When art meets fashion

I've been meaning to post this editorial for a while, as I really love the concept. In this shoot for Spanish Elle (April 2010), Masha Novoselova picks up a paintbrush and gets creative (and a bit messy!) on set.

Styled by Inmaculada Jimenez, Masha poses in simple, classic combinations (when the clothes are important that is..!) - casual denim shorts, tank tops, high-waisted trousers and floaty kaftans add to the relaxed, unfussy style of the artist character that Masha embodies.

What 'makes' the shoot for me, is Mario Sierra's brilliant use of natural light, which reflects the luminous and spacious atmosphere of what could be a real artist's studio. The abundance of light in Mario Sierra's shots enhance Masha's natural beauty and the model's poses give the composition a sense of energy and dynamism - distinctly fashion, without being over-exaggerated.

It seems that the fashion-art link is ever alive, but Sierra's photography adds a modern twist. Being covered in paint never looked so fashionable!










je-suis-style
xox

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The feeling's neutral.

When I say Summer's about going nude, I don't mean that indecency is the new black, but that neutral tones are making a come-back as the weather hots up!

Ever since I saw the "Pasarela Nude" ("Catwalk in nude") article of February's VOGUE España, I've become intrigued as to the way in which one of the most difficult colours can be worn to maximum effect!

Take a look at some of the VOGUE magazine pictures..


The outfit combinations are absolutely gorgeous. I love the ethereal quality that the sheer fabrics and jewelled embellishments give the outfits..a perfect mix of romanticism and understated 'sexy'! Sheer materials and mesh are going to be a big trend this season!


..Trust me to spot the Christopher Kane number (above center)! Kane's work with mesh has always been fantastic. I like the way that the summer florals trend has been updated to give a more sophisticated and less girlie look.


I love the contrasting pastel tones (e.g. the pale blue dress with a pale pink belt) I also think that the pairing here of a light blue dress and tan coloured belt looks very chic!


Towards the end of the spread, the outfits get more structured and move more towards graphic prints and edgier cuts. The flourishes of neon add a more modern, avant-garde element to the outfits.

The versatility of nude and neutral tones is definitely underestimated. Nude tones are not solely associated with 'girlie' dress-cuts and fabric romanticism, something which is clearly reflected by its different treatment on the catwalk. If you take a look at the picture below, the wide scope for interpretation becomes clear:

TOPSHOP Unique uses nude to create a 'sport luxe' look, Versace draws inspiration from the 'underwear as outerwear' trend, Donna Karan creates a grecian vibe, Lanvin develops the asymmetrical look, Burberry toughens up the trench and Valentino works with a feminine cut.

Each of the different interpretations demonstrate that nude can be worn in a variety of styles and can work on a range of different skin tones. Naturally, it is imperative that a degree of care must be taken when choosing the neutral shade you want to work with. If you have a very pale complexion, very creamy or pinky nudes will 'wash you out', so maybe look for nudes with slightly more brown in them. If you have darker skin, nudes should be slightly easier to work with, as light and darker nudes will compliment your complexion. To give your outfit the 'wow' factor, pairing nude with a bright colour - like coral or an intense blue - can kick the impact of a neutral tone up a notch!

Take a look at the 'nude' mood board I've created for some 'food for thought':


Will you be wearing your nudes this summer? If so, how will you be tackling the trend?

je-suis-style
xox

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VOGUE España arrives!

So I got home the other day, only to find out that the first issue of my subscription to VOGUE España had arrived! (It states that it's the February issue, so I'm not exactly sure what happened to January's issue, but nevermind!) I was met by the image of Kylie Minogue on the front cover, with the title of "un baño desnudo, SEXY KYLIE: confesiones de una super estrella" emblazoned next to the image (which was surprisingly tasteful, given the dubious insinuations of "un baño desnudo" - bathing nude?!) Kylie looks particularly demure on the cover, so my worries that my subscription had been substituted for FHM were quickly dissipated!


I was reading on the Fashion Spot that a lot of people were not 100% sure about the Kylie cover image, declaring it was a bit 'boring' compared to the cover image that was on the accompanying VOGUE BELLEZA beauty magazine. (Interestingly enough, both cover stars sport similar poses!) What do you think? Kylie or Isabeli Fontana?


Personally, I think the Isabeli Fontana shot leaps out at you more than the image of Kylie does (perhaps due to the paleness of Isabeli's complexion contrasted with the piercing blue eyes and femme fatale scarlet lips), which makes for a more eye-catching front cover. The whole point is that on a magazine stand, you should be immediately drawn to a front cover and consequently buy it! However, the more I look at the other cover, the more I appreciate and am drawn to the sensual beauty that Kylie exudes. It captivates me rather than accosts me with colour.

On further inspection, the 15 page Kylie spread is most certainly a visual delight - The photographer, Vincent Peters, portrays Kylie as a mixture of 1920s movie starlet in the black and white images, dreamy and romantic painter's muse and seductive vintage pin-up! And goodness gracious, does she look amazing for 41!

Take a peek at some of the images...







And here's the 'behind the scenes' video:



I think Ibiza was a great shoot setting and I adore the sun-set field shots! The soft-glow back lighting is truly stunning! The cover may not have first grabbed you, but the shots in the magazine are really something else!

Moving on to the fashion spreads, there was a spread entitled "show de jeans", which pictures an array of different types of denim and displays their day to night wearability and versatility.


However, I was less interested in the denim, and more interested in the amazing photographs..and above all, the model! I skipped to the end of the article, hoping to find out who she was, but it wasn't included in the credits..Luckily, after a bit of online research, I've found out that her name is Elena Melnik! I think I have a new model crush! (Seriously, look at that bone structure and jawline!)


Another of the fashion spreads which deserves a mention, is the "Happy face" shoot with american model, Chanel Iman (photographed by Michelle Ferrara). For this shoot, the emphasis is on textural volume, evoked by mini-dresses with puffed sleeves and lots of ruffles, pleats and petticoats. I particularly like the orange jewel-tone Jorge Vázquez dress (pictured below) and the shape of the ethnic print Juanjo Oliva dress (bottom right). I was at first a little bit skeptical about the 'happy face' expressions Chanel sports, but coupled with her effortless and fluid high fashion poses, it works and stops the shoot from feeling too contrived!



All in all, a good introductory issue to my VOGUE España subscription. I wonder what's in store for next month...

je-suis-style
xox

(With thanks to thefashionspot.com for the additional pictures of Elena & Chanel. All other pictures used are my own scans.)

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