Pick One

What do you think about headbands? I bumped into a black, pretty simple one last week when looking for a bow (one of my friend had a bow birthday party) and I said: why not match the bow with this interesting headband? In the end, it seamed too much and I wore only the bow.

I found these amazing pictures with different types: a flower headband (or is just a hair clip? anyway, let’s imagine it is a headband :P), a bow headband, a simple “flower power hippie look” (this summer I saw this type very often) and a crazy childish headband? Would you wear one? Which one? I think the first two are my kind! (source here)

Lillian Bassman

Among the most important fashion photographers of the 20th century, Lillian Bassman transformed her photographs published with Junior Bazar and later with Harper’s Bazar (1940-1960) into works of art that have a unique effect: mystery and glamour in black and white images.

Blowing A Kiss, Barbara Mullen, 1950

When I first saw her works, I thought the images were sketches because before becoming a photographer  and working with Alexey Brodovitch at the Harper’s Bazaar, Lillian Bassman was a fashion illustrator, but no! I found out that  she has some darkroom techniques in which she blurs and bleaches the images, investing them with such a poetic and mesmerizing effect!

Mary Jane Russell, 1950

I am almost sure that she has a thing for hats! Aren’t we all? Starting with Garance Dore and her story about the borrowed YSL hat! (read here, it is so hilarious, so Garance). And when one wants to transmit mystery, the hat is a mandatory piece!

And my favorite below! A lovely polka dots dress and a pair of elegant gloves. I think I can see Ada’s train in this image, wink.

Barbara Vaughn, 1956

Barbara Mullen, 1950

After bleaching, blurring and/or burning the photography in the dark room, the artist is usually adding some details by hand (as in the photo above, hand-painting all the polka dots back in! isn’t that amazing?). One of the most notable qualities about her photographic work are the high contrasts between light and dark. Do you see that in the picture  below?

Model in Gloves and Pearl Earrings, 1950

This last image is a recent photography of Lillian Bassman presenting a Dior gown, can you believe it? Even if she is in her 90s, the artist continues to work, using digital technology and photoshop to manipulate and make something new out of her old photographs.

Night Bloom, Annaliese Seubert, 1996

“Lillian transcend the moment, capturing the individuality and universality of women the world over.”  (this is how  Donna Karan greeted the exhibition of Lillian Bassman’s works in its stores).

I would love to have such a photography in my new house! And you? (source here and here).