A Different Kind of Passion for Fashion

Image: Vogue "Beauty and the Beast" Shoot

Last weekend I watched "The September Issue," a documentary about Vogue (or about as close as it comes) and boy was I in for a surprise! In watching this film, I expected to see a bit more of the human side of the ever-watched Anna Wintour, but instead I found myself captivated by one Grace Coddington. This woman stands as a fierce red-headed ribbon of distinction amongst Vogue's elite. 

In the documentary, Coddington is featured wearing comfy loafers to the Vogue offices and sporting several loose-fitting semi-casual black ensembles. And yet, as Coddington unfolds her creations as Vogue's creative director all one can do is simply stand back in sheer awe. Even Wintour notes Coddington's creative genius, and this genius is wildly evident in Coddington's photos that made it into this documentary. 

To Wintour's potential shame, Coddington is the star of this movie. "The September Issue's" filmmakers reveal stunning image after image shot under Coddington's perceptive eye. These images have such sophistication, such beauty, and such humanness. And, they're fun to boot. Quite honestly, they stand as a stark contrast to much of the content featured in the beauty industry and are a true breath of fresh air amidst too much uber-modernist flair. 

And there you have it, I believe that Grace Coddington is literally breathing life into the pages of Vogue through her self-styled, self-directed photo shoots. At times, her photos are whimsical and airy, at others they are highly styled with ornate backdrops and over-the-top hairstyles, but they are always about more than selling clothes or even selling a lifestyle. Her photos express the part of the fashion tale that opens up our emotions, not our pocketbooks. To that effect, i'll close with a quote from Coddington herself:

You have to have that fashion story. You know, spots are in, or stripes, or full skirts, or straight skirts, or whatever it is. But I try to make that secondary. We build a fantasy around the girl and what she's doing, what she's thinking, who she is. [emphasis added]

A Taste from Down South

Image: Southern Flourish, Spring 2010 Issue

I've been following a blog called "Everyday Musings" by Olivia Rae, who is based in Charleston, SC for several months now. Through a visit to the blog earlier this year, I learned about an up-and-coming online magazine called Southern Flourish to which Rae is a contributor.

The spring issue of Southern Flourish just launched and i'm super-excited. As a girl who grew up in the Carolinas and fondly recalls her Southern upbringing, this magazine speaks to some of my own story and the wonderment that is life in the South. One of my favorite aspects of growing up Southern is the appreciation that I have gained for bringing touches of beauty to everyday life. The South embraces elegance, finery, and decorum. Rather than stifle them, Southern men pride themselves on their lady-folk's ability to pull together classy dinners on the lawn complete with fancy flowers, ornate fabrics, and carefully-chosen place settings. While 'ere a Northerner might scoff at a woman who takes "too long" to get dressed, a good Southern man knows how important just-the-right-look can be for a woman who is making a social appearance and realizes that a cake that takes 24 hours to prepare is probably better than one that can be whipped up from a box. And this is what makes Southern Flourish wonderful; it embraces the good life that is life in the South.

While there is certainly both good and bad to being Southern, there are many things about the South that are very good and this magazine celebrates them: freshly-picked bouquets of spring flowers to brighten a room, a smartly-calculated sportcoat and bowtie combination ala shaggy Southern gent, the incredible culinary offerings and climes of Southern beaches, ahh I could go on and on. This magazine, though, is not just about a culture of over-accessorization. It includes discussions on topics such as organic agriculture, sustainable fashion, and buying local. All around, a good read if you're hoping to brush up on Southern culture or just looking for a little something to whet your visual palate. Not a fan of the South? Have a read; I think you might find yourself surprised at all it has to offer.

“A culture is made-or destroyed-by its articulate voices.”-Ayn Rand

Dulcet Delights

Image: Message in a Bottle Necklace, Dulcet

"Imagine an attic filled with books, birdcages, costume jewelry and old linens. Antique trunks overflowing with dresses, photos, maps, advertisements." Meet Dulcet, a treat for the wandering eye, a store overflowing with decorative accents, divine papers, and delicate jewelry. 

I discovered Dulcet's wares this past fall while browsing Etsy and was immediately captivated by the store's beautiful photographs marketing a unique selection of lovely products. Many of these photos could easily be described as well-framed works of art. Dulcet's creator does a wonderful job of presenting old maps, postcards, papers, and jewelry in a beautiful and thoughtful way. And further, Dulcet's store is reminiscent of a visit to a simple but well-appointed country cottage. In viewing its treats and treasures, I am transported to a world of freshly wrung clothes billowing on the line, homemade concord jam spread thick upon just-baked tufts of bread, and long afternoons sitting on the front porch sipping lemonade. These fond recollections of a forgotten place of rest and wonder press upon me with a sense of serene timelessness. They push me to go deeper and linger longer, dwelling upon the polaroids of moments now scattered in gray matter. These images urge me to probe and widen my aesthetic sensibilities, realizing that good design tells a story and weaves its readers into an intricate plot that is thick, rich, and life-giving.

Image: Evangeline Fragrant Bath Tea, Dulcet

Rubie Green Turned Magazine

Image: Lonny, Fall 2009 Premiere Issue, p. 79

So, I don't know that any of you actually ever click the links to the right of these posts, but the designer of Rubie Green, one of my favorite visual inspirations, is now the proud editor of an up-and-coming design mag. The magazine, which hit no newsstands but rather computer screens around the country, as an online-only publication, is something to look into if you're even the slightest connoisseur of design.

Says the introduction to the magazine, "We believe that good design and affordable design can coexist and that true inspiration can be found in the teeniest of homes or in the grandest of spaces." This mantra is translated into the pages that follow. Lonny invites readers into the wonderful world of reupholstered antiques, bold patterns, and unique fashionable finds. It is a place where 800 dollar sweaters co-exist alongside fifteen dollar knickknacks, expressing a true appreciation for good design at any price point. Meanwhile, Lonny also encourages readers to find ways to turn old into new-with a fresh coat of paint, a new fabric, or a few choice trend accessories. Readers can make good design their own, even on a shoestring budget, making this mag much more than a lust-driver for bigger, better, fancier.

Image: Lonny, Fall 2009 Premiere Issue, p. 134

This online glossy with a punch takes the concept of design and looks at it more holistically than most niche design mags, some of which are admittedly personal faves. On one page you may find an eco-friendly bicycling solution and information about the burlap dutzi rescue bag, a creation meant to help people in the Yucatan; and on another you may tumble across the eye-catching frocks of Doucette Duvall. The idea is to incorporate all types of design (with a particular emphasis on shelter) that can add vibrance, meaning, and utility to people's daily lives.

A few mouse clicks later, and i'm totally hooked. This magazine fills a void created by recently-demised Domino Mag, a place where readers could find high style decorating ideas that wouldn't break the bank, and visual stimulation aplenty. But Lonny definitely has its own viewpoint, and its own edge, boasting selections and ideas that express the creativity and interests of its contributors, such as newly-cast editor Michelle Adams. Formerly market editor at Domino, Adams has a penchant for showcasing interesting details and unique finds. Her first Lonny issue definitely brings it with a bang, not only hosting an array of uniquities, but also reminding readers that design is for both sexes, not just the ladies. For example, pages 83-102 provide a tour of a neutral-toned modern style New York bachelor pad with steel blue and orange accents. This at-times androgynous angle might very well seem like a gaffe to the Anthropologie wearing femmes of the planet, and from a profit perspective it might make sense to just cater to overzealous shopaholic females (pardon the bitterness), but that's not what this magazine is about.

Get ready, because this is just the sort of thing designers and the consumer market need to kick-start things after well over a year of treacherous markets, cautioned spending, and fearful financial outlooks. The idea is simple: don't go blow the bank to get something you love; find your style at the high-brow spots and then make it your own. Good style takes time, it takes cultivation, just like a good relationship does. Sure most of us can't afford an interior designer or stylist, but that doesn't mean we can't dress in clothes that flatter, and outfit our homes in pieces we love that express who we are. We can all afford to take the time to create beauty in the world around us and present ourselves in a thoughtfully crafted sort of way. It just takes a bit of patience, research and planning. Cheers to Lonny, you've captured my attention.

To see more, check out Lonny's premiere issue for free online at http://www.lonnymag.com/