Street Style...The Couple

I did another BAD here-I sort of forgot to write down this couple's name. I know, I know, it is pathetic BUT I was on my way to an engagement party and my mind was all a whir with how late I already was, how I had almost broken the engagement present tripping over my own feet in my rush not to be late, how I was going to get from Covent Garden to Chancery Lane in approximately 30 secs, and um, whether a chilled glass of champagne be on offer as soon as I got there :)

So, I think my gorgeous couple were Chee and Stuart but I could be wrong. Anyway, they were fabulous and hopefully they will let me know if I got their names wrong!

In non-fashion news, I got my copy of "Within The Frame" by travel and humanitarian photographer David duChemin today, and I cannot tell you how absolutely BRILLIANT this book is. It is, hands down, the best photography book I own and I wish I had access to it a year ago when I first got my DSLR. David's images are stunning (beware: this book can induce major jealous and envy fits- v unbecoming!) and his writing is a delight- easy, relaxed, but with everything you need to know about shooting people and places (well, except for the stuff he is saving up for us for his next book ;-)) anywhere in the world*. Just google "Within The Frame", David duChemin or Pixelated Image (his blog) and you will know that I am not the only one who sings this book's (and David's) praises. If you are at all interested in photography, if you want to find, reignite, express your photographic vision, then this book is for you. If you really can't afford the £14.49 on Amazon (and I recommend you give up your 4 days of Pret A Manger sandwiches and BYO instead just to get your hands on this book), then you can check out David's blog here.

*note to self: this does not necessarily include having a big-ar*e, full frame DSLR like the Nikon D3- you know the story: it's all about how you use the camera, your approach, your vision, giving yourself permission to suck and learning from it, your willingness to take risks...

Street Style....She's with the Band

I'm not sure Maud is with the band but she looks like she should be with the band. She's got that cool rock chick thing going on....kind of reminds me of Georgia May Jagger (daughter of Mick and Jerry Hall) in a Vogue shoot from last November's issue: all masses of mussed blonde hair, pale, pale skin and red lips.

Street Style...Accessorised by MacBook

Wayne, makeup artist, from Perth, Western Australia.

Accessorised by a v cool cross and a vvv cool Apple Mac.

Street Style....With Love in Her Eyes and Flowers in Her Hair

"...Made up my mind to make a new start
Going to California with an aching in my heart
Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair..."

Led Zeppelin 'Going to California' (1971)

So I found the girls with flowers in their hair...not sure about the love in their eyes bit (more like slightly worried and bemused by the girl waving her camera about!) but, well, anyway, its the song :)

Gorgeous Hannah (above) and the girl below (whose name I have completely forgotten but who is an Aussie from Cronulla in Sydney- yay!) both looked so great in their outfits. Hannah, a costume designer, was wearing all vintage including an amazing silk peachy, pink capelet (circa 1910) and that fabulous shimmery jacket-which was so divine I probably would have snuck off with it had I had a bag big enough...NO! 'course I wouldn't do that!!!

I love the way Hannah has teamed her vintage (which included little £3 brogue shoes) with the lace top (a little bit Balmain-ish but without the shoulder pads) and body con skirt. Keeps it all fresh and modern.

And this little nude/blush dress (an Australian label) is perfect for the long Summer days ahead. If you want to see more of the

Street Style...The Vintage Dress

Gorgeous model, Dioni, and one of the most exquisite vintage dresses I've seen on the streets in recent times. I love the way it flows and moves as she walks.

Guess how much Dioni paid for her frock?

Go on, Guess!

10 Euro!!!

I love the way she's worked it back with the black leather motorcycle jacket. Perfect

Street Style....Sisters

Sometimes on the Streets:
It Rains
It is Cold
It is Windy
It is Lonely
The plane tree seeds drive me (and my eyes) insane
A dog poop appears out of nowhere and I step in it
My feet hurt
There are too many low-flying pigeons
There are too many wheelie suitcases and nobody knows how to drive them
My contact lens splits and I'm flyin' blind. And in pain

And Sometimes on the Streets, I get lucky. I get to meet and photograph two beautiful girls at once.

Sisters

Julia (above) and Lucy (below).

Street Style....It ain't about the Me, It about the We

As Mr Snoop Dogg would say: It ain't about the Me, It about the We. And who be the "We"? It be the boys (AJ and Marshall) from The Stitch Society , an uber cool street style blog dedicated to following collegiate fashion: from the US to London and beyond. The Stitch Society manage to photograph the most fabulous, hip, stylish young people.... while being fabulous, hip, stylish youngsters themselves.
I like the blurb on their blog: "We seek independently minded students who are fueling the fashion trends on our campus. We are not here to scrutinize. We are here as a resource. Use us. Borrow inspiration. Stand out. Dress your best, you never know when you'll get Stitched".

Some of you might remember Marshall....he's my District Line glasses guy!:

Street Style....Black and White: Shorts

Street Style...This One Time, At Band Camp

Rose:
Navy Pinstripe Dress from Vivienne Westwood (love that zip on the leg- v sexy. It teases rather than torments :))
Kid's Marching Band Jacket from the United States of America

Rose was on her way back from a job interview: I have my fingers crossed that she gets the job!

Street Style....Pick 'n' Mix: Neons and Florals

Street Style....Florals + Leather

Florals and Leather....they go together like Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel, White and a Tan, Crumpets and Jam, Vegemite and Toast, Tomato and Basil, Oysters and Champagne, Liz Hurley and Versace, Log Fires and the Country, Bikinis and the Beach, Diamonds and Pearls*....

I LOVE what Jenny (a graphic designer) is wearing: the teeny bubble floral mini, the chocolate leather jacket (leather jackets are like a good Bordeaux...they get better with age), that amazing tasselled scarf, the ankle boots, the gold aviators: J'Adore !

You might also remember model Amber Le Bon was sporting the floral + leather look when I photographed her a couple of weeks ago. Check out the pic here.

*lame, I know, but it is Sunday morning and my brain is on strike until this afternoon :)

Street Style...Four Kids and a Dog

Great personal style transcends age, race, religion, and, um, species?! I photographed 4 fabulous kids today and one fabulous dog when I was out on my wanderings with the Nikon. Each of them (even Dante the Pooch) had a little something special that caught my eye.....in Dante's case it was mostly his size: He is MASSIVE!

AZ (above)

Max (below)

Polly:

Esme:

Dante:

Dante is a Great Dane and he was waiting for his "sister" who has just turned 2 (he is 2 years 9 months I think) to have her birthday treat of a makeover (read: bath and nail trim) at the local doggie pampering parlour.

All of the kids were so lovely and a pleasure to shoot. Thanks again guys (and AZ and Max's mum's) for agreeing to the photos :)

Street Style...The Leopard and The Leopard-ettes

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrr or is it Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?

You remember this guy? Yep, he's my inked guy from back in March! Check him out here.

I clocked him again this week and he kindly agreed to another photo. One day I am gonna learn his name :)

So once I found my leopard guy, I had to, err, "hunt" for my leopard-ettes:

I love the little leopard print accents on both these girls...leopard print never really goes out of style: it just sits faithfully on the sidelines, putting in appearances here and there, until a couple of influential designers decide to re-embrace their inner feline and suddenly it is thrust back into the limelight and is all over the catwalks and the streets. Leopard print is definitely one of those things where it pays to keep every piece - don't throw it, gift it on or sell it...that way when the trend comes around again you can just shop your wardrobe.

Hmmmm based on the percentage of leopard print they are all wearing, it's a Roarrrrrrrrrrrr for my guy and a purrrr for my gals!

Street Style....Splashes of Red

I love it when people I photograph "get"* what I am trying to do and both Rebecca (above) and Alexandra (below) do. Probably because they are used to being photographed for style/fashion blogs....I know that Rebecca has already been stopped once before this week by a FSWC (Fashion Stalker With Camera).

Apart from the red accents, I love Rebecca and Alexandra's choice of footwear: Purple booties and fringed boots (which I think Alexandra said were from All Saints or maybe Topshop? Note to self: need to record things more accurately).



*um, mostly this translates to understanding my vague and often faintly ridiculous attempts to show them how I want them to "pose" in the photo. Most of the time my ideas for "poses" ( I am struggling for a better word but can't think of one - strike a pose is only cool when Madonna is singing it) don't really work BUT once the person starts moving and relaxing that's when I normally "get the shot".

Street Style...Summer Dayz

Holly and Phillipa
Relaxed Summer Dressing (perfect for the upcoming Festivals)
Summer Dayz indeed

p.s anyone else just witness about 30 Chinook/Apache helicopters flying over London in formation??? Quite a sight!

Street Style....A Feather in her Hat

Model Driely and her wonderful, jaunty blue feathered hat.

Street Style...Geek Glasses

One Day

Three Girls

Three Pairs of Geek-Chic Glasses

Street Style...The Nordic Girl and The Brit Boy

I love the little elements here which reflect (Swedish) Emma's and (British) Thom's heritage....Emma's very sweet plait and sublime long blonde hair and Thom's Brit flag tights (from Topshop), Westwood bag and brooch and Dr. Martins.

Street Style...Fringing: Yeaaaaah Baby, Yeah!

Georgia, a fashion student, and her smashing, groovy luxe hippy fringed boots....

Grrr Baby. VERY Grrr!