Uma Thurman - confident in her own skin

Rodarte black lace dress

Chanel Haute Couture and Jimmy Choo shoes

White Versace

Dolce and Gabbana dress

Comfortable and easy pose.

Louis Vuitton

Twice married and divorced actress Uma Thurman now dating Arpad Busson again ( Elle Macpherson's ex and father of her two sons) was one of the most photographed and represented on the Vogue Cannes fashion report. She positively glows with confidence and has an infectious easy manner and presence that makes her look totally brilliant in all she wears. They say that inner happiness is reflected in the outer presence - Uma is an example of someone who is content in her own skin and clearly very happy. This a precious and transient quality that is like trying to hold liquid gold as a photographer. Mario Testino made his name capturing this quality in Diana Princess of Wales when she was in this zone. Uma aged 41 would be a perfect Ambassadress for a fashion house at the moment. Chloe comes to mind. 

Images Vogue.com

Monica Vitti- 1960s style icon

Born in Rome Monica Vitti stared in many 1960s movies with the likes of Terence Stamp. It is said that Terence stamp didn't get a part in her lover Michaelangelo Antonioni's iconic film Blow Up because he was pursuing Monica Vitti. It was the 1959 film L' avventura which made made her an international star - directed by Michaelangelo Antonioni Monica Vitti shines giving the part an expressive, vulnerable and convincing presence. I really like the black and white photographs of her here - there is a wonderful translucent quality in the last shot that digital film today would not be able to capture. Black and White film captures texture, grain and subtleties of light so well. It would always be my first choice for portraiture photography. 

Cannes - Kirsten Dunst wins my vote

Kirsten Dunst looks amazing in this Marilyn Monroe style Chloe mango chiffon dress.

Her pale skin is deriguer creating a totally glamourous and style savvy look. Note the 'less is more' accessorising - ie no necklace or earrings - The nude coloured shoes compliment the boldness of the dress, what do you think?

We may not be able to see much of the Prada print dress but we can the brogue shoes and socks and I think it is a great laid back look - down to the large ( boy friends) watch Diane Kruger is wearing. 

Bing Bing Fan looks ravishing in this pale green Oscar de la Renta gown - it compliments her pale skin tones perfectly - I love the contrast against the red carpet too - styling for ones environment is key - red dress on red carpet - a no no in my humble opinion - what do you think?

A gorgeous Chanel Couture dress on Astrid Berges - I love the composition of this shot with her surrounded by black suited men and women! check out the bling details on the sleeves and hem, an understated embellishment touch that looks very stylish and adds just the right measure of sparkle and glamour. Again note the 'less is more' accessorising.

Alexa made the cover of Vogue this month and looks very sweet in this vintage 1960s Balenciago dress from Atlier Mayer

Alexa has thankfully moved away from her characteristic tom boy/ meets grunge look and gone for this  demure satin frock. A bit Chelsea registry office for me - could it be a clue that she and Alex Turner are going to tie the knot? The necklace is
Chopard, in this case the dress needed something to add sparkle perhaps.


Photographs Vogue.com

EGOISTE - Kiera Knightly

New recently published copy- sold out in a few days

Ellen von Unwerth photography

Natalie Vodianova

Isabella Adjani

The rise of the 'collectable magazine' in this age of digitalisation is an interesting phenomenon. This trend is lead by the Egoiste. It took nearly five years for this recent copy with Keira Knightly on the front cover to be published because the editor Nicole Wisniak only consents to printing once she is happy it is aesthetically pleasing enough. 
The Egoiste has been published only 16 times since 1977. Costing 35 euros the print run of 25,000 was insufficient to meet demand and sold out in a few days.  
The elusiveness of this magazine gives it cache - like a limited edition Art print the Egoiste's value is in it's rarity. It is an upmarket magazine with a scarcity of advertising.
The first copy she produced when she was penniless and still living with her parents featured elusive photos of Mick Jagger by Helmut Newton.
It is no surprise to me that Louis Vuitton with Marc Jacobs at the helm is the only advertising apart from Dyson in the magazine. Jacobs who is an avid art collector, on a personal crusade to create commercial objects with the collect ability of art work is the perfect connection for the Wisniak vision. Louis Vuitton gave her free reign to do as she wished with the brand. This freedom of advertising constraints allows more editorial freedom perhaps, as there is no need to Cow tow to the big name fashion brands in the editorial fashion shoots. It also gives the magazine gravitas as there is an admirable integrity like that of an artist who refuses to conform adhering with stubborn loyalty to the purity of their art form.
The Egoiste (meaning Selfish in french) pitches itself up there as a luxury item in parallel with Couture. It is an expression of Nicole Wisniak's intellectualisation of the here and now from her own perspective. She has created a symbol of unrivalled cerebral chic coveted by many. Hot property a back copy can go for 700 euros on the internet.  

Brick Lane - HOT SPOT

Entrepreneurial spirit alive and kicking in the brick Lane area -

Hanbury street vintage shop

entrance to a vintage indoor market on Hanbury Street

The vintage market - divided into different seller zones

inside the vintage market

clean streets were a plus

Brick Lane vintage boutique

Bicycles are everywhere in this area due to the fact they are cool but also there is nowhere to park!

A modest shop !

Find everything for that cool look in this area - a shop in Brick Lane

Just round the corner from Spittlefields in Hanbury St I found Poppie's Fish and Chip shop - must be checked out - good food, brilliant designed interior and friendly staff

Architectural class found in this Sir Christopher Wren church!

Bespoke and new designed collections average price for dress £45.00 - competing with vintage shops

Eclectic hair Salon in Spittlefields - molto expensive liked their humor though!

My £10.00 Silk vintage scalve - found in Rokit - Brick lane

The hot spot!

 Yesterday I went into Moorgate on the tube to take a look at Spittlefields and investigate the vibe I had heard about Brick Lane becoming a seriously happening place. I was not disappointed! All the cool, young entrepreneurs that have been forced out of Spittlefields Market due to the hike in rents have taken up residence in the small roads leading up to and in Brick Lane. The streets in and around Brick Lane have become far more interesting than expensive and gentrified Spittlefields Market and are brimming with cool young people wearing vintage and looking for more in the multitude of vintage shops that have sprung up with everything from original Yves Saint Laurent suits to home made 1960 dresses, (everyone sewed then and the quality was excellent remember) There are still the classic Curry restaurants that are synonymous with the old Brick Lane - however multicultural food halls also open up at peak times selling delicious food from around the world reflecting the multicultural scene that make London so interesting.
There are more up market shops such and Wills and Aubin ( owned by the Jack Wills preppy brand) on Redchurch Street - if you turn left at the end of Brick Lane onto Bethnal Green road you will find this area - here there are also other expensive designer boutiques and a few antique shops of Portobello road / Notting hill standard as well as some unpretentious but swanky places to eat al fresco and a few good gastro pubs. The area is brimming with Art Galleries - Fashion photographer Robert Wyatt has an exhibition in the Redchurch Street Gallery- http://www.robertwyatt.net/  If you turn left and walk back down Commercial Street you will come to the marvellous Sir Christopher Wren church a landmark of old London.  On Sunday this area is alive with activity and meant to be even better than Saturday. Spittlefield market proper is closed on Saturday, due to the fact it's peak time for sales is during the week from well heeled city workers. Enjoy investigating! My 'cool' searching day ended with seeing 'The School for Scandal' at the Barbican, a political satire written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Sheridan like Oscar Wilde who followed him a century later was of Irish decent. The play was based on his own extraordinary life experiences reflecting the duplicitous goings on and intriguing skulduggery of 1770s politics and the society of the time, Sheridan looks at public image, media manipulation and the vagaries of reputation. Nothing much has changed with the way politicians, society  and the press behave today apart from the fact that some of the sculduggery takes place on twitter!  Jeremy Clarkson and Gemima Khan - no way!
Sheridon's England didn't try and use gagging orders  - that was what duels were for !
The costumes designed by Vivienne Westwood were brilliant -  there was a jacket on stage that I particularly liked, I began wondering what happens to the clothes when the production run is finished! !

Campari Calendar - fashion and photography create passion

Click on each board to enlarge and read .... will be worth it!

This is a concept for a Campari Calendar worked on and originated by Marcal Prats on my Art direction course last year. Marcal submitted it to the Campari International brand director in Milano. It was liked but not taken up. Marcel has just given me his permission to publish his idea. I think it is a brilliant concept and absolutely in keeping with the vision of the Campari drink brand. The death of Cleopatra is dramatic and moving but maybe not the message for a glamourous drink to impart, perhaps this is what put them off the idea.

However most great love stories are tragic - take for example Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story.  Love is a topical subject at the moment after the success of the Royal Wedding - we also have Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Moss, and Lilly Allen getting married soon. 

Copyright Marcal Prats