Lovely Kat here modeled for me today. I wanted to share this abstracted image.

I don’t know why I’m posting at midnight on a Friday except that I sat down at my computer to buy some new music and I was like “I’m just going to do this one thing.” One “quick” thing is slippery slope, right?  Incidentally, I finally downloaded Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” because despite ranking it as one of my favorite dance songs of the year, I hadn’t gotten around to buying it. The music blog’s obligatory best of 2011 lists reminded me of this oversight. So, shall we have a Friday Night Dance Party? Or a pretend one. I have neighbors and a sub-woofer. Check out this video, it appears to be captured in one take. I adore Robyn. You know who else loves Robyn? Jen & Marc and though it’s too early to tell, I’ll bet through transference their new baby daughter, Talia, likes Robyn too. I get to photograph baby Talia on Sunday. I’m very excited!

Last week, I photographed Anna for a developing project of knit patterns…more on that later.  Photographing the model of a sweater is different than taking someone’s portrait. It’s a fine line between the two goals. As Anna is the young daughter of friends, I tried to capture a few portraits along the way. Anna has an enigmatic face revealing almost no self-consciousness, a trait I hope she never loses. She’s a natural beauty, caught here in her coltish years.  I thank you, Anna, for bearing the cold weather like a pro. You’re a total sweetheart. And a big, big thanks to Anna’s parents for graciously permitting Anna to model.

Don’t these images get you in mind for fall. The whole Polish grandmother look is really having its moment in fashion. You can’t update your browser without someone linking to matroyshka nesting dolls on Pinterest. I don’t know about you, but I want to look straight up babushka. Here, I found my point of inspiration. I had to include a little dog picture as a nod to Danielle, the owner of Fibre Space. She’s a huge dog person, but her dog of choice is the Italian Greyhound. She loves them so, in fact, she rescues them. I’ll be photographing her adoptable doggies soon. Best. Assignment. Ever.

Speaking of doggies, as we’re in our new house Charly’s doggie nesting urges are flaring. We’ve been married long enough to have completed the life cycle of our pets. We lost both our Jody dog and Billy the cat last year. Disclaimer: I’m not a dog person. I’m a cat person. Small dogs are preferred. Big dog’s are fine, so long as they’re clean, don’t jump or slobber, and keep their barking directed at ninja intruders. Our house is three finished levels, but the footprint of each level is not exactly huge. Charly wants a Golden Retriever. They’re beautiful, but huge. Last night I mentioned my reservations about his dog choice. He said if he can’t get a Golden, he’d rather not get a dog. What am I to do with this blatant passive-aggression? Jury, please note the ridiculous stereotype with which we’ll be fulfilling with a Golden in our neighborhood? The only thing missing is the Baby Bjorn and whatever hipster parents drive. I know how this movie ends…it ends with me walking a dog as big as I am. Of course he’ll get his dog. My goodness, he’s already the named the thing. It’s Molly, by the way.

]]> http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/09/fashion-shoot-fibre-space-modern-toile-photography/feed/ 2 http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/07/long-live-mcqueen-modern-toile-photography/ http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/07/long-live-mcqueen-modern-toile-photography/#comments Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:04:46 +0000 Brandy http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/?p=2074 Right. The audition in New York.

The Voice audition process was well organized, professional, fair and entirely fun. It was also nerve-wracking, hot, crowded and very early. A $70 cab ride carried me 7 miles from NYC to Jersey to line up at 5:20 a.m. I entered the Izod Center around 8 to be corralled for another hour. Finally, I was ushered with 9 other people to a club room. We were seated while the vocal coach for the show explained his audition process. He asked us to ignore our nerves, introduce ourselves, share our age and song selection, to sing our best during our turn and comments would be held until everyone had finished. I was chosen first. There was a few seconds pause while the judge got his iPad ready to record and I cracked a joke about finding my spotlight in the ceiling bulbs illuminating an otherwise darkened room. The judge laughed and said I beamed on camera. He was probably just being polite. But of course, at this point I delude myself into thinking I’m a shoe in. Not to ruin the the ending of this gripping story, but you know what’s coming right?

Delusion is very necessary when putting one’s self on the line.

I had prepared two songs: Fidelity by Regina Spektor and Baby, I Love You by Aretha. I made two game time decisions: start with Aretha and scrap the new 4 inch pinky tan Bennetton heels. In hindsight, this was perhaps not a great strategy, though at least this anecdote doesn’t end with “And then I fell.” Fortunately, no one in my group sang Aretha, Etta James being the crowd favorite. I stood up, threw my shoulders back, relaxed my neck, and got to my big notes as quickly as possible. I only had about 3o seconds in front of the judge. It was all over so fast.

Of the 10 in my group, 8 were women. The median age was 22, with two outliers around 40. Four had natural talent. Six wasted their morning. No one got through.

So….I didn’t make it onto The Voice.

Being cut so expediently gave us the entire day to play in Manhattan. As it was brutally hot, we opted for air conditioning and the Alexander McQueen exhibit at The Met. Ahhhh-MAZING. Arguably, the best curated show I have ever seen. Here’s a tip: if you become a member of The Met you get to skip the 2 hour line to enter the show.

It’s quite sad to see this exhibit knowing that Alexander McQueen is gone and will make no further imaginative contributions to the fashion world. I was drafting my thoughts for the blog when I learned of Amy Winehouse’s death. By no means do I wish to minimize the tragedy in Norway. It is shocking beyond words. As this blog sometimes serves as my corner soap box with which I effuse on matters that touch my heart, I’m going to speak on the tragedy of lost talent. McQueen took his own life and though the cause of Winehouse’s death has not been made public, we can assume her drug use was to blame. Both artists left an indelible mark on their fields and me personally. But it is Winehouse’s songs, more than any other artist, that just fit me. Like her, I was raised on the smokey chanteuses of vinyl by a jazz appreciative father. Her songs were irreverent, sexy, empowered, funny and pained. I felt them as visceral as the vibrations of a tuning fork. That’s the beauty of artists, their work can touch you and reverberate within you so much, you feel a connection to them deeper than you should to someone you’ve never met. It’s the same way for me with authors Margaret Atwood & Nick Hornby, filmmaker Sofia Coppola, and painter Girhard Richter.

I don’t know why some artists lean toward their own self-destruction. Perhaps because creatives are more sensitive to the spectrum of beauty, on one end, bouncy and sweet and on the other end, poignant and still. Compared to the average person, their highs and lows are so much further apart on the Y axis of life.

Just announced, Vera Wang will expand the already popular White by Vera Wang for David’s Bridal. The line will now include affordable bridesmaid dresses. No doubt, taking a cue from Target’s successful mash-ups with fashion leaders Orla Keily and Isaac Mizrahi, this will make David’s Bridal more competitive with the ubiquitous J Crew and the lovely, but pricey BHLDN. Your fair maidens are promised fashion-forward, feminine and flirty pieces ranging from $158 – $200.

Oh and BHLDN! Dude, can I buy you a vowel?

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If there is one thing I love more than my cat or the now defunct White Stripes…it is extolling the virtues of handsome men. They say clothing makes the man. I couldn’t agree more. Brains, humor and a proclivity towards French cinema certainly help, but that’s just me. Even if Jean-Luc Godard is absent from your Netflix queue there is still hope for you boys. Check it! Put This On:  A Web Series About Dressing Like a Grown-Up has weighed in on the sometimes confusing arena of wedding etiquette. They identify the types of suits appropriate for the time and formality of your wedding.

Mmm hmmm, Mama likes.

Okay, boys! Now that I’ve shared this, you may leave the room. Me and the girls want squeal about Don Draper.  And it’s not gonna be pretty.

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Last week I was asked to provide some images for The Shoe Hive. If you’re not familiar with The Shoe Hive, I’m guessing you 1.) don’t live in Old Town Alexandria or 2.) possess robot feet which render shoes pointless. If you do have normal human feet – get thee to The Shoe Hive. Look, it’s now September which means we can officially wear boots and pretend it’s cold. In my case, I’ve recently reintroduced my favorite Shoe Hive find back into heavy rotation – my navy knitted beret.  Elizabeth Todd curates an amazing drool worthy collection of shoes and accessories, perfect for any season and occasion, including…ehem…your wedding. Go on, splurge on the Kate Spade’s. You only marry once.  If you haven’t stopped by in a while, please note the location has moved to the new larger location at 127 South Fairfax.

Happy shopping, ladies!

Love, Brandy

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This dress from Quail Bridal is making the wedding blog rounds, but I had to share. It’s lovely. I want someone to ask me to be a bridesmaid just to wear this dress…in this color…with those gloves.