Hanne Gaby Odiele – They Reminisce Over You – Michael Schwartz, Black Magazine #16

I have the highest respect and esteem for Hanne Gaby Odiele. As one of my favourite women working in fashion today, this spread shot me over the moon — especially the crowned look! Hanne Gaby Royale. 🙂

Model: Hanne Gaby Odiele

Photographer: Michael Schwartz

Stylist: Aeri Yun

Hair: Roberto Di Cuia

Makeup: Valery Gherman

Source: Fashion Gone Rogue & The Fashion Spot

Richard Chai LOVE – Nudity of the Heart – New York Fashion Week S/S 2011

What a fitting collection for Richard Chai’s LOVE line! Devoid of embellishments and sequin and all things flashy, what we see here is the personification of love; nudity of the heart. Everything is so delicate and tranquil. He had me at palazzo pants, let me tell you. I like the idea of incorporating boyfriend blazers and working with layers in a way that, to me, feels like waking up in the morning wrapped and rolled up in mounds of soft sheets. Ever had the best dream you’ve ever had of your boyfriend or girlfriend? And woken up comfortably smiling? That dreaminess is something else I pick up here. ~And I had to lead the gallery with one of the very best in the business, (and a personal favourite), Hanne Gaby Odiele in a sheer top and cobalt blue trousers. Notice the Oxfords throughout have a bit of a sparkle to them, which is as far as he went with runway glitz. From Style.com:

“All the prints, the embellishment, the embroidery, all of those things are still in the collection,” said Chai, speaking at his studio the day before his clothes hit the catwalk. “But what I’m showing on the runway is not that.”

I imagine these pieces felt like Heaven for the models to wear! Melissa Tammerijn opened. Saw some lovely familiar faces like Liu Wen, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Ruby Aldridge & Sigrid Agren. With fantastic grace, Frida Gustavsson preceeded Jac, who closed.

Imogen Morris Clarke – Superb Shutterbug, AIHBA Promo Videos

Photo from TFS, Chosen Because She Looks Cute In That Hat :p

I almost don’t know what to say to begin this post. Firstly, I’ve been a HUGE admirer of Imogen Morris Clarke’s fashion work ever since her early Storm days. I always found her cute and contemplative, very fine-art come-to-life; a decidedly British beauty. So, you can imagine how excited I was to find her fluttering around Twitter, (@imogenmc), to follow her chatter AND catch wind when she first began blogging. (I’m pretty sure I was her first follower at Poison Dart).

As an appreciator of Imogen’s photography, I was excited to see AIHBA put together some videos on it. Little did I expect to be knocked out of my seat! She chose the most perfect music and transitions to compliment Imogen’s comforting imagery. But I knew I was watching true greatness at 3:52 when Imogen Heap’s “Hide & Seak” began to play, (one of my favourite songs of all time). At 4:06, my eyes welled with tears and I couldn’t control it. The way Heap’s ethereal voice and tune undulated around Imogen’s “when the world falls i will save my shoes” ft. Hanne Gaby Odiele, my emotions really connected with what I feel her photography represents and it put me beside myself.

I feel the mark of any truly great photographer is to capture their passion. With some technique and poise, it’s not rocket-science to aim a camera and snap some pictures but to capture passion; to put an audience THERE in the thick and mix – one frame at a time – that’s greatness. One glaring concept I interpret from Imogen’s photography is a distinct passion for her friends. She isn’t just snapping off pretty pictures of pretty people. She’s capturing little moments in time – slices of life; a life she’s clearly thankful for. I get the sense of someone who appreciates every single second, however fleeting, as if each memory were a precious raindrop mourned when it hit the ground to drain away. She isn’t concerned with gloss or grand staging; only love between her friends and the world around her.  I find that love most particularly in “Miami” and “Sand” where she accompanies the making of nostalgia with the sweetest blog posts. This shot. . . this is the sort of thing I imagine we look back on after ten years, after twenty years, and recall as if it were yesterday. Dorothea Barth-Jorgensen isn’t just writing their names in the sand.  She’s carving their souls into the sands of time.

All Imogen’s photos of Hanne Gaby Odiele I find captivating. Hanne is such an inspiring figure to me because of what she’s survived and triumphed over. A car accident nearly robbed the world of her and, even though she was faced with the prospect of never walking again, she overcame it full throttle. Nothing would keep Hanne down, not even a spastic twist of fate. So, whenever I see her, I thank God or whatever is out there for her strength and conviction to continue to do what she does and that her family & friends – people like Imo – can continue to enjoy the good company of an irreplaceable loved one. I think of those precious memories Imo captures and how each one featuring Hanne is a memory that was meant to be made.

In such a short time, (at least publicly), Imogen has captured some really fantastic people. Besides those mentioned, Amanda Noorgard, Ali Michael, Hanna Rundlof, Kelsey Van Mook,  Ginta Lapina (my favourite Latvian!), Skye Stracke, Kasia Struss, Myf Shepherd & the ever-immaculate Frida Gustavsson, among others.

Imogen Morris Clarke is on the move and on the rise. Having made miracles happen in fashion and photography, I have every confidence in one of her original dreams – acting! If what we’ve seen so far is any indication of her ability to spread a wealth of talent, sign me up for her BAFTA, SAG, Golden Globe & Academy Award campaigns! (And/or stage accolades, perhaps?!)

And another video from Alma! A runway collection! One of my favourite shows ever opens; Sonja Rykiel S/S 2010!