farewell, franca!

franca sozzani

I was completely shocked and saddened to hear about the death of franca sozzani last week, and to be completely honest, I still haven't quite grasped the fact that she is gone. what she has done for the pages of vogue italia since 1988 has inspired me greatly. for anyone who has read sister's in black frocks over the years will know what an impact she has made on my life. it was back in 2013, that she included some of my photographs in her beauty in wonderland exhibit and even published them in a book to go along with the show. and it was the following year, that she published more of my images in the april 2014 issue of vogue italia as well as some in the september issue, back in 2015. why she published my images, I still don't know, but it felt quite special for her take notice of what I do, in my free time. perhaps, what I will remember most about franca sozzani is the conversations we shared. I am not going to pretend like we were friends in real life, because we weren't, but for a couple of months we shared many discussions through social media about fashion, style, and photography. I remember franca talking to me about helmut newton's last editorial for vogue italia back in 2004 and how meaningful it was to her, especially since he died two days after he shot that layout. I remember her telling me how sad she was when photographer deborah turbeville died, as franca felt there needed to be more women photographers, like her, with a distinct point of view and style, working for fashion magazines. and I will never forget the discussion we had about the august 2012 issue of vogue italia entitled all dressed up and nowhere to go. I asked what she felt was the hidden meaning behind that editorial and she told me how it important it is for a woman to never save their good clothes for a special occasion, to wear something fancy whenever they feel like it. after that conversation, I was inspired to do a photo blog by her words and after I put it up on my blog I messaged her and she read it and even wrote back to me. to this day, I cherish those kind words she wrote to me and just how easy she was to talk to. I forgot many times that she was the editor-in-chief of vogue italia because to me she just seemed like a down to earth person I could just have a conversation with about art and fashion. I don't think many editors in chief of high fashion magazines were like that.....and I think that is why I am a bit heartbroken about her not being here anymore. this past week, I was looking back at some of her greatest fashion editorials and to pick a favorite is by far a difficult thing to do, but one that I really have taken a liking to lately, is her state of emergency editorial back in the september 2006 issue. the way that franca could take any situation like airport security and being harassed by the cops into full frontal fashion is something that I will always admire. I just love the way model hilary rhoda looks in these specific images. she looks so sharp dressed all in black and I like how she is most likely going to be questioned and thrown in jail, by the police. franca sozzani knew how to poke fun of any situation and I love the sense of humor and style that went into this editorial, as well as thousands of others that she did for vogue italia. her sharp eye and rebellious attitude that went into every layout will always resonate in my mind and I will never forget how good she was at doing that. she was such a visionary and perhaps what makes me feel really sad is that I never had a chance to meet her. my dream was to one day talk in real life, but even though that will never happen now I can't forget those online conversations we did share.....truly memorable and something I will keep with me for the rest of my life. rest in peace, sweet franca you will be greatly missed!


franca's kind words...



state of emergency....so noir chic while being harassed by airport security



controversial, chic, and still so funny....this is what franca sozzani did best




steven meisel always captured franca's vision...will miss these two together!

jackie

jackie wore black...so well


that inspiring black veil...she defined the widow look

I didn't know what to expect when I saw pablo larrain's new film jackie. I have always been fascinated about jackie kennedy's life, not so much about her time in the white house, but about how she dealt with her husband being shot right in front of her face and having to go on with such a traumatic experience. while most films about jackie kennedy go through her whole life, this one just chronicles that moment after, making it a very interesting character study. natalie portman did an excellent job in portraying the former first lady and I like how we see three different jackie's in the film. the first one is the jackie we all know from that 1962 tour of the white house with her plastic, yet somehow overly pronounced accent and then there's the behind the closed doors jackie, destroyed by her husband's death. the final jackie, is the delicate, yet harsh jackie, who is being interviewed by a reporter, where she seems to be obsessed with crafting her husband's legacy. I don't want to give too much away about the film, but despite the interesting storyline, the film portrays jackie's style in such a elegant way. we all know that jackie had amazing style, but we get too see tragic jackie, in full force, looking so refined. I will forever look to her black veil at her husband's funeral for style inspiration and the way pablo larrain directed natalie portman in that funeral scene was total noir chic widow perfection. I also enjoyed the scene of her trying on all her nice dresses after husband's death as she obsessively drinks and smokes. yes, I know this really is not supposed to be glamorous, but it was conveyed that way and I thought it worked so well in the film. I could probably ramble about many scenes in the film, but if you are inspired by jackie's style and just how strong she was as a human being and mother I highly recommend the movie. I came into the film not expecting much and I left with a whole new understanding about her life during that tragic time and how she came out stronger in the end....a definite must see!


a bathrobe moment in the film that was so tragically chic


jackie in her closet trying on jewelry

walk this way

photo by my sister

this year, I am celebrating black friday with such an adorable accessory....my sister's labrador named aya. back in february, my sister found aya wandering in her neighborhood when her owners abandoned her and she has been such a joy and inspiration in our lives.....and how suiting that she is black. naturally, I thought my black alexander wang dress with manolo blahniks heels would match aya's look. I have always been attracted to simple ideas like walking and I thought with four balloons and my sunnies, my sister could capture a peter lindbergh style moment. I don't know if that is weird too say, but I have always been attracted to the way he just finds something everyday and makes it super stylish. in fact, the october 2016 issue of vogue italia is dedicated all on the idea of walking through the streets of new york city. I can't say I put much thought into this photo, but I like the idea of aya and I having matching ensembles...even though hers is just her fur. at any rate, I think it is an interesting study in how to properly coordinate in wearing black and I love being aya's aunt. she is just the epitome of noir chic and I love that she is willing to do photo projects with me, just the perfect addition to our family!

néo belphégor

photo by mikael jansson

I must admit that I took some style inspiration from the pages of vogue paris and their september 2010 issue when thinking about what to do with aya. this is one of those editorials, that I always remember just because I like the idea of an animal and its owner having matching ensembles. freha beja looks so noir chic in this editorial and I love that she is walking a black jaguar all throughout the streets of paris. I guess that seems pretty unlikely, but I like it when layouts have an imagination and a relatable sense of style. I was fond of many of the photos in this vogue paris editorial entitled néo belphégor, but this image was my favorite. I just love that geometric black dress with boots that freha beja is wearing and the look in that jaguar's eyes. I am sure this was a difficult layout too shoot, but I think it works on so many levels and I really admire mikael jansson's photography....just one of my favorites working in fashion, today. the way he uses black and white is superb. at any rate, this was my inspiration for my photo with aya and I know its not exactly, but I think the idea is witty. if you haven't seen this editorial definitely check it out I am not sure if carine roitfeld styled it, but I think it certainly has her style aesthetic within each look.

the interview

photo by my sister

earlier this week, I was interviewed by my friend steph hallett, who is a writer, for a piece she was doing about the recent girlgaze photo exhibit. of course, to help out her article, I agreed to do an interview. I was honored to be included in her assessment of the show. I think I have always been opinionated about women in photography and film, so it was nice to get my voice out there. perhaps, the icing on the cake was when the creater of girlgaze amanda de cadenet quoted me and my words in the article. I was completely surprised by that, but it felt quite good to know that what I said made logical sense and had some validity. at any rate, this photo of me, here, was at the opening night of the show. I am standing in front of some of my photographs and in case you are wondering I am wearing a silk lanvin dress from a couple years back that I found at decades on melrose, last year for half the price. somehow, I think it was the perfect dress for that evening. to be completely honest, I am still processing all that happened that night, but til I get my head around it, here is the link for my interview that I gave to hello giggles.....check it out!

http://hellogiggles.com/empowering-girlgaze-exhibit-everyone-grew-living-phrase-girl-power/

death becomes her

photo by my sister

I had a very interesting month....in what started out as a well deserved family vacation in savannah, georgia and south carolina somehow turned into us escaping a hurricane and ending up in nashville, tennessee. at any rate, we had one fun day in savannah, georgia and I was so pleased that we were able to see the bonaventure cemetery. I know its a little strange too say that, but I really was. perhaps, I was inspired by steven meisel's vogue italia august 2008 silent editorial or maybe I have seen amy winehouse's back to black video too many times, but whatever it may be I like the idea of a widow in a cemetery. you can call it a halloween look, but I like this type of dress all year round and I think what makes this cemetery so intriguing, is the history. some of the tombstones dated back to the 1800s and I also liked all the various statues surrounding the graves. this was not just any cemetery and I also like how nature decorated the graves. in savannah, they have beautiful oak trees that add so much character and charm to the city. I have too say in the cemetery the oak trees looked especially suiting. there definitely was a southern gothic look that I have never seen before in other cemeteries, and I have seen many. perhaps, my favorite moment was when I found a grave with an open space so I decided to sit in it. I wore my basic black dress from american apparel and of course my vintage black hat with veil. my sister somehow captured this moment and I think it just reads funeral drama. I am still sad about the fact that I only got to spend a day in savannah, but I'm glad I got to have this mournful moment....I guess that hurricane happened the day after for a reason!

silent

photo by steven meisel

any chance I can get to showcase an image from steven meisel's silent editorial from the august 2008 issue of vogue italia I am going to do so. while I was at the bonaventure cemetery I so thought about this image while I was sitting in that grave.....I mean how could I not? I love the way guinevere van seenus looks in that veil by that tomb. also, the way that tree in the background illuminates through her. yes, I know this layout is extremely dramatic and over the top, but I love how vogue italia glamorized the beauty of the cemetery. funerals are not for everyone, but there is some kind of beauty about women in mourning at a grave site and I think vogue italia did it in such a magnificent way. of course, I couldn't copy this image completely, but you can tell how inspired I was by it. this was definitely one of vogue italia's most cutting edge and fashion forward. if you haven't seen the layout in its entirety do check it out. you may feel like going to the cemetery after.....I know I sure did!

girlgaze

cat and towel turban

this past week has been very surreal and to actually put what has happened into words is just as difficult, but I will do so, to the best of my ability. I think it all started a year ago, as I was on instagram and saw an interesting new movement called girlgaze. the whole concept behind girlgaze is about how creative girls see the world....meaning you basically have to be a woman behind a camera and capture something unique and eye catching. girlgaze was started by television host and photographer amanda decadent and curated by inez van lamsweerde and sam taylor johnson as well as a couple other female photographers. I was very much intrigued by this idea as I love to photograph women who bring something interesting to the camera, so I decided to enter some of my photos for their page. I wouldn't say right away I was getting noticed, but about 6 months into girlgaze the team started taking notice of some of my photos. I have been quite fortunate to collaborate with some of my amazing women friends this year and I really like how every project is so different with each girl. I think each friend I have, brings something original and I just like capturing the moments that somewhat tell a story. I have featured my friend coleman before on sisters in black and she has become such a muse to me, ever since the moment we met an art gallery in 2015. to be honest, I think are most fascinating moments happen when I am just hanging out at her house. coleman has many cats and she tends to sit in her bed with them while she studies. for fun, one day I asked her to put a towel turban just too see how her cats would react and somehow this moment happened. I love the attitude her cat natasha gives to the camera and how mysterious coleman is, in her ballet leotard and towel turban. I also like the drapery of her silk sheets.....this very much feels like a scene from a film, which is probably why I felt the need to photograph this moment.

however, you want to analyze this photo is totally up to you, but I was so surprised last week too see this image and another one of my cat series with coleman up at the annenberg space for photography in los angeles. girlgaze contacted me in september for permission to use image in their latest girlgaze exhibit and I was shocked and amazed to be included, with such other astounding photographers. last friday, was the opening and I was beyond thrilled and nervous to take part. girlgaze has definitely become a movement and I am honored to be involved. I am not really sure what happens next as I just really like taking photos and doing creative projects, but this was all icing on the cake. if you are in los angeles make sure to check out this exhibit it runs through february 2017 and it really is a beautiful montage of women doing wonderful things behind the camera....a big thanks again to girlgaze for supporting my photography and vision!

forever plaid

photo by danny feser

yes, I know its a bit weird for me to be wearing plaid, but I must say this dress is quite special. in case you are wondering who designed this, it is yet another piece from my favorite store, ruti. I think what makes this dress so special is that you can wear it backwards and the normal way, with the buttons down the front, but I prefer it, the opposite way, just because I think it drapes better that way. I think what I love about this dress is that it has a scottish and 90's grunge sensibility, but still very elegant in how it fits. never in a million years would I think that I would feel comfortable wearing a pattern like this, but I must say it feels just as comfortable and chic as wearing a black dress. I am surprised that I am even saying that, since I haven't worn plaid since the 90's, but I love how ruti always gets me out of my comfort zone. in this photo, I am wearing the dress with a maasai beaded necklace, that I just bought from a kenyan woman in tennessee. for some reason, I thought it accessorized well together and with the gold couch in the background I just thought it made for an interesting moment.....something royal, perhaps. however you want to interpret it, I must say I just love wearing this dress, its the epitome of comfy-chic. ruti certainly does it, every time, and if you haven't checked out the store yet, its a must see.....uniqueness to the next level!

love, ruti

in ruti

I have become very selective about the clothes I buy lately, just because I want all my clothes to be forever pieces in my closet. about a year ago, my sister introduced to a store in los angeles called ruti and I have featured practically all my dresses from this store on sisters in black. I must say I don't get excited about too many stores or designers lately, so to find a shop that totally embodies my style is such a relief. it was around labor day that I found my latest dress from ruti and I must say its like walking on a dream. the dress is two pieces and has a short black slip under, but as you can see from this photo it has detailed ruffles at the bottom so it flows as you move. what I also like about the dress is that it is longer in the back and shorter in the front so it creates such illusion as you walk. last weekend, I went to the broad museum and my friend caught me walking by a takashi murakami painting and snapped this. I took a photo by this painting a couple of months ago, but this time the photo dynamic is a little different. this moment wasn't planned, but for some reason I like how you can really see the movement of this dress, especially contrasted with that artwork. it really is such a statement look and I love how you can dress it down or up. I guess you could say its my favorite outfit for fall. I must thank ruti again for the dress and for also featuring me on their instagram page with this photo.....who knew the designer would approve?

modern indigenous

playing with prints and a turban


textures, fabric, and movement


its all in the details


white dress drama


always a moment for noir chic

I can't believe its already september....where did the summer go? I felt like these past couple of months I was quite productive with photo projects and just getting involved with creative endeavors. I don't know why I didn't share these photos earlier, but I thought now would be the perfect time to talk about the experience. in july, my friend katrina asked me to take part in a photo project with her friend tristan magundayao who happens to be a stylist. I didn't really know what to expect that day, as we shot in chatsworth, california in a very hot and spacious field. katrina had her hair and make-up done to perfection and tristan planned out some outfits and asked me to skim through the looks so I could get an idea of what he wanted to convey. I knew right away what he was looking for, so I knew together we could create some magical looks in that isolated field. we were both thinking africa, india, and native american, but still channeling something that felt very modern. I am not sure if that makes sense, but I so enjoyed the day and how we were able to create such uniqueness. personally, this was the highlight of my summer, as I have never really taken part in something like this before. most of my photo projects are my solo vision, but when you work together with a creative team it takes on a whole new meaning. I have no idea what other projects will come my way, but this really was something special. tristan certainly took modern indigenous to a whole new level, and I was just so glad that I could capture his vision!

suit up

lauren rosen

I feel like in the past couple of years I have been finding some really interesting investment pieces at BCBG. from my asymmetrical yellow dress back in 2014 to that vietnamese style hat I got for the summer, last year. I think by now its safe too say that BCBG has been getting it right lately. case in point, earlier this year I found a blazer dress with tulle, which was very much loosely inspired by emma stone's dior gown that she wore to the screen actor's guild awards in 2015. I was surprised that BCBG would try to design something similar to that look, because the dress looked so immaculate on emma stone herself, that I didn't think it could be copied....but what do you know they did and I think they did an excellent job. perhaps, the best part about this dress is that you can remove the tulle and just wear the blazer as a dress and because it is summer I thought that would be the wiser thing to do. lately, I have been collaborating with a lot of my friends on photo projects, so I thought my friend lauren would look stellar in this blazer dress. since she is a dancer I knew she had the legs to make this outfit work. we took many photos that day, but I really liked this moment when she walked by the neiman marcus store and stumbled across this chanel window. I just caught her in a moment and I think with the triple mariacarla boscono's behind her it makes for a total noir chic moment, but most importantly you can see the structure and silhouette of this blazer dress. it fit lauren like a glove and perhaps the best part about her wearing this outfit was when a woman came up to her and asked her who made the blazer and she said BCBG. its definitely not a secret anymore....while their clothes are not exactly super cheap you can definitely find some looks for less, without breaking the bank and still feel just as chic. I must thank lauren again for perfecting this look.... she certainly takes noir chic to the next level in this blazer dress!

summer suit

toni garrn

I guess in the summer you don't necessarily think of wearing a suit...maybe its more a winter thing, but I say you have to take a simple outfit and turn it into something unique with a twist. a suit is a perfect example of how you can do that. since buying my BCBG blazer dress I have been very much intrigued by this concept. what I love about a blazer dress is that it looks professional, yet cutting edge, and I think its all about how you style it. just this past week I stumbled upon an old photo of model toni garrn wearing this blazer dress to a london party, about two years ago. what I like about it, is that it looks like a vest and I think that asymmetrical bottom portion adds a little something extra. perhaps, too some this may be boring, but I like how polished and refined, it is. I know if I saw a woman wearing this on the street I would definitely do a double take. I have no idea why I am so into the blazer dress style of dressing now, but I think its really such an elegant way of dressing....I guess you could say its understated, but still somehow catches ones attention.

on pointe

aimee's feet

I remember as a teenager looking through my dad's extensive collection of national geographic magazine and coming across the september 1990 issue. there was an article and photo essay entitled broadway street of dreams and in it I stumbled upon some images of dance students at the juilliard school. what I found interesting about these photos was that they showed the dancers not looking so perfect and actually in pain from dancing on their feet. the pics showed close ups of their feet to display their agony of practice and for all those who hope to make it on broadway. it was a sad, yet eye opening issue that allowed me to realize that dance is not always as pretty as it looks on the surface. I don't know why, but ever since looking through that national geographic issue I have been fascinated by dancers and what they do to their bodies. plus, being that I take dance classes I am just very much fascinated by the beauty and hardships of dance, which brings me to this photo. a couple of weeks ago I took some photographs of my friend aimee doing what she loves to do most.....dance. we took many photos all around the beach and as a special treat for me, she brought all her ballet pointe shoes. aimee has been dancing ballet pointe for many years and I was in heaven seeing all her old ballet shoes. each shoe had a story and so did her feet. she kindly even let me photograph her feet to show all her dedication and passion she has for dance. while some may say this photo is not appealing too look at....I think it displays all her hard work and imperfections, which too me, is beautiful. I also love that we see the imprints of her silk ballet ribbon, her damaged toes, and just how much wear ballet can do to the feet. aimee even told me that this wasn't even bad as to what her feet normally look like after a day of ballet. at any rate, we created a whole ballet series, and this was just one of the photos. I must thank aimee again for letting me chronicle her feet and for making me get a first hand encounter of the truth about ballet and the illusions they create.

a bigger splash

tilda swinton in a dior black silk shirt and white cotton skirt, so incognito chic.....



a beautiful one piece bathing suit moment by the pool.....



a dior white and blue striped cotton shirt dress....loved the open back!

even though I saw this film in june....for some reason, I am still thinking about a bigger splash starring tilda swinton and ralph fiennes. sometimes, it takes me awhile to appreciate the beauty, plot, and overall style of a film, but when I feel visually inspired by something you know I have to discuss all the details. in case you are unfamiliar, the film is directed by luca guadagnino, who directed another brilliant film back in 2009 called I am love, starring tilda swinton, as well. what I love about this director is that he not only tells interesting stories, but he also incorporates such amazing art direction and has the best costumes. if you have never seen I am love, definitely go back and see that one, but lets get back to a bigger splash. just to give a brief synopsis the story tells of marianne lane played by tilda swinton, a famous rock star, and her photographer boyfriend, paul, played by matthias schoenaerts, who are vacationing on the remote italian island of pantelleria. while staying there, they are disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend, harry (ralph fiennes) and his daughter, penelope, played by dakota johnston. I will only say that much about the plot, but the film is loosely inspired by the 1969 film la piscine starring romy schneider. surprisingly, I have not seen that film, but now I think I must. at any rate, perhaps the best part about this film is the costumes. just like luca guadagnino's last film, the clothes were all designed by raf simon's and taken from his last previous collections for dior. in case you have forgotten, raf simon's has since left the house, but I love the dior ensembles tilda swinton wears throughout the film. from doing a little bit of reading, I found out that costume designer giulia piersanti was influenced by old school resort wear and referenced ingrid bergman in journey to italy for style inspiration. whatever she had in mind for tilda swinton it all looked like perfection on screen and when I think about how I would like to dress in the summer, especially on an island, this film comes to mind. tilda swinton wears every outfit with such ease and she proves that style is not about wearing a look from head to toe, but just about being chic and comfortable. if you haven't seen this film I highly recommend.....I know I came out if it feeling visually inspired. I can't wait for what luca guadagnino does next.....truly one of those directors that understands style on so many different levels.


a dior floral silk kimono....the epitome of comfy-chic!


tilda swinton in her diorfuturist sunglasses....designed especially for the film


save the best for last, tilda swinton in that dior white silk jumpsuit....like walking on a dream

state of grace

katrina amato

in the summertime I get lazy, overheated, and to be completely honest I just want to wear loose clothes.....or at least a dress that is dramatic, not too tight and has some kind of structured silhouette. I have no idea if that makes sense, but it reminded me of this photo I took a couple of months ago of my friend katrina. I shared some of our previous collaborations, but this dress has something that is so summertime noir chic. the dress is designed by valerj pobega and I have raved about her designs in previous posts, but I like how in this photo we see all the details of this slip dress. its not a perfect slip dress in that it has jagged edges and layered asymmetrical straps, which makes it so eye catching. personally, I am not into cliche boring dresses that you see everyone wearing on the street, I like a little cutting edge or at least something that stands out from the crowd, without looking too over the top and I think this dress does that and so much more. I wanted katrina to pose in a dance-like position so that we could really see the structure of this dress. she gave me such a stand out moment with her face and body language that I really wasn't expecting and for some reason it got me thinking about how I want a slip dress, like this.....especially now, when it is so warm outside. either way, if you haven't checked out designer valerj pobega, do have a look. I am still thinking about this dress.....total noir chic perfection!

body language

photo by peter lindbergh

by now, its quite obvious that I take so much style inspiration from peter lindbergh. katrina and I are both very much inspired by his photography and how he incorporates dance and fashion into his images. interestingly, before we got together for this valerj pobega project I was looking through the march issue of vogue italia and stumbled upon a haute couture layout of mostly black dresses photographed by peter lindbergh. the whole layout personifies noir chic, but it was this photo, in particular, that caught my attention. I don't know why I love the way mariacarla boscono looks in editorials, but she wears clothes with such ease and I admire her nonchalance. it was this pose and dior dress that really inspired me and I knew katrina could embody a feeling like this. I didn't want her to copy it exactly, but I like an interesting moment in body language and this photo totally does that. I love that stance and that dress....its a total sexy, yet serious moment and I so appreciate the simplicity of this image. peter lindbergh never takes photos that are too complicated, but just captures a feeling. personally, those are always my favorite types of photographs. if you haven't seen this layout from the march 2016 issue of vogue italia, do have a look. I am still looking through this editorial......inspiring from a photo and fashion standpoint. its such a great feeling when those two come together!

poolside

photo by my sister

I conclude my summer parasol series with this moment. what is so great about this parasol is that it accessorizes not only kaftans and simple black dresses, but also sleek bathing suits. I have worn this asymmetrical norma kamali bathing suit before on my blog, but I kind of like how it looks here with that pristine blue pool water. it definitely pops and you can really see the painterly quality and detail of this parasol. I don't really think there are other parasols out there, like this one, making it so unique and quite the summer accessory. this photo was actually taken by the pool when my sister and I were in ojai, last month. I told my sister to take a photo of me from behind so that you could see the back view of the parasol and how it looks with my asymmetrical bathing suit. there is something about this moment that feels like a vintage summer postcard and I must thank my sister for capturing it. I have probably went parasol overboard with these three images, but I really wanted to show you just how versatile and fun a parasol can be with three different outfits. there really are so many ways to style a parasol and if you have never carried one as an accessory I highly suggest investing in one. its not for every woman but on the right one, it can be such a classic fashion statement.

orange crush

photo by my sister

in keeping with my love for my new parasol, I share with you this moment, which happened recently. last month, my sister and I went to ojai and found ourselves wandering in a spacious golf course. I am not sure how this exactly happened, but for some reason, I decided to wear my orange missoni kaftan. I always think on a hot day something loose like a kaftan is the way to dress. in my head, I knew the parasol would correspond well with my kaftan, but when I looked at this image from a distance, you can really see that orange pop out. what I also like is the way that green golf course contrasts with the orange of my kaftan and parasol. this was all very much unplanned, but sometimes in spontaneity you can find the style inspiration you are subconsciously looking for. on a side note, I must say, I have been wearing this kaftan for over 10 years now and I love how years later I still feel just as inspired by it, since the day I bought it. sometimes, you just need that perfect accessory too add a little something extra to it. thank goodness for this amazing parasol....just the right amount of color splash or as I like to call it my orange crush!

block sun beautifully

photo by my sister

since today, is the official first day of summer, I thought I would celebrate with perhaps my favorite parasol of the season. my sister actually bought it for me as a birthday gift in april and I have been using it nonstop, since. a couple of months ago, she found an online site called block sun beautifully. the designer of these specific parasols actually hand paints her umbrellas and not only are they stunning too look at it, but they also have a sun protection factor of 50+. since I am extremely pale, and plan on staying that way, these parasols are pretty much heaven. I have taken many photos with the parasol in various angles within the past 2 months and I will share more on my blog, but for now, I will start with this one. back in late april, my sister and I went to the renaissance fair and for some reason I spotted this eye catching area in the fair with carpets, pillows, and a throne. I wasn't actually allowed to sit on the throne, but they let me sit on the carpet and of course I thought with my parasol, this would make for a royal moment. I can't say I planned much thought into the styling of this picture, but I think the parasol added a little something extra. I must thank my sister again for such a beautiful and useful birthday gift. if you are unfamiliar with her parasols do check out block sun beautifully. I think the name of her line perfectly describes her parasols.....brava!

into the woods

katrina amato

naturally, with the clothes lent to us by designer valerj pobega katrina and I felt that we needed some kind of mystical setting to accencuate her garments. on that particular today, it was very foggy and while we both like working with sun for light and shadows the moody clouds, somehow worked in our favor. by chance, we found an area in the san fernando valley that had an amazing woods-like setting and we thought with the silhouette of her dress we could totally do something ethereal, yet highly dramatic. so with that, katrina started moving her body, in her signature dance like ways and somehow I caught this moment. I love her body language and how she almost looks that tree behind her. the viewer can see the full flow of that dress. it certainly feels like she is in motion and to me I think, the best part, is the way that light shines through. that was probably the strongest light we had all day and too me it feels very heavenly. this was all very much unplanned and I like how we just caught something loose and organic. a big thanks to valerj pobega for letting us use her clothes. through our collaboration, I was fully able too see the connection between fashion and nature. its interesting how with the right dress, setting, and body composition all that just falls into place.

fog covered forest

photos by peter lindbergh

oddly enough, a couple days after katrina and I collaborated together I noticed the may issue of vogue italia at the newsstand. inside, there is an editorial entitled women. lara and freha, which features the models in a fog covered forest wearing ethereal like looks from designers such as valentino and saint laurent. the layout has that signature peter lindbergh noir chic style that I am very much inspired by. there is a certain light and darkness about these images in particular that I am also very much intrigued by. the forest is a magical place to find inspiration and I think peter lingbergh did that and so much more. plus, the styling on these looks is quite superb. the viewer clearly sees shape and silhouette with these ensembles and how it can work so well with nature. I don't know why I found this layout after my collaboration with katrina, but I feel like she could easily fit into this layout. she certainly has that noir chic airy elegance that I wish was displayed more in fashion editorials. at any rate, if you have not seen this eye catching layout do check it out. there is also a gorgeous short film video that accompanies the photos on-line that is worth watching.

here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0cvEakcssA

habit forming

katrina amato

it is always a treat when I get to collaborate with katrina and after two successful photo projects together we decided to try something new. of course, we had ideas in mind, but nothing really set in stone and I think we both like it that way, because that is when something organic and unplanned happens. at any rate, katrina's friend lent us some clothes to play with. her name is valerj pobega she is an italian fashion designer who lives in los angeles. her clothes are hand painted and sewn together in a very avant-garde ethereal manner. so naturally, katrina and I were eager to mess around with what she gave us. one of the interesting pieces that valerj pobega lent us was a black cape with hand painted gold adorned all around it. for fun, katrina put it on as a headscarf and for some reason it ended up looking like a nun's habit....a very gothic one, nonetheless. with my camera, I just followed katrina's face too see how she could carry that cape-habit and this was the moment that we both responded, too. we both have a liking to drapery, textures, and striking black and white photography, so naturally, this is what we came up with. of course, its not your every day look, but I think with that cape as a habit, it really accentuates katrina's face structure. personally, this to me feels like a scene from the 2013 polish film ida or maybe a mariacarla boscono vogue italia kind of peter lindbergh moment. whatever it may be, it has something cinematic to it with a noir chic sensibility. two concepts that we love capturing when we work together!

uniqueness

photo by mikael jansson

weeks leading up to our latest photo collaboration katrina and I discussed how much we like the way daria werbowy looks in many of her editorials. I don't know why, but its very refreshing too see a model who just seems so nonchalant in front of the camera. daria also has a natural beauty that just exudes in all her photos. she's different from many of today's popular models and I think that is what makes her so standout. I don't even think its so much about what she wears, but more about the mood she evokes. I mentioned to katrina this image of her from the september 2014 issue of interview magazine and she loved it immediately. the layout was photographed in stockholm, sweden by mikael jansson and I love the whole noir chic look that this editorial conveys. in fact, I think I even featured many of these photos on sister's in black back in 2014. I can't say it was what we had specifically in mind, but for some reason when I saw katrina in her valerj pobega cape-habit this picture popped up in my head. is it one of daria werbowy's most popular photo moments....most likely not, but I love the darkness of this image. it seems almost like a scene from ingmar bergman's 1966 film persona and it just has total uniqueness that we don't really see in fashion magazines, anymore. I mean not all, but some. I don't know if you can see the style connections between mine and this one, but I think they have something similar. at any rate, if you have never seen this editorial do check it out. almost two years later, I am still skimming through this issue....its unforgettable and so noir chic to the next level!

lady tux

charlize theron

I don't really expect much from the red carpet, but I must say in the month of May, I look a little bit forward too seeing something unique at the cannes film festival. I feel out of all the red carpets, this is where you might find a look that could catch your eye. interestingly, last year I posted a photo of charlize theron on sister's in black frocks wearing a magical yellow dior dress at cannes and I like how this year I am feeling inspired yet again by another one of her looks. usually, its never so good the following year, but with charlize theron she just understands how to look good in clothes, without trying too hard, which is really what good style is all about. so after doing a little research, I found out that her black suit is by dior and I love how she paired the jacket and trousers with a crisp white button-up shirt. perhaps, the best part about her look is the way she accessorized her suit with a diamond necklace and cocktail ring. let's also not forget perfection of her hair bun. its all so simple, but jazzed up in a le smoking vintage yves saint laurent kind of way. I must be honest I haven't looked at many of the cannes film festival 2016 looks, but this was all I needed too see! brava to charlize theron for looking so refined and for proving that its not being over the top, but about polished perfection!

pally pose

photo by daniel feser

to be honest, lately, I'm more into taking photos of other people, rather than myself, but when I have an interesting look to share, you know I won't hold back from sharing it. a couple of months ago, my sister took me to a sample sale for a designer named rachel pally in downtown los angeles. I think she may be from los angeles, but what I like about her clothes is how soft, comfortable, and structured, her looks can be. I mean not everything is actually that well fitted, but her kaftans have something special about them. it was my sister who introduced me to her kaftans, she owns a beautiful silk magenta one, that got me so intrigued about them. that day, at the sample sale, my sister found this one for me. yes, I know its not black....its actually white with navy blue stripes, but what I love most about it, is the shape and silhouette. it fits in the right areas, but also flows perfectly on the arms and bottom portion of the dress. its basically my dream kaftan. naturally, I wore it to see a gallery exhibit on artist julian schnabel and I thought it went so well with this painting and my balloons. perhaps, its not your typical scene at an art gallery, but I always like to keep things fashionably unusual....that's just how I work! if you are unfamiliar with her line do check it out, she ranges from swimwear to bridal, but I still think her kaftans are the most appealing. soft and chic are my two favorite qualities in a look and her kaftans definitely do that and so much more!

here is the link:
https://www.rachelpally.com/

dress one

karlie kloss

I must admit I haven't looked through all the met gala red carpet dresses, but the one person who caught my eye, immediately, was supermodel karlie kloss. she wore three different looks by stylist and designer brandon maxwell. I don't quite know how all these gown changes happened, but by skimming through photos and video on social media, you can see how her dress was originally a long cut-out dress and then how later brandon maxwell chopped her dress in half and added a little coat, to go with it. I loved all three looks, but I must say her first look, en route to the met gala was my favorite. I just loved the little cape and the flow of her white dress. it almost feels like clouds moving and I love how clean this is. brandon maxwell is someone I have been noticing a lot lately on the red carpet and I am fond of many of his designs just because his aesthetic feels very polished and streamlined. for some reason looking at karlie kloss in this dress made me think about the days of carolyn bessette kennedy in the 90s. I don't think I will ever forget her style and I don't know why, but I could very much see CBK wearing a dress like this, back in the day. perhaps, if she was alive now she would be wearing something like this to the met gala. perhaps, I am going off on a tangent, but I feel like this look was inspired by her. even karlie kloss's hair bun feels reminiscent of her. either way, I loved all three of karlie kloss's dresses, but the fluidity of the first look, really stood out to me. I am not one to showcase many celebrity looks on my blog, but when something like this appears I have to say something......so heavenly!

embedded

katrina amato

I have been sharing week by week my beach series with katrina and I think this is the last, for now. this was actually the first shot we took and I just thought it felt like such a stylishly serene moment. I told katrina to keep her hair curly that day, because I wanted it to almost blend in with the sand. I don't even know if you can see the way the sand corresponds to her hair, but it totally does. we agreed that her outfit should be simple and I like how katrina just wore a black turtleneck with boy shorts. all she did was lie on the sand and position herself and somehow I caught this moment. its really such an interesting balance between the texture of that sand and her body language. normally, I usually reference some photograph from an editorial I love or a film scene, but I must say I don't know what the exact inspiration for this, was. to pick something specific is quite hard, although I must say looking through photos by camilla akrans and ferdinando scianna triggered something in me. also, michelangelo antonioni's 1960 film L'avventura might have loosely inspired me, as well. whatever the influences were, katrina just did what I wanted her to do and somehow we got a moment that felt very cinematic. maybe I envision something more to myself with this photo, but because I walk on the beach all the time and see such beauty with the sand textures I knew with the right person I could make something out of it. at any rate, I must thank katrina again for taking part in this beach project! we have more to do of course, but this was the perfect noir chic start!

the veiling

katrina amato

for some reason, I keep thinking about my beach series with katrina and all the unexpected photo inspiration we came up with that day. the next one involves her and this beautiful piece of fabric that we decided to bring with us while wandering by the sea. katrina and I both have a mutual interest in ethereal photography. I guess with that term, for us, it simply means..... any kind of moment that feel magical, timeless, and otherworldly. I feel like we totally embodied those terms with this photo. what I love about the ocean is all the natural wind that just occurs and how you cannot control it, you just have to play with it and see what happens. so with that, katrina decided to wrap herself in the fabric and I just waited, to capture the right moment. we took a lot of interesting and unique moments with the fabric, but this one resonated deeply, with us both. I guess its the mystery, the harsh sky, the drapery, and that beach sand that really adds a little something to this photo. whatever it was, we just liked the drama and darkness of it all. sometimes, fabric can be cliche in photography, but I liked how we came up with something that was very complementary to our visual style. on a side note, when I study this image it reminds me of a quote that I continuously think about that says the less you reveal, the more people can wonder. I am not sure why, but I feel like those words match so perfectly with this image. perhaps, you can see that lyrical and visual connection, too!

blown away

photo by saul landell

a couple of days before going to the beach I sent this photo to katrina. immediately, we were both blown away, just because that drapery is captured to perfection and I love how it is color coordinated even though the photo is in black and white. in case you were wondering the image is by saul landell. I had to do a little research to find out more about this photographer, but all I could find is that he is from guadalajara, mexico and I feel like drapery and desert is what he is very much intrigued and captivated by. this is only one of his fantastic images, but I was very much inspired by looking through his body of work. I definitely had him in mind when I was on the beach with katrina. of course, saul landell has something that is very visually appealing, that I cannot compete with, but I wanted to embody that drapery and drama, that he does so well. if you are unfamiliar with his photos I highly suggest checking his work out and even though it is not fashion photography per say, I feel like he captures something that feels very much like a madame grès design. I have no idea if that makes any sense, but it certainly feels like there is a distinct grecian style aesthetic to his photography, which is something that I never get bored of.

a sense of mystery

katrina amato

as promised, I said I would share some of my other photo projects that my friend katrina and I collaborated on. for our second adventure, we thought we would attempt something on the beach. we roughly came up with a concept and just decided to see what would happen. a couple of months ago, I featured a veiled hat that I found for twenty dollars at a vintage store and thought on katrina it would look stunning. I know when I wore the hat it had a different feeling and with her it took on a life of its own. what's great about the beach, is the strong winds and how it can pull things in different directions and with the hat, it did just that and more, especially, with that added material. you can't even see katrina behind that veil and I love the sense of mystery, that it conveys. it almost feels like an italian widow on the beach.....if that makes any sense. however you want to interpret it I just love the body language and the simplicity of this black turtleneck and shorts paired with that veiled hat. katrina did an excellent job with styling this look and I love how its not something you see everyday, but too me, those are always the most memorable types of moments. I have more from this day to share, but for now, this is the uniqueness we came up with. just the right amount of noir chic....don't you think?

behind the veil

photo by mario testino

of course, as always, for our beach project katrina and I decided to create a mood board for our beach day and as always we came up with a lot of ideas. the one I really had in mind with my veiled hat on her, was this photo of model jacquetta wheeler photographed by mario testino. to be honest, I have no idea where this photo came from I just found it on pinterest. too me, it feels like something from the carine roitfeld vogue paris days. it has something that feels very much like her visual style. perhaps, it has something to do with those heels and the way she is walking away from that bus so nonchalantly and mysteriously. however you want to describe it, I just love the noir chic feeling that this photo exudes and for some reason it served loosely as inspiration to me, when katrina wore my veil hat. this is one of those hidden mario testino photos that will forever be one of my favorites. there really is so much perplexity about this photo and to what editorial this even belongs to. I must do some research....either way, a striking image that makes me wonder. I love it when photography can do that to me!