from a distance

photo by my sister

last weekend, my sister and I went walking around the los angeles county museum of art. we didn't actually go to the museum, but just casually strolled around the outside starting from the la brea tarpits. for some reason, lately I have been inspired by space and distance. in fact, I kind of have an obsession with finding open space. I think it all started with my appreciation for visual artist shirin neshat. she does some beautiful shots of women in burqas wandering on a beach, from a distance. I don't know why I find her imagery so beautiful and inspiring, but I do and I feel like the world is feeling so overpopulated that I think I have somewhat grown fascinated by emptiness. at times, it can feel like there is no room to move anymore. I don't know if that has something to do with me living in los angeles, or just kind of appreciating the idea of open space, but whatever it may be, I just feel the need to take advantage of finding openness and turning it into a photo project. it actually has been a while since I last wore my ann demeulemeester black dress, so I was glad it matched with this moment. I told my sister to capture the silhouette and essence of my dress, but to also get the distance and of course, those palm trees. even though this was photographed in california, I feel like there is something middle eastern about it. perhaps, it has something with the black and white theme and those trees, but whatever it was, I was glad my sister caught my shadows and that far away noir chic. personally, I don't think a great photo has to always be so close up, sometimes mystery can be more a little more alluring!

how to noir chic

photo by I wish I knew

there is a great website entitled NOWNESS that features unique videos in arts and culture from around the world. occasionally, they share photos and I was quite taken with this image that I found recently on the site. I have no idea who photographed this or who made that dress that this model is wearing, but I so love the whole ambiance that this photo exudes. there is so much mystery and I don't know why I find the idea of someone in black wandering through space so stylish, but I do. it just makes me happy too see this type of look represented in fashion but also in everyday life. if someone were to ask me how could I go about doing a noir chic look.....I would say just have a look at this photograph. sometimes, you find inspiring imagery when you least expect it and this certainly was one of those photos that just came out of nowhere. I certainly had this in mind when I went to the los angeles county museum of art last week and wandered outside, in that open space. I don't know if there is an exact correlation between the two images, but I think they both show just how stunning a black dress can be, even when from a distance. too me, that is what noir chic is all about. at any rate, if you are unfamiliar with NOWNESS certainly check out that site. you can always find something inspiring, whether in fashion, film, art, or design.....this was certainly, one of those noir chic gems!

teepee time

my sister

this past weekend my sister put a teepee in her backyard and I must say I find it so stylish in a very native american and ethereal way. I don't know if teepee's have become a major trend in home design, but my sister made it work in her own unique and creative manner that she does, so well. at any rate, my sister and I spent some time inside the teepee and were quite taken with the light and space. its actually quite fun and relaxing to spend time in there....who knew it could be such an escape. at any rate, for some reason, my sister and I felt inspired to take some photos inside the teepee. my sister is usually the one taking the photos of me, so it felt good for me to snap some pics of her. of course, I had to do some quick styling and was thinking she should do something zen. this was my favorite one with her just because I love how serene this moment is and I love the texture of her vintage lace poncho, that she recently bought. the detail of that poncho is quite superb and I think it matches her style completely, even with that carpet she is sitting on. plus, I love how all the textures somehow work together. there is something very 70's stevie nicks about this, that I so like. perhaps, its the vintage poncho, her hair, or just the earthiness of it all. whatever it may be, I love these impromptu photo moments that I share with my sister. they don't happen that often, especially with her as the model, but I so appreciate the creative-chic moments we somehow conjure up together....she is quite the teepee beauty, glad to capture the moment!

shadow play

photo by danny feser

sometimes, I feel like I may be getting a little bit crazy with details. I assume there are a lot people who can understand that concept, especially if you like to create, but lately I have been quite obsessed with finding shadows. I have no idea why I find them so stylish, but I do, and especially within black and white photography, I think it can be quite mesmerizing. I have always loved black and white films, so I assume there is something cinematic that I find quite appealing about shadows and maybe I can associate it with that. whatever it may be, plain and simple, I just like finding interesting silhouettes. case in point, recently, I was walking mid-afternoon and happened to notice this interesting wall design outside the saint laurent store. for some reason, I saw my reflection on this wall and thought it would make for a unique photo. you have seen me before in this dkny skirt and norma kamali top, but I thought this ensemble worked quite well, with the texture of this wall. plus, I think there is a fluidity within this photo that makes it flow. I am very much inspired by natural moments and I like how it looks like how I just got caught in the wind. I assume there are many ways to interpret this photo, but I must say, I just like that shadow with my body language. I am all for finding unique noir chic moments like this and I know that to most people this is not exciting, but too me, I like finding mysterious beauty within my everyday life. that's the only way I know how to live.....through style!

surreal self

photo by noell s. oszvald

I am constantly studying photography to find inspiration and my love for black and white photography is one that I feel quite passionate about. I love how I can always find something and while I can never copy the images I love, I can always take something from it and make it my own. recently, I discovered a young hungarian photographer named noell s. oszvald. she is still in her twenties, but her eye seems quite mature for her age. her work is mostly black a white self-portraits focused on form, composition, and content. what I appreciate most about her work is how she contrasts shadows and ghostly landscapes to create such a dark and emotional impact. all her work is quite profound, but this one has been on my mind and I think when I walked past that saint laurent store and saw my shadow on the wall, I thought about this image. I know they are completely different images, but I think there are some obscure shadow connections. I am quite taken with the silhouette of her skirt and the way that black bird, somehow blends into her. how she conceived this image, I still cannot figure out, but I think this is total noir chic to the next level. if you are unfamiliar with her work, definitely check her out. this is just one of her amazing images, as I totally admire her dark cinematic approach to photography.

amy

amy winehouse

I do not want to bore my readers with a film review, but I just have too say I was deeply moved by the new amy winehouse documentary. in fact, I have seen it twice in the theatre, which is very rare for me to do. I must admit when I first heard rehab many years ago I was not impressed, but when I listened to her whole back to black album and heard songs like love is a losing game, wake up alone, and some unholy war I was quite taken by her raw emotional depth, witty lyrics, and her darkness. I am not very moved by many musicians these days and its not that I don't like new music because I do, but I rarely ever find music that can affect me in such a way, like amy winehouse did. the film, which was directed by asif kapadia, masterfully pieces together her life from the beginning without editorializing. we see her starting out as a young jazz musician with her first album frank and how she catapulted into fame with back to black. the film is pieced together through her words, her music, her voicemails, her home videos, her friends, her family, and her tormentors. at times, the film is heartbreaking to watch with her battle with drugs, alcohol, and bulimia, but I loved how she put all her personal pain and her drama into her lyrics. amy winehouse had a lot of demons, but I have always thought she was quite profound with her words.....she was a true artist in every sense! if you are a fan of her music I highly recommend this film just because her music from both albums is played throughout the entire film and we see how every song she wrote, affected her life in some deep and discerning way. I have always felt some strange connection to her music, voice, style, and I feel like this film certainly celebrates her life and her talent. I guess you could say she had me at back to black....after all, how could I resist an album title, like that!

in the yellow

photo by gilles bensimon

I've been sticking with my philosophy that yellow is the new black for this season....all because of my new vintage yellow silk lanvin dress that I found at decades earlier this year. lets also not forget the way charlize theron looked at the cannes film festival in a sleek yellow christian dior dress, this past may. I don't know why, but I have been seeing some beautiful ways to wear this color this season, that has me seeing this hue in a whole new light. case in point, I have had the may issue of vogue paris siting on my desk for a couple of months now, but I have just had the time now, too absorb the issue, more closely. one layout that caught my eye in particular is entitled the body, which features model doutzen kroes looking sporty chic in black and yellow ensembles. my favorite look is the opening image, which features the back of her in this yellow ralph lauren leather trench coat. I must say this wasn't my favorite ralph lauren collection, but I liked pieces from this spring 2015 season, including the jodhpurs and hats. I remember seeing this coat on the runway, but for some reason, it didn't catch my eye, the way it did in this layout. its funny how a different setting can change the whole look, perspective, and concept of an outfit. perhaps, it is the contrast of that beach background with that pop of yellow that really makes this image so breathtaking. whatever it may be, I just love staring at this photo. this is one of my favorite images of 2015 and if you haven't seen this editorial, do check it out as there is a beautiful sporty chic feeling conveyed within each image, but this ralph lauren yellow coat, is by far, the star ensemble!