Vintage Traditions

I just got back from a wonderfully traditional christmas celebration. My dad's family... all of us in one place celebrating, giving out gifts, eating lots of delicious food. I sometimes forget how amazing traditions are. People change, circumstances change, times change but traditions always seem to bring people together. It brings me back, to the wonderful details of my childhood and the beautiful memories of the past. Why do things always look so much better when you look back at them?

Everytime I'm having a hard time I want to try and remember only the good things and know that in the future, looking back, I will remember all the beautiful things. Through all the family drama Christmas ended up being very charming. Traditions always seem to have a way of making things better.

Christmas in my life is spent with my fathers family, we pray and sing la novena (typical colombian tradition) have an amazing meal, and then at 12 give out all the presents. All together for about 2 hours... usually they are small things but it's the thought that counts and makes me smile. Thoughtfulness is just beautiful.

What else is beautiful are these editorials from Vogue, which are from the 1920's. I just had to include them because their beauty is timeless and priceless. Before advertisements and commercialism, the times when magazines only showed elegance, glamour and style without needing to over sell it. Now that's a tradition that should have stuck. Showing without selling...

Hope everyone had a great holiday season. What traditions do you have?

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Just Delightful

I haven't had time to blog with finals and my trip to New York. I'm finally free, turned in all the exams, papers, finals, work and now I'm going to enjoy the holidays. I'll be traveling to Colombia to visit the family tomorrow and I'm way too excited to go home. I'm wishing for a lot of things this christmas but my main wish is New York. I went for a work trip last week and it went amazing, loved my work, looked through fashion images, saw the editing studio, talked to the graphic designer for the book, and just met fabulous people.

I met the Dutch fashion photography duo Inez and Vinoodh, and they actually had heard of me... Lisa was like"Oh this is Laura, my intern from Paris" and they were like "Oh we've heard so much about you" jaja all of this while putting make up on a Dutch princess. It was all way too glamourous, a beautiful studio (Studio 59), lights, make up, clothes everything you'd imagine at a Fashion Photoshoot, and I was ecstatic to be part of it all. So as part of my holiday wishes I'm going to add a new goal: Meet new people. Next semester I want to come back open minded and meet new people, hear new opinions, and just enjoy myself.

In honor of my trip, my blog post today is about Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. They met in 1986 and have been working professionally since. They have shot various editorials for almost every fashion magazine, as well as celebrity portraits.

If you want to see more of their work:
http://www.thecollectiveshift.com/show/portfolio/van_Lamsweerde_Matadin

As for this, this is an editorial from Vogue Paris August 2009, named ADN DE LA MODE. Each model represents a different designer. I thought it was just delightful. jaja I hope everyone enjoys their holidays. What is everyone else wishing for this Christmas?

Missoni

Tommy Hilfiger

Fendi modeled by Raquel Zimmermann

Azzedine Alaia

Paul Smith

Prada

Nina Ricci

Michael Kors modeled by Daria Werbowy

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Vogue is my History book

I got a present today when I stumbled upon a website that had old Vogue Covers. Each cover not only is picture perfect, but describes a moment in history. I know some people don't really believe in fashion being important, but to me Vogue has become like a history book. Ever since it started Vogue has shown pieces of history, how people dressed, acted, socialized, talked, etc. I love being able to look at the covers and imagine how these women lived out their days. I feel like they lived their days full of glamour and allure.

Ahh why don't we wear gowns every day? These women used to put so much thought into their wardrobes and accessories and looked so elegant no matter what they were doing. I think that's something our generation lacks... elegance. Everyday elegance. I'm not talking about wearing long dresses to parties at night, but just overall elegance. I feel like they spoke, walked, and did everything elegantly, even the act of being lazy probably jaja... I'm going to try and be really elegant from now on. For example one idea is that I want to stop using cuss words in my vocabulary, that is a must! So remember: Confidence and Elegance is something Vogue has always taught us.

Here are some of the covers.. notice how through the years everything changes.... clothes, make up, girls, body types, and even technology (first the covers were drawn by artists until photography started appearing) It really is a history book, it allows you to see a window into the past with amazing pictures and gorgeous style tips. What else could we want... history just became a little more fun.

1927

1930

1947

1964... also let's start wearing more hats again

Lauren Hutton!!

1968

1974... oh the make up so FIERCE!! I love the red lips.

1989 (The year I was Born!!) also notice that advertisements were less prevalent before.

2000

2005

Soon with Anna Wintour, we started to see celebrities instead of supermodels on the covers.

Angelina Jolie 2010 December Issue

What has changed: Technology (Photographs, Photoshop, no more gorgeous drawings... yet beautiful photography!!), Advertisements all over, Celebrities on the Covers, and of course the different make up and clothes (def more skin showing...)

This picture I'll dedicate to Samar since she showed the magazine to me last night. Can't wait to buy and read my own copy.

So when you can pick up a Vogue and SAVE IT... it's history and years to come you'll be able to cherish it just as much and laugh at all the fashion trends.

P.S I'm thinking that if I go into the Fashion Industry ... I rather go into Fashion History. Don't know how that works but somehow as much as I love the new things, the old things captivate me so much more.

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Magical Blast from the Past

I saw the new Harry Potter movie last night, it's crazy how much Emma Watson has grown up right in front of our eyes. She's grown up to be this beautiful woman and has been in various magazines this year. Recently she has a new hairstyle, a very bold one I must say.. I envy her for her courage, not everyone can have the confidence to chop off all their hair. I think that I have to start working on my confidence, in every aspect... in my work, my future, and especially in myself. Confidence.. that'll be my goal for this week.

This picture is from Maire Claire Dec 2010.

I just love the color palette for this picture.

And here's a little blast from the past ... how we first met the beautiful Emma Watson: Hermione Granger. We all grew up with these movies and its for that reason that Emma has become a style icon these past couple years. She's also in college and living a life like all the rest of us. Oh... if only I could look that graceful during finals week jaja

Another Blast from the past and the reason for this blog entry was that the picture from Marie Claire reminded me of another very famous model of the 1960's. Twiggy. She's an English model that began her career at 16. She revolutionized fashion, bringing around the very skinny models that we started seeing in the 60's. She was also known for her large eyes and eyelashes. I don't know about Emma Watson or anyone else but Twiggy will always be one of the major style icons no matter what year we're in.

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New York is where I want to be

Caroline Trentini is a Brazilian Fashion Model, she was discovered walking down a street in her hometown by the same agent that scouted Gisele Bundchen. She has had spreads in various fashion magazines and today I wanted to share with you her spread from ELLE Brasil this November. She moved to New York even before she knew any english to launch her modeling career and got her big break from Marc Jacobs who casted her in his ad campaign.

Can you imagine just walking down the street and someone noticing your beauty? I actually have been recently obsessed with looking at people's outfits and style in the streets. You'd be surprised, once you start looking, at all the wonderful clothes, styles, and accessories you find on random people. Sometimes I just want to stop and ask them where they got something. Either way I've been struggling and trying very hard to dress up every day. Because I'm young and I should start looking casually gorgeous every day shouldn't I? jaja

Either way back on track Trentini is a great model who has walked the runway for Victoria Secret Fashion Show (remember this Tuesday is the 2010 one!!) and here she is in the beautiful spread shot by Fabio Bartel for the November issue of ELLE Brasil. I chose this because the setting is in New York which is exactly what I'm going to dream about today.

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Getting Back into a Vogue Life

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I haven't had much time to write but it has come to my attention that more time has to be put into my interests and less time on frivolous matters. So once again I will ramble on about the beauty and allure of the Fashion world.

So here's a little history lesson:

The Four hundred were the 400 people who were invited to Mrs. Astor's Winter Ball in the 1890's. The Winter Ball was given by the wife of the millionaire William Backhouse Astor Jr. The maximum amount of people who fit in their mansion on 5th Avenue was 400 and these were always the most influential, wealthy, stylish NY socialites. Being invited to Mrs. Astor's Ball was a vital social issue and an invitation was based on one's elegance, decorum and proven social graces, in addition to money by Mr. Ward McAllister.

For those who are very curious, the list of invitees for the 1982 February Ball is here:

http://www.raken.com/american_wealth/encyclopedia/Mrs_Astors_400.asp

Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt in the 1900's

Vogue was born in 1892 to be a mirror of the Four Hundred. To recount the most influential socialite's of NY's habits, leisure activities, social gatherings, places they frequented, and clothing they wore. Vogue's target was the Four Hundred and everyone who wanted to look like them, act like them, and enter their exclusive circle.

The creator of Vogue was Arthur Baldwin Turnure on December 17th, 1982 as a weekly gazette. He was a friend of said 400 and with their help, Vogue got exclusive access to the homes and wardrobes of the elite, which gave them ad advantage over other Fashion publications. The idea for the name Vogue was given by the then editor in chief Josephine Redding.

Vogue means: the mode or fashion prevalent at any particular time; popular reception, repute, or estimation.

In 1909 Conde Nast bought Vogue and made it into the most important publishing houses in the world. "More than merely a symbol of glamour and frivolity, Vogue became a publishing icon with a lasting impact on journalism and on culture in general. Vogue made and makes history."

Source: In Vogue, Angeletti and Oliva, Rizzoli NY

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My Love for the color Red

Last night I cried myself to sleep after watching Valentino: The last emperor. jajaja I don't even know why I found it so sentimental, maybe it was the cutest love story between Gian Carlo and Valentino or maybe it was the fact that he retired (which I know is old news but this was a reminder). He really was great and he really made the most beautiful dresses. Oh haute couture how I love you.

Oh to love a man like Valentino takes patience, but just to see how much love Gian Carlo has for him.. it's so touching. Just adorable. I absolutely adore Gian Carlo Giammetti.

Goodbye Valentino. I miss you.

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