Tag: fashion

Think pink

Published on by Alicja Jasnikowska1 Comment

Ah pink! The colour of rose petals and sunsets and healthy flushed cheeks, and traditionally, the colour most associated with young girls. Furthermore, as decreed by Vogue’s AW13 trend guide (aka the fashion bible) head-to-toe pink is this season’s top trend, with Lanvin, Celine, Mulberry and Dior all opting for rosy hues in their catwalk collections.

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Vogue Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalk edit (August issue)

Supremely feminine and particularly striking on blondes, this season’s top garments include oversized outerwear, 60s inspired skirt suits and slinky silk dresses. The high street has been quick to pick up on the trend with Oasis, Jaeger and Marks & Spencer all producing baby pink cocoon coats ready for the autumn chill.

Pink Jaeger shot AW13

Jaeger AW13 press day

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Dress, £42, Topshop; Fake fur stole, Warehouse; Pearls, vintage.

Tying in with the theme are 2 personal items:- my shoot for this month’s Country & Town House magazine (aptly titled Pretty in Pink) featuring a Roberto Cavalli SS13 pale pink leather lace dress & floral garland hairpiece; and my outfit for a forthcoming 20s inspired wedding party (see above). My friend Danielle – who dons pink on many an occasion and is not shy of declaring it her favourite colour – will be most pleased. This one’s for you hun…

Pretty in pink, shot for Country & Town House Magazine. Photography: © Clara Copley. Styling: Alicja Jasnikowska. Beauty Editor: Nathalie Eleni. Hair: Laura Lawson. Model: Fifi Newberry

Hitchcock heroines

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Today sees the opening of ‘I Only Want You to Love Me’, a retrospective of the work of London born fashion photographer Miles Aldridge. Launched to coincide with the book of the same name, the exhibition highlights Aldridge’s bold use of colour and glossy yet dark images of women. Part Hitchcock heroine, part airbrushed Vogue model, Aldridge references both cinema and photography, citing film director David Lynch and fashion photographer Richard Avedon as influences.

I am a huge fan of these surreal, almost plastic looking shots, and the large scale on display is an assault on the senses. Aldridge’s female models – and he only really shoots women – often appear troubled, vacant or distressed, and there is a clear cynicism towards the perfect Stepford wife imagery that dominates advertising. This he feels, is something most people can connect with – “I think that’s why my work is collected and enjoyed,” he said. “It’s not black and white though – we don’t exist within an evil empire. It’s complicated. The world is a strange and troubling place and we live in the middle of it.” Stunning, glossy images that belie a deeper, darker message, this is thought-provoking fashion photography at its best.

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Miles Aldridge – The Rooms, 2011

Miles-Aldridge4 - Chromo Thriller 2012

Miles Aldridge – Chromo Thriller, 2012

Miles Aldridge: I Only Want You to Love me runs from 10th July – 29th September 2013 at Somerset House
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/miles-aldridge-i-only-want-you-to-love-me

Cara bags Mulberry campaign

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British brand Mulberry has just unveiled its a/w 2013 campaign, fronted by the face to feature this season, model Cara Delevingne. A hit both on & off the catwalks, Cara is renowned for her Instagram gurning, beanie hats, inimitable style & partying with bezzies Rita Ora & Rihanna.

Shot by the supremely talented Mulberry favourite Tim Walker – purveyor of abstract magical scenes – the campaign features Cara in an Oxfordshire manor surrounded by nocturnal owls. British, beautiful and quirky, with a delicious dark side, this is a perfect pairing for Mulberry. Surely a namesake bag is on the horizon…

http://www.mulberry.com/#/thisseason/campaign/

Bold Blumenfeld

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This Monday’s musings are of an arty disposition. Last week I popped along to Somerset House to check out Erwin Blumenfeld’s fashion photography exhibition. These images are simply stunning & despite being more than 50 years old, feel so modern the only thing giving away their age is the clothing.

Born in Berlin & from humble beginnings, Blumenfeld scaled the heights of fashion fame to become a leading contributor to US Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar in the 40s & 50s. The techniques displayed in these photographs could be easily created on Photoshop today, but the marvel is this was a time of film not digital, & Blumenfeld utilised frosted screens, clever lighting & even water to create some of the burnt-out, blurred & striated shots. You can see the inspiration of Man Ray in his work, whilst other images reference his colleague Cecil Beaton, both more famous but none more talented.

Keep an eye out for the image of Grace Kelly, the Chesterfield cigarette campaign (which feels almost naughty in this era of smoke-free advertising) & the iconic beauty image shown above. A superb & unique exhibition, I defy anyone of an arty inclination not to come away feeling truly inspired. & best of all it’s totally free…

Until September 1st, http://www.somersethouse.org.uk

Saddle me up

Published on by Alicja Jasnikowska1 Comment

I thought it fitting that my first entry on this blog would also be about a newbie… namely the gorgeous new bag company http://saddlebagtrading.com/. If you’re a fan of the Cambridge Satchel Co, these beautiful British made saddlebags should be right up your alley.  Made of 100% durable leather with gorgeous contrast stitch & buckle details, these sturdy little gems are the perfect antidote to festival bag drama.  Throw in your lipgloss & phone, & sling across your body for a hands-free (all the better for dancing) answer to stylish dressing. Plus they won’t fall apart once the weekend party is over. Festival friendly, durable & chic – the winning killer combo.