Wednesday, April 27, 2011

British Vogue

UPDATE: Those interested in the Royal Wedding, it's 11PM on the 28th April, and Sarah Burton has just been seen going into Kate Middleton's hotel!! It's pretty much official: WE HAVE A MCQUEEN WEDDING DRESS PEOPLE!!!

Despite being an avid reader of this blog, I have only used my author privileges once since gaining them, which was a fair few months ago! SO for your lovely eyes, and in order to stay awake so I feel like crap in the morning and can get off school [so much homework, so little motivation..], I thought I'd show you one issue of Vogue that Kylie didn't cover in her recent post [which now has me aspiring to travel the world so I can purchase them all, or at least set up some heftily-priced subscription services].

I'm pretty sure the world knows about the Royal Wedding occuring on Friday between Prince William and Kate Middleton, but the psychosis is at its peak in Britain. Commercials are now nuptuals-themed, fascinators are in mass production, and you can't go many places without finding Union Jack bunting or flags or other celebratory shmuck plastered over everything. Browsing the book aisle in the supermarket I work at, even authors are at it, with several plump new novels on the shelves geared heavily towards weddings. And no, it's not a coincidence. At least one of them actually references the royal do on the back cover blurb [given the short time frame this would allow for writing, publishing and all the processes that accompany those, it does make you question the quality of such pieces].

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against the whole sha-bang. I love a good wedding program on the TV [Say Yes To The Dress, Don't Tell The Bride etc], big white dresses are my kinda thing and despite being in high school and nowhere near engagement times, I already have comprehensive plans for my own eventual Big Day [don't judge me]. Nor do I have any grievances with the happy couple. Prince William is charming and I'm glad he's found someone who makes him so happy, and Kate seems like a perfect future queen [think: that luscious hair and sense of style could make for one hell of a stunning coronation...]. But the first thing I did when I heard of the engagement was groan, because I knew already the madness that would entail. And when you can't change channels without stumbling across ANOTHER bloody royal wedding program, or flip through a magazine without seeing a feature on wedding attire, it becomes really tiresome.

But then, as it does, Vogue reawakened the bridezilla in me. The May issue has three covers to choose from, featuring Lara Stone, Freja Beha Erichsen and Natalia Vodianova in a white, frothy, glowing headshot. Stunning photography.


But it wouldn't be Vogue if they'd left it at the simply 'bridal radiance' cliche set. So to juxtapose the crafted beauty the cover boasts, they created two fabulous editorials to go with it.

The first features Agyness Deyn in this spring's hot hue: white [it's as if the S/S'11 shows knew the engagement was coming, and styled accordingly]. Appropriately titled 'White Mischief', the pixie-esque model poses in several cute and precocious vintage ensembles - billowing dresses, thick frou frou skirts, ankle socks, cutout midi skirts, quaint tea dresses and fantabulous hats [not to mention one delicious feathery cover draping her frame - I want that throw for my bed..]; all shot in a warm hybrid location: deserted beach/middle of nowhere/stripped back farmhouse/Amazonian sands complete with frolicking wildcats. J'adore, j'adore, j'adore!!














I adore the way this shoot takes a more risky look at white and vintage, and the fabulous contrast with the location. It would have been so easy for them to do basic tea party attire, pretty florals, maybe some kittens, set at a posh hotel or perhaps a French farmhouse look, but instead they opted for more exaggerated styles, extreme textures, quirky details and a wonderful African setting. Kudos to the Vogue team. Proud to be Brit!

The second of the shoots is perhaps not as original, but the stunning content means I really couldn't care less. Showcasing fabulous designer wedding couture, this shoot has glamourous models with sculpted beauty and radiance wearing the most wonderous and extreme of bride chic, surrounded by men and women in uniform [Mmm, lovely]. Opulent fabrics, multiple textures and oh my God, tulle... Lucinda Chambers, if this is your world I want it!!







Everything about this shoot I adore. Men in uniform are a bonus, but I don't think I'd care if they were obese sweaty women in jeggings. From the swelling net skirts, intense beading and piled up trains, to the crisp shining origami silk, sharp silhouettes and the absolute beauty of the last ballerina-esque net gown, this editorial goes from extremities of opulence to simple elegance, all topped with an oversized flower perched in the models hair. I want them all, all of them!!

So in true Vogue style, fashion excellence has revigorated my enthusiasm for this forced wedding season. And I pray now to God that the rumours are true, and that Sarah Burton for McQueen has designed Kate's dress, as it will surely be as gorgeous as the examples above. All hail Catherine Middleton, the couture queen!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Complex Pose Tutorial (#3)

It’s been quite some time since I did a scenery tutorial so I decided to do one (:

Today’s scenery will be inspired by this photo:


For this scenery we’re going to start out with a black background.


The first thing we must determine is what angle to place the head at. I drew a line on the picture and my doll to help figure this out:


On the picture you can see the line is about a 45 degree angle, so then I just had to rotate my doll until it was also at the same angle.


Then I moved my doll to the center of the scenery, because having symmetry always makes a scenery look better.  So now we’re going to work on her left arm. The first thing you should notice about this arm is how close it is to her chin. The next thing you should notice is the angle of her arm. 


Taking these things into account, the arm should be placed like this:


Now we place another arm in to bend it like this:


Now we move on to the right arm. 


When doing the first part of this arm you have to be careful that the head does not overlap the left arm: 


Now this is where it gets tricky. It’s really challenging to put the last part of the arm in place with out covering the other parts that you want. So I put the arm down a few layers, but I had to keep it above the first part of the left arm (or else it would go behind the other head). 


This is a sacrifice I had to make, but it is easily blended in. Now I have to cover up everything I don’t need. Let’s take a look at what I do need:


Keeping in mind what we do need, I’ll cover up what we don’t need. 


Now I am well aware that this does not look to fab, but once your put clothes on it’ll look a lot better (:


Now for complex poses it's best to use objects as clothes, like I did above. Now just add a few items, maybe tying in a theme, and a tile:


 "If only we had more time..."

And tada! you're done!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! How did it compare to my previous ones?


Monday, April 25, 2011

Vogue May 2011 Covers!

Hey everyone, how are you all this Easter? Got lots of chocolate? ;D
I've compiled a list of Vogue's 2011 May covers, some of them are just amazing, others not so much. Tell me your favourites in the comments and if you'll be picking up an issue!


Vogue Japan features Kate Moss on the cover in pastel pink.


Vogue Australia has Julia Nobis on the cover. Not one of my favourites, even if it is Australian!


I love this cover by Vogue Russia with Maryna Linchuk on the cover. It's a gorgeous dress with a very bold neck piece.

Reese Witherspoon is on the cover of Vogue US. Her new movie with Robert Pattinson is out, anyone going to see 'Water for Elephants'?The gorgeous Frida Gustavsson is on the cover of Vogue China. Anyone else love her as much as I do? :P

Kate Moss has yet another Vogue cover this month, this time on Vogue Paris. Not quite sure what to make of all the hands grabbing at her, but she does look stunning.

Isabeli Fontana looks amazing in Vogue Spain! I'm in love with it!

Vogue Germany has Alexi Lubomirski with lovely hair on the cover.


Hyun Yi Lee, Han Hye Jin and Hye Jung Lee all star on the cover of Vogue Korea.



And Bregje Heinen is on the cover of Vogue Greece! Love those colours!


What do you think?
Should I continue posting more covers? What magazines would you like to see?

Pictures from here and here.


Saturday, April 23, 2011

Spoiler: Dang magazine

It seems everyone is gearing up for spring-that means spring fashion, and spring magazines!


Dang magazine recently released their spoiler!
Gillian (