See Like Me

Marcel Castenmiller + Pete Voelker

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:25:45 -0600

I didn’t know this guy was a big deal until I was doing my usual rounds of google imaging long hair and Marcel Castenmiller became the result. After some fact scrounging, I managed to discover that he was born in Edmonton, grew up in Port Moody, and spent (spends?) time in Vancouver. I found out how he had a giant crush on Ryan McGinley and only hangs out with his interns. I found out he is really polite and doesn’t take modeling for granted. And I found out that he is number 25 on MDC’s Top 50. I then found out that he’s a good friend of Pete Voelker. After all this finding, I decided he was legit and added him on facebook.

You’re cool too, Marcel. But Frida!

L'Officiel Hommes Germany / Joan Pedrola + Paolo Anchisi

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:08:45 -0600

L’Officiel Hommes is a men’s magazine. I’m not sure that I’m clearly understanding the target demographic of the magazine here. And while I like to think that I’m very open-minded when it comes to things like these, I’m really having trouble finding the masculinity in this. Crotch-grabbing with my mesh tank on? That could be fun. But the last photo in this editorial looks like it could be the poster child for Prop 8. Or worse, the sequel to this movie. When it comes to this editorial, I think I’m as confused as they are. We can be heroes? The next time I’m in a dire situation and Joan Pedrola comes to my aid with a jerry curl and pearl-studded chain straight jacket, I might think twice before accepting the offer… Or did I completely miss the left ear piercing hint? Whatever this ed is about, I know one thing for certain: Joan is the master of smizing.

Sandrine Castellan + This Photo

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:22:00 -0600

This photo. More inbox goods as of late, and Sandrine Castellan showed up. But more than that, this photo. HOLY. Makes me want to raise my hands as if I were dancing to a choir of children singing Lisztomania in my head. The rest of her work I could do without. When you put on your pearls next time don’t forget to raise your hands in praise of whatever could be happening out of the frame or just close your eyes and imagine your life is flashing before your eyes. See more of her work here.

Gohbi Thievendran

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:31:22 -0600

Born in Sri Lanka. Based in Toronto. Schooled in computers. Self-taught in photography. Likes whiskey. Hates beer. Life long aficionado of all things hip-hop. Gohbi Thievendran is a Canadian photographer whose work cropped up in my inbox, and pleasantly whet my visual appetite. It manages to be subtle, and detailed. To top it off, Gohbi has a really interesting blog.

Rebirth of Nature + Josh Olins

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:54:20 -0600

I imagine this is what the male version of Lady GaGa would look like. Seeing as it was styled by Nicola Formichetti, GaGa’s stylist, it’s not too much of a surprise to see Julius Gerhardt adorned with attic attire and yard sale furniture. Ever since I came across Josh Olins, I haven’t been disappointed by one thing he’s done. His work is very refreshing. Like how your mosquito bite feels just after applying afterbite. It stings so good. Here is an interview with Josh Olins. I really like this editorial. It’s a nice reminder that Easter is coming, which means mini eggs.

Go Figure / Lara Stone + Vogue UK

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:29:00 -0700

Go figure Lara Stone would look nothing less than phenomenal in this editorial by Alisdair McLellan for Vogue UK. I don’t know what kind of hormones Lara is taking, but her boobs seem to get a size larger every editorial. And if you’re ever having a bad hair day, glossed and slicked doesn’t look half bad… Look best worn with a white dress or a black tank with mesh covering your cleave. Via CQC.

Alex Dunstan

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:28:00 -0700

Alex Dunstan, another one of Hedi’s collection, was compared to Olivier Theyskens. Some people are brutal at making comparisons. I once was compared to Lyle Lovett. That being beside the point, however. His quick rise to fame has included being the face of Topman, being shot by some of the best photographers including Hedi Slimane, Mariano Vivanco, Leon Mark, Jolijn Snijders, Thomas Lohr and has appeared in GQ Italia, Metal, Wonderland, and Dazed & Confused.

Lily Donaldson Retrospective

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:51:50 -0700

Really I just wanted to post a video of Lily Donaldson whipping her hair back and forth, but I thought that would be a cop-out, like many of my recent posts. Thus, I decided to take a retrospective look at Lily Donaldson’s body of work. Her father was photographer Matthew Donaldson, but Lily didn’t think twice about modeling until she was discovered at a shopping mall in Camden. Her debut in 2004 with a Mario Testino Burberry campaign solidified her spot as a face to watch for. Not only did Lily rock the runway, she dated Carine Roitfeld’s son Vladimir.

Military Man + Thomas Lohr

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:18:09 -0700

Credit Thomas Lohr / Contributing Editor

Lou Doillon + Vanessa Bruno

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:27:52 -0700

Dröles D'Oiseaux / Ash Stymest + Josh Beech

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:14:44 -0700

These tattooed dudes appear in Dröles D’Oiseaux by Richard Bush. The guy you probably don’t recognize is Adrien Sahores. This is for the new issue of Numéro. Not much else to say here.

VERY SAFE FOR WORK

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:58:37 -0700

Remember the good old days circa 2006 when this was considered NSFW? Ladies in their *gasp* negligee! Quick, cover Tavi’s eyes. While I wish this were the case, times have become increasingly more unsettling with photographers, editors & designers feeling more uninspired than ever. I’m actually waiting for when somebody will just send naked girls down the runway and everyone will go crazy over the newest must-have: nothing!

WARNING: By scrolling down you admit to being over the age of three and able to use the interweb. If you are somehow a baby on the internet, I applaud you and if you can read this warning, give me a call on your iPhone. All models depicted below were probably 16 at the time of the shoot, which is now completely legal since it’s considered “art”. Read on.

What I’m talking about here is exactly what people usually argue about: nothing. Nudity in fashion is about as useless as those “help me get money to my offshore bank account and I’ll go halfsies with you” spam emails. I’m talking about blatant, in your face, there-is-nothing-left-to-hide nudity, as I feel that partial, and in some cases, full frontal nudity does in fact help to sell the product. However, that is for another post. No, Natalia Vodianova, nobody wants to see your pubic hair. We can all grow it and it’s never been sexy. While I don’t disagree with nudity, my point is that it’s not getting me excited about fashion. It’s not selling me clothes, and it’s not what I’m buying your magazine for. Yes, nudity can be artistic. I, however, cannot make the argument that these are in any way tasteful or well representative of these unbelievably gorgeous ladies’ bodies. Yes, we understand, you look good naked! Let’s all celebrate on a nude beach in Barbados! And here we get touchy… A lot of these models are about 16 years old, and start at a very young age. While there can be pressure to pose nude, the model always has a right to say no and go about her business (the business of selling clothes!). But fashion is the only industry where a 16 year old girl can be paid to be photographed nude and it be gotten away with. Nudity has it’s place, and has been hosted on this blog a few too many times. And while most of my arguments could be viewed as invalid, I dare you to take a moment to think about what is fashion, what is art, and what you think they are trying to sell with these pictures. If I didn’t provide enough proof, here’s more. I’m not bitter about this, I’m just tired. These editorials are jaded, have been done before, and are about as shocking as Justin Bieber as a twitter trending topic. Please find some inspiration, and please let it come in the form of a stitch of fabric. g

The September Issue + Grace Coddington

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:15:47 -0700

Wintour’s reign has been long, and while she may be viewed as a success by pushing fashion into the greedy claws of a rather unfashionable youth, she is hardly a success in my books. Rather, it is Grace Coddington who should be admired for her exquisite eye and romantic charm. Anna Wintour is a driving force, but her entire claim is that she brought Vogue into the limelight by putting celebrities on the cover. I know many people in the fashion world who think Vogue is one of the worst magazines, for exactly this reason. Pick up a Vogue Paris, or Vogue Italia, and then we’ll chat.

Untitled / Natasa Vojnovic + Barnaby Roper

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:28:30 -0700

This is one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever seen. I think I’ll remember it forever.

Gemma Ward

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:23:29 -0700

At the moment, fashion has ceased to inspire me. The fashion weeks seem to drag on longer each season, and the recaps are usually the same. I honestly think people are struggling for something to be excited about. During these times, the only way to keep your chin up is to take a look back at what made our jaws drop in the past. I’m speaking of one person: Gemma Ward. I still haven’t bothered to find out why she left modeling, but it’s clear that she was either fed up, uninspired, or wasn’t feeling it. Understandable. However, she was a constantly replenishing spring when it came to inspiration. Every move she made was exalted. Her face was so unique, and she surreptitiously threw everybody who adored her under the bus when she left. People didn’t get enough Gemma to satisfy their craving. She either chose the best or worst moment to leave her career. She’s got me talking about her in 2010, which could be seen as a good thing since she retired in 2008, but it also could mean that we have unfinished business. I’ve never known whether it was a good thing to leave at the height of your career. This isn’t a debate about whether or not she should’ve quit the catwalk though, this is to be in awe of her as she has been headed to the supermodel vault to lay among the other retirees for eternity.

Symbols of Success Part Three

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:23:00 -0700

See Part One + Part Two.

Andy Warhol // Dubbed the most important artist of the second half of the 20th century, Andy Warhol pioneered too many things to list here. I think his genius could be attributed to simplicity.

“Sometimes you’re invited to a big ball and for months you think how glamourous and exciting it’s going to be. Then you fly to Europe and you go to the ball and when you think back on it a couple of months later what you remember is maybe the car ride to the ball, you can’t remember the ball at all. Sometimes the little times you don’t think are anything while they’re happening turn out to be what marks a whole period of your life. I should have been dreaming for months about the car ride to the ball and getting dressed for the car ride, and buying my ticket to Europe so I could take the car ride. Then, who knows, maybe I could have remembered the ball.”

Lady GaGa // I appreciate what Lady GaGa is doing. She is the example of living fashion and marrying it with philosophy.

“Well, that’s your opinion, isn’t it? And I’m not about to waste my time trying to change it.”

Jonathan Waiter + See Like Me No. 4

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:47:00 -0700

This project has been sleeping for some time now, but Jonathan Waiter has brought it back to life by shooting twins Aida & Ieva in his signature style. Jonathan Waiter is a photographer living and working in New York City. Together we bring you, exclusive to See Like Me, project No. 4. Browse through all projects here.

Credits: Photography / Jonathan Waiter // Models / Aida & Ieva @ Marilyn g

Bound / Herring + Herring

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:39:00 -0700

New photographer duo (well, to me at least) Herring + Herring ended up in my inbox the other day, and I was quite taken aback. Not only because they were different from most of the “designer collection” emails I usually get (please stop sending your collections, I don’t care for clothes and won’t post them), but because their sadistic approach for Bound was a refreshing look at the tribal blandness editorials that have been the craze as of late. Finally, somebody who knows how to make misogyny sexy. This editorial is for Zink. Images courtesy of Herring + Herring.

Guapo / In Bed With Bananas Models

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:33:40 -0700

Hedi Slimane Interview

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:51:00 -0700

Before moving ahead, read the interview.

Rarely do I believe that articles need a “response”, but solely based on the fact that this is Hedi Slimane’s first interview in almost three years, it seems an opportune decision. Hedi Slimane has somehow mastered the art of control by letting things happen in his wake. It seems almost ridiculous to repeat that he’s invented the skinny silhouette, the leaving design at the height of your career (Martin Margiela, Helmut Lang), a new dance style called jerking, a new found fascination with young boys in Britain, and much of the indie aesthetic. While it may be hard to believe he single-handedly created all of this, it’s pertinent that he definitely had a hand in bringing all of these styles out of obscurity. The one thing I find strange is how many people haven’t heard of this man. He’s seemingly created so much in so little time but if you found five strangers who knew his name you’d be on a roll. I’ll be surprised if everybody that reads this knows who I’m talking about even though my readership is as niche as The Drums — the band Hedi Slimane believes will start a new movement.

The most peculiar thing in this entire phenomenon is how Hedi Slimane, or whatever genius seems to be possessing him, is immaculate at selecting the next big thing, at predicting the next wave to hit our shores. And equally peculiar, is that I think he is right, with bands like The xx, who seem to live along the same strain as The Drums, growing exponentially in popularity. While I’m not qualified in music, I think Hedi is onto something. The other thing about him that I cannot escape, is how his genius is the most subtle at self-proclaiming what has come and what is to come. The future of fashion, they call it. Hedi’s genius predicts that the internet is the biggest frontier that could possibly wipe out magazines (a battle that’s already started), take out fashion shows, and jeopardize everything a university major was required for. According to Hedi, the fashion industry is headed in the same direction that the music and film industries have recently been transported to, to the demise of the industry heads who have been trying to control the pandemonium. Subtle comments like, “In general, luxury fashion houses are like royalty. They live to preserve and cherish the crown jewels and the symbols of their divine power, no matter what it takes.” The translation: luxury fashion houses better make sure every bloody stitch they sew contains an ounce of “luxury power”, royalty and structure or they could be in danger of evaporating into myth.

The basic nature behind this article is that the future is exciting, and if you haven’t learned how to embrace it then you’ll soon find yourself having little relevance to fashion whatsoever. Invent something new.

Is there anything else you would like to say about the “future of fashion” that I neglected to ask?
Oh, well, at the end of the day, the future is always the same story, minus the digital revolution and its collaterals. The future has to be bright. It is the nature of fashion to evolve, only this time it might evolve more than ever, with seat belts optional.