I just love the lighting and colour combinations of this set. The textures of the bedding and clothes are perfectly balanced by the presence of something smooth and almost metallic (the wood frame of the black chair or bedframe, the ashtray, spilled liquids, or polished floors). The best is that nothing is hidden - you know exactly what's going on here.

And how much fun would it be to have a bubblegum pink and glossy black bedroom? I think there's a little dramatic girly-girl at work here...

photographer: Philip Karlberg

Dear Mister Wang,

Please take over at the Gap.

Granted, this would be doing the Gap a HUGE favor - but I think it would be worthwhile for the following reasons:

1. We the Cult of T by Alexander Wang are tired of having to buy multiples before they sell out. Throw us a rope - give us a steady and accessible supply of your fabulous basics.

2. The Bottom Line. Mass production most often means lower prices for the consumer and a larger profit margin for the producer. aka Win-Win.

3. Your vision is simply better than whoever it is they have named creative director. The fact that Target is eating away at the Gap's market share is testament enough.

I would also love to see what you would think up for Baby Gap.


Thanks for understanding.

xo,
Wilma

Andres Velencoso Segura by Rene Habermacher & Jannis Tsipoulanis

Very dark and brooding - a beautiful mix of greys, blues, and sand create a perfect antithesis to Camilla Akrans' light sandy pink work, yet there is the same tension and intensity in this shoot as in many of Akrans'.

Givenchy Couture Fall 2009

Riccardo Tisci does it again. Crazy otherworldly studded, bejeweled, chained, free-flowing, hooded, and marvelously accessorized. Each look is incredibly fantastic. Although a collection of diversely different looks, there is still a unifying thread that can only be described as quintessential Tisci - and that's why we love it.

source: style.com

I looked around for some more of Gyslain Yarhi's stuff and was not too impressed with what I found... but I did come across photographer Bruno Dayan and just fell in love with his work! I could post everything of his, and probably will over time!

I love the nude on nude theme of the above shoot. I find that many people connect 'nude'/'beige' with 'old' and unfortunately just write it off completely. The styling here is a perfect example of how it can look fresh and sophisticated in one breath - and that you don't need bronzed skin to pull it off. I love how the set director took the idea a step further and toned down the background to compliment the clothes and accessories. Everything about this shoot works in all the right ways.

source: www.brunodayan.com

Elodie Bouchez by Gyslain Yarhi for Booklet #9

There's just something about this shot that gets me. I love the accessories, simple thin hints of gold everywhere, but it's not at all obnoxious or overstated. Her expression is almost as if she was caught unawares and rushed to put on a pair of sunnies in an apologetic way for not having a shirt on - and yet it's all staged in studio. I have to look up more stuff from Yarhi... I'll show you what I find!

Garance has such the discerning eye when it comes to street fashion. Her recent jaunt to Australia uncovered a whole world of fashionistas that so many were just unaware of. I lived in Melbourne for 8 months while doing a Uni exchange a few years back and I am still wearing a lot of the pieces all these years later. I bought a sawl as a present and I swear it is by the same person who did the cardigan above. A piece like this has been on my list for years - the perfect knit (no wool, thankyouvery much, no one is ever in the mood to be itchy 24/7), colours, and length - and Garance finds it just like that, walking down Bondi beach at dusk.

My little sis is over there checking up on our renegade brother and I have instructed her to bring me back EVERY magazine she can get her hands on. She returns in 10 days and already I have cleared my schedule to accommodate the much needed dose of Aussieness.

source: garancedore.fr

Mona Johannesson by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue Paris March 2005

Romantic grunge? Only Emmanuelle Alt could interpret someone's personal style into something so delicious.

You Will Be Missed

I came across the blog of fabulously talented Abbey Hunt. Aside from the combo of fashion and whatever-strikes-my-fancy posts, she creates beautiful illustrations. She often mentions that her sketches are not all finished, but to me the half-done nature is a huge part of their allure.

I remember spending Sunday afternoons just sketching whatever was around - my mum always let us use her art supplies. At one point all I drew was Sailor Moon - long legs and huge doe eyes. I wish I had kept those sketch books! I haven't sketched anything since high school art class, but seeing drawing such as these makes me want to go out and get all those blue pencils again...

Tobacco and Leather is a great blog with tons of big, glossy eye candy. Visit here.