Jeanne Damas

Were it not for my uncouth and uncultured ways, I would have sooner discovered that Jeanne Damas is not a model as I first though she was, but is instead a French blogger... or that's what I gather from the little information about her but plentiful amount of Google Images associated with her name. Despite not being able to speak French at any level in school I still think it's fascinating to see what fashion bloggers from around the world have to show off on their websites and the clothes that they wear with the two hemispheres giving two different seasonal trends.

What impresses me most about some bloggers is the artistic quality of their photographs as well as the magazine quality fashion trends of their clothes and styling. I myself have been after some printed shirts from Etsy with edgy designs in obscure fashion and a warm woolen coat or something fluffy would be welcome to keep me company. I won't be taking up smoking anytime soon but I would love to sit by a window poetically and stare out at the city... were it not for the fact I live in a small suburban area and my window view is scarred with trees.

At the moment there are two Cambridge Satchel Company satchels in fluorescent yellow available to buy on eBay, the same wonderful bright shade pictured above. It must be my strange admiration for graffiti and longing to have bangs again that is driving me to pursuit buying the yellow satchel but if it can be worn with a simple ensemble of grey and brown, then it is bound to work with nearly anything; given the right levels of confidence to show it off. I sort of miss the grit of the street: the litter of stubbed out cigarettes and the dirty water in the middle of my own city- but not that much. Getting back to university next week and on public transport will be good enough for me.

Along with fluffy and furry coats to shelter myself in for the long and lonely trips on the train and bus, I have also been stalking my favourite vintage online store, Claire Inc. for some other sweaters and jumpers to add to my brimming wardrobe. Mustard yellow may not always be my forte, but I quite like the combination of elbow patches as well as dark red fleece don't across the chest of the friend on the left. Jeanna Damas may not be the apple of my eye in this photograph, but she still look fantastic with a lighter hue in her hair and classy, black blazer.

There's a great range of moods and tones about the photographs that Jeanne Damas stars in- never before have I seen such a great variety of different compositions of shots. Some fashion bloggers eventually get fixated and have a certain type of angle or shot they use to show off their outfits, as well as the same type of camera but I think the unpredictable nature of how Damas presents herself leaves a lot to the imagination. It's always wonderful to see elements of vintage film photography mixed in with the new and exciting filter effects achieved with the help of everyone's favourite digital enhancer, Photoshop.

I know how to achieve such a distorting and dysfunctional effect with the use of a flash, some cellophane and a film camera, but I have no idea where to start when it comes to generating a photograph in this image using Photoshop. I wish I was a little better at touching up my photographs, or in general, cared more about the process of further developing my images before uploading them to my blog. It's hard to summon the motivation to use the program though when all I have is a cheap free version on my computer that prevents me from saving them in their highest picture quality. No one can be that keen to look at large and blurry images, no matter how finely tuned and fixed they are by clever use of the clicker.

I never was able to resist an animal lover either, the combination of lust worthy red nails as well as smouldering brown eyes and pink lips with a kitten in hand is enough to overwhelm someone with my melancholia. There have been some small and unwanted guests at my parents house that could really be taken care off with the simple employment of a kitty- Dad is unfortunately not going to be swayed on the position of cat ownership.

There's also an apparent dark side to this stunning French blogger- within the first few entries of Google Images to her name, there are some tasteful shirtless photographs amongst the cigarette toting. In her hand is a charming book by the title of 'The World of Sex'. Now I'm all for dirty books since there is a wealth of information those before us have been able to pen down but don't expect to see any photographs of me getting my kit off- tasteful or otherwise.

It's not always just about showing off a good outfit and being justly described as being classically beautiful- there's charm and quirk as well as an ordinary magic to some of her photographs. Whether she's taking time out to feed her cravings on a chic balcony or simply scoping out the best food in the fridge, you can be sure to see the charming dark brown eyes fixated on the lens of the camera. I'd love to try a similar shot for myself when I get a better camera to really know what the image will look like- and a new kitchen. There's not many suitable places in my home for photography, aside from the bland and neutral hallway which isn't crammed full of junk.

As well as developing a pleasing visual style and playfulness about one's outfit, I think being a fashion blogger is a little more than just putting clothes together and looking pretty, smiling for the camera. There's a lot more that can be done such as composition and evoking certain moods and tones of romanticism, such as the shy glance of an observer hidden behind some curtains. I have yet to develop either of these skills and my priority first and foremost lies with study, you can bet that next holidays I'll be keen to get back in touch with my own imaginative side.

Yen Issue 55

Alternative magazines for fashion and style such as Oyster, Frankie, and Yen have been some of my favourites but I have only ever admired them from afar. A little while ago I went on a spree and bought several copies of Russh in bulk but they've been sitting around on my book shelf largely unread and on occasion I flick through the pictures. While I am content to look at online extracts of some of their brighter and bolder editorial spread, I can't help but wish I had a steady and reliable source of income to pay for magazine subscriptions and scour eBay for editions long since past. What I like most about these images from the 55th edition of Yen is the wild prints and clashes combined with chunky heeled shoes- it's so modern and on trend.

 

I mainly look to vintage clothing these days to find unusual structures such as long and flowing skirts with novel prints of animals on them and bright 1950s colours- I've currently got my eye on a lovely pink framed pair of sunglasses from Opening Ceremony but I really should sell my old Ray Bans before I make any moves on the eyewear front. With enough expertise as far as the sewing machine is concerned, a similarly patterned skirt could be fashioned in a patchwork style to match or clash as you see fit- something I hope to get around to by enrolling in a short course once the load of my university study finally lightens up.

As well as importantly delivering images of the current trends of the season so masses via media, magazines should also be creative enough to set their own trends and make pastel rimmed glasses cool when worn with sequin embellished jumpers and long dangly earrings. Art deco pieces with chandelier draping chains are my favourite accessories inspired from the 1920s and with the use of cheaper materials and more stunning materials I'm more fond of the new and reinvented pieces as opposed to the traditional antiques. If only I had places to wear such extravagant pieces, then my life would have a sense of fulfillment about it...

Daria Werbowy

Being declared one of the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue is no small feat and neither is winning a national model competition at the age of fourteen but it seems that Daria Werbory has done both. She fell into modelling and launched her career young and after a few set-backs attempted to get back into it as a way to fund her art school endeavours but after an exclusive deal with Prada it seems she hasn't look back. The fashion editorial showcased her is from Vogue France in their February edition- curiously there's a focus on the glamour and eccentricism of Las Vegas in Nevada, America but somehow the short dresses, colourful background accentuate the skinny and tan legs of Werbory. I think I love this shot in front of the pink Cadillac the best with Elvis Presley in the driver's seat.

 

The settings for the editorial are each very different and evoke certain moods but I suppose I have picked the most romantic of the set, such as Werbory after a shotgun wedding with loafers, bridal veil and bouquet in hand and also a bubble gum pink dress with ruffles down the middle and black cowboy boots. I wouldn't mind getting a pair of boots not too dissimilar to those shown above but it would be a little difficult at times to know what to style them with. Of course the horse motif in the background of the photograph emphasises and supports the cowboy boot motif.

What trip to Las Vegas is complete without a trip to see your friendly cabaret girls? Although the feathers attached to the back of her are all about showman ship as well as teasing the gentlemen viewers, her stance and legs are very strong in this shot and she reminds me of my barbie dolls with perfectly straight toes and feet dressed in tiny little heels. There's a no nonsense approach to her black jacket, strong pose and eyes hidden under a cloud of feathers but the costume balances all those elements with a playfulness that's really enjoyable. It's a great editorial, I suggest you see it in full if you can.

Heavy Metal

 

As of late, fashion editorials seem to be favouring heavily jewelled looks including weighted diamond earrings and even bull-ring nose piercings. I love the jagged and distorted stalagmite look of many different shards of diamonds and pulled together in these architecturally impressive earrings. While the make up and presentation of the model seems so pure and neat, her jewellery obviously takes precedence of the viewers attention and I do quite like the nose piercing. It adds symmetry to this photograph and it's a piercing I hope to secretly have one day when I work overseas or am studying abroad.

I know I had already featured this picture of Kate Moss on my blog but it's so great I couldn't resist trying it a second time- in comparison to the first photograph there's a stronger sort of oriental appeal about the earrings and diamond headpiece atop her head. Both photographs are so striking though and absolutely editorial worthy, but it's sort of nice to contrast an older fashion shot compared to the first look which is newer and fresh. I would probably kill either way to own the diamond jewellery in either shot and hoard them away till I'm a little old woman, giving it the pet name of 'treasure'.

Strangeness and Charm

What could be more relaxing than chilling out in some of my comfiest clothes and looking at inspiring images? Maybe if I had a little Florence and the Machine playing in the background or even a good cup of tea next to my hand to sip on occasion. Today I'm trying to avoid the 'idiot box' otherwise known as the television as much as possible today and purely focus on reading as well as writing in preparation for a cooler and more alternative live full of skull candles as well as hexagonal healing crystals and kooky framed pictures.

Egyptians: the largest and most prosperous race of hipsters known to mane who constructed large monolithic pyramids in a homage to their kings and their alphabet being comprised of pictures rather than characters. I'd love to travel to Egypt one day for a photography expedition of my own but there's so much turmoil in that area of the world I would never be allowed to go with my parents and I'm not sure how any partner I could be with in the future would be keen to be my own personal bodyguard.

New Zealand fashion label Twenty-Seven Names has this sort of charm about their photo shoots and model presentations, I especially love the clunky brown lace-up shoes with white socks and dainty long hair. Although the picture below is just a side profile of all the models staring at one professional camera, this unique photograph from the side makes the braids from the front of the crown all the more evident. It's like stumbling across a friendly cult of beautiful women with delicate dress sense is pastel tones.

Although there is no need at my age to walk in pairs of two and hold hands when roaming the streets with a group of girlfriends, I think it would be nice to belong to one of those notoriously bitchy cliques and dress similarly while walking around together, prowling the streets for fashionable shops in a tight pack. Unfortunately, this universe only exists in the world of magazines and there is no such place where brightly coloured shoes and wedges are worn while carrying vintage school girl satchels. I'll just have to be my own one-man fashion team and dress alone and brave the world without equally fashionable friends.

Maybe I would be better off dressing in a quirky hat bonnet and jumping out of windows than searching high and low of my fashion equals... yes sir, sure is lonely at the top but somehow I know I'll manage easily by myself. I'm sure that without events and parties to dress up for and attend my life will be better spent at home enjoying the comfort of a good book as well as commenting on beautiful photographs starring equally gorgeous people instead.

A strange curiosity I would like to collect one day is my own little cat and photograph them doing all manor of strange things but until I move out of my parents house, it appears I will be without furry companionship but on the plus side I don't need to worry about claws and sharing my bed. I can imagine it now, sitting amongst my desk of collectables including rosaries and candles shaped in skulls as well as hexagonal crystals. Ah, to be young and a being of magical powers.

An oddity I'm becoming a little more in love with is vintage nightgowns- they're like gorgeous thin dresses full of alluring frills and lace in single block colours. I imagine the two girls sharing a tender and romantic moment above are wearing the same sort of clothing but with frilly socks and loafers. If there were a little more modesty about the material of night gowns then you can be almost guaranteed I'd try to wear such a thing to university- or at least for fancy dress parties.

If I was any sort of master, or even novice when it came to the practiced and time-honoured approach of applying make-up I would love to have this shimmery grey eyeshadow swallow up my eyes. It's made all the more powerful with stone black eyes (a quality I am told I possess every once in a while) as well as small and prim, pouted lips and long silvery and dishevelled looking hair. The black cat is a cute touch to this sheer blouse and tassel scarf approach. It's a shame I don't have a paler complexion to get away with wearing black more often.

A strange and even more strangely becoming look is the popularisation of unusual bottled hair colours; my favourite being pastel shades of pink, purple and green. I usually make promises of one day dip-dyeing my hair when I become brave and full hardy but it appears I'm all art and no matter- that is, I'll never really go through with it. I love my hair the way it is and the trend is just so old now- there's also the damage from the last time I had streaks evident in my hair since some strands are left dry and brittle. It'll be a while before I ever reach for that bottle again.

Tomboy Style

When I was a child I was the biggest tomboy and although our family was the perfect model nucleus containing two males and females, since I never really counted myself it always seemed that there was a stronger male presence in the house. To this day I still prefer the company of my brother and father over my mother but I suppose that's a personality flaw that alters my preference really.

Anyway, I never really wore skirts until I was aged fifteen and never wore anything other than pants and shorts when I was below the age of ten. I always felt very threatened and unprotected from the elements. As an homage to my past life there are a few mashed up photographs that have a male presence about them and there is only one skirt in sight- I think that's a pretty good compilation really!

Today was spent merrily romping around in my Vans made to look like brogues in leather (named the Sofia shoe in tan leather if anyone cares) as well as my favourite pair of shorts and my comfortable spiked sweater from Ashish X Tophshop. While I don't have a high regard for tiny little shorts that are skimpy, I must say, having loose legs of denim wrapped around my legs makes my thighs look suitably smaller, although that may also be due to the mad amount of sport undertaken on the weekend. Either way, shorts, vintage or otherwise, are a great way to show off legs but without being too feminine and girly depending on the design and material.

A woolen lamb beanie that looks like it belongs in the wardrobe of famous Mongolian Attila the Hun? How much more manly and impressive can you be? Going without the long and flowing mustache at this point is advisable though.

At times I'm jealous of elements of style which are traditionally reserved for the male set; most particularly is desert boots at the moment as well as structured trousers. They just don't make many wonderful pairs for women these days to make them look dapper although the cool patterned socks and brogues aren't such a big deal anymore. I always feel slightly intimidated to walk into a unisex shop and fall in love with an item of clothing destined for the opposite sex- it's just such a mean ruse!

In the midst of all this tomboy style, why not show you all what a real dapper man looks like and not his sort of rough pose on a red and striped couch with matching pillows that can only be fit for a true dandy. In contrast to my rough and rugged style of torn jeans and loose shirts, I must admit I do have a certain fondness for feminine furniture and decorations such as pink skull candle holders as well as tapestry as far as the eye can see. A bit of ying to balance out the yang, as it were.

My dream boots (other than a bargain buy from Etsy) are the Madewell boots in a similar style to these ones shown above. The heel is a little bit lower but the rounded toe edge is absolutely perfect and they would look great when worn with cool and quirky shorts as well as a loose band shirt from another era. It's so much fun getting to dress as a rogue now and then as well as abandoning all female sense of style, but I usually come crawling back to that alternate reality when faced with images of fairies and witches dressed in flowing dresses of white and black respectively.

At this point in the article I would like to point out that to channel tomboy chic successfully, that doesn't mean you need to lop off your lock and luxurious locks. A cool cat such as a felt wide brimmed hat is enough to echo Western times were men reigned supreme but the long hair hanging out the side in a rough and messy low ponytail or braid is enough to suggest where your true femininity lies.While hair has originally been used as a distinction between men and women, any modern-age person is knowledgeable enough to know that it really means nothing nowadays and style and structure of clothing is a bigger tell-tale sign of gender when an ambiguous haircut lies in front of you.

Many great clothing such as plaid and structured shirts that have a male presence and flair about them should ideally be bough in the women's section of any department store and don't think you'll ever be clever enough to buy something in the men's section that is structured such as shirts and trousers and think you can pull it off! If I have learnt anything within the last year or so, it's that men and women are built very differently and although the two styles are mingling dangerously like two loose people at a party, you should still respect garment structure and have that as a key influence when you buy clothing.