This blog is all about fashion and art events!
On inspiring fashion photography in editorials, covers of magazines and advertising campaigns
and anything else captured by my lens! And now embracing personal branding for success.
When I see flowers I feel hope, I feel happy! So seeing the spring 2019 campaign of Kate Spade I felt happy! Tim Walker captured Kiki Layne, Sadie Sink and Julia Garner for a colourful and flower-filled campaign.
Do you like flowers?
Sadie Sink
Kiki Layne
Julia Garner, Sadie Sink and Kiki Layne
Styling by Sara Moonves. Make up by Sam Bryant.
“I was particularly inspired by the early ad campaigns shot by Tim Walker, who shot for the brand from 1999-2006 under Kate and Andy Spade. I loved how he played with perspective and proportions. There was always something a little off that was witty and made you smile. The women in the campaigns conveyed a sense of individuality – they were optimistic, free-spirited and happy,” says Kate Spade creative director Nicola Glass
At this time of the year I am longing for a hot and sunny summer. By dreaming of summer I enjoy having a closer look at the summer collections. I came up with a greek brand specialised in summer clothing using natural materials, like cotton and linen.
Sofia Berli established in 2015 the greek fashion brand sea ILakati. She was inspired by traditional techniques and the love for designer clothing, she puts her artistic talent in her brand. She and her team prefer to work with natural materials like organic cotton, silk and linen.
The brand's name contains "sea" it stands for the summer, as the fashion brand launches only summer collections. Sofia loves the summer, it takes her a step closer to nature and to the greek sun.
"Ilakati" is a distaff, an old tool to make yarn out of wool, referring to the brand's traditional techniques. Did you know that the distaff has been a symbol of female power? One of the symbols of the Greek Goddess Athena is the distaff (besides the olive tree, the spear and the aegis).
Women on Patmos by Jean Baptiste Vanmour 1700-1737 (courtesy of Rijksmuseum) Holding a distaff (ilakati)
So by reading this you may think why only summer collections?
In the summer the greek islands are flooded with tourists so shops are looking for authentic and creative clothing from and for the greek market. And the tourists love to buy greek clothing. By wearing it back home they remember the easy-going of the greek islands and feel relaxed!
Sea Ilakati aims for the women who appreciates the finest things in life, enjoys adventure, new discoveries and less traveled roads. The Ilakati woman has a distinct bold spirit, a sure rhythm, curiosity, and freedom, embedded with the natural lifestyle and the tendency of an explorer to discover the hidden magic.
Sea ILakati creations believes that designers, creators, yarns and fabrics are a family that works harmoniously to give each piece of life, history, existence, soul. The sense of respect for the fabrics and materials they use, along with the knowledge and the experience of the designers, turns the fabric into an artwork that you can enjoy everyday by just wearing it!
Simple and comfortable lines, yet impressive with a boho twist are the elements of Sea Ilakati Spring Summer Collection 2019. Play with colourful stripes and checks, in intense colour contrasts, and combine all of them together like a frenzied party on the sandy beach.
For more information visit the website or enjoy the lookbook.
Spring-Summer 2019
When you are not travelling to Greece or you didn't find a shop selling the brand clothing, you can buy your favourite item on line!
And when you want to stay up to date about the brand follow them on Instagram!
Photos of Sea Lakati: courtesy of the fashion brand.
I can't wait for summer. I prefer wearing dresses in summertime like the dress Catherine McNeil wears in the editorial of the February 2019 issue of Harper’s Bazaar US.
The Australian beauty is photographed by Marcin Tyszka in Sevilla. Stylist Kerstin Schneider combines this Spanish summer dress with must-have red high heels full of flowers.
Angel Tragacete created the sun-kissed makeup look, I love how her skin glows. Manuel Ortiz did the hairstyling.
The straw hat and the basket make the styling complete.
What is your opinion of genderless clothing? I love to dress up and I am proud that I am a women. But I know some people prefer to be genderless.
H&M collaborated with Eytys to launch a genderless collection and today it is available in selected stores worldwide as well as online. I love several items but I prefer the word unisex!
The Eytys x H&M collection features shoes, clothing and accessories for adults and a selection for kids. Key items include several new styles of footwear and a reinterpretation of the classic Eytys plimsoll, while the clothes have a distinct silhouette – wide trousers, baggy t-shirts with a tight neckline and boxy jackets.
Yesterday, on 23 January, H&M and Eytys celebrated their unique collaboration in Stockholm with an exclusive party, including guests like Robyn, Bryanboy, the Lejonhjärta twins, Veronika Heilbrunner and Justin O´Shea. The celebration took place at Luma, a former light bulb factory just outside central Stockholm, which was transformed into a space inspired by the Eytys x H&M aesthetic and attitude. Guests enjoyed various passing food throughout the evening and mingled, with the night ending with special performances by Snap! and world-renowned DJ duo SIMIHAZE, both dressed in the Eytys x H&M collection.
The Eytys x H&M collection set the tone for the night and we look forward to the world-wide launch of the collaboration.
Max Schiller, Creative Director and Founder of Eytys
It was a great night filled with an individual spirit that Eytys has come to represent. We are excited to see the fashion-forward unisex pieces being styled by people around the world.
Who are the femmes fatales in the fashion industry? The Art Museum (Gemeentemuseum) in The Hague has an exhibition on display devoted to female fashion designers, on strong women in fashion, on femmes fatales! For the first time ever!
To me the first name that came up was of Coco Chanel, but also thinking of Elsa Schiaparelli, Diana van Furstenberg, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham and Maria Katrantzou. Writing these names even more names are coming up, like Sarah Burton and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
When Coco Chanel started to get known in Paris, she was called "that seamstress" by contemporary couturier Paul Poirot. For him it was a way to offend her. Male couturiers presented themselves as fashion gods and felt they were the creative talents and not the female competitors, they were just 'seamstresses'. But the female designers emphasised that only a woman could dress the female body as best as possible and much better than a man.
The gemeentemuseum asked three questions to prepare this exhibition:
Do female designers design differently for women than their male colleagues?
What is the significance of being a woman for their creations?
What is their vision on fashion?
The answer is not simple and it is dangerous to generalize. The museum finds it striking that many female designers work on the hand, heart and head principle. Hands, because many of them care strongly about the technical design process and shop te material by hand around the female body. Heart because they work from feelings and attach great importance to mobility, physicality and comfortable fit.
And head because many female designers do use clothes as a medium to express their (social) opinions.
The exhibition starts with dresses from the 18th century until the pink pussy hats found their way from the street to the catwalk with Angela Missoni.
I made clothes for the new woman. She could move and live naturally in my clothes.
Coco Chanel
Elsa Schiaparelli: I feel that clothes have to be architectural, that the body must never be forgotten and it must be used the way a frame is used in a building. She was the first designer to present themed collections, like the 'Circus collection' in 1938. Her creativity ability and conceptual way of thinking made her stand out.
"Buy less, choose well, make it last." Vivienne Westwoord said, "I am a fashion designer and activitist. The need to live in harmony with the planet is a matter of life and death." At the moment she fights for a better environment and a more sustainable fashion industry.
We should all be feminist.
Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior
"I like the idea of women buying clothes and feel proud, satisfied, comfortable and powerful in them. To wear them and get on with their lives. " Phoebe Philo
Sarah Burton: It's about dressing women and how a piece makes them feel. As soon as you put a McQueen jacket on, you stand differently because it has a waist and it has a shoulder and it makes you feel empowered. It's great if you can do that for women.
Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Mary Quant (1967): "Fashion as we knew it, it is over: people wear now exactly what they feel like wearing.
Daisy Doll by Mary Quant - Mini skirts for ever!
The revolutionary wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg
The power of a good coat
Black and white, never out of style
Black and white shoe
Mary Katrantzou
Iris van Herpen, a dutch designer, known for her experiments with new materials and new technology, like 3D printing. She likes to work with specialists in science, architecture, art and biology. She designs the patterns and the patterns for decoration of her garments in a computer program: today's handicraft.
Iris van Herpen
Iris van Herpen - Ludi Naturae
Pink Pussy Hats
It was hard to make a selection of the many photos I took during this exhibition. And I made just a selection of the clothes and quotes. I enjoyed visiting the museum and this exhibition.
It is inspiring so I really suggest you will visit it soon too because it is only on display until 24 March 2019. Let me know what you think about it!
For more information visit gemeentemuseum.nl
Italians do it better, as Madonna once 'preached' back in 1986. Italian clothing and design (and food!) is renowned over the world.
Anything carrying the 'Made in Italy' label seems to be in high demand.
Made in Italy - exhibition in Tassenmusem Hendrikje
The museum of Bags & Purses (Tassenmuseum Hendrikje) in Amsterdam is aiming to show what Italian design entails, and what make a pair of shoes or dress so distinctly Italian.
Italian style is a natural attitude and a life of good taste.
Diego Della Valle
Italian couture started to prosper in the early fifties. The tipping point for Italian couture took place in Florence with a fashion show in the Sala Bianca of the Palazzo Pitti in 1951. This fashion show was so entirely different and innovative that it brought Italian fashion to the international public's attention in one fell swoop. This avant-garde glamour had an immediate impact.
Pucci, Valentino and Capucci are the most famous names of this period.
The booming film industry led Hollywood stars to opt for Italian fashion in the fifties and sixties. Italy, and Rome in particular, appears to be a popular film location. Hollywood film stars expressed their desire to be dressed by Italian designers. Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor showed off popular design. The seamless combination of practically and luxury appeals especially to the American public.
Italian style is characterised through the combination of tradition and craftsmanship, with a luxury and sensual look. Accessories, such as bags for example, are an essential part of Italian style.
Dress designing is to me not a profession but an art.
Elsa Schiaparelli
Handbag by Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the first Italian designers to make a name for herself in Paris. With her surrealistic designs, she was regarded as one of Coco Chanel's greatest rivals in the 1920s and 1930s. During this period, Salvatore Ferragamo established his reputation with innovative designs for shoes.
To promote Italian design, the words ‘Made in Italy’ were introduced in the 1970s. For Italian producers, this served as a collective slogan and mark of quality. It can be found in all kinds of advertising and on labels for designer items, fashion and even cookbooks.
Candice Swanepoel is the face of Italian denim brand Miss Sixty campaign for spring-summer 2019. Daniel Jackson lensed Candice in front of Renaissance inspired painting.
Jeans in every form, as strapless dress, for summer and for spring with a tule top. As jacket with pink roses embroidered and as suit.
The boots are impressive for a photoshoot! I love the styling of this advertisement! Do you agree?
