The Glory of Impressionism

Pieter Brueghel

Impressionism - what a wonderful arts movement that glorified nature and manmade in the timeline of history. Now, drawing on the unforgettable style, Christian Louboutin has produced a lookbook worthy of hanging around the house. The iconic red-soled heels are scattered amongst the photographs, being easily deceived as paintings, and rather than being hidden, they complement the spirited floral arrangements. 

Claude Monet

The photographer Peter Lippmann has captured the shoes perfectly, ensuring that the artistic style of famous Impressionist artists have been honoured. Artists such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Fantin-Latour, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet have been paid homage to throughout the lookbook, it's up to you to figure out which images do so. The quaint grandeur of Impressionism has definitely been reinterpreted with effortlessness with this lookbook.

View the complete series of fashion paintings at Vogue Italia

Images courtesy of Vogue Australia

The Family Tree

Where would we be without family? Our family is an intrinsic part of our lives and all of us rely on the love and care of those closest to us. Families are also an integral image associated with the Dolce & Gabbana label, with most of their seasonal campaigns featuring family members in a luxurious setting. Now let's get real, families aren't always dressed in regal Italian clothing, but at least we can now part-take in a celebration of the realness of family life in the label's latest project - #DGFAMILY. 

The project allows us to upload a family portrait and customise it using the iconic D&G logo, giving us a chance to immerse our family into the world of Dolce & Gabbana. The fantasy of the unattainable is common in all, or most, of us, so let's all join in and add a touch of Italian glamour to our beloved family portraits!

Join the #DGFAMILY Project now at www.dolcegabbana.com!

Images courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Vogue Italia's 25th Anniversary

The Prada cover

The Giorgio Armani cover

Famed fashion magazine, Vogue, has come a long way since it's beginnings in 1892, and has expanded to editions that cater to the different tastes of women worldwide. Vogue Italia has become distinguishable due to the open-minded and realistic focus on social issues such as the unethical motivations behind war and plastic surgery and the featuring of plus size models within the issue, which has all been thanks to the ever-creative Editior-in-Chief Franca Sozzani.

The Dolce & Gabbana cover

To celebrate her 25th year as head of the magazine, six designers have produced individual fold-out covers, which are no doubt a collector's item for those who praise the magazine. Photographed by famous fashion photographer, Steven Miesel, the covers feature some of fashion's favourite faces, the models Gisele Bundchen and Linda Evangelista, in the latest fashions by global Italian luxe labels (detailed on the photographs). Each cover reflects the unique ethos of each label and designer, in turn highlighting the talents of all the creative forces which have contributed to the celebration of Ms. Sozzani's leadership.

For the complete gallery of covers, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Styleite and Vogue Italia

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The gN Project | Zegna

The gN project, started by Italian luxury label, Ermenegildo Zegna, has been around for quite some time now. The elusive campaign has no doubt forced myself and Zegna loyalists what this campaign is trying to convey to us. The photographs and videos of projections of words such "Album", "Gesture", "Dichotomy", "Pure" and "Aesthetic" must hint to more goings-on behind the scenes of the renowned Zegna label.

Further on in the campaign, it was revealed - the project is a lead up to the anticipated debut of Stefano Pilati as the Head Designer for the label. Stefano Pilati is a well-respected man throughout the fashion industry, having spent many years as Head Designer for Yves Saint Laurent before Hedi Slimane infamously changed the name to "Saint Laurent Paris". 

Significant organizational shifts have occurred in the last few years in the fashion industry, and it's easy to understand why this campaign ever started - to help non-Italians pronounce the "GN" in Zegna. This campaign has been for the sole purpose of educating and visually enthralling possible customers and loyalists ahead of the revamp of the label to be seen worldwide on June 22nd. Will Stefano Pilati stay true to the Zegna aesthetic or rule with his signature style? We'll have to wait and see....

Images courtesy of The gN Project by Zegna

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Valentino and Tattoos go well together

The hype over Valentino's new campaign has been no surprise. The ethos of Valentino does not include those who choose to decorate their skin with ink rather than fine jewellery, but there's a first for everything. The famous tattoo-clad fashion photographer, Terry Richardson, has lent his hand in modelling for Valentino... literally. It's humbling to see that the campaign has kept the raw style of photography Terry is known to execute with no flaws, whilst showing off the surprisingly Punk-ish designs of Valentino, so I guess it goes, excuse the pun again, hand in hand. 

To shop Valentino's latest collection, head to www.valentino.com 

To view Terry Richardson's photography, head to Terry's Diary or WWW.TERRYRICHARDSON.COM

Images courtesy of The Telegraph and The Fashion Spot

Vroom Vroom!

Girls with guns always love shoes and cars... according to Harper's Bazaar USA's March editorial, "V Room". At first it may be hard to decipher the link between automotive design and fashion design, but there are similarities, believe it or not. The mechanics, production, and skill in the design of these polar opposites and their interrelation were made clear with the "Car Shoe", designed by Gianni Mostile in 1963.

The Car Shoe were shoes designed to enhance adherence to car pedals and to be worn when driving, especially luxury sports cars. More recently, designers have caught onto the automative influence on footwear, such as Prada in their S/S12 collection and the checkerboard clad Louis Vuitton S/S13 collection by Marc Jacobs. Whether this editorial by Dan Forbes is a homage to the Car Shoe is up to you, but this is an editorial that caters to fashion and vintage car lovers alike, particularly those who have a knack for Mercedes-Benz.

Images courtesy of Trendland

Brea Souders' Fashion Collages

Prada shoes

Dolce & Gabbana bag

The appeal of Brea Souders' minimalist photography is largely due to her immense skill is the manipulation of light, which is key in bringing attention to specific objects within an image whilst allowing the surroundings to complement the main subject of the photograph. Her editorial shoot for L'Officiel Art features the most unique pieces from the Spring/Summer 2013/14 collections of high profile designer labels such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Burberry Prorsum, juxtaposed against thematic artworks and prints in a collage-style editorial.

Louis Vuitton shoes

Chanel bag

Burberry Prorsum clutch

The editorial effectively presents the connection between art, fashion and photography. The collages may seem like something that can be produced swiftly, but the careful consideration to colour complementation, composition and lighting is undeniable.

To view Brea Souders' photography portfolio, visit www.breasouders.com

Images courtesy of Brea Souders

"Heritage Square" by Christoffer Aguilar

The city streets are filled with sartorial wonders who capture the eyes of those who truly look the finer details. Elegant masculinity is a look and personality which has risen in the last few years, resulting in the comeback of a lost and found men's wardrobe essential - the pocket square. Street style photographers worldwide have caught onto this, and this editorial gives viewers a chance to see how an outfit's dynamic changes in different environments throughout one city and how one outfit becomes an extension of one's personality with the addition of one simple accessory.

Sophie Robertson is from Atoll, and is a designer of uniquely patterned scarves and pocket squares, giving men and women a chance to incorporate a piece of art into their daily wear. Coming from London, the city that cradles the masterful tailors of Savile Row, she knows the highly tailored man's demand for pocket squares is high. What's even more special about her pieces is that every pocket square and scarf's print is based on the designers underwater photography in the pristine Great Barrier Reef, a testament to her photographic and fashion design skill. With her name firmly secured in the mouths of dapper men all over, Sophie's squares will be featured in the upcoming July issue of GQ Australia.

"The Brown One", featured in "Heritage Square"

Photography Christoffer Aguilar (me)

Styling Noal Gurung and Christoffer Aguilar

Grooming Noal Gurung

Model Noal Gurung

To shop for ATOLL pocket squares and scarves, please go to www.sophierobertson.com

Hyères Fashion & Photography Festival

The 28th Anniversary of the Hyères Fashion & Photography Festival is upon the horizon, starting next week from the 26th of April. The festival aims to celebrate 10 talented people from fashion & photography, and this year two influential people in he field have been chosen to be on the jury - Felipe Oliveira Baptista for Fashion and Charles Frèger for Photography. The shortlisted designers and photographers must be overwhelmed by the recognition of their skills and talents by these masters of the field, a big congratulations to these wonderful people! Here's a little preview of the designers works: 

Henning Jurke from Germany

Xènia Lucie Laffely from France-Switzerland

Camille Kunz from Switzerland

For more details on the festival, exhibition and list of designers and photographers, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Trendland

Lady Dior

 

Dior's repertoire has certainly risen since Raf Simons' inception into the label, and the new Lady Dior campaign is proof of this. The beautifully demure French actress, Marion Cotillard poses as the Dior woman - striking and mysterious with an air of sophistication about her. The modernistic Dior aesthetic of Raf's ensemble are juxtaposed against the dainty and colourful Lady Dior bags, but complete the signature Dior look. Shot by the wonderful Jean-Baptiste Mondino, this understated campaign is an eye-catching blip in the rapidly changing fashion industry.

Model - Marion Cotillard, French actress

Photography - Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Images courtesy of the official Dior Facebook page

To view the complete campaign in Dior magazine, CLICK HERE

'Men Fall' by Paul Jung

A depiction of the futurist aesthetics and its relevance in a society ran on the exhilaration of rush and irrelevance of stillness takes place in 'Men Fall', an editorial photoshoot photographed by Paul Jung. The editorial is featured in the current issue of Schon! Magazine, and when thoroughly analysed, is a visual commentary on our downfall in relating to one another in today's concrete world. The shadows of figures are haunting and the claustrophic atmosphere of the environment strangles you, but yet, there is a connection between the figures, in that they are all isolated. A brilliant editorial - photography, styling and concept-wise.

Photography - Paul Jung

Stylist - Raytell Bridges

Grooming - Yetty Barnes

Stylist Assistant - Kenneth Bovain

Grooming Assistant - Geneva Barnes

Models - Joe Choi, Michael Basquette, Matt Waters @ New York Models

Fashion - Janet Zheng

Images courtesy of Trendland

To view the complete editorial, CLICK HERE

To visi the Schon! Magazine website, CLICK HERE

Going Beyond the Lens with Vogue Australia

Australian fashion design exports, Sass & Bide, on display

A revealing yet demure dress by Willow

Two influential forces of Australian fashion - Westfield and Vogue Australia, have teamed up to present the best Australian and International fashion designers that have been featured in the Fashion Bible. Spreading across 3 floors in the ultra-modern Westfield Sydney, top Australian designers such as Willow, Collette Dinnigan, Christopher Esber, Ksubi and LVMH's newly bought bush oufitters, R.M. WIlliams and International luxury labels such as Prada, Calvin Klein, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta's designs are exhibited in fashion photographs that encapsulate the personality and aesthetic of the designer and label itself. As you walk around the centre, commentary on the photographs and the future of fashion and its place in society by the recently appointed Fashion Editor of Vogue Australia and street style superstar, Christine Centenera and Genevra Leek are available to watch, further increasing the exhibition's interactivity and viewer's insight into the often overlooked fashion industry. My 3 favourite Australian designers were featured in the exhibition, all revolutionary in their vision and are leaders of Australian fashion - Josh Goot, Romance Was Born and Dion Lee (pictured below).

Kaleidoscopic pattern King, Josh Goot's dress 

Eccentric Australian fashion label, Romance Was Born

Australian supermodel, Jullia Nobis, in Australia's future of fashion and Woolmark Prize 2012 winner, Dion Lee's design

VISIT VOGUE: BEYOND THE LENS AT WESTFIELD SYDNEY (LEVELS 2,3,4) BEFORE APRIL 21ST TO WIN A HOLIDAY AT THE DIANE VON FURSTENBERG PENTHOUSE ON HAYMAN ISLAND!

Photography of the exhibition by me

(Photographers, stylists, models and assistants credits for individual photographs in the exhibition)

For more details on the exhibition, CLICK HERE