New Comics!

I just uploaded some new fall fashion comics to my Etsy store!  Check them out!

Marc Jacobs, Fall 2011

Givenchy, Fall 2011

sorry for the delay...

I haven't posted in forever because my computer got the flu and needed to be fixed.  It is on the mends and  soon I will be up and running again.  I took so many photos while traveling over Thanksgiving, which will be the perfect backdrop for Winter 2011 fashion.  In the mean time enjoy these photos from 10 magazine, a British alternative fashion mag, which I am currently enjoying.  The magazine has a nice balance between humor, art, and fashion, which is refreshing in comparison to the typical fashion mag.  In the Autumn issue  artists collaborated on the layouts.  One of my favorite collaborations is images of Dolce and Gabbana clothing surrounded (and sometimes on top of) floral arrangements by Jim Lambe.

The Row, Fall 2011

  

Louis Grey, Fall 2011

Wearing Louise Grey while viewing children's art just feels right

louis vuitton spring 2012

It's not cause I'm not making, I just don't want to post work for the sake of posting.  I have been drawing lots and need some background photos, so I will shoot some this weekend.  While you wait you can watch this video of Vuitton's spring runway show...amazing!



As I watched it I was wondering what was going through the models' minds as they wait their turn to walk, how nerve racking!  I would be the girl who went to get up gracefully and tripped on her own feet falling onto the runway.  L. Vuitton (if alive) would be very mad and say I was finished and a disgrace to longed legged girls....but then one critic, perhaps Tim Blank for style.com would see my unplanned moment as fashion forward and next thing you know I am on the cover of vogue sharing my story of how I became the star of Paris fashion week!

Desquared2, Fall 2011

    

Dolce & Gabbana, Fall 2011

                       

Prada, Fall 2011

Mint Designs, Fall 2011

She stopped mid step because she thought she felt something, but this had happened before.  She once called it her intuition and always listened to it, but then she noticed that her mid step never moved to a new step.  She decided that today instead of standing still she would let it go. 

Lanvin, Fall 2011

She was on a right of passage that seemed to never end. She was out there so long she was sure this was it, that her struggles were reality.  She fought against the weather, and naively thought she could control things if she just kept thinking about them intensely.  This of course was a foolish thought and one day she was relieved to realize that no matter how hard she stared at the clouds they would not move any faster.  

    

Valentino, Fall 2011

While standing at the cliff's edge she noticed she could no longer hear her worries, that they were drowned out by her senses.  The sea air filled her lungs, while the air blew across protectively hugging her.  Her eyes concentrated on the endless movement of blue and while her senses worked in over drive she noticed her mind became still.  It was a noticeable change in consciousness and she wondered if she was having a moment of peace, if she was allowing herself to finally feel peace.  She thought "If this was it then I better not move", she did not yet realize that she could take this sense of awareness with her.    

Tsumori Chisato, Fall 2011

While on the beach wearing this stripe number Character was thinking of her success with making two friends the other day and wondered if she would get lucky again today.  She peered through her oversized sunglasses and saw a girl, Character noted her stripe suit and thought "Hey I'm wearing stripes too". She then noticed the girl was dragging a boogie board and thought "Theres another thing we have in common".  As Character got up to approach the girl she hesitated and her nerves got the best of her, apparently stripes and a boogie board are not enough to break the ice.

I recommend looking at Tsumori Chisato's work if you are wondering how to take an obsession with stripes to a whole new level.  

On another note my little character needs a name.  It is taking on a life of it's own and no longer seems to completely represent me.  I guess I could just keep calling her Character, until I figure it out.  Feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions.

Jenny Fax, Fall 2011

We had just gotten to the beach and staked out our plot and I looked over and saw these two girls perfectly posed.  I quickly got my camera out, ignoring Peter's concern that I was going to get sand on it and snapped the picture before they moved.  score!

Here is the conversation between my character and the two girls:

Character just gets to the beach and her mom encourages her to play with other little girls.  Character is mortified at the thought but with her head down approaches the girls.  The girls look up and Character says "Hi want to play?" Little girls look at each other, which Character takes as rejection.  One pipes up and says "what are you wearing, you look like the sun rise". Character smiles and says its Jenny Fax.  The other girl pats the sand next to her inviting Character to join in the fun.  Character has a great day at the beach and covers her Jenny Fax look in sand, just as Ms Fax would like to see, someone living in the moment and making friends in her clothes.  

Akris, Fall 2012

Hiding in the landscape.

Vivienne Westwood, Fall 2011

Viv Darling, I love your collection as always.  I found your poncho to be the perfect accessory on the California beach.  Especially during the chilly mornings when I waited for the clouds to lift and at the end of they day when it was time to pack up.  Your funky runway makeup also served as sun block, so thank you Vivienne, your look not only protected me against the sun's rays, but also helped me fend against the cookie-cutter-perfect California woman.  Seriously, I thought I would see many laid back California surfer girls, but instead came across the next season of Real Housewives.    

                                             
                                                            

Prada, Fall 2011

If it's the beaches

If it's the beaches sands you want then you will have them

If it's the mountain's bending rivers then you will have them

If it's a wish to run away then I will grant it

Take whatever you think of

While I go gas up the truck

Pack the old love letters up

We will read them when we forget why we left here...

Avett Brothers, If It's the Beaches

Suno, Fall 2011

Growing up surrounded by willows, spruces, pine, maple, and oak trees made the Southern California landscape so foreign to me.  There were so many plants and trees I never saw before.  When ever I go out West it feels like I am visiting another country because of the vast difference in scenery.  I always think how cool it is that with out leaving the country you can step in polar opposite worlds.  When I was walking on the trails of Torrey Pines State Reserve Suno's fall line came to mind and I immediately starting snapping shots of where I envisioned the models posing.  According to interviews Suno was inspired by Grandmas, but I also get this upscale sister-wife vibe from the collection, must be the long sleeves, prints, high hair (on the models), and skirt length that has me picturing Chloe Sevigny's character from Big Love.  As always Suno your in the top ten!

food for thought

Man its been a while...I am trying not to get down on myself for not posting.  Its not that I haven't been thinking about the project, its just trying to find the time to think about the project and at the same time post new stuff.
I am working on fall 2011 and combining some of the upcoming fall looks with images I took in San Diego, so stay tuned oh patient reader something new will be posted this week (promise).


now I am going to pull the always looked down upon move of a blogger and repost something already on the internet.  I am doing this because the internet is HUGE and maybe you haven't seen it.  I came across this article on the nytimes website and am reposting it here for your convenience.  Its food for thought on street style something I find myself simultaneously inspired by and cringe at.  This article helped me identify that part of me that cringes.  For instance, lookbook is suppose to inspire, but it almost always leaves me uninspired and wondering is this individual style or just the reposting of individual style trends?

What do you think?  Has the internet killed street style?

image from facehunter.com

Here is the article:

Has Globalization Ruined Street Style?

While some cities have a unique fashion sense, others seem oddly familiar. Is the Internet to blame?

Too Self-Aware

Updated August 22, 2011, 10:56 AM

Will Welch is a senior editor at GQ.

The irony of so-called street style today is that, really, it exists online. What happened is that photo bloggers began documenting real people with real style on the world's hippest streets. Those who follow fashion clicked there for inspiration, instead of just obsessing over the runway shows, ad campaigns and editorial spreads created by the closed clique of the fashion world.

Suddenly the most influential images in fashion weren't created by designers, editors or brand-name photographers. They were created by no-names with digital cameras snapping candid street shots of the stylish editors themselves scurrying out of black cars and into runway shows in New York, Milan and Paris.

If street style has been suffering from anything, it's its own popularity. At the beginning, photographers were capturing everyday people wearing everyday clothes in a unique and expressive way. But as I argue in a new GQ essay, street style has become so popular that "real people" are now dressing for the cameras, vying to get photographed. It has become a self-aware rather than accidental culture, like reality television. The more outrageously you dress, the more likely it is you get snapped and posted online. That's created some unfortunate style trends and an environment where the blogs are as contrived as the runways. The streets are now less "Who, me?" and more "Look at me!" and, as I see it, the fickle fashion world has already moved on in search of the next big thing.Street style hasn’t really suffered globalization — it was born that way. The appeal has always been global: a blue-blooded prepster surfing the Internet from his summer home in Hyannis Port can now take fresh styling tips from an online photo of a Japanese-Americana junkie captured on the streets of Tokyo. The fact that both have access to Ralph Lauren and Uniqlo isn’t the point.

 

Julien David, Fall 2011

Who wants to hear about a depressing week...not me and it's my own week.  I should of drawn a peppy happy look to shake me up a bit, but when you feel like poo do you play a happy song or do you sulk in your sadness and put on Elliott Smith?  I am from the Elliott Smith camp, so come on sadness lets dance together, eat ice cream, and think of all that is wrong.  And when we get enough energy lets put on the above outfit, which says "hi world leave me be I am sad, but I'm not going to let that affect my sense of style".   

Ghost of your smile is always looking for
New bodies to haunt
And it's been here, it is up here
He's hanging around and he'll float for a while
Gradually gone
It's pleasing and freezing

While I wonder what it is you're after
Keeping company with this disaster

You looked all over town, got turned around
To walk back through the mud
The kind you had left behind you
Everybody's the same in this long knowing game
Where every new blood gets time to become resigned

Now I wonder what it is you're after
Keeping company with this disaster
Why you never try to tame your master

You just blow through the coals
Blow through the coals
Blow through the coals
Till everyone knows
That your smile is just a ghost
The ghost of your smile was seen on a body in the park
It's old news, you see that it's no use

You're waiting to start, waiting to light
Wait until dark
I told you man
I told you

While I wonder what it is you're after
Keeping company with this disaster
Why you never try to tame your master

Rick Owens, Spring 2011

Rick Owens Spring look made an appearance at a county fair this past weekend.  While most of the ladies attending the event looked like they were impersonating Jessica Simpson in Dukes of Hazards, there was one brave girl walking around in an evening gown that perplexed the farmers, but pleased the geese.  This girl didn't mind the smell of the animals, in fact it only made her feel closer to home.  She recommends always balancing a high end look with a dose of nature to keep one grounded.  

Armani Prive, Spring 2011

 

How to be incognito in the city: find wall of stripes, wear hat over eyes, and stand still mimicking the wall.  However, I am not sure wearing a couture look will go unnoticed, especially one that shines and gives off a chic space age vibe.  I better stick to my cutoff jeans and t-shirt for those days when I am just focused on getting through to the next.  

                                   

  

Street Style, Chicago: 2011

As you may have noticed I didn't post anything on Monday or Tuesday.  Lately I have felt like this blog formate is limiting my creativity.  To balance this feeling I decided to post a little less, so I have time to create and see where this project takes me.  

Wunderkind, Spring 2011

Last day on the homestead.  This coat with flowers and cherries printed on it is the perfect coat for my travels back to the city because when I begin missing being in the country I can look down and feel a little closer to nature.  Apparently Wunderkind's designer, Wolfgang Joop was inspired by a Portugal garden when designing this collection.  I think he should come visit Grandma Davis when he is planning his next collection.  As you may have noticed Grandma Davis is no where to be found, she must be mourning the end of her adventures with her city friend.  

Not the first time I drew myself in a Wunderkind look here are some early looks I drew last summer...its amazing how much my drawing style has developed.

Gary Graham, Spring 2011

Grandma Davis doesn't look to happy in this photo.  I think the dream of a homestead is wearing on her.  I on the other hand am happy as a clam wearing Gary Graham.  That should be his next jingle.  Really this look is meant to be worn by a pick pocketer in 1800's London.  It gives me a Oliver Twist vibe that is hard to resist.  This homestead picture will be sent to the folks back east so they take pity on Grandma Davis and I and send supplies.  Mr. Graham you also can send much needed clothing supplies...really from any of your collections.  

Sass & Bide, Spring 2011

I find when tending chickens it helps to mimic a more chicken like appearance.  The metal belt is also a must for homesteading because it protects your hips from horns, thorns, or anything really.  Grandma Davis is a little shy about the whole outfit, though she did whisper and ask to borrow the belt.  

The imaginary description on the back of the photo reads: 

"Grandma Davis and her out of town friend continue to revolutionize not only how to care for chickens, but how to dress on the farm.  Their outfits have brought praise and suspicion over the modern day women".

Junya Watanabe, Spring 2011

And the farming life continues...Being a bee charmer takes some gusto and a veil, which makes this Watanabe look perfect for the job.  White veil to protect the face and pink hair to inspire Grandma Davis (according to the caption on the back of the photo).  Oh and the stripes could come in handy and confuse the bees (like a zebra's stripes) in case I have to run in a panic when they decide I am no longer charming.  Here is the imaginary caption this newly created photo could have: 

"Grandma Davis has taken a liking to a colorful character named Seeley, she is known for her bee hives and whimsical attire."

Vivienne Westwood, Spring 2011

My homestead day dreams did not cease this weekend, in fact they have grown more distracting and delightful.  Nothing productive happened today except for pouring over garden and farming books.  The fact that I am able to sit and read for a whole afternoon is a luxury and something I will dream about doing one day when I am tending my fields and livestock :)  I was dreaming so much that when it was time to work on this blog I felt really torn and not really in the mood...that is until I realized I could bring fashion into my day dream.  So while listening to a homestead podcast I drew and colored my looks for the week.  I picked my looks based on the farm chores I would do in them.  This is the "hello, welcome to my homestead" look.  I am really pleased with the combination of the look and vintage photo.   This vintage photo (and the rest of the photos used this week) are from a cigar box full of vintage photos that I bought (for 20 bucks) when I lived in Rochester, score!  I always think of the old lady I bought them from and if her children or grandchildren were ever pissed that she sold off the family photos.  Well they are well loved and being repurposed (its the homestead way) so that should make the family happy.  

On the back of the photo it reads: "This is Jack's cabin he has taken a homestead of his own now and this is where they live by themselves while they build their home about 30 miles from mother.  I wish it was our's dear they have 160 acres. The dog is another's."

Street Style, Chicago: 2011

This heat is amazing, I don't think I have ever felt this hot!  It's too hot to even think of drawing more clothes on my cartoon self, so here is a street look I saw in Millennium Park.  Its a halter dress with the back exposed.  The real woman I saw wearing it also had this viney tattoo on her back, so I thought I would draw that as well.  Here's too keeping cool this weekend!   

Heat Wave lyrics (irving berlin)

We're having a heat wave,

A tropical heat wave,

The temperature's rising,

It isn't surprising,

She certainly can can-can.

She started a heat wave

By letting her seat wave

In such a way that

The customers say that

She certainly can can-can.

Gee, her anatomy

Makes the mercury

Jump to ninety-three.

We're having a heat wave,

A tropical heat wave,

The way that she moves

That thermometer proves

That she certainly can can-can.

Theater Products, Spring 2011

The modern victorian girl. Why does Japanese fashion make my heart pitter patter so much?  I really need to get on a plane and see that country with my own eyes.  Japan is on my list of top 3 places I would visit if time and money were no object.    

So its officially summer when I have my annual summer day dream about being a farmer.  I am fully aware that this day dream is just a romantic concept of farming and I'm ok with that.  The worse thing that could happen to this day dream is to ACTUALLY become a farmer and be stuck with all the hard work!

In this romantic day dream I get to feed chickens feed from my turned up apron while saying "here chick, chick".  I also have enough time to grow and supply my family with all the food needed for a year.  And in honor of this post I have decided that I also would farm in this above look.  I'm sure it is perfect for the farm, look no sun in my eyes with the very practical hat! The hat may be the only farm-practicle item, but thats ok this is a day dream after all.  

On an art note, all this talk of farming makes me think of one of the most beautiful series of photographs called "Mennonites" by Larry Towell.  Towell spent 10 years photographing mennonites in Canada and Mexico.  I went to his lecture in college and it sticks out as one of the best...he played a saw and read his poetry.  As a young budding artist, I found his lecture so inspiring.  The book created for the series is one of the most beautiful art books I own, I highly recommend it!  When I find myself surrounded by contemporary art there is nothing like resting my head and rediscovering the beauty in documentary photography.  I'm sure some contemporary art philosopher would argue a more complex reason for Towell's work, but its not needed.  Amazing storytelling.  Amazing compositions.  

all photos from magnum photos site