the swedish high street brand. Donatella was obviously encouraged after Alber Elbaz's success with the Lanvin For H&M collection last year. Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M states that "Versace is one of the most important brands of recent times and their collection for H&M will be glamorous and flamboyant - everything Versace stands for.". The collection will be in stores from 17th November, the collaboration will be followed by a pre-spring collection in January 2012. We should be expecting lots of studded leather as well as flimsy girly prints.

Burberry...As British As EVER.

      Burberry's Fall 2011 campaign comes with 60's inspired make-up and clothes, and whats better, a fresh face! Molly Smith, a 16 year-old from Derbyshire makes her Burberry debut alongside Amber Anderson. Given the brand’s penchant for selecting British models for their campaigns, Burberry latest combination of fashion forces is nothing if not perfect. The shoot is undeniably inspired by David Bailey's shots of English lover and muse, Jean Shrimpton.

Oh! Lola

If your already a Daisy or a Lola fan, then this is the perfume you've been waiting for. It's still got the playful flower lid, and is still a light, fresh fragrance. Whereas the old Lola had notes of spicy pink pepper and ruby red grapefruit, Marc Jacobs has made Oh! Lola slightly more sparkly with hints of raspberry, frais des bois and pretty peony. It does, however, share the same sweet vanilla and tonka bean notes to provide the crucial similarity between the family.

Whats more, to promote the scent, Jacobs has chose fresh-faced Dakota Fanning, who aged 17, captures the Oh! Lola essence of charm and innocence perfectly. 

Oh, Lola! is on sale nationwide from July 27. From £37 for 30ml EDT

Violet Darkling

       Coming into the spotlight a lot more as of late, this jewellery collection has been seen on people such as Sienna Miller, Rihanna and Cheska Hull. The New Zealand born designer Louisa Richwhite aspires to make life a little more magical, so inspired by all things nocturnal, paired with her quirky humour, an avant-garde empire is being created. Richwhite's unique collection of jewellery is sculpted in silver and gold and dripping with luxurious gemstones, essentially mixing magnificent stones and metals with darker motifs to create a more childlike and edgy feel to her pieces. 

Violet’s striking statement piece is realistically modelled on the skull of a
wide-eyed tarsier, a nocturnal primate of the Philippines. It is a versatile piece to invest in,
and brings an instant edge to any outfit. Sterling silver with 18ct gold plating, and fine
 jewellery finish. 18K Rose Gold plated Solid Sterling Silver Skull, Chain and Amethyst with a fine jewellery finish. £370

This sleek adaptation of a Fossa will always make a statement as it bites your shirt
with its teeth, fierce expression and Sparkly Eyes. 18K Rose Gold plated Solid Sterling Silver
with Pink Topaz Eyes and a fine jewellery finish. £450

This sleek adaptation of a Fossa will always make a statement as it bites around
 your finger with its sharp teeth and fierce expression. 18K Rose Gold plated Solid Sterling
Silver with Pink Tourmaline and a fine jewellery finish. £310

This sleek adaptation of a Fossa will always make a statement as it bites around
your finger with its sharp teeth and fierce expression. Solid Sterling Silver with Blue Topaz Eyes and a fine jewellery finish. £290

Violet Darkling’s striking signature piece is realistically modelled on the skull of a
wide-eyed tarsier, a nocturnal primate of the Philippines. It is a versatile
piece to invest in, and brings an instant edge to any outfit. Solid Sterling Silver Skull, Black
Rhodium plated Solid Sterling Silver Shank, Bow and Amethyst with a fine jewellery. £310

    You like what you see? Then visit Violet Darkling at one of the following stores or online;

www.violetdarkling.com

Harvey Nichols

109 - 125 Knightsbridge

London

SW1X 7RJ

Tel: 020 7235 5000 

Wolf & Badger
46 Ledbury Road
London
W11 2AB
Tel: 020 7229 5698

Happy 85th Marilyn :)

Seeing as it is her 85th birthday, and i love her to pieces, i thought i better but a little post up dedicated to her. Nobody did it like you Marilyn Monroe. We love you. She was such an inspiration, so here are a few of her quotes.


"Its not true that i had nothing on, i had the radio on"
"I've been on a calender, but I have never been on time"
"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

Alexander McQueen A/W 2011

      The unveiling of Sarah Burton's second collection as head designer reflected an entirely different emotion than that of the A/W collection of last 2010 while McQueen's death was fresh in the mind. This collection represented fully McQueen's controversial obsession with light and dark, illustrating both angels, and demons bound perfectly together in one show. The gowns did nothing to dispel the rumours of Kate Middleton's wedding dress, with metres of tulle fit for a queen. The mix of innocence and rebellion in all that corsetry contrasted with pleating in the collection feeds both alter-egos, leaving us 100% satisfied. Genius. White-out make up, spray on leggings beneath skirts and huge platform shoes with jagged metal heels make this 100% McQueen, as did the high collared moulded silhouette over flared skirts. However, there was an apparent air of confidence in her designs as she adapted the heritage slightly. I think it's very fair to say, the house of McQueen is more than safe in her hands.

Sister, Sister.

     TWENTY8TWELVE, THE BRAIN CHILD OF SIENNA AND SAVANNAH MILLER BLEW US AWAY WHEN IT WAS LAUNCHED BACK IN 2007. ALONG WITH THE ROW, A COUTURE LABEL DESIGNED BY TWINS MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN, WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER THE INFAMOUS SAVILE ROW. AFTER PROVEN HUGE SUCCESS, IT IS TRUE THAT WORKING WITH A SIBLING IS THE WAY FORWARD, AFTER ALL, WHO KNOWS YOU BETTER THAN SOMEBODY YOU'VE KNOWN ALL YOUR LIFE?

Savannah and Sienna Miller

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

AND WITH THAT, COMES THE BIRTH OF 'LUCY IN DISGUISE'. SISTERS LILY ALLEN AND SARAH OWEN LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST COLLABORATED COLLECTION IN A POP-UP SHOP IN SELFRIDGES WITH GREY GOOSE COCKTAILS. THEIR SHARED PASSION FOR FASHION AND LOVE OF SOURCING AND HOARDING VINTAGE FINDS LED TO A DESIRE TO SHARE THIS WITH THE WORLD. THE AIM OF LUCY IN DISGUISE IS TO MAKE VINTAGE STYLE ATTAINABLE. THE STORE IS LIKE A JOURNEY THROUGH THE DECADES EXPRESSED VIA FASHION. NOW OPENED IN COVENT GARDEN, THIS QUIRKY BOUTIQUE AIMS TO PROVIDE THE FULL 'LUCY EXPERIENCE BY ADDING THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO YOUR LOOK AT THE BLOW DRY BAR DOWNSTAIRS AND AT THE VINTAGE SALON WHERE YOU ARE PAMPERED TIL YOUR HEARTS CONTENT.

www.lucyindisguiselondon.com

         

10-13 KING STREET
COVENT GARDEN
LONDON
WC2E 8HN
TELEPHONE: 0207 240 6590

Walkin' On Sunshine...

Summers nearly here and lets just hope us Brits get the summer we deserve after that amazing wedding we hosted! So theres a few things we need to take into account to make these precious few months as perfect as possible! Remember, summers are for relaxing in the day, and partying in the night...but unfortunately binge fun isn't popular with your body. So prep your body, hair, skin and nails in advance to ensure minimum damage. Follow these step-by-step rules as your pre-holiday regime so you really can spend your holiday worry-free! 

• Take your supplements, Vitamin B deficiency can increase your risk of sun damage - Its these vitamins that help you tan so if your low on these you'll burn to a crisp.
• Drink Plenty of water, this will flush out your toxins leaving you feeling refreshed with healthy, glowing skin. Dehydration in the summer heat will leave you feeling exhausted, which may ruin the week you've been waiting for ALL year. 
• Cellulite girls? Don't worry we all have it..but with a ruthless and unforgiving bikini in the suitcase, you might want to do something about it. Cut out sugars and caffeine about 6 weeks before the holiday and invest in Cellu-Sculpt 3x Tri-roller, £12 by Avon. Its unique design gives you a deep tissue massage for an at-home cellulite buster!
• Hot water, the suns piercing rays and a harsh shower gel/soap. These three combined equal SKIN DISASTER. They strip your skin of its natural oils leaving it dull and dry. Instead, use oils in the shower and complete the ritual with Body Butter from The Body Shop in order to revive your skin and restore its moisture. 
• One word, Mani-Pedi. Before your holiday visit your local salon and give yourself a good pamper! Hard skin, tired nails and unsightly feet are a no-no on holiday. Your toes are on show almost every day on holiday, so its crucial they are looking their best. A bit of nail varnish works wonders on tanned toes, really giving you that effortless holiday look, while being low maintenance.
• Chlorine, Sea-water and the sun are your hairs worst enemies. Use an intensive conditioning mask every week before you go. Believe it or not, the gorgeous surfer girl hair you see in movies doesn't happen by just jumping in the sea and hoping for the best. You need to look after your hair, have it coloured a week before, and let the sun enhance the tones in your hair for a natural sun kissed radiance.
• Waxing. Painful, but rewarding. Hair doesn't come back as thick or as quickly. For minimum pain, use talcum powder before applying the strip so the wax grips the hairs in stead of the skin. Its also a good idea to exfoliate prior to waxing as it makes any hairs trapped by dead skin accessible. Also, an aftercare regime is important to avoid irritation. For the 48 hours that follow your hair removal, avoid swimming, hot baths and showers, saunas, steam or any form of UV exposure.
• For a low maintenance holiday look, ditch the foundation for a more subtle and light tinted moisturiser that won't clog your pores and will allow the sun to reach your skin and give it a healthy colour. To get the holiday flawless look with as little effort as possible, get a eye brow and lash tint so you wont have to wear mascara, meaning even in the sea, your lashes can look gorgeous without the tacky panda eyes. 

Song Of The Week 25/05/11

Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls


"And I'd give up forever to touch you 
Cause I know that you feel me somehow 
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be 
And I don't want to go home right now 
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"

I'm So Sorry!

I'm so sorry i haven't posted in such a long time! Its been so hectic at the moment with essays and exams flying at me from every direction. I promise to be more consistent. haha. But its kind of impossible as my schools internet sucks and I board most nights...I'm so tired and I probably should be working right now. I've just had a 5 hour art exam, followed by another 5 hour art exam tomorrow and my best friends sister's christening. I've got so many deadlines atm! Oh well...just wait until summer and i'll be posting from Mallorca, Cyprus and Madeira! Lying in the sun with my book and my blog :) 


So, until next time...which i hope won't be too long. ;)
xx

If Today Way Your Last Day...

One of my favourite songs, and probably the best advice i've ever listened to.

My best friend gave me the best advice 

He said each day's a gift and not a given right 

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind 

And try to take the path less traveled by 

That first step you take is the longest stride 

If today was your last day 

and tomorrow was too late 

Could you say goodbye to yesterday? 

Would you live each moment like your last? 

Leave old pictures in the past 

Donate every dime you have? 

If today was your last day 

Against the grain should be a way of life 

What's worth the prize is always worth the fight 

Every second counts 'cause there's no second try 

So live like you'll never live it twice 

Don't take the free ride in your own life 

If today was your last day 

and tomorrow was too late 

Could you say goodbye to yesterday? 

Would you live each moment like your last? 

Leave old pictures in the past 

Donate every dime you have? 

Would you call old friends you never see? 

Reminisce of memories 

Would you forgive your enemies? 

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?

Swear up and down to God above 

That you finally fall in love 

If today was your last day 

If today was your last day 

Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? 

You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars 

Regardless of who you are 

So do whatever it takes 

'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life 

Let nothin' stand in your way 

Cause the hands of time are never on your side 

If today was your last day 

and tomorrow was too late 

Could you say goodbye to yesterday? 

Would you live each moment like your last? 

Leave old pictures in the past 

Donate every dime you have? 

Would you call old friends you never see? 

Reminisce of memories 

Would you forgive your enemies? 

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? 

Swear up and down to God above 

That you finally fall in love 

If today was your last day