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

Wonjee Chung Lookbook

I consulted and helped put together Wonjee's lookbook whom I first met from borrowing her graduate collection for the Vidal Sassoon show I did. I was very excited to work with Wonjee as she is a great knitwear designer, her inspiration and ideas is very much my style. Futuristic and a little dark.

Check out XXØ Digital for doing a little showcase of the work we did.

My piece of DIY

Photography: Luke Nugent

Styling: Jennivi Jordan

Hair & Make-up: Annam Butt

Model: Marriana J @ M+P

LOMOKINO LOVE

Okay so it has certainly been a while.
My last post talked about making a short fashion film. Well this isn't exactly a 'fashion' film, more like a creative & fun film that Tean and I created at the start of the year. We tried out Teans new lomokino camera and she did a great job doing all the edits.

It took a whole day to do a one minute show so enjoy the hard work we all put in. I give you 'Don't Eat Bugs'. Starring the lovely Alys Metcalf.

And here is what we got up to on the day...

This post is going to be non-fashion related. I did say to myself that I shall only post fashion stuff but even then I have been rather lazy. This isn't far from the creative sorts though because this post will be all about inspiration for future projects.

This evening Tean Roberts arranged for us to go watch Wow + Flutter 11 as part of the onedotzero motion/film festival at BFI Southbank. It was a series of mini films of motion graphics, animation and other experimental kind of stuff, there were many which were all pretty cool otherwise they wouldn't have been shown. I would really like to mention all of it but as any conclusion happens by certain restrictions of either time, space, money, selection and personal choice etc etc (in my case just patience) I have here my edited favourites from the show...


By Climent Canal & Sebatian Baptista

Cutters is an amazing paper animation. I so want to create something like this and of course in relation to clothes/fashion in general. I'll keep my ideas to myself for the time being and let you in on it once it's accomplished- I guess I'll be referring back to this note in more than a years time or so.

By Ahmet Serif Yildirim.

This is a film I am looking forward to seeing specially on 3D! As described I really like the "nostalgic mix of film noir, steampunk, sci-fi and Victoriana" set feel to it. Also the kind of eeriness reminds me of Tim Burton's style of story telling. So good...

By Emil Goodman aka Szabo Andras


By Ioannis Christoforou


By Hankins, Nieterau, Van Kooten & Puijk

Also in my search for mini animations I also came across this cute little broccoli which wasn't shown at the film festival.

All I can say is... Never!! You may taste good but you'd be more appetising with that dinosaur.

So the point of me posting this is because one- I needed inspiration, two- Tean needed inspiration, three- I am looking into creating mini fashion films and so is Tean which we will eventually both plan in working together and four I need to be more cultured which became more apparent today!!

Ballad of... Petra Doe launch party happened last Friday.

We didn't make the submission so sad and sulky times had for a few mere minutes but hey we were looking forward to the party and seeing the magazine and snarl at those who made the final cut. So here are a couple of my favourite snippets from the current issue Ballad Of... Petra Doe.

Paulina Otylie Surys

Reka Koti

Illustration by Jon Macnair

And here are our dismissed submissions, rather brave of me posting right next to the great work that was produced and I'm not trying to make any sort of comparisons. These are actually some of my experiments with the polaroids Tean Roberts took. I can finally show them!

As for freebies? Great goody bag was given, we like free things! I'm not gonna list all the names and brands as I don't think it's necessary unless I'm a huge fan but we had quite a few things from make-up to jewellery and some more body care but best of all this cutely packaged box full of Boudoir Prive...