Paris Fashion Week SS 2013...Maria

The beautiful Maria Kolosova, Fashion Editor, Harper's Bazaar Russia, Paris, October 2012.

Love this look on Maria (in fact everything she wore during PFW was lovely)....sequins in the day? Bring 'em!

Recreate Maria's look (kind of):

Although Maria is wearing a Sportmax dress, I think you could create a similar look with an embellished sweater and cute black mini skirt. Just add shiny ankle boots and you are good to go!

Embellished sweater: Funktional Weiland sheer back sweater, Vanessa Bruno embellished intarsia sweater, Marc Jacobs sequinned ribbed-knit sweater, Alice + Olivia crystal-embellished sweater, Winter Kate sequinned sweater, or Karl Kenya paillette-embellished sweater

A.L.C. Devlyn skirt, findersKeepers On The Edge skirt, Miu Miu mini skirt, Thakoon flared skirt, or ASOS structured skirt

Karl Gore patent-leather ankle boots, 3.1 Phillip Lim Delia Chelsea booties, B Brian Atwood Fragola cap toe booties, or KG by Kurt Geiger ankle booties

Paris Fashion Week SS 2013...Elisa

Stylist/Fashion Consultant Elisa Nalin, Tuileries, Paris, September 2012.

The combination of the leopard print and red heels is, in my opinion, simply wonderful. I read a quote last night in The Emperor of Scent (a book by Chandler Burr) in relation to what defines chic. And I immediately thought of Elisa - someone who I think is utterly chic with fabulous personal style...... In a discussion of what is "proper" chic "He laughed, thought about it, said "um" and "oh God". "Chic is, first, when you don't have to prove you have money, either because you have a lot and it doesn't matter or because you don't have any and it doesn't matter. Chic is not aspirational." He sighed, despondent. "Chic is the most impossible thing to define. Luxury is a humourless thing, largely, and when humour happens in luxury it happens involuntarily. Chic is all about humour. Which means chic is about intelligence. And there has to be oddness - most luxury is conformist, and chic cannot be. Chic must be polite and not incommode others, but within that it can be as weird as it wants". (pages 449, 450). *

Recreate Elisa's look (kind of):

Animal print coat: Collette by Collette Dinnigan leopard print coat, Tucker Pod faux fur coat, Joseph animal print coat, Joseph Man Leopard coat with leather trim, By Malene Birger Scarlettes leopard print coat, Topshop leopard print coat or ASOS leopard print coat

Red heels: Maison Martin Margiela patent leather heels, Valentino studded red leather pumps, Jimmy Choo Trust glitter pumps or Giuseppe Zanotti patent leather sandals

Embellished clutch: Matthew Williamson bead-embellished clutch,  Topshop beaded clutch, or ASOS beaded clutch

*p.s. If you are interested in perfume, this is a great book. Although I will admit to skimming the heavily scientific parts: my brain glazed over the chemistry bits :)

Paris Fashion Week SS 2013...Natasha

The super sweet Natasha Goldenberg, before Chanel, Paris, October 2012.

London Fashion Week SS 2013...Natalie

 Natalie Hartley Senior Fashion Editor InStyle Magazine (UK), before A Show, London, September 2012.

Recreate Natalie's look (kind of):

Bomber jacket: Three Floor Bomber Jacket, Isabel Marant Lindsey embroidered bomber jacket, A.L.C Lennon bomber jacket, Silence & Noise embroidered jacket, Maurie & Eve Georgia bomber jacket, No. 21 Bomber jacket with sequin collar, Jil Sander Mail bomber jacket, Free People vintage reversible bomber jacket  or Topshop raffia sleeve bomber jacket

A.L.C Agnus skirt, Theory Tria Vamp skirt, or Topshop cream pleated skirt

Theyskens' Theory Yvanka Combat boots, Tory Burch combat boots, Alexander Wang distressed ankle boots, or River Island heeled lace up boots

New York Fashion Week AW 2012/13...Kate

The gorgeous Kate Foley, Buyer for Opening Ceremony, before Alexander Wang, NYC, February 2012.

It is tempting to just purchase another black/navy/grey coat when you need a new winter coat - it is the safe, easy, practical option and allows you to blend in with everyone else. But Kate's amazing coat (teamed with a beautiful white dress*...in the depths of winter no less!) is a wonderful example of how to make a statement with a winter coat. So this season, if you are in the market for a new coat, think about investing in a jewel coloured coat (I love the oversized cobalt blue one from Celine)....shrinking violets and those firmly attached to their sensible black coat may need a stiff g&t before attempting ;)

Recreate Kate's look (kind of):

J Crew pink boucle coat (love the colour), Elizabeth and James Bora rabbit fur red coat, Diane von Furstenberg Sabrina coat in crimson or acid lemon, Joseph Lisa orange coat, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel jersey coat, Diane von Furstenberg Laurel chartreuse coat or Diane von Furstenberg Harrington brushed felt coat

White dress: Whistles Lisa embroidery dress, Milly Daphne swirl dress, or Madewell daytripper dress

*You can read about Kate and her fabulous collection of white dresses here

Street Style...Four Kids and a Dog

Great personal style transcends age, race, religion, and, um, species?! I photographed 4 fabulous kids today and one fabulous dog when I was out on my wanderings with the Nikon. Each of them (even Dante the Pooch) had a little something special that caught my eye.....in Dante's case it was mostly his size: He is MASSIVE!

AZ (above)

Max (below)

Polly:

Esme:

Dante:

Dante is a Great Dane and he was waiting for his "sister" who has just turned 2 (he is 2 years 9 months I think) to have her birthday treat of a makeover (read: bath and nail trim) at the local doggie pampering parlour.

All of the kids were so lovely and a pleasure to shoot. Thanks again guys (and AZ and Max's mum's) for agreeing to the photos :)

Street Style....Turquoise Accents

If you know me, you know that I just LOVE jewellery - more than I love clothes, handbags, shoes, my camera....ha ha just tricking y'all. 'Course I don't love jewellery more than the Nikon! But only just.

What do I love about jewellery so much? Its ability to transform an outfit, the history that one teeny little piece can hold, the fact that it (and the accompanying memories) can be passed down from generation to generation, the ability of a treasured piece to instantly lift one's mood, its beauty, its meaning to the wearer....mmmmmm and the fact that it fits no matter how many packets of chewy caramel Tim Tams one has devoured in the past few months!

And I especially love turquoise jewellery. And I extra especially love it on this exquisite woman I photographed on the weekend. Okay, so I know that the strap of her handbag isn't exactly a piece of jewellery but it works in the same way. And her rings....do you see them? Oh my, I want them both! The turquoise and silver one? Simply sublime.

I love everything about how this woman is dressed-almost a little Ralph Lauren when he takes inspiration from the Navajo Indians. I would look ridiculous carrying a furry bag like that (on me it would look like I was carrying a stuffed toy gorilla won at the local village fete) but she pulls it off so effortlessly. What do I adore most about her though? Her fabulous smile.

We love a great smile :)

um, and jewellery!