Miu Miu A/W17

When asked to find interesting and successful outcomes to inspire us for our photoshoots, I came across the ad campaign for Miu Miu for this season. It is called 'Preservation Hall and Other Stories' by Alasdair McLellan, set in New Orleans and brings the culture of the Deep American South. It's a decade piece thats timeless yet innovative. I love the mixture of music and fashion with the incorporation of jazz culture. Its diverse, energetic, glamorous and is following the maximal trend. The stand out pieces were the brightly colour faux furs.

Some images from the ad campaign:

Love, 

Shaleen

xxx

Why Indie Magazines Are The Future Of Print

Indie magazines are becoming more and more popular and its obvious why. They're raw, more thought provoking and intriguing. The photography has deeper meaning and I prefer the style. They discuss issues and ideas that questions society and culture. I won't pick up a copy of mainstream fashion magazines, the likes of Cosmo because they are colourful and have a fake nature to them. Indie magazines also each have their own niche in the fashion world. My favourites are i-D, Heroine, Dazed, Love and Wonderland. I am also excited to find new ones. They push boundaries because they are produced independently like indie films. It's where I look if I am trying to find some inspiration.

In a recent seminar, we looked at layouts of our favourite magazines and I chose Heroine because I have recently found it whilst in flicking through some in Ideas on Paper. It is visually so appealing starting from the cover that is just an image, no text like a photo book. The layout isn't typical with the three columns. However, has a variety of visual contrast that keeps me interested whilst reading. One of my favourites was the column of bold text, another image then another column of regular text.   It definitely gives me inspiration for my own work that I will be doing on InDesign.

Love,

Shaleen

xxx

Marie Zucker.

Marie Zucker is someone who I've admired for a couple of years now, I have also been inspired to take pictures like she her's for photoshoots. I was quite surprised that she had found my art account on Instagram and liked one of my posts. It definitely made my Saturday morning! She has worked for the likes of On the Rocks, Lula, The Last Magazine, Violet Book and Vogue Italia.

I love the introspective moments, that seem taken by chance. They're naturalistic, faded and subtle. The use of a film camera adds a pastel and delicate feel and the colours are definitely more vibrant as well. There's an element of youthful beauty, innocence and fairy tale decadence. It's ethereal and beautiful to leave reality whilst looking at the images. The intimate and cropped, close up pictures are lovely to see the finer details of the photos. They all seem so effortless. Some cool images are below:

http://www.mariezucker.com

Love,

Shaleen

xxx

Helmut Newton.

As a part of our concepts brief we have an individual task to do a visual analysis on a photograph. For prep work we researched a range of famous fashion photographers. This is something I personally enjoy and I was most impressed by Helmut Newton. He's known for his powerful, assertive, sexual and also dominant images of women. He finds the beauty in imperfection. Newton creates more casual and less polished that adds personal touch to the picture. It was interesting to find that he uses a simple set-up, just the camera and a flash on top. Its more about the image than editing as he says himself he finds boring. I think that explains why he rarely does studio work because it isn't real so he shoots in real locations. The photos are nostalgic and retro which I love. We romanticise older photos because things looked so much "more interesting" back then. The idea of keeping photos and not discarding was eye opening. A photo that we may find interesting this year might seem boring next year and vice versa. My favourite images are below:

The intimacy and tight frame allows us to see the details of the skin.

This picture reminds me of grease especially the hair as well as the era. Her expression portrays her confidence and dominance.  

The paleness of the skin represents purity but the cigar is like the opposite and seems rebellious. 

The women is dressed in a suit making her figure seem more masculine and the gritty road looks like a shot from a film noir. 

The seductive quality mixed with the strong and powerful woman on top cradling the man is refreshing. It is unusual to see the man as the weaker sex. The sinister man in the background watching could connote society watching.

I adore all of his photography and can't believe I didn't know of him before. 

Love, 

Shaleen

xxx

'Coach 1941' SS18 Ready To Wear Collection

Coach 1941 SS18 Ready to Wear collection at New York Fashion Week is full of sparkle and glitter representing 80s disco from the set to the clothes. Stuart Vevers presents undone and effortless designs that I want to take off the runway and wear myself. From embellished outerwear, decorative dresses to glittery boots, all are gorgeous. It has been called the millennial brand because is resonates with young Hollywood especially the silk slip dress and lace over mesh combinations. The first look  might have to be favourite because the jacket is so eye-catching and unlike your regular fur coat with the different colours and leather involvement. The leather jacket on Kaia Gerber in runway look 3 is the perfect mix of masculine and feminine attire. The last look is a couture version of the striped trouser trend on the high street. I love the mixture of the decades of the 70s as well as the 80s for a new fresh style.

"All about attitude" – Stuart Vevers 

The beautiful fur coat makes the look

The shoes are western boots but the glitter makes them fancier to be worn on a night out rather than casual

The glittery skirt is all things glamour and glitz 

The embellishment on the dress sets it a part from the other mesh in the outfit

The contrast of the red mesh and silk pink dress is different

The bags in the collection are just as pretty and match 

Love

Shaleen

xxx

'States of America' Exhibit

When I go home to London I have a couple of exhibitions I'd like to visit but Nottingham being an art and culture city, there was one right here that I was interested in. I enjoy contemporary art galleries more and as this exhibition is photography and culture, it's my favourite kind. 'States of America' exhibition is photography spanning over three decades from the civil rights movement to the Reagan era. The pictures are taken by famous American photographers such as William Eggleston, Diane Arbus, Mark Cohen and Bruce Davidson plus more. Its historic and real which makes the exhibit fascinating to look through. It relates to the society and politics happening at the time but without directly addressing the problems but more the affect on the people.

The exhibition is split into 4 galleries. Gallery 1 is titled 'Subject or Object' is about the dynamic between photographer and subject. Theres an invasive idea to the photos but they make the most raw and candid ones. 'A Changing Landscape' in Gallery 2 examines how the American way of life changed after WW2 and the development of mass advertising. I was familiar with William Eggleston before and admire his photography of common scenes and objects in their colour. The social interactions in 'Interior and Private Spaces' told the story of the realities and illusions of the American Dream. My favourite series was the Subway Series by Bruce Davidson showing all walks of life in New York showcased across galleries 3 & 4. 'Coming Together' presents a selection of street scenes. 1960s gang culture, teenage life in Long Island in the late 1970s, contrasted cityscapes reflect on the contradictions of urban life and the time of the Women's Liberation Movement.

"A Boy in Front of the Loew's 125th Street Movie Theatre", 1976 Copyright Dawoud Bey, courtesy of Stephen Daiter Gallery

“Karate Stance, Wilkes-Barre, PA”, 1977 Courtesy of Wilson Centre for Photography. © Mark Cohen

 Lee Friedlander, New York City, 1966 Courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco and Wilson Centre for Photography

William Eggleston, Memphis Dust Bowls Vol I (1970)

Mary Ellen Mark, White Junior and Justin (1983)

It was definitely a worthwhile visit that I highly recommend, unfortunately I couldn't take any pictures whilst there.

Love, 

Shaleen 

xxx

Is LA the Next Fashion Capital?

Los Angeles is one city that has so much influence in the world. The lifestyle, culture and opportunities available there is unlike any other place. Hollywood being based there influences a lot of the public's fashion aspirations. Also, landmarks and places there are so well known that people want to visit like the Hollywood sign, Melrose, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Pier to name a few. In addition, bloggers seem to be based there as forecasting more trends. LA is also home to many independent and exclusive retailers for example Brandy Melville, Reformation and Nasty Gal. Some of the best brands for denim and bohemian are based in LA, such as Guess, True Religion and For Love and Lemons. Theres an effortless glamour to LA. I think because it isn't a traditional city like the big 4, London, Paris, Milan and New York but has the beach aspect to it. Ive been obsessed with the place and California as a whole. Its a guilty pleasure and if theres anything about it I am drawn to looking.

"LA is the globe in a small space." – Ryan Gattis

Los Angeles doesn't have seasons with the weather being a minimum of 70ºF year round. As much as the city is full of artistic people, I don't think fashion week in LA will overtake New York, however it may become another stop in the season.

'A fashion capital is a city which has a major influence on international fashion trends and in which the design, production and retailing of fashion products.' If we're going by definition of a fashion capital then LA encompasses it. 

Love,

Shaleen

xxx