juxtaposition: waterloo station

Just because my camera died - of exhaustion, according to the lovely Greek camera guy who assured me that it had had a good innings - I don't want it to have died in vain. And I'm discovering so many, many photos that I've never shown you. So while I rest up at home, fighting off a silly winter bug, I'm going back through my images, like memories. I'm more interested in the relationship between two still images - movements in time.

These are from one of the Topshop Unique catwalk shows. Waterloo Station, London. More to come. With thanks to my lovely Canon E0S: you live on, through the images you've provided me with. Like a trusty stead of days of yore, we worked as a team, you and I, and we lived each day to the fullest.

luminosity

lu·mi·nos·i·ty (l m -n s -t ). n. pl. lu·mi·nos·i·ties. a : the quality or state of being luminous b : something luminous 2 a : the relative quantity of light b : relative brightness of something 3 : the relative quantity of radiation emitted by a celestial source (as a star)

We have a screening tonight in Leicester Square - Roman Coppola's short films, and I know nothing more than that (I like to go into things - films, especially - with no preconceived expectations) - and a little cocktail party first. And I was thinking (not too hard, mind you) about what I'd be wearing. And today - perhaps because it's been so grey, cold, wet lately - I"m in the mood for something luminous.

Yesterday, for example, I wore a three seasons old Topshop sequin motorcycle jacket over layers of fine grey tees, white jeans, lots of chains and things, and dressed it down with brown Chelsea boots. Tonight will probably be variations of the same.

Speaking of stars, this is Julia Restoin Roitfeld - Carinne's daughter - and I was seeing her a lot at fashion weeks, back when I was going (I'm on a break, you might have noticed). She's lovely, a nice girl with a lot of class and not a competitive bone in her body - why should she compete? - and we became quite friendly. If that's possible, during that circus. I think she sensed that we both feel the same about it all. Like we'd rather be home, alone or with our men, with a cup of tea and a nice book.



Took these shots within minutes of each other, at Waterloo Station for the Topshop Uniqlo show.. wow, must have been a year and a half ago now. But these kind of subtle colours, and metallics and, well, haha, LUMINOSITY, are the other look I'm craving at the moment. Like when there was all that 'nude is the new black' hysteria a few seasons back, I still love the subtleness of greys and beiges together - I can't bear grey with black, but pair it with neutral tones, and the greys start to feel blue and the beiges start going all peachy..

Those definitions of luminosity are fine - and Julia's, I suppose, a star, although probably in the scheme of things, a minor one - but I kind of like this definition best:

Luminous quality. The intrinsic brightness of a celestial object (as distinct from its apparent brightness diminished by distance).

It's about, I feel, that trick of the light: the appearance of something that is reflecting back light, but appears to be glowing from within.

I don't have a wish list. I'm not a wish list kind of woman: my cup is more than half full. My cup runneth over. But if my Fairy Godmother put a gun to my head and said 'you've got to wish for something, Punkin', I'd probably wish for luminescent grey green or violet blue eyes. Something I know I'm not gonna be getting. Not in this life.

touched and untouched

Today, as almost all my days these days, was the most extraordinary, surreal day: I was at Comptoir in South Ken, met a dear friend in the late morning, ate a yummy bowl of soup, read my book, ate some baklava and drank mint tea, met a great photographer named Suki who was sent by the Observer to shoot me for a piece in the New Review.

She wanted to move a few feet up - 'there'. So we did. Once we got 'there' I saw someone I wanted to street shoot: shiny silver shoes in the sunlight, red plaid trousers. Suddenly it was all happening at once: Suki was greeting her friend Dvora, who has a blog called Fashionistable. We were introduced at fashion week in September, but we hadn't really had a chance to get to know each other. So on this cold day, after my shoot, we sat down at Paul with hot chocolate and coffee and discovered that when it comes to how we feel about streetstyle, photography, and life in general, we were essentially separated at birth.

She was also telling me that altho - like me - she loves to work on photos in Photoshop, that our mutual friend David Nyanzi doesn't TOUCH his photos! So I clicked on one shot - randomly - from last September's Mark Fast show. And decided not to even touch the colour balance. Just to set a challenge for myself, see if I can post a shot untouched.

Extremely touched by your kindness, your words of condolence: each one genuine, heartfelt. I am so lucky, so fortunate, to know you all. And tonight, my husband happened to flip the tv channels and start watching a show on the British Olympics in 1946. I heard a familiar voice. There was our Major Bobby: alive on television, laughing his delightful laugh, and talking about rowing for the Olympics, and how fortunate we all were.

oxford street blues

As per 'sweet silver bells': part of my Oxford Street Christmas Catwalk Collage juxtaposition series. Since yesterdays had so many words, just read that, I guess. This one uses one of my shots from Bora Aksu's S/S 2012 show, Somerset House, last September.

There are so many ways to go right now, stylistically: it's really inspiring. Ladylike, bright (like wearing all red, or pure, bright, emerald green - but please, no, never both at once!) But the trend I'm loving most right now isn't really a trend: it's more a craving, for the mysteries of Christmas night: twinkling stars, midnight blues.. luxury. Velvet. Sequins. Lace. Balanced out with something rock and roll: like denim. All that glitters, if not gold, then silver, or crystal. Dress it up, then dress it down. Bright red lips, if you can get away with it (I can't). But most of all: having fun. This is so not the season to take any thing seriously. Or personally.

Best viewed listening to video of previous post. It is now a running theme in my head. And btw, as before, for more info about the coming weekend's events when they close Oxford/Regent's Street for shoppers, carols, festivities, go to West End VIP.

i love serendipity

I love serendipity.

I watch out for serendipity all the time. Take Friday, for example: I meant to post something else (my lovely friend Fab, aka Looking Fab at any Age, it's funny you said that about 'did I catch people at Ashish wearing Ashish, because that was my intended post - and yes, I did) - but instead, I got sidetracked with shots of two models after the show ('spooky blue eyes'). Then, spent much of the morning editing these shots here: one of the two models. I can get a bit geeky about stuff like that: meeting a model, say, backstage, and then trying to figure out who she was in the show. Or like later last night, after the most AMAZING bonfire night in our garden square (I'm secretary) and the after party at our friends' house, and then after my husband was asleep, I was watching this film 'Murder by Numbers' with Sandra Bullock, and was like 'hey, isn't that guy Ryan Gosling?' (Turns out - the things I miss not living in the States anymore - they were an items in like, 2002).



Anyway, the serendipity: I'm doing a shoot with my lovely friend Lucie today (more of that coming up) and we met on Friday and were talking about styling long summer dresses in a way people can relate to in winter.. this all kind of came up, out of the blue, and I just happened to have spent the morning obsessed with this one look. I'm not explaining it right. I'm not making any sense. Sorry about that!

Besides that I love the whole 'dress it up, dress it down' concept - that's what I've been doing all my life - I also love the balance of summer and winter in whatever I wear. Perhaps it comes from living in a temperate climate, but even on holiday, I love wearing, say, a summer frock, then throwing thick chunky jumper or cardigan on top. Or the obvious one, leather and lace.. again, it's like cooking: there is always an element of balance at work. Hard and soft, sweet and salty, spicy and bland.





I'm determined, all winter, to wear bits of summer on me. A sleeveless dress, worn as a jumper, over a long sleeved jersey and thick tights and boots. Doc Martins - or, ideally, what I'm craving, some kind of Chelsea boots with chunky 70s heels - with long lanky dresses. Just to remind me that before we know it, green shoots will appear, and spring will be just around the corner.

spooky blue eyes (after ashish)

This is actually the first part of a juxtaposition: I met these girls after the Ashish show, on 17.09.11 (D2, LFW), and I've whiled the better part of the morning away, trying (and possibly, succeeding) in identifying them in the show. But the thing is, the clothes in the show are so bright, so bold, and what they're wearing after is so soft - the kind of muted neutrals I've been in the mood for this week - that it just didn't feel right in the same post. Besides, four shots are enough. There is so much I'd want to show you from Ashish (I have, already, but there's so much more) that I'll have to save it for another day.

After all, as Scarlett O'Hara would say, tomorrow is another day.

I love the girl on the right's spooky blue eyes.

holly: just one look

Backstage, at the delicious Holly Fulton show, in London in September.

Another little soundtrack to play, while viewing (altho this wasn't the music Holly had for the show):









I'm fascinated with the behinds the scenes aspect of any creative project: film sets, kitchens, and of course, fashion. What especially drew me in with the Holly Fulton backstage experience was we were a select group allowed to shoot what they call 'first look.' It's fascinating: all these photographers, with lights and things, squished together in a hallway. With my lens, I could only shoot really close. And the way they massage the lotions into the girls! It's kind of hilarious.






This is just ONE look - one model - backstage, and on the runway, from the Holly Fulton show. Multiply that by.. oh, you do the math. And then I've been to.. a bunch of shows. I am overwhelmed with things I want to show you.

A continuation of my juxtaposition series. Must run! xoxo

romance was born

I met Anna Plunkett, the designer of the Australian brand Romance Was Born, with Luke Sales, who I believe is the business side (I wonder if that's his real name!), just as I was leaving Somerset House, on the Thames, at the end of Day Four.

Even the first line of the story on their website says it best: 'A love of kitsch Australiana, crafty construction and fine tailoring help Australia's sentimental favourites Romance Was Born to turn the dreaded cultural cringe on its head.'

I mean, what else can I add, really?



Not everything Anna is wearing is designed and made by her: the black dress over the white dress, I recognised from one of the first Mark Fast shows I saw, and the green bag is Chanel, but most of it is Anna's. When I saw how Sabine styled herself - with her own knitting and DIY - in her lovely post the other day ('cluck cluck'), it reminded me that I'd held out on this long enough. It's time to let you see this, Dear Reader. Romance Was Born.

after fast

So many photos I want to show you! So little time. Life goes by so fast, you know?

After Fast - the Mark Fast show - which I really want to show you photos of - it was wonderful. I saw a lovely post on my sweet, beautiful friend Ediot's blog, and realised she was shooting these girls while I was shooting them, so I want to get this one up. Fast. While cooking dinner. More to come.

Is it just me, or is life getting really interesting these days? How's your mood a the moment? Are you having one of those days where you feel that anything is possible? I hope so. Because, it is.

And if you're feeling blue, and need some perking up, turn up the volume, and sing this oldie but goodie out loud.

nearly simultaneous juxtaposition: 20.09.11 13:01

Shot concurrently, not quite simultaneously, but within one minute of one another: 20.09.11, both at 13:01. Somerset House, LFW, D5.

composition: still life with three legs

I think this was Sandra (5 inch and up)'s feet - I shot it while we were talking at Somerset House, and someone walked by, and that made, to me, a pleasing composition.

in memory: steve jobs, 1955-2011

Like my friend Toni, of the Fashion Cloud, 'for reasons I don’t know how to explain', I am holding off on what I had planned to post today, because, like her, I am saddened and affected by the death of someone I have never met.




When my husband told me this morning that Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, has died, of cancer, at the age of 56.. I don't know how to say what I want to say. My father was first diagnosed with prostate cancer before he was 60. While he went on to live another 15 years, I know how hard it was, at times, for him, for my family, for me, to come to terms with the helpless feeling of how cruel, how unfair, life could be.



We all have such a short time in this life, in this world. The question is, what we do with our time. Each minute that I squander - that I occupy my mind with anger, or resentment, or feeling victimised - each minute that I am not creating either something beautiful, of use to others, or spreading some sense of hope, love, or joy - is a minute that I am wasting on this earth.

Without Steve Jobs' vision, I would not have the means for my voice to be heard. So, from the moment that I click 'publish post', I will rise, take my beautiful MacBook Pro with me, out into the sunshine. And I will write. And I will do it with gratitude to a man I've never met, who has changed my world, for the better.



Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs. But I have a feeling you won't be resting at all: you'll continue to have the vision, and the spirit, to keep on creating for us mortals, here on Earth.

happiness is contagious

What have you done so far today, to spread some around? Would you care to share it with the class?

Shot backstage at the fabulous, brilliant David Koma show, 20 September 2011, at the Topshop Waterloo Eurostar venue. More to come on this series, especially the delightful Karolina, who's been in contact - 'the active girl', who was infecting everyone she came in contact with.

Off to spread a bit of sunshine around on an overcast day. And to write, write, write! xoxo

toni tran: fashitect extraordinaire

Toni Tran, who I met for the first time on Day 6 (Men's Day) of this season's London Fashion Week, is a student of architecture. So when he told me he calls his blog FASHITECT.. I just laughed at the brilliance of it. (My friend Lisa, in NY, always wanted to go out with a chef - or an Italian guy - or an architect. When she started seeing an Italian architect who is a good cook, I had to start calling him the Archtichef). But I digress. Actually, I just think Toni Tran is, without doubt, one of the most talented, original, self stylists I've met, since I started this blog.



Take, for example, his trousers. THEY ARE A SHIRT. This is a tip that would work well for women as well as men. I know everyone's already wearing a shirt as skirt (no one even knows who first started it), it always looks a bit.. like you've tied a shirt around your waste to make it like a skirt. But this.. I'm sorry, but this is fashion genius.



I'd done my first designer interview the day before, backstage with David Koma after his show. I had asked him if he was influenced by architecture - because his clothes, to me, seemed architectural. (He wasn't, particularly). I'm not surprised that Toni is studying architecture, because the same principles of balance and proportion that apply to designing buildings, apply to styling one's person. That's why - I feel - people with good style are often good cooks, or excel in other art forms, like music or painting.

Because creativity is often, I feel, a question of choices: of, simply put, good taste. That, combined with a generous dose of self belief, and confidence.

And just how amazing is the reflection in his sunglasses in this shot? I didn't realise that til after: it feels like the most amazing, surrealistic Renaissance painting.





Toni Tran is wearing:
All saints iowa cardigan,
H&M t-shirt, my mum's pijama trousers as a scarf like thing.
New look necklace, Topshop glasses
Customized John White england shoes


But even more incredibly, CHECK OUT HIS BLOG. I mean, for example, look how he styled himself HERE. This wasn't, it turns out, even necessarily his best outfit. The guy just blew me away with his talent, his friendliness, his professionalism, and his modesty.

checkered presence

'It's a blog-eat-blog world out there, son.. somebody could get hurt.'

That's the quote on Claire Healy's twitter: @young_shields, from her blog of the same name. We met the first day of LFW, and I can't believe we haven't met sooner.


I love when people - who also happen to be attractive, and have great style - have interests that extend beyond self promotion. Whose goals are more than increasing their blog numbers, and becoming famous bloggers. Claire is back in Cambridge now, at Uni, and she's modest, and beautiful of course, but you can also, I hope, see the wisdom, and the humour, and especially, the kindness, in her eyes.






And her outfit? When we finally got round to talking about that, it really was a bit of 'oh this old thing?' She can't remember where she got her boots. Her picnic checkered trousers, granted, are Moschino, but - here's a tip for the fit girls amongst you - they're from the kids' department. Cheap, and chic.



It's hard to even look at leather jackets right now: we're packing swimsuits and goggles and sunscreen and heading to Surrey, bunking off for the day at the wonderful heated outdoor pool. Swim and write, write and swim. A gift from the Gods! And Claire: thank you for letting me post your shots. I know you're modest, and as self critical as the next girl, but you're a delight, and it's precisely because you're interested in so much more than how you look, or what you're wearing.

let's get serious

This model was in the Holly Fulton show, which I loved. She told me her name and I thought I wrote it down, but we were on the Strand while I was trying to get to the Topshop Unique show in time. I had just found the bus with London Fashion Week splashed all over the side, but it was stationary, and empty. 'Hello sir, are you going to Waterloo for the Topshop show?' I asked the dour bus driver, who said 'Yes,' then he looked at my Photographer and Press passes, and said 'but this bus is only for the Buyers.' I looked around and it was clearly empty - and the show was starting in 15 minutes, and the walk alone would take at least that long, so I gave him my saddest puppy dog look, combined with a slight raising of the eyebrow to indicate, AW, come ON, have a heart, buddy, but he wasn't buying it.

'Okay, can you please tell me where the Press bus leaves from, then?' I asked, trying a new tact. 'Oh that's across the street,' he said, pointing, 'But it left five minutes ago.' (In other words, a few minutes after the start of our conversation.) Then I resorted to begging, but he held firm. Buyers, only. I was on the verge of offering him a twenty, but he looked like the type who would happily arrest me for attempted bribery. Sometimes you just gotta let it go.

So I started running. But first, that's when I saw this nice model, and we had a quick little chat and shoot, and I didn't even notice til now when I'm looking at the shot, what a great little nail detail she had going.



Then.. oh! I almost forgot the part where I tried again to find the bus - because the Buyer Driver said it might be circling round the block if the bridge is closed (huh?) and while I was, and thinking maybe, just maybe, the Gods would be on my side and there's be a taxi, but who did I see but my old friend Scott, the Sartorialist, ('I shot the Sartorialist', September 2009). He was standing in the street, watching me. 'Are you going to Topshop?' I asked frantically. 'Maybe', he said.

'Do you have an invitation?', the Sartorialist asked me.

'Yes,' I replied.

'Can you show it to me?', he asked. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and there were no buses or taxis in sight, and we weren't getting any younger. 'Of course,' said I, opening my handbag and handing him my ticket, because you don't say no to the Sartorialist. 'Good,' he said, 'because I want to send it to Garance.' (He pronounced it, btw, not GAR-ance, but in a Frenchy way, GarANCE). So here we are, in the street, no taxi, no bus, it's 2:55, and I'm quipping brightly to him about 'Well, I might not be shot by the Sartorialist, but at least my invitation is!'

Either he didn't find me funny, or he was concentrating on shooting it with his phone and sending it to Garance, but in any case, he was done with me, and off I sprinted across the bridge.



At which point I saw this girl, above, with two cute guys with big photographic equipment. They were trying to hail a cab, but there weren't any. I'm gonna just try hoofing it, I told them, but she pointed to her shoes - which were fabulous - but had mile high heels. We exchanged sympathetic glances, I wished them luck - they promised to pick me up if they found a taxi - and I ran to the old Eurostar station, which I'd been to last year. But I still got really lost. And ran in - leaving a line queuing outside - and wouldn't you know: it was starting late. They had really great beef stew (which I'm making now, btw: I've still got this cold/flu/bug) on mashed potatoes, which I inhaled gratefully, and then I saw the girl from the bridge. They'd ended up going on foot, after all, but they, too made it in time!

I didn't see the Sartorialist inside. Or, Garance. But I did see him after, outside. Alone. With his camera. Watching, with a serious face on. And then I walked back, across Waterloo bridge. Next to me on the bridge was the Buyer Bus, returning slowly in the traffic, to Somerset House. It was empty.



My last shot in the Serious Series is my new friend Carlota, aka Carrottline. I love her look. So serious. She's been leaving wonderful comments as long as I can remember, and she's got a lovely blog, but this was the first we actually met. She's in London now for school, and we're planning to meet for a coffee in a few weeks when she's settled in. She wasn't having a great time at fashion week - she didn't know anyone yet - but we've all been there, and know how it feels. Everyone has to start somewhere.

We've had to cancel a lovely dinner at our friends' tonight cause of this bug. But I've made some killer gingerbread and am drinking the best home remedy: fresh lemon, ginger, and honey tea. And if you want to laugh, click on 'I'm not talking', and follow instructions.

p.s. Big thank you to my friend Estelle, Serendipity 2307! The model is, and I quote: 'Sandra aka Suzie Bird very famous frenchie model!' And E should know: she's French, and she's a model, and she's modelled in Paris, so there you go.