Super Stylish Reads: Perfect Christmas Gifts

I was recently asked what which book I'd love most for Christmas by Vanessa of Decadance for Divas and my mind just went completely blank... All I remembered was 'Thank God for Amazon wishlists'! That's where I save all the buys I want for a rainy day. All the above are via Amazon UK.

From top left-right:
Gucci: The Making of £29. YSL £20. True British: Alice Temperley £22.62
100 years of fashion Illustration £16.10. Tom Ford: 10 Years £45. Carine Roitfeld, Irreverent £42
Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Accessorizing £12. Glamour, Making it Modern £17. Interiors Now V.2 £18

Anyhow, in answer to her question, I'd love Pictures by Tim Walker. If you don't know who he is, eeeeek! This guy is such an amazing genius of a photographer who literally creates visually mind blowing dreamscapes and imaginative modern photography. I've featured his amazing work in the 'I heart Vogue UK: The December issues' previously here, his 'Greatest show on earth' editorial was epic. He did an brilliant editorial for Vogue Italia in October here and also as usual he is Vogue UK's pick for the December Issue 2011, titled An Awfully Big Adventure. Can you tell I like his work much?

See?, highly imaginative, beautiful photography at it's best!

I've heard great things about Carine Roitfelds book, Irreverent (currently sold out on Amazon UK), which just sounds fascinating to me. This woman has worked 15 years as a stylist for French Elle, been a consultant & muse to the likes of Tom Ford at Gucci & YSL for around 6 years, plus 10 years of which she was editor-in-chief for French Vogue, where she did some magnificent things! Definitely a force not to be reckoned with!

The making of Gucci book is one super stylish read for the coffee table, I love a bit of Fashion History, which this luxe label has plenty.

One of my fave UK designers has to be Alice Temperley, I love her feminine, bohemian and glamourous designs plus her cool attitude towards life and fashion. She always looks like she's having fun too. It's hard to believe she's been on the industry for 10 years now, True British: Alice Tempereley is so on my wish list for now!

I also included 100 years of Fashion Illustration as a super stylish read - I could look at someone else's doodles all day long. My other huge crush is to do with Interior & Styling, love Jonathan Adlers work and again I could never get bored of looking at other peoples interiors and styling.

What reads do you currently have on your X-mas wish-list?

images above via Amazon.co.uk, Tim Walker Photography, Alice Temperley

Mystical Beauty: Happy Hallo (Dia De Los Muertos) Weekend!

This weekend some of you will be celebrating Halloween or even Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead - Mexican Holiday where family/friends celebrate, pray for and remember those who have departed). In the spirit of things and inspiration from Bella's post (The Citizen Rosebud) on awesome photographer Raoul Ortega I've stumbled across two very contrasting yet amazing mystical editorials, enjoy!

Loving this incredible shoot from Marie Claire Italia feat. Emily Senko shot by the brilliant Wendy Bevan via Fashionising. March 2011.

Not only do I absolutely adore Wendy's haunting, magical photography, (more editorials by Wendy here) the styling is just beautiful, I love the bold prints, flowers in the hair and girly dresses.

Goldie of a shoot; 'Magical Fashion' by kooky Director Tim Burton shot by the brilliant Tim Walker for Harpers Bazaar 2009. Couldn't think of a more talented duo to create something theatrical like this - entire shoot is featured on Magical fashion link.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and that extra hour in bed!

I heart Vogue UK: The December Issues

The Gold Issue-Kate Moss shot by Nick Knight - I loved this cover & issue
Vogue UK, December 2000

I can't believe I'm thinking about Christmas already and it's not even Halloween yet! I'm just a wee bit excited as to the arrival of the December issue of UK Vogue hitting the news-stands next month. You see, as per my previous post, I have collected loads of Vogue & Elle magazines amongst others, since I fell in love with fashion and I just can't bear to part with most of them. I did a clear out before moving to Greece which has thinned the collection down significantly but I've held onto key months as they feature new collections and other amazing fashion goodness.

Front covers of Vogue UK's December issues spanning a decade
- note cover girls Kate & Sienna have fronted the December issues numerous times in a decade, both looking gorgeous as ever

The December issues of Vogue in particular have a special place in my heart as they nearly always have the best front covers, with the most creative, spellbinding & magical fashion spreads ever - I mean I think they seriously blow the budget on these issues and literally go to town with everything including imagination & couture. Can you imagine what brain storming for the December issues must have been like? I also love their special features articles, Vogue's definitive X-mas gift list - although 99% of items are bloody expensive and luxury items, they are incredibly inspirational and the kind of things you splash out on when a good friend gets hitched, has babies, gets engaged or reaches a special age!
One of the best issues was the 2006 issue known as the 'Commemorative Issue', as Vogue celebrated 90 years! Refer to this article in the Independent for an interesting read and why Vogue is pretty special.

This is a totally separate issue but I remember at my previous job, we were discussing the future of traditional media & how it would eventually go IP/be online/digital with the disappearance of print media, something that will eventually be quite rare in say 10/15years time. Well, I sure hope not, Ok, I love how new media is so accessible and up-to-date, but I'm pretty sure that fashion/travel/food and some consumer categories will still have some kind of bias due to our love of colours/pictures-which is better than seeing it online/digitally. I mean can you image reading Vogue and it's glory online only?

Anyhow, moving on. As I said, I want to share with you all, one of the best fashion spreads from Vogue's December 2004 Issue. There are so many beautiful shots in the other issues and also another fave - 2008 issue, but this is one of my favourite's as it takes me onto a fantastic journey. I love everything here, from models/people casted, photography, back drops, fonts-another weird thing I love and the fashion! Enjoy!

NB: Photo heavy-ish post! Click on images to enlarge!

Vogue UK, December 2004 shot by Tim Walker
via here & here