CURIOUSER NEW YORK

I'm not sure if it's the rain and/or the gray skyline that trigged my hidden inhibition and appreciation of the noir-style artsy fashion with an erotic twist, but it is, what it is - it's very luring, very sensual in a very twisted, dark way with a bit of... a lady-swan behavior.  I appreciate the artists, who approach a fashion photoshoot in such a creative way that, when you look at the final result of what should be an ad for a clothing and/or accessory piece campaign, you wonder about the idea behind the look.  Why has it be shot the way it was shot? Wh aa t?

It was one nice weather last week(end), when I managed to take my rollerblades for a long ride along the west side of the city, where the urban city meets the Hudson River paradise - the well-renovated riverfront that now bolsters a great array of the places for all kinds of the outdoor activities.  And, yes, even, when I rollerblade, I rollerblade with a photo-camera - [ aka my iPhone camera, as I use it for the music ], because I find it quite amusing - in a very good way - to see what people wear, when they work out: run, bike, walk, skate... And some of them are not even there to work out, per say, but rather... to take a bit of a break from the public transportation and enjoy a ride to/from work on a bike. Who says you can't bike on a job?

It's unlikely that you'd think that fashion would need some therapy.  I'm talking about the latest film from Roman Polanski "A Therapy" that is being presented by Prada. I'm dying to see.  And what did you think I meant?

I think I got carried away with the perfect beautiful summer days that New York has gotten last week and forgot about my blog. What a shame! While my blogging 'comrades' have been faithfully updating their blogs on a daily basis, I took a short break. Agh, please forgive my absence... Alas, the summer is finally here!

As I promised, here are a few of the photos I took on location in Aruba for the fashion label that is about to make a historic come-back.  The full collection, including the information on where you can get the designs, will be soon available online. I will keep you posted.  Please "SHARE" via your social networks if you liked it, and do let me know, which ones you liked in particular and why! I'm always happy to know what my immediate friends and readers like. 

Had to take advantage of the scenery and fashion designs in between the shots to make a little memory for myself... Well, the trip to Aruba has come to an end - ahh, sigh ! Those four days went by like one day, because they were packed with both business and pleasure from dusk to dawn.  In between the photo-shoots that I came to do for a very prominent high fashion label - [ and which I've mentioned to you in my previous blog, Aruba: Day 1 ] - our biz team took some time to explore the island of Aruba. I've got to see so many interesting places - from golf courses and old lighthouses to very local, unique hang-out places, like bars, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, etc. We even saw the 'Bel Air / Beverly Hills' of Aruba - the district on the island, home to the very expensive real estate developments, owned by people from USA and Europe. Quite a sight! 

On the last day of the photo shoot I came to do in Aruba for one of the oldest most prominent fashion brands - [ oh, la, la, can't spill the beans yet ], I had to scout for the shooting locations.  For the second photo shoot I came across this very interesting store, or rather a multi-functional building that hosts a rather interesting vintage store, bar, barber shop in a very retro vintage style and a tattoo parlor. 

I think it's rather fun to experiment with the nail polish, depending on where you travel and choose the color by how you feel about the destination and/or occasion.  If you are going to a beach location, the colors should be very bright - [in my humble opinion] - very s u n n y, just as you'd expect for the place's aura to be...

Well, I'm in Aruba . I've arrived yesterday, and it's a rather business related, than a pleasure-related trip... For many of my friends it was quite a surprise to find out that I'm here, but, let's just say it, I'm not here for the pleasure, although I do try to find the time to fit it in - you work hard, you play hard, right?

Today is May 9Th - The WWII Victory Day that is very widely celebrated in Russia and Eastern Europe... It's a special day for me as well, as my grandparents fought this war. Some of them were wounded. I especially would like to dedicated today's blog to my grandfather, who was 19 when the war started and who finished it in Berlin, Germany - coming all the way to the 'finish line'.

I was working on my post for tomorrow - [I was thinking of not posting anything today and just taking a break from the blogging, but that's not, as you can see, possible] - so, I thought I'd share with you one of the quotes about an approach to a personal style that I absolutely feel very strong about. It's pretty much exactly the way I'd put it: So, today I thought of taking it easy and instead of blogging about fashion and lifestyle and/or posting street fashion shots, I've just decided to let you in a bit of my personal life...

I, seriously, can't get enough of my new booties that I've got a month ago at Limelight Marketplace in Manhattan.  At first, I thought they'd be one of those boots that are as "comfortable" as they look, meaning - not the most wearable boots. However, the few nights that I've already taken them out on a town, they've proved to be ones of the most comfortable boots that I have in my closet. I'm in love with them, and Manhattan seems to be too, based on the compliments I get every time I wear them. A great, great buy and...investment, hah!

Now you can apply your obsession with the social media / social networks to your dress code. You can now wear your Facebook , Twitter , Wikipedia and Dribble on your feet! You might have no choice. See what I mean...

Today's day - Sunday, May 6, 2012 - happens to be one of those days, when I'm coming up with many ideas for many aspects of my life, some of which are doable and some of which fit the category of 'sweet dreams' not to be ever executed, or, ever to be possible to be executed for some reason or another. Either way, I'm dreamy today....  Being at home is so much nicer in the presence of your beloved pets. Meet my Chester. I haven't done much all morning - being laaaazy!!! , except for making French press coffee - [ I'm wired!!! ] - and my grandma's old recipe's chicken soup from scratch just because I'm, actually, sick again - [and in this case, I've made too much of it again, which I very soon will get bored of!] . 

As you know by now, I'm obsessed with my jean shirt . I wear it all the time and with everything.  I find it very versatile and workable for many occasions  - under a blazer with black pants, it looks formal enough but with a casual chick twist. Over jeans with sneakers and a motorcycle leather jacket - it looks both very casual and very America Levi's 80s. Over a short summer dress, it looks also chick and stylish and ... comfortable and warm. A jean shirt is also great for covering any flaws and making an outfit look doable on all occasions.  OKEY, let's just say - I'm obsessed with a jean shirt. The one I got a year ago at Uniqlo , the light wash, has already traveled internationally with me. It has its own passport now, hah! But recently, it's got itself a competition - in the form of a dark wash jean shirt from the same store, Uniqlo.  

Yesterday I met the creative force behind one of the greatest versions of the Vogue magazines in the world - Vogue Italia . I've met Franca Sozzani , the Editor-in-Chief, who has been with Vogue Italia since 1988 and who came to the Museum at FIT to share her wisdom - [ you should have seen the line of people, some of which really looked like serious fashionistas, to the auditorium to meet with Sozzani! Good thing I've booked it way in advance! ] To say that this woman is brilliant is an understatement, she is beyond the visionary. She is also hilarious and is not afraid to push the envelope. Her bold statements in regards to how the fashion industry works and what goes into the production of one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in the world once again proved, why she's been considered one of the most controversial editors in the history of Vogue. She shared with us the things that most of the fashion industry players are afraid to say out-loud....

How far one can go with a hairdo in today's day and age?  This girl seems to have a lot going on with her hairdo: there's a rather alternative cut, a multi-coloring, a shave and a bun with a twist...

There is something about the people, who know, how to dress simple and at the same time - stylish. Choosing one attribute of an overall look that both compliments the whole look and, at the same time, adds an element that makes a simple look stylish and less casual, but casual enough - is, sort of, an art.  I see a lot of people, who try too hard to look stylish by throwing everything that they think defines 'fashion' and 'style' and end up looking too made-up. And then I see individuals, who seem to have an art of 'effortlessness' to them when it comes to putting a stylish casual look together. Here's just a few examples of the individuals who did it right - they look effortlessly contend in the casual style... A nice pullover always adds that element of a stylish casualness, sans the pullover - jeans and sneakers would have looked too casual...

I just realized that I took these photos at the  TopShop , New York about 1.5 months ago and have never published them. One of the reasons for that was because I waited for the  real time in-person confirmation that this style - the wild, wild overall look of the prints, from top to bottom - would actually work in real life. 

Have you noticed how couples start to dress similar over some time into a relationship?  I must admit, I have a soft spot photographing couples. I find it fascinating how similar the couples start to look - the longer they date, the more alike they start to look. Am I wrong or do you notice it too? I've captured quite a few couples on the streets of New York in the past half a year that I've shared with you. I simply can't get enough of the 'couple's street fashion'...Moreover, having traveled around the world quite a bit, I've noticed that the couples tend to dress similar in other countries as well. For example, I've captured a few very adorable couples on the streets of Bologna, Italy last August - looking as similar as the twins would have...One might think it's rather uncool and/or not stylish to dress similar, but that all depends on one's personal style - if you don't have a sense of style and neither does your partner...

Me shopping at the flea market near Loire Valley, France. Don't we all secretly love flea markets and second hand stores ? It's not like they are making a come-back, they've been, actually, around for as long as the first markets back in the Depression era that appeared to be the only ways for the people to sell their belongings for food. Nowadays, most of the people, who sell their stuff at flea markets do not necessary doing it for money, although, it does help to get something back on that YSL circuit 1986, right? 

Growing up with the best grandmother ever, from an early age I was exposed to all the baking - one of the activities that my grandma is very passionate about - [and she is great at it too!]. I could spent hours watching my grandma making dough, rolling out the sheets of thin dough and filling them up with all kinds of ingredients - from potatoes and cabbage to cottage cheese and fresh berries. I still don't know how I managed to escape getting fat as I  definitely indulged in all the freshly baked pies and cakes.  I'm in owe for my grandma for making my life so much more beautiful and full... And even now, up to this day, when I come and visit my grandma, she puts on her apron and a white cap and asks me what I want her to bake me and one of the things I always ask her to make is her signature honey cake that takes two days as it requires some serious preparation, but at the end - the cake is to die for. 

I can't get enough of this video! I did get my overview of 100 years of East London style in 100 seconds. A pretty well-thought thru concise video. One can definitely see that we both came a long way but at the same that the fashion has been returning over and over again... We are definitely back to the platforms and flare jeans, don't we? And the vintage? Aren't we wearing the '100 year old' vintage?