Fashion Photography - Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon (1923-2004) was an iconic fashion photographer. Not only did he capture the beautiful clothing, but his models had emotions. It was more than just a pretty dress. Avedon photographed fashion as well as inspiring portraits. Later in life he experimented with color, but I think his best work was his black and white.

A plethra of Plaid

The Dolce and Gabanna Fall 08 Ready to Wear runway in Milan was covered with sherlock and early 20th century buisnessman inspired attire. It was really sophisticated, which fits my style. I'm not too crazy with my fashion. I prefer the classic polo/sunday brunch outfits worn by aristocrats and people with significant income (See Ralph Lauren Spring 08 Ready to Wear, gorgeous stuff). Anyways, I really liked all the plaid, that also was excessively used in the Ralph Lauren Fall collection. Anyone see plaid trends for fall? That wouldn't be objected by me.

Do you heart Austen?

For the past 2 months my mom and I have been fascinated and obssessed with Jane Austen. She's read all the books, but I've only read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I'm working on Northanger Abbey right now. We've bought all the books that were alluded to in her books, and watched every single movie version of each book. (Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly is still my fav, but Persuasion is not too far from it). Because our muse lived 200 years ago, and obviously can no longer write novels, we've, sadly, resorted to reading fan fiction such as Mr. Darcy's diary, Mr. Knightly's diary, and Mr. Darcy's daughters (which aren't as bad as you might think). The classic love stories will never fail in inspiring me, not to mention their fashion sense was great (that empire waistline is genius). I've always loved messing around with hair, and the movies have totally inspired (I love ribbons). Some days when I'm bored at school I pick out people who resemble characters from the differen't novels (I personaly relate to Jane from Pride and Prejudice, the classic, shy, good girl). But tonight I watched a movie telling all the stories in one. The Jane Austen Book Club tells the story of 6 women who make a book club and their lives end up following that of the stories. I thought it was extremely well done and is probably the best movie I've seen in a long time. (FYI, if you don't know all the stories, you won't get the full impact, trust me). Not to mention it has Hugh Dancy in it, who has become my hollywood hottie ever since Heath Ledger died, may he rest in peace (it was akward being in love with a dead guy).

On a side note, was anyone else extremely disappointed with the project runway tonight? I was under the impression that it was going to be the finale, but it was only a review! man, that was a bummer...

Love Me or Hate Me

I feel it is necessary to bring up one of the most controversial matters in fashion history. This is, of course, the saga of whether or not Keira Knightly is worthy of being considered a fashion icon. Some accuse her of bad acting, or anorexia, or having the likeness of a frog, but I am willing to look past all this and say that she is a muse. Her elegant figure and consistent posture is iconic of the classic English maiden who is looked up to in all societies. I think she looks breathtakingly gorgeous at the British Academy Film Awards 08. The layered dress is what I have only dreamed of wearing. Someday I hope that people will open up their minds and accept that some people are just likeable. I hope that someday people will stop disagreeing just because everyone else likes something. There I go. I've turned a lovely piece about Keira Knightly into a rant about rebels without causes. Although, Keira does stray from the current fashion trends now and then, creating a spectacular scene on whatever red carpet she's on, making her somewhat of a rebel herself.

Afrotastic

Franck Sorbier's Haute Coutoure "paper jungle" spring runway show is fascinating!!! The shreds strewn runway was rocked by jungle meets wedding meets enormous afro. Totally one of the more fun shows that really pushed the limits on fashion. The multigender (and multi age, those little kids are just too cute!!!) show really put a perspective on how crazy fashion might move into your local mens department. Instantly inspiring!

Neon: The new black

London Fashion week's boat was furiously rocked by the vibrant neons that accented the runways. Such colorful designs are quite pleasing and refreshing after a quite bland winter.

Boundaries

Picture by ME

So this is a story we were required to write last year. I'm rather fond of it.

My children take all the dangers in the world for granted. They feel as if they are invincible, and that nothing will ever happen to them. Their complaints are overwhelming. Why can’t I go to the park alone? Why can’t I walk around the neighborhood? Why can’t you let me be independent?
As a kid, my siblings and I ran amok. Danger followed us while we chased it, never realizing. Only now do I comprehend all the utterly stupid things that we did. Nobody was there to watch us, and now we live with the consequences of our naivety.
I made the mistake of telling my children about my childhood, and now they use it against me. They don’t understand why I have to protect them so much. “You had fun, why can’t we?” They won’t understand any of my answers, not until they have children of their own.
It was horrific when I first realized that as children, we needed a guide, and we didn’t have one. There was no grace to my epiphany, it just happened, fast and brutal.
₪₪₪
Russell was the oldest and the only one of us that understood that the world was a dangerous place. He was 17, Cheryl was 14, Lori was13, and I was the baby at 10. We went exploring with a few American friends outside of the Military base that our father worked at in Germany. Jack, Diane, Lisa, and Sara were our neighbors whose house was only separated from ours by a neatly spaced line of Italian cypress trees. They came with us everywhere we went. No minors were permitted to leave the base precincts without an adult, but there wasn’t good security around the boundaries which made it easy to sneak out.
When Russell stood outside the kitchen doorway to tell my mother that we were going out, she never turned around from the dishes to even look at his face. “Mhm,” she said. She’d heard, but hadn’t really listened. He didn’t need to tell her, but he felt it was his obligation to let her know.

“Come on guys, you are so slow!” Lisa called back to me as she giggled and ran even farther ahead. I kept whispering with Sara and dragging my feet. We were walking along the trail to the park, looking side to side for a place to play. Trees rose up on either side of the trail like walls which made it hard to see. The park was a back up plan; we were hoping to find something better before we got there, but the exterior border of the woods was approaching, and the rest of the trail didn’t look much different than what we’d already seen.
When we arrived at the park, there were only three of us: me, Lisa, and Sara. Cheryl, Lori, and Diane, split off a while back to go talk about boys in a place cut off from all other ears, and later, Russell and Jack split off the road to explore.
We stood in an awkward silence, not knowing what to do, not wanting to be the first person to be childish and suggest going to play on the playground, and not brave enough to introduce the subject of boys. Finally the childish side won. “Let’s go to play war zone on the playground,” said Lisa as she started to run towards it. “Last two there’s the enemy!” Sara and I were last.
We’d played for about 20 minutes. Sara had been shot down and resurrected four times, Lisa five, and me only twice. Sara and I had used the tank, or the metal bar fire truck, to blast a hole in Lisa’s fortress (it didn’t have very good security). We were beginning to seize the fortress; Lisa had already retreated to her “safe zone”, the monkey bars, when we heard barks coming from the forest. Like soldiers crossing enemy lines, two German Shepards came barreling out from behind the wall of trees.
“Our reinforcements have arrived!” I said, although they didn’t seem like they wanted to help. Just to be safe, Sara and I started making our way to the monkey bars. Sara was already up, and the dogs were getting close.
“Kathy, hurry up,” Lisa said in a stern, concerned voice. The dogs continued their charge towards the playground. Just as I was about to swing my right leg up to the bars, one of the dogs had caught on to the pant leg of my jeans. I tried to play it off like I wasn’t scared, but my heart was screaming. Sara began to yell for help while I tried to give a faint laugh, to show I was brave. Lisa saw my confidence and started to laugh with me.
I had managed to get my leg free and was on top of the monkey bars by the time some German adults walking along the trail looked over to check and see if the yells were coming from people actually in need. We weren’t as scared anymore, we were just thinking of ways we might get down.
“Do you know these dogs?”
“Can you help us?”
“Please, get them away.”
Of course they didn’t understand, and we didn’t seem to be in too much distress, so they continued on their way. The dogs didn’t. They stayed around, and after a while, even tried to jump and nip at our dangling feet. Sara started to call for help again. This time, Lisa and I joined in. I heard Russell’s voice faintly from behind the trees in the forest. “Kathy? Lisa? Are you okay? Sara?” The dogs heard the voice too and ran after it.
“The dogs, Russ! The dogs!” I yelled, with as much urgency as I could. I saw Russell’s face just before he was pinned to the ground by one of them. His eyes were wide with fear and concern. Jack sprinted down the trail to find the hikers that had just passed, and the other German Shepard sprinted after him.
I don’t know if it was by coincidence or by fate that a large tree blocked the view from the “safe zone” to where my brother lay with a dog clawing his face. Maybe it was there to save our innocence from someone else’s naive mistake. All our calls for help were silenced as we watched the stray pieces of Russell’s wrestling match with the dog. It was like watching only half of a war movie, the half without the action. You don’t know if you want to see the gruesomeness, but you want to see the heroes before they are completely mutilated.
₪₪₪
My brother didn’t die that day. Jack had found the hikers, and they were able to chase away the dogs. But Russell’s face was extremely disfigured. There are scars all over it. My mother can never see him and not remember that day. Maybe if she had asked, wondered, or even cared where we were going, Russell might still have his face. I protect my children so I can save myself from a life consumed by guilt.

Pioneer Woman

This "Pioneer Woman" tells the story of her loves throughout her life, following a similar storyline to Jane Austen's novels which I have recently become infatuated with. This is a must read blog that will change lives!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/category/the_night_i_met_marlboro_man