New Year's Belle

Salutations everybody! So today I shall be doing a post about the New Year and New Hope (all the usual clichés) and accompanying that with beautiful photos of moi (not so beautiful) wearing two outfits I completely rocked over the Christmas Season. Yay me!

I thought I might also tell you some of my new year's resolutions:

•  Be kinder to everyone. This includes my sister, people who wear Uggs and those who seem to constantly try and put me down. This is me... rising above it. They can't help being imbeciles.
• Stop calling people imbeciles.
• Work harder in School and achieve the A*s I need to go to my University of choice.
• On that note, do some sort of homework.
• Finish writing one of the plays I have started. Preferably all of them by this time next year.
• Write the one hundred blog posts per year I intended to do.
• Work out how to put a translation button on my blog (Any help?)
• Lose weight - about ten kilos of it.
• Achieve my Grade 6 in singing with at least a merit.
• Achieve my Silver LAMDA with at least a merit.
• Spend less time on the computer.
• Stop hoarding Pepsi Max.
• Stop spending so much money (the excuse that I am trying to help the economy keep afloat is just not cutting it when I realise I spent all of my money on frivolous items, leaving me nothing to buy the more sensible things) 

• Sleep more.
• Tidy my room and keep it tidy.
• Stop telling anyone who will listen how much I hate Physics and German.
• Be less short/hot-tempered.
• Start creating some of my designs.
• Stop buying Shoes on a whim.
• On that note, stop buying stiletto shoes and invest in a pair of sensible shoes.

So that is a lot of resolutions and, if I were to be completely honest, only half of them (the rest are works of such vanity and arrogance that I couldn't possibly share them) Yes, it is advised to stick to a few, manageable goals but that means there is far less to possibly succeed at. Anyway, I consider myself a semi high-achiever.

I will move on to the two outfits I have chosen to model. You might recognise the dress in the first oufit, worn on Christmas Day with my family. It is made up of black gown with, what is in fact, a black gym skirt thrown over to make it look more interesting. I was going for a demi-vintage vibe and the necklace is distinctly art deco style. The shoes are the same in both ensembles, though admittedly it is not obvious in the photos taken of the second since the dress was so long.

The Dress in the second outfit was a star buy of mine, while also proving that I am not even remotely sensible when out buying clothes in the post-christmas Sales (one of my favourite times of the year)
It was bought purely on a whim and though it was not expensive (Monsoon - £59 down from £180) I do have other long dresses that could be used on the same occasion this could be used for. To higlight this, I will also point out that I only own two pairs of jeans which fit... and one of those pairs was bought on the same shopping trip as I bought the dress (Ralph Lauren - £69 down from I do not recall what) A little bit of Fantasy triumphs over pure practicality.

Anyway, keep commenting - I really appreciate it - and check back often! :) Follow if you like...
Oh, and I hope you all make a success of the New Year too.

The Roaring Twenties

Howdy - and after a long absence dedicated to decorating Christmas Trees, learning lines for plays, coming up with a few designs and wrapping up presents I spent too long choosing from a wide assortment of charity shop bits-and-bobs, I'm back! ...and hopefully I shall never disappear for so long again. Yes, this may prove to be the biggest bite-my-tongue moment of the last year, but I have honestly gone past caring. So, where am I now? Planning the new year ahead with a violent mix of apprehension and ambition to make it work. Wondering how long that will last and if, now I have set a target in place, I really will be vigilant and determined enough to write one hundred blog posts in a year, specifically next year.
In the mean time, feeling the post-Christmas winter blues while finishing a glorious christmas with leftover turkey, pottering about in a new nightgown reading books by Maugham and looking forward to tonight's finale of the BBC's Great Expectations (which honestly, fits in well with my mood) with the brilliant Douglas Booth, although I was not really paying attention to his acting and maybe he is a little 'pretty'. On that note, although Estella is supposed to be cold, is she not also supposed to be a little more... beautiful? Maybe this is simply personal opinion but she left me perplexed. It would have been alright if everyone hadn't been repeatedly saying how stunning she is. On the other hand, how can one not fail to be disappointed with this modern interpretation of Estella after seeing the timeless beauty of Valerie Hobson in the 1946 version of the story? Or indeed Jean Simmons as the younger Estella.

Apologising for that minor tangent, and returning to the question at present. How have I been looking at the world of Fashion and Style for the last few days. Well, I appear to have had a personal renaissance of interest in the 1920s. The upcoming 'The Great Gatsby ' film, set for release in almost exactly a year, starring Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio, can only whet the appetite of the fashion world. The Spring/Summer 2012 collections were littered with 20s inspired threads. I might consider this a silent curse since the twenties waistline is not always one that flatters my shape, but I am optimistically looking forward to trying the trend.

Will this style forever be popping back? Highlighting an enduring admiration of the roaring twenties with its freewheeling, popular culture and exhuberant zest for change in society, for the young and rich at the very least.

This change, concurrent with a rejection of traditional moral standards, is apparent in much more than simply clothing. Take for example, the Weimar Republic period Artists, labelled as 'degenerate' by the Nazi regime using the sudden liberation of the 1920s to create a boom in the satirical and grotesque, with expressionism becoming a feature. Groups and Movements such as Bauhaus, New Objectivity and Plakatstil gained a place in Art History which they have never relinquished.

I would continue on this route of expression and sustained education of the masses (Hmph) but can really not be asked. I can only hope this has given you something to think about. What inspired the clothes as well as how stunning they are.

Do you recall back far enough to remember Ralph Lauren's gorgeous Spring 2012 pret-a-porter collection? Some of you (certainly not me) may even recall the year the 1974 film 'The Great Gatsby' came out, with Ralph Lauren contracted to provide clothing styles for the movie. Well, with the future release of the afore-mentioned Baz Luhrmann film, 'The Great Gatsby' Ralph Lauren seems to have revisited this aspect in the clothing.

 

The collection was filled with feathers, cloche hats and scarves galore.

Many different distinctive styles were used in contrast, from the masculinity and forms of suits teamed with hats and pearls, to the floaty and floral gowns swimming behind as the models glided down the runway. The collection was all very pastel coloured and summery with bolder evening gowns reminiscent of Old Age Hollywood Glamour contrasted with the easy elegance of the daywear.

So yes, although I did first glance at this collection towards the twenty-somethingth of September, I wished to come back to it now in line with my general mood.

Thank you for reading and sorry for not posting anything sooner. Comment. Follow if you like.

Javier Vallhonrat

Salutations! So... today I was intending to do a piece on items of my wardrobe, but I had miscalculated our gloomy english weater (and my eventual lack of common sense) forgetting that on the eighth of december, by half past four, the light will probably not be good enough to take any worthwhile photos. In fact, barely an hour later, and the light is not good enough to see my hand in front of my face if I am standing outside and away from the glare coming from the windows of the house.
In conclusion, I shall reserve that post for Saturday and, instead, give you an aesthetic delight. Breath-taking photographs taken by Javier Vallhonrat. Although I do admit, I initially wished to have a balanced range from his photographic portfolio, I have ended up with a larger percentage of photoshoots from the noughties than from any other time.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy... and do comment - I greatly appreciate all comments. Even if they are negative.




 Javier Vallhonrat in a Spanish Photographer, born in Madrid in 1953. He studied Painting at the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Madrid in the early 70’s. Just after receiving a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Madrid, he reached international recognition while contributing his photos to several fashion designers. In 1992 he broadened his interest in photography and began creating advertising films, while on the side teaching photography at the Cuenca School of Fine Arts.

Today, while continuing his contribution of photos for French Vogue, Italian Vogue, Japanese Vogue, Mixte, Big, among others, Javier also teaches creative photography in various universities in Spain. 

Since 1983, Javier Vallhonrat exhibited around the world: Spain, France, Finland, Japan, Vénézula and so on:  1983, EFTA Gallery, Madrid
1986, Galería Visor, Valencia (Spain)
Porin Taidemuseo, Porin, Finland
 1989, Montmajour Abbey, Arles, 1989
1990, Parco Photographers Gallery, Tokyo
1991, 2000, 2001, LA Galerie, Frankfurt am Main
1996, Reina Sofía Museum, Madrid
Museo Santa Monica, Barcelona
 1983, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, ARCO, Madrid,
2002, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, 2002
2003, National Centre of Photography, Paris
2006, Centre Pompidou, Paris

His use of colour and light is perhaps the most striking thing, and easily recognisable as his range of work. He captures sensuality in a rare and exquisite way, and uses the environment the model is in 'd'une merveilleuse facon', creating a timeless look. He clearly has a great eye for composition, and balance of colours, especially in (what I would class as) pastel colours and warm berry colours. Personally, I love most of his photos. I love his palette, and I think there is a real elegance to his photos. It is much to be admired.

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS:

Ayura (cosmetics). Azzaro (parfum). Cacharel (parfum/cosmetics). Carte Noire. Cerruti 1881 (parfum). Chloe. Chopard Parfums. Christian Lacroix (fashion and parfum). Comme des Garcons. Eau Future (parfum). Garnier (hair). Gianfranco Ferre (parfum). Guerlain (parfums). Jesus del Pozo (parfum). Jil Sander. John Galliano (fashion). Krizia. Lancome Beaute. Lancome Parfums. Martine Sitbon. Moet et Chandon. Nichole Farhi. Nicole Matsuda (fashion). Patrizia Pepe. Rochas (parfum). Shiseido. Swarovski. Sybilla. Pollini. Versace (fashion).

His works are in various public art collections and private, has also published several books:          
  Animal Plant and Buades Editor April, Madrid, 1986
  Possessed Space, Gina Kehayoff, Munich, 1992
Autogramas, Gina Kehayoff, Munich, 1993
Banks, Editorial Mestizo, Murcia, 1996, Photographic Works, 1991-1996, Editorial Lunwerg, Madrid, 1997
Library Collection photographer from Madrid, Nr.10, PHotoBolsillo, Madrid, 1999
Javier Vallhonrat: photography as a reflection, TF editors, Alcobendas, 1999

Works 1996-2001, Hall Amos Salvador. Cultural Rioja. T.S. Publishers, 2001 Logroño
Place, City of Tarragona, 2002,

Javier Santiago speaks Vallhonrat Olmo, Ed La Fabrica, Madrid, 2003

ETH, Salamanca Arts Centre, 2003,

  Javier Vallhonrat, Bom Publishers, Barcelona, ​​2006

 COMMERCIAL FILMS:Rochas (parfum). Hypnose (Lancome). Yves Saint Laurent (make-up). Cacharel (Eden parfum). Gianfranco Ferre (parfum). Eau Future (parfum). Fructis (hair). Gaz de France. L Oreal (hair).