A Winter Display
The month of September is finally upon us, and for me it marks the inevitable change into autumn. Whilst we try to tease out those last few good days of summer, and with back-to-school shopping suddenly sounding like quite the good idea, a magical wintry fashion campaign is perhaps the suitable port of call. Indeed autumn has to be the most wonderful of all the seasons for me, for whilst New Year's may lie in the dead of winter, it is autumn where the feel of the new year begins.
The trees slowly burn and brown at their edges just as the summer winds seem to leave our shores with promises to soon come back from their long journey south. Wisps of cloud congregate and gather at the fringes of the sky in a smudge of grey, soon to pass above with their inevitable rain and sleet.
Summer seems to slip away far too quickly as, returning from our holidays, we realise that work still remains. Life begins once again, and although the pending days seem dark and cold from where we sit, they are actually full of wonderful opportunities and chances. Summer is but a extended dream in our lives, for the rest of the year is where our waking hours lie. Autumn is like waking from a dream and stepping out into the world once again, refreshed and ready to live.
Some of you may remember my short review of the Fall 09 collection by Nom de Guerre back in March, and I must say that I have been patiently and eagerly waiting to see how the campaign would materialise. As you may have guessed, I have a particular love for autumnal and winter clothing, feeling it to be beautifully cosy and so very inviting.
The collection itself took my imagination on a journey to the very top of the Earth, with an imagined exploration of the magical frozen tundra. The shaggy furs and thick wools put me in mind of a old ship's crew at the turn of the previous century, set out to explore what mysteries lay in the snow and ice.
Whether they came across some great beast or a mythical race of warring snow peoples, the crew would say, but their crates of ammunition brought back empty, and the wounded men and ship spoke volumes. The long exploration had tired them, and yet they seemed more at peace, often taken to staying awake all night in silence simply to see the sun rise.
I find the Nom de Guerre campaign quite fascinating in concept. The obviously photographed backdrop creates a wonderful atmosphere for many of the shots, and it seems as if it were taken from an early cinematic film or museum display case. The clothing is presented in the theme of a wintry exploration, with the men in the background clearly having to work for their survival. One would be forgiven for assuming a bleakness to the picture, yet the thick furs, chunky knits and woolen outerwear pieces negate such an idea, and give it a certain warmth.
Coupled alongside these more thematic shots are the simple singular and group portraits. I believe that the singular portraits have quite a power to them, for the characters played by the models appear to have a story to tell. I find that story and meaning is important in a photograph, for it allows one to truly engage with the subject, and there is nothing better than a portrait in doing such. I suppose that all faces have their own story to tell, and that is perhaps why portraiture is an art form as great and timeless as it is.
The group portraits are equally intriguing, for there seems to be a certain indescribable strength to the images. There is a hazy sense of camaraderie, more an inevitable falling in together. Indeed I feel that there seems to be a silent hush over the group. This silence provides a strength, and I believe strength is what the collection is about. The campaign displays the elements of survival, of the need for strength, yet more importantly, a raw sense of life.
Currently playing: Coffee and Cigarettes - Augustana
xxxx
The trees slowly burn and brown at their edges just as the summer winds seem to leave our shores with promises to soon come back from their long journey south. Wisps of cloud congregate and gather at the fringes of the sky in a smudge of grey, soon to pass above with their inevitable rain and sleet.
Summer seems to slip away far too quickly as, returning from our holidays, we realise that work still remains. Life begins once again, and although the pending days seem dark and cold from where we sit, they are actually full of wonderful opportunities and chances. Summer is but a extended dream in our lives, for the rest of the year is where our waking hours lie. Autumn is like waking from a dream and stepping out into the world once again, refreshed and ready to live.
Some of you may remember my short review of the Fall 09 collection by Nom de Guerre back in March, and I must say that I have been patiently and eagerly waiting to see how the campaign would materialise. As you may have guessed, I have a particular love for autumnal and winter clothing, feeling it to be beautifully cosy and so very inviting.
The collection itself took my imagination on a journey to the very top of the Earth, with an imagined exploration of the magical frozen tundra. The shaggy furs and thick wools put me in mind of a old ship's crew at the turn of the previous century, set out to explore what mysteries lay in the snow and ice.
Whether they came across some great beast or a mythical race of warring snow peoples, the crew would say, but their crates of ammunition brought back empty, and the wounded men and ship spoke volumes. The long exploration had tired them, and yet they seemed more at peace, often taken to staying awake all night in silence simply to see the sun rise.
I find the Nom de Guerre campaign quite fascinating in concept. The obviously photographed backdrop creates a wonderful atmosphere for many of the shots, and it seems as if it were taken from an early cinematic film or museum display case. The clothing is presented in the theme of a wintry exploration, with the men in the background clearly having to work for their survival. One would be forgiven for assuming a bleakness to the picture, yet the thick furs, chunky knits and woolen outerwear pieces negate such an idea, and give it a certain warmth.
Coupled alongside these more thematic shots are the simple singular and group portraits. I believe that the singular portraits have quite a power to them, for the characters played by the models appear to have a story to tell. I find that story and meaning is important in a photograph, for it allows one to truly engage with the subject, and there is nothing better than a portrait in doing such. I suppose that all faces have their own story to tell, and that is perhaps why portraiture is an art form as great and timeless as it is.
The group portraits are equally intriguing, for there seems to be a certain indescribable strength to the images. There is a hazy sense of camaraderie, more an inevitable falling in together. Indeed I feel that there seems to be a silent hush over the group. This silence provides a strength, and I believe strength is what the collection is about. The campaign displays the elements of survival, of the need for strength, yet more importantly, a raw sense of life.
Currently playing: Coffee and Cigarettes - Augustana
xxxx