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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Enamoured with Vogue UK's wonderful feature"My Inspiration" from the May edition, I started to think about the images that have become like the wallpaper in my mind's fashion archive... you know..those immovable shots that encompass what you love about fashion, the images that spring to mind if someone were to shout "FASHION" at you.. I don't know why someone would do that but you get the idea.

Sophie Kokosalaki's inspiration, Vivienne Westwood Couture by Paolo Roversi

Numerous fashion personalities including Alexander Wang, Grace Coddington, Tim Walker, David Bailey, Christoper Kane.. the list goes on.. recounted a single most inspiring image that compelled them to pursue their career in the field of fashion. The result was an utterly inspiring article emphasising the power of the lens - the longevity of a single shot. Images by Irving Penn and Patrick Demarchelier and images of Grace Jones, Kate Moss and Westwood couture were all sources of inspiration with three interviewees including Manolo Blahnik stating zeitgeist - capturing images of Jean Shrimpton (left) as their inspiration.


Lord Snowdon's inspiration, 'The Sun' by Irving Penn

Philip Lim's inspiration, Vogue, 1991 by Peter Lindbergh


Grace Coddington's inspiration, Nena Von Schlebrugge by Claude Virgin

As someone with a serious softspot for montages of old photographs... it was the perfect way to while away a Friday afternoon.

Five years ago I picked up "Elle Girl" for the first time. Although I loved clothes already and dressing up and jewellery and then there was my whole obsession with 'individuality', I had yet to have that one real encounter with 'fashion' fashion. Flicking through this magazine was like entering a whole new world. The models wore glitter - speckled socks with wedge shoes and flouncy fifties skirts, shiny lame and faded sportswear, I was amazed. I thought the outfits were outrageous, weird even, totally unlike anything I had seen people wearing. But that was essentially 'the moment', without sounding hopelessly cheesy.

The shot that started it all :

'Made in Wonderland' - Elle Girl - July 2004

I still miss Elle Girl terribly and couldn't resist trawling through my old copies. It's amazing as so many of the editorials have remained with me. I love this editorial (above right) 'Dress up, stay in' featuring everyones favourite Alexa Chung.

I only discovered this editorial relatively recently.Although its a few years old, it is exactly the sort of style that I love at the moment. Gorgeous rockabilly - teenage rebel connotations, big hair winged eyeliner, party dresses, need I say more?


'Be my Baby' - Vogue Italia - Stephen Miesel - February 2004

'Future Pefect' - Elle UK - Valerie Phillips - March 2007

The Elle editorial 'Future Perfect' is an absolute favourite of mine. Indeed, a chunk of it is hanging up in my room. I love the luminous modern outfits, the ethereal, nymph - like model and the space age, otherworldly aesthetic.




'Golden Years' - Vogue UK - Corinne Day - October 2007
This editorial is the epitome of fashion for me in so many ways. I love it because it just celebrates haute couture in the most wonderful way. Other then one or two shots, there is little attempt made at offsetting the couture, instead every shot plays on the exaggeration.

How many times have I featured this shoot in some shape or form? I remember I was flicking through Vogue in Easons and came across this shot from the Sophie Dahl story and felt this great wealth of happiness surging through me. There's nothing ground breaking about it, but for me it's nothing short of perfection.


'Rapture' - Vogue UK - Regan Cameron - November 2007

All scans by me (other then 'Be my Baby' editorial and Sophie Dahl image) hence why some may be a bit worse for wear!

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