At the occasion of Paris fashion week I decided to see how it’s like to be among the fashion and street style photographers in front of show venues. It’s a real dilemna because most of the time they are pretty invasive especially that their number have considerably grown over the years but on another side, I have some sort of respect knowing that becoming a good street style photographer is not that easy. And let’s be honest the fashion crowd is now highly contributing to the phenomenon by showing off their craziest, trendiest attire just to have their picture taken. Here are the golden rules to guarantee a successful photographic session and a few selected pictures I was able to take:
Stylist and fashion consultant Kate Foley
1. Be sure to have the right camera and be ready: good professional material already set up and quick is key to obtain the best shots
2. Know the who’s who of fashion and entertainment world: if you want to have pictures that matter. However there are plenty of unknown fashionistas even photographers take pictures of each other, the only requirement after all is to be stylish!
3. Find a strategic area: when a “person of interest” arrives you can be sure everybody will jump on her/him to get a picture but some smart or should I say experienced photographers, managed to always take it easily
4. Be attentive: some fashion targets try to get round the crowd or walk fast to avoid being stopped, but if you can spot her/him from afar, you have good chances to catch them anyway. Yes, it’s like a hunting game…
Fashion creative director Vogue Japan Anna Dello Russo (in the middle)
International Herald Tribune Suzy Menkes (right)
Mme Figaro Fashion writer Carine Bizet
Vogue US Lynn Yaeger
LOVE Magazine EIC Katie Grand (left)
5. Be patient: Often the “real” fashion crowd is coming from a previous show and tend to get to the next one at the time it’s supposed to start or even a bit after, but once one is here the others follow shortly. As for celebrities, it’s another piece of cake. Their technic is usually to enter from an hidden door unless there is none and they have to use the main entrance. In that case, the black car with tinted windows will be your best bet, but once again be fast, it only takes a few seconds for the photographers to completely surround it!
Teen Vogue fashion news director Jane Keltner De Valle
Julia Restoin Roitfeld
Stylist Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele
Fashion blogger Linda Tol
Vogue Paris Claire Delhens (back) and Capucine Safyurtlu (right)
Casting director and Fashion consultant Natalie Joos
10 Magazine Sophia Neophitou and fashion editor stylist George Cortina
6. Identify your fellow famous bloggers: you will be so focused on all the editors, stylists and VIP’s that you might miss the star bloggers. They became as important and notorious as big magazines editors. For example I couldn’t photograph Scott Schuman from the Sartorialist but got Tamu McPherson and NY Times veteran Bill Cunningham. From the back.
And if you want to know more about the subject read the excellent article published last year in the New York Timesby Suzy Menkes about the circus of fashion.
After the Spring 14 ad campaign for Balmain, Rihanna is once again getting the fashion sphere excited: she just scored her third cover story for Vogue US, which is pretty rare even for big Hollywood actresses all the more for a young singer of colour. It seems that Anna Wintour can’t get enough of her style and cool attitude, definitely a nice shake up for the readership of the glossy high end magazine!
All images are from Vogue US March 14 issue, photography by David Sims
I rarely post about men, but lately I’ve been kind of obsessed with Jared Leto that’s why I chose him for this new category named Coup de Coeur. For those who don’t know him Jared is an American actor who played Claire Danes’s love interest in 90′s teen show, My so called life, and movies like Fight Club, Requiem for a dream, American Psycho just to name a few. Known for completely embracing his feminine side and being adventurous with his look, constantly reinventing himself almost like David Bowie and alter ego Ziggy Stardust, his physical transformation and performance for the Dallas Buyers Club film as a seropositive transgender earned him a nomination at the Oscars. Besides his successful acting career, he also created his own rock band with his brother called 30 seconds to Mars. Lately Jared Leto long locks and hypnotic blue eyes have been seen everywhere from NYFW front row shows to awards events. After a couple of quiet years, probably focusing on his music, the androgynous actor is back to the spotlights for our greatest pleasure!
Jared Leto at the Golden Globes ceremony
Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Model Ming Xi and Jared Leto at New York fashion week (image courtesy of vogue.com)
The movie Yves Saint Laurent, directed by Jalil Lespert, is a must see. Actor Pierre Niney interprets in a impressive way the famous designer, through the movie we live the tremendous success of the young prodige in the exclusive world of Parisian haute couture, his chronic depression and anxiety but also his love story with longtime partner Pierre Berge played by Guillaume Gallienne. The rest of the casting includes Charlotte Le Bon in the role of Victoire Doutreleau the friend and muse of Yves at the beginning of his career but who will inevitably betray him, Laura Smet as the beautiful eccentric free spirit Loulou De La Falaise and Marie De Villepin really convincing in the role of the enigmatic model Betty Catroux. A movie full of emotion, love, nostalgia and creativity browsing a destiny of exception, the end of an era…
Pierre Niney and Guillaume Gallienne as Yves St Laurent and Pierre Berge
Pierre Niney and Charlotte Le Bon as Yves St Laurent and Victoire Doutreleau
I went to see to Azzedine Alaia exhibition at the freshly renovated Palais Galliera. It’s one of the thing I love when I come back in Paris, there is no cities where exhibitions are so well curated and where I’m completely immersed into the designer or artist’s world. That’s exactly what happened with this exhibit, the more emblematic looks of Alaia were exposed, you could see the perfect fit of the body conscious silhouettes, from the materials used to the cut, the final result is just mesmerising. Azzedine knows how to magnify women and understands the complexity of feminine curves. Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell, two of his favourite models, but also Grace Jones or Tina Turner wearing his creations, marked the 90′s fashion era. I wish to see more of Alaia’s work in the next couple of years, a real artist who continues to seduce thousands of women around the world but managed to stay true to his craft without falling into today’s fashion diktats.
This season haute couture was mostly about modernity and exploring new directions: the silhouette is more urban and graphic without compromising on the high level of craftsmanship (Giambattista Valli, Vionnet, Bouchra Jarrar). Garments are simplified with a contemporary twist probably to respond to the aspirations of a younger clientele: at Chanel the atmosphere was sporty chic, models wore sneakers plus knees and elbows protections, at Christian Dior mini skirts and laser cut out short dresses or gowns dominated the runway. Printed coats were kind of a big thing already for Spring Ready to Wear (Prada, Miu Miu) this time I particularly loved the tribute to painter’s Paul Gauguin at Maison Martin Margiela, let’s also salute the tattoo “trompe l’oeil” crop top! In a less extravagant way, the lion jungle print at Valentino was also very interesting and new for the brand. Another big trend was the Black Swan theme at Valentino, Chanel and Maison Martin Margiela. Last but not least, the return of the Schiaparelli house, maybe a bit too soon to give an opinion but some looks were definitely worth keeping an eye on it like this high waist printed pants paired with long white gloves and tall black straw hat.
Congratulations to actress Lupita Nyong’owho is one of the new face of Miu Miu for Spring/Summer 2014. Definitely one of the fashion sensation of the moment!
The Award season is officially launched with the Golden Globes which were held yesterday evening in LA. Actresses really stepped up this year with beautiful looks. Many of them chose dramatic, old hollywood black gowns like Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive, Sofia Vergara in Zac Posen (love how she paired the Lorraine Schwartz flower turquoise necklace and the strapless long ball gown), Jessica Chastain looking very glamorous in Givenchy Haute Couture or Taylor Swift with a color block shocking pink and black Carolina Herrera gown. Lupita Nyong’o was gorgeous in a bright tangerine Ralph Lauren cape gown as well as Emma Watson, always a step ahead, in Christian Dior Couture… Also special mention to the A-list expecting mums: Kerry Washington, Drew Barrymore and Olivia Wilde which all made wise choices to hit the red carpet, plus more best dressed!
Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive (image from eonline)
Sofia Vergara in Zac Posen and Lorraine Schwartz (image from eonline)
Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Haute Couture (image from fashion gone rogue)
Taylor Swift in Carolina Herrera (image from ok.co.uk)
Lupita Nyong’o in Ralph Lauren (image from popsugar)
Emma Watson in Christian Dior Couture (image from mtv.com)
Kerry Washington in Balenciaga (image from getty images)
Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier (image from the miami herald)
Olivia Wilde in Gucci Premiere
Zoe Zaldana in Prabal Gurung (image from eonline)
Caitlin Fitzgerald in Emilia Wickstead (image from eonline)
It’s that time of the year again, the time of good resolutions, the opportunity to start fresh, change habits and take on new challenges. Here at Le Bazhaar, expect also a few changes to come but we will talk about it again very soon! After the black and white trend, the Spring Summer 2014 collections are more colorful and joyful than ever. With strong influences from foreign cultures (Africa, Asia) but also art with graphic patterns and splash of colors, (seen at Chanel, Celine, Prada, Preen, Pucci among others) fashion is announcing a year of renewal, risk taking, hope and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see Nicolas Gesquiere’s work at Louis Vuitton, the evolution of Alexander Wang at Balenciaga, what would happen to the Jil Sander brand after its founder of the same name left her label for the third time and of course Marc Jacobs designing just for Marc Jacobs, many exciting things in perspective! I chose actress Keira Knightley Harper’s Bazaar February 14 shoot (wearing Chanel SS14 on the cover) because of its freshness and the positive message that each picture communicates. Hope you will enjoy, wish you all a successful, stylish and happy new year!
All images are from Harper’s Bazaar UK February 14 issue
Before Anna Wintour, fashion had another empress, her name? Diana Vreeland, one of the most iconic and influent figure of fashion history. Born in Paris, at La Belle Epoque era in the early 1900′s, Diana already a highly regarded socialite, worked herself to the top by always managing to be the most elegant, interesting, smartest woman wherever she went despite her ungrateful features which will be the object of recurrent cruelty from her own mother. Soon she becomes fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar in New York until she joins Vogue as editor in chief right in the middle of the creative and youthful period of the sixties. At Vogue, she will establish her status of most influential person in the industry. Her unique eye and fearless attitude allowed her to discover or propel to stardom talents such as Lauren Bacall, Marisa Berenson, Cher, Ali Mc Graw, Barbara Streisand, Edie Sedgwick, Lauren Hutton and the list goes on. Her last position will be at the MET Museum, acting as a special consultant, where she will revamp the whole fashion department and curate memorable fashion exhibitions. The Eye has to travelis a wonderful documentary on Diana Vreeland that I urge you to watch to learn more about this legendary figure.
Diana Vreeland
Diana Vreeland in her living room that she liked to call “A garden in hell”
Diana Vreeland style icone
Diana Vreeland and Marisa Berenson
Singer and model Cher for Vogue, 1966
Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol protégée, in Vogue proclaimed It girl by Diana Vreeland
Two ad campaigns caught my eye for Spring Summer 14: Rihanna for Balmain shot by Inez and Vinoodh, and neo soul prodige Erykah Badu for Givenchy shot by Mert and Marcus. Olivier Rousteing and Riccardo Tisci, respectively creative directors for Balmain and Givenchy, are taking their brand to the next level by choosing two strong powerful female artists also known for their unique and highly influential sense of style. We can only respect those bold choices which hopefully will encourage more diversity in the fashion landscape.
Rihanna for Balmain (image courtesy of Balmain)
Erykah Badu for Givenchy (image courtesy of Givenchy)
The elegant skirts are back. Actually they were never gone, they just belong to this category of timeless and forever fashionable items that every girl should have. Jessica Alba in Ralph Lauren and Dianna Agron in Oscar De La Renta both look perfect and show us how to wear it!
Colored hair…One way to lift up your mood and update your look and add a little bit of fantasy is to dare trying flashy hair colorations. The main inspiration being the blue hair from Abdel Kechiche’s movie, La Vie d’Adele, whether you choose to do a kaleidoscope style playing with shades like Katy Perry gorgeous mix of blue and turquoise or adopt Jamie King sophisticated hair locks you will be right in the trend of the moment! You can also go all the way like Kelly Osbourne famously known lavender color or get inspired by the celebs below, have fun!
Katy Perry (source the hairstyler.com)
Actress and model Jamie King (source us magazine.com)
Kelly Osbourne (source bellasugar.com)
Kelly Osbourne (source huffingtonpost.com)
Ashley Smith (source Marie Claire US Dec 13 issue)
La Vie d’Adele movie poster, (in English, Blue is the warmest color)
There is a new “it girl” in the place, everybody can’t stop talking about Lupita. First she is beautiful, second she’s smart and third she’s co starring in Steve Mc Queen Oscar worthy last movie, 12 Years a Slave, with Brad Bitt, Chiwetel Ejifor and Michael Fassbender, not bad for a beginning… Born in Mexico, the Kenyan actress studied acting in Yale and played in various stage productions, but also wrote, produced and directed In My Genes a documentary about Kenya’s Albino population. From Chanel to Miu Miu designers have only one envy, it is to dress Lupita we can’t wait for the Award season!
The Prada and Marc Jacobs shows marked this SS14 fashion week by their strong message about women in the past, today and future society… For me they were by far the most accomplished and impressive ones.
The icons: Mila Jovovich in Jeanne d’Arc meets the Belle Epoque coquette
At Marc Jacobs, we were confronted to a survivor who faces an apocalyptic world and keeps fighting no matter what, but also plays with fashion and managed to assemble unexpected pieces: sneakers and bermuda mixed with heavy wool silk embellished troubadour jackets, sequins beaded dresses worn with flat native American boots or Belle Epoque rich silk taffetas gowns, betraying a luxurious and decadent past.
Mila Jovovich in Jeanne D’Arc (1999)
Coquette of La Belle Epoque (circa 1900′s)
Marc Jacobs SS14
Marc Jacobs SS14
Marc Jacobs SS14
Marc Jacobs SS14
Marc Jacobs SS14
The Icon: Eva Peron meets the Chula girl
Miucca Prada took us to the perilous world of feminist fighters and women who struggle all over the world. Indeed the audience could see those impressive frescoes painted by mural artists that reflected the “barrio latino” street art and Miucca’s political statement. The awesome face drawings on most of the looks were definitely the central point of the show smartly combined with sportswear elements and powerful colors.
Eva Peron
Karrueche Tran as a Chula girl (image from the daily mail uk)
Paris was a whirlwind of great surprises this season. Between designers getting out of their comfort zone (Christian Dior using preppy dress codes, and Celine more colorful than ever), the unexpected performance of the Rick Owens’s presentation (instead of models, the designers had professional stepping dancers), Alexander Wang affirming his identity at Balenciaga and the last show of Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, this fashion week was particularly impressive. At Celine and Chanel we saw a new palette of bright colors announcing a festive summer, I particularly love the rainbow eye make up on Chanel’s models. African influences like tribal accessories, body conscious wrapping or clothing embellishments graced the runway at Givenchy (amazing glitter make up masks), Alexander Mc Queen, Celine. Some Frida Khalo references were also spotted at Valentino, Elie Saab and Vivienne Westwood. The 70′s bohemian, as always, was represented at Miu Miu and Valentino with brown to dark reds patchwork beautiful suede pieces. Balmain denim pieces mixed with gold chunky jewelry are to die for, talking of gold, I loved the subtil touch at Dries Van Noten mixed with more casual pieces, Anthony Vaccarello showed a sexier version and Lanvin went on the sophisticated side. Heidi Slimane for Saint Laurent continues to surf on the rock’n roll attitude with a 60′s, 80′s vibe this season.
