Nobuyoshi Araki for Barney's - Food for Thought

Since discovering Haruki Murakami's novels as a teen, his stories and scenes revisit me at completely random moments in my life. The same stands for the images of photographer Araki, an artist who also deals with love and death and the theme of melancholy; the perpetual chase for something lost that cannot be defined nor found. Now, the work of these two Japanese visionaries finally collides, although not directly.  Kiko Mizuhara, who will play lead in the film adaptation of Murakami's book, Norwegian Wood, just modeled in Barney's holiday campaign shot by Araki. The photos grasp a mild version of the sensuality that Araki always achieves without the 'death' undertones he usually evokes.

All photos Courtesy of Barney's New York (2010).

The cliché display of saccharine frivolity in holiday campaigns is apparently meant to encourage indiscriminate shopping-mania. But the overly accessorized, blingy blonde and brunette gals with bylines that read, 'all that dazzles!' and 'sparkle sparkle!' are a real turnoff for a window shopper wanting to be inspired by something different in a holiday campaign. Araki and Mizuhara do something different, something unexpected with their  shoot for Barney's. The saturated color and gorgeous, filmic blur make me dream, make me wonder. This will be the best holiday campaign for a North American department store this year. No contest. 

Get Norwegian This Fall

Norwegian Wood is a label run by my friend/collaborator Angie Johnson for whom I have styled and, ahem/yikes(!) modeled for. Like me, Angie's based in Montréal but she's got her entrepreneurial eyes set on the world and her designs reflect it. She strays from the few specific design aesthetics for which Montréal is most known (namely black and minimal), by making clothes and accessories that are eclectic and bright; often using mixed print and vintage fabrics. I admire that a moment in fashion when "more is more" is unfashionable, Angie GOES for it.

Thanks to blog accolades from heavy hitters like Susie and the Tavster (Style Rookie), I'm happy to say that Norwegian Wood is one independent fashion designer whose climb is on the steady and exciting rise.

I wanted to wait until the Fall season actually hit to share photos from our F/W shoot so that you get a chance to think about pieces you might consider integrating into your current wardrobe. I love the Landscape dress (centre) which you can get right now on Etsy.

The inspiration behind the collection was an eccentric archaeologist whose love of ecological artifacts gets interpreted into a closet of autumn-colored treasures. Angie modernized the collection with original accessories predominantly combining chain, fringe and (of course!) wood. Here's an old post from Style Bubble with photos from the shoot (styled/modeled by me and photography by April Lea).

P.S. Photos from our latest collaboration -- SS11 shoot -- will be up soon!

Kudos to Angie: love working with her and very much looking forward to watching her label evolve.

xx Fashion Minute

Norwegian Wood - MAXIMALISM

Sneak peak shot from my shoot with for my friend, Angie, the designer behind Montréal women's clothes and accessories label Norwegian Wood (image via Angie's Twitter feed). That's me fixing a shoelace on the model, Joelle, (oh the glamorous work of styling!). I styled the shoot, and it was my second project with Norwegian Wood and my third project with superfantastic photographer, April Lea. The collection can be described as PRINT POWER. In the face of the subdued minimalist trend that is about to hit streets like an erupting lolcano, NW's maximalism is a bold and welcome move.

Here are more shots from the online campaign/lookbook: