Spotlight : Laura Ferreira takes your breathe away

I will pick again one of my FlickR friends for this new Spotlight : this time, it is the turn of the wonderful Laura Ferreira.
This 25 years old self-taught photographer has quickly grown as one of the most interesting young talent of this decade.

The Trinidad and Tobago blond beauty is a genius of color and light, and threat her pictures like digital paints. For this reason, you will often find her in the cover of Photoshop dedicated magazines, but it would be a shame to reduce her to that.

Laura is a photographer first, with an artist eye, who is able to reveal her models full glory in neat and mastered shot. Her style is really fierce, theatrical and even a bit gothic, perhaps more in the architectural meaning than in the fashion one.

She works with the best, music artists, fashion houses, make-up designers and stylists, to offer us inspiring and moving photographies.

Don't miss her fabulous website at http://lauraferreira.com/, and if you can escape the hypnotic charm of her Sphinx/dark angel header, take a look at her beautiful pictures, also on her FlickR page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/laura_ferreira.

Trend : Studded like a Rock Star

Keith Richards and the American bikers got it bad : the fashion designers and the fashionistas are stealing their hallmark, the studs. Indeed, the trend is to look like a science fiction warrior, straight out from Blade Runner, a tough girl ready to fight with her armored clothes and weapon-like accessories. Rihanna understood it well and rocks the style at each of her public appearances. This winter, if you don't have myriads of studs all over your body, you will be a bit dull. I have concocted a little selection to inspire you.



My personal favourite : this Diane Von Furstenberg dress seen on Blake Lively. It is really elegant and sparkle just enough to make you look like a divine creature. Beware of not abusing of the studs or people would confuse you with the avant-gardist design interior ...

The must-have of the winter : studded leggings and shoulder pads. A good match too, especially in black, for an Agyness Deyn-like style.


If you're afraid of the weight of studded clothes, opt for the shoes : everyone will be at your feet, but don't mind if they don't notice that you've changed your hairdo.
And finally, what would be an outfit without acessories ? I have fallen in love with this adorable and fierce Sonia Rykiel bag, with its two compartments and its revisited classic purse shape. Every bag is great with studs on, in every color, so don't hesitate. But stay discreet, avoid the Middle-Age inspired acessories or your friends would think that you got a job in a SM club.
So, to be studded or not to be ? That is the question : is it too fierce ? Too bling ? At least, no one would annoy you anymore in the subway. Who said that fashion was useless ?

Fashion : Everyone wants Lipsy

To the question "What is your favourite brand ?", lots of names are coming to my mind, especially famous designers. But if I would have to pick a brand that is widely representated in my wardrobe, I will certainly pick Lipsy.
Lipsy is a famous English brand which looks like every girl's dream with its cute party dresses and its affordable prices.

This summer, the brand doesn't disappoint its customers. Lipsy followed the trend of the prints but chose more discreet tones for its flower and animal prints. I especially like the girly messages and the palm tree designs. The colors are very elegant, mostly white, grey, black and powder pink. Delicate lace and sophisticated satin bows complete the picture. I also have a huge crush on their jewellery.

In the other collections, you will find the Boudoir spirit of the brand with some appetizing underwear-looking tops, corsets, sexy black lace and Vichy prints.

I am not a great fan of their Country collection with its bleached jean tops and dresses, their boring flounces and their ugly fringes, but I love the very original and colorful feathers prints.

This season, Lipsy also invited singer Pixie Lott for a basic collection. Celebrities in general are found of the English brand : their clothes, and especially their dresses, have been seen on actresses Jessica Lowndes of 90210, Demi Lovato, Paris Hilton (which is sadly not a reference), singers Molly King, Kimberly Wyatt, Alexandra Burke, Lily Allen, Alesha Dixon, Amy Winehouse and are often used in TV show X-factor. Even Lady Gaga was seen buying some !

You can also support the English team during the World Cup with adorable sequined tops.

It is very British chic and modern at the same time : the perfect clothes to find in the most fashion-conscious Londonian girls' wardrobe. And the best thing is that everyone can buy them thanks to their website http://www.lipsy.co.uk/ !

Decoding : Fashion and Religion makes strange bedfellows

Lord, forgive her : Gaga dit it again. Her last video, directed by Steven Klein, is heavy on blasphemy. Alternately Joan of Arc, Virgin Mary and a nun, the provocative singer seems to be running out of ideas, and her Alejandro is a genuine visual disaster.
Indeed, doesn't it sound you familiar ? Oh yes, Madonna, which stage name says it all : the Like a Prayer singer already surfed on the wave of religious provocations back in the 80s. So, bad decision for Lady Gaga ? It seems so : we still cannot make fun of religion in the world of entertainment and fashion. Quick topical outline.
In 2005, French designers Marithe and François Girbaud broke the news with their last advertising campaign. The picture recreated the painting The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci, substituting women to the apostles and supermodel Ruslana Korshunova, dead in 2008, to the Christ. Immediately, a Roman Catholic association brought a lawsuit against the creators and won. The posters were removed.
Across the Atlantic, it is the same old thing. In 2008, the Boston Magazine published an ad for a fitness club that depicted nuns sketching a naked man. Once again, outcry from the Catholics.
Chilean fashion designer Ricardo Oyarzun 2009's collection was not better received. His designs, inspired by the Virgin Mary, were worn by revealing clad models. Shocking !

Then, is the Catholic religion personna non grata in fashion shows ? In fact, it does shy apparition : in the Spring/Summer 2006 collection of Dior, models in bright red and black wore crucifixes and veils. Last year, Jean Paul Gaultier turned his models into ethereal icons with white dresses, halos and chalice's prints. It was the first use of Catholic religion in fashion that was of good taste, but we still heard teeth grinding.

What about other religions ? Islam is a taboo, but Hinduism and Judaism are often used by designers and photographers. Incidentally, Madonna turned to Kabbalah : it must be a sign ...
Used for ecumenical matters, religion is often employed in ad campaigns to show the tolerance of a brand and to encourage respect. For example, the American fashion designer Kenneth Cole's campaign "We all walk in different shoes" showed an Hassidic Jew and a Sikh among others.

It is a shame that in 21st century we are still that cautious with religion, and even more disgraceful that it is mainly used for cheap provocation. Yes, designers should be free to use their beliefs and to borrow from religious art, but there's no need to turn it into a disgusting show.

With taste, fashion and religion can make a very interesting and beautiful combination. The proof being a campaign made by Indian photographer Suresh Natajaran for the jewellery brand Tanishq.

We can dream of a more open-minded world, but meanwhile, images like those we can see in Alejandro are definitely not helping the cause.

Sources :

Wikipedia

Times Online

http://www.sureshnatarajan.in/

Fashion : Spend your Summer in Moschino

Even if it is hard to believe it when you look at your window, Summer is coming, and Spring is already here. It is time to go in your dressing room and make some space for lighter and summery clothes. The fashion designers would never miss the rendez-vous, and I will pick the best pieces of the season for you. Let's start with my favourite, the Italian designer Moschino, through his 3 brands, Moschino, Moschino Cheapandchic and Love Moschino.

The S/S collection of Moschino is a high colored show. First, you will find Black and classy outfits with gold and pearls details which remind of vintage Chanel and Audrey Hepburn. Then, a festival of prints : navy blue or yellow hearts, red cherries, Creole dresses and headscarves, Slavonic-looking embroideries and clouds of precious silk. It relieves us after the poor precollection that was introduced earlier, with its ingenuous outfits of nude and black colors, very uncluttered and even too strict. Special mention to the bags though.

For the main collection of Moschino Cheapandchic, the retro chic is more successful. Dots and flounces marry well with kitsch details such as daisy hats and flower-shaped sunglasses. The collection is very romantic, with delicate openwork dresses, Vichy fabric, satin and floral prints. However, maybe there is too much frou-frou, and it is a bit heavy on the messages and the lace, but I like the audacious colors and the large skirts.

The precollection is the best of the season with its gorgeous top hats and its modernized 20s look. The masculine-chic outfits reminds me of Jules and Jim and model Twiggy. It is very old England, with touches of bright colors which add pop. The whole collection is a marvel, and I would buy every piece.

After that, Love Moschino is quite disappointing. Flowers, pastel and navy blue are deja-vu. The main theme is retro summer cruise and the outfits are rather classic, at the limit of tasteless. The precollection is in the same spirit but with more modern cuts.

You can admire my selection of outfits worn by my doll in the pictures, or in real life at http://www.moschino.it/

Spotlight : The rise of Lara Jade

In life, there are those who take their time, and those, in the contrary, who are born to live faster. Lara Jade seems to be of the latters.
Born in 1989, she discovered the art of photography at the age of 15, like any other teenager, and started experimented through self-portraits and fantasy shots. But the precocious and gifted British girl soon turned her hobby into a more serious business : at only 17, she had already started her own business, Lara Jade Photography, and worked for various clients. Among them, Sony Music and the BBC ...

In 2009, she won the Public Choice Award at the AOP Open Awards, proving her popularity in her profession and in the public's eye. She is now a very busy business woman, represented by agencies in London and Milan. Beauty face, she also models for other photographers and keep shooting herself ( the first picture is a self-portrait ).

I had the pleasure to meet Lara on Flickr some years ago, and I discovered both her talent and kindness. She took the time to talk with me about her already impressive work.

Her universe is a perfect mix of grace and wilderness, ethereal and fierce, and her portraits have, at the same time, a taste of avant-garde and of old magic.

I particulary like her photoshot for Lush Magazine, with its audacious look : she gave a plastic effect to the models, turning them into punk dolls or contemporary sculptures of nymphs.

With Lara, there is no half-measure : when it must be girly, it's romantic and when it must be darker, it's rock'n'roll.

I advice you to keep an eye on Lara Jade, because she has everything to be the next big thing in Fashion and Photography Industry.

You can admire her work on her website http://www.larajade.co.uk or on her Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/larajade.

Spotlight : Head First in Goldfrapp's new album

The last album of the English electro band, Seventh Tree, had confused their fans with low rythms, acoustic and even classical instruments. But 2 years after this folk UFO, Goldfrapp goes back to the sound which made its success, this aerial eletro-pop, already heard on previous albums Black Cherry and Supernature.
Head First is a parachute jump from a plane covered with glitter, piloted by composer Will Gregory, in the middle of a blue sky with pink clouds, rainbows, and sexy space hippies. During nine songs, you're floating with blond angel Alison Goldfrapp, the singer, in a pure disco revival.

Put your fluo jumpsuit and your blue platform shoes on, there is kitsch life after the last B-52's album !

Single Rocket and song Shiny and Warm are very classic Goldfrapp, perhaps a bit deja-vu ( isn't Rocket a faster Number 1, and Shiny and Warm very Satin Chic ? ). But, beyond those sexy and rythmic hits, you will find more '70s influenced songs which will immediately put a name on your lips : ABBA.

Indeed, Alive shares some family likeness with Super Trouper, so does Head First, and I wanna Life is bound to become a new Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! with its obsessive chorus.
We can also notice hippy influences in songs Believer, Dreaming with its ethnic-like percussions, and the troubling Hunt, which has got something of Japanese, and dives us in a mysterious and hazy Zen garden, covered of summer rain.

This new album, though, is somehow disappointing, mainly because the band has accustomed us to discover new horizons inside each of their albums : Felt Mountain was a mysterious world of jazzy '60s cabarets, Black Cherry surprised us with its sexy and provocative experiments, Supernature strengthened their maturity and leaded us to feverish night-clubs, while Seventh Tree pushed us on the road for a deep and bohemian road-trip.
Head First, after that, seems a bit dull. It could be something made by Eurythmics, The Creatures or, more recently, by Kate Havnevik; we hardly find the usual genius of Goldfrapp behind those disco songs.

But besides that, Head First is still a pretty decent album, very pleasant to hear, sweet, carefree, and which has got a nice atmosphere.

By the way, the trend seems to like retro. The music sounds '70s, the fashion looks '70's, the people are nostalgic. Do we have exhausted the humanity's creativity that we need to dig up in our parents' old boxes ? Do we need to turn back ? Goldfrapp's last album raises the question, but refuses voluntarily to answer. It's like Alison was whispering to our ears :
"Meanwhile, let's do a treatment with Head First, the head in the clouds, and forget everything else ..."