a perfect cover

photo by inez van lamsweerde & vinoodh matadin

I am still very much in awe of the current august issue of vogue paris....I keep it on my desk as one of my current inspirations....the pages are spectacular! personally, I always like to have a magazine on my desk table as a form of visual stimulation....many of my sketchbook and blog ideas literally come from flipping through the pages of current and past fashion magazines..I guess you never know what you can find through the pages of a magazine!

I love the vibrancy of this august cover, especially the way that blue sky contrasts with lara stone's haider ackermann outfit...to be completely honest, this is the first issue I have bought with emannuelle alt as editor-in-chief....I think its her strongest cover yet, and I love her clever homage to los angeles....beautifully done!

i'm on a plane

photo by guy bourdin

for some reason, when I think about the latest cover for vogue paris...I think about this guy bourdin photograph. I recently purchased a photobook on guy bourdin published by phaidon and this was one of the images featured in the book. I love the way those shoes correspond to that airplane and I also admire the overall composition of this shot. I don't know if the august issue of vogue paris was influenced by this image, but I can see some close similarities!

pina bausch style

photo by ulli weiss

with such warm weather outside, I started to think about the slip dress. it is actually so perfect this time of year. I can't really explain why, but the first person that came to mind when thinking about this look was choreographer pina bausch....the slip dress was her signature. she beautifully wore a slip dress in her epic dance piece entitled café müller. when I start to think about it....pina bausch was more than a just a choreographer, but a real icon of style. she often worked with fashion designer yohji yamamoto on her costumes....so naturally fashion played such an important role in her choreography and with her personal style. I love the way she looks in this photograph. her slip dress corresponds so beautifully with the shape her body takes. I must admit that whenever I wear a slip shape I always refer back to pina bausch....she really had a such way with dance and clothes....so inspiring the way she perfectly combined the two.

the tank dress

photo by patrick demarchelier

this has to be one of the most iconic photos of supermodel kate moss. whenever, I think of her in the 90's I think of this image. I remember she was one of the first to wear the tank dress. I love how clean and subdued she looks. its interesting how in the 90's there were so many options on how to wear the tank dress. you could wear it just as it is, or you could layer the look with a shirt under or over the dress. personally, I like it in its simplicity. I guess you could say this look is very 90's minimalism, but I find that this type of style is very relatable to today. its easy, effortless, but yet, completely chic...three of my favorite words and the way I like to dress, especially around this time of year when I get a little lazy with my personal style.

CK style

calvin klein spring/summer 2003

I will always love the minimal glamour of calvin klein....I have noticed that with every spring/summer CK collection you can always find a beautiful slip dress. this is such a great look and I love that it never goes out of style. personally, my favorite slip dress creations come from the spring/summer 2003 collection. I love the way these vanilla-colored silk jersey dresses look on the runway....especially as a group, they blend so perfectly, together. I get such a dance feeling from looking at these gowns. perhaps, it has something to do with the drape and fluidity of these slip shapes. I am very much reminded of the late choreographer pina bausch when I look at these dresses. I don't think she was the inspiration...but I could definetly see her dancing in these dress silhouettes.

lovely and loose

photo by craig mcdean

I can't really describe why I like this look, but I do....I came across this photo from a vogue italia editorial from march 1999. its always interesting to flashback to old issues...there is always something I find that inspires me. perhaps, I just love this look because its long, loose, but yet completely glamorous. there is definetly an airy elegance to this dress. I am not sure if it is a kaftan, but this is truly something I would like to wear in the summertime.

kaftan inspired

vogue paris january 2005

for some odd reason, whenever I wear my missoni kaftan I like to look back into my magazine archives and reference this photo from vogue paris january 2005 when sofia coppola was guest editor. I just love how effortless and chic she looks in her yves saint laurent kaftan. this is exactly the look I like to go for when I wear mine...in case you were wondering, I am wearing my missoni kaftan in that photo with hedi slimane....I always love a kaftan shape in the summer...I am all about being loose and glam, especially when it gets hot....I hope my kaftan looks just as cool as sofia coppola's!

with hedi slimane

myself and hedi slimane

I love it when I get to meet people I admire....yesterday, I was very fortunate to have a conversation with former dior homme fashion designer and now photographer hedi slimane. I have always been a huge fan of his suits and of course, now his fashion photography....I particularly, love his work at vogue paris. I talked to him about various images that have inspired me and then I boldly asked him if he would take a photograph with me. he kindly said yes....and oddly enough, he suggested we go outside to take the photograph because the lighting would be better...I was so surprised at how cool and generous he was....after the photograph, I asked him what he would be working on next and he told me some individual projects....I can't wait too see what he comes up with. I must admit, it feels really cool to have shared this moment with hedi slimane....personally, its always the people behind the image that I always find the most inspiring. lucky me!

the image

photo by hedi slimane

this was one of the photographs I mentioned to hedi slimane....I told him that I keep this vogue paris december 2008 issue on my desk and how I always like looking it through it from time to time. particularly, his photo of charlotte gainsbourg smoking in bed. I must admit I don't smoke, but I always liked that expression on her face with that cigarette. he really captured that kind of uncomfortable morning feeling that we all go through. I think what makes this image so great is the writing written across those bed sheets. I love the way he incorporated charlotte gainsbourg's lyrics to her song everything I cannot see in the picture....a very memorable hedi slimane image that will always be one of my favorites!

happy anniversary!

photo by craig mcdean

happy five year wedding anniversary to my fellow sister in black and to my equally stylish brother-in-law, who frequently wears black, as well! since, this year is a special one I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate your day with a givenchy by ricardo tisci wedding gown from the vogue paris april 2006 issue. this has to be one of my favorite editorials entitled fa la folie. my sister still to this day loves looking at wedding gowns....and I think if she ever decides to renew her vows, this should be dress the she wears....totally dramatic, yet chic. hope she would approve....at any rate, happy anniversary...love you both!

summer lounging

photo by my sister

my sister snapped this photograph of me during the fourth of july weekend....she came up with the idea! I must admit my sister has quite the eye for capturing moments like this. normally, I am a bit shy with showing my body in photographs, but I thought it was done in such a cool and unique style...I love it when something unexpected like this happens....its interesting what can happen with a black pair of shorts and some black sandals....a one of a kind summer image!

pool scene

photo by steven meisel

I love a brilliant pool scene...especially when steven meisel is the photographer. today, I couldn't help but be reminded of vogue italia's march 1999 issue. I tend to think about this editorial entitled floating in the summer months. I think floating in the water can be quite stylish...especially when wearing the perfect flowy dress! I can't really explain why, but there is something about the body drifting aimlessly that I always find so intriguing. I especially love this photo....its combines all those elements I love.....fashion, shape, and form....its quite dance-like....I almost feel like taking a swim and reenacting the same pose!

cut it out

photo by alasdair mclellan

I would much rather wear a one piece swimsuit than a bikini, anyday....lately, I have been admiring a bathing suit with cut outs...I particularly admire the way norma kamali does this look. she really designs the best swimsuits and now I am thinking I would like to purchase a bathing suit quite similar to the one supermodel lara stone is wearing in this photo. I do not know if it is norma kamali, but it sure appears as if it could be. at any rate, I love way it looks on her. it is both classic, yet edgy at the same time. exactly, the way I would like to look in a swimsuit.

follow the lines

photo by annie leibovitz

last year, my sister bought me a gorgeous coffee table book about fashion designer narciso rodriguez....if you are like me and are always curious about where designers find their inspirations I highly recommend reading this monograph. not only does the book show rodriguez at work in his atelier, but you also get too see how he is inspired by life around him such as faded paint on a facade, a pattern made by sand, or even the gesture of a young man on a skateboard....all these simple concepts are recorded with his camera and with his sketchbooks.

personally, I was very much inspired by his collage on lines....rodriguez photographed various sidewalk lines and now I can really see what an influence that has had on his design aesthetic. in particular, this image of sarah jessica parker from a june 2008 vogue layout in a black narciso rodriguez cutout dress.....an amazing editorial! I so love the lines and the shape of that dress. its definetly his signature and now after reading this book I am so understanding where he gets all his ideas....it is really great how something so ordinary can transform into something so elegant...he makes me realize the importance of observing life and how keeping a sketchbook is so necessary!

alaïa swimwear

azzedine alaïa swimsuit (1986)

I don't know about you, but I am still very excited by the recent azzedine alaïa fall 2011 collection...I am so pleased to see him back. I think it was my favorite out of all couture shows. the way alaïa pays such close attention to detail and to cut is really quite amazing...I have always felt that his design aesthetic is very similar to the late madame grès. recently, I stumbled upon some bathing suits he designed in 1986....this black bondage style bathing suit really caught my attention...I must say that I am not a huge fan of the thong look, but I so love the top portion part of it....the lines are minimal, yet dramatic and I love how body conscious the whole look is....that really is alaïa's signature.

all I can see is red

photo of my sister

a couple of weekends ago, I was walking with my sister and we came across this vibrant red wall of a sushi restaurant on the corner of a street....I thought to myself this would be an amazing photo opportunity since she was wearing bright red lipstick and such a beautiful black hat. also, with just our luck, the sun was shining hard adding so much more beauty to the type of photo I wanted to take of her. I have always had an obsession with red walls and I think with the right look it can look so gorgeous....I really love the end result, my sister looks so classic and elegant. I think red is her color!

red wall

photo by mario testino

a red wall looks so remarkable in fashion editorials....I will never forget this mario testino image of kate moss from the vogue march 1998 issue. believe it or not, this photo actually changed my whole perspective on the color, red....I use to not think much of the color, till I purchased this issue. I think what I love most about this pic is the stunning contrast of that red wall paired with that white helmut lang ensemble....such a winning combination and one of the most striking testino images! personally, I always think some of the best photos or moments on film feature a red wall....

nice undies!

painting by john kacere (1973)

for all our readers, do check out www.iwanttobeacoppola.com last week, I wrote an article on that unforgettable opening scene from sofia coppola's 2003 film lost in translation in which the camera focuses on scarlett johansson's back and her transparent panties....if you are like me and have always been curious about that moment do have a look....I go way into detail on the significance of that sequence and just in case you couldn't figure it out, sofia's main inspiration behind that scene was john kacere...an american photorealist who painted women in lingerie with special emphasis on the midsection. both my sister and I very much inspired by his work. I also must give a special thank you to my sister for illustrating a lovely lingerie kacere inspired painting....it really adds a little something extra to the article. hope you will enjoy!

reveal a shoulder

photo by hans feurer

I love an asymmetric, dramatic-loose shape in the summer....it's a bit incognito, yet completely sexy at the same time. I am actually not so sure who designed this dress, but I so get a donna karan vibe....this really is her signature type of dress. I must admit that I have learned so much about style from donna karan...

I like that she is very open about her style secrets...just read any interview on donna karan and you are bound to learn something new and interesting from her....like her idea of revealing a shoulder. karan believes that a shoulder is a woman's best asset and that a woman never gains weight in that area....that really is a fascinating concept! perhaps, she is correct...just look to any of donna karan's collections. she always designs dresses that are bias-cut, form-fitted at the waist, with an open shoulder....I think I am going to trust donna karan on this one. revealing a shoulder is both slimming, chic, and a bit mysterious....three important qualities I like to follow when I put an outfit together. I think this photo really represents that whole donna karan concept.

asymmetrical glamour

nadege du bospertus

I think supermodel nadege du bospertus really represents the proper way on how to wear an asymmetrical dress in this pic. a couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to find an asymmetric black norma kamali dress for $45 at a thrift store and I must say whenever I wear the dress I always think of this photo. I love how simple and sleek nadege looks, but I also like how she doesn't overdo it with accessories. I don't know about you, but I see so many women who excessorize rather than accessorize their asymmetrical dresses. I always think with an asymmetrical dress less jewelry is more....a simple bracelet and/or ring is all you need. save your necklace for another ocassion. on that note, do take note of nadege du bospertus. she really gets the look right...brava!

asymmetric sketch

a page from my sketchbook

I love to fill the pages of my sketchbooks with illustrations of black dresses. lately, I have been quite obsessed with the asymmetrical look....I think if I had a black tie event to go to this would be my ideal dress. I love the look of a long black asymmetric gown with an emphasis on the waist....with this style of dress, cut is the key. I am all about a gown that is simple, form fitted, yet highly dramatic....these are definetly the rules I like to follow when getting dressed up!

inconspicuously glam

photo by serge leblon

for a couple of years now, I have been wearing the same classic black hat. the shape is quite large, great for the sun, and what I love most is that I never get tired of wearing it. it's probably one of my best fashion investments. this past weekend, I happened to discover a hat quite similar to the one featured in this photo and now I am thinking I need to go even larger with my hat style. I love it when no one can see my face and all you can see is just an image of a hat....this photo is exactly the look I am going for.... inconspicuously glam!