The South African Artisans

I headed down to South Africa to shoot this campaign, a collaboration between Banana Republic and Piece & Co., and to capture the artisans behind the sun dyed fabrics that make up the summer collection. We started early in the morning when the dew was still resting on the flowers. The women arrived and lead us to their farm (I guess you’d call it a farm?) which I discovered was just a wild space down a dirt road tucked between vineyards where they keep supplies in an old barn. The artisans ascended, plucking flowers and leaves, picking up things I’d never even seen before, finding lilies in the pond and savoring their scent. These are the native objects they use to create the patterns on the fabrics which are sun dyed right here on this piece of earth. 

They were proud and happy. The land was beautiful and loved. I like to think all this energy and joy is transferred into fabrics that now are cut into beautiful dresses and men’s shirts and one can feel this when they put it on. At least I hope these photographs can help share their story and shed light on conscience fashion. 

Final portraits of the artisans are shot on back and white film in the barn they work at using a spool of burlap we found lying around as a backdrop. Color portrait of the American woman is Piece & Co.’s founder Kathleen Wright

Jumperfabriken’s Design Studio

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While in Gothenburg, Sweden on our #volvooverseasdelivery road trip we stopped by the design studio of Swedish label Jumperfabriken to meet with the label’s owner and designer Elisabeth Synnes who created the feminine and timeless fashion brand inspired by old photo albums from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s “taking the best from the past to the future”. Her classic approach is meant to provide pieces to last you a lifetime and never go out of style. Mostly known for their ladylike dresses and cozy cardigans, it’s the warmth from the designer that really makes you feel at home in these Scandinavian pieces.

10 Questions with JUMPERFABRIKEN‘s owner and designer Elisabeth SynneS

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If you could give advise to yourself when you started Jumperfabriken, what would it be? 

ES: Be patient. To build a solid brand takes so much more time than one thinks. Continue reading “Jumperfabriken’s Design Studio”

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren's Fall 2016 collection shown at New York Fashion Week

The close of New York Fashion Week always ends on a high note for me with the Ralph Lauren collection. Usually I come for the gowns, which are the most beautiful classic American study in simplicity and elegance.

However, for the Ralph Lauren Fall 2016 presentation I was more enamored with the first 14 or so looks that came quiet and confidently down the runway. Beige on beige on beige was the story in smart men’s tailoring that looked both chic and comfortable. It’s a certain kind of woman who can pull these off, someone with personality and brains, like a Diane Keaton character in some bygone rom-com. She dresses for herself and doesn’t need the fleeting attention of the flashy spotlight to for validation, she already has it sewn into the fabric of her being…

Ralph Lauren's Fall 2016 collection shown at New York Fashion WeekRalph Lauren's Fall 2016 collection shown at New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren's Fall 2016 collection shown at New York Fashion Week

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Naeem Khan

Naeem Khan Spring / Summer 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week

Today I head out to cover the last few days of New York Fashion Week which should prove to make some interesting Snapchat { add me! AnnStreetStudio } content. Aside from my usual loves, Marchesa and Ralph Lauren, I’ll be covering Naeem Khan. Images here are from his Spring 2016 show of a collection inspired by Grace Kelly,  Sophia Loren, a trip to Mexico, Frida Kahlo’s style, and the blossoming flowers of the Mediterranean. I think it’s quite clear, when Mr. Khan dreams of a woman, he sees us blooming at our most splendid…

Naeem Khan Spring / Summer 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week Naeem Khan Spring / Summer 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week Naeem Khan Spring / Summer 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week Continue reading “Naeem Khan”

Protagonist

I recently discovered Protagonist though the tightly curated site The Line that always seems to find the coolest yet most understated items in fashion, beauty and home decor. Offline their retail store is done through a living editorial moment by putting the shopping experience inside the dream Soho loft, known as “The Apartment by The Line“. Whenever I pop in I am always inspired either by the chic curation for the woman I dream to be in New York (think minimal, confident, quality) or through discovery of new designers whom all seem to have an affinity toward elevated wardrobe essentials, the kind of pieces you invest in because they will never go out of style.

Protagonist, under the direction of Georgia Lazzaro, formally of Narciso Rodriguez and Calvin Klein, is a delicious study in simplicity and quality. The Line, known mostly for their shirting, has stolen my heart for their black and white basics, especially in the realm of the LBD. I stopped by their NYFW presentation hosted at The Apartment in Soho to see what direction they are going in and how much I need to save to become a Protagonist woman.

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Mercado Global

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When Mercado Global emailed to see if I would be interested in visiting the communities of their local artisans in Guatemala, I knew it would allow me to gain a greater knowledge as to what goes into their products. Opening yourself up to experiences like these means the world around you changes. Your association with products is affected by sentimental value but goes beyond sales and trends when you understand the craftsmanship that goes into a product: like when I watched how they painstakingly make CHANEL couture or viewed the tiny delicate details of Chopard’s high jewelry making. Once you peek at the process behind the curtain, you understand how important craftsmanship and expertise is.

These women are experts in the traditional Mayan weaving process, an age-old tradition passed down through generations. What Mercado Global helps them achieve is not only preservation of an ancient artistry, but a partnership that empowers women to break the cycle of poverty by helping them run their own independent business. This opportunity creates sustainable livelihoods for their families and can help turn around entire communities.

One woman I spoke with said her husband was in an accident and was unable to work. Being the only source of income, she had to find a way to support her family. Though the business model set up by Mercado Global, she was able to buy a loom and begin producing fabrics such as the ones you see here which are then purchased by Mercado Global. The artisans do not work exclusively with Mercado Global; once they own the loom they can sell their designs to a newly available international market they once had no access to. On her single income, this woman we spoke to was able to pay for all seven of her children to go to school. On average, these Mayan artisans make three times the national average wage of Guatemalans. These women are changing the culture by being business owners and major contributors to their local community, which gives them the power and tools to fight against major issues like female violence, malnutrition, and illiteracy. Mercado Global not only sets these women up for a viable future but also goes into the communities with programs to educate them on financial management, heath and wellness, and nutrition.

There is now a network of over 400 women artisans in over 40 cooperatives throughout the rural highlands of Guatemala. Below are images from the small town of Comolapa we visited, watching as the artisans worked in a weaving cooperative on floor looms, making fabric by hand that would ultimately become the perfect market tote or evening clutch… but this time, with a story of change. I love carrying mine around the city, feeling the fabric under my fingers and the spirit of these women inspiring me to take control of life while being an expert in my artistry.

Mercado_Global_003  Mercado_Global_005   Continue reading “Mercado Global”

Cartier Etourdissant dazzles in Miami

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It was a perfect night. The air, so warm and sticky the way summers on the east coast play back like flickering memories of an old movie scene. Cartier had come to Miami to unveil the newest precious pieces of their high jewelry collection “Cartier Etourdissant” along with priceless vintage creations of years past and dazzling standards of this modern era.

Being invited to galas such as these are always personal princess moments. An armed guard, not unlike a fairy godmother, shows up and adorns you in diamonds for the evening leaving you swanning around the room as if you were floating in a glass of champagne. I don’t know what it is about diamonds at night, which sparkle off our warm bodies so alive with breath and wonderment, but I just always feel as if they look like someone caught the twinkling stars and wrapped them around us in a cloak of fairy dust.

This collection is especially sentimental to me. Not only for the history of Cartier, who most notably made the setting for the Hope Diamond and adorned the heads of Royalty for some of their biggest moments in history, but because it was inspired by the French Riviera, one of my favorite places on earth. There is nothing like the light and artistic inspirations of France and in the designs of these pieces they transform light like a quiet afternoon dancing in the sun along the Côte d’Azur. I could stare into the pieces forever remember the best moments in life and dreaming of all the ones I desire for the future.

It was glamorous. Hosted at the new Faena Saxony Hotel in Miami along the turquoise sea it felt like a modern reenactment of a Jay Gatsby party which must have been the inspiration for director Baz Luhrmann when he designed the interior of the hotel.  Faena Miami has been waiting for this moment to be brought to life, to be filled with the sounds of champagne bottles popping, distant laughter, models poised in priceless jewels, jazz music and the salty taste of caviar. Maybe it was the setting that made me feel so nostalgic or the glittering private crowd there mirroring the moonlight off the ocean but I looked around the room wondered how could anything bad ever happen in a world that can create this much beauty out of human vision and love.

In a red Dior dress I watched the room ebb and flow and thought of that line from The Great Gatsby: “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” and smiled, for I can always go back to this memory on a cold winter day and recall that life can really sparkle if we open our eyes.

Below, I invite you to experience some of my favorite moments and unforgettable pieces from the gala by Cartier~

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Marchesa

Marchesa Spring / Summer 2016 collection at the St. Regis New York for NYFW. It was as if someone opened a gilded bird cage and released a menagerie of exotic creatures loose in the middle of Manhattan watching Marchesa‘s spring summer collection emerge at the glamorous St. Regis New York. The fearless gowns were unapologetic in volume and romance, as if whom ever would wear such pieces of art would have the entire gardens of Versailles to swan around in under the might night sky. From the rainbow ombre tulle to the tiers of feathers, caged corsets to the gilded thread work, this is Marchesa’s imagined enchanted aviary garden set to the chorus of “Addicted to Love” and addicted, I am.

Marchesa Spring / Summer 2016 collection at the St. Regis New York for NYFW.      Marchesa Spring / Summer 2016 collection at the St. Regis New York for NYFW. Continue reading “Marchesa”

Supermodel Comfort

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You know her face.  A fashion darling she’s a cover girl, shot for campaigns with Estée Lauder and Tiffany & Co, and this fall is starring in the new stunning Oscar de la Renta ads.

But what you don’t see behind this classic American beauty is a woman who likes to surf out in Montauk and throw on a pair of warm soft UGG boots when she emerges from the cold North Atlantic ocean. So it was no surprise when UGG tapped her to be the face of their new Classic Luxe Collection, a more refined fashion forward take on the comfort of UGG boots. I spoke to Carolyn about how a woman as chic and timeless as she is can pull off an UGG moment and she suggested wearing the new Abree style this fall “with a pair of leather pants, crisp button down and wool coat so now you don’t have to be afraid to wear your UGG boots out of the house.” Comfort can be a beautiful thing.

Above, Carolyn Murphy photographed in New York City in UGG’s Abree boot in black styled with white Miachel Kors pants and a Stella McCartney blazer.

 

MET Gala 2015

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Once again I had the privilege to cover the red carpet with the Met Museum‘s social media team capturing what is the coined “the party of the year” for the museum’s new fashion exhibition China Through the Looking Glass. From gowns that took  two years to create, to ones that appear completely see-though, it was one breathtaking moment after the next and I’m happy to share with you images from the front lines, captured using my iPhone 6, of my favorite Met Gala 2015 moments….

MET_GALA_2015_03 MET_GALA_2015_04 MET_GALA_2015_05 MET_GALA_2015_06 Continue reading “MET Gala 2015”

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection show at New York Fashion WeekThis might just be the coziest thing I’ve ever seen walk down the runways of New York Fashion Week. Ralph Lauren managed to perfectly balance the modern day woman that wants to look polished but comfortable, classic but current, with a life that is both urban and rural. I loved the creams, tans, chocolates, sage and gold which automatically puts you in the mood for autumn leaves and crackling fires. The first heart-stopping moments for me was a spectacular ivory lace gown with a victorian neck collar that reminded me of this old fashioned romance. Then, in total Americana glamour, he closed the show with the perfect golden goddess gown and I was once again, living in a Ralph Lauren world.

… before the show I went backstage to shoot some of the looks up close and personal which are mixed in below with my favorite runway moments!

Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection show at New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection show at New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection show at New York Fashion Week    Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection show at New York Fashion Week  Continue reading “Ralph Lauren”

Remembering Oscar de la Renta

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On the day an American icon passed away I found myself in the throws of living in one of his visions. It was quite a surreal experience to be dining with Mr. Oscar de la Renta’s friends at the luxury resort he co-owned and designed when news of his passing came to me through a social media alert on my phone. I read the comment out loud in disbelief and shock after spending a day speaking of him so often. Our dinner companions that evening had known and looked at us with great sadness when we discovered it at that moment. In a true act of elegance, they told us it wasn’t their place to make the announcement until his wife and family made an official statement. Such respect, a trait so few people excersie but was so elegantly found in Mr. de la Renta’s character.

We all shared Oscar stories from our experiences with him, I loved seeing how his warmth had affected their lives. For me, I took a moment to remember the first time I met him and getting a glimpse behind the scenes at the design house that makes every girl’s dream dresses. I feel so fortunate to have photographed him, created Cinemagraphs with his collections, photographed his ladylike pieces in fashion shoots, made memories with friends in Oscar, to having the insane honor of wearing his gowns on very special occasions.

We raised our glasses to a great man who did nothing but make women feel beautiful and teach us a thing or two about life.

{above- Coco Rocha has a quiet moment in Oscar, below more of my favorite Oscar moments}

 Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta  Remembering_OscardelaRenta_07 Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta  Remembering_OscardelaRenta_10 Photographer Jamie Beck remembers fashion designer Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta SS2015 | A Day with Oscar de la Renta | My Favorite Collection | Inside the Design Studio | Oscar’s Cinemagraph | Oscar in Paris | Coco & Oscar | Oscar’s Botique | Oscar’s Resort

ESME VIE

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The elevator doors opened onto the fifth floor of the historic Rafael Hotel in Paris, most notably the place where Grace Kelly & Jacqueline Kennedy called home, and there sat this beautiful woman in a blush colored dress with an explosion of satin roses cascading over her shoulder like a vision of what women looked like so many decades ago. The woman was designer Julia Voitenko and like what all modern women battle with, she was searching for a wifi signal. Not knowing who she was at that moment of meeting did not stop me from showering her with compliments and inquiring about every detail before me. When she realized I was there to see her collection, was the moment I realized the collection I was about to see was hers and into the suite we went.

She walked me through the idea of the “new wardrobe” for the modern day woman where she needs only own a few pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of classic looks, one in which Julia describes as “beauty made to wear”. Pulling inspiration from the 50s and 60s the silhouettes remain timeless and flattering to all body types while being hand constructed in Italy from the most prestigious Italian silk {something we know a thing or two about}.

In suite fit for a Princess, overlooking that dreamy view of Paris, I fell in love with ESME VIE and her idea of dressing for ladies.

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