Jed Texas - Rumours Say

Photography CECILIE HARRIS
Styling JENNIVI JORDAN
Styling Assistant Mary FERRERAS
Hair KARIN KRATZEISEN
Model JED TEXAS (Elite)
Photographic Assistant PRISCILLA RATOLA

Please take a look at the rest of the editorial up on Boys by Girls >> Rumours Say.

And some more behind the scenes >here<. (Boys by Girls)

Cecilie also put together a less styled shoot amptly named >>   A Beautiful Mistake.

Graduate Fashion Week 2012

I attended GFW today to watch Northumbria. I only just remembered last week that GFW was happening so I had to quickly get my act together and get myself tickets to some shows. 

My absolute fave was Hannah Harrisons amazing clashes of prints and colours a combination that I always love!

Her collection titled "I travel for travels sake" inspired by Susie Bubble going on an imaginary journey around Sout-East Asia. To be honest this eclectic collection was made fit for Susie who is the obvious chosen muse.

All accesories were also carefully considered from matching bags, sunglasses and those great platform shoes.

Hannah Harrison

I am also glad to notice that menswear was strongly showcased having half of the students shown were menswear designers.

It was a great show as usual from Northumbria, a very good collection this year.

Looking forward to tomorrow where I'll be watching Nottingham Trent & De Montfort. 

So enjoy the following graduates that I found exceptionally great...

Amelia Smith

Chloe Horsfield

Kellie Fountain

Rebecca Byers

Ying Xu- Charlotte Sowerby- Martin Percival

Also I really liked Emily Edge's menswear collection. I can see myself even wearing it but unfortunately I wasn't able to capture any good pics as she was the first one shown so here are her illustrations which doesn't really justify the actual real thing but I will update this at some point and borrow other peoples images.

Emily Edge

Behind the scenes for my first fashion film...

Director/DOP/Editor: Harry Reavley
Assistant Director: Betsy Reavley

Stylist: Jennivi Jordan
Hair: Viktoria Toth
Make-up: Nadia Saleem
Model (Darkness): Lilly P
Model (Light): Olga Grbich

Many thanks to the designers who contributed.

Inbar Inspector

Laura Sorensen 

Nicole De Carle

Agnostic point of view

In recent weeks I have been inundated with the subject of religion and throughout this I have been questioning my own beliefs and thoughts on the matter. And now I feel that I should make a comment about it. 

The influence of religion is everywhere. For those who are agnostic or an atheist it may feel like its being pushed down their throat. Where ever I am I see a preacher in the corner. Everyone I know has an opinion about it. I hear it in my music, I see it in gangs, I taste it in my food that's been religiously blessed before I consume it.

Before I say things that might offend certain religious individuals I'd like to say that I have nothing against it. I am baptised Catholic, my mum is a strong believer and I attended church regularly as a child with my grandma. Most of my close friends are Muslims but as an adult I have become agnostic.

I'm not here to randomly rant about religion because this post is also linked to fashion as well! When I saw the work of LCF graduate Jennifer F M Murray and read her insightful interview by Dazed Digital her words and collection 'Cirque d'Amen' resonated exactly with what I think of the current situation and my views in religion specially of the Catholic Church and my distrust of the head grew since the scandals of child abuse in the 80's that had surfaced in 2010 and not just that but even way back when from watching film The Magdalene Sister based on true events (good film you guys should watch). All bad press of course leads me to question religion even more but I know it should not be seen as that in general, unfortunately those individuals gives a bad reputation/association with the good of religion. 

Murray's menswear graduate collection Cirque d'Amen is around the questioning of the Catholic Church and how it feels more to her as a 'circus' than a religious institution and that her concept is "If Jesus were the Ringmaster and the Pope resembled the status of White Face Joe Clown..."

Her inspirations are clearly shown and well balanced throughout. The voluptuous shapes and cuts taken both from traditional clown circus costumes and clerical uniforms turned into modern aesthetics. I really like the regality of her pieces too with the use of fur, gold brocade, embroidery and embellishment. Those tapestry inspired shoes are amazing which I wouldn't mind owning another pair to go with my similarly styled ballet pumps.

This is another small example of what I find quite fascinating in how religion is often used in the media as inspiration to either manipulate, encourage or discourage peoples perception of religion. I remember this recent ad for United Colours of Benetton...  

...what else do you expect from a brand who always produce controversial campaigns and are always portraying current political issues. And there are plenty more  examples in the social media where religion is being exploited. 

Showcasing different meanings must be confusing for those who knows nothing about it and I find myself for one. It's funny how this subject has been brought up around me a lot again lately as for my Uni dissertation I covered "Religion: Fashion statement" and how it no longer has become a deep personal commitment etc. All this talk and exploitation of the subject unfortunately deducts the true meaning and aim of a faith. 

I had an interesting conversation with colleagues at work the other day one who is also a good friend of mine. We talked about her beliefs in Islam and my none religious beliefs. It was interesting how we contradicted each other but also at the same time had exact values and both agreed that the core teachings of any religion are all the same and I follow those core teachings so in that aspect am I religious?! No not exactly because I don't believe all the dogma that is associated in any religion. And to be part of that religion you have to also follow those and I have a hard time believing it so I'd rather not be religious than be false and pretentious. 

Perhaps then mine is more about moral self discipline/belief and it is sometimes hard to do because I have no outlet to concentrate it on for example in the form of a God?! I've always seen religion as a form of focus and there to provide the teachings of life and shows examples of how to lead a good one. These examples are shown in the form of stories which I see it written in the respected religious books- these I see as book of teachings!  I feel that there is some form of... I don't know spiritual belief of some sort as I kinda do believe in Karma so perhaps thats my religion. Now talking about 'spiritual self belief' how about scientology? Well I don't know anything about it so I can't even comment or link myself or anything to it.

Anyway there are sooo much to discuss, debate and cover on this subject specially for me as I am trying to understand religion in general or perhaps am still contemplating whether it is something I believe in or not. For now I am an agnostic and who knows if this will change. I am pretty happy with my beliefs. Maybe if fashion was a religion then I'll be an extremist but then if this was its god… 

...I will probably have trouble worshiping. Imagine!!

I think some people need to strip everything else down and find only the goodness of religion. For those who judges another religion and thinks it wrong or just opposes it, it's purely because they don't know about that religion and only knows what has been portrayed in society and unfortunately it is more negative. 

Today I watched an interview of photographer Juergen Teller and he said something that is parallel to my feelings of self belief...

"I think you make up your own rules, it's so easy to fall into this trap of religion and political correctness and you cannot do this or you cannot do that. I think if you make up your moral grounds of what's right or wrong you can live a free life." 

Free life? Isn't that what we all aspire to, in the good sense. 

Shooting with Jed Texas

I was contacted by the Cecilie Harris to do a menswear shoot for Boys by Girls and was very excited to learn that we were working with Jed Texas. :D Excited! We shoot on a nice deceivingly sunny day but turned out very cold. 

Photographic Assistant: Priscilla Ratola (left)

Hair: Karin Kratzeisen (right)

Many thanks to my lovely assistant Mary Ferreras.

We first headed to Battersea Park and shot by the Buddha, then into a car park to keep warm and then back to Cecillie roof balcony to use the gorgeous sunset as a back drop.

Here are a few behind the scenes courtesy of Cecilie Harris, check out more on the story here on... Boys by Girls behind the scenes. 

Will be showing you soon of the final shots of gorgeous Jed. :)

First show attended yesterday. Fam Irvoll Monstermash AW 12/13 was full of sweet prints, designs and colours used. Very in keeping with the current seasons pastel and rainbow shades. I particularly loved Fam's collaboation with Underground creeper shoes!!! I want one now!

Fashion, sometimes its creepy and wrong but we welcome it all...

Also the following night I attended Blow PR presents event where my new designer-to-keep-an-eye-on were presented, Jane Bowler and Eleanor Amoroso. Recently used Bowler's pieces for a Ballad Of... Candy Pop shoot which I shall be posting behind the scene pictures very soon.

Eleanor Amoroso

Jane Bowler