Dear misslikey, its your 1st Bday

Dear Misslikey,
Despite of the fact that I am good with dates same as with cooking, when I woke up this morning I remembered today is your first birthday.
We started in September last year with first post of Miss Golightly. Back in the days nobody was actually reading except of my supporting chicks, and cute boy M I used to be in love with. Ohhhh, pooor little US in those days of non reading, we would spend the whole night with double coffee latte and pack of cigarettes. But we continued.
Your birth was pure love and topics to write were instinct. Those like real mothers have. And I really sometimes felt like a mummy. Did entire day pass that I haven’t check on you?! Well, maybe few times, but Dear misslikey you happened completely genuinely, as my fashion diary and personal inspiration, the way I saw things that I wanted share through you with fashion lovers. Normally that my taste and my likes are sometimes varying. That's why misslikey you are changing with moi. And if I sometimes act classically like egotistic parent does, I would like that readers admonish when they feel that. Because we don't have same taste and we like to live in the world of diversity. Who can really portray beauty? And who is enough in-the-know to judge about what is beautiful in the fashion?
There were moments when I just wanted to stop, to not believe in fashion any longer, to erase all those days of studying runaway shows as kid and tearing sheet into tank tops with Like a Virgin slogan. Why? From the time when was just one unique idea and heavy sewing machine, things had pretty changed in the world of fashion, like in every other industry that is led by the cash. It’s not strange that people have divided outlooks, objects, issues and many times disapprovals about fashion industry. I do feel now and then like I have double standards.For instance when model is too bony I go back in the time and I clearly can see a 5-year girl with messy-blonde hair and crying eyes. How would she feel about that and what affect would that make in her teenager years? Would she be miserable because of her chubby cheeks? Sometimes I can feel the pain on the fingers of those third world children working in the fabrics, and my body trembles just with the thought of that.

Dear misslikey, you know I am some sort of humanist and I have a certain problem about dealing with negativities, not only in fashion world but in normal world so I've realized that I cannot change the world. Myself is only world that I am able to change. And in crisis of those moments when I no longer wanted to be part of the fashion, I’ve ran into some individuals that not just breathe fashion, but their love is creation turned into a piece of fabric, rock or photo. In those turnovers my love for fashion grows and I wouldn’t stop for nothing in this world. Our constant readers remember over the year stories about Fay, Liv, Lara, Elisenda.I hope for more upcoming posts like those.
Fashion needs bloggers, our thoughts, opinions, and conscience. That can improve some things. That is why I am thankful to you, misslikey and readers because you are enhancing in me further interest for eco-clothing, vintage and recycled. One more thing that misslikey learn me is that there are many lovely people worldwide, either those that are sending me pleasant emails or supporting what I do. And I want to thank for that.
Some think that issues of clothing on daily basis and issues What Would I Wear are shallow. Yes, for sure we would be happy if there are extra days in the week when we just do some overlay in the morning and we look incredible. But there are those moments in which I used to yell at myself before; Why you don’t have normal pants and normal shirt in your closet, and why you cannot dress in 5 minutes? But why would be the ritual of dressing petite and simple if our lives are everything but petite and simple, we are existing dressed up; we work, love, create and make memories; all in our outfits. Blogs are amazing for the presence of those moment when we are not in alluring inspiration and with question how to wear x you would google something that will rouse your creative ideas. Similar to that when few pieces of your clothes end by coincidence or laziness one over the other and you say; oh this looks beyond together, how didn’t I notice that before?! With thinking of wearing we value more our clothes; we create our personal style which is very not connected neither with riches nor designer clothes. What is more gorgeous when delaying delight by buying something and saving it for certain occasion or just for the days of your work week when you are doing something special? Cause beyond how industry that is led by money often presumes woman as low self-confidence consumers, we certainly do know how to enjoy in that process.
And misslikey, I am very aware I am sometimes writing about clothes that average folks cannot afford, but that’s no reason to feel sad or desperate. Even if we could find the money for anything we want, there is always craving for more. That is just part of our human nature.
At the end misslikey you are for me dream world, and I hope I’ve managed to transfer part of those dreams to You, my reader.
Yours truly,
Nina

Photos; Eniko Mihalik in Forever Young by Sebastian Faena, Wildfox couture collection, Anna Jagodzinska as Diane Keaton for the September issue of Vogue Paris

coup de foudre in fashion world; Clemence Poesy

When it comes to front rows and the mingling around fashion outs and abouts, there is always some girl that outshines with her IN-Style. And all the cool papers instantaneously follow ˝What She Wears˝ like her private parade. With so many IT-girls you cannot blame fashion journalist and photographers of the social events if sometimes they forgot some name or distinguish them at all. Designers, muses to the same, photographers, models, musicians and various artists; many of them have great personal-with signature-In -style
Britain with real promenade of ˝bad˝, rebellious it girls with vivid lifestyle has always present duo Miller-Moss. In France, where competition may be even tougher (Traina, Gainsbourg,Fillol-Cordier, Dillon, De la Baume) Clémence Poésy with exceptional and sophisticated style rapidly have become darling of fashion press. Besides that every fashionista in industry knows her name, even many of the ones-not-in knowledge can remember charming Fleur with more charming French accent from Harry Potter. Accent was for the purposes of the movie, she states.
The style that is not connected with edginess, today, hardly can be IN-style or can make IT girl out of girl. Still, Clémence Poésy is Fashion Lovely even if only thing edgy is cigarette in her hand when posing at fashion objectives.


You can notice immediately French heritage when she wears delicate blouse or very feminine little jacket on very masculine men’s shoes. Or from the fact she didn’t deserve status of fashion icon by wearing designer bags and dresses, but having the knowledge of being chic in just pair of jeans.
This serious actress, that had many roles in British and French movies and TV shows, somehow can fit in stereotype of chic Parisian actress that lives in apartment with polaroids on the wall and books on the coffee table while enjoying in the glass of wine and slice of dark chocolate before sleep.
Clémence, that kissed Colin Farell as Chloë in In Bruges and was the face of Chloé fragrance with Anja Rubik and our another fashion boo-boo Chloë Sevigny, started acting when she was 14. She told Olivier Zahm for Interview Magazine that the fact she wasn’t popular in school was good for her because ˝You have to encourage people not to give in to the temptation to be normal, even if it isn't easy--because when you're young, you really want to belong.˝ The girl that wasn’t in front row in clique of popular girls in the school, today is regular guest in front rows at Chanel, Chloé and Balenciaga.
And it is not just the matter of many Chanel quilts that are slipping off her shoulders or fact she poses Chloé Sally tote, what we likey about Clémence Poésy is her settled style and at the end romance in her outfits even when she flirts with classic masculine pieces.

PHOTO CREDITS www.clemencepoesy.org
first; Photo shoot from Citizen K International

Fall pants

It is time to re-vivre le pants! We usually forget about them, but with jeans they make essentials for our daily wardrobe. Though today we had little moved away from classic tailored suits, still we need to stay dressed up despite how nonchalant we are. Don’t know how you feel, but loungewear lately makes my heart beat; that’s probably consequence of feshly ended summer and cruel dismissing of restless clothing. Since Girl's gotta have one decent pair of fall pants that are tailored but still casual, yet it’s not time for full combination of wool and tweed, I did little sneak and peek into windows of our favorite shops to find our uniform pants. I’ve chosen grey for the essential pants, since that’s our existent fall basic color that with white and black creates in-a-minute-chic. Grey pants with right cut can make a girl nonchalantly polished up even when she is feeling for the day on the low – with sneakers or ballerina flops. Add tiny leather jacket you’ll be adjusting to throng in manner of city chic.

Acne pants I found on net-a-porter with slightly cigarette cut and high waist are still enough boyish. Very French and very wearable in improved Annie Hall manner.
Someone finally made an idea about connecting the trousers with sweatpants. When I saw cashmere pants from Lucien Pellat-Finet in Elle US July issue my heart said; Ahh these were the pants from your dream last week when you were wearing basic white tee. Amazing pair from oaknyc are casual but with little glance of 70s lady clothes.
For the traditionalist’s visions or for the ones that are working girls with too many meetings to attend perfect are this Chloe ankle length pants from otteny Skinny, grey and looking light, able to pair in a minute for informal tuxedo look.

On the set

We are very photo-loving generation. Not that I am flattering us that we are some kind of new age inventors but we are likely to catch The moments better than ever. Seems that these days the good girls are the ones who are writing diaries and those that are having fun are making photo diaries. Maybe I am just hopelessly romantic, hearing melodies playing for me while I am looking at some images.
Fashion Photography nowadays is on new level, besides it's a pure art, we became more demanding by asking for a story. We are not satisfied any more with the ability to pair a combination of Valentino and Blass while some super popular girl of the moment is striking a pose.
This may be the reason why I singled out Elisenda Russell. Elisenda, a Barcelona and London based photographer, with a wide portfolio and several successful exhibitions behind her, is a real story-maker with a snappy eye for detail. You can feel that with a first glance at her photos. Her ability to awake the feelings and senses of such a demanding generation inspired me to interview the eye behind the camera. Charming Elisenda talked to misslikey blog about her beginnings, why her city Barcelona is sometimes a fairytale, on her daydreaming, visions, inspirations, people she works with.

Where did the love for photography come from?
I've grown up in a richly creative background, granddad was a successful photographer and dad was a talented painter when he was young and also has produced some inspiring photographic images. My mum has a contagious flare with colors, a natural talent with interiors and a Hispanic style, and then there is my younger brother who produces music, so I had a strong base to grow from. I remember taking snapshots with a fisher price click and scroll plastic blue brick camera as a kid and just before the end of Art foundation I took some photos for a self-proposed photo project on an English beach with a friend at sunset and felt the rush of inspiration grow from then on.
So, you were a kind of self-taught learner when you started, or did you have someone to mentor you, to learn from?
I think it was a bit of both: self-taught and university study. I only really discovered my own style at the end of my degree when I lost my voice on and off for two years, due to having nodules on my vocal chords (something many singers get), this was a very trying time, but also a very valuable part of my learning process when I found ways to speak without words and project this through my images.
How much in your opinion does European culture, or Barcelona, and the trips to London that you mentioned, influence your work?
I live in a very beautiful part of Barcelona where most moments walking around my area feel like I've stepped into a fairytale. The buildings look like they are gift wrapped in embossed wallpaper, with the type of colors you would find in an ice cream stall, the sweet sound of buskers playing the theme tune of Amelie combined with the under current of Latin passion that pulsates at the rate of butterfly wings. That in itself fuels the romance in my images.
Since living away from London when I return it's like my eyes are reborn to the beauty I had been blind to for so many years, I find myself inspired by things that use to pass me by.
When you are photographing, are you the more planned type who has a vision of their picture in mind or are you more spontaneous, combining emotions in the moment?
After hours of daydreaming, the vision comes; and alongside it the narrative with which it combines to form the foundation. Then comes the unplanned emotion and the natural moment that can only be captured in the magical seconds in which the image is created.
From what I saw, even in those photos where I can feel an obvious underground or edgy vibe you are still able to stay romantic. How do you manage that?
My love for photography is a passion to capture and produce beauty in moments... past, present or daydreamed. I like mixing textures, backgrounds and styles, sometimes looks that would generally clash, creating something striking and unique.
I've noticed a lot of energy and movement in your photos thought they really have serenity, from my point of view. How is that?
In the midst of a photo shoot, the energy that is present produces a great impact on the day itself, creative inspiration, music, a mix of personalities all in a new location that haven't met before and may not meet again. I guess the serenity you feel is the point where the shoot has gone through some high emotions and energy levels and has stabilized, almost like the calm within a storm and that's usually when my best images are born.
I've noticed among other things, your eye for a detail; do you style the set by yourself?
I do all the styling for my photos from start to finish. I find that it is a very important way of creating the atmosphere of the final image; I use the styling of the image like an artist does paint. Details are an essential part of the image; they all have a reason for being there.
And please tell me where do you find those charming clothes and fittings you use in your photos?
Most of the bits I use are treasures I have collected over the years from all over. Most weeks I visit an amazing second-hand market called "Encants" in the centre of Barcelona, where I discover one-off antique gems that give my images the perfect final touch.
Do you like doing editorial work? If so, are you more likely one day to be with the Vogue photography based on Avedon or Newton or the Testino tradition which obviously mixes glamour with fashion; or is your heart closer to ˝the other ˝, edgy scenes like Nylon presents or Lula's vintage vibe, or do you feel you can fit in with anything?
I don't think the work I produce is strictly glamour or anywhere close. I love mixing old derelict surroundings, places with character and history with edible colors and romantic touches, textures and props; one of my best mates once described this as pretty gritty. I discovered Lula magazine a year ago and completely fell in love with it. I think my work speaks the same language as Lula does; it would be a dream to see my work published in there. Here's to dreaming!
You mentioned an exhibition in Barcelona? What was it about?
I had a title for a project in mind for a while and usually I produce the work and then make up the title but this was a new way of working for me as I really had to make sure the images related to the title "Traces of You". At university I took images entitled "Missing Me" of lost property at the London lost property office. The idea was to document detailed photos of the objects and the marks left by the last owner and its unknown history. I find it intriguing to think that every object owned by someone has its own story and after that project I felt the project was open ended and knew that someday I would pick up where I left off and complete it.
The exhibition "Traces of You" was focused on producing images of emotions, situations, spaces where loved ones passed and the impact the trace of the memories leave. The images were mainly of objects and stills that had a strong sense of nostalgia. It was important not to show too much detail of anyone in the images of people, as I wanted to keep the images personal to me and allow the voyeur to have freedom to imagine the story behind the photo. All of my other work is more fashion/music based and shows the entire person.
The project was collaboration with a wonderful photographer Mona Souli, one of my closest friends who took a slightly different angle on the title "Traces of You", pepitofilm

And about inspiration; someone is inspired by piece of art, movie or song, or city. What inspires you, do you have phases, things that consistantly inspire you through some part or period of your work?
I have phases like anyone creative when I'm overloaded with inspiration and everything and anything can trigger off an idea for a photo like music, people, a glance, the tone of light a vision or days where I have a kind of writers block but in terms of images. The close knit group of friends that surround me are a bubble of inspiration, they help give me guidance and clarity in my life.
Is it annoying sometimes to be the friend photographer? I mean, when you are with your clique and hanging with your friends, are you the one that takes photos all the time?
Sometimes, I like to disconnect if I'm at a party and I am the main photographer. I miss the "real" moments when I am wearing my photo-glasses. When I work I like to feel completely absorbed, immersed in a time zone where I can lose myself.
I've heard Karl Lagerfeld once said something like 'photography is amazing because it's impossible to return to the time, the moment...' Do you sometimes think about that, when you for example take a photo that satisfies you as an artist, do you sometimes feel kind of blue because of the lost moment?
No, everything is in the past unless it's not happened yet in which case is in the future so to feel sad about something that is past would feel non-conclusive. I feel sad when I look at more personal photos, like my family album, as the nostalgia takes over and feeling like I'd like to re-live a moment in my past. I feel happy looking in my portfolio, to see the progression and that I have been lucky enough to capture moments that were lived.
And about future, any wishes for your work and career?
Firstly, to keep producing new work and to communicate it through exhibitions and by publishing in the magazines I respect. I have just finished a 2 year stint with an edgy Barcelona magazine. Besides providing creative direction, I used the opportunity to publish a string of themed shoots that lifted the magazine into a new league. Now I'm on the hunt for a role with a magazine that is already on the right wavelength, where they already 'get it'. Being with a like-minded team means that things move so much faster.
Geographically I'm casting beyond Barcelona, collaborating with an ever wider set of designers, musicians, artists and DJ´s around and beyond Europe. I'm at one of those thrilling points when you are more aware than ever that the future is sparkling with options.


Special thanks to Elisenda for the interview. She was very pleasant to work with. For contact and more of her amazing portfolio visit elisendarussell.com