British Fashion Council

After the drama of London fashion week and the catchy enthusiasm in response to certain shows, the constant deluge of rain, the sometimes hilarious nonsense and absurdity of it all, the cold, the delays caused by London streets clogged with workmen laying pipes, the wind, the pressure to see as much as possible, the competition between cold-eyed ambitious bloggers and the live Twitter reviews and reports, the interminable flashing lights of streetstyle photographers looking for their next masterpiece, the promising new technological improvements offering live streams, the parties, PR madness and lack of sleep, I almost feel smug knowing that my full-time job stopped me from going to the shows I was invited to attend. It’s a welcome chance to keep things fresh. I find it difficult to shake off the feeling of how disappointed I might be if I’d had to confront a world that isn’t as captivating and enviable as we may think. The insights provided by a handful of obsessively dedicated and discerning writers quickly exposed substantial PR inconsistencies, ridiculous contention between established journalists, bloggers etc and the presence of too many drooling worshippers with no genuine calling (and I guess it will still take some time before industry experts make the difference between grovelling adorers and experienced virtuous fashion bloggers). I’ve been observing from the comfort of my office and listened to the complaints of several close friends who work in the business and lived through far from idyllic experiences in the past few weeks. It’s reminded me that fashion for me is fundamentally about sumptuous dreams, breathtaking photography and the delicious frisson of seeing a mesmerising collection for the first time. It’s another form of emotional escapism, similar to music or cinema. Today the Internet promises the thrills and fantasy of a catwalk show without the inconvenient issues mentioned above. The importance of addressing a wider audience is proving irresistible and necessary, justifying the emergence of live streams and Internet interaction. And I’m wholeheartedly in favour of this development!

A couple of days ago a friend mentioned that she’d found me listed on the British Fashion Council’s new blog portal. I’m incredibly excited to have been chosen to appear in the “Photography” section alongside some of the best fashion blogs around (SHOWstudio, Hedi Slimane, Love Magazine, Kingdom of Style and Bryanboy among many others). A huge thank you to the person who selected July Stars. I'm overwhelmed!

Hopi Botanicals

Perhaps it is because of my own much more modest experience of being a neo Beat Generation long-haired girl, but I always find myself irresistibly attracted to today’s free spirited Daria Halperin type characters. I’m dangerously addicted to image format blogs like Strange Eyes, The Nomadic Sun, Them Thangs, The Love Awareness Program and Hopi Botanicals. These documentary style websites dispense a constant stream of hits from the sixties and seventies, taking me on a trawl through the poetry, music, clothes, jewellery, art, photography and architecture inspired by those years. I admire the archiving skills of the persons behind some of the blogs listed above. They’ve nurtured and developed their little Internet ventures making it clear that when modern institutions are collapsing around us, people should get back in touch with ancient crafts. I’m not tempted to go all “peace and love” on you as I’m more inclined to believe in modern life but the aesthetics of those days can be of a rare and unexpected beauty notably when it comes to photography, clothes and jewellery. I’ve been following Emmelie Brunetti’s blog since it launched and was curious about her approach to fragrances, strikingly different to that of mass-market best-selling luxury names. For her, perfumes should be pure elemental evocations of flowers, herbs, trees and vegetables. The whole project is simply infused with sheer joy and love of the products, evocations of a place (California) and time, acknowledging her heritage. And her emotional engagement is not restricted to essential oils or solid scents, she has also designed the packaging that encapsulates these treasures. Unique vintage silver and turquoise Navajo pillboxes and small leather pouches. The soothing natural world.
For more information on where to buy the products, please contact Emmelie Brunetti: info@hopibotanicals.com

All pictures courtesy of Hopi Botanicals

A love story between a girl and a camera

My new camera made my Christmas. I feel like everything could happen at any time when I have it in my bag and everything around me becomes material for a photo. Insignificant moments are transformed into stories, series of impressions and emotions, observations and imagination merging. I’ve developed such a strong relationship with my Canon that I feel frustrated and sentimental if I don’t have it with me. I treat my camera like a friend that can make experiences fun and more intense. Learning to surmount the endless technical difficulties is also part of the thrill. My skills are strictly of the beginner’s variety but it doesn’t matter to me. I continue to live a stormy affair with photography regardless of my mediocre talent … and I have fun!

I took these pictures one early winter morning in Le Perche (lower Normandie).