Evelyn Smialkowski

LATEST L O V E.....

2010-02-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

The S/S 2010 Ashish show was to die for! I could (and would love to) wear every piece from the show! The wedges, the studs, the sequins, the visors, the slouched/relaxed fit of everything.... I WANT I WANT I WANT! Its all so fabulous and wearable!

But most of all i love the gold wedges....seriously where have these been all my life!

Goodbye McQueen

2010-02-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

Today fashion lost a legend. I recently wrote about his Spring 2010 collection; my favourite collection from any designer for a long time. What a loss.

Not much needs to be said besides RIP Alexander McQueen.

Heres some favourites from the man himself.

Australia's best!

2010-02-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

During a recent trip back to the sunny shores of Australia, one brand got my heart racing and my purse empty! Romance Was Born. The pop-up shop off oxford st was a well needed escape from the over-priced, sterile Australian designer stores surrounding it.

Inside this little gem was like being under the sea with the store being decorated exactly as the latest runway.

Mystical, imaginative, uncontrived and wearable...Romance Was Born have it down pat.

The styling on the show is some of my favourite yet from Australia..they have taken these intricately designed pieces and created sexy under water teachers and creatures.

I also adored the accessories used in the show; the shell necklaces. Although they add an extravagant touch to the stylised catwalk looks; these necklaces are very wearable off the catwalk when worn alone with an uncomplicated outfit. Nature never looked so good!

Whats more is that the brand is getting great recognition with Cate Blanchett donning their designs at an award ceremony recently.

If its good enough for Cate Blanchett.... its good enough for me!

Butler & Wilson 40th Birthday

2010-01-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Butler and Wilson celebrated their 40th birthday with a big show at KOKO in Camden in late 2009 and it was a dream come true for all lovers of silk and sequins! The show was amazing filled with pieces from the brand's archive and other amazing vintage pieces borrowed from collectors.

Below are two of my favourite pieces from the show- a mecca for hedonistic hippies!! Jewelled 60s shift dress teamed with chunky crystal necklaces and bracelets plus a flowing kaftan with oversize necklace...my heaven!

I was lucky enough to help dress and style at the show which was an absolute pleasure. I dressed the lovely Alice Dellal, Alien who was both the face of the birthday party and show opener and Annie Lennox's daughter; Lola.

Check out Miss Dellal in an original Gianni Versace dress only ever worn once by Iman. This collector's item is the only one in the world and an absolute masterpiece. The detail is unbelievable and I was told by the owners that it was bought on ebay for a steal from a drama school which had no idea of the value of this dress!

The jewellery in the show was very over the top therefore very Butler and Wilson! Each model was weighed down in both new and vintage Butler and Wilson jewellery...more was definitely more at this show!

Check out some of the show stoppers below!

Spring 2010 is upon us!!

2009-10-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Its cold in London and the furs and scarves are on! But the catwalks are showing Spring 2010 and everything is HOT!!!!!

Personal favourite the one and only - Alexander Mc Queen

The make up and hair was uber sci-fi ... the models looked like enchanted creatures from another planet....and the clothes...oh the clothes! TO DIE FOR!
The fabric patterns were each so intricate and detailed!!!! It was everything i love - interesting, visually affective fabrics and cuts that do not withdraw from the complex fabrics! dont even start me on the platform boots..... just look

Here are some of my key looks

125 magazine Luxury issue - to die for!

2009-07-16T06:32:00.001-07:00

I am a huuge fan of 125 magazine and the latest Luxury issue is proof of how cutting edge and fashion forward the magazine is.

All I can say is Peggy Schuller stylist for the 'Edge of Reason' shoot had a model in silk organza in platforms on stilts. SNAP.

Have a look at Peggy's website below for the shoot which also features a model in a couture dress made of plastic Great Britain bags filled with balloons! This is true creativity in styling! http://www.peggystyle.com/

Here are some other pictures of Peggy's work but the real gems are on her website and in 125 magazine the Luxury issue!!!

I particularly LOOOOOVE this shot below from the 125 Luxury shoot

RAISE YOUR GLASSES TO PEGGY!!!

Futureclaw Magazine Issue 3 Out Now

2009-07-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I assisted stylist Jem Goulding on various shoots and creating the third issue of the cool new American magazine Futureclaw. The large format magazine is an amazing publication out of New York with beautiful images filling each page. A plethora of stylists and photographers from around Europe and the States were pulled in by Editor-in-chief Bobby Mozumder and Jem Goulding the London fashion director to create the best issue of the magazine yet.

Below is the picture chosen for the cover from Jem Goulding's 'All the King's Gold' shoot done in Egypt with model Josh Beech and photographer R.J Shaugnessy. The shoot is featured in the magazine and is a visual delight in terms of the photography and styling.

Go online to http://www.futureclaw.com/ to see the 3 rd issue of the magazine. Some of my favourite shoots in the magazine which I was present at include the work of make up artist Sinden from Streeters on the 'Headonistic' shoot using J Smith Eqsuire's latest collection. The tie-dyed hair by Liz Taw in the 'Voodoo Child' story is also amazing! To watch these two in action was such a treat- soo talented!

Heres a sneek peak at some pics of the 'Sid The Kid' story where I was the Stylist's assistant. Photographer Ben Rayner. Stylist Jem Goulding. Model Sid @Models1

The magazine is available in the UK, Canada and US.

THE TEASE FEAT MEGAN WYLER – I’M NOT INVISIBLE- SHOOT

2009-07-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

I have recently been very very busy which is always a good thing when you are a freelance assistant stylist but the downside is a lack of blogging!

However I can now share with you one of my latest jobs as head stylist; it was the film clip I did for The Tease feat. Megan Wyler! The song is best known for being in the Ford advertisement but here's the film clip I was styling...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMXdj-BoSGo

I worked with Megan on the film clip for this uber catchy tune and she was delightful! Director Nick created an 'Alphaville' mod style black and white video which was perfect for the sweet flowerchild-esque song!

Check out the stills from the shoot below! I dressed Megan in a black and white Sass and Bide number. She looked amazing twisting and dancing her way through the clip!

For an acoustic version of the song click the link below- you can see the other options I hand picked for Megan. Plus a glimpse of me dressing the invisible man and getting caught reading the latest 125 magazine I picked up that day! Enjoy this version of the catchy tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvnrgzOiYgY

Italians Do It Better

2009-05-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Top of the food chain and almost every stylist and photographer's most respected magazine... VOGUE ITALIA REIGNS ALL.

Every month the likes of Steven Meisel, Tim Walker, Mario Testino, Karl Templer, Jacob K and more splash their creativity and talents onto the pages. It is cutting edge, contemporary, chic and couture for every month of every year. The least commercial of all Vogues, this magazine pushes boundaries in every aspect; the Black Issue is an example of this. To fight back at claims that black women 'do not sell' and that there is racism on the industry; the Black Issue was the first magazine to use only black models and have all articles based on black women in various fields of work. The cover (below) featured black models from history; Naomi Capmbell, Liya Kebede, Jourdann Dunn and Sessillee Lopez.

It seems only fitting to share with you some of my favourite Italian Vogue covers and shoots....

Let the mouth watering begin..

Styling Franca Sorzzani, Photography Steven Meisel for the Black Issue

Styling Karl Templer, Photography Steven Meisel: Super Models Enter Rehab

The Art of Music

2009-05-18T08:33:00.001-07:00

I wanted to write about the effect music has on us because its such a powerful yet complex medium of communication and creativity. But its such a gigantuous topic that I dont want to start analysing the art of music or its effect on human beings ; I just want to point out how epic good music is.

There is nothing more raw, beautiful and personal than sharing your favourite songs or lyrics with someone. We all know this; this is not groundbreaking news i'm bringing you...

I just want you to be reminded of this and take sometime out to actually stand still for a second and listen to the words blarring through yours speakers. Too often we glaze over what we're listenning to on the tube, bus or whever ever and we miss the message. STOP and think about what is being sung and let it take you away.

I could sit here and name every favourtie song I can think of but thats not what this is about....this is about words in music that get you going!

So get your ipod out or get on spotify and get touched by lyrics...here is a very short list to start you thinking...

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin

A Well Respected Man by The Kinks

Wolf Like Me by TV on the Radio

Glorybox by Portishead

All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan

Sabotage by The Beastie Boys

The End by The Doors

Dont Stop Me Now by Queen

La Ritournelle by Sebastien Tellier

If Were in Love by Roisin Murphy

Fugee La by The Fugees

Vicious by Lou Reed

The Funeral by Band of Horses

Anyone else but you by The Moldy Peaches

Warrior by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Lover, You Should've of Come Over by Jeff Buckley

The Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

NB!! Please note how very hard it was to stop here!!!

Ladies I love- Bianca Jagger

2009-05-14T04:16:00.000-07:00

Running on the back of the 70s theme from yesterday...I thought it would be an idea to keep giving you an insight into the 'ladies I love'.

First and foremost I like strong women, who have carved their own signature way through history. These women have used fashion as a means to not only express themselves but push boundaries and make their mark. However, their repertoire does not stop at fashion they are influential and independent.

Who can go past the style, finesse and ultimate sex bomb Bianca Jagger. Forget her big lipped ex husband Mick... Bianca is where it's at. Mick's first wife, the first woman to wear a YSL suit and the only person to have rode a horse led by naked male models into Studio 54 on her birthday... Bianca is hands down a diva.

Through out her time she has been a model, actress and more recently a human rights advocate; portraying she is more than just a scene queen and clothes horse...she's got brains!

In the 70s Bianca was friends with Yves Saint Laurent, Andy Warhol and a regular on the floor of Studio 54. She was the ultimate party girl, jet-setter and independent woman out shining her short marriage to Mick Jagger.

My favourite picture of her and perhaps the most iconic is directly below; she is strutting the streets in YSL with little Jade by her side. Words can hardly describe her class and attitude here... pushing the dimensions of women's fashion wearing a suit and looking like a hot Mama in it; she is a force not be reckoned with!

As if there weren't enough reasons to love Bianca... she bred with Mick in 1971 and created the cool Jade Sheena Jezebel Jagger. Jade has gone on to be a model, designer and DJ and continued her mothers stylish legacy. Check Jade Jagger out below making her mark on the world, I love her in this glittery Gucci party dress!

Inspiration - Marisa Berenson

2009-05-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

One woman that is an icon of fashion in the 60s & 70s and admired by yours truely, is former model and actress; Marisa Berenson. Grand daughter to renowned designer Elsa Schiaparelli, she counted Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau as her very dear family friends. Hailed as the 'Queen of the scene' and dubbed as 'the girl of the seventies' by Yves Saint Laurent; she was one of the highest paid models of the time. Moreover, with friends like Liza Minelli and David René de Rothschild, she was truely adored by all.

I personally was drawn to her beauty and her ability to capture the freedom in fashion that was alive in the 60s and 70s. My favourite shoot with her (below); she and the hair team on the shoot sorted through the rubbish on the beach to twist seaweed, clams and odd pieces into her hair. She looks amazing; as if she is at one with the sea.

I love these shoots she did...each image is so iconic.

Timeless Effortless Untouchable.