The function of fashion
You might already be familiar with my Matthew Zorpas obsession, it began over two years ago...
During the SS11 shows it developed into a full-fledged love affair. Okay, that's a lie. It wasn't a love affair at all... but I did realize I wanted Matthew to be in my life forever. He's the kind of person you just can't get enough of. Charismatic and endearing, he makes you want to be a better person. The Liria Pristine & Jillian Carrozza neckpiece he wore that season still gives me goosebumps whenever I see it. Matthew loves supporting new designers and for the AW11 shows he stepped the experimentation level up a notch. My favorite look from that season though was definitely the simplest: a MariosAlexander jacket and waistcoat combination worn with a pair of black skinny jeans. Swoon. For SS12 I didn't have the chance to shoot all of Matthew's looks but one very incredible cloud print suit made it into my roundup of favorite boys from the streets of LFW.
Nowadays Matthew's teaching 'The Business of Luxury' module at Instituto Marangoni, preparing the wardrobe for a British film, and is working on a product design that's going to be launched by London Collections: Men in June. Not only that, he seems to have found his fashion stride. He's still wearing incredible pieces from new designers but now in a more understated way. Look quickly and it appears as though he's wearing something regular but on closer inspection it's clear that Matthew's outfits are anything but ordinary.
These are my two favorite looks that Matthew wore during LFW SS12. Yes, the colour combination probably has something to do with it. Literally, make anything in grey and I will fall head-over-heels for it. But I also love that both looks are tailored but still manage pack an unexpected fashion punch. Too often it's expected that in supporting new designers one must adhere to a certain type of aesthetic - to embrace the designs almost necessitates losing one's own personal sense of style. To wear bold pieces in an effortless way that's practical is really difficult to pull off.
Matthew manages to achieve this balance. He also wears pieces that challenge traditional conceptions of function. On the left, for example, he wears a cropped knit layered over a suit jacket - an unheard of sartorial choice (when was the last time you saw a businessman running for a taxi with a jumper worn over his suit?!). It looks incredible though and is actually really functional. With an overcoat you'd completely lose the suit but this knit offers a really awesome alternative to 'normal' outerwear. I need. one. in. my. life. Matthew's second outfit includes a pair of trousers with wide panels that hang vertically from the waist. Whenever he stood still it looked as though he was wearing a floor skimming skirt. In reality though it's way more practical - I'm thinking removable panels would make for the ultimate in multi-purpose dressing. Bizarrely that day we saw a look at Daks that had similar panels attached to the sides of a dress... holla, this is one silhouette watch.
Never one to shy away from making an entrance, Matthew also embraced a few bolder looks during the week as well. This head-to-toe printed suit with matching shirt was one of my favourites. The pattern channels a comic book kapow sort of electric vibe which I love. Embracing the light and fun side of fashion is what getting dressed should be about. Any item that makes you question how you view the clothes you wear, or that simply makes you happy, is definitely the sort of piece that should be embraced and celebrated.
OUTSIDE CHANEL...
Surely the Chanel show is the apex of all things fabulous at Paris Fashion Week. Come on, it's Chanel for crying out loud. I was expecting some sort of post-apocalyptic paparazzi frenzy... which was pretty much exactly what it was. Imagine you're in big building and the fire alarm has just gone off. Everyone is stressed and panicked, unsure of where they ought to go or where they ought to look. It's chaos. Suddenly the sprinklers come on and water starts pouring from the spouts positioned on the ceilings above everyone's head. Now, take that image... add traffic, platforms and a string of luxury fabric to the mix. Et voilà. You've got yourself the entrance to the Grand Palais where the Chanel show took place.
Let's put the crazed fashionistas and paparazzi aside for just a second though and recognize that there were some magical little fashion moments taking place. The whole experience made me feel as if I had been transported to a Chanel black-and-white infused fairytale. Everyone was painfully chic and, I swear, enough 2.55 bags floated past me to stock an entire shop. Next time sky, please, just hold off on the rain. Merci.
Rollover images for descriptions and check Tumblr for more photos and outtakes.
OUTSIDE CHLOE...
Being in Paris is a bit surreal - but being in Paris for fashion week is totally surreal. The experience is sheer madness and entirely different from London. There are hoards of people, photographers and show goers, plus random swarms of tourists mixed in. The sprinkling of larger-than-life industry insiders is enough to make your jaw drop. How are all my biggest girl crushes walking right past me?! Oooh, they all look so achingly cool. It takes all my effort not to drool right on their Marant wedge sneakers.
One thing I've learned is that if you want to get a shot you'll have to run for it...
p.s for more random/regular Paris updates check out Tumblr.
DRIP DRIP DROP: THE STREETS OF LFW [DAY 2]...
The forecast predicted rain for the entire day but it wasn't until about 3pm that the sky decided to unleash the dragon. It was the mother load of all showers, the sort of rain that sent fashionistas shrieking and running for cover as fast as their wobbly heels would allow. Most people weren't dressed appropriately at all but there were a few that certainly were. Here's a little peek at some of my favourites looks from the day:
1. Kit wrapped up in a vintage knit & Hedvig in a Burberry parka and Wang clutch 2. Jennifer and Jackie in black beanies 3. Somerset House - which is bizarrely flying a black and white Union Jack? 4. Spring florals 5. The ideal outfit for any rainy day & Candice Lake 6. Candice jumping in the rain - but I think it looks more like dancing (hence proving there's no reason to let a little rain slow you down).
p.s. I'm tweeting and tumblr-ing my butt off with all sorts of exciiiiting fashion week related non-sense so be sure to follow along:
TWITTER - TUMBLR - FACEBOOK - BLOGLOVIN
Hey there stud muffin...
What is it about guys, when they get a look right they get it really right. There's something in those little details. Chances are half of the time you wont even notice them but somehow they still manage to tie everything together. Take Pete, for example. In the photo above he's tied together the strings from his hoodie at the neck. Buy why? It doesn't really make any sense but I like it none the less.
These are some of my favourite boys as seen at London Fashion Week...
Including: Pete Navey, Matthew Zorpas, CJ Cruz, David Nyanzi and Kit Lee (who isn't a boy but is cute so she still made it in).
Colour play
Love the mix of deep purplish-blue clolours in her hair, coat, and lips. Injecting tough sequins/glitter and maroon into any outfit is an instant way to make it just a little bit better.
8 and 2
Meet Yu.
He has a blog called 8 and 2. Yu was one of my favourite people to spot during London Fashion Week. He has awesome style and a pretty sweet bike. I love Yu's wild hair and sophisticated laid back style. He always looked well put together but just a little bit disheveled. It's the sort of unkemptness you can only achieve after cycling through a big city and somehow makes Yu's look completely his own. Never thought a denim suit could look so good - love it with the rolled up sleeves and trousers. It feels crisp and minimal yet functional and durable. My favourite part is the one sock that's just peeking out.
Flashback: Day 4 LFW
On day 4 of London Fashion Week the streets were split into two camps: brights and heritage. Okay, maybe it just felt that way because I shot outside Christopher Kane in the morning and then Burberry in the afternoon. At Kane everyone was in fluorescent brights from the designer's ss11 collection. It was a bit of a circus outside. Then at Burberry it was an even bigger circus and everyone seemed to have pulled on their tweeds and rich autumnal colours for the occasion...
With people like Kanye West and Sienna Miller around the paparazzi were going a bit mental. Slightly surreal and, apparently, nothing compared to what Paris is like (good luck if you're going). It's intense to get a good shot, especially if you want one without a gazillion people in the background as there are people everywhere. It was so much fun though and totally worth the mania.
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