FYI

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Strike a Pose!

Did you know that fashion photography all started because of a dare?

Millions of fashionistas all over the world probably don't know this fact. Many of them probably don't care. Truth is, they should.

I always find it amazing that people who long to be in the fashion industry (fashion writers, models, fashion designers, etc.) have absolutely no desire to research the industry they are in love with. They don't know the history. They don't know the foundation.

This past weekend, Kerrie and I were fortunate enough to learn about the history of fashion photography. Our city's art museum recently held an exhibit featuring the most well-known works of Edward Steichen, the father of fashion photography.



Besides being a photographer, Steichen (born in 1879) was also a painter and art gallery and museum curator.

As an early teenager, the American photographer vowed to dedicate his life to art.

By the time he reached his 20s, his photos were already being featured in journals and galleries.

In 1911, his world (and ours), changed forever. Steichen was dared by a friend, Lucien Vogel, the publisher of Jardin des Modes and La Gazette du Bon Ton, to promote fashion as a fine art by the use of photography. The young artist took photos of gowns designed by couturier Paul Poiret. The photos were then published in the April 1911 issue of the magazine Art et Décoration. It is considered the first ever modern fashion photography shoot.


(first fashion photo)

It was also the start of a beautiful career. Steichen became the photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair from 1923–1938, and concurrently worked for many advertising agencies including J. Walter Thompson.

During these years Steichen was regarded as the best known and highest paid photographer in the world.

He took iconic portraits of famous actors, actresses, painters, athletes, playwrights, poets, dancers, journalists, singers, writers, and politicians. His high fashion photos displayed an elegance and glamour never seen before.

His work was so popular, that many famous people longed to be "steichenized." It was a symbol of success.


This Vogue photograph displays two gowns by Madeleine Vionnet. Marion Morehouse, in black, was one of Steichen's favorite models.


Elaborate staging was all part of the game.


I could easily imagine this scene from 1926 in a Vogue editorial today.


Actress Joan Crawford in a dress by Schiaparelli, 1932.


Gary Cooper shows off men's fashion of the time.


Evening shoes by Vida Moore, 1927.


His iconic photo of Greta Garbo.

So, I encourage you all to learn more about Edward Steichen.

In fact, I dare you!

World Cup Hotties

Like millions of people around the world, I have caught World Cup fever.

The past few weeks have been extremely exciting, especially since the United States had been doing so well. I was saddened yesterday when we were defeated by Ghana.

But I'm not gonna lie. While soccer is fun to watch (it's an easy game and keeps you on the edge of your seat), I have been watching the matches primarily for the eye candy.

There is a delicious buffet of gorgeous men on each team and my favorite part of each game is the end, when they all take off their shirts in celebration.

I am dedicating this post to some of my favorite hunks of the World Cup.

Enjoy!

USA
Carlos Bocanegra
Position: Defender
Age: 31








France
Yoann Gourcuff
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23








ItalyFabio Cannavaro
Position: Defender
Age: 36








PortugalCristiano Ronaldo
Position: Forward
Age: 25







Ummmm...can you tell I have a weakness for tan, dark-haired men? Haha.

I hope you're having a great weekend! xoxo

Corpus Christi

I just got back from my vacation. My parents and I went to Corpus Christi, Texas to soak up in the sun and enjoy a part of the Gulf of Mexico which has not been tainted by the oil spill yet.

It was a very delightful and relaxing trip. If you have been following my blog for the past year, you know I have definitely needed this vacation!

Here are some highlights:

-Netting a giant crab (after he put up a very impressive fight) and then boiling it and gutting it and eating it right on the beach, with a few ice cold beers.

-Lounging on a yacht for one afternoon, sipping rum punch and watching dolphins jump out of the crystal blue water.

-Indulging in the delicious local food. At a retro diner, I chowed down one of the best Chicago dogs I have ever had in my life. After stumbling upon a little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant, I ate scrumptious seasoned pork tacos with creamy spicy queso dip and salty, handmade tortilla chips. Then at a beachside seafood restaurant there was the red fish smothered in fresh pico de gallo, with a generous helping of steamed vegetables on the side. Oh, and my favorite dish: the hot, cheesy pizza we picked up from a small Italian restaurant near the shore on Padre Island. The creamy cheese practically melted in my mouth and the fluffy, buttery garlic crust tasted like heaven.

-Petting a stingray at the Texas State Aquarium and then catching a hermit crab and scaring my mom with it.

-Touring a supposedly haunted World War II battleship.

-Spending every single night at the hotel bar with my mom, downing four or five White Russians, Whiskey Sours, and Cherry Vodkas. It's more fun to be drunk on vacation!

Did I mention it was a lovely time?

I miss it already.

I took some photos of the beaches:













Here are some random photos:


(an ancient ship I saw from the yacht)


(the main bridge to the beach)


Hermit crab!


Jellyfish at the aquarium


retro diner


Me on beach (Juicy Couture dress)


Where the beach bums live.


World War II plane...and me.


World War II plane


View from the yacht


World War II battleship (Lexington)


One of my vintage swimsuits


He'll bite.


A beach house


View from the yacht.

I'm hoping to get over my post-vacation blues soon.

Are you going on any trips this summer?

Fashion Show (Part Two)

So, if you read my last post you know that my friends (Kerrie and Meredith) and I attended a local fashion show.

But I didn't have room to post the photos we took of ourselves.

Before the fashion show, I have to admit that all three of us were looking ridiculously fabulous. By pure coincidence (seriously) we all ended up wearing outfits from Anthropologie. Our hair was perfect and so were our smiles. We attracted a lot of stares. And no, it wasn't because we were giggling too loud. It's because we were fabulous, dammit! Um, anyway, we stopped at a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner and dessert.



It was divine.

The show itself, however, is a different story. We stood three hours in the blistering sun, packed into the crowd like little salty sardines.

For some reason, we decided it would be a GREAT idea to do a photo shoot afterwards.

Hahahahaha!

Here we go! Sweaty and salty!


Note: This is NOT my car.


Meredith is so pretty it kills me.


Kerrie looks like she belongs with this wall. I love that.


Aren't we cute?!?


This photo came out really scary. Which is sad because we thought it was going to turn out adorable.


Fabulousness times two.



It was an exhausting, but lovely, night.

I hope everyone is having a great week. I am actually going on a trip, so I won't be back here until Wednesday! So, in that case, have a happy weekend! xoxoxo