FISHTANK.

The E Block collective; A little art preview in a student flat.

All artwork by Conor Maclay.

SENSATIONAL.

THANK YOU

FOR MAKING ME FEEL.

via Tobacco&Leather

When I see a shoot like this, my heart sings.

This is the reason I want to work in fashion magazines. This shoot could be from 1977, but it's not; thus is the stylistic genius, we can call it 'The Lucinda Chambers' fashion genius (All Hail!) (Note; this particular shoot was not directed by Lucinda Chambers but it has her spirit.) It is the genius of beauty and colour and brilliance. It is not determined by season or designer or Philip Green (I bloody hope not.) This is my fashion career dream. I don't really care about launches, about press releases, about reporting trends. In fact I'd probably be useless in any business sense because I'm only interested in style, art, beauty and extraordinary craftsmanship.

And you're much more likely to catch me carrying on in this kind of get-up than in a a pair of Topshop silk harem trousers, grey marl, a studded bag and nude accessories. Sorry 'trends!'

I'm not saying this shoot is in any way progressive or unique. I definitely see borrowed bits of Verushka (below, definitely my favourite model of all time) among others.

PS. This shoot is from Vogue Germany's July issue, unfortunately I don't have access to the credits. German Vogue is frequently overlooked as being too boring, but I'd encourage you to open your mind. Carine Roitfeld when asked about the magazine's impact in an interview once said "Don't make me laugh." Well as far as I know, no one's laughing, but I was far more impressed by this shoot than by anything in Vogue Paris' summer spreads.

RAAWR

Gee'Up Aslan!

Yes, I am on stage riding a plastic lion.

Headband Alan Journo

Leather jacket vintage

Dress from a pop-up shop in NYC

Shoes from Garage shoes ... yes, where pre-teen girls fulfill their stripper fantasies. Hey, they have some gems from time to time!

13062009

A shot of Kate I was just entranced by in a copy of German Gala I was flicking through on the plane. I ripped it out and stuffed it in my holdall, which is now charity-shop bound and I unwrinkled this gem this morning. Saved.

Going to meet a friend for lunch, wish I could somehow wizard this ensemble onto myself in the next 2 minutes.

GOLD. GUNS. GIRLS.

Jalouse Avril 2010

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Youth is a short-term lease, non-renewable.

Character is an investment.

Beauty is a luxurious indulgence.

Brilliance is free.

Spend your money wisely.

Portraits of brilliant people I have met and known in the last year.

Here's to Brilliance.

[OU EST LE SWIMMING POOL?]

J'ai vraiment envie de sauter dans l'eau.

Photos via Fashion Canvas & Little Bambi Boots

Walking Through The Graveyard of My Mind

A spur-of-the-moment wander through the sundrenched wonderland that is Lawnswood Cemetery at 7am on a June morning.

It appeared to me a vision of perfection on that morning. The most beautiful, peaceful place I could have possibly found myself in. Not so beautiful is the graveyard of my mind which I am currently trapped in. I'm still stuck in my student halls, which are a concrete monstrosity at the best of times, and a bleak wasteland at the worst. It's raining, and 1300 students have been reduced to about 100.

Fingers crossed I'll be back home in Edinburgh by tomorrow afternoon. I'm about to start packing 8 months of nonsensical student dreams, accumulated pamphlets of literature and sparkly things into boxes. Wish me luck, it'll take me about 2 years.