Horst: Photographer of style

"Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else again." Horst, 1984

Yesterday, as FCP students we spent the day in London, hence why there was no blog post. The course organised for us to visit 'Horst: Photographer of style' exhibition (running from 6 September - 4 January if you're interested) at the V&A. It took a long coach drive of 4 and a half hours but we eventually got there an hour and a half later than our first viewing. Luckily I was down for the 1.15pm viewing so had time to quickly get some lunch and head back, after all travelling is hungry work.

Incase you didn't know, Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann, better known as Horst. P. Horst was a German American fashion photographer. From a young age he became interested in art and developed a passion for photography after becoming the photographic assistant of George Hoyningen-Huene, a Vogue photographer. After this, his career quickly developed. During this period he met with Cecil Beaton, a man of many talents, and then published his first photograph in French Vogue. Over the next few decades Horst became associated with huge names in the industry such as Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, close rivals of their era.

The exhibition showed a huge collection of Horst's work from his sixty year career, work ranging from fashion images and still lifes to drawings and notebooks. As you walk through you see the different focuses Horst had including, Haute Couture, Surrealism, Stage and Screen, Travel, Patterns from Nature, The studio, Fashion in Colour and Nudes. The exhibition was in fact really captivating and engaging. It featured a short film about Horst's career, a book containing all his photographs, and a collection of covers he shot for Vogue.

If you're about in London, I'd definitely recommend it. If not check out the short films below for an insight into Horst's work.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-horst-photographer-of-style/

iris van herpen obsession

Before university, I studied four A levels at my high school's sixth form, one of which being Art and Design. During this time, my art teacher introduced me to the Dutch fashion designer, Iris Van Herpen, of whom I based one of my projects on.

I'll just briefly introduce her, then you can get to the good bit. Iris Van Herpen is a Dutch fashion designer, who graduated from the fashion design department of Artez and later interned at Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra. Van Herpen started her own label in 2007, which combines traditional craftsmanship with new technological inventions such as 3D printing. Since 2011 she has been a guest member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, and so she should be!

I could talk all day about this inspirational woman however I don't think I could do her justice, so here's just a few images of her garments (my favourites), and be sure to check her out, you'll be amazed at each and every single garment she's created, how original they are, and how they all differ so much from each other. 

Her creativity is endless.

Topshop x beyonce

Incase you haven't heard, It's been officially confirmed that Beyonce Knowles has teamed up with one of the most represented high street brands (who actually seem to be creeping their way into the mid luxury market) Topshop.  When I say this I imagine I speak for a lot of the women out there, this is something we've all been waiting for, for a very, very long time.

According to Topshop the collection, named Parkwood Topshop Athletic Ltd, after beyonce's management company, will cover a range of active wear, fitting right in with the current activewear trend and upcoming trends of 2015 (a.k.a athleisure). Both Beyonce and Topshop have specified that the collection is not a collaboration, come again?! It's a separate business which is run separately, in a more professional manner, a "partnership". This is something you 100% expect from Beyonce. None of that collab crap, straight into business holding both her face and name to the brand.

Of course Beyonce is the perfect person to bring out an active wear collection, she is known for her triple threat performances, putting her all into every one she does. This as well is a huge opportunity for Topshop and I have no doubt that the collection will do incredibly well. The brand's image will better by being represented by one of the most iconic women in the world, reflecting strength and independence.

Beyonce has previously collaborated with brands such as h&m which was pretty impressive so I am even more excited with what to expect from this partnership.