Super Rad Boot Post

Cotton's High and The River is Low............

The weather teased us here in Colorado, so now there's snow....again. But we already started dreaming about summertime....so here is a tribute to the color and scent of seafoam and sand.

Seafoam Mango Juicy Bug by dreamalittle7

Satin Seafoam Dress by Alexander McQueen

Project From The Pretty Paper Blog

Rubber dipped copper ring, antique metal bank and retro bridesmaid shoe

Pretty Tulle Rosettes

UK Vogue Shoot

Holly Abston's Kitchen

Coastal Living Dining Room

Artwork by PidgeonPrints

Photography found at Prettigeeky's Photostream

Icelandic Bridge

 

Seafoam Stacked Rings at Sundance Catalog

Collage by Glam & Glitterz

Sweet Tea Set

Dickensian Style

Sometimes I have an idea for a genre of fashion or design inspiration that I want to highlight and explore...and find out it only exists in my own head.
After seeing a live production of "A Christmas Carol" with my kids, I was inspired by Dickensian style.
I Googled "Dickensian Style/ fashion/ inspiration/ photography" and found almost nothing! So maybe the literature and era of Dickens isn't something many designers derive inspiration from, but why?
Dickensian Style to me references mid 19th century England, top hats and tweed, Gothily ragged hems, floppy muslin shirts and under skirts, layers of browns and blacks and greys all tinged with coal smoke and industrial revolution ennui.
It's Steampunk's depressed cousin. It conjures up images of orphans and harsh mistresses, debtor's prison, street children and corrupted miserly landlords.
Well, anyway, the only cooperative designer was my dearly departed Alexander McQueen (as per usual). Before his death I hadn't realized the depth and breadth of his legacy. He always comes through; no matter what I've been inspired by....he's been inspired first.

Fashion Photography: Android Chic

There are really only a few photo shoot themes that require your fashion model look as though she hasn't a thought in her head. 

There's the "Living Doll/ Broken Doll" shoot (quite popular a few years ago and still seen occasionally, as an alternative to the controversial heroin-addict-in-shooting-gallery shoot of the nineties). I'm actually quite a fan of the Living Doll, and may spotlight that theme next week...

In the mean time, let's take a look at the other blank-stare requiring theme; what I'm calling "Android Chic". Currently being popularized by Lady Gaga, futuristic silhouettes and metallic textiles are styled with a heavy dose of influence from the German expressionist silent film  "Metropolis"*.

*Which, if you haven't seen, you should. Preferably in a theatre with an organ playing the original score (I saw it at The Castro in San Francisco.) You may get lucky and find something local on this list of upcoming playdates for the restored version.

Milla Jojovich shot by Simon Upton:

Metropolis inspired German Vogue shoot shot by Karl Lagerfeld:

Dress by the beloved departed Alexander McQueen shot for Glass Magazine:

 

Archival fashion photo circa 1969 Australia (photographer unknown):

Seb Janiak shoots Naomi Campbell:

 

Photography by Benedict Campbell:

 

From Hakan Photography:

Fashions by Yuima Nakazato: