A beautiful Boy George inspired piece by Jean Paul Gaultier.
I’ve been obsessing over this video for the past couple weeks to the point that my eyes have officially announced their retirement!
Never the less, Jean Paul Gaultier’s take on fashion is refreshing to the mundane industry, and that’s the way his clothes have always been. I love this Celeb/Pop Star inspired collection, and I’m patiently waiting to see what he has in store for his new fall/winter collection.
Being the man who took the most cover photos for Vogue magazine, Erwin Blumenfeld has become a legend in fashion photography. Blumenfeld’s work ranges from collages mocking Adolf Hitler to Dadaism inspired fashion images.
Born in Berlin, Germany on January 26th, 1897, Blumenfeld’s love for photography would eventually lead to his professional career as a photographer in 1934.
By 1936, Blumenfeld moved to Paris, France and within a year his photos were being published in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. An accomplishment to say the least!
When Nazi’s began to occupy France during World War II, Blumenfeld was taken to a concentration camp. Luckily he escaped, taking him on a journey to New York in 1941. After gaining American citizenship, Blumenfeld continued his amazing and nostalgic work as a fashion visionary until his death in Rome on July 4th, 1969.
His legacy has been celebrated by his wife Lena Citroen, whom he married in 1921, and his three children: Henry, Lisette, and Yorick.
Here is a great source for some of his best photos: http://www.photographyoffice.com/2011/06/25-fashion-photographs-by-master-of-photography-erwin-blumenfeld/
Below is a video showing some of Blumenfeld’s Fashion Film Experiments:
Blumenfeld’s influence has a tremendous impact on modern day fashion photography and film. Check out this CHANEL tribute to Erwin Blumenfeld:
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from this brilliant photographer:
“Day and night I try, in my studio with its six two-thousand watt suns, balancing between the extremes of the impossible, to shake loose the real from the unreal, to give visions body, to penetrate into unknown transparencies.” -Erwin Blumenfeld
Lagerfeld is THE MAN!
This past Thursday in Riverside, CA was a night for young fashionistas and professionals to mingle, socialize, and share their vision for fashion. I was not able to attend this Social Mixer, but here is a link to a beautiful article on the event: http://www.socialculture.com/articledetail.php?aid=czoyOiI4NiI7
Enjoy!
I was watching a runway video on youtube and I came across this comment that was very honest:
“im a designer and a model coach – the secret behind all of this bullshit is:
CONFIDENCE!!
you have to bring from the inside before you can bring it from the outside.”
As I was reading this I was thinking about all the models that pay top-dollar and invest loads of time to learn how to walk for the runway, when really the secret to runway success is one’s own confidence. Such a simple answer that can be found within yourself, and no where else. It’s true a model may have to understand how to walk properly, but this still does not make up for any lack of confidence or uniqueness in one’s walk.
When you think about some of the best runway models from the 70’s and prior, many of them didn’t have models to look up to or didn’t bother taking modeling classes. In fact, some have said their classes were watching actresses in classic films and mimicking these actresses movements. Maybe that’s why those women had such a charismatic aura about themselves when they hit the catwalk, a charisma I feel has disappeared today. Why? This isn’t easy to answer, but it may be partly due to the systemization of the modeling industry. You take classes that you pay for, you think they will provide you with everything you need to know about modeling or runway, and when you finish you go on your merry way to get the best jobs in the industry. But of course this isn’t the case in the real world, not with any profession. This A-B-C way of thinking is very linear, and we forget about the space below and above the line. It is here in this space where you will find that extra something to not only make you a great model, but one of the best in the business. So don’t be afraid to step into that unknown space.
If you’re an aspiring model or model in the making I suggest that you take the time to work on improving any characteristics you feel are making you emotionally weak or unsure about yourself. Only when you have become comfortable with your body image and emotions can you be fully confident on the runway or in any modeling gig. Finally, and I am saying this with all seriousness, watch and study classic films. Take note of how the actors express themselves through exaggerated body language. On the one hand, exaggerated acting makes a film seem less realistic and almost corny, but it’s acting…it’s not meant to be realistic. Remember that any form of entertainment is escapism that helps people relax from the stress of the real world.
If you can incorporate this strong, expressive emotion in your body while walking, it almost takes your viewers to a whole new world where they imagine that they are “you” wearing that gorgeous piece of clothing. Confident, unique expression is what turns a Model into a “Best Super Model.”
-MANÉ
BOTC’s “Fashion’s Night Out” in Downtown Riverside, California was fun and cool, but I have something to say before I continue. First I’d like to apologize to the lovely ladies of BOTC. You’re never suppose to show up late to fashion events your invited to, but I did LOLZ. However, it wasn’t without good reason. Earlier that same evening I was at another historic event, the Welcome Reception for Dr. Tomás Morales, Cal State University San Bernardino’s newest and I believe first Latino President. I was looking extra Chicano that evening, as I had ran out of hair gel and was forced to use vaseline to hold my hair in place. I hadn’t used any greasy hair products for ten years up to that point. Now it will take a week for me to get this greasiness out my head. I can still feel the grease right now…
Anyway, as I was saying earlier, BOTC’s “Fashion’s Night Out” was an awesome event. Taking place at the Crescent Jewell Restaurant in Riverside, CA, with plenty of fashionistas, designers, stylists, and all of those who have made fashion an important part of their lives. When I walked in I could feel a mist of love and compassion, everyone was here because they truly love and can appreciate the artistic qualities of clothing. The music was right, there were smiles everywhere, and the models were looking lovely. Shout out to everyone that made this event the hottest in Riverside: Sherifah Jefferson, Brittney Daniels, Jessie J, Mr. Bradshaw, K’Sandra, DJ RUDE BOY, all the models, and all the other hotness and cool people there.
I can’t speak on the other collections because I didn’t see them, but I do have to highlight Jessie J Collections. He had one sparkly, black dress in his collection, may have been sequined, with shiny bronze lines that seemed to outline the model’s body as she moved across the runway. Another model had a red jacket and pants that were both lined with a black trim. The piece immediately reminded me of a meshing between a formal tuxedo style suit, and Michael Jackson’s infamous Thriller outfit. Just amazing. To top it off it was shiny and silky. I am one of the biggest fans of silk because it can make anyone standout effortlessly. Those were some of the most gorgeous pieces I had seen in a long time, and I wish Jessie J nothing but success with his collection. Visit his website here: http://www.jessejcollections.com/index.html
Another highlight was a pair of glistening heels by Shoe Girls Love. My sister fell in love with them when she saw them: Bright Pink, if I remember correctly, with little rhinestones that looked as if they were intricately placed by hand one at a time. These are so different then any type of glitter heels you find at the mall and definitely worth the money. You may visit their website here: http://www.shoesgirlslove.com/default.asp.
Pop Star K’Sandra also hit the stage and performed her single “Finger On The Trigger.” This performance was interesting, as K’Sandra and her performers started their performance in the middle of the crowd. I was surprised at first because I thought they were just a group of people trying to get through the crowd, then they started dancing in front of me as soon as the music dropped. In the words of my sister at that moment “I’m f@#$ing confused.” The performance was none the less well choreographed and energetic.
I had my sister on standby taking photos during the last runway shows. You can see some of the photos she took below. You may also visit our tumblr page here: http://freshclinic.tumblr.com/, and share the photos there if you’d like. I’m not gonna lie though…we need a better camera.
I missed out on a lot, but next time I’ll make sure to get my behind there on time. I am looking forward to BOTC’s next event and I know it will be da shiznit.
Peace Yall’
This Thursday, Downtown Riverside, California will be turned into ONE BIG FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA! A recently opened Boutique, BOTC (Back of the Closet) Boutique, will be hosting a Fashion event, “Fashion’s Night Out,” that is sure to please the fashionista in all of us. As a San Bernardino, CA resident, I have never heard of or seen any event like this in the Inland Empire of Southern California…NEVER! Many Boutiques and Vintage shops have come and gone through Redlands and Riverside, but with the initiative the store owners are taking to put together an event like this, it seems this boutique will stand the test of time.
There will be a RUNWAY SHOW, PERFORMANCES (K’SANDRA), DJ (DJ RUDEBOY), SHOPPING, FOOD, BAR, CELEBS, STYLISTS/DESIGNERS (MR. BRADSHAW, JESSIE J, LOR-E), THE WHOLE NINE. This event will take place at the Crescent Jewell Restaurant, 3597 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501, running from 8PM-1AM. I’m super excited about this event, and encourage anyone who lives in the Southern California Area to attend. You won’t be disappointed. THIS IS A 21 AND OLDER EVENT!
SEE THE PHOTO BELOW, & VISIT BOTC’S FACEBOOK PAGE HERE: http://www.facebook.com/botc.botique. STAY TUNED FOR MY ARTICLE ON THE EVENT! PEACE YALL!
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