juxtaposition 20.09.11: nueva wave

Today's juxtaposition is one of composition, texture, and tone. I don't have a story about anyone in these photos, because when I shot them, concurrently, again within a few minutes, I was with Sabine - after the Mark Fast show - in the kind of 'back stage' outside area. There was a whole frenzy of photo activity going on, and I don't remember if the girl in the top shot is a model, or simply a very beautiful girl. Or even, her name.

The bottom shot: I was behind these two who were posing for someone else. I didn't see their faces but they had the body language of beautiful girls, perhaps models. I loved the way one was apparently hiding the face that she was smoking from the photographer. I know that my mom will be pissed off at me for, once again, 'condoning smoking' but I"m really not. And mom, you'll be glad to know: I saw a lot less of it, this time, than at my first fashion week. I wonder if it is finally getting through people's heads: smoking is a really stupid habit, and it's easier than you'd think, to simply quit.

Oh speaking of waves: I've noticed a lot more of it, in hair, and in an hour, we're leaving for brunch at Aqua Nueva! It's my husband's birthday - the husband formerly known as Mr. Dot (he really hates that, 'the joke's wearing a bit thin, Jill'), and I loved their sister restaurant, Aqua Kyoto so much, that they've asked me to come as their guest and do a review!! Beyond Japanese culture and cuisine, Spain is one of my favourites.

Hope everyone's having a lovely weekend, que la gente encantadora! xoxo

mimosaphobia

A comment, in passing, from Sabine (Psynopsis) about a recent purchase of a pair of yellow trousers, despite her admitted 'fear of yellow' - that, and all the big fuss everywhere I turn about Chanel's sold out limited edition nail varnish in Mimosa (100% pure, hardcore yellow) has got me thinking:

Am I, too, afraid of the colour yellow?



Well, Holly Fulton says, 'RELAX.' As shown my shots of her show from last September's S/S 2011 collection, there's really nothing to be afraid of. (Incidentally, there really is no such thing as Mimosaphobia - I just made that up, HOWEVER, there really is a medical, psychiatric term for the fear of yellow. It's called Xanthobia, but don't just take my word for it, Google it.).

In fact I've started to remember - as if freed from a suppressed, subconscious state - all the yellow items of clothing that I've loved over the years. A favourite Liza Bruce swimsuit that I purchased long ago, in either St. Barths or St Maartens in a little boutique with my future husband, the current Mr. Dot (I'll do a post on it next). Or a long floral maxi, very floaty, that I also got years ago.. and there's a really lurid, intense yellow pair of bell bottoms that my artist friend Pia Rigby made me buy (she bought a pair, too) from a street stall in Williamsburg Brooklyn, where she lived.

The whole problem for me, with yellow, is pairing it with black if it's bright yellow: that dreaded 'bumblebee effect' which really does frighten me. I feel that Holly is quite brave for doing this line not just with black, but also with Louboutin court heels in black: the addition of red for me is just so wrong and yet, these designs are so brilliant (in both senses of the word) that I like it, despite my fears.




But ultimately, the way I like yellow best is either solid, with nothing else but a tan, or in combination with bright colours like pale greens, turquoise, maybe even a little purple or hot pink. Or orange. If I can ever find those yellow trousers from Williamsburg, I'm going to do a style style shot with them. If I can summon the nerve.

dutch masters

One of the lovely press events I went to this week was Jaeger, and there's more that I saw that I want to show you but this post is focused on a specific detached HOOD that I loved from the catwalk show in September. It was great to see and touch the actual stuff, and besides obviously the black, cream and camel tones that are so classic and to me, so iconically Jaeger, what I especially loved was the colours that had so inspired me this summer in the Dominican Republic ('let's do lunch') which they got so perfectly, I felt ('jaeger sings the blues'). Mustards, navy, purples, forest green, bit of jewel like ruby.. Kit got it so right yesterday (photos coming, haven't uploaded yet, lazy cow, which is because...)

Yesterday I was the only one of us not wearing a hoodie or a snood. This is a case where FASHION DOES MATTER because I popped out in my leopard coat, gloves, got everything right except the weather report. It rained. I thought I wasn't chilled but woke with that same damn sore throat. Drinking copious amounts of my homemade remedy of sliced fresh ginger root steeped in boiling water with lemon and honey.

Which leads me to the purpose of this post: at Jaeger's press day, looked around for The Hood I loved and couldn't find it. Asked Tomasina, in the Buying Department (great job or WHAT!) and she said they're only selling six this season. Six? As in less than seven, more than five? WHY??? Anyway she went and found me one and I made her pose next to the catwalk shot and doesn't she look like that Dutch painting? The Girl with the Pearl Earring?

Sabine asked a great post recently, The Cinderella Complex, which pair of shoes you'd marry. I could never commit to one pair of shoes. BUT, I'd marry this hoodie, if it would have me. (Since there are only six, my chances are slim). It's cute, flexible, durable, soft yet strong, reliable, dependable, and it would keep me safe, warm, and healthy. I could travel with it, in fact I could take it anywhere: it would be there when I needed it, yet seems really low maintenance. And, I assume, it's not cheap. Yet it's certainly cheerful. What more could one ask in a husband?