Happiness…this way!

It was Sunday morning, I did the usual thing when I woke up, checked Facebook. I scrolled down my newsfeed very quickly and the only thing that got my attention was one status; How to find happiness? It made me think about my personal happiness and inspired me to write this post.

Sometimes we lose motivation, get bored of our lives or what we do, make bad decisions that take us to a dark road, or we simply we face difficulties that consequently change our outlook on life. When we are in that state of mind it is easy to forget what being happy feels like, but the turning point is when we realise how short the days are, how quickly time is passing us by and here we are, spending our existence being miserable.

It is simpler than we think to switch that button on our brain to feel hopeful again, we just have to take baby steps and think of all the small things that make us smile.

How to find happiness? Well, I wish I had the right answer, but to me you find it when you decide to open your mind and appreciate everything around you, people; friends and family, and living; enjoying every day. When you wake up early enough to see the sunrise and all the amazing pinks and yellows in the sky, or when you read a book that totally changes your perspective on life, wearing your favourite outfit, listing to a beautiful piece of music, being in a room full of your loved ones, or even writing in your blog that has been forgotten for several months.

We live in an extraordinary universe, but we sadly spend too long with our eyes shut.

I take pictures of anything I find beautiful and inspiring, of what I love and appreciate about my every day life, and when I feel down I have these images to remind me how lucky I am for having such beauty around me.

This is how I find happiness!

A Beautiful Sunset, Lisbon

Sunflowers in Columbia Flower Market

My Sunday Morning

A powerful message, a man standing in the middle of the street giving away his art.

Berlin

Wearing quirky sunglasses

A cafe in France

My Friends

Sophie’s magical house in France

Randomness

Arty Shows

The Sky

Winter

Montmartre, Paris

Happy Notes, “The Paul Smith’s Exhibition” in London

Surreal Places

A candy sky in the early hours

Yoga by the Sea

Mexico City

Being Playful

Beautiful Architecture

Dressing Up

A Full Moon

Live Music

Interactive Art

The Colour Pink

A walk at night along the Southbank

My Nephew

London

Mexico Lindo y Querido

It has been another great trip to Mexico City to visit my family, and while I was there for a short I simply had to wander around the City with my camera to try to capture some of its magic.

My opinion about Mexico City is not of a native Mexican girl who simply adores her country and ignores all its political issues, high level of crime and corruption, of course it has that, but also an immense beauty that can’t be explained or described, you have to be there to understand its charm.

I left for Europe a long time ago, but every time I visit it awakes a part of me that I sometimes think it has died, my Mexican roots will always be there but the love and appreciation for my culture  seem to fade away at times, until I go back and I’m reminded of how lucky I am for having grown up in such an interesting place, of  rich culture and history, full of mystical places and mysterious Aztec legends of their gods.

Mexico is tradition,  food, religion, tequila y mescal, friendly people, colour, humor and  music, this country has  a piece of my heart and I think that if you ever visit it you might leave  a piece of yours behind.

La Santa Muerte on the streets of the city centre

Mexican crafts at the Ciudadela

“La Casa Azul” Frida Kahlo’s beautiful house in which she grew up and later on lived with Diego Rivera, it is located in Coyoacan, it’s now  a museum and at the moment is exhibiting some of the most iconic outfits and jewellery worn by the artist.

La Condesa, this area is popular for its quirky bars, mezcalerias and cool shops.

This bar has an amazing selection of Mexican beer only

Coyoacan

Road Trip to the Marquesa

The most delicious Pina Colada I have ever had served in a beautifully decorated pineapple

Wandering in one of many food markets in the city

Cactus/Nopales

Chiles

Into the Dark

Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin and Tim Buckley.

I was looking at some images of the 1960’s music scene for an article I wrote for  Airport-Magazine  next issue, in fact I was looking at the photo above while listening to one of my playlists in Spotify when Golden Arrow by Darkside came on, suddenly my mood changed, this song and the photo made me think of other obscured songs, talented artists whose lives might have ended in tragedy and troubled souls.

I thought of Pink Floyd instantly because Darkside’s music reminded me of some songs by the group, I even wondered whether the name Darkside and their experimental sound was inspired by “The Darkside of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, but anyway, that’s a different subject. I then thought of Syd Barret, who was Pink Floyd’s original lead singer but  left the band in 1968 because of his mental illness.

Then Janis Joplin came to my mind, the 60’s queen of psychedelic blues who sadly died in 1970, also Hendrix, who died a couple of weeks before Janis, and then of course  the troubled soul of Jim Morrison.

As  I continued to listen to music, depressing but beautiful songs I searched for imagery that represents the mood I’m in,  although some photos don’t related to each other they all bring nostalgia and even sadness, a dark and uneasy feeling, which I find in Diane Arbus  photography.

Troubled Souls

Syd Barrett

Pink Floyd in 1970

Janis Joplin

Jim Morrison on stage in 1968

JIm Morrison

Jimi Hendrix

Glastonbury 1970

Mia Farrow by Diane Arbus

Twins by Diane Arbus

Flower Girl Wedding 1964 by Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

What Happened Next on Miles Aldridge’s Photography

How to Catch a Thief 1955

Rich & Strange 1931

The White Shadow 1923

Birds 1963

Notorious 1946

A few days ago while watching Alfred Hitchcock’s How to Catch a Thief  I found myself thinking about the extraordinary career he had, he was the master of suspense and had a very distinctive editorial style, the way he framed shots to maximise tension and the unpredictable, the violence, crime &  twisted endings of his films were his trademark, he also had an obsession for  blonde female characters as the leading role.

As a child I used to watch Hitchcock’s TV series every Monday at midnight while my parents were in bed, I was only 7 but I got hooked instantly and as I got older I continued to watch his films. I’m only one of many fans who loves and admires his work,  he has been a major influence to many artists and not only in the film industry but also in photography.

Miles Aldridge is an English photographer, he has been producing incredible imagery for over 13 years, he has done fashion editorials for Numero, The New Yorker, Pop, Chinese Vogue, American Vogue, Vogue Russia and especially Vogue Italia, in which his work has consistently appeared since 2000.

There is an element of Hitchcock’s style in Aldridge’s photography and Miles himself has openly said the acclaimed director has been a source of inspiration for his work, I believe it is his predominant use of  glamorous and beautiful women, an obsession which Hitchcock had, or perhaps it is the feeling that’s captured in his rich and colourful photos, a sensation that something disturbing or chaotic is about to happen, just like in Hitchcock’s films.

There are two exhibitions of Miles Aldridge’s work in London,  I Only Want You to Love Me at the Somerset House until the 29th September and Short Breaths, at the Brancolini Grimaldi Gallery until the 28th September,  It would be a shame to miss them.

Cabaret, Vogue Italia 2006

Diva, Numero 2005

Dance Study, Paradis 2008

Lie Wen for Vogue Italia, February 2011

So Poetic, Vogue Italia 2006

Le Manage Enchante, Numero 2007

Immaculee, Numero 2007

Home Works, Vogue Italia 2008

A Dazzling Beauty, Vogue Italia 2008

Dinner Party, Vogue Italia 2009

A Precious Glam Num.2 2011

Cat Story, Vogue Italia 2008

Blooming, Vogue Italia 2007

Miles Aldridge

The Magic House in Dalston

Dalston House has been without a doubt the most exciting art installation I’ve seen since Carsten Holler’s big slides at the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern in 2007. It is an installation by argentine artist Leandro Erlich, known for his three-dimensional visual illusions, his latest project is a reconstructed house facade lying face-up and a mirror positioned over it at a 45-degree angle, the mirror reflects your image and creates the illusion that you are walking up the walls or dangling from the window, the possibilities are endless.

After a few attempts to get in, or shall I say, on Dalston House, I finally did it last Saturday morning, and although it only lasted 4 minutes I enjoyed every second of it. It was so interesting to see how the viewer interacted with the house and just let their imagination go in order to create the illusion of walking on the walls, dangling up side down from a window or even crawling from the bottom to the top of the house, it is fair to say the experience wouldn’t be complete without a camera and a friend or someone photographing you on the house.

I went with my friend John and regardless the hot weather and the 1 hour queue we waited with excitement, just like a pair of kids, I found myself thinking of the objects I could have brought or outfits worn to create a more surreal illusion, for me it was all about capturing those moments in photographs.

Dalston House is on Ashwin Street, the road before mine, which makes it impossible to walk past without having a peak of what people do and what age they are, I really enjoyed watching a group of three friends in their late 50’s or quite possibly early 60’s, suspended one from another like a chain, screaming and doing funny facial expressions, you don’t see things like this every day so, visit this magical house and let your inner child go!

Dalston House by Beyond Barbican, 1-7 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL, free.

Women in Black

These two girls were playing and posing on the house once it had been closed to the public, I was walking past and managed to take these photos with my phone.

Never let me go

My friend John dangling from the top of the house and I’m holding onto his foot while a woman stares at us with panic from the window.

A mysterious man

A man is walking up the wall as he is coming to rescue us, John is only holding both of us with one hand and I don’t want to let go of my handbag.

Testing Gravity

John reckons it’s time to play and test the laws of gravity and floats up side down while I’m busy taking pictures.

A different perspective

My world is up side down and I like it.

The Blitz & it’s the 40’s all over again

My style has evolved over the years, as I mentioned in my previous post I spent most of my 20’s dressed and inspired by the fabulous 80’s, wearing structured jackets, dresses with pad shoulders, glitter and big hair. As I have got older I’ve  developed a fascination for 1940’s fashion,  for elegant and flattering outfits which are so distinctive in this decade, beautiful summer dresses in flower and polka dot prints, knee length skirts, structured belted jackets with pad shoulders and coats with fur trims, there was so much attention to detail from head to toe, it started with the immaculate hairdo, then  outfit and accessories, such as round sunglasses and last but not least, stockings.

The photo above is a beautiful shot that simply captures the era, it was taken by my favourite film director, a genius and film master, Stanley Kubrick.

Novelty sweaters, 1940’s.

Flattering & elegant dresses from the 40’s

Betty Grable

Paris, 1940’s.

Last month I celebrated my 30^th birthday, I am officially a lady so what better than a stylish party in which my friends and I get to dress up in my favourite era,  it’s the Blitz Party! a once every three months event hosted at a secret location which is revelled only a few days before the party.

It is one of the best parties I have been to, there was an incredible live band playing all night, characteristic cocktails of the decade and people dressed in fabulous outfits, everyone really made an effort and dressed up in 1940’s,  it was a very fun night and having my friend Leroy there to photograph this incredible evening was the cherry on the cake.

I highly recommend The Blitz Party, do not wait until the lat minute to book tickets because it is  a very popular night and it sells out quickly, you will love to be a sailor, soldier or an elegant lady from the 1940’s.

http://www.theblitzparty.com/

Leroy Charles Anderson Photography

Juliete Essence, fashion designer and Yolisa, TV presenter.

Leroy and I

Kavita Ahir, model.

In Couture but I’m a Rebel

May is being without a doubt a crazy month for me, no time to blog is rather frustrating but I had to do a quick post on this, simply because I had to express how much I love this shoot in Vogue Paris May, it’s the clothes, styling, model and concept all combined.

As someone who has spent most of her 20’s dressed and influenced by the 1980’s I obviously appreciate the greatness of the punk movement and early 1980’s fashion in every shape and form, it was created by and aimed to rebels, such as  the one and only, Vivienne Westwood. I also do love what followed up, garments covered in gold and silver  sequins, pad shoulders, wild hair and list goes on.

This shoot has so many elements from that era, punk, rock & roll and glam and the beautiful Freja Beja Erichsen works each look so well, my favourite are Zuhair Murad’s gold and white feather cape and Margiela’s all in silver, sadly I wasn’t mad on the cover, purely because when I think of couture, punk and rebels I have a more fierce cover image in mind.

Vogue Paris May…you rocked this month though.

Atelier Versace

Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda

Iris Van Herpen Couture

Valentino haute couture

Zuhair Murad Couture

Giambattista Valli couture

Maison Martin Margiela ligne Artisane

Vogue Paris May Cover

Thirty Shades of Colour

This weekend seemed the perfect time to do a post on eyewear, how could I not be inspired by the beautiful sunshine there has been above us? It feels like it’s finally spring and I’m so excited about  wearing a different pair of shades every day and hopefully until the end of summer, they are simply my favourite accessory ever.

Let’s see what we’ve got here, Wildfox, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Topshop, Luella, Chloe, 80’s Ray Ban, & Other Stories, Beyond Retro, Vintage from Camden, Bricklane and even from an LA store, but the most special to me are  two pairs my grandmother left me from the 1960’s, also  70’s Ray-Ban Aviator  shades from the first collections they made, which I found at an antique market in Mexico City.

I did have fun doing this post but It was hard at the beginning I must admit, I’m not a narcissist  so having seen my face over 30 times while doing this made me cringe, luckily I got over that quite quickly and here it is, my sunglasses collection and definitely my obsession, well, one of many.

True Style Icons

Trends come and go but true style doesn’t fade away. Style is a form of self expression, it’s about communicating who we are or want to be. It is so fun and exciting to experiment with our look during the process and discover what we really like, I think the  key is finding what suits us and being happy in our own skin, this rocks any look.

We are influenced by everything around us and stimulated by others, book and movie characters, artists, etc. nowadays it’s so common to hire a stylist to help with one’s appearance and the result can be incredible but of course, this isn’t true style.

I admire the men and women who have inspired us over the decades, their originality and confidence  to carry off whatever they wear and make it work.

These are the ones I genuinely love, look up to and make my Top 13 True Style Icons.

Coco Chanel

Madame Chanel

Frida Kahlo

Marlene Dietrich

1940’s glamorous look of the silver screen

Audrey Hepburn

James Dean

Warhol’s Muse

Edie Sedgwick

Edie

Jim Morrison

Blondie

Debbie Harry

David Bowie

Grace Jones

Kate Moss

Isabella Blow

Amok & Thom Yorke

Thom Yorke

I have been a Radiohead fan ever since the first time I heard Creep, and although I can’t listen to this song anymore due to the fact I overplayed it during my teenage years I own every album they have made and their music has never dissapointed me. Their sound has changed over the years and although it is now completely different to the indi rock tunes they made at the beginning of their career you cannot compare the two at all, they have simply grown as musicians and explored other genres, such as electronic music, their sound has evolved, perhaps alienating some of their early fans during the transition but also making new ones along the way.

I, in the other hand, have loved and praised every album they have ever made, also Thom Yorke’s solo material. He is one talented man with a beautiful voice and unique song writing. I’m slightly fascinated by him as a musician as well as his persona, he is a bit odd and crazy, nevertheless, very entertaining to watch. His music is constantly moving forward and I’m intrigued to see what he will be producing in 10 years time, I really hope he continues to surprise us, whether it might be as a front man of my favourite band, Radiohead, in Atoms for Peace or solo.

Amok is ‘Atoms for Peace’ first album, a band formed by Thom Yorke, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Nigel Godrich (Radiohead producer), Joey Waronker (Beck & R.E.M) and Mauro Refosco, they have been playing together on and off since 2009. This is an alternative rock and electronica record, but the sound isn’t as obscured as Radiohead’s Kid A or Amnesiac, more like a continuation of Yorke’s first solo material, The Eraser.

It was released on February 25th on XL Recordings, I personally love each of the 9 songs but I do wonder, whether the entire album is that good or perhaps it’s because to me York is a genius and in my eyes he can do no wrong.

Odd dancing, Thom Yorke’s trademark.

Thom Yorke on the cover of my favourite magazine, Dazed and Confused last month, not only the cover made me smile but also the interview by Tim Noaks and the mixtape he specially did for Dazed Digital.

https://soundcloud.com/dazedandconfused/exclusive-thom-yorke-mix

Dazed and Confused February Issue.

Thom Yorke 30 minute Boiler Room DJ set.

High & Dry from The Bends, Radiohead’s second album.