Call me crazy but there is something magical and soothing about this video...it's nothing but a turntable spinning around, but the song is so lovely. I feel like I could sit and watch it spin forever. Well....almost. Now if only it was a vintage record player. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Have you ever wondered what it was about that amazing dress in the Anthropologie catalogue that really made you swoon? Was it the fabric? The cut? The color? Or was it, perhaps, simply the photograph? Maybe even more specifically....the styling? Photo styling is an amazing art. It's what can take an image from being a 9, to a 10 1/2. I have long been a vintage clothing seller on eBay and in the early days we all simply hung our clothes on a hanger or on a dress mannequin. One day I decided I needed to wear the dress so that you could see the way it hung. But then the dress seemed so plain, I knew I needed to add a cute handbag....and maybe some fun shoes....and of course a bold necklace to really show off the color of the dress. Before I knew it I had styled up a whole outfit—and the dress sold like hot cakes. I noticed a handful of other sellers (like my adorable pal Jenny of the incredible frecklewonder vintage) were doing this too. The more we styled it up, the more people could really envision it as an outfit they might wear! Fast forward years ahead and today's eBay-ers are taking it to a whole new level, complete with fancy photo shoots and professional models. Ahh, the power of "the style." View the rest of Robyn’s genius portfolio.
In my work we often hire stylists to help us snazz up our shoots. Most people think being a stylist is simply about finding clothing and accessories, but there is a whole world of non-fashion stylists—and they're the ones who intrigue me the most. They are the wild minds who bring crazy props and gorgeous little details to each image to make it even more special. One of my favorites prop stylists is Robyn Glaser. Her work has filled the pages of Blueprint, Anthropologie, Domino and countless other pieces. I know I'm not the only one who loves her because as I was searching for images and info I discovered that my lovely Holly just posted about her on decor8 a few weeks ago (how I missed this, I’ll never know!). So with a nod to Holly, may I present The Coolest Job Ever....
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Swooooon! Those images make me crazy. And check this out, the groovy Apartment
Therapy posted photos of her summer cabin (I use the term "cabin" loosely). I think everyone’s smitten with Robyn/cabin fever!
Well you all know by now that I’m gaga for vintage children’s books. So I wanted to share with you my pal Kristen’s amazing jewelry. She takes adorable illustrations from vintage children’s books and makes the most deeeelightful “storybook charms” to hang off necklaces. Even better, she uses vintage beads and charms to make the necklaces. There are images on both sides, so it's almost like two necklaces in one. Adorable, no? So sweet, funky and cool….just like you! Honestly, I think you need one.
Check out more of her awesome stuff at Mood Swing Studios.
I love the work of Slim Aarons. He perfectly captured the jet set era of the 50s and 60s. His subjects were primarily the upscale and wealthy, from young Hollywood starlets to Pucci-clad Italian princesses and WASPy American socialites. His photos have this amazing combination of day-in-the-life and other worldliness. Let’s be clear though, through Slim’s lense, this is aslice of life like none we mere mortals have ever lived! It has been said that he perfected the “environmental portrait,” so rather than having his subjects pose in the traditional stiff, formal manner, he featured people in their natural environment. I think Slim said it best, he photographed "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." I love that. (I also love how I keep calling him Slim, like we were best pals or something…haha.) Such a great way to have documented this lost era of style.
His images have been very influential on modern day photographers—his work is often imitated, but nothing beats the real deal.
The brilliant Babe Paley chillin' by the pool in 1959. I love old socialite names...
This is one of his most famous pieces, featuring American socialite CZ Guest wandering poolside with her little boy and their pups.
"Two bikini-clad holidaymakers enjoy a glass of wine outside the Carlton Hotel, Cannes."
Hmmm, is a holidaymaker like a freshmaker?
This must have been closer to the early 70s...the swingin' young crowd. The credits for this image are awesome:
Circa 1970, British photographer Lord Lichfield holding a Hasselblad camera. On his arm is Marina Lante della Rovere, to the left is Ines Torlonia, and reclining is Signoria Gancia, Porto Ercole, Italy.
Please note the gentleman's pants and the dogs on the Rolls. Genius.
This dapper gent kills me...so rich, so orange!
Truman Capote "relaxes with a book and a cigarette".
Yes. It's Joan Collins. And oh yes. Her poodle is pink.
Mexican film starlet Dolores Del Rio and her itsy bitsy teeny weeny bandeau top.
This is exactly how I take my breakfast....in bed, with my monocle. FABULOUS!
Sigh. I really adore that Slim Aarons fella. What an eye! Don't you agree??
Images and More Images
I'm notoriously nosey. Or maybe it's just naturally curious. I love getting a peek into people's lives, homes, closets....you name it (let me clarify, only when offered up! I'm not one of those people who opens medicine cabinets or anything like that!). So when I stumbled upon L. Felipe dos Santos sketch book, I was hooked. I looooove the amazing mix of watercolor and ink, but it's his process that is really so very clever. He begins by making a watercolor that resembles something of a Rorschach Inkblot test, and then inks on top of that. His work is really great. Take a gander:
See more of his work here. I only picked a wee selection, his other stuff is equally lovely.
This is brilliant. It's a clip from the 1930s where leading fashion designers were asked to speculate what they thought people would be wearing in the year 2000. The announcer is hilarious. I think "Ooooh swish!" will be my new catch phrase...
There is fashion....and then there is FASHION. I don't know where I've been, but I only recently discovered Jean Charles de Castelbajac. ("Say what?" oh good....maybe you haven't heard of him either...) His clothes push avante garde to the extreme. Playful, outrageous, silly, amazing, shocking. You name it. JC de CB has done it. And while the kermit the frog coat it a leeetle bit insane, I would kill to wear this Michael Jackson dress.
