Color Story

The message for this spring is clear: Color. 

Valentinos "It's A Love Thing"

 While I was flipping through the winter issue of Pop magazine (the one with Britney Spears on the cover), amid inspiring pages filled with kitschy imagery with a touch of Japanese pop art (aside from Shala Monroque's page, I love Takashi Murakami's complementary stickers) I found a candid interview with Valentino's creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli. In the lengthy profile, they talk about their anointment as helm of the italian house, their unexpected first encounter in Florence (through Giambattista Valli) and their families. The interviewer, Melanie Rickey, inquired on their obsessions. "My obsessions now are white shoes. I only wear white shoes", Pier answered. "It's a love thing", Maria Grazia responds regarding the studded pointy slingbacks you see above from their 2010 fall/winter pret-a-porter collection. "She has the studded slingbacks in every colour", Pier chimes in. I think throughout the interview they finish each other sentences, indicative of their work for Valentino. They sort of complement each other, what one has the other is missing and viceversa. 

The slingsbacks that Maria Grazia is obsessed with (which leads me to assume she wears them too frequently to the Valentino Atelier) is a direct reflection of their interpretation of the Valentino woman. She's ever so sweet but has a dark side. A thug on a dress? It's probably an exaggeration, but I imagine her with a knife under her underpinnings.

Take A Bite - Djimon Hounsou

What's so alluring about Djimon Hounsou? The question proposed itself as I was mulling on subjects for this feature. I can't quite formulate what makes Dijimon special, but besides the exterior, I was enthralled with his story. Mr. Hounsou was born and raised in a small country in Africa called Republic of Benin. In the late 80's he moved to France and established a career as a male model (I read somewhere Thierry Mugler discovered him). Consequently he moved to America and transcended into film. You might remember him on Janet Jackson's "Love Will Never Do You", where a camera follows him in slow motion running in what appears to a wide open field. I'm sure his physique and charming smile captured the attention of some. Janet, was sure pleased. Furthermore, I remember the first time when I watched "Beauty Shop", the scene when Queen Latifah knocks on Joe's door (Dijimon) and he opens the door shirtless. Pure Eye Candy. And who can forget his championship performance in "Amistad", "Gladiator" and "Blood Diamond"? Class Act. 

In September 2007, Hounsou made fashion history when he became the first African model for Calvin Klein underwear commemorating their 25th anniversary. The ad campaign, shot by giant Peter Lindbergh in Palm Springs, made headlines everywhere. There he was in traditional tighty whities reminiscent of a Greek God. The spotless white backdrop highlights his smooth, seemingly oiled skin (reminds me of a Hershey's chocolate bar melting). His beefed, chiseled, perfectly sculpted physique is not a result from gifted genes as you might expect, "I regularly have to watch how much, when and what I eat," he told the New York Post. "It really becomes a daily routine. You just have to do it - get up, eat something and go to the gym -- so you can burn as much and look lean. It's pretty challenging." Who knew? But whatever he does is indisputably working for him. 

Moreover, I find these images (below) by celebrity photographer Robert Ascroft of Djimon mysterious for some reason. The one where he's wearing a perfectly fitted three piece suit gives a vibe of mystery. The question rises if I've never heard his name before. What does he do? Is he a banker? A movie director? I love the overall composition of the photos, and seem as if they belong in the pages of GQ: well polished loafers, smart selection of clothes, and give a sense of personality. 

I think Djimon Hounsou embodies the idea of the so-called "The American Dream". It's an ambiguous idea, but generally it's a representation of what us, migrants, would not have accomplished in out homelands (or not as easily). He was smart enough to seek an opportunity to grow and evolve as an artist and a person, and that's commendable. I can relate to that, so I guess that's why I decided to dedicate this humble post to him. Not only do I celebrate people who I find interesting or are linked to fashion, but also individuals who dream and inspire. 

In case you missed it, on my previous Take A Bite I shredded light on male model Chad White. 

I'm sensing a lesbian moment coming

Melodie Monrose and Anais Mali by Solve Sundsbo

Gisele Bundchen by Steven Meisel 

Abbey Lee Kershaw and Edita Vilkeviciute by Mario Sorrenti

I can't recall a moment when fashion was as provocative as it is now. Perhaps back when it was chided as "racist" by outsiders, but truthfully, those folks just wanted to see diversity in pages of magazines and on the runway. They got what they wanted (not because of social pressure, but because of the evolution of fashion and cultural development). Now the issue, or should I say, topic, at hand is a bit different. Sexuality has nothing to do with fashion, though it seems the industry is more receptive to homogenous types. After all, that's where we stereotypically belong. I don't know many lesbians in the industry, but it just sounds like a breath of fresh air among the excessive catty faggotry.

Giselse Bundchen is not just a model. She's an Amazonian, married to one of the most successful ballers on the NFL and a mother of one. Part of her success and notoriety comes from her years at Victoria's Secret, which suggests; she's lanky, with beautiful features and oozes sex-appeal. Looking at the image of the recent unveiled Spring 2011 Baleciaga ad campaign shot by Steven Meisel, the notion of "sexy" is nowhere to be seen (sex and its derivatives are subjective). The woman is wearing a butch lesbian blonde wig, leather vest and sleeveless polka dot shirt, standing in the most masculine pose. All she needs is a cigar and a mustache, probably resulting in Rosie O'Donnell. The campaign does echo the collection, but any hint of femininity is best found on her lip color. 

Elsewhere, it was with little surprise while I was flipping through Interview I found "Double Vision" shot by Solve Sundsbo, a story of two seemingly-curious girls fondling in spring's lithe garbs. Interview is a magazine that tends to push the boundaries of fashion, art and sex, so these type of editorials do not come as shocking, at least to me. I thought the girls were instructed to act as friends more than lovers by the low level of eroticism emitting from the photos. However, this was not the case in "The Bride Whisperer" shot by Mario Sorrenti and styled by Karl Templer. Vera Wang's weddings gowns? You only see a veil and gaiters on one model, a diaphanous black beaded dress on the other. And breasts on full view. This is certainly a non-traditonal ceremony. While this may came off scandalous, I admire the care and thought behind the photos. It's not pornographic, but tasteful, visually arresting imagery with a pinch of sex. 

Does that mean that Ellen Degeneres is gracing the cover of Vogue anytime soon? I don't think so. 

Muses

I love how each cover elicits a different emotion, but it also conveys a message suggestive of the cover lines. I find each individual one especial, but the one the I seem most attracted to is Magdalena, shot by Maciek Kobielski. I not only enjoy looking at her pictures, but the girl can walk a runway unlike any other. I bet if a designer puts her in garbage bag, she would sell it to Barney's, literally. I'm not too convinced of the "too" theme Muse is going for their 2010 winter issue, but I appreciate their approach to summoning distinctively beautiful girls in a sea of uninspiring and "blah!" imagery. 

Memories

Sitting front-row at Street Glam with Lynice (DMVintage), Schuntel, and Ashley. 

At expo with Shannon and Dorothy. 

Oscar Saravia and I after a show (I was mad at Nick for a succinct period of time for not telling me my tie was out of place).

After Project Runway pre-judging with my fashion Mommy Maggy Francois and Nick Fulcher. 

At NOVA Fashion Week after a show. Obviously, I was unaware I was getting shot. 

Thanksgiving party thing at Darnell's. 

After a shoot with Walter Reed, Nicholas LaClair, Victoria Stiles, Karah Linn, Pawell Domalik, and Scott Bryant. 

I'm not big on retrospectives, but I wanted to share a few moments from last year. There are obviously more moments, such as meeting Robin Givahn on H street, that I can't share yet, since I'm having phone difficulties. But rest sure, I will post the picture sooner than later. 

Body Talk

New Year's Eve was a time that I did not foreseen. The way it occurred was nothing planned, and there was not a back-up plan. Not a single club in DC would let me in. All I saw was "21+", and I was left out (in my mind it said "20+"). Though there are advantages of being fly, sexy and young, there are also disadvantages that I wish I could oversee and ignore, but unfortunately I can't. I don't live in La-La land. I was invited to a house party in Virginia, but I couldn't attend since by now its a far-flang territory. I can't remember a time where I did not "party", which by definition is drink, let loose, and have fun on New Year's Eve, but that did not happen exactly. Out of nowhere I was presented with an opportunity to spend time with a few friends and I called a night, I was over it. I arrived home around 3:00 p.m. via taxi, rummaged my pantry (I can't recall what I exactly ate), and watch a movie. Nothing that I contemplated, but fun nonetheless. 

"Bag Gal" - Savage Skulls & Douster ft. Robyn
Most people resource to music for when they are down, bored or uninspired. In my quest to find the hottest tunes I stumbled upon Robyn's album Body Talk Pt. 2 which was released on November of last year. As always I'm late on sorts and I have to play catch-up. I found this dope song called Bag Gal with Savage Skull and Douster (above), the ultimate party beat. Furthermore, I was watching the Gaetano Navarra Spring/Summer 2011 show on iTunes, and I immediately recognized the song being play mid-way through the show, it was Indestructible by Robyn (below). I've never heard the acoustic version, so much better than the actual song. I though it was a bit romantic, melancholic, and poetic. 
"Indestructible" (Acoustic version) - Robyn
Robyn is just cool. I loved her when she was wearing Alexander Wang jersey dress with leather shoulder cut-outs on Dancing On My Own and her performance at the VMA's was pretty dope, especially when she was singing the aforementioned song while holding to the bars, writhing very stripper-ish, so hot. The sluttier the better (but with taste, of course). She's so small you want to eat her like a cookie, the most adorable pin-size pop singer in Europe. I hope she releases another album soon. The world needs more Robyn.  
On my next post I'm "curating" a few special moments from last year. Unfortunately, I don't posses a photographic proof of every single moment that I would like to share with you guys, however, I will try to dig into the archives to revisit those times. And remember: drink, eat, love, have sex (un-promiscous), laugh and dream.  

Turkey, Lights And Pierre Cardin

    

I spent Christmas in Virginia with a few family friends. I told my friend who cooked the turkey that it looked like it was taken out of a movie set. Not only was it visually appealing and stimulated my tasting glands, but it actually tasted great. One of the best turkeys I ate in years (still nobody has beaten grandma's). The rice was prepared by my mother, it was a concoction including olives, always a feast. I was playing with the camera before dinner. In case you're curious I was wearing vintage Pierre Cardin blazer, H&M chambray shirt and plaid tie. It all sort of came at the last minute, that's just how I like to dress. I'm still pondering on the idea of what I'm going to wear for New Years, but I'm sure it's going to be vintage.