Just as I’m starting to crave Fall weather and wardrobe transitions, the Spring ’11 lookbooks start surfacing, tempting us with looks that we won’t be able to wear until 6 months from now. Working in this industry always throws your head for a bit of a spin and it’s hard to live and dress in the now and focus on what’s available and wearable in the present.
But don’t let that fool you, there’s also something incredibly exciting about booking lines so early and then having to wait so long, almost forgetting what awaits when you open those boxes come the following season. Seneca Rising is definitely a favourite, with it’s clever layering pieces, raw edges, subtle details, and inspired prints and patterns, and when I received the Spring ’11 lookbook, entitled “Valley of the Dolls”, I knew I was in for a treat.
The best part? I haven’t put in my order yet, so if something catches your eye, this is your chance to share your opinion and help in the buying process. Enjoy!
For behind the scenes shots, wander over to the Seneca Rising blog.
And also, don’t forget to check out Shop Bicyclette for two favourite pieces from the Summer ’10 collection, the Danny Dress and the Ella Vest. Even better? They’re both on sale!
There’s something so magical and mysterious about Polaroid photos, and with film being expensive and hard to find these days, there’s an elusive quality about them as well. When I came across Polaroid photographer Fernanda Montoro‘s work, I was blown away by the simple beauty of each image. The colours, the lighting, the textures, the mood conveyed through each piece is breathtaking. I’ve been using Polaroid imagery in the Bicyclette branding as well as a source of inspiration, but these photos have made me want to start experimenting more and explore other ways to incorporate it. To be continued?
images via fernanda montoro
I’m looking forward to Fall: the chill in the air, the clothes, the layering, the change, but I’m still enjoying every last morsel of summer and relishing sun-washed skin, bare legs and little dresses. It feels like I’ve missed a good portion of it in exchange for hours at the computer and in the studio, so I enjoy living vicariously through photo shoots that are able to capture the essence of summertime.
These photos are shot by Thirty9Steps, a photography team based out of Toronto (and I believe also from the Ryerson School of Fashion) and I’m loving their art direction and styling, and the overall aesthetic.
Tomorrow? An update on the site. Weekends are relatively useless right now, as I’m unable to make the calls I need to …
photo cred: thirty9steps
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a full inspiration post (you can’t force it, it has to find you), but yesterday as I was catching up on blog reading, I came across Circa Now, an Australian blog. So this is the third installment of my photo inspiration series, the first two can be found here and here. What caught my eye about these photos is the mysterious quality they evoke and the use of double exposures to create a layered effect. I love the subtlety of its use in these shots, how you almost have to look twice to actually see all the details and recognize that there are two images, not just one. And there’s something almost grungy and dirty about the colours in the photos that I’m really attracted to. It’s different.
I imagine you’ll be seeing more images from this blog in the future. It’s odd, but there’s something about the Australian aesthetic, and you’ll notice that a lot of my inspiration comes from there, whether it’s a clothing line, a photographer, a model …
photo cred: circa now
It’s been a busy week, with another one to come, and a lot of exciting stuff going on.
The website is extremely close to being done. The design is done, the content is ready, and I’m currently working with a dummy site, uploading product and testing various details, etc. The whole process has taken much longer than originally planned, but that’s the way it usually is with these things, and it’s always a learning process. I’ll be continuing with more specific updates as progress is made, and am hoping that it will go live …. in about a week! I’ve been hesitant to give specific dates, as there are certain factors beyond my control, but there you have it!
This past Wednesday we shot the remaining product for the website, and also headed out to the street to experiment with some look book shots. We didn’t have very much time, but were able to play around a little and get some gorgeous shots of our model Erika posing on the porch and on the bike. How perfectly do those shoes match the bike!?! Below are a few selects, all still rough drafts and in various states of editing and treatments.
I’m curious, what shots are you drawn to, and in terms of the editing, what do you like and not like?
photo cred: shelby fenlon
This photo is just so perfect. I fell in love with it immediately and had to share.
That is all!
via The Sartorialist
Another Wildfox shoot for Resort ’10: “USA”. I believe this collection consists primarily of reissues of their bestselling, classic styles. I think the blurb from their blog sums it up nicely:
“When you start to feel down about the weather or your location, just take a local tour bus ride or a road trip to LA. That’s what we did! When you are with beautiful, Australian “it” girl, Tiernan Cowling, and Mark the Cobrasnake, life is always a vacation; Especially now that Tiernan’s moved to California. We chased her down Hollywood BLVD, sprawled out across the stars, bought maps to the stars homes and filled bags with fake oscars. We ran to the top of the tour bus right before the driver left, the air felt great up there as we whizzed past In N Out burger and Chateau Marmont. We jumped off the bus at McDonalds and got soft serve ice cream, we fell even more in love with LA and each other.”
Curious if you’re drawn to photo shoots like this, which are more spur-of-the-moment and street style focused, or prefer more orchestrated and studio-oriented shoots? I suppose there’s a time and place for both …
Yesterday was the big day – photo shoot! Extremely special thanks to Shelby (photographer), Tiffany (model), Angela (makeup artist), and Laura (styling assistant). I honestly couldn’t have done it without these lovely ladies and their multi-talented selves. It was a humid, long, almost 9 hour day, and I’m exhausted, but when you take a look at the images below, I think you’ll agree with me that it was so very worth it.
Shelby has passed along a few “behind the scenes” images from the shoot that I’m excited to share with you to give you a sense of the aesthetic and a sneak peak at the styling. I am so happy with how they turned out and the overall look and feel of the shoot. Very Bicyclette, and so many more to come!
I am in love with this photo shoot. Every now and then I come across something that is so closely aligned with my own creative vision that it gives me the chills. Whereas my first Photo Inspiration post was focused on product shots for the website, this Miss Unkon shoot is how I imagine the Bicyclette look book to be: soft light and palette, a retro feminine feeling, a mix between in- and outdoors, and a girl-about-her-day storyline. Not to mention the styling. And the variety in photo cropping and use of graphic shapes. Le sigh.
I’m in the midst of doing some hardcore cleaning, but I just had to share one image that I’ve fallen in love with. I always eagerly await new issues of Lula Magazine, and I am never disappointed with the styling and photo shoots, teasing me into wanting to try to recreate each one. If there was an easier way to do it, I would scan every image from the most recent issue, but alas, one photo will have to do for now, from the shoot entitled ‘Sophisticated Boom Boom: Sparkle, Shimmer & Shine’. I’m seriously contemplating covering the studio walls with all of the images, but there’s something sacrilegious about destroying a Lula …
Love the makeup. And the hair. And the vintage styling, overall.
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