LESS IS MORE-ANTIONIO CARLOS SOARES

Hayden Williams has become a very fascinating attraction after I came across his illustrations of the Disney princesses in revolutionary ways, his representation of celebrities on the red carpet and general fashion collections. You cannot but fall to in love with the mannerisms of his characters and the realistic elegance of his creations.

Antonio Carlos Soares is yet another brilliant illustrator who came into the world of fashion through his love for painting.Born on July 4, 1973 In Portugal and currently living in Oporto, Porto, Portugal, his illustrations are executed with water colour and have an almost solid touch of magical realism.His illustrations explore simplicity in a whole new dimension as his paintings are laid against pain backdrops that pull the focus to the intensity yet mild creations. When asked by Jenna Mcarthur about his inspiration for exploring Fashion illustration, Mr Carlos Soares asserted, “It was never my intention to be a fashion illustrator. I took a degree in painting but always liked drawing. Illustration has always been the area to which I have devoted for pure pleasure so it is something that just happened naturally. I collaborated with a Portuguese designer Nuno Baltazar and from that moment I started to develop my personal project to illustrate Portuguese fashion designers. I believe that fashion illustration is a perfect medium for telling stories, and I build my narrative, based on the amazing work of fashion designers and is an area that I have been developing these last few years because, and above all, I like fashion!"

 

The Portuguese fashion illustrator António Soares creates, like the most sublime artist, stories that transcend the paper and mere visual attraction. Soares' art  illustrates pieces by Portuguese contemporary fashion designers, such as Alexandra Moura, Luís Buchinho, Miguel Vieira, Nuno Baltazar and Ricardo Dourado. I particularly love the finishing on each piece as it resonated an emergence that is yet flat and 3 dimensional at the same time.

 

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” 

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people” 

― Edgar Degas

“The most mesmerizing of artists is always like one who was merely drawing in the sand and people came to watch.” 
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

“Painting reflects. It kills you in a colourful shower of emptiness. Flatness. Randomness. And beauty. Yes, it is the most pure beauty I have ever felt in my life.” 
― Nigel Tomm

“The painting has a life of its own” 
― Jackson Pollock

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” 
― Camille Pissarro

“Painting is silent poetry,and poetry is painting that speaks.” 
― Plutarch

SOURCES:http://www.jennamcarthur.com/
                   http://www.thefashionmedley.com/
                   https://elliesblog22.wordpress.com/

NATURE'S VOGUE-COLOUR SPLASH

Pre wedding planning is more than a string of decision making, it is a definition of personality and character. Too much? Lol, well that's how I see it anyway. A friend of mine would be getting married soon and my brain was literally sour with deliberating on colour combination for both the white and the traditional wedding. For these who do not know, a typical Nigerian wedding runs through two phases;

The traditional where the couple pay allegiance to their cultural heritage and get the blessings of the elders in the community and parents.

Second is the white wedding a semi-formal wedding ceremony originated in Britain and so called because of the white dresses worn by brides (Funny how evolution has set in and brides are now more daring with colours. Black anyone?...lol)  

Common to Nigerian Celebrations is the Asoebi- which can vaguely be defined as clothing a particular set of people in identical material for easy identification. 

Asoebi is an intricate part of any ceremony where you have friends, families, bridal train, community groups all identified with a particular fabric and colour. I passed by a bunch of wild flowers with bursting with different shades of colours, and thought to myself, "Why don't we ever look to nature for the ultimate colour combinations whenever an event comes up instead or running like headless chickens int he fabric market?"

Well pour me a glass of nature's beauties 'cos I sure have found me a great look book for inspiration...lol

   

It is worthy of note that Asoebi runs into occasions that pull the crowd in a typical Nigerian society, occasions beyond wedding like burials, Child dedication and naming, launching at religious places, thanksgiving etc. Candied advise, don't stress when you have to pick out a colour palette for an occasion. Go to the flourish shop or a stretch of vegetation and let nature show you her rainbows. Did I mention that consultation is free? Nature is such a sweetheart wouldn't you say?...lol

HAVE A NATURE COLOURED WEEKEND!!!

“The earth laughs in flowers.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A weed is but an unloved flower.” 
― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“Flowers are the Romeos and the Juliets of the nature!” 
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“Flowers don't tell, they show. That's the way good books should be too."
― Stephanie Skeem

“How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers." 
― Mother Teresa

“In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue and white;
Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroidery,
Buckled below fair knighthood's bending knee;
Fairies use flower for their charactery.” 
― William Shakespeare

“Flowers are the beautiful hairs of the Mother Spring! Don’t pluck them!” 
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“But neither milk-white rose nor red
May bloom in prison air;
The shard, the pebble, and the flint,
Are what they give us there:
For flowers have been known to heal
A common man's despair.” 
― Oscar Wilde

SOURCES: http://www.pexels.com

                     http://www.wallpaperawesome.com/

                     https://www.pinterest.com/

                     http://www.wallpaperlite.com/

OXFORD DIVERSITY-THE MODERN CLASSICS

Making its first debut in Scotland and Ireland, Oxford shoes or Blamorals (so named after the Blamoral Castle) earned it name from the famous Oxford university and is by far a classy and timeless fashion ornament that can be dressed up or down to suite whatever occasion  due to its minimalist appeal and ability to go with just about everything. Whether it is the wig-tip Oxford, whole cut-one piece Oxford, Cap toe Oxford or the Plain toe Oxford, the resonating beauty and elegance of each piece stands out in the history of classic footwear. Oxfords are a newer version of the popular Oxonians that were popular at the Oxford University in 1800. The half-boot style became outdated and students looked for an alternative style that was more current, thus the oxford shoe was born.

Oxford shoes have run through years of reinvention having designers like Prada, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton interpret it while maintaining its signature qualities. My fascination with these classic shoes is the stress-less elegance and definition it gives when worn. And the best thing about it, they have been made to accommodate both genders.

Care to explore?

 

Wig tip Oxford (Left) and A Whole Cut-One piece Oxford

The One piece oxford is a variation on the classic oxford constructed with a single piece of leather rather than various pieces sewn together. This style has only one seam connecting the piece of leather together in the back of the shoe while maintaining the original Oxford shape and signature “closed lacing.” The minimal stitching gives a sleek and sophisticated look that adds to the shoe’s unique and simplistic style. Though this style is unassuming, it is a uncommon variation on the typical oxford shoe and is seen quite rarely.

 

Derby Oxford(Left) 

The Monk strap is versatile shoe style that serves as the intermediate between the oxford and the derby in terms of formality, featuring a similar shape sans the laces. In place of an eyelet closure, the monk strap has a wide strap that is fastened across the front of the shoe with either a single or double buckle closure. The monk strap takes its name from the monks who originally donned them. The closed toe design was a much more protective alternative to wear while working than the sandals they usually wore. This alternative is very attractive and give an extra edge to an assemblage. The Monk straps are often crafted out of leather or suede and can be found with and without decorative broguing.

 

Dress Boot Oxford.

The Dress Boot Oxford is a lace-up boot often featuring a wingtip broguing on the toe and along its seams and rises over the ankle. It finds its roots in the Victorian era when the choices in men’s shoes were very limited. During this time, men could only wear boots with day wear or pumps for evening wear. Because of the limitation of styles available to men, the Dress Boot became an intermediately formal dress shoe option that was worn to formal day occasions like tea or a formal lunch. Now, the dress boot’s place in menswear has remained quite similar as a great alternative to your typical dress shoe that’s perfect for formal day wear. 

Cap Toe Oxford

 

“Cinderella was made for more than sweeping the floor.” 

― Beth Moore Jones, The Cinderella Story: The Power of Shoes

“...Because the human history is the history of shoes. The history of places where we ever tread and stand.” 
― Stebby Julionatan

 

“God hasn't called you to walk in someone else's shoes (purpose). He wants you to walk in the shoes that fit you, for which He made you. You aren't going to succeed walking in another woman's shoes.” 

― Beth Moore Jones 

Monk Strap Oxford

“.. its not so much about the shoes, but the person wearing them” 
― Adriana Trigiani, Viola in Reel Life

“It doesn't matter how great your shoes are if you don't accomplish anything in them.” 
― Martina Boone, Compulsion

“In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and even clothes, the discussion of fur is childish.” 
― Karl Lagerfeld

Alexander McQueen reinvented Oxford Pump(left) and Prada reinvented Pump (Right)

                                                        SOURCES:http://www.ties.com/blog/mens-dress-shoe-guide

                                         https://www.pinterest.com/

                                            https://www.goodreads.com/