New Season, New Things
My holiday hangover has finally worn off and I'm back on my soapbox.
We photographed a few spaces at one of our projects the other week and it was a good warm-up to a big shoot we have planned next month. Photographing our work is undoubtedly the best part of my job. It is the culmination of the vision I’ve been building since the start of a project. I relish in fretting over little details like placing accessories just so. Here are a few sneak-peeks from our shoot:
One big hole I’ve found while shopping are grown-up dresses for spring, something appropriate for church, events at ADAC, or for taking my daughter to the ballet. I turn 40 this year and I did not envision the fashion feeling so adolescent once I arrived at this age. Furthermore, most dresses are either too dressy (i.e. for a cocktail party or wedding) or they skip the moderate spring temperatures and go straight into summer (i.e. linen and strapless dresses). Where are the double-breasted dresses in pastel colors with sleeves? Where are the sensible, but pretty dresses with matching jackets?
Here are a few solutions I’ve found…
While I feel a lot of today’s fashion is too juvenile, I am still pleased with the overall direction in terms of minimalism and the classics. I’ve always been a white-tshirt-under-a-simple-sweater kind of girl. I’ve been wearing my pale yellow cotton and silk sweater from last spring (yellow is sold out, similar here) with this simple white skirt and these mesh flats. (I wasn’t going to join the Mesh Shoe Club, but when I saw the tan colorway by Le Monde Beryl, I caved.) I also have my eye on this white blouse and matching tie to wear with slouchy jeans and these flat sandals by Jil Sander. I have the gray flannel version of this blouse and hate to have to retire it for the spring. I also need this necklace and matching cuff to add to my growing silver jewelry collection. I don’t think gold is finished, but I am enjoying swapping between the two and also mixing.
I finished the mini series In Vogue (on Hulu) over the holidays all about the rise of fashion in the 90’s told by Vogue editors. Some of it was exciting and some of it made me mad, but all of it was fascinating and fed my annoyance with how adolescent we dress today. My husband and I binged Hacks (on Max) in January and every so often I get a ping of sadness that there are no more episodes to watch. The character development is on point and it refreshing to watch something that is just simply funny. Not silly, not dark-funny - just fun. I just heard season 4 airs in April and I am pumped. We watched The Gorge (on Apple TV) and was pleasantly surprised. The story and imagery were unique, Miles and Anya had great chemistry, and I appreciated the little moment with The Ramones. I also added the song Spitting Off the Edge of the World by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to my Spotify.
My husband gave me Joy Division’s Unreleased Pleasures on vinyl for Christmas and we just got around to listening to it a few weeks ago. Listening to music on vinyl is the best way to hear it un-digitized and unflattened. The sound is warmer and rounder. Only a few of the songs from this album can be found on Spotify and I was shocked to hear how different Interzone and Shadowplay sounded on Spotify after hearing them on vinyl for the first time. Additionally, I didn’t realize Joy Division originally did Ceremony before they became New Order. I still prefer the New Order version, but I did enjoy going down the rabbit hole and watching Radiohead’s cover version.
Joy Division is not on my regular rotation of songs (with the exception of Love Will Tear Us Apart), but I place a tremendous amount of importance on them since were the true post-punk pioneers (my music genre of choice). Without them, there would be no Cure, Radiohead or even (dare I say) Nirvana. Their sound “was the crossroads between the raw anger of the punk movement and the early days of new wave’s more tender and meaningful lyrical and experimental music.” This is an excellent article for further reading.
I definitely prefer the less angsty, more polished sound that New Order developed post-Ian Curtis and to bring it full circle, Billy Corgan even collaborated with New Order on their 2001 album Get Ready. I guess when you take a break from Smashing Pumpkins, you get to do cool things like tour with your idols. Turn My Way (featuring vocals by Billy), Crystal and 60 Miles an Hour are my favorite tracks.
Now that was a good rabbit hole. Thanks for joining me for this one.
xx, Lauren.