Spotlight : Let's rock with MaRaDinn

Let me share with you my last find on FlickR, the place where talents gather.
MaRaDinn is a 23 years old Athenian singer who started photography as a hobby, shooting her friends, models and singers, before turning her passion into a real job.
As her photos are getting more and more professional, her unique talent is revealed.
Girly, glam, yet a tad grungy, her work shows every aspect of the entertainment's world, with its glitter and its flowing mascara. Her models show their insolent charms in her edgy and modern shots.

From grace to decline, her subjects are always depicted with beauty, art and you can feel a strong influence of contemporary culture in her style.

Find more of MaRaDinn's work on her FlickR page http://www.flickr.com/photos/maradinn/,

MySpace http://www.myspace.com/maradinn and DeviantArt page http://maradinn.deviantart.com/.

By the way, if you wish to see your work or one of your favourite photographer featured in this section, feel free to contact me !

A girl, a style : Daphne Guinness

I inaugurate this new section with one of my fellow countrywoman, the brewing heiress Daphne Guinness. For those who never have heard of Daphne, let's present her : this 43 years old noble lady of Irish descent is a journalist, a Haute Couture collector, socialite and fashion icon. She has 3 children and lives in London. In the fashion shows, Daphne is always present and very recognizable : you will always spot her signature two-tones hair and her flamboyant style.
History enthusiast, the eccentric Brit's style evolves with her last historical period's crush. She is a genuine fan of armor, feathers, military clothes, and everything baroque.
But above all that, Daphne is an heroin of avant-garde fashion. Close friend and muse, she has inspired and fiercely worn outfits by Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh ( in picture ). She has got an eye for talent for sure. But while always being the first aware of the new trends, she never follows them, and cultivates a very personal style.
Daphne likes to show off, but with taste. She delights photographers with her fantastic outfits and look, and you can admire each of her professional pictures.

Trend : Gap-toothed Models

Do you have the impression of seeing double on the catwalks and the fashion magazines these days ? Don't panic ! It is just the consequence of the latest trend : everyone wants to have models with gap tooth.
The scientific name of this special feature is diastema : it designates the space between the two front teeth. It has been a long-past fascination for people. In the Middle Ages, it was a sign of lust. In Nigeria, it is considered as very attractive, and women even use surgery to recreate it. In France, it is called "dents du bonheur" (lucky teeth) and in India it is said to bring luck all your life. Some of the most famous women with gap tooth are singer and actress Vanessa Paradis, model Lauren Hutton, singer Madonna, who got it removed and actress Brigitte Bardot.
Perhaps it is because of that last one that it is now so trendy. It gaves a girl a sort of chic, and of insolence at the same time. Blond beauty with luscious lips and gap tooth are invading the world of fashion, like clones in a sci-fi movie. It is good for women who see their own teeth like a complex, but it is getting tiring to see all those girls who look the same. Instead, can't we have brunette or red-haired models with gap tooth ? Or models with other special features ? It would be healthier for our youth to see people proud of their unusual face.

Name : Lara Stone
Age : 26
Nationality : Dutch
Height : 5'10"
Seen : Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lanvin, Fendi, Prada, Hermes, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Versace, D&G, Victoria's Secret, Vogue
Plus one : her small feet give her an unusual walk
Website : www.models.com/models/lara-stone


Name : Abbey Lee
Age : 23
Nationality : Australian
Height : 5'10"
Seen : Gucci, D&G, Chanel, Chloe, Fendi, Gap, Alexander McQueen
Plus one : a pierced nose
Website : http://www.abbeyleekershaw.net/
Name : Georgia May Jagger
Age : 18
Nationality : British
Height : 5'7"
Seen : Vogue, Chanel, Versace
Plus one : daughter of model Jerry Hall and singer Mick Jagger
Website : www.models.com/models/georgia-may-jagger

Name : Jessica Hart
Age : 24
Nationality : Australian
Height : 5'9,5"
Seen : Guess, Vogue, H&M
Plus one : appeared on MTV's The City along her musician boyfriend
Website : http://www.jessicahart.net/

Name : Ashley Smith
Age : 18
Nationality : American
Height : 5'8,5"
Seen : Elle, French, Berksha
Plus one : a pierced nose too
Website : www.models.com/models/ashley-smith

Tell me which one you prefer !

Tribute : a Dream of French Royalty

It is 10 o'clock and I am absolutely alone in the garden of the French castle of Vaux le Vicomte, near Paris. It is already hot, but the peace of the place brings me a unique sensation of freedom.
As I walk along the statues, the geometrical bushes and the fountains, I try to imagine Kirsten Dunst and Sophia Coppola filming Marie Antoinette in the very same alleys.

Tonight, the castle will be illuminated by thousands of candles to recreate the fantastic atmosphere of the most gigantic party ever made for the King of France Louis XIV, in August 1661. According to History, it is after this party that the King, jealous of the splendor of Vaux le Vicomte, asked his men to arrest its owner.

Then, it has been a place of holidays and parties for the most elegant people of the world, from 18th century actress Adrienne Lecouvreur to American actress Eva Longoria, who got married there.

While visiting the luxurious appartments, I can easily imagine the rustling of the petticoats and the dresses of some ladies, rushing toward a dinner or a game.

These women, with their obsession for their outfits and details, started what we now know under the term of fashion.

The present French House of Haute Couture are all inspired by the attires of Marie Antoinette, Madame de Montespan or Diane de Poitiers : the details of their dresses can be found in the last collection of Givenchy and they would love to put some Louboutin on their feet ! Their taste for fashion became more democratic with the centuries, and still influences designers and women.

Some of the most brilliant French Haute Couture brands that keep the inheritance of the King of France's court :

Alexis Mabille ( last picture shows a dress from his Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection )

André Courrèges

Balenciaga

Balmain

Chanel ( second picture shows a dress from its Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection )

Chloé

Christian Lacroix

Dior ( first picture shows a dress inspired from a vintage Dior Couture dress )

Emanuel Ungaro ( third picture shows a dress inspired from a dress of his Spring/Summer 2010 collection )

Givenchy ( fourth picture shows a dress from its Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection )

Guy Laroche

Hermès

Hervé Léger

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Louis Vuitton

Max Azria

Nina Ricci

Sonia Rykiel

Thierry Mugler

Yves Saint Laurent

Summer Holiday

Tribute : the Funny Faces of Richard Avedon

In the fiction, he was Dick Avery, in real life, his name was Richard Avedon. The famous musical starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn was inspired by the life of that peculiar photographer.
Richard Avedon was born in 1923 in New York City. He worked for the most renown fashion magazines including Life, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. He also portrayed the most famous people in the world : the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Twiggy, Barack Obama, and many more.

I am really found of his style. As you can see, my new header is inspired by this photo of Elizabeth Taylor. Richard Avedon was able to capture the personality, and even the soul, of his models. Women are not inanimated objects, in front of his camera, they laught, they sing, they dance, they cry. None of them stand emotionless, in the contrary, they are all in motion.

While he was so obsessed with Audrey Hepburn's face, which he shot a lot (including the famous picture of the movie, this overexposed close up which only shows her beautiful features), he also showed the evolution of fashion and women through the last decades of the twentieth century.

His pictures are still a strong influence in nowadays fashion photography.

Richard Avedon left us in 2004. His work is impressive and a piece of history, which everyone should see.

http://www.richardavedon.com/

Fashion : In love with Sara Battaglia's handbags

I have discovered Sara Battaglia in the last issue of Vogue Paris. This young and stylish brunette is an Italian designer based in Milan. She has already created two seasons of gorgeous handbags, which she calls her "babies".

Her trademark are stripes of leather and bright colors. You can admire some items of her Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer 2010 collections on my doll.

Her website : http://www.sarabattaglia.com/

Her fun blog : http://sarafashionworld.blogspot.com/

Graphics made by Samantha Tyler, all rights reserved. Bags are the property of Sara Battaglia. Outfits inspired by Dior, vintage Versace and D&G.