Alexa Chung Obsessed

With my affection for the micro-blogging site Tumblr waning I often forget how up to date it keeps me with my model muses, especially the lovely Alexa Chung. I'm a bit concerned that after her break up with Alex Turner, lead singer of the Artic Monkeys that she's become even skinnier but her outfits have all the sparkle and sophistication that she's been known for. Unlike many other fashion icons I know of, Alexa isn't afraid to recycle articles of clothing and wear them with other outfits and with a smile as bright as hers it's easy to see how she can get away with it s easily. If you aren't aware about my small obsession for the British TV presenter, model and DJ I can best express it as admiration for someone with Caucasian as well as Asian heritage to succeed in the eye of the media.

Never before have I been so easily influenced to follow in the style footsteps of a celebrity not well known for fashion blogging but it seems that Alexa has the wonderful effect about her- everything she touches seems to turn into fashion gold. Today while trailing through the major department stores I gravitated towards toggle coats as well as patterned dresses in soft cotton textures as well as a floral blazer. I walked away with a dress in patterned horse silhouette print but I'm lacking a patterned cardigan to wear over the top and truly follow in Ms. Chung's example. It seems a pity really but I'll never be able to have the grace and finesse as well as surprising ferocity Alexa is able to channel so easily through her piercing eyes.

Instagram and its culture doesn't readily draw me in- because of a simple application people taking photographs of their dinner automatically assume they've become a photographer but somehow Alexa has melted my cold and icy exterior to it and shown a fun side of herself in the process of sharing these digital snaps. The 1960s is an era I am admiring from afar, but who can resist the allure of large novelty prints, paisley and flowers when bathed in a pink light and with an exemplary British style icon sitting over the sheets?

Her attendance on runway and red carpet events has explored more ruffled hair, minimalist and naturalistic makeup as well as chic ivory outfits although I must admit, I do miss the days when Alexa would indulge in long painterly strokes of eyeliner. As of late her outfits have been looking real crisp and sharp in terms of their neutral colour, a contrast to when she wore a stunning pleated pink dress on the red carpet with her former musical boyfriend in tow with her. I'll always admire Alexa Chung for her style and the way she presents herself with such confidence and warmth but I actually prefer her older outfits and casual school boy style. The constant element to all of Alexa's outfits is how easily you can search around for similar pieces in second hand shops and replicate her style with varying success. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery but no one on Earth could come anywhere near the standard of Alexa's clothing and style as well as imitating her sense of originality.

Chung shown indulging in self portrait shots in a well maintained mirror and a gorgeous pair of denim overalls with chic blouse in white with lace frills for contrast. This is the type of remarkable and innate light heartedness Alexa Chung radiates from all her street style photographs, professional photo shoots, self portraits using Apple applications as well as screen shots from her television appearances. It's this friendliness that has also launched her career across a range of mediums including music, television and fashion and gained acclaim for the Haute Couture master for Chanel, Mr. Karl Lagerfeld who has described Chung as "very talented and does it (all aspects of her media charged career) in a perfect way. She is beautiful and clever!" I've never been one to disagree with the Count of cool Karl Lagerfeld himself or any of his designs in his rich and colourful history with the world of fashion- so why would I start now?

I do miss the wonderful and luxuriant colour that I once so easily gleaned from her outfits, but who can't be impressed with her chameleon like coordination as well as subtle quirk about this outfit? Sometimes it's the finer details that can really add to an outfit- I love the white skeleton bag charm in this photograph used to update a handbag in beige that would be otherwise plain and boring and also the shiny metal stud detail on the collar of her dress. It seems Alexa went to extremes in order to coordinate her grey tights and dress but there's something very sweet about that effort as well as the thick heeled black platforms that remind me so much of a modern Geisha. The outfit is perfect and so is the girl who pulled it all together, I'm certain that since my obsession has gone so far it's only a matter of time before I'm scanning all British tabloid magazines for her image and making a crazy shrine in her honour on my wall. I was sadly deprived of such a mental stasis during high school and maybe my girl crush will finally evolve and manifest itself in something creepy but endearing.

In true school girl charm and spirit, I don't think there's many who would wear knee high socks in weight and black heels and look as stunning as Alexa looks right here. The black and white dress with ascot tie around the neck is all too familiar to me but it sadly isn't from Love by Susien Chong. I must admit, I had never thought of wearing the dress with a pea coat over the top and knee high socks but I doubt I would have as much effect on crowds and camera wielding maniacs as Alexa does. It must also be those gorgeous skinny legs of hers creating the allusion of a woman who still has the physique of a high school student.

Fierce Kate Moss

I decided to break up my Kate Moss blog posts into two parts so I could really cover the chosen photo shoot photographs well and really get a feel about her with my commentary. There's images new and old and this soft focus still is an old when of Moss in her younger days when she had naturally brown hair- some of the images she stars in are so beautiful and simplistic when she's not really advertising a product or brand. She seems a little more innocent when fully clad in clothing and without her trademark blond hair, but maybe it's a also a generational thing for advertisement and photography.

This is more like the Kate Moss people my age are most familiar with seeing- barely any clothes on and staring down the barrel of a camera with a smouldering and fierce look in her eyes. While I may never have the bravery to bare all in a photo shoots, I can appreciate the comfortable feeling of walking around the house with minimal clothing and shrouded by either a blanket or the doona cover and walking around the house with bleary eyes.

There's nothing like getting back to the basics and abandoning colour photography in favour of black and white- it always accentuates the shading of the contours of the human body as well as covers up any unusual tan lines. Although, when you live in London, I can't imagine any tans originating from there that would be so noticeable. There's a lot of beautiful but terribly obscure photographs of Moss and I can't work out what's being advertised in the shoots other than herself and her body.

 

I love the thick layered crucifix necklaces as well as ornate chains and the sun talisman all hanging from the shoulders and neck of Kate Moss but I'm not sure how I feel about the thick eye makeup; I personally hate seeing thick lines around eyes to accentuate then. It makes it look as if eye make up is running and also the curls over her right shoulder must belong to thick hair extensions.

One of the first images I collected of Kate Moss on my computer was her posing as pop star David Bowie complete with orange hair for Vogue Paris andit really opened my eyes to the professional side of a model and the similarity between their role and that of a model. On occasion they will be asked to portray some else or be something that lies outside their comfort zone so when they step up to that and take on such a role the results can really be fascinating and fantastic.

For someone who's aged thirty-eight and a career that spans two decades, it's rather impressive to still see Kate Moss relevant in the world of fashion today and collaborating with Topshop as well. I can only hope that I look as beautiful as well as rested as she does but knowing my stressful habits and tendencies that will never happen for me.

I love seeing mesmerising art deco and antique jewellery and this is definitely as decadent as it gets- that's the only aspect I'm in love with in terms of the model lifestyle: getting decked out in gorgeous clothing. All though it's not all glamour and grace there are tumbles on runway stages and demanding schedules but they're the most gorgeous people in the world with the best parties too, know the best labels and clothing for the seasons and have the money to back it all up too. Who in their right mind wouldn't want to join them and become one of the beautiful people?

Kate Moss

I never really considered Kate Moss to be anything special before I saw a few images of her here and there on Tumblr and I really do see a versatility in her facial expressions as well as a range of different characters for photo shoots. There's nothing extraordinary about her face and beauty but I suppose since she has the model's body and isn't border-line anorexic that's sort of beautiful too. I love the pictures from when she was young though, you can sort of tell the difference by the styles of backdrops behind her as well as the colour of her hair.

Her willingness to bare all sort of reminds me of photo shoots undertaken by Australians own, dear Abbey Lee Kershaw but there's really nothing as racy as this shot shown above. From watching Top Model I know they will wear skin tight bikini bottoms to save their grace but you have to admire Moss' tenacity and bravery to really bare all in this shot. She's got a body to die for in this photograph- it gives me a little something to aspire towards myself.

I don't even care that it might be a photo shop edit- I love wild colours for hair especially pink , and if I had the guts I would try it for myself right after my next trim or when I finally tidy up my ends myself. I was sitting in the auditorium for a little information session about the science faculty of my university and I released everyone has just varying shades of brown hair and it's so boring! I love the contrast of the woolly coat of pure white/ bone and Kate's hair. There's a lot of great vintage pieces made of the same material as her coat including a great handbag I've got my eye on, if only I had the money...

Snakes have never alarmed me, although my contact with them has always been in a controlled environment so they never posed a real threat to me- if I had a pet snake I'd love to try this little trick myself except with a bra on of course. The lighting is just perfect to curve around the contours of Kate's body and the bitten apple flesh matches the skin and colour of the snake perfectly. I guess the real trick is getting the snake to coil in just the right places and also flicker it's tongue- unless it's a fake one of course. You can see the ripples of muscle at the coiled ends near Kate's stomach though so it looks pretty real to me.

I've been aware of this photograph and it's cheeky sensuality for quite some time now, but it's only now that I appreciate the placement of a fully-clothed Jonny Depp on top of a naked Kate Moss. I suppose her disregard for clothing in some shoots is what has given her a name in modelling as well as the confidence she has in her own skin which every girl should have but when faced with a picture of a skinny model can make them feel subconscious instead.

It's the wild suggestion of a American Indian tribal headdress that reminds me a lot of shoots in which Australian model Abbey Lee has featured in- also the fantastically skinny bodies, lighting and bare chests help create the comparative illusion as well. These older photographs of Moss in her youth in which she's smiling and looks like she's laughing and carefree are some of the more beautiful modelling images in my opinion- while she's not staring down the barrel of the camera and looking fierce, for this shoot I think a more natural approach and facial expression was called for and needed.

Without the focus on her body, you can see an appreciable quality in Moss' face and those shiny white teeth and freckles across the bridge of her nose. If I can't have a perfectly stick thin body, I at least owe it to myself to have white and healthy teeth and look after that small aspect of my body.

Oh Alexa Chung...

Amidst my health kick, cleaning spree and Australia Day celebrating I thought I'd squeeze in some blogging as well and feature a few morephotographs of my favourite woman on the planet and inspirational model, Ms Alexa Chung! With the amount of posts I have in her name and in a rough tribute to her you would think I could just make another blog dedicated to the British model but I think posting photographs of inspirational people and places keeps me on track with my everyday life. Later today I will try and manage my university orientation activities as well as hop back on the blogging band wagon. What better way than to show off an unreal looking wetsuit/ black leather turtle neck dress and Chung's hair looking gorgeously bedraggled? I wish I could bottle up her charm and sprinkle it on myself each day like pixie dust.

I think part of her charm can be attributed to that unique, one-of-a-kind haircut as well as vintage style and stick thin legs. Model figures are a tad unrealistic and unachievable but at least I have something to shoot for when toiling away on the exercise bike and picking up extra shifts at work; another of my favourite things about model Alexa Chung in particular is that her style is easy to imitate but even with the right clothes in the equation, you need some sort of quirky sass and charm to pull off the look properly. Nothing is sexier than confidence and I think that's why Alexa is a good role model. That, and the little fact that she doesn't look sickly thin like some internationally famous models.

When attending fashion house events such as performing DJ rites at Chanel Alexa still manges to look utterly chic while rocking a 1960s smock dress and some heavy duty gem encrusted clutches. I never was that way inclined as far as vintage eras went but I really love 60s/ 70s pieces now. I blame the influence of teenage fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson's as well as Alexa in part to my new found fascination.

I really didn't need further persuasion to buy a duffel coat with cute little toggles but I'll happily wait for the weather to turn a little colder before I snag one for myself; or perhaps a vintage cape. Alexa really looks great in this photograph and just when I thought my legs looked good in tights and skinny she blows me out of the water! Love her sunglasses and carefree smile in this photograph- their very mod shaped and she looks wonderful with the breeze playfully ruffling her hair.

I adore comfy cosy sweaters, they're the biggest piece of safety blanket and go-to clothing when I'm feeling sick and lousy and I've sort of been after a fluffy textured jumper such as what Alexa is sporting above. Keep in mind I've also been in the market for a good faux fur jacket as well as a kimono for warmer weather. Alas, I'm going to need to sell quite a few items if I'm ever to keep up with such an insatiable appetite fashion-wise.

Alexa in Wonderland

At the moment I have a pretty good phone, but at the moment I can't help wondering what it would be like to use applications such as Hipstamatic or Instagram to take digital photographs made to vignette and distort slightly. My father has an iPhone from his new work, one of the newest models the iPhone 4S but I also want to get an iPad as my newest digital toy. For that to happen though I would need to successfully sell a lot of my items on eBay in order to pay for such an extravagant toy. Maybe I will after the so called 'armagedon and end of the world' in December this year. After Boxing Day, the biggest sales day in Australia would be good but maybe I'll wait for a new model or something perhaps?

Although I am a large fan of film photography including original 35mm prints using weird lenses and effects as well as Polaroids, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to combine the best of the digital age with vintage style photograph and create images as easily as Alexa does that crop up on Tumblr. In doing so, Alexa makes herself just that little more available to audiences and fans and seems a little more ordinary despite her extraordinary good looks.

The greatest asset of digital photography is being able to see exactly what the frame you're about to take looks like, as well as the minimal cost of SD cards and memory when taking photographs. There's no guess work about lighting and aperture, so something as simple as plain black Doc Martens can look artistic and edgy on ordinary carpet.I must admit, I've been a bit of a snob when it comes to recognising Instagram and Hipstamatic as a photographic tool but seeing Alexa Chung immortalised in its frames changes my mind.

I don't even care if this photograph is edited; I love the notion of these two geniuses coming together. On the right is Alexa Chung and the left Zooey Deschanel; and I love the stark bright colours of Zooey's outfit on the right as well as the fur trim coat worn by Chung on the left. I keep trying to find similar coats or cool vintage Winter coats from Etsy for the cooler months- I must be fired up by the release of so many A/W 2012 collections coming up this February.

As an individual who has many different interest myself, I find Alexa Chung's lifestyle a sort of inspiration. She's a television presenter, DJ, model and style icon and her self-portrait photographs using her iPhone as well as her fashion collaboration with US label Madewell are all too inspiring. There are many people who would do anything to strive within each individual field but she juggles all her talents and seems so content and effortless in her routine. Someone very wise once said 'You're still weak if you're only strong at one thing' and that statement doesn't apply to Alexa but at the moment it does to me. Last year I was focused on scholastic achievement but this year I'm going to become a better referee as well as blogger, join at least one university club and also continue to achieve well in studying.

 

While it is highly improbable to catch Alexa in a bathtub using a Polaroid camera (the size format is all wrong, even for the new Polaroid Minis from Fujifilm) I would love to attend some of the costume parties available to club members at university using a film camera and even Polaroid camera. I have big plans for this year, and I think as long as I keep reminding myself of the life I want to live then I will achieve some of my goals. I usually set my goals too high though- one of my faults I guess.

On anyone else, I would say the dress is kinky, but somehow Alexa makes it cool and sultry instead. It must be the combination of a gingham print in red and white and the structure of the shoulder that makes it seem a little more in the tradition of original vintage dresses, but since the dart down her thigh is part of the hem, I wonder what the true history behind this dress are. All I know is that the look over her shoulder makes for one smouldering effect when coupled with a bright photographic flash.