Defined Eyebrows
It’s all about the eyebrows – an eyebrow pencil can change your entire look, and at a very small cost too. Many beauty professionals recommend that if you have very little time to ready yourself for the day – make sure that your eyebrows are one of your main priorities. I use a Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil which costs very little and I must say that I love the change it gives. Any brand will do but try to get one with a brush at the end as it really does give a more natural overall finish. I am lucky that my eyebrows are dark so I can use a generic dark brown eyebrow pencil. One tip is to make sure you have the correct shade so shop around. For dark eyebrows I would definitely recommend Rimmel. Use light strokes and the end brush for an overall finish which can redefine and reshape your brows – especially if you have overplucked in the past. Make sure to keep the pencil sharp. The process takes about one whole minute to achieve. Although don’t go too heavy on the pencil – think defined but natural.
Corinne Day: Heaven is Real: 1965-2010 RIP
Last Sunday I dragged myself out of bed for the screening of ‘Diary’ a documentary on the life of the legendary photographer Corrine Day, shot over ten years by her boyfriend Mark Szaszy. Credited with discovering Kate Moss, the shots she took of the fifteen year old waif, half naked on the beach changed both their lives forever. These shots are beautiful and were revolutionary. You can see Kate Mosses freckles and laughter lines, which was unusual for the time.. this girl is REAL and beautiful!.. Day’s controversial shots taken of Kate looking gaunt in boyish underwear caused out roar. Day was lambasted in the media and accused of glamorizing heroin and promoting paedophilia and anorexia.
I highly recommend watching the documentary as you can hear first hand how she dealt with this. I really felt that she was so frank and honest bout everything, including her own drug use. Honesty is at her core and it’s so incredibly refreshing. It made me cry when she wrote her deceased grandmother’s name in the dew on a window.. you could see that she stopped to really feel that moment and then photographed it.. She was documenting atmosphere.. a feeling.. she was photographing life. She lived it and she never stopped. You just have to love and respect that.
Day is an inspiration, I like that she didn’t give a sh*t.. I mean her photography was daring, gritty, upsetting and often lets be frank, a bit fucked up.. Nonetheless it was real and not airbrushed beyond recognition. She got out of bed one morning looked down and took a snap shot of her period stained knickers.. It made me think about what it’s like to be a woman. It’s good to make people think.. right? even if it’s not very pleasant. Seeing something you didn’t want to see makes you feel something.. whether that be anger or disgust!.. you felt something. I think in the documentary, Day came across as a very clever woman, but at times a total dim wit too, caught up in drugs and excess.. I liked that she appeared to be multifaceted and in a sense debatable.
The intimate shots of friends and drug use were horrendously dark and disturbing and made me feel somewhat guilty for looking, they certainly didn’t glamorize drug use and would turn anyone off that route. Day said herself that, “Photography is getting as close as you can to real life, showing us things we don’t normally see. These are people’s most intimate moments, and sometimes intimacy is sad.”
Notice how I haven’t included the bloody knickers image! I guess I’m not in the mood for anything too real!.. I don’t want to feel sad or disturbed right now but I’m glad I saw these images and I will remember how they made me feel.
I’ll leave it for you to have a look at some more of her work here
Corrine died of cancer last year aged 45. Rest in peace Corrine, no doubt you will be greatly missed x
© CORINNE DAY VIA GIMPEL FILS GALLERY/http://www.corinneday.co.uk
Tasya Van Ree
Photographer Tasya Van Ree is a true creative inspiration. Holy shit! Her work makes me feel all fuzzy in my tummy.. total inspirational ecstasy!.. That connected sensational feeling when your experiencing the full life force!… at its best!…. ha… ok.. relax av… I’m terribly excitable sometimes!.. Nonetheless, she really is a very talented artist, photographer and maker of short films. The majority of her work is gritty yet exotic, provocative, thought provoking, enticing, sexual and intimate. It has a sense of humour and above all else…. its interesting, this is why I love it. I adore the juxtaposition of natural realism V staged artificial glamour.
Van Ree’s Muse and extremely attractive girlfriend is the gorgeous actress Amber Heard. Heard features in a lot of her work including the above short video ‘Bound to Nowhere’, which is stunning. Be sure to spare a few minutes to watch it. These two beauties work so well together and I’m not going to lie.. They really have me questioning my sexuality! TOTAL RIDES!
The art is sexy, feminist and liberal.. androgynous and gender bending! It depicts a quirkiness, that is different. It’s grubby and beautiful. Hell, it’s everything I want photography to be. A visual treat.
For Tasya Van Ree inspiration and to purchase her work visit her website here
Images via http://tasyavanree.com/ & http://pphotographyb.blogspot.com/
Kristen Stewart – W Magazine
I’m a big fan of Kristen Stewart … I love the way she is so laid back and her couldn’t care less attitude. Breath of fresh air if you ask me! These photos of her in ‘W’ magazine show a different side – she looks equally great all glammed up or dressed in her jeans, t-shirt and cons. I’m looking forward to the next Twilight film Breaking Dawn Part 1, set for release in November & Kristen’s next project, ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ which is currently in production. Stewart also stars in ‘On the Road’ due for release late 2011/early 2012.
Images via W Magazine - Cover Issue September 2011
Photographs by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott Styled by Edward Enninful Hair by Luigi Murenu for John Frieda Makeup by Lucia Pieroni for Clé de Peau Beauté Manicure by Lorraine Griffin for ChanelBeyoncé Knowles by Sharif Hamza for Dazed & Confused July 2011
Pretty fierce eh? Check out these images of a Blonde Beyoncé Knowles taken by Sharif Hamza for Dazed & Confused. The style appears to be gritty trailer trash/Glam rock… unusual combination..? I like it!…. a bit dirty and ultra racy! Love that shot of her sweating over the untamed fiery stove! HOT! Beyonce is wearing custom made pieces by Gareth Pugh, Tom Ford, Riccardo Tisci, Stefano Pilati, Haider Ackermann and Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.
If anyone can pull this off… Glamorous Super Star Diva Beyoncé Knowles can!..
Raaarrrrrr!..
All photos by Sharif Hamza for Dazed & Confused
Hot!
I came across these sexy images on fashionising.com. The third image is my favourite, love the sneaky bit of bum curve on show! There is something I find unsettling about these shots. It’s probably just me! I can’t really but my finger on it. I like it! I love when photography can convey an atmosphere and mood so effortlessly. For me the mood here is Urban, hot and gritty.
The simplicity of the final shot where she’s surrounded by white works well, definitely liking those rings. I also like the shot of her holding what I’d like to think is a nice cup of Barry’s tea!.. I had never come across Daniel Luxford before this, but really love this shoot.
Enjoy x
Model Karina @ Giant Models
Photography Daniel Luxford www.danielluxford.com
Hair & Makeup: Kate Fletcher http://www.katefletcher.net
To epilate or not to epilate!
The epilator
Yes I know some of you may shudder at the very mention of the word. The epilator is an electrical device that pulls several hairs simultaneously from the root, rather like waxing. I remember trying my sister’s years ago. I had to stop after a minute or two, it felt too much like self harm. I couldn’t handle the pain. However, recently I had been planning on getting my legs waxed when I had a go of my mate Julie’s. It really is an amazing little piece of machinery. I was so impressed I headed straight to boots and bought my own one for 49.50. Epilating your legs definitely gets easier and less painful the more you do it. It really is so convenient, I wish I had started years ago. I must warn you though, epilating your underarms is in a pain league of its own. I don’t even want to think about the bikini line! Anyway let’s have a wee look at a list of pro’s and con’s and you can decide for yourself.
Pro’s
-It removes hair quickly and efficiently
-Hair grows back lighter
-It feels like you have waxed. Silky smooth!
-It’s much cheaper than waxing
-You can use it everyday, whenever you want, twice a day if you like. Morning noon or night!
Cons
-It really hurts..for the love of god! the pain!
-You may get in grown hairs
-It’s harder to pull the really short hairs
Behind the Scenes -The Glamorous World of Fashion!
This week I had the opportunity to work on a Fashion shoot for an Australian brand ‘Coco Latte’ I was assistant stylist to the talented expert, Stylist Tena Strok. It was really great to work with so many interesting, wonderful, colourful people. I really loved it. It was exactly like being on a film set. That positively buzzing creativity and productive collaboration between a professional team is such a joy to behold. Everyone was doing their job and doing it well, it was a real pleasure to be a part of this team. We had 90 items of clothing, 22 looks and 5 styles to get through from fringing, floral, aztec, whites, colour blocking etc. My job involved steaming clothes, dressing the models, pinning them in and helping to mix and match accessories and clothes. Throughout the shoot, we were making sure the clothes were looking their best at all times. It was the tiniest details that mattered. It was definitely an enriching learning experience and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.
Make-up Artist Poppy France and Stylist Tena Strok working on the finishing touches
The girls warming up bewteen shots in the mexican blankets!
We were working with stunning Icelandic model Brynja Jónbjarnardóttir who’s with NEXT and the gorgeous Alabama girl Claire Birkholz who’s with STORM. They were both really chilled out and really lovely lovely girls. It was nice to chat to them and ask them questions about their lives as young models. Claire is 16 and Brynja 17, so young! they both do home schooling and Claire travels everywhere with her mother. I have to say they were just so professional and didn’t complain once. It really is a very tiring demanding job and it was a long day for them. We had them footless in a field full of horse manure.. standing next to wild horses!.. holding a wriggling baby goat.. pushed out on a lake in a canoe and all the while they had to look fabulous! It was also feckin freezing I might add. No bother to our girls. We had the mexican blankets at the ready to warm them up between shots. They really were incredible. Girls, I salute you!
The models off duty!
The Location was rustically stunning and perfect for the image of the brand. A family owned farmhouse surrounded by fields and a beautiful picturesque lake full of water lilies. An old gypsy caravan, rusty broken down tractor, vintage 30′s cars, wild gypsy horses, goats, hens, a rooster!.. What more could you ask for? Jackie and Bill were simply the coolest couple I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Two hippies, they were both so full of interesting stories, truly the best kind of people. Bill told me about Kate Moss shooting a campaign there and made sure I saw the image of his young daughter in Kate Mosses book. They loved that I’m Irish and able to speak French! Jackie insisted in speaking in French. She practices every day and watches TV5 when she can. They had a real allegiance with travelers and gypsies. They had gotten their horses from a gypsy family and some of their greatest friends were gypsies. Two free spirits, very inspirational.
Some of Tena’s many accessories
The steamer and clothes rail!!….Oscar working on hair in back ground.
Myself and Tena looking scruffy! good thing were not standing next to those models.
Jackie and Bill- the coolest couple EVER!! Bill insisted Jackie show us her standing on the horse party piece!
The Rooster!
Not to get all philosophical on you! but I read this quote the other day and it just made so much sense to me.’Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself’ – Henry Miller
After working on this job, it makes even more sense. Since me and the boy broke up, everything has changed and I think my insides have somersaulted and exploded! several times. Does that even make sense!?… ha! Lets just say its been a difficult life changing period. People kept telling me to concentrate on myself and to do exactly what I want. However in my opinion, forget yourself is the greatest advice yet! Thank you so much for reading and I’ll post the final campaign images when I have them. I’m looking forward to seeing them, they are sure to be amazing. I may even post some more behind the scenes images. I have so many!
You’re support means the world to us. Thank you.
Av x
Zac Posen ’12 Collection Look book- American Royalty
Zac Posen is GOD!.. THE END! I mean what can I say… I am SPEECHLESS!
These designs are incredible and it makes me want to get my ass in gear and get down that red carpet!!.. Any red carpet will do!
I want to dress up in that gold dress and party! How lucky would you feel to be wearing one of these designs??..Sigh! total show stopper’s.
I love the colours and dramatic Mortica Addams sillouettes. The designs are bold and dark yet incredibly glamorous and feminine. I’m all about navy at the moment. It’s so under rated, trying to steer clear of black for the summer months. Also loving the pale blue, wine and gold. The collection is entitled ‘American Royalty’ and is all about dressing up in a gown whilst still looking poised and cool a la Patti Smith. I love this ethos, as I think there is nothing worse then seeing someone feeling uncomfortable in an amazing gown. It’s just pointless. Comfort is pivotol.
Coco Rocha is one of the best model’s in the world, so obviously an excellent choice. I do love her..She has such a spunky trade mark attitude and really brings a dramatic edge to these images.. which only she can do.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! X
All images courtesy of fashionising.com
Beauty: Rose Water
I have recently starting using Rose Water on my skin & hair. Working in London during the summer and using the tube can be a bit stuffy to say the least. I went in search of Rose Water Spray as a refresher during a busy working day. I have since discovered a range of benefits from its use.
Rose Water is a gentle toning product which can be used on all skin types, but is particularly good for normal, dry, sensitive and mature skin. My skin is prone to dryness so I have started using Rose Water on my skin after cleansing and before moisturising. Rose Water has a calming effect on skin and can result in a more even skin texture, in addition to helping with redness and inflamed skin. Not only does it have all these benefits for the skin but it is refreshing and smells lovely. It is a good idea to have it in your bag as a refreshing spray during the day.
