A Visual Artist's Dream: Diner en Blanc Sydney 2014

Michael Leon & Myself

Date: 29 November 2014

Secret Location: Centennial Parklands

Mon coeur!! I am so blessed to have managed to attend this amazing event in two different countries now (Canada & Australia). If you are unfamiliar with the annual uber picnic party "Diner en Blanc," which takes in the most epic scenic spaces in cities around the world, then you wouldn't be alone! 

Diner en Blanc is largely an invite only event. Only a small portion of tickets are released to the public, who must register to be notified of their online sale date. This year that online sale was over in 7 minutes as over 800 registered guests vied for 300 tickets. I was one of the several hundred who did not successfully attain one, but where there is a will there is a way! I managed to snag one 24 hours before the event through Gumtree. For most events this would not be a problem, but Diner en Blanc is both a logistical and aesthetic challenge, not for the weak at heart! Not only must you wear a palette of all white you must bring a white table, chairs, centrepiece, napkins (to wave), table cloth, etc... 

Assembling all these items on top of cooking or purchasing a fabulous feast is no easy feat! Luckily my date was a prop stylist and we were able to speed through the aisles of many stores purchasing all our items as only stylists do!

This event literally melts my heart. I wish that all of life could be this magical. Diner en Blanc is a Midsummer Night's Dream. It is poetry in motion and with the most elegant and friendly guests as well. Everything from the scenic spaces to the art installations to the classical music filling the air, creates a beautiful sensory overload. 

Posted above are some of the photographs I took of the evening before getting down to business er...dinner! As you can see this is an incredibly stylish event that brought out an impressive amount of creativity from Sydney locals.

You can read a fantastic review of the evening on Nigella's Blog. 

Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear New York Fashion Week Trend Review

New York Fashion Week isn't over yet, but I don't care. I'm reviewing it now as it's fresh in my mind. Day 5 and Day 6 can deal with it.

I've just looked at about 20 shows and that's more than enough to decipher main trends, find a couple favourite designers for the season, and be disappointed by your previous favourites, because no designer is consistently and constantly amazing every season. I recently watched a TED Talk where Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of Eat, Pray, Love, talked about this issue that plagues the psyche of every creative person. Sometimes you write a brilliant book that Oprah pimps and it gets turned into a blockbuster hit starring Julia Roberts. And sometimes you write a book no one cares about. I would like to say this sort of thing is out of an artist's control, but I've been told that's the outlook of a depressed person. Instead I will say: Alexander Wang and my dearest Olsen Twins, you will always be my shining stars, despite your underwhelming Spring/Summer 2015 shows. And in light of L'Wren Scott's passing away earlier this year, please book a vacation at least once a year.

Moving on...

Introducing: The Showered & Employable Hippie

Karen Walker S/S15

Diane Von Furstenberg S/S15

Coach S/S15

Tomas Maier S/S15

Ulla Johnson S/S15

Rodebjer S/S15

Remember back in 2004 when Alfie came out and everyone went nuts over Sienna Miller and her lazy bohemian look? No, honestly it was really lazy. She never brushed her hair and she usually looked like she just woke up from a 3 day drug bender and grabbed what clothing was on the floor and left the apartment to walk her dog. That's mainly what she was photographed doing, anyways. 

Sienna Miller in Alfie

Kate Moss too was starting to get a huge amount of candid press and she also looked unkempt and generally drugged up with her unkempt, drugged-up boyfriend Pete Doherty. Go figure.

Kate Moss and Pete Doherty at Glastonbury

For some reason, these two sloppy Brits managed to give birth to over 5 years of non-stop bohemian obsession that dominated the runways and retail stores thereafter. I enjoyed it for about five seconds, and then I realized I like structure in my clothing and life, which is a bit anal retentive for a then 16 year old, but believe it or not I used to have goals and priorities. Fast forward to now, it looks as though designers are looking to have a bit of a hippie revival, but *not* a dirty hippie revival. In fact, you could probably wear some of the above looks to a job interview. Fascinating stuff.

Introducing: Shirt Dresses for Everyone! Yay!

Rodebjer S/S15

Nanette Lepore S/S15

Karen Walker S/S15

Zimmerman S/S15

Donna Karen S/S15

Altuzarra S/S15

While I am most excited about channelling my inner Farrah Fawcett, this trend was much more prominent and developed on the runways. Shirt dresses for one and all! No matter how juvenile, prude, sexual, or over-the-top glamorous you are, there is a shirt dress for you this season. I know it's not the most exciting wardrobe piece, but it's easy and typically machine washable so find solace in that. Other noteworthy runway trends this season so far: weird hats (I blame Pharrell), pointy flats, scarves, belts, draping/flowing/wrapping tops, and stripes. 

(Photo credit: www.style.com)

Why Both Lady Gaga and I Need Fashion

FASHION Magazine February, 2014

I am in the midst of assembling an application package to FASHION Magazine for one of their summer internships and as part of the application I must critique their latest issue (February, 2014).

This I can do no problem. Just like most of the fashionably-inclined, criticizing has become second-nature for me. In fact, the moment I picked up this month's issue I thought to myself that it was a contender for the most understated magazine cover ever published of Gaga (albeit the prettiest and most relatable). I was also surprised a shot of her in one of her innovative eyewear pieces made the cover. Surely even those were too radical for the contrastingly demure FASHION Magazine brand. Well, it turns out they were. Bernadette Morra discloses in her Editor's Letter that she reluctantly let Gaga hand-pick the shot with "wacky glasses" after foreseeing an uphill battle with the pop singer (fun fact: most artists are insufferably dedicated to maintaining the integrity of their visions, myself included).

Now, as much as I like to pat myself on the back for having these sorts of hunches, I recognize that it comes with a price. The more trained the eye becomes to a particular pattern of execution, the less accepting and open-minded it remains to anything that deviates. In other words, I can't tolerate let alone appreciate most civilian fashion. Do you see what I did there? I just shunned almost everything the general public wears. And this is the curse of loving fashion: it's an industry seemingly built on elitism and no one escapes life completely unscathed by its unapologetic standards.

FASHION Magazine August, 2011: Lady Gaga's last cover with the magazine

And just as I begin lamenting about the impossibility of it all, I read Gaga's interview and am reminded of why I love fashion to begin with. "It was always the thing that made me feel like I could be anything, no matter what anyone said about me....fashion gave me a sense of who I am." says Gaga in response to an inquiry on her draw to fashion.

I too have embraced the self-fulling prophecies of my own dress. I grew up painfully shy and insecure, but I learned to dress with confidence and then eventually it came. For most of my life my clothing has been my armour. It has allowed me to project the woman I wanted to become when I could not project it myself, just like Gaga, which is exactly why she fought for those crazy weird glasses on the cover. They're not just for the world to see; she needs to see them too.

Photo Credits: www.fashionmagazine.com

Vogue Paris February 2013: I  NYPhotographer: Terry Richardson

Models: Natasha Poly & Tony Ward

Stylist: Géraldine Saglio

Hair: James Pecis

Make-Up: Aaron De Mey

Terry Richardson I look forward to working with you one day (even if you are peverse).

Youtube Channel Shenanigans

Tracey Quo (Left) Vonda (Right)

Me and my wonderful friend Vonda are beginning a YouTube Channel called The Style Tips Channel and I will be blogging all about the experience here: http://thestyletipschannel.blogspot.ca.

The premise of the YouTube Channel is basically giving young women some helpful inspiration to get more excited about fashion because sometimes we can all forget just how ridiculously fun clothes can truly be.

We have completed three videos but have not finished editing them. I really hope that this project is a rewarding and fulfilling one. I must admit it is strange and a bit mortifying watching myself on camera as I haven't really seen myself filmed before, except maybe in old family home videos.

I will be sharing the first YouTube link on here as soon as it is up! I hope you all enjoy :)

Studio Shooting

Color Popping Hipster Shoot 02/02/2013

ACAD Studio

Photographer: Emma Kopstein

Hair & MUA: Maynell Maan

Model: Chris G IModel Management

Monochromatic Shoot 19/01/2013

ACAD Studio

Photographer: Emma Kopstein

Hair & MUA: Maynell Maan

Model: Chris G IModel Management

Been doing some studio shooting lately. It's quick & easy, but ultimately creatives are what gets my blood pumping. I'm planning a couple upcoming shoots in Edmonton that should help quell my editorial cravings. Calgary's winter weather just ain't conducive to fashion story tellin' yo!