Kittens & snakes!

Yes, Vogue España has done it again! Take a top model, add a kitten and a snake and throw in some spectacular clothes...Voilà! You've got one super-hot editorial spread that'll knock your socks off!

Although I loved the other editorials of Vogue España's april issue, top model Edita Vilkeviciute's striking cover shot captivated me right from the beginning and I wanted to flick through to see the rest of the shoot straight away!


The 18 page spread, entitled "Surf Urbano" (shot by David Vasiljevic,) was no less than a visual delight! The editorial taps in to some key summer trends - digital, tropical, floral, animal and graphic prints in bright and bold summery colours. Edita strikes great poses in a range of fitted bathing suits and dresses, whilst interacting with a kitten and a snake! The dynamism and playful energy that Edita exudes in the shots are testament to her eye for showing off the garments and her fluidity in movement - that snake has sure got some competition! ;)

Take a look at the pictures below! (The snake pictures are my favourite - and that's saying something, given that I am usually quite creeped out by them!)
















What do you think?

je-suis-style
xox

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Model 'du jour'

This dutch beauty, famous for the gap in her front teeth and her unconventionally curvy body type, has caused a lot of controversy in the fashion world and is now one of the most prolific models of the moment. Signed to IMG models, Stone has worked with a whole host of top designers and has been featured in magazines such as VOGUE, Elle, i-D and V.


One thing's for sure..this girl's got that certain 'je ne sais quoi' about her..and what a figure!


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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Trompe l'oeil, tu me trompes!

The origins of 'trompe l'oeil' (literally 'trick the eye') are found in art as early as the 16th-17th century. It has since been incorporated into various art forms, such as bodypainting and surrealist art. The 1920s and 30s marked the beginning of its use in fashion design. Elsa Shiaparelli was the first fashion designer to build the bridge between art 'trompe l'oeil' and fashion 'trompe l'oeil', working closely with the artists Salvador Dali, Leonor Fini, Jean Cocteau and Alberto Giacometti. In around 1936-37, Elsa Shiaparelli made a Dali inspired "desk suit", and in 1937 and 38respectively she created a "skeleton dress" and "shoe hat", all of which display elements of the 'incongruous', a theme commonly linked to Surrealist art.
Chanel Couture, Sonia Rykiel, Phillip Lim, Alberta Ferretti, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton, Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Antonio Berardi, Sass & Bide and Tsumori Chisato are just some of the fashion pack who have been inspired to bring 'trompe l'oeil' to their current collections and a whole host of celebrities have consequently been channelling the look.
Chanel's use of tattoo designs in the SS10 runway show has also caused a stir amongst fashionistas, as the models paraded down the runway with delicate pearl, bead, chain and flower motifs on their necks, wrists, shoulder bones and thighs (see 'tattoo' garter below!). Chanel's make-up director Peter Philips decided to bring this new take on 'body art' to the public. Chanel is said to be launching a 55 piece transfer set of 'trompe l'oeil' temporary tattoos, which will be available from March the 1st in Chanel boutiques and retail at £49. Sharon Forrester from vogue.co.uk states that the tattoos "walk the line between make-up and fashion accessory" and this is indeed one of its appeals. From what I have seen so far, the designs appear to be very delicate and feminine (and of course include the iconic CC logo!)I think the key point is that tattoos tread the fine line between being sophisticated and being trashy. The designs are without doubt classy, but need to be carefully worn! The Chanel transfers would look particularly good glimpsed from underneath a mesh top or on the shoulder blades, whilst wearing a backless dress. The only thing I'm not sold on, is the quantity and price of the tattoos!
On the highstreet front, Rosalind Keep, an undergraduate from London College of Fashion, is the designer of the Oasis line of 'trompe l'oeil'! Take a look below at the 'trompe l'oeil' lovelies she's created! My personal favourite is the corset print dress, which comes in peach or black and is just at snippet of the designer price tags at just £35!
Here are some of the 'trompe l'oeil' pieces I've got in my wardrobe:
This corset print 'trompe l'oeil' top is quite similar to the ones from Oasis and was a gift from my mum. It looks really lovely on, due to the the stretchy cotton material which hugs the body!
Yes, these are the Henry Holland suspender tights themselves - pictured on Lily Allen, Pixie Geldof and The Saturdays. I'm yet to wear them out as I think they need to be worn with extreme care - otherwise the wrong effect will be produced! In my opinion, they have been worn most successfully under loose tunic dresses.
Last but not least, here is my Ted Baker 'Ted goes vinyl' 'trompe l'oeil' bag, which was a gift from my cousin. I love the concept of a bag print on a bag!

What do you think of the 'trompe l'oeil' trend? One thing's for sure, it doesn't appear to be disappearing any time soon!

je-suis-style
xox

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