Need some cheer to brighten up your Monday? Don’t worry because I have some eye candy for you! Time for another round of my blog favorites! Meet Kelty, the artistic genius behind Steep Street, her site showcasing her multitude of talents! This “Jill-of-all trades” has many tricks up her sleeve including amazing photography, web design as well as printed goodies like books and stationary. She has many brilliantly shot photos including weddings, couples, portraits and famillies. While all her beautiful shots are breathtaking, my favorite are a weekly series called T.G.I.H. These are fun and fancy photoshoots where Kelty and her twin sister, Hannah, get together to create to perfect shots.

Hannah’s fiery, red hair and porcelain skin add the perfect edge to every photo while Kelty’s talented eye frames each photo brilliantly. Hannah is a chameleon of sorts and is able to play so many different, magical characters.

Make sure to check out this site! You can enjoy some beautiful imagery and appreciate the talent of the lovely Kelty! Also, make sure to visit her Etsy shop for some handmade goodies.  Next time you are in need of an amazing photographer in the Boston area, this is your girl!

photos from Steepstreet.com

 A good friend of mine (who I’ve blogged about multiple times), an Italian fashion expert and innovative photographer has recently gotten his fingers on one of the last remaining giant Polaroid cameras AND some of the last remaining film! 

Alberto Zanetti used 5 of the remaining 100 pieces of the 50×60 cm (20×24″) film on one of the 2 remaining giant Polaroid cameras in the world. There is one giant Polaroid camera in Milan and one in New York. 

It was Ermanno Lazzarin of the menswear boutique Eral 55 in Milan, Italy who directed and commissioned Alberto in this amazing project. 

The above photo is one of the photos taken of the new collection using the giant Polaroid camera with the giant Polaroid film. This film develops instantly just like a Polaroid but with extreme clarity. 

Here is Alberto covered by the gigantic Polaroid camera about to take a picture. And below they peel away the emulsion to reveal the beautiful photo of the stylish elephant man!

 I love the look and feel of these outfits as well as the giant animal masks covering the face of the mode. Too often, the face of the model takes over an image and the clothes come second. 

Eral 55 is a boutique with a mission to create fashion for men without conforming to any rules. The store personalizes every piece of clothing so that every person has a unique shopping experience. Craftsmanship is the focal point of every item including the furnishings of the store itself. This boutique combines the best of modern design with a timeless vintage twist and a vivid imagination to create a world of fashion fantasy for its customers. 

 These photos were exhibited in Florence on June 15-17 at the world renowned JK Place. 

I had recently begun to feel quite bad about my neglect of Alexander McQueen’s last collection on our blog. However, I will explain in my defense that I was awaiting a debut of photos in honor of McQueen’s departure by one of the grand photographers of fashion. And alas the wait was rewarded with a feature by Annie Leibovitz on McQueen’s last collection for the “Nobel Farewell” in this month’s Vogue. 

The models are stepping out of or into their awaiting crates sealing them in McQueen’s brilliance for eternity. Although reminiscent of coffins, these crates do however, give the garments a sense of timelessness backed by their extreme beauty.

 Here are some of the looks from the presentation just weeks after McQueen’s death. It was haunting of his handiwork and brilliant craftsmanship and attention to detail. The sculptural quality from his previous show is still looming but with an added draping in the above capelet that is phenomenal.

I’m still shocked that we won’t have the original McQueen anymore. But I am impressed with the execution and presentation of his last collection by his team even after his devastating death. Sarah Burton will take over as creative director. Burton who was McQueen’s right hand woman and had overseen the womenswear since 2000 will most certainly keep McQueen’s legacy alive.

My friend and fellow artist Daniel Martin Noval has journeyed from Portland to New York and then over to Chicago all the while pursuing fashion in every form possible. From modeling himself, to scouting locations, traveling, and taking photographs, Daniel is a jack of all trades in the fashion industry.

I recently raided his blog and Facebook fan page for new photos to show me exactly how much fashion faux paus he’d been up to, and I discovered that in fact he’d actually gone off to fashionista heaven (the fashion photos aren’t released yet so you’ll have to wait)!

These are a few pictures that immediately caught my eye. Compiled, these photos make a grand portrait of a city that I personally love! Keep posted for more to come this week!!

Now this photo couldn’t get more CHICAGO!!