May was a rewarding month, rich in so many inspirations. Many 50s/60s classic or indie films, sounds of poetic French, enchanting episodes of Mad Men, reading about iconic bohemians living in New York 50 years ago, discovering and rediscovering some music. The icing on the cake was Café de Flore, a Canadian diamond seen last weekend. In my opinion, it's simply perfect in every aspect, and quickly climbed up to my top all-time films. The soundtrack has taken a complete possession of me, and it's the most delightful captivity.
I kicked off the month with a dose of photography creation, and I hope to explore more of its depths in June. Time to awake myself to summer.
Some time ago I had the pleasure to answer a few questions for the Fashion blogger revealed feature.
Tell me a little introduction about yourself. I'm a daydreamer, photography lover, art and fashion enthusiast. For a couple of months now I've been an university graduate, currently a full-time worker.
When did you first fall in love with fashion? I think there wasn't a particular moment. My eye has been sensitive for visual goods, including attire, since I can remember.
What inspired you to start your own blog? I started a kind of scrapbook on Tumblr back in 2009, and I've been gathering there my inspirations ever since. Actually, in my very first post I featured the Flora by Gucci short film/commercial directed by the acclaimed Chris Cunningham, starring Abbey Lee Kershaw, and I've remained quite loyal to the content. Admiration of visual delights related to editorial and portraiture photography, as well as fashion culture, had pushed me to pursuit of my own insights into that areas, and therefore to develop my photography skills and personal style. As a result, in the fall of 2011 I launched a visual diary documenting my possible progress.
What's on your iPod / DVD Player at the moment? Storage always too small. Music, recently: Django Django, Foster the People, Phoenix, Lianne La Havas, Empire of the Sun, Patrick Watson; constantly: Florence + The Machine, Amy Winehouse. Films (never not loving the 1950s/60s classics): "A Place in the Sun", "Suddenly, Last Summer", also "Mad Men".
What are your dreams and aspirations? We shouldn't reveal them unless we don't want them to come true, should we? However, there're certain things that make me smile, such as cosmopolitan cities, photographing or writing.
What do you take with you on vacation? A book, a journal, a camera and MP3 player.
Which designers and/or celebrities most inspire you? Jonny Johansson (Acne), Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Paolo Roversi, Alasdair McLellan, Amy Winehouse, Florence Welch, Xavier Dolan, Keira Knightley, Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Kate Moss, Daria Werbowy.
What is the one item in your wardrobe you couldn't live without? Skinny trousers.
5 random facts about yourself. I don't have a driving licence and I walk every day over 10 km. I couldn't exist without vegetables and fruits. I enjoy solitude. I'd be a full-time artist if money didn't rule the world. I secretly want to live in NYC, London or Paris.
Your favorite designers and brands? Designers as above, and as for the brands, I truly admire aesthetics of the latest lookbooks of COS and Acne - very neat, simple yet sophisticated. I'm also fond of Zara, H&M, ASOS or Topman, because of some interesting and affordable collections.
Your best fashion buy. Some time ago I bought many fedora hats in different hues.
Something that you really wanted but haven't got it. Long dark cape. Well, I'm also still looking for some steampunk circle flip-up sunglasses and a backpack with an Aztec pattern.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where? Why? In the nearest future London, because I've never been. But if someone paid for it, I'd choose Japan or French Polynesia, because those places seem to be insanely beautiful and absolutely contrasting to where I've happened to be.
What is your favorite thing(s) to eat? Peanut butter with banana, truffle, seafood, vegetables and fruits.
You can't leave house without... A bag or whatever to carry some everyday essentials.
What sites do you visit everyday? Twitter and Tumblr.
What makes you laugh? Irony.
What was the last thing you bought? Book(s) - some biographies of artists/writers.
If your life could be a film, which would it be? May I name four? "The Dreamers", "Breathless", "Factory Girl" and "Savage Grace".
She was the girl on fire with the silver hair close to her head, the eyes, the Viceroy in her fingers, the sleeves rolled up, those legs, yoicks! ...All you saw was her.
René Ricard in Edie: American Girl
I like the way a simple, laid-back outfit of a let's make some laundry kind has become wearable outdoors. Oversized denim shirt with rolled up sleeves, skinny black trousers and blue tartan plimsolls - everything comfortable, a bit homely yet stylish. On my way of searching for circle steampunk sunglasses, I've found that vintage substitute at home. More or less, they fulfil their role for now, though I'm still craving new flip-up ones. And to be honest, I really enjoy the fact that tip tied hair has become unisex.
I won't lie, youthquake - a 1960s cultural movement with Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick as its leading representatives - is a big inspiration here. By the way of reading Andy Warhol's biography, I've had the occasion to think more about Edie as an icon. Even though I'm still hypnotized by the Marie Antoinette soundtrack, I'm slowly moving forward. The other day I finally saw two classics with James Dean, East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause.
PS. Maybe you've noticed; I've changed a description in blog's headline. Personal style better suits the content. At the moment I'm visually documenting my style/photography possible progress and writing about inspirations that influence it (film/literature/music) rather than being a fashion newsboy.
Sofia Coppola's works speak to me so well. Her last three films, to me, build a sort of trilogy focused on a sensitive individual lost in chasms of communication. Her characters find themselves in a foreign land, in a relationship with the loved one, in a role they're expected to fulfil or in an era they somehow don't fit into. Always asking themselves who they really are and what the reason they don't have enough air to breathe is. Unique way of seeing from a perspective of a misfit brings you closer to him or her and creates a captivating intimacy when watching a film. I love all three of them also because of memorable indie soundtracks, composed of some excellent songs from Phoenix, Aphex Twin, Air, Dustin O'Halloran, Bow Wow Wow or The Cure. I already can't wait to see The Bling Ring next year, with Kirsten Dunst returning to work with Sofia Coppola.
I started my last Saturday afternoon with recalling Marie Antoinette and spent the evening with Somewhere. Staying home wasn't any limit to go back to the sunny hilly roads of Hollywood thanks to the second film. Above pictures captured some moments of my 2010 summer, when I spent a few days in LA.
Hung in the glamour of the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival, for recent days I've been finding myself highly fascinated (again) by the 50s/60s. Montgomery Clift paired with Elizabeth Taylor create a recipe for a perfect movie. Examples: marvelous and mesmerizing classic black&white dramas Suddenly, Last Summer and A Place in the Sun. But the peak was reached when hearing my new song to die for, Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles, in Mad Men accompanying the scene with Megan (Jessica Paré) lying in an acting class with expression of contentment. Since that moment I haven't parted with the album Revolver, which is at the same time an exquisite soundtrack for my current reading - The Life and Death of Andy Warhol by Victor Bockris. All that take me to New York in the 60s. Love it.
Meanwhile, Dior has lately published a charming ad / fashion short entitled Secret Garden - Versailles. It, like nothing other, makes you want to search for your own magical garden. For my searching, I chose a simple white collarless shirt bordered by blacks.
It's been good two years now since I started exploring self-portraiture outdoors, through freeing myself in front of the lens settled on tripod and losing somewhere in the woods. Exactly two years ago I found that place by a lake. Some things haven't changed too much since then - wearing the same T-shirt that moment, being under high influence of liberating and powerful music by Florence + The Machine. It was, and still is, one of my favourite pleasures, to simply run or express certain feelings in photographs while absorbing the treasures of Lungs.
Today we have also Ceremonials and more records from miss Welch's live performances to draw a deep inspiration from. The other day (still confused why so late) I discovered three songs, unknown to me before. There couldn't be a better promo for the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman than Breath Of Life, Swimming is just so lovely and enjoyable, but I'd point out the cover of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love as the winner. A typical, divine sound of harp and Florence's effortless yet captivating mermaid tones make each note so marvelous. Definitely, their musical work is one of my all-time addictions, regardless current mood or seasonal music preferences.
This look was supposed to be monochromatic. However, I forgot about the red-tartan inside of that light, leather-like H&M jacket. Low neckline, leather bracelet and plaited belt add a little gangsta twist. I also intended to crease T-shirt and trousers. The hanging down belt I actually peeped in a video from Amy Winehouse's live performance. And the wayfarer sunglasses, they have a purple shade which makes a nice detail.
I'm off now to do some research into reports from the Met Gala, wishing you an enjoyable evening.
Addicted to Love by Florence + The Machine (Robert Palmer cover)
I'm not going to lie (even if I intended to, you'd immediately know what the truth is), there is a pretty huge countryside behind my home. Living in a (small) town may be quite a challenge, but there are some moments when you just feel like making use of it, of what it has got to offer. Charm of forests and extensive fields makes a good combination with small photography expeditions, creating simple yet pretty backgrounds.
In today's post I continue the village flow from the previous one(s). How contented I was when I found that yellow dazzling field.
Old Cape Cod is a pure sweetness. I first heard it a few years ago in Groove Armada's At The River and was instantly hypnotized by it. Recently, an episode of Mad Men refreshed it in my memory.
