In a return to the sunnier days of early September, here is the second part of my behind the camera shoot with the lovely Zoe. As mentioned previously in part one of this post, my inspiration for the styling and photography here was Hollywood Glamour of the forties and fifties.
I've also been exploring the theme further through recent reading of the film star Lauren Bacall's autobiography. I was captivated by her story and the events she's lived through. She's someone who experienced a great deal of misfortune and tragedy in the course of her life. However, alongside her troubles, she starred in some amazing, classic movies that are now regarded as iconic. Plus, she really does personifies 'photogenic', particularly as she aged. For anyone who is also a Marilyn Monroe fan, then watching them performing together in 'How to Marry a Millionaire' is a must.
The first image of Zoe is very much inspired by one of my favourite Richard Avedon photos that I keep going back to again and again. I was given a book of Avedon's work for my birthday, and (alongside my Tim Walker book), it takes pride of place on my shelf. I made poor Zoe jump SO many times in those heels to get this picture!
That first outfit is made up of my forties pleated skirt, my favourite charity shopped Jaeger grey jumper and a faux fur collar thrifted at the Big Chill. I bought the hat at a vintage shop in Bristol, the shoes are from ebay and the gloves were my great-grandma's. My inspiration for this ensemble was a 'lady who lunches'!
For the second look, I added a gentlemen's silk shirt (from ebay) to a fifties pencil skirt I bought in a vintage shop. I made the black 'mummy's scissors' necklace, and the belt is thrifted. All the bags either belonged to family members or were from charity shops. Zoe was originally wearing high heels, but this proved a little unsafe once the tree climbing started!
The third outfit is comprised of a black vintage dress that belongs to my mum, cinched with an old belt of mine - origin unknown. The necklace was my grandma's, and the peep toed shoes are from a charity shop.
The fourth and final is a simple black bandeau dress that used to be my mum's. I think she bought it from a jumble sale. Oh, and the necklace is vintage.
I was saddened to hear yesterday that the rise in University fees is going ahead in the UK. I know I mentioned this a few posts ago, but the feeling of shock over the Lib Dems' U-turn doesn't subside quickly. Sadly, people of my age will be one of the first year groups to be hit. Considering most of us were too young to have contributed at all to the current economic recession, it seems unfair that we will pay for it. Why, instead, aren't the government chasing up the big companies that are avoiding tax - such as Vodafone, or, dare I say it, Topshop? I've just been reading personal testimonies by peaceful protesters and I'm truly shocked to hear about the very violent tactics used by the police at the protests in London. Students knocked unconscious and not being allowed out of the 'kettled' area for medical aid? One protester having a three hour operation for bleeding to the brain, cause by a policeman's truncheon? Students traumatized by the level of violence? I'm horrified that young people - many my age - seem to have been denied the right to protest peacefully. I was under the impression I lived in a democracy. Now I'm not so sure.
And talking of controversy, for anyone who hasn't already seen this, take a look at the big copyright issue on talented street-style photographer Jill's blog here - http://streetstylelondon.blogspot.com/2010/12/o-la-elle-bye-bye-madrid-ello-london.html
A blogger for Elle Spain posted some of Jill's beautiful street style shots, with no credit to Jill at all - and inferred that she had taken them herself! To top it off, this Spanish blogger hadn't exactly been complimentary about the outfits featured. Among the four pictures 'appropriated' was one of me - nine days post surgery. So to find out that I was described as "cold" by someone who obviously didn't even bother to read the wonderful post Jill had written was upsetting. I wasn't cold - I was in pain. Also, I am technically still a minor - meaning that is illegal for Elle to post a picture of me without my parents' permission.
The page on Elle es has now been taken down, but (as far as I know), Jill has received no apology or explanation for why her photos were used without her permission.
The issue of copyright worries me as a blogger too, especially (as demonstrated above) because I post my own photography - and at the moment I don't have time to watermark every image I put up. What do you think about this outrageous situation?
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