My favourite outfit thatHanneli wore during NY fashion week*? The Acne motorcyle jacket (amazing, amazing colour) and adorable Miu Miu gingham earrings at Jason Wu.
Recreate Hanneli's look (kind of): Acne Rita suede aviator jacket (in blush suede - I know it isn't the electric blue but it is a beautiful, soft colour that would last for years). Miu Miu gingham and plexiglass earrings (these looked so beautiful with the sunlight hitting them)
Hanne Gaby Odiele, after Jason Wu, NYC, February 2012.
Recreate Hanne's Look (kind of):
Lover wide leg jeans (one of my fav Aussie brands). To get Hanne's frayed hemline (which Garance was sporting on her jeans in London as well "I never have time to take them for alterations"), a night in with a pair of scissors and a Quick Unpick/Seam Ripper tool is in order.
Bottega Veneta yellow and nude sandals (love Hanne's mustard yellow shirt but not everyone suits this colour.....I know this because I wore a mustard yellow high school shirt for 5 years (with a brown skirt!). These heels are great if you want to wear rich, deep yellow but your facial skin tone says uuuurgh).
Her outfit (all Rag & Bone) and beautiful dark wavy hair are amazing, of course, but what I loved so much about Justine Couvillion*....and this is going to sound rather odd and creepy, was her voice....totally awesome Mississippi/Southern accent! Clearly I haven't met many people from the South as I think I told her 3 times that I just loved listening to her speak. Weird, I know. I have photographed Justine before, but I think this was the first time I actually got to speak to her. So happy I did :)
p.s. This is now a couple of week's old (and I always feel a little odd sharing press article's with y'all) but I was very honoured to be included in the New York Times article written by Laura Neilson. If you haven't read it, you can find it here.
The exquisite Lauren Remington Platt after Jason Wu.
Seriously, she is just so poised and elegant (she literally glides when she walks) and (sigh) beautiful. And the best advertisement for her members only NYC-based hair and make-up booking company (they come to you), Vênsette.
I can't think of anything better than having hair and make-up done by a professional before a special night out.....especially if, like me, you aren't so great at wielding the eyeliner and curling iron (I am still in awe that Kate Middleton did her own make-up for her wedding!). I spent many an hour (and $) in the beauty hall at David Jones (a department store in Australia) having my make-up done for university ball's/weddings/parties. I love the idea that with Vênsette, the artist comes to your home (or office) and will even use your own products.....much less embarrassing than sitting in a chair in the middle of a department store with the general public wandering by and passing judgement on your choice of lip gloss :)
Recreate the Look (kind of): Hervé Léger Black Feather coat or ASOS Faux Fur coat (in black) or Balmain black embroidered fur jacket (investment piece) Alexander Wang Racer Back leather dress (throw on a coat for now and sandals for summer in a couple of months..... Except if you are in Australia right now in which case baby/talcum powder is your best friend if you want to wear leather in 31°C weather ;)
Falling snow + NYC + bouncy curls + perfect red lips = all the things I love to shoot!
I was so excited when it started to snow in NYC....I couldn't sleep properly the night before, and when I looked out the window on the Saturday morning and tiny specks of snow were falling onto the fire escape, it was one of those yeehaw moments! I have never seen snow fall in NYC before - last February was my first winter season at NYFW and while there was lots of snow on the ground, it didn't actually snow while I was there.
I took a cab uptown and made the driver let me out at Central Park so I could take all the prettiness in...the park looks beautiful any time of day but to see it in the early morning with snow falling was pretty damn special. And then I got to Lincoln Centre just as the models from the Ruffian show were coming out....the hair, the red lips, the snow. So much loveliness to photograph.
Aimee, who has the stunning blog, Song of Style (helloooo beautiful, smooshy Californian light!), before Lacoste (I think), NYC February 2012.
This was the day of THE SNOW. I think Aimee was as happy about the snow as I was! Love her primary colour blocking and the floral jacket peeking out from underneath her gilet. I think all of us layered on as many clothes as possible the day of THE SNOW although (most) of us didn't pull it off quite as cheerfully as Aimee did.
How Aimee has styled her outfit might not work for everyone (particularly newbie colour-blockers who may not be so confident with combinations of brights) so a skirt or a sweater in a solid colour is a good way to ease into the trend for summer.
Every time I photograph Olivia she is unfailingly sweet and polite - you know, in the 2 seconds I have to get the shot! And from talking to a couple of people who have photographed her 'properly' she is an extremely nice person and very easy to photograph. We definitely like that :)
I first saw these Rag & Bone jeans on Hanneli last season (and loved the way she styled them with (super) high, white sandals and a minty green short-sleeved top) but somehow managed to not get a photograph of her wearing them*....probably I was standing around chatting rather than shooting ;) And then each morning I walked past them in the window of a store in the West Village (where we were staying this trip - my most favourite part of NYC!), so when I saw Andie wearing them after DKNY I practically did a little happy dance. Of course it had to have been the -14°C wind-chill day so that it was bluddy freezing and everyone's hair was going a little crazy, but I am still pleased I finally got to photograph someone in them! And it is great to see how Andie styled them for winter (I never would have thought of them as a winter jean but the pale mint sweater and boots work really well together).
*which I remind her of each time I see her! I always remember the photographs I miss out on although sometimes I think the ones I take in my head and better than the ones I take with my camera.
Shala Monroque, before Jason Wu, NYC, February 2012.
Love Shala's Chanel shoes (they remind me of little tap shoes).
Recreate Shala's Look (kind of): Juicy Couture faux fur-trimmed coat (with pom poms!) - perfect if you prefer not to wear real fur- or Rag & Bone Duffel Coat with leather (I know, I know, I am rather obsessed with this coat. I think it is the beautiful colour and the not-too-long length).
Saint Valentine’s Day has come and gone bringing with it a time for all the lovers to show off their love and commitment to one another. During this time, South African based Lolhiphop Records executive Wax Dey drew on this perfect opportunity to drop a new track; “Will you be my wifey”. The video is now ready for viewing and so we caught up with the man to find out more.
Happy reading y'all!
DC: Love is in the air in this video, are you singing to someone in particular?
Wax Dey: Yeah, I'm singing to all lovers and couples in particular. The theme evokes a (hopefully) good memory for married couples, and a prospect for others who aren't. But above all, the song is just about appreciating the one you love.
DC: Where was the video shot? Who came up with the video concept?
Wax Dey: The video was shot in Sandton, Johannesburg. My friend who features in the song and video, TBo Touch (shoutout!) is an ambassador for Signature Hotels, so we decided to use one of their hotels where we usually hang out; Moloko. I came up with the concept, and the idea was to suggest to couples romantic ways to propose - and also get them thinking about finding their own unique ways to do so. So we had a chat and decided to use the scrabble game, the fortune cookie and the petal bath...
We chose the video girl, Nkuli because she is admired by lots of young South Africans. She’s represented South Africa in the last Big Brother Africa House, and was voted by the public as South Africa's second sexiest woman (Sowetan Live 2012 Mzansi's sexiest Calendar). She's also part of Lolhiphop Records family so we do a lot of ish together!
DC: We particularly loved the flowers in the bath thang...tell us more about this scene.
Wax Dey: You're actually seeing the edited version of this scene. It was actually a full romantic petal bath scene, and we acted it ALL out. But finally, we decided to cut it to the basics and leave it more romantic than raunchy, lol! For the right price, I could sell the real cut to DC! Blindfold, proposal with petals on the bathroom floor, then petal bath while I make a cupid in the bath... Yeah, I too wanna propose like dat!
DC: Is Wax Dey seeing someone? Who's the special lady?!
Wax Dey: I'm a guy... There's always someone in the picture. Right now I'm fortunate to have a smart, beautiful, sexy and good woman. Don't ask me who it is. What if she's reading, and I call another name?
DC: Lol! Ok noted! We see that you are now called Wax Dey, what's up with the name change?
Wax Dey: Hm, 'Wax' was a bit too common and I needed something more unique to build my brand on. I wanted something more affirmative of what I am. Lots of white dudes pronounce my real name 'Nde' as 'Dey'... And "Wax Dey" in pidgin happens to indicate that 'Wax is the man' or 'Wax is the ish'... And I believe that, so I went for the name change. I'm a rare breed of artist, and often I think I don't get enough credit for my contribution to music, music development and the music industry as a whole. So the new name is both a statement and a prediction of my auspicious status in the industry. I know one day, Cameroon and Africa will look back and feel blest to have produced a person, record exec, and a musician of my calibre.
DC: So will there be a new album soon?
Wax Dey: Yeah, my new album 'Cumlaude' will be released in Cameroon in April and Nigeria in May. I'm currently in Cameroon and Nigeria making arrangements for that. However, the release in South Africa will only happen towards the end of the year because this song 'Will you be my wifey' is the first single of my boy TBO Touch's compilation album, and I want to let the album do it's magic before releasing mine. Touch is a special kinda DJ and businessman. He's the first African to get a show on Hot 97 New York, a TV host, MC, you name it!... And when he said let's do this, I knew it was the right thing to do.
DC: What about tours? Any confirmed?
Wax Dey: I'm doing the Jambo Groove tour with CANAL 2 in Cameroon this April and then Dontom and I are heading to the US in May for a Lolhiphop explosion. Watch this space people...!!
So there you have it and without further ado, check out the romantic video below!
New artist on the block "Dencia" sure knows what sells an artist and homegirl is making no mistake to keep her stuff on point and to the highest level!
On the set of her video to new track "Super Girl" shot in LA and Encino, homegirl shows others how it should be done. It seems no expenses were spared to bring this hot vision to life!
Well, what can we do but look and wait for the video to drop. See some pics below.
We just want the yellow Lamborghini...nothing else!!
