Yvan Rodic

Most people reading this blog post will at some point have looked at the websites of either The Sartorialist, Garance Dore, Jak & Jil, Vanessa Jackman, Hanneli, Nast, All the Pretty Birds, Stockholm Street Style or, one of my personal favourite, the magical and continuously flourishing Turned Out. Since the emergence of street style photography the fashion industry has been forced to rethink the way it operates, opening its exclusive doors to more people and bringing fashion to a new audience. It’s an interesting time but I keep wondering how long fashion and “outsiders” can work successfully in tandem. Mixing sensitivities is not so simple and I’m not sure it appeals to a lot of the big brands (although the lure of some of these blogs' impressive readership numbers and loyal followers is of course incredibly attractive). Right now it’s a win-win situation. Street style photographers are able to step into an invigorating, absorbing creative world and in return brands will profit from the increased exposure. But what about quality control? Everyone seems to either be a street style photographer or a fashion blogger these days. Will standards plunge? Or is it not that straightforward… Street style photographers are a bit like space invaders, springing up constantly (some of them with their impossibly robust egos) outside already overcrowded show venues. But one person who deserves a standing ovation for not having succumbed to marketing ploys and who is still delivering a thrilling insight into the fashion business after all these years is Yvan Rodic. The missing link in my introduction list above. He is the only street style photographer to bring us exciting images that sparkle both in terms of execution and interest. His blog (not to be confused with his other Internet adventure called The Face Hunter) presents a cavalcade of beautiful and vivid creatures who actually exist in real life and don’t always work in the fashion world. They’re not all stylists, models or fashion insiders. What makes Yvan Rodic stand out in a sea of copycats is the contrasts and contradictions between the inspiring girls and the world they actually live in. He doesn’t just show us pretty little things. He highlights the buildings, streets, food, interiors, vegetation, objects, everything that can potentially provide a glimpse into the cities and countries he visits, opening up altogether further territories. Look at his photos and feelings of fun, immediacy, enjoyment and passion are palpable and unmistakable. He is a singular talent who moves in a parallel universe, avoiding the limelight others court. His blog is like a heady teenage intoxication, a mixture between alluring authentic fashion moments and wonderfully atmospheric and unusual viewpoints of the places he visits across the world.

All pictures courtesy of Yvan Rodic