As we've unwrapped all our presents, we start wrapping up this year.... So why not take a trip down memory lane and see one of the things I got up to this year. I shot a cover story for a French magazine, photographed by award-winning British photographer David Yeo and styled by celeb stylist, PUSH IT magazine online contributing editor and creative consultant Marian Kihogo. Here are some backstage behind the scenes pictures.
Marian is also a friend, we first met on my first shoot with David Yeo for a feature shoot and interview for the same magazine where Marian was previously London-fashion-editor.
Check out what Marian had to say about me on her fabulous website here!
2010, It's a wrap !!
Fashion Credits - First & last picture sequin top and white skirt Manjit Deu, second picture dress by Terexov, Fourth picture top by Terexov and skirt by Tarvydas, Fifth picture long coloumn dress by Terexov. Jewellery throughout by Jessica McCormack All behind the scene images by Marian Kihogo.
My days studying at the Open University, Chelsea College of Art, whilst modeling, help set me up for the world of film and theatre. Big time. I learnt a lot about drama from poetry and literature. At least a lesson or two on how to be a Drama Queen. Here I present a poem I wrote & that was published in the Karina Nielsen's wonderful magazine Vomit In The Mainstream :
Now is the time to think of Peace,
We must, Peace that falls on us like a blanket of dust,
Left by a bomb-blasted building, scattered with souls,
On tainted blood soaked soil, whose cries are ignored
By gunfire and the smell of oil.
Now is the time to think of Peace,
That will silence the streets, of miss-educated heads with no home,
Who think they’re alone..... and poor, who fire guns at innocents,
Whilst playing territorial tug of war.
Now is the time to think of Peace
Where demented Power fired up by greed
And Poverty pretends there are too many mouths to feed,
Where diamonds are stolen and families never to be seen,
As rich ringed fingers gush and preen.
Now is the time to think of Peace
Where Religion shows it’s many faces
Where it claims to own its many places, but will refuse the entry,
And make separation of many races.
Now is the time to think of Peace
Where Women are passed around like pawns
Enslaved behind walls, in a city that ignores their
Confused calls.
Now is the time to think of Peace.
Part 2 of Poetry Hourhas two of my favourite poems. Both using lively imagery, effective repetition and metaphors. Text using a short two line stanza and regular rhyme pattern showing brilliantly the dangers of texting (sexting?) and the amount of emotion that can be invested in one text. Evidence of being a fan of Shakespeare with Hour being in the form of a traditional 14 line Love Sonnet, with a regular rhyme scheme, but using modern language & making it more accessible. from one of my favourite contemporary female poets - who happens to be the current Poet Laureate as of 2009; Carol Ann DuffyBoth poems taken from Duffy's most recent collection of adult poetry Rapture, which won the 2005 T. S Eliot Prize.
look for your small xx
feeling absurd. The codes we send arrive with a broken chord. I try to picture your hands, their image blurred. Nothing my thumbs press will ever be heard.
Love's time's beggar, but even a single hour, bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich. We find an hour together, spend it not on flowers or wine, but the whole of the summer sky and a grass ditch.
For thousands of seconds we kiss; your hair like treasure on the ground; the Midas light turning your limbs to gold. Time slows. for here we are millionaires, backhanding the night
so nothing dark will end our shinning hour, no jewel hold a candle to the cuckoo spit hung from the blade of grass at your ear, no chandelier or spotlight see you better lit
than here. Now. Time hates love, wants love poor,
but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.
Since returning last week from two months in Los Angeles I wanted to revisit the old Hollywood classics & compare experiences ...First stop Sunset Boulevard. I have spent many an evening on the rather famous Sunset Strip, but I would loved to have visited character Norma Desmond's Sunset Boulevard.But I think I would have had to enter through the Twilight Zone......
SYNOPSIS The story set in 50s Hollywood, focuses on Norma Desmond, a silent screen goddess whose pathetic belief in her own indestructibility has turned her into a demented recluse. The crumbling Sunset Boulevard mansion where she lives with only her butler Max, with his own tragic past, has become her self-contained world. Norma dreams of a comeback to pictures and she begins a relationship with Joe Gillis, a small-time writer who becomes her lover that will soon end with murder and total madness.
Written by alfiehitchie.
I discovered not only is this a cult classic masterpiece, but there is also a rich and ironic behind the scenes back story - life very much imitating art as they say or perfect casting by Billy Wilder, with stellar performances and treated to legendary costume designer Edith Head's creations. TRIVIA Gloria Swanson almost considered rejecting the role of Norma Desmond after director Billy Wilder requested she do a screen test. Her friend George Cukor who recommended her for the part, told her,
" If they want you to do ten screen tests, do ten screen tests. If you don't, I will personally shoot you"
Swanson agreed to audition and won the role. And according to Swanson's daughter, her mother stayed in character throughout the entire shoot.
The role of Norma Desmond was initially offered to Mae West who rejected it, as she thought she was too young to play a silent film star.
The role of Joe Gillis, was the part that revived actor William Holden's career and for many years after.
Gloria Swanson gives a performance that's voted one of the greatest performances of all time, as one of the greatest characters of all time in one of the greatest films of all time.
She also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I conclude that it is a great story about the emptiness of fame and fortune. It's a sort of ghost story for Hollywood has beens & opportunists, with intriguing cameos from actual silent movie stars.
QUOTES "All right Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up" - Norma Desmond
"You don't yell at a sleep walker - he might fall and break his neck. That's it: She was still sleepwalking along the giddy heights of a lost career..." - Joe Gillis (as narrator)
" I am big! It's the pictures that got small!" - Norma Desmond.
Her reign is over and there are rumours swirling fashion cyberspace that she may be joining the all and mighty King of fashion & cinematic-eye-candy; Tom Ford in his pursuits and endeavours.
I had the opportunity of meeting Her Royal Chicness, resplendent in a Roberto Cavalli number, myself in Matthew Williamson - during the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, at a dinner for W magazine (hint? treason?). Reported in "Yes We Cannes!" She spoke to me like a true Sister of Fashion, swapping red carpet compliments and fashion stories - her daughter and I are at the same model agency. Maybe she was there plotting fashion/cinematic world domination with King Ford...
Roitfeld has decided to concentrate on personal projects.
"Carine herself has become widely known as a beacon of style, fulfilling the role with charm and graciousness. She has become a giant in her profession," Newhouse said. "Carine will be deeply missed. I am extremely grateful to her for what she has achieved."
Roitfeld's replacement will be announced within the coming weeks.
Where do you think she will go?! Well, whatever the reasons, mystery surrounds the departure. Let's look at Roitfeld's many iconic covers and why her reign of grace, innovation, prolific and unique vision is irreplaceable.
> I think, in one of the missing doctrines written by Nostradamus*, I'm pretty sure, he predicted that we would all be Blogging - a bit like Warhol's 15 minutes of fame (which has already come true to a certain extent, uummm X-Factor, Jersey Shore etc they walk hand in hand in garden of reality TV) - Nostradamus knew we will all be Blogging our hearts out. Here's to you Nostradamus, Bloggers worldwide salute you!
Who knew I would be filming re-shoots for an indie film (with a new hair change for the new role) as well as blogging for British Vogue Today I'm Wearing segment, all during the month of August, which took the word multi-tasking to many new levels.....I'll bring you the choice cuts.
Starting with a little Interview .....
...to the 2nd day in August
" HI VOGUE.COM! Today I'm wearing a Shoreditch House Sunday Pool disco look. The bat-wing cardigan & skull rainbow t-shirt are both Religion, worn with French Connection jeans. I've accessorised with a Lucy Hutchings necklace and Vivienne Westwood ring. I was hoping maybe I could fly off the roof.."
3 Aug " Today I'm in London having breakfast with my Ray Bans. I'm wearing a Hannah Marshall dress with a Mulberry jacket over it. I've accessorised with a Miss Selfridge belt, a bracelet I picked up from a Tokyo market and a Mulberry bag. Nothing gets between me and my Wayfarers."
4 Aug " Today I'm wearing a fedora and scarf both by D&Y, I've paired a men's Viktor & Rolf cardigan with a dress by IDOL for New Look. One of my two bags is Mulberry and the black bag by Kill City Jeans. A quick snap and change in my friend's LA hotel room bathroom before dinner. "
11 Aug " It's a beautiful day in Surrey today and I'm wearing a flower print Ralph Lauren dress accessorised with RayBan clubmaster sunglasses and a vintage Chanel-esque head band. I'm DJ-ing at an after party for a Polo match and I think that required a floral print. "
13 Aug " Hi VOGUE.COM! Today I'm wearing a vintage jacket over a Sass & Bide dress, Miss Selfridge boots. I've accessorised with Chanel sunglasses and Hogan bag. "
22 Aug " For the V Festival, I'm wearing a SARO headband, a Matthew Williamson leather jacket, over an All Saints dress and a vintage cropped denim shirt. With studded Wanted boots. "
23 Aug " Today I'm shooting on location, I'm wearing a turban headband from former Vivienne Westwood designer; SARO. Sass & Bide wide-leg silk palazzo pants with a French Connection vest. My necklace & ring is by Jessica McCormack. The ring called Humility. "
24 Aug " Today I'm wearing a leather bra by Hannah Marshall and skirt by Alexander McQueen. I'm attending my friend's End of Summer party. Hopefully it doesn't rain!"
*Disclaimer : there may not actually be any truth in this.
