Bettina Rheims and the portrait of a cat

It occurs to me sometimes that this blog is, essentially, one long and enjoyable confessional.

I talk about the photographers I love, my fashion sensibilities, art that has impressed me and of course July Stars has also become a platform to introduce my cat, Quincy (Jones). I don't need to remind my readers of my enthusiasm, bordering on obsession, for this little creature. It's somewhat absurd, I know.
Provided that you love fashion and certain (I don't claim to like all of them) cats as much as I do, I won't have to explain why this Bettina Rheims photo is still a favourite of mine. It has all the right ingredients and will linger into your consciousness!

This picture was used to promote a Bettina Rheims exhibition held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in May 2011. I'm desperate to get my hands on the poster and was wondering if any of my Japanese readers could help! Please email me if you have any ideas on how to acquire one...

Photo courtesy of Bettina Rheims

Graham Little, fashion begins with drawings

It was my husband's birthday and I had just started looking for the perfect present.
Even though Mat ended up with something entirely different (a photograph), I haven't stopped thinking about Graham Little since I first saw his work in July while researching ideas. Although he doesn't seem to be the most widely talked about subject on the Internet, his drawings must have won him a gaggle of disciples. It's impossible not to fall in love with his work. I mean honestly. He is the best contemporary artist I've come across in a long time! I'm still struggling to understand why I wasn't able to find any informative essays about him or interviews. So little information available and yet his images are vertiginously beautiful.
His seems to make frequent references to Balthus, pre-raphaelite aesthetics, fashion magazines and in particular the eighties. His work hasn't been much in evidence in England recently and I would welcome the chance to see the drawings with my own eyes. Slightly mysterious, emotional, poetic and hypnotic, they're skilfully detailed masterpieces showing a great sensitivity to colours, texture and composition.
Nothing could deter me from acquiring one of his pieces... apart from the price!

Image of the Daffodil Shoe Lady courtesy of Graham Little

Wes Lang

America should idolise Wes Lang!
He mixes pictorial elements (drawing, painting, collage) and they conform to a strict formula: clarity of line, careful, harmonious and minutely detailed compositions culminating in meltingly beautiful images.
He pays tribute to the spirit of the United States through his unique talent. The spectre of American Indians, whiskey country, exquisite birds, haunting skulls, skeletons and spectacularly erotic girls are all intimately thrown in together in a rather remarkably balanced way.
A higher plane of aesthetic achievement!
Now, if only I could buy a couple of drawings...

All pictures courtesy of Wes Lang

Time Capsule

If you’re feeling charitable and you have some spare cash at your disposal you might want to place a bid in the Dazed&Confused/Oxfam charity auction! And since past research indicates that being magnanimous makes you happy, I’d argue that nothing will beat winning one of the items up for grabs.
The idea is refreshing and particularly interesting. All the objects available are carefully edited highlights from the careers of designers, stylists and make-up artists. A sharp vision outlining the last 20 years in fashion.
I only had to briefly consider the remarkable range of historical trophies. I knew immediately where my money would go if I had a flood of it: Katie Shillingford’s blue/grey wig and Jefferson Hack’s Andy Warhol’s “Index”. The first because I’m fascinated by the beautiful stylist’s inspiring hair adventures and the book because it was the first one to be mass-produced and represents a poignant piece in the artist’s career. I actually genuinely wish I could own this cult book. It’s an indisputable masterpiece. It takes the appearance of a children’s book but addresses adults. There’s a pop-up castle, fold-out accordion, pop-up airplane, Chelsea Girls disc, a paper sculpture attached to the book with a string, Lou Reed record, a fold-out sheet with nose and overlays, a pop-up Hunt's Tomato Paste can, a tear-out warm water sheet and a balloon that is stuck between two pages. An extraordinary revelation for a fan of pop art like myself. A gem to be treasured forever.

All pictures courtesy of Dazed&Confused

Stolen Girlfriends Club

I can’t exactly remember how I came across New-Zealand ‘s Stolen Girlfriends Club but it felt like I had uncovered a buried treasure that had been hidden for many years, which of course it was not! I’m probably the principal offender, much to my own shame. I had heard of the brand and seen a few glorious pieces on Gnarlitude but never bothered to seek it out actively. A couple of days ago my attention was directed to their website and all the collections finally emerged into the light. Needless to say, I was sold: the proportions of the clothes, versatility, prints, colours, attention to details and shoes form an overall effect which completely fits in with my sense of aesthetics. Pieces that are easy to wear but all infused with a scent of rock n’roll cool. It’s subtle but definitely there, floating amidst everything created by the three boys behind the brand.
In conclusion, the wisdom of experience shows that I should immediately research anything I find interesting or attractive. In this instance, I might have discovered the label somewhat sooner… Hahaha.
I leave you with some of my favourite looks.

All images courtesy of Stolen Girlfriends Club

Spirit of a place

Pictures taken recently in London and Henley on Thames.
The sheer delight of a misty morning, a memorable sunset, empty countryside roads, roaming the neighbourhood late afternoon and a celebration of trees.
Fragments of my life!
Hope you enjoy them ♡

Brics love

The best moments when you’re doing research is when you encounter a brand that completely absorbs you. Well, all I can say is that when I first set eyes on the Brics lookbook I felt like I was looking at a hypnotically enthralling game of images. The clothes are, in my view, part of this year’s fashion highlights! They’re a real aesthetic achievement. Wearable, simple, subtle, playful in that you can do so much with them and assembled with great skill. One thing is clear: the true purpose of the brand is to go back to fundamentals and maybe to outlast current trends. It’s not trying to revolutionise the world of fashion. It’s more about feeling comfortable and not overstyled while still looking incredibly modern. The coats evoke eighties Kenzo and images of the past. Needless to say, I love all of it!
Oh, and an exchange of emails with the brand’s PR revealed that the Anywho girls are behind this exhilarating adventure. I admit that I greeted this piece of information with surprise but the result of their hard work is incredible.

All images courtesy of Brics

Cédric Rivrain

At some point this week I will pre-order Cédric Rivrain’s first book. Since a chance “encounter” with one of his illustrations a few years ago I haven’t stopped admiring his work. Such flawlessly detailed visual fashion narratives are not frequently encountered. It would be ridiculous for me to try and judge them subjectively because I am so in love with Rivrain’s style but I genuinely believe that he will dazzle and surprise us for many years to come. You don’t need to educate your eyes or learn to look at art to find immediate beauty and poetry in his pieces. He is simply a wonderful and interesting artist. His originality comes from the use of unusual materials such as nail varnish or eye shadow, his almost fanatical precision, the delicate and subtle colour palette, his clarity of line and the occasional hint of subversive humour. As a result his drawings are remarkably fresh and intriguing!


You can pre-order the book here

All images courtesy of Cédric Rivrain, collage by July Stars

July Stars in H&M lifestyle magazine

Merci Sabrina! ♡