Alex Bennett and Nil Hoppenot by Justin Wu

Justin Wu is fashion photographer based in Paris, France. He initially started out as a fine-art photographer seeking greater representation & exposure with experience in photojournalism, editorial and commercial work. I was really fortunate to collaborate with Justin a year and a half ago when he shot pieces from my graduate collection. When I first met him, I immediately felt his immense passion in fashion photography. In 2009, Justin moved to Paris to complete his Masters in International Management. While he was still in school, he continued to express his interest in fashion photography, working with a variety of modelling agencies, and shooting at various locations in Europe. Justin's work has grown tremendously over the last few years, and has been given the opportunity to publish in magazines. His determination and persistence are truly inspirational.

I am really pleased that Justin will be providing regular installments for my blog. Below are some of his latest works:

Alex Bennett by Justin Wu

Alex has a natural strong appearance which captured Justin's attention. However, it was Justin's goal to remove Alex's edginess by capturing the images with a more journalistic approach.

Nil Hoppenot by Justin Wu

These photos of Nil are the outcomes to Justin's study on male form. The attention are on the form, shades, and raw expressions. His goal was to create an impactful image without the conventional pictoral enhancement in fashion photography.

Other works by Justin can be found on his website.

Illustration- Democracy?

Here's one of the illustrations that I did today. I was getting more and more angry as I was sketching away. The only thought that came across my mind was the issue of the prorogued Canadian Parliament. Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended the parliament on December 30, 2009, until March 3, 2010. His action killed more than 30 bills, which include issues in regard to unemployment, job creation, pension, and the environment. In addition, it also allows the Conservatives to take control of the Senate when they return by appointing five new members. Harper's reason for proroguing the parliament is to focus on the economy. Blah blah blah, I am not going to get into the details, instead I have posted the links to some of the articles below. I am extremely outraged by this issue, so are many others in the country. Protests have been organized for this Saturday, January 23, throughout the entire nation and a Facebook group has been created.

More info:
No Prorogue!
Article from CBC
Article from The Economist
Article from The Globe and Mail

Illustration - Wired Hair

I really want to improve my illustration skills so I have decided to sketch at least an hour a day. So far I haven't been carrying out my plan. I love drawing and painting but I have to be in the mood. Sometimes I try to sketch for hours but just can't get in the flow; other times I am able to sketch immediately after I pick up a pencil. Hopefully by forcing myself to sketch on a daily basis, my hand will become more natural. Below is a quick illustration that I did.

Pencil and Watercolour

Golden Globe Awards - 2010

What was up with the rain last night at the Golden Globes? And what was up with the event planner not putting up a tent? The red carpet last night was filled with talented stars as usual, but the dresses and gowns were less impressive. I noticed lots of dresses with ruffles, bows, folds, purples, and nude colors this year. Some of the details were too overpowering, such as the ruffles on Chloe Sevigny, and others were simply unnecessary. For instance, I would appreciate Maggie Gyllenhaal's dress more if the folded/ pleated details were omitted. Overall, there were only a few dresses worth mentioning. Below are some of the hits and misses.

HITS

Anna Paquin in Stella McCartney- Stunning!
Olivia Wilde in Gucci - Sparkly and sexy!

January Jones in Lanvin- This is how ruffles should be done!
Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent- Elegant, classy, understated.

Emily Blunt in Dolce & Gabbana - Romantic soft color with frills.
Diane Kruger in Christian Lacroix - Brilliant color, beautiful details.

MISSES

Tina Fey in Zac Posen - Why?

Heidi Klum in Roberto Cavalli - What happened to the ultra sexy dresses from Cavalli?
Sandra Bullock in Bottega Veneta - Highschool prom dress?

Maggie Gyllenhall in RM by Roland Mouret - Unnecessary folds/pleats.
Drew Barrymore in Atelier Versace - One too many decorations.

Chloe Sevigny in Valentino - Overpowering ruffles.
Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano - Awful ruffle placement.

Julianne Moore in Balenciaga - Unflattering!
Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive - Too much and aged her.

Pre-Fall 2010 - Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli delivered a beautiful, and wearable collection for Pre-Fall 2010. I absolutely adore the cocktail dresses- simple, sexy, and feminine. People often ask me why my favorite designers are so different from one another. Their styles definitely vary immensely, with Rick Owen's avant garde approach, to Giambattista Valli's ladylike and elegant appeal. I appreciate each individual style and I often combine these variations in my own designs. There are many sides to my personality, naturally, there are various designers that I love. Below are some of the looks from the Pre-Fall 2010 collection by Giambattista Valli.

Pringle of Scotland & Tilda Swinton

Today I was browsing through some of the Pre-Fall 2010 collections and Pringle of Scotland caught my attention. I can't wait to see the Fall 2010 collection! Below are some of the outfits I love:

I also found this beautiful short film with Tilda Swinton, shot by photographer Ryan McGinley against the backdrop of the Scotland landscape.

NEW ON ETSY!! Long Eternity Scarf- Salt & Pepper

This is a long eternity (infinity) scarf which creates a more dramatic look on the neck, and provides more warmth. Simply loop one end to the other to reduce the bulk. The fabric has a salt & pepper appearance, and consists of cotton/polyester. It has an interlock knit construction so it is very durable and won't stretch out of shape. If you are allergic to wool or have very sensitive skin, this is the perfect scarf for you. This piece can be purchased on my Etsy Shop.