Water Babies.

A year or so ago I was working on a very cool project at work. It was a perfume launch for a celeb and I thought it would be amazing if we could shoot the entire thing underwater (never mind that the celeb in question is/was a notorious diva and I'm sure would have given me the ol raised "HAIL NO!" brow had I suggested this to her...). My inspiration was this photo of Kiera Knightly—I thought it was really amazing and was dying to try something similar:

Image: Candace

OK, I admit I also watched the season on America's Next Top Model where the girls wore ball gowns in this huge water tank and looooved it. (As an aside, is this season not THEE most boring ever?? I love the crazy big eyed girl, but they're all so freaking boring...I sadly don't even care who wins this time around. And I'm nervous for this new upcoming season supposedly featuring shorty models. Say it ain't so Ty Ty Baby!) But I digress. Back to photography.

So, I was researching fashion photographers who could shoot underwater and it was actually difficult to find people who could shoot underwater. Well the times are a-changin'. I check my mailbox the other day and low and behold what do I find but the new Anthropologie catalog—which features some incredible looking (you guessed it) UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY.


Image: Barbara Cole

There really is something so ethereal about shooting underwater. The models look like little ghostly sylphs. I decided to dig around in my Inspiration Folder and show you some of my favorite underwater images. HAPPY FRIDAY!





Images by Candace.



Images by Michael Mulle

These images shot by Alix Malka are so gorgeous and lush. High fashion at its finest.

Images by Alix Malka

And then there is the almost cinematic quality of Zena Hollway's haunting stunners. Love!

Images by Zena Hollway.

Pssssst! Oh you *know* you wanna know who the celeb was...okok. It was Mariah. And sadly the project died before I ever got to meet her—although she did record some fun copy I wrote for these crazy talking billboards. And even though I'm pretending to be all cool you know I was THRILLLLLLED to bits to hear her sexy, pouty versions of my words! She was actually kind of adorable.

Paper Cut.

HAPPY MONDAY! So I was zipping around the web this weekend (in my Fiat Jolly of course) and found so many amazing things. I don't know if I was hiding under a rock, but I only just recently discovered the crazy cool work of Elsa Mora.  Not only does she do the most insanely intricate and delightful papercuts, she does adorable illustrations too.

Her blog, "The Heart of Papercuts," is totally inspiring. But look how sweet these illustrations are too. Be sure to swing by her blog, because she is giving away one of her gorgeous Alice in Wonderland papercuts (but don't swing by until you finish reading this, of course! heh).

Seeing her work reminded me of the beautiful French short by Michel Ocelot, Les Trois Inventeurs, which was produced in 1979. 

Papercuts are so beyond my comprehension. I can't even imagine having the patience and attention to make something so intricate and detailed! So impressive and pretty. Here is a lil snippet for you to check out:

Are you ready for ruffles?

Ruffles are interesting. Done wrong, you can end up looking like little bo peep or a contestant in the Little Miss Perfect pageant. But done right, they are a sweet detail that can add an unexpected whimsy. I’m kind of a girly girl, so I couldn’t help but be intrigued by this recent wave of ruffles that appears to be spilling out all over the world lately. Sure you expect to see ruffles on dresses or little girl’s socks…but on shoes or leather handbags? “Well I never!” Hmmm, maybe its time I did. 

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

Found here.

And finally....

Hee hee. My kind of ruffles...

Esen Demirici is cool.

Searching on the web is like one giant scavenger hunt—and I love when I accidentally stumble upon something I wasn't even looking for. So a while back I was researching wallpaper (don't ask) and I stumbled upon the dreamy collage work of Esen Demirci. Her work borrows heavily from vintage fashion magazines, so you know I'm totally in love. Part collage and part illustration, Esen describes her work as, "A bit of humour and pop music of the 50s."  

And you should see the wallpaper...

images: Esen Demirici