the last sitting

photo by bert stern

I was sad to hear that bert stern one of my favorite photographers had passed away earlier this week at the age of 83. I have admired his work for some years now and I always appreciated the fact that he could somehow manage to find a different side to whomever he was photographing. whether, it was elizabeth taylor, audrey hepburn, or even sue lyons. his publicity shots for stanley kubrick's 1962 film lolita will forever be a classic. he is probably best known for the last sitting, which is a collection of 2,500 photographs taken for vogue magazine back in 1962 of marilyn monroe. the photo series lasted for 3 days, and was shot six weeks before her death. personally, if I were to pick a favorite bert stern photograph it would most likely be this image of marilyn monroe in a black hat as part of the last sitting series. I love how mysterious and vulnerable she looks hiding behind that oversized hat. this is a very different side of marilyn monroe that we rarely get too see and I love seeing her in black....what a surprise! she looks way incognito-chic and I love the whole moody element going on. I must applaud bert stern for capturing this fashionable noir moment. not only was he brilliant at intimate portraits, but he was also a style maker. this marilyn monroe image is proof of that, he will be greatly missed!

lanvin hats

looking at that bert stern image of marilyn monroe in that stunning black hat, I couldn't help but think of alber elbaz's fall/winter 2011 collection for lanvin....particularly those black hats. I don't know about you, but sometimes, I view shows on style.com and they pass right through me, but now I am rediscovering and appreciating a lot of the looks from that lanvin season. I think it is the styling that really adds a little something extra to this collection. I love those tall leather boots, the long-sleeved gloves, and of course those black oversized hats. after some style analyzation, I think this lanvin season looks a bit similar to stefano pilati's fall 2010 collection for yves saint laurent. they both have a gothic elegance to them, which I found so inspiring. both designers created such similar hat looks and black silhouettes....I wonder if elbaz took inspiration from pilati. either way, I think these black lanvin hats are quite spectacular and I would love to hide my face behind one of these....so dramatic and very incognito-chic. its always a great feeling to look back on a collection and find it all new again. its interesting how that bert stern image of marilyn monroe got me rethinking about this lanvin collection. not sure how that happened...but I love the mysterious relationship between fashion and photography!


lanvin fall/winter 2011

the hoarder

I have been so impressed by interview magazine for quite a while now and I must say each month just keeps getting better and better. I so appreciate all the unique photography, styling, and of course the interviews. if you haven't seen the current june/july issue I highly suggest you take a look. there was one editorial in particular, that totally caught my attention and it is called the hoarder which was photographed by fabien baron, who is also the editor-in-chief of the magazine. there was so much about this layout that pulled me in....the über goth photography and even the romantic introduction...it is so eloquently stated that I must share:

she lives in her own world, surrounded by the comfort of her possessions, a dark nostalgia, and romantic layers that cover the skin. she’s a contemporary miss havisham, as modernity meets tradition and classically tailored coats and jackets meet exaggerated boots and enormous wedges, with protective covers of matt and shine. here comes pre-fall.

I always love a detailed description to accompany an editorial and this certainly went above and beyond. I am not sure why, but reading that introduction strangely reminded me of my life and my love for magazines and fashion. personally, I feel an odd connection to these images. as an avid magazine collector, I sometimes worry about becoming a hoarder and running out of space. hoarding can definitely be a problem and some might say even an illness, but I like how this layout depicts clutter in such a dark and fabulous way. I also even like how cozy and nestlike she looks surrounded by all her personal items. perhaps, interview magazine is glamorizing hoarding, but I think fabien baron did an excellent job at capturing the goth and chic side of clutter. whether this is wrong or right is up to the viewer, but I like too see a layout that is thought provoking and this definitely fits in that category. hats off to interview magazine for pushing the boundaries once again...who knew hoarding could be so stylish?






photos by fabien baron

bikini moment

photo by toni frissell

since today is the official first day of summer, I thought this toni frissell image of model dovima seemed rather appropriate. there is so much about this photo that I love....her body language, that polka dot bikini and of course the way she is hiding her face from the sun...this is the epitome of incognito-chic and I love how it is sexy without being vulgar! interestingly, this pic was mentioned in the diana vreeland documentary the eye has to travel and from what I remember this photo was shot in jamaica for harpers bazaar in the may 1947 issue and model dovima was dressed in the first bikini to be seen away from france, making it such a groundbreaking photo. I love how decades later this image still looks just as chic. whenever I think about a hot summer day in the sun...this photograph always comes to mind. diana vreelend had the most amazing eye and I love how she always chose such striking imagery. she was the ultimate editor-in-chief and I so admire her viewpoints on fashion and overall style. this is by far, one of the most iconic summer images and for some reason whenever I see this pic I always think of diana vreeland's famous quote: the bikini is the most important thing since the atom bomb....that line always makes me laugh and for some reason I think she may have been right on that one. this pic certainly proves that point, such a powerful and inspiring image for the start of summer!

on the beach

photo by camilla akrans

I always love a stylish moment on the beach and for some reason when looking at that toni frissell image of dovima I couldn't help but think of this camilla akrans photograph of model arlenis sosa from the new york times style magazine back in 2009. I am not sure if camilla akrans was inspired by toni frissell, but I can totally see an artistic connection between these two talented women photographers. there is so much about this photo that I admire. I think arlenis sosa looks amazing in that white bikini and I love her overall body composition. she looks so elegant and calm on that beach surrounded by that ocean and I like that this image is not in color. I think the overall black and white element makes it so visually appealing. I don't know about you, but my eye totally gravitates towards the way her body looks on that sand. there is something very hypnotic about this image. it totally makes me want to put on my bathing suit, relax on the sand, and do some unique supermodel poses on the beach....feel free to laugh at what I just said, but I love it when I find some inspiring summertime imagery like this. I truly appreciate a little beach-noir glam and this very much feels like a modern version of toni frissell's image of dovima in jamaica....perhaps you can see it, too!

blue jeans

director: yoann lemoine (2012)

for some reason, looking at that camilla akrans photograph I couldn't help but think of lana del rey's blue jeans video from 2012. I was so visually impressed by this video when I first saw it last year. I love all the elements of film noir and how it was shot in black and white. lana del rey stars in the video and I like how we first see her in a sleek one-piece swimsuit staring longingly at her lover. we see him smoke a cigarette, take off his shirt and jeans and dive into the pool. some might say the video is a bit sexual, but I think it is done in such a tasteful and elegant manner. a lot of the kissing, body caressing, and underwater body shots remind me very much of the late herb ritts and some of his music videos...maybe madonna's cherish or perhaps chris isaak's wicked game video. I am not sure if the director yoann lemoine was inspired by herb ritts, but I can definitely see a visual connection. I think the best part of the video is the ending...I love the expression that lana del rey gives to the camera as her lover wraps his hands around her neck and pulls them both underwater. we see lana's face drift away from the surface not knowing what has happened. its interesting how the video starts out very sultry and somehow ends very mysterious and creepy. I don't know why this video never got that much attention, but I think it is a work of art and perfect for the first day of summer. if you have never seen the video I highly suggest you take a look....it is dark, ethereal, beautifully shot, and thought provoking. not something you see too much in many music videos nowadays!

suit up

photo by glen luchford

I love it when it is father's day, it gives me an excuse to showcase some interesting suit looks. personally, I think a suit is perfect all year round. this season there are so many great black suits, I am particularly fond of raf simons for dior and of course hedi slimane for yves saint laurent...both designers made such beautiful noir style suits that are so sisters in black approved. at any rate, here is an image that has been on my mind these past couple of days. this photograph was actually featured in the may 2012 issue of vogue paris and in case you couldn't figure it out, the person hiding out behind that black suit and long hair is charlotte gainsbourg. I think this might be one of my favorite pics of her. she always looks so chic in a suit and I think this image totally captures her nonchalant and laid back approach to style. I like the overall simplicity of her stella mccartney blazer and pants. plus, I so appreciate how she makes the look all her own with that white t-shirt. I know that a lot of people sometimes think that a suit is a bit too restricting and maybe even a bit too fancy, but charlotte gainsbourg beautifully displays how a suit can be both casual and cool. not sure how she does it, but I so applaud her for doing just that. this is definitely perfect style inspiration on how to wear a suit, for father's day and for every other day...do take notes!

suits and mirrors

in stella mccartney

for some reason, looking at charlotte gainsbourg in her stella mccartney suit made me want to get out my own stella mccartney suit...it is strange how inspiration works! I have had this suit for almost ten years now and I must say I never get bored of wearing it. whenever I feel confused about what to wear I always turn to this ensemble, it is my safety outfit....just because I feel like one can never go wrong in a well-tailored suit. I think the best part about a suit is that you can always update the look....style it with an interesting piece of jewelry, change the shirt, or even add a hat. the possibilities are endless, making it all so exciting. for this pic, I decided to hide my face with a hat I got at forever 21 about 11 years ago. sometimes, you can find such cheap finds to jazz up a fancy suit. this was definitely a total style surprise, but I like it when something completely unexpected works together. I am all about incognito-chic so I thought it would be interesting to take a self pic of myself and some mirrors in the process of covering my face with that hat. I must admit I love playing with reflection especially when suits are involved. in the end, I like how mysterious this image appears....kind of bob fosse, but still very stella mccartney cool!

the mono suit

photo by max farago

I couldn't help but take some style inspiration from this t magazine image of model eniko mihalik for my suit and mirrors pic. I think the styling of this theyskens theory suit is brilliant and I love how this almost looks like something you would see from the sartorialist blog. there is such an interesting blend of high fashion, mixed in with every day life that I find so relatable. I think the details of her black mono suit are impeccable and I totally love the combination of that strong shoulder with those wide trousers. the suit is actually very slimming and I think with an all black suit you can definitely create a very slender and sleek look...making it that much more appealing. plus, let's also not forget the best part...that oversized black hat. it is the perfect accessory to complete this very incognito-chic type of outfit. she is the epitome of elegance and I love all the mystery that this suit conveys. I don't know about you, but if I saw a woman like this walking down the street I would totally take notice...this is how one should wear a suit!

sofia inspired

sofia coppola

to all our readers, please check out my latest article featured on I want to be coppola. this month, I attempt to get a little creative and I look back at some of my all time favorite sofia coppola inspired moments both on screen and even through some of her most noted fashion editorials...including her iconic guest editor issue of vogue paris from 2005. since I love photography, I decided to incorporate some of my own personal pics that seemed very sofia-esque. if you admire her style and her artful way of capturing images I highly suggest you have a read. I so enjoyed sharing some of my own photos and I loved connecting my images through her visual style. it is quite interesting too see how inspiration works....totally got a kick out of putting this one together, hope you like!

here is the link:
http://www.iwanttobeacoppola.com/journal/2013/6/11/sofia-coppola-inspired-moments.html

the price of beauty

photo by steven meisel

I love a cutting edge and thought provoking magazine cover and I believe the june issue of vogue italia does just that. the cover features supermodel gisele bündchen looking as though she is about to treat herself to a whole variety of beauty treatments. I love how shiny she looks, it is a very raw cover and I love too see gisele looking so clean. I think pat mcgrath did an excellent job at capturing gisele's natural beauty. if you look inside the issue you will see gisele in a range of beauty acts like getting a pedicure, having a butt cupping, to even a vampire facial. if you are unfamiliar with a vampire facial it actually involves extracting the patient's blood and working it back into the skin. apparently, it is supposed to lift and plump the skin...I wonder if that works? at any rate, I love how extreme and controversial vogue italia can get with their editorials. I definitely think there is a message behind this layout. its obvious they are making an artful jab at certain hollywood stars who engage in over-the-top beauty practices. if you open up a tabloid or watch any entertainment program you will definitely see how this is always a topic of interest for both men and women. I love the way this magazine thinks, they always know how to push the envelope in such a clever way, which is probably why I always find myself drawn to this publication every month. if you haven't seen this issue, I highly suggest taking a look...this certainly is an editorial for thought about what one will go through for the price of beauty!

the face

photo by arthur elgort

looking at the stunning vogue italia cover with gisele bündchen I couldn't help but think of this arthur elgort photo of supermodel christy turlington from the US Vogue october 1985 issue. it is weird to think that this image is from the 80's...seems very modern to me and I love how clean christy turlington's face looks, she is a true natural beauty. this photo was actually used for an article about cosmetic surgery and I like how her face is being pulled to emphasize the idea of surgery, without showing the actual facelift. I find this image very thought provoking and it definitely leaves something to the imagination. I also like how up close and personal this photo is....we see those hands really pushing on her face and I love that expression she is giving with her eyes. I am not sure if steven meisel was inspired by this arthur elgort photograph for his vogue italia june cover, but I definitely see a close cosmetic connection.

henna girl

my sister

happy birthday to my lovely sister! I thought I would share this photograph I took of her last week at the adamson house in malibu. normally, she prefers to be the photographer, but I actually like it when the roles are switched and she models for me. surprisingly, she wasn't wearing black that day, but I still loved her outfit, anyway. my sister is quite good at styling color with texture. recently, she purchased a gorgeous incognito-chic pair of oliver peoples sunnies so I asked her to pose for me, in them. I love the way she looks in those frames, especially with that hat. I think the best part about this image is her henna tattoo on her hand. while we were taking this photo she randomly put her hand up towards me and I told her to pause, so I could get this interesting moment. I totally love the way her henna hand art corresponds so well with that surrounding spanish tile. I also appreciate all that pattern and design going on, it is so eye-catching and I am so glad I got to snap this, that day. on a side note, I must thank my sister for always standing beside me with all my photo projects. believe it or not, I sometimes feel that she thinks I am crazy with all the ideas I come up with, but I like that she continuously follows me on all my creative endeavors. I feel so blessed to have such a cool and easy going sister. not only is she beautiful, but she is so talented, smart, and incredibly stylish, even when she doesn't wear black....this image proves it, a true inspiration, indeed.....love you, sis!

my missoni turban

photo by my sister

as promised, here is my missoni turban....I waited awhile to post my turban because I wanted to find the perfect image to showcase how special it is. as you can see, the turban has such an interesting design and look to it. I especially love that unlikely color combination of navy blue and bright orange and of course I totally love that signature missoni zigzag pattern. I have been wearing this turban nonstop, since I bought it. I even think it works with my everyday black uniform, but I think it definitely looks the best with a black one-piece bathing suit. just this past weekend, my sister took this image of me, while we were in santa barbara lounging by our hotel pool. I told her the kind of photo I wanted to create and I think she totally captured the vibrancy and spirit of my turban. the colors shine bright and I love the way it contrasts with my dior sunnies and my mom's black cut out donna karan bathing suit. plus, I think that aqua blue pool water certainly adds a summer chic quality to it all. on a side note, I must thank my sister for taking this visually stimulating image and for also making me look ultra tan...I hesitated at first, just because I love having pale skin, but I think it works for this pic....its amazing what a little photoshop can do! at any rate, I am not sure how my sister does it, but she always manages to turn my fashion fantasies into reality! this was quite a memorable collaboration and I am so glad we got to make this happen. thanks sis, for your unerring eye, much appreciated!

the best is yet to come

painting by nina nolte

one of my main inspirations for my poolside turban pic was this painting by german artist nina nolte from her best is yet to come series. this is just one of the many great illustrations featured in her series and I love how in each painting she captures such elegant looking women in bathing suits and turbans casually lounging in the pool during the summertime. this one in particular, totally caught my attention....I love this woman's bathing suit, the texture and pattern and her turban, and of course her black sunnies....very incognito-chic! I am not sure how I found this artist, but I love the way she blends art with fashion. its so difficult to find artists that can combine the two so easily together, but she totally does. interestingly, this was the the image I had in mind for my missoni turban photoshoot. I am so glad I got to conceive a photograph loosely inspired by this amazing nina nolte painting. it is always a great feeling when unexpected style inspiration somehow occurs. I highly suggest looking into nina nolte's work if you like this painting, she totally takes summer glam to a whole another level!

missoni magic

I think this has to be one of the best missoni campaigns ever and probably one of the main reasons why I have been longing to find a missoni turban. the ad is from spring/summer 2009 and I think there is something so eye-catching about it. models natasha poly and isabeli fontana look so elegant in their missoni ensembles and stylist marie amelie sauve did such an excellent job at capturing what summer style should be about....glamour and ease! let's also not forget that radiant make-up done so beautifully by pat mcgrath. normally, I do not respond to so much color and texture, but I think with the photography, styling, and make-up, it all just somehow works together so perfectly. personally, I think this feels more like a vogue italia layout than an actual campaign...I could definitely see this being an epic editorial for a summer issue. either way, I think these pics will be my photo inspiration for me and my turban this summer....this is color, texture, and pattern at its finest, what missoni does best!


photos by steven meisel