Nouvelle Vague

Lately I've been addicted to old French movies. The Bride Wore Black and Last Year at Marienbad are two of my favorites, both part of the French New Wave movement. I had originally rented Last Year at Marienbad for designing inspiration as I had read that Coco Chanel herself had designed the costumes and I was mesmerized at the beauty and elegance of the fashion.



"These whisperings, worse than silence, that you're imprisoning me in. These days, worse than death, that we're living through here side by side, you and I, like coffins laid side by side underground in a frozen garden...."










Raymond Cauchetier was a famous amateur photographer who would photograph the French New Wave actors on set. If you're in London, you can see his work in a new exhibit at the James Hyman Gallery. Such beautiful pictures that capture the fashion and carefree ease of that time. He has a quote that I love that proves sometimes an amateur can have just as amazing work if not better than a professional:

"I've never received the slightest advice from a professional. I've always improvised, and invented what I needed to do, with my own inspiration. Is that why some people think my photos never look like other people's?"

I can see a lot of his photography and the inspiration it has had on fashion photography now, but he was ahead of his time.

















A video from the band Nouvelle Vague that reminds me to that French era. Love to listen to them when I'm trying to draw inspiration.

All that Jazz

I cannot wait for the Jazz Festival on Governors Island this weekend. I couldn't make it last year and when I saw these pictures on the Sartorialist, I was disappointed for weeks that I missed out on such a great time. No matter what I am going to make it this year though. Governors Island is like a whole different world and I can't believe it's only a short subway ride and ferry away from me. The architecture is simply marvelous and you really do feel like you're transported back to the Jazz Ages. I've got the perfect chiffon Diane Von Furstenberg dress that will fit with the theme and the weather. All I need to complete the look is a lovely Japanese parasol that I'm picking up at Pearl River Market in SoHo after work.





I need a dress and shoes like this:






















Images via The Sartorialist

Dreary Day

It's been dark, rainy and miserable since yesterday. Just when you start to see the sun peaking out, the clouds engulf it back to a bleak darkness. On top of the rain, it has been so humid. When I walk outside, it feels like the air is weighing down on me. I love rainy days, just not when I have to be at work. I love when it's a rainy day on the weekends, where I can lay in my heavenly bed with the curtains drawn watching the rain fall down on our courtyard while catching up on my magazines. Since it's been so slow at work I've been surfing the internet for inspiration and have been finding myself drawn to dark pictures. Impossible Possibility's Autumn Winter Lookbook blew me away. I've never heard of the brand before and I can't find too much information but I loved the concept and the way they made the photos have a vintage, worn effect.







Hedi Slimane's photography came to mind while looking through the photos. His use of light and expression stands out the most. I love the shadows and/or the placement of the hair to cover the face. It has a feeling of mystery and leaves the viewer to imagine what is behind those curtains.

















Images via http://www.hedislimane.com/
http://coutequecoute.blogspot.com/

Black Market

I don't know where these images are from, but I was skimming through my thousands upon thousands of photos on my hard drive and came across these:








This conjures up memories of listening to Nine Inch Nails' the Downward Spiral when I was younger. Even now when I still listen to that album, I think about the video for 'Closer'.

Nine Inch Nails: Closer (Uncensored) (1994) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

So hauntingly beautiful.

What's on my mind right now

Bike rides through Manhattan



Trips to the middle of nowhere




Relaxed laid back style a la Nicole Richie



The new Givenchy Haute Couture collection.


The fiercest fashionista Daphne Guinness


The Olivier Theyskens for Rochas period


Anticipation for my guilty pleasure show Gossip Girl to come back on.


And at the end of the day watching the sun set over the city from rooftop parties.

Lazy Summer Weekends

It's supposed to be humid, rainy and hot this weekend. I'll probably be doing this until the sun goes down and all the fun begins.