Primp and Prosper

Its that time of the fashion year again when I find myself trawling the web, books and my image library, putting all my ideas together for the season. Its exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. So many ideas, too little time. The new collections come along so quickly and then you get to start all over again. This is what I am staring at this week. 

This would make an amazing fashion halloween costume… just need to get some couture for Saturday’s party then.

Really loving this hair today….

In true fashion fashion I have neglected this blog and before I know it 6 months have passed since I posted. I do feel slightly justified when I list the changes that have happened in my life since then; I have purchased a flat and after 7 years in Islington have moved to Hackney, I work out of a studio now rather than my living room, I have joined Saint Luke Artists in London and 2dm in Milan and last but by no means least I have joined USED magazine as Fashion Director. Phew. Now that I’ve got all that out of the way I can think about posting some nice pics, cool happenings and bits and bobs on here. 

To ease myself in I will start with a little of preview of USED which is out this week. I am SUPER excited about it hitting shelves and showing the world what we have been working so hard on for the last four months. Hope all you lot will like it as much as we do. Enjoy. 

Cover Photographer: Greta Ilieva Fashion Editor: Jack Borkett

Photographer: Mark Kean Fashion Editor: Katy Lassen

Photographer: Brendan Freeman Fashion Editor: Katy Lassen

Photographer: Jeff Hahn Fashion Editor: Madeleine Ostlie

Photographer: Greta Ilieva Fashion Editor: Jack Borkett

It’s that time of year again; a new season, new ideas, new inspirations. I am knee-deep in research so I thought I would share some nice pictures with you. Thats all. 

I am currently reading Patti Smith’s Just Kids and dreaming of living in the Chelsea Hotel in the late 1960’s so the new Balenciaga campaign, apparently inspired by this time, really caught my eye. Hanging out in the Chelsea in Balenciaga seems a pretty cool thing to do, even if it is 2012 and not 1969. I wonder if Steve took inspiration from the description of Sandy Daley’s all white room….

Balenciaga SS12. Photographer Steven Meisel. 

Now I am not usually a massive Mert & Marcus fan but this new story for Interview really caught my eye. I think I LOVE everything about it - the super sexy styling (thanks to Karl Templer), the girls, the locations, the lighting and contrast - its totally hot basically. All that’s missing are some naked boys and whips if you ask me…..

I love it when a plan comes together. My latest story for Exit magazine with the brilliant Greta Ilieva was one of those shoots where somehow, against the odds (3 days prep, mid-fashion week, budget constraints etc etc) everything just comes together and an amazing fashion story is born. Featuring the incredible Beegee at Premier (so so hot) and Margaret Howell’s spring summer collection as you have never seen it before this is probably my favourite story of the season. Feeling a lot of love for it, hope you like it too!

It’s so nice to shoot a summer story in the warm sun  - a rarity in London - but I have been lucky enough to squeeze a few shoots out where the weather actually matches the clothes this season! I shot this latest story for Contributing Editor with the fab Mark Kean on a lovely sunny Sunday just before Easter in a fun-park in North London. A lovely day was had by all and I am super pleased with the result. Check www.thecontributingeditor.com for the full story.

It’s a sunny Tuesday morning in June and for some reason I am still prepping a couple of Spring Summer stories. The weather-season doesn’t seem to have got into full swing yet but the fashion-season just doesn’t want to end. I’m not always a massive fan of Dazed & Confused but this story set me bolt upright with a big WOW. Beautiful in every way, different, visually arresting and exciting, I wish there were more stories like this coming out of London’s magazines right now.

Its been an age since I last blogged due to various things occurring, namely intense busyness and then running off on holiday to calm down from said busyness. I’m back in work mode now so expect more regular posting. Hopefully. I will try. In the meantime here are a few random images that capture the last six weeks.

Another day, another film inspired shoot. For the Spring issue of Sleek magazine I worked with photographer Thomas Lohr to create a red-tastic story based on Wim Wenders’ classic Paris Texas. If you have seen the film you will get the references. If you haven’t then hopefully you can still appreciate it! It was my first time working with a child model which I expected to be a nightmare but it was the total opposite - Ziggy was the cutest model ever and no tantrums were had. Model Laura Blokhina at Viva was also a pleasure. You can view the full story at www.katylassen.com and soon at www.sleek-mag.com but for now here are some behind-the-scenes shots from the day. Go RED!

Another shameless plug showing off my new work, this time featuring the lovely Elinor Weedon from TESS, shot by Jonathan Hallam, interiors by Louisa Gray and lots of lovely pale coloured clothes. For the very nice Dossier Journal. 

Its not often that I advocate the ‘less is more’ mantra but today I will. The sun is shining, spring is on its way and that is all it takes sometimes to feel good. And the same goes for a great shoot; a hot girl + a simple look + a nice crop = the perfect fashion portrait. Here are three pictures that have made me smile today.

Peppe Tortora for Grey magazine

Alex Cayley for Numero Tokyo

Alasdair McLellan for V magazine

This season has been all about the film reference it seems, for me anyhow. After the Blow-up story for Naag, the second Antonioni-inspired shoot I was involved in was this Monica Vitti story I shot with photographer Jonathan Hallam for issue two of the lovely Spanish magazine Tiger. With a large format, tactile thick paper and a more text-heavy pull out section, Tiger is a welcome addition to the line up of quality style magazines. We shot the Monica inspired beauty story in my local pub believe it or not, with the fabulous Dioni Tabbers (as quoted on fashionspot.com she has the best tits in fashion!). As you can imagine, a fun day was had. The shoot isn’t half bad either.