Tim Walker - Lily takes a trip

Good dawning to thee, friend! (King Lear, Act 2, Scene 2, Line 1... if you are interested)

In my last post, I stated that the Olympic Opening Ceremony could not live up to the level of expectations set by all the publicity set - I have never been more wrong. I don't care for cynicism and I don't care for pessimism.... I am hardly ever even minorly partriotic but last night I was. It was a damn impressive revue of all that is good about this country I live in and proving once again that Danny Boyle is a genius. It was a beautiful run through british culture and history. Pastoralism, the industrial revolution... Running from Charlie Chaplin to Dizzee Rascal via Stairway to Heaven and Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and everything in between (Mary Poppins, Voldemort, James Bond, Mr Bean... and the ever brilliant Sir Kenneth Branagh) Proud of my british half. In my humble, and possibly biased, opinion London was better than Beijing. Whereas Beijing was a triumph of sheer volume, precision timing and power, the London Olympics had imagination, artistry, humour, creativity, depth and innovation. Don't shoot me for saying so, because I adored Beijing... I didn't stop watching for a second and was impressed by the sheer size of it. It's a matter of personal taste and I liked the more light-hearted approach.

 Anywho, finally on route to some sort of Holiday. A holiday I am more than ready for, being a person of a naturally more lazy than hardworking disposition. Until this point I have been surviving on sheer hope of more Sunshine appearing, Pepsi Max, a bucketful of dreams and expectations, 2 minute microwave rice and beautiful photos of exotic or culturally significant locations:

Beach < City Break.

(Again, a matter of personal taste.)

So, before I leave for my holiday, I leave you with this July 2005 UK Vogue Editorial. I have never personally been to India, but it is items like this which make me consider it and photos of women in their colourful saris carrying spices (I don't mean to stereotype) their eyes rimmed with Kohl and bangles on their wrists which make me desperate to visit. Enjoy! If you are not going on Holiday then I hope this brings you a piece of the sun.

Join model Lily Cole on a magical fashion odyssey through India. Discover secret palaces and jewel-bright dreamscapes, dazzling fashion and an explosion of colour shine and sequins. Photographed by Tim Walker.

^^^ I shall simply be pointing out my four favourite images and this is one of them. Lily is unfortunately eclipsed by this lovely room, complete with it's vibrantly coloured ribbons and stunning ceiling and wall decor. It makes for a very pretty picture. As for the dress worn in the photo, it is absolutely beautiful and there is an ethereal, angelic side to it, if it is a little low cut for anything other than posing. Not a dress to 'rock out' while wearing.

^^^ Miss Cole looking mysterious with a... net (Not being the most knowledgable in subject of fishing and insects and the like, I hesitate to call it a butterfly net) wearing a very simple and elegant outfit, perfect for the Indian late afternoon heat. A very visually striking photo, with the soft reds and oranges of the evening sunset contrasted with the blue of the dress.

^^^ Again, Lily is eclipsed by the room, though the picture would not be complete without her, bringing a sense of enigma to it all, dressed in her peacock dress, perched on a cabinet amidst the faded ornament and destruction of the room (which only adds to its overwhelming beauty - vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas)

^^^ I WANT THIS DRESS! All of these photos have a sense of faded grandeur and richness, but in this one there is also a look to the future with the arrival of a beautiful woman dressed like a princess, descending the delicately delicious spiral staircase (and the door in the background! *Flails* Very beautiful methinks)

Oh, and I consider this song, Carmensita by Devendra Banhart, the sound of this editorial. Although it is not an indian singer, the editorial, model and photographer are british, so I feel it falls in line with 'inspired by the beauty of' rather than 'an example of'' concept here.

'I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks' for your reading this, I beseech you to follow me and entreat you to comment!

Arrivederci, Toodaloo and Ciao. :)