I normally don't take fashion photographers as artists too seriously but I do make acceptions.    Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Chris Von Wangenheim are some of my favorites.  (and ofcourse, among the living Mr. Steven Meisel)  The funny thing is their work was all done around the same time.     Guess I love that 1970's look.   One of my favorite models of that era was Lisa Taylor who is in Vogue this month  at 56 and still looking amazing.  Here she is in a DIOR ad shot in 1976 with a Doberman, this image is pretty iconic and you have probably seen it.     Two of my favorite inspirations, crime and fashion came together in Chris's imagery.    The look of Chris's visuals served as the photography inspiration for the film  The Eyes of Laura Mars".  The styling, the makeup, hair, energy.   One of my favorite Faye Dunaway movies.     I'll never be glamourous enough to wear gouchos and heels on a shoot and throw an ElCamino into a ring of fire, but she knew how to make it look fabulous.

Chris von Wangenheim produced a body of work which has continued to fascinate, intrigue and influence the photography world. Combining a dark world of sexuality, violence, and vouyerism in all their perverse implications, with an extreme visual elegance, he achieved a starling synthesis of glamour and terror which is unique to his work.

He was born in 1942 in Germany. In 1965 he migrated to New York to learn photography. One year after he had set up his own studio and began working for Harper's Bazaar.By 1970 he was photographing for Italian Vogue and by 1971 for French Vogue. In 1972 he became 'contributing editor' of American Vogue.

Chris von Wangenheim worked for many mayor advertising companies such as Revlon, Clairol, Christian Dior and Helena Rubinstein. He also contributed to magazines like Esquire, Oui, Playboy, and Interview.

His career was cut short in 1981 by an early accidental death.


Staley Wise gallery
all images and bio courtesy of Staley Wise gallery

One of my favorite photographer's is Bunny Yeager.    She is best known for her beautiful pin up art and photographic collaboration with Pulp icon Bettie Page .      Bunny was a model (she's the blong here)  in the 1950's and like many model's after her (Ellen Von Unworth most notably), she went on to become a photography legend.     Bunny has inspired me and many others to become a photographer.  Her style, composition, lighting, energy and attitude defined the look of beauty and pin up photography in the 1960's and 1970's.    (When Playboy was good and about pretty pictures)

She has many books (avail. at Amazon.com) and her images taken in the 1960's and 1970's are iconic and timeless.   Like a beautiful woman, her photographs get more timeless as they age.
Bunny Yeager website

Even before Bunny Yeager was old enough to be a Pin-Up Girl, she wanted to be one. As a young teen, she kept scrapbooks of glamour poses of popular film stars like Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Jane Russell, and Marilyn Monroe.

She studied the works of a number of artists who specialized in calendar art, learning the poses they painted of their models, the Peek-a-Boo poses that portrayed beautiful young models as happy, playful women who would be fun to be with, (The girl next door) certainly desirable, but not threatening to any man's ego. Using these "lessons", she became Florida 's most photographed model with her photos appearing in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

Because she knew how to pose well, after she changed careers and became a professional photographer, she was able to work with many young girls who had never modeled before, molding them into popular pin-up models. She discovered Maria Stinger ( Miami 's Marilyn Monroe), Bettie Page (Legendary Pin-Up of all time), Lisa Winters, a Playboy Playmate and Playmate of the Year, Carol Jean Lauritzen (for Howard Hughes, a legend himself), and many other young beauties.  (last two paragraphs taken from Bunny's bio on her website) please hit link to read more about this amazing woman.

In 1959 she was chosen "Photographer of the Year" and shortly after she was selected as one of the top ten women photographers in the U.S. . She continues to live and work in Miami , Fla. discovering and photographing pretty girls on the beach and in her studio.  All images in this post are by Bunny Yeager.   Bio information by Bunny Yeager.

Jane Birkin :  effortless chic


Jane Birkin is probably one of the sexiest women on the planet.       A sensation in France, a namesake handbag, a really cool daughter.   Jane Birkin did it right.     The only other woman who could pull off this dress is Kate Moss.   And frankly, Jane has a lot more class.
















































A little backround,    In 1969 she and Serge Gainsbourg released the song "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither" or, less literally, "love-hate relationship"), written by Gainsbourg and featuring both of them singing, which caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness. 
The song's fame is a result of its salacious lyrics (sung in French) against a background of female moaning and groaning, culminating in an orgasm at the song's conclusion.

Birkin took a break from acting in 1971-72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (or if Don Juan were a woman) in 1973.  How hot is that.    Haven't seen it but I'm sure it is smokin.

In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, also entitled Je t'aime... moi non plus, which created a stir for it's frank examination of sexual ambiguity. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.

Her daughter is indie actress and stylish  Balenciaga muse, Charlotte Gainsbourg.  (Also, one the coolest fashionista's out there)    The bag is the BIRKIN ofcourse

(Jane-Serge image from Vanity Fair, information sources, web, wikipedia, vanity fair)

The world of pageantry is a terrifying spectacle.    The younger it gets the more disturbing.    But for every Jon Benet Ramsey and the stage mother out there pushing her to compete there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.   The Miss Landmine Angola pageant was created by artist Morten Traavik to empower and instill female pride. This body of work also brings much attention to a serious subject in a progressive African nation.    The portraits of these amazing survivers are touching and beautiful. 

The viewer is drawn into the self confidence and dignity of the woman, only after close examination does one see a leg missing.    The saturated, stately photography is so elegant and contemporary.  Portraiture is by Gorm K Gaare.    I love these.
  (All credits follow images at bottom)

A redesign that really works.    I've been noticing eco trends in the beauty-health industry.   Women want products that are healthy, clean and beautiful not medicinal or cold.    Herbs and natural fruits and vegies are a big factor here for me.    The texture, smell, color is all very important, the package design the most important.     Not only is the new packaging elegant and contemporary, but the new ingredients change the playing field for this drug store brand.

St Ives was never fabulous, they were below average with a lower price point.   Now you can get beauty and a gorgeous package for a great price.   This product is a hit with Reggie.   They have successfully repositioned this brand and brought it into the 08.

Im in love with Dr. Weil's products for Origins.    I found myself drawn into his eco display at japanese retail giant Isetan.    It was green and jungle-ish.   (A nice change from the more medicinal and perfumey displays you see-definitely a retail display trend happening here)    The smells were a cure for my tired sinuses.   A combo of mint, chamomile, ginger, and tumeric just enveloped me.   I was hungry too, but I was mostly thirsty to put this yummy stuff on my face.

It is sandal season ladies and we all know that painful side effect.   This little product will save those fashionista feet this summer from misery.     No more suffering for fashion.    It looks too good to be true, but Im going to give it a shot.

Global natural cosmetic sales are estimated to reach $10 billion in 2010. (organicmonitor.com)

In a trend towards sustainability and global organic products corporations scramble to buy up  cult brands.

Organic skin care company Dr Hauschka has always been a favorite of mine.    If you don't know them, read on.    What interested me is that recently the owner, Susan Kurz set up an irrevocable trust to make the company a non profit.     Thereby protecting the company from ever being sold and dismantled upon their retirement.  In an unprecedented move for corporate America, they started a trend here for small privately held companies that want to maintain their integrity over time.

In 2006 Estee Lauder paid $300 million for Aveda.   Both the Body Shop and Kieh'ls were snapped up by L'Oreal.     With huge corporations growing interested in sustainable products Dr. Hauschka has gotten many offers.   All turned down.    Now a trust, the profits are reinvested in operations, sustaining development in the company.

The Kurz's made sustaining their corporate culture and values a priority.   "We aim to heal the earth and humanity"

to learn more about their products go to:

http://www.drhauschka.com/

When it comes to formulating naturally pure and effective skin care products, it's all about the ingredients. Dr. Hauschka skin care understands that healing plant and mineral ingredients are able to effectively support skin health and restore beauty. We use certified Biodynamic botanical ingredients whenever possible. Our products benefit from the increased vitality and potency of Biodynamic plants just as the earth benefits from the gentle, sustainable nature of Biodynamic cultivation. If we are unable to obtain an ingredient Biodynamically, we'll make sure that it's organically and ethically obtained.

Dr. Hauschka manufacturer WALA Heilmittel combines the wisdom of herbal healing traditions with over half a century of holistic pharmaceutical experience. The resulting preparations work with the skin's natural functions to restore it to health and radiant beauty.