G9 R.I.P.

My camera mysteriously stopped working at 5AM. I still don't know if I will be able to get my +1000 shots back from yesterday. I'll get a replacement camera this afternoon. I will hopefully share new portraits here by tomorrow. I hope you'll understand. In the mean time, you can check my first post on my other blog.

Leopards

(Topshop)...I hope they stock up on this cutie...it sold out so fast..I NEED IT :(

Sorry for the absence, grad school has been getting on be, but i will be back this weekend with an outfit post.
I have to go get ready for my class. One more day till weekend! Yippie!!!
later guys,
xoxo


source: tfs, topshop, knightcat

MOSCOW - stoleshnikov pereulok, 09/02/09

A Valentino surprise

A year after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Valentino The Last Emperor is finally coming out on DVD Sept. 8 (I pre-ordered mine already!)

Last September, I was very fortunate to screen the movie, in the presence of Valentino himself, then party with him and his posse at the after-party, and finally, to cap off a crazy weekend, interview him, his partner Giancarlo and Emperor director, Matt Tyrnauer. That was probably the highlight of my career. How can I top that? Maybe if Karl Lagerfeld gave me a call...

So it goes without saying that if you are a fashion lover, then you must see the documentary.

And now I have some cool news! The team behind the movie, in partnership with Phase 4 Films and Decades Inc. are giving away a vintage Valentino gown! The winner will also receive the DVD.

All you have to do is send an email to valentinodvdcontest@phase4films.com with your name, address, phone number and email by December 31, 2009. You must be at least 21 years old.

Unfortunately this contest is open only to residents of the United States (sorry Canada!)

So fellow Canadians, even though we can't enter the contest, I strongly suggest getting the book Valentino Themes and Variations which has beautiful detailed photos of his couture gowns. It's almost as good as the real thing...right?

LONDON - soho & brick lane, 09/01/09

Body business

In the fashion biz, it's pretty rare to hear models talk. They're models for a reason, right?

I am of the view that models should talk more; about what their jobs are like, whether they are being treated fairly, whether they have body issues; hell, just talk to us about the fabulous clothes you get to wear!

And while we do sometimes get snippets backstage during Fashion Week, and we sometimes get a few well-known models on a cover of a magazine talking about their fabulous lives, it's still a rare thing when a model speaks out on her own accord, and in all honesty, about her life as a model.

Last year, Model.Live followed three wannabe models trying to make it during Fashion Week. It was a very honest look at the struggle of newbie models. A few weeks ago, Jezebel's resident brainiac model "Tatiana" revealed herself to be Jenna Sauers;

who eloquently wrote about the unglamorous life of modeling. Last year, model Ali Michael spoke out on national TV after she was sent home from Paris for aing "fat legs" even though she hovered around 105 pounds.

And now model Crystal Renn has penned a memoir called "Hungry," detailing her journey as a thin model, who had heart palpatations she was so skinny, to being a successful plus-sized model.

Renn says that when she was first scouted, at the age of 14, she was told to lose 55 pounds. She lost the weight but when her agent told her to lose more, she realized she couldn't diet anymore. That's when it was suggested she become a plus-sized model and it was when she became a healthy size 12 that her career took off.

She says:

"I got to my lowest point, when I couldn't go lower, and it was either, 'I'm going to die and not accomplish the dream,' or, 'I can become a plus-size model and keep the dream,"' she said in an interview. "I am healthy now, the healthiest I've ever been in my life - both physically and mentally."

I'm not going to wax on about how fuller figured models are practically ignored by the fashion industry; that's for another post when I can think of something new to add to that discussion; but I'm just impressed that Renn, who is still in the middle of an incredible career, is brave enough to call out the industry on his thin obsession. More models should take a cue from her.

LONDON - broadway & bricklane market, 08/29-30/09