the long and the short of it

I don't know about in other cities, but this fashion week in London, I was seeing a lot of long skirts. It felt like.. I could be wrong about this, but let's pretend you bought a long skirt. Chances are, you're not gonna wear it to the office, or hanging around - maybe I'm wrong - but when you're dressing for fashion week, and you want to make a 'statement'.. you see where I'm going with this thought.

On the other hand, I saw some really nice short skirts, too. Especially - I didn't shoot them that much, but there quite a few pleated, leather or leather look skater skirts. In black. And while we're at it: a surprising number of combinations of black with orange, which seems influenced by the catwalk last season. As an American, I'm not a big fan - I can't get the Halloween motif out of my head - but I really liked Annie, in the short orange skirt, thrifted vintage slightly transparent white lace shirt, and black bra peeking thru. And her vintage brown leather bag reminds me so much of my old Coach bag, which I bought new in the early 90s, and I'm trotting round with again.

Last but not least, I loved the attitude of the last girl. I simply could not get her to smile. Took about six shots and she was increasingly glaring - yet patient - in each shot. Her lavender dip dye hair so matches her skirt that if I were her, it's the only thing I'd wear.

All shot at Somerset House, Sunday, 18 September, 2011.

oh, baby

First: I am not a Blogger. I am a human being.

Second: Today, like yesterday, is a gift from the Gods, here in London. Hot and sunshine. I'd have paid good money and gone thru all the security crap, to be somewhere else in the world and have this glorious weather.

So the least I can do is get my lovely laptop off my lap, shut this baby down, take my notebook (to write my novel), and my camera, and be PRESENT. Take a break from posting about all things fashion week. Because, having gathered my acorns, having squirrelled those images away, I've got all winter to show you what people wore, on or off the catwalk.

Of course: were I in Paris, that would be another story. But I'm not. I'll leave that to those that are. I've got some lovely shots of some lovely stylish people from yesterday, when I was with a wonderful new friend at the V&A.

But for now, I leave you with this one baby, for whom this imperfect yet perfect world is new, and bright, with infinite possibilities.

what they wore: bold neutrals

From top: Ping, a model who I've met and shot since I believe my first fashion week, Sept 2009, then a really lovely German student whose name eludes me at the moment.* Then Nadia, aka Frou Frou.

*Thank you, Anonymous: it's Mario! Now it's coming back to me.

Trend wise, there really hasn't been any one particular, apart from long skirts (more of that coming up). Just when I'd think 'everyone's wearing black' I'd see tons of bright colour. Or I'd think 'everyone's wearing prints', but I'd also see a lot of solid, confident neutrals - neutral with a twist - as shown here. Clean, confident use of texture, like chunky knits, or lace. Little bits o' colour - like, say, in a red belt, or a burgundy jumper. I love how the student had the confidence to wear black leather gloves, silver chains, and that great bag, and pair it with a classic trench and my go-to favourite sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarers.

What I like - what I look for - is people who look more interesting than their clothes.

All shot at Somerset House, LFW, Day Four, 19 September 2011.