Pilot #5

The new issue of Pilot magazine hit magazines yesterday afternoon and it is looking very slick. I'm very pleased to say that both shoots I worked on assisting Dan Ahwa for the issue landed covers (it is a double cover issue). It's also the first individual print cover for both Emily Baker and Chris Landon - being quite a coup to be the Baker's first as she is basically the most hyped and successful new model in New Zealand right now.

Emily Baker photographed by Oliva Hemus with styling by Dan Ahwa and myself.

Hair by Richard Kavanagh for Rodney Wayne and makeup by Amber D from MAC.

Emily is wearing a Zambesi jacket, a Therese Rawsthorne shirt and a vintage silver clip from The Antique Shop

Christopher Landon photographed by Guy Coombes with styling by Dan Ahwa and myself.

Hair by Jason Chong Li from Stephen Marr and makeup by Amber D from MAC.

Chris's suit, shirt and bow tie is from Working Style and the mask is by Guy Coombes.

Blue, as usual

Still obsessed with blue denim, clearly. I couldn't resist another post of the blues that have been inspiring me lately.

Amazing Celine hems from Self Service

 Mikhail Baryshnikov from The Blue Jean

Vogue Germany May 2011 Jacquelyn Jablonski

Lee Radziwill

Left to Right: Current/Elliott The Low Bell flared jean, Current/Elliott The Bell flared jean, Textile by Elizabeth & James Jimi low-rise flared jean, Stella McCartney Mid-rise cropped flared jeans

 Charlotte and Serge

Sources: Style.com, Tomboy Style, Fashion Gone Rogue, Self Service, The Blue Jean

Après-ski

I have been somewhat infatuated lately with with a lot of aspects of activewear and outerwear as readers may have noticed. One of the main subjects I've been intrigued with most of all is apres-ski, particularly in its more vintage and dated incarnations. For full disclosure, I have never skied in my life as poor balance and extreme sensitivity to cold mean it really isn't the sport for me. However I very much love and appreciate all the ritual, function, style and fun that goes with it - dated snaps from the Vogue and Life vaults being my particular favorite. It's all part of that healthy, outdoorsy quality I've been inspired by lately - and clothing that does it's job and makes sense. However function is not without the fun part and it appears in the form of wonderful colour palettes and confidently patterned knitwear - the latter so cleverly referenced by Raf Simons at Jil Sander this recent fall.

Jil Sander Fall 11 details

Sources: Sportswear In Vogue, Tomboy Style, Life Archives, Vanity Fair, Style.com

Classic Combo: Calvins & Denim

This is a great example of the best way to show denim and underwear. No lacy nothing here, instead it's sensible and achingly cool high-cut Cavins. The denim is all equally no-nonsense and story. Like I said, great combo.

Click through for a couple more.

Get Sporty

Nothing beats good, old fashioned exertion, competition and perspiration. Vintage performance sportswear and athletic uniforms are my favorite.

Soviet athlete Tatyana Shchellanova, LA, 1966 by Stan Wayman

Leo in Basketball Diaries

Vintage Winona

A League Of Their Own

Los Angeles Track Club runner, Jim Beatty, 1963 by Art Rickerby

Mariel Hemingway in Personal Best

Yale Crew by George Silk

Sources: Life Archives, Mr Porter, Google Image Search.

Big Coats, Rainy Days

Naturally, the weather on the last day of our long Easter weekend is quite awful. After all, it is tradition really. None of this was necessarily a bad thing however  as it was the perfect day to bundle myself up in my big Sherie Muijs coat. Being unlined, single layer wool it is perfect for Auckland weather and is able to be worn through Autumn and Winter. I also love the single button, oversized fit - it feels like a dressing gown I swear - and the endearingly large pockets reminiscent of an elderly shoplifter. As for the rest of what I'm wearing, I'm basically wearing an approximation of pajamas using real clothes like Karen Walker trousers and men's knitwear. Comfortable, cosy and so perfect.

 Sherie Muijs coat, Karen Walker trousers, Country Road mens white t-shirt and mens navy sweater, Kathryn Wilson boat shoes

Ew so many cords and things on the floor from a weekend of DVD watching. My bad.

Objects & Products To Invest In This Week: Knitwear, Books and Sensible Shoes

 Now that the temperature is finally dropping it is definitely time to think about purchasing some new knitwear. The best kind are lightweight and pure wool - making them ideal for the temperature fluctuations the day brings and all the layering that life requires. My favorite offerings at the moment come from Karen Walker and Country Road. Walker's knitwear is definitely a bit of a splurge, but a delicate classic grey cardigan like this one will last you so many winters and can go with everything. Country Road also does great knits (many in 100% wool) and I personally am a huge fan of their mens sweaters - such classics and such a great price too.

Not only am I all about the sensible knitwear at the moment, I'm also yearning after some sensible shoes. These three-eye Dr Martens have been on my mind for at least six months now and seeing as Autumn is here and sandals are gone, it really seems like the perfect time. Solid shoes like these are charmingly evocative of school shoes, provide a great solid grounding to an outfit and also make your legs look deceptively more slender. Oh and I thoroughly recommend popping into Unity Books and grabbing one of the super cheap mini Penguins they have - I picked up Babette's Feast, classic Karen Blixen and perfect handbag size. Details and prices are below.

Karen Walker Classic Cashmere Cardigan  in Pale Grey, $350 from Karen Walker stores and Online
Country Road mens V-Neck Pullover in Navy Marle, $99.90 from Country Road stores and Online
Dr Martens Three Eye Shoe in smooth black, $250 from Pat Menzies Shoes and Online
Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen Penguins Mini Modern Classics $7 from Unity Books

These particular Docs are a Zambesi sample.

All photos taken by me, please credit if using.

Orange

I've already explored pink and yellow and the inspiration tangents that surround them - so I thought it was time for the much overlooked and unappreciated hue of orange. Particularly tones that are evocative of that distinctive Penguin hue. For a colour that is worn so infrequently, it is loaded with memories, symbolism and references. From being the colour of Holland, Hermes and Penguin, to it's associations with the mighty pumpkin, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Autumn - every shade has a different memory or connotation attached. From the recent collections Raf Simons, Phoebe Philo and Karen Walker have proved to have the most deft ability to handle the colour with thought and confidence.

Clockwise: JOHN SMEDLEY LINEKER CREW NECK SWEATER, COMME DES GARCONS WALLET, POLO RALPH LAUREN ORANGE RIBBED LOGO SOCKS. All from Mr Porter

Glamour Magazine, March 2011 “Summer Comes Early This Year” 

Karen Walker "Perfect Day" trousers left to right - Crepe De Chine Boat Pants & washed cotton Tuck Front Pants
Photo by myself.

Take Ivy by Shosuke Ishizu

Clockwise from top left: Karen Walker Spring 11, Celine by Phoebe Philo Fall 11, Jil Sander by Raf Simons womenswear Spring 11 & two looks from Simons' Fall 11 menswear.

Ricky and Ralph Lauren

ADAM Mid-rise flared jeans from Net-A-Porter

Man About Town AW 10/11 "A Man Of All Seasons" - Jil Sander by Raf Simons

Sources: my scans, my photographs, Mr Porter, The Fashion Spot, Net-A-Porter, Tomboystyle

Whites

I'm in the mood for whites at the moment; clean slates, fresh palettes, whatever metaphor strikes your fancy. It manages to be timeless yet dated at the same time - all in the best possible way.

Prada Fall 1998 Angela Lindvall

Kate Moss from Let Them Eat Kate

Louis Vuitton Fall 1999 by Inez & Vinoodh

 Celine Spring 11

Sherie Muijs Spring 11/12 Preview

Steve McQueen from Mr Porter

 Marc Jacobs Spring 2003 Winona Ryder by Jeurgen Teller

Sources: The Fashion Spot, Style Registry, Style.com, Google Image Search