PAUL SMITH AND RAPHA SS11

Paul Smith, as the legend goes, was planning to be a professional cyclist when he had an awful accident. Soon after he starting hanging out with a bunch of hip artists and musicians where he met his wife Pauline, a designer. Eventually Pauline stopped and Paul took over (no, their names are not a joke). His company became hugely popular and successful and so it makes perfect sense that the bike-mad designer eventually tried his hand at designing bike-wear. 

It turns out there is a whole race of people obsessed with cycling. As we Cape Town locals know. Rapha are performance road-wear specialists and recently joined Paul Smith in collaborating some designer cycling duds. I previously showed you the video, and to accompany it here is a series of photographs for their SS11 campaign.

But do take a look at the video below which I stumbled upon this morning. Thoroughly interesting to see the man himself talking about his cycling past and how modern cyclists are not as "stratospheric" as other sports stars. For their clothing go to Rapha's webiste to see the collection.

RALPH LAUREN S/S 11 FEATURING OLLIE EDWARDS

Featuring Ollie Edwards for the S/S 2011 collection for Ralph Lauren.

I have always loved Ralph Lauren campaigns. While the styling is obviously modern it's the grainy photography that reminds me so much of 1980s fashion that I miss. Plus his suiting has always had a very specific aesthetic often adding pinstripes and a double-breast that belongs somewhere between Wall street and American Psycho. Even his model looks a little removed and unreachable.

Gordon von Steiner's wandering eye for GQ

Street style shots can be found in virtually every city of the world. Sadly they have lost their charm but every once in a while I stumble across something a little more interesting than the day to day fashionista/fashionisto. Gordon von Steiner recently uploaded more images to his 'Wandering eye' section on GQ's US site. Among the trends are bowler hats, lots of layered plaid and backpacks of every variety. Click here to take a look at this series as well as some other fantastic fashion week attendees from around the globe.

TYSON BALLOU FOR GQ JAPAN JANUARY 2011

I absolutely love photography. I couldn't count the times I've opened a blog post like that but it's true. I keep folders filled with imagery just to glance at from time to time to inspire me. While we expect images to sell us fashion it sometimes comes with the added bonus of just being beautiful to look at it. As is the case with Tyson Ballou and these lovely images of him in the woods. Photographed for GQ Japan by Alexi Lubomirski. Manly, isolated and filled with the warm knits and thermals we often find ourselves in during the Winter season. Enjoy the escape.













images from thefashionisto.com

Wish I had a camera by my side this time...

My new friend Capt. Byron has an awesome photo blog that you should check out. There is so much that can be said of just one picture so imagine the stories and lives that each of these could tell?



CLICK HERE NOW

Clever alternative to the "Underwear Shoot" featuring model Andrei Beliakov.

Heads Up!

Richard Keppel Smith is a photographer and lighting director based in Cape Town. Currently showing his exhibition at Wembley Square which includes pieces from local designer Stiaan Louw.

You can catch the rest of his work online here as well as a very interesting online installation called 'Big Bang Love' Just a warning you might want to start off with a lower volume.

Photography spotlight: Patrick Hoelck

I came about the first image the way I generally do. I browse casually until something stops me dead in my tracks and thus I investigate. The first image is beautiful, almost biblical-- but that can be said of any man with a long bristly beard carrying a lamb. Yet the photography of Patrick Hoelck seems to offer more than just a two-dimensional image. And I find myself writing stories for the mili-second in-which the photograph was taken. And I do believe that makes a good photographer. The model, or anti-model as he's more commonly known is Tony Ward and his catalog is worth taking a look at too.


He is quite well known actually. And has many a celebrity name to under his belt, having photographed C.D covers for Maroon 5, Ciara and many more. His Polaroids are poetic and somewhat chilling. The image on the left speaks to me but the model is a little frightening- his face is not very open or honest but yet it's still beautifully shot. The image on the right is of Alicia Keys.







You can find more on Hoelck online at his official site including the long list of artists and celebrities he has frozen in time, I especially liked the portraits of Zach Braff and Dita von Teese. Go have a look!

Photo of the day

L’Officiel Hommes #18

Look of the day

{Wearing Dsquared2}

Advertising points to another, er... direction.

This has got to be the WEIRDEST advertising scheme I've ever seen in my life. Photographed by Bertrand de Pluard for WAD magazine. 


It's not safe for work and will probably offend some of you but it certainly "get's your attention"....


Let me know what you think...

{JUMP}

Personal Style: Andreas Stil

I am all for personal style. Even Ugly Betty has one, and we love her for it. I'm also a fan of photo-blogs of what you wear in your day-to-day. We are so diverse and complex as human beings that our clothing should be an extension of who we are. It already does... in case you were wondering.

I always appreciate the photographs that Jane posted on her Blog 'Sea of Shoes' but without her mothers huge collection of $400+ shoes it wouldn't be as fun to read for some. I don't post daily snaps for this very reason. Sure, my shoe collection is pretty damn awesome for my age but I don't have 300 looks a month to post. It would bore you, and it would bore me.

But Andreas Stil of Sweden, who doubles up as blog-model and Pop-idol contestant doesn't believe this of himself. His shrine to himself photo's capture him quite frequently in his digs and let's just be honest with ourselves and appreciate it for what it is. He's one of those gorgeous Swedes with great style and a couple items I'd love to own myself.

The photo's are beautifully taken, the subject is a natural in the setting and the clothing doesn't look styled or put-on. It's the kind of photographs I would take for an editorial.

With the above photo the success comes from the simplicity of it's execution. Rolled up below the elbow, vintage jacket you can buy for R200 on Long Street, simple slim leg black pants, low necked tee-shirt and rolled up boots. It's that easy.

Excuse me waiter...

Balance Wu and Chin Yang: Pepper fly





Epicurean irony

Finding bugs in your food isn't usually a sign of a good meal, but this fly-shaped pepper could add a bit of spice to your next dinner party.

{source} Monoscope

The Defensive End

Photographed by Massimo Pamparana and modelled by the Oscar Spendrup for a mens editorial for NEW WAVE in association with The Ones to Watch. Inspiring and twisted photography. Love it. Check out the awesome jacket in picture four!