Fashion Fantasy

‘Really, I only photograph what I love’ ~Tim Walker

Tim Walker’s fashion photography is stunning. The sheer beauty of his work fascinates me endlessly. I got to Somerset House just in the nick of time to catch his Story Teller exhibition at the end of its run. And boy am I glad I did. Absolutely gorgeous. Known for his surreal, fantastical and fairy tale imagery, Walkers work leaves me drooling. He never fails to play with our concept of scale and imagination. Over sized props, doll like models, dreamlike surroundings, childish, fragile and softly eerie, the narrative in all his work is what makes it stand out from other fashion photography. His work has an echo of the photographer Cindy Sherman, whose work I also love. This exhibition was like escaping into a wonderland for a while, room after room, plain white with wooden floors, filled with magnificent props and the most perfect display of his work. A much better space than the Valentino exhibition which I visited elsewhere in Somerset House.There were also a few short films of photo shoots, the most adorable was the doll one, with a fuzzy dreamy haze and Jewellery box music soundtrack. When I try to choose my most favourite images of Walkers, I can’t, there are way too many, and he has photographed Miss Moss many times too which makes choosing even harder. Here are some images of his that I love the most, and some shots of the props that were at the show. Divine.

Tim Walker, Kate Moss, 2012

Tim Walker, Spitfire, 2009

Tim Walker, Swan, 2002

Tim Walker, Giant Doll, 2012

Sugar crystalized roses and cream, photographed by Tim Walker, 2010

Tim Walker, Giant Snail, 2009Tim Walker, Mechanical Doll, 2011

Tim Walker, Pastel Cats, 2000

tim Walker, The Dress Lamp Tree, 2002

Tim Walker SpitfireTim Walker Swan CarriageGiant Doll

 

  • Kate Moss by Tim Walker, 2012
  • Blue Spitfire by Tim Walker, 2009
  • Swan by Tim Walker, 2002
  • Giant Doll by Tim Walker, 2012
  • Sugar crystallized Roses by Tim Walker, 2010
  • Giant Snail by Tim Walker, 2009
  • Clockwork Doll by Tim Walker, 2011
  • Pastel Cats by Tim Walker, 2000
  • Dress Lamp Tree by Tim Walker, 2002
  • Spitfire prop at the exhibition
  • Swan chariot prop at the exhibition
  • Giant doll prop at the exhibition

Visit Somerset House for details of up and coming exhibitions.

J’adore Couture

Wenda Parkinson in a Hardy Amies dress, photographed by Norman Parkinson, 1951

Haute Couture; the very best of dressmaking, the very finest of fabrics, the most specific tailoring, the most intricate embellishment, the most beautiful fashion in the world. As a girl whose heart beats faster at the sight of a well-made dress, it doesn’t get much better than this. One of my all time favourite places has an utterly divine exhibition on at the moment and I got my peepers on it last week. ‘Hartnell to Amies, Couture by Royal appointment’, is just perfect. The Fashion and Textile Museum, as always, is a great place to see an exhibition, great size, relaxed atmosphere, and always impeccably curated, on this occasion by Dennis Nothdruft and Michael Pick.

Models wearing Norman Hartnell for Vogue, 1953. Photographed by Norman Parkinson Wenda Parkinson in Hardy Amies coat, 1949. Photographed by Norman Parkinson Fiona Campbell-Walter with Julia Clarke and Hardy Amies, photographed by Norman Parkinson, 1953

This darling of a show focuses on the undisputed Kings of British vintage couture; Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies. With a stunning selection of their work, displayed beautifully and with great informative text alongside. We also get to see examples of hat couturier Frederick Fox. In addition to all this gorgeousness, we are treated to the sights of some other couture pieces including Worth, Digby Morton and Lachasse. It is always an absolute treat to see the fashion up close, to study the detail and craftsmanship. As a vintage shop owner, I am lucky enough to come across couture pieces myself. I currently have dresses by Hardy Amies, Lachasse and Worth in my collection which I love and will blog about separately. These photographs above are a few of my favourite from the work of infamous couture photographer, Norman Parkinson, beautiful. I did take some photos whilst at the show, not great but a bit of a glimpse at my pick of what was on display.

Norman Hartnell, Black crepe dress with bolero. 1938

Norman Hartnell. Black crepe dress, 1938

Norman Hartnell, pale bronze silk satin dress, circa 1946

Norman Hartnell, pale bronze evening dress, circa 1946

Norman Hartnell, blue crepe two piece suit, circa 1956

Norman Hartnell, two piece suit, circa 1956

Hardy Amies, red and black printed cocktail dress, circa 1960

Hardy Amies, copper satin cocktail dress, 1952

Hardy Amies, scarlet crepe evening dress, , 1980

Hardy Amies, scarlet dress, 1980

  • Black crepe evening dress with matching bolero, Norman Hartnell, 1938
  • Embroidered pale bronze silk evening dress, Norman Hartnell, Circa 1946
  • Blue crepe two piece suit, Norman Hartnell, Circa 1956
  • Dark red and black printed glazed manmade satin dress, Hardy Amies, 1960
  • Copper satin dress, fitted bodice, full skirt, Hardy Amies, 1952
  • Scarlet crepe evening dress, Hardy Amies, 1980

This wonderful exhibition is on until 23rd February

 

Forever Chanel

‘There are clothes which keep rejuvenating themselves instead of getting worn out’

Roberto Juarroz

As a fashion loving gal, I couldn’t not go to see the new Chanel exhibition that has been on this month at The Saatchi Gallery. Classic and timeless, this exhibition is as chic and iconic as the brand itself. Karl Lagerfeld took portraits, lots of portraits, of actors, musicians, models and fashion icons, each wearing the legendary little black Chanel jacket in a way they chose. Stunning. Mostly black and white, with a few colour images towards the end, the simplicity of this exhibit is perfect. For me, it was lacking the inclusion of a certain Kate Moss, but in a way it was kinda refreshing to see a fashion event that omitted her, just this once. Here is my selection of the shots, each of these portraits show astounding beauty.

  1. Anna Wintour, Editor of US Vogue
  2. Raphael Personnaz, Actor
  3. China Chow, Art Connoisseur and Fashion Muse
  4. Milla Jovovich, Actress and Model
  5. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Actress and Singer
  6. Vanessa Paradis, Actress and Singer
  7. Freja Beha, Model
  8. Leigh Lezark, DJ
  9. Aymeline Valade, Model
  10. Virginie Viard, Chanel Studio Director
  11. Mariacarla Boscono, Model

 The Little Black Jacket was at the Saatchi Gallery, London, until October 28th 2012

For more details visit thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com and www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk

 

Shoop-Shoop Shooooes.

Goodness me, shoes are just glorious, what girl doesn’t love them? Like most, I have a pretty sizable collection of shoes. Some I wear to death, others mostly sit there to be admired and slipped on once in a while. I love both vintage and modern shoes, I love sexy high heels, I adore snakeskin and good old leathers, I love glitter and bow details……I also loooove boots, mostly brown boots and 80’s kitten heel ankle boots. With both my shoes and boots I like them to look lived-in and well-loved, I like to look like I walked a few blocks in them, don’t know why but I don’t like the look of brand new shoes, I want my shoes to look as if I have had good times in them. My bedroom is pretty littered with footwear, they are as much ornamental as they are wearable and as with all my vintage pieces, I like to wonder about where the shoes have been worn, who by and how much dancing have they done.

A few of my most favorite pairs of shoes are; my 1920’s silver leather shoes, so flapper, I imagine these danced the Charleston a few times! A great pair for all sorts of outfits that require a feminine and pretty neutral shoe, very dainty and girly, pretty comfortable too.

Another amazing pair are my 1940’s black suede shoes, I call these my ‘Cage’ shoes as they make it look like your feet are in little ornate cages, I love how the foot is pretty much fully on show at the same time as being covered, part of why I love shoes is that ultimately, I think women’s feet look so sexy in them and this pair of shoesies are a great example. These are so classically 1940’s and in stunning condition, you don’t see a lot of shoes like this, a great statement pair worn with a plain dress.

These 1980’s pink and white leather heels are just ace. So definitive of their era and pretty unusual too, great with skinny jeans and a blazer.

These 1980’s black suede and diamante bow slingbacks literally make my heart jump, sooo cute with their over sized bow and so feminine with their open sides and slingbacks…perfect with a black dress.

The Fashion Year. 1983.

James’ Dad has a good habit of finding great old fashion books for me, and for my most recent Birthday he didn’t disappoint. I simply love old books on fashion. They are so perfectly representative of a time and movement, and this one on the fashion of 1983 is just ace. I have always really appreciated 80’s fashion, I like the fact that people either love or hate it, I like the eccentricity of it and to be honest, I think it’s a damn sexy look, it’s also really refreshing against the current overload of feminine ‘vintage’ 40’s and 50’s looks. ‘The Fashion Year’ was published in 1983 and is;

All the glamour and romance of one whole year in the International World of Fashion……A panorama of the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections from the Fashion capitals of the World-Paris, London, New York and Milan……interviews with the year’s most exciting and innovative Designers-Miyake, Lagerfeld, Armarni and Alaia…..

 

The book has loads of content; photos and writing, it looks kinda dated but also still really current, the big Designers are still all around today- Giorgio Armarni. Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood, Halston, Oscar De La Renta, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Missoni, Versace, Thierry Mugler, Sonia Rykiel, Gaultier, Kenzo……the book looks at dresses, hats, lace, sweats and swimwear as well as Models of the era and fashion icons such as Princess Diana. Original Fashion books reinstate how classic looks are timeless as well as how cyclical all fashion trends are….if you leave any look long enough, good or ‘bad’, it will ultimately be beck on trend again. It’s an amazing read and the pictures are just gorgeous, a great little original book!

The book will be kept at my shop Prim Vintage Fashion if any of you fancy a rummage through the pages!