"He who seeks beauty will find it"-

After reading blogs like The Sartorialist, Jak & Jil and Garance Dore for a couple of years now, it's right to say that street style has become one of the main sources of inspiration for my own attitudes and ideas towards fashion. But I never really knew of the originals of the game, the individuals that have been capturing those one time only, fashion fantastic moments in the streets for years now, way before the surge of social media.

So i was definitely intrigued when i saw the trailer for Bill Cunningham New York sometime last year, and even happier to learn that it would be screening at the Curzon cinema in Mayfair all this week. It was a great chance to learn about a man who has been snapping away at the most fabulously dressed from behind his camera lens since the 1960s, and who in my opinion, can be described as nothing less than an inspiration.

Armed with only himself, his bike, his camera (and on occasion a patched-up cagoule to dodge the rain) Cunningham continually delights in photographing great clothes and wonderful people. From those at the high society fund raiser parties to the bag lady standing at the crossing in a busy NY street, there is no fashion hierarchy for Bill, if he sees a lovely image he will take it. With his aversion to fine dining and questioning as to why anyone really needs space for a kitchen in their apartment, it's also so refreshing to see someone that after so long has not been caught up in the glamour of the fashion industry machine.

Despite his status as a photographer, Cunningham is also somewhat of an ambiguous figure and even at the end of the film we still don't know too much about him and his past- but i think that matters little as you almost immediately fall in love (well, i did anyway :/) with his hilarious humour and endearing qualities.

I hate to make age such an issue, but i am truly amazed to see a person of 80 plus still doing something that he adores daily, with such spirit and enthusiasm. This documentary portrays that without any doubt, his art is his passion and he lives and breathes the style found in the streets. I can only dream of having such a happy, fulfilling, influential career, and i hope that Cunningham's continues for as long as possible.

You can watch the trailer for Bill Cunningham New York below- if you still want the opportunity to catch it on the big screen here are a list of viewings.

The Near Future

I have a tendency to go dream window shopping and admire things which i cannot afford. And just a few weeks ago, in the depths of the January sales, whilst i was indulging this silly habit of mine and browsing online fashion haven Net-A-Porter i came across this. A Mary Katrantzou dress, reduced! For the bargain price of...

£5,000

I think a "lol" is appropriate here. But rejoice my friends, Mary Katrantzou is embarking on a collaboration with Topshop! You will be able to own some of her wonderful designs by paying prices more aligned with the high street.

I've personally love the sleeveless silk blouse paired with the blue floral trousers (above), very on trend considering clashing prints are in. The dress is gorgeous too, but at £350 it still looks like i'll need to be saving my pocket money for a while!

Sadly it's already sold out online folks, so if you've got cash to burn and want a piece of Katrantzou art in your wardrobe, you should hurry to your latest Topshop store immediately...

Shame

I was so excited to go see Shame in cinema and after finally watching it last night i can definitely say it lived up to if not exceeded my expectations.

Director Steve McQueen excellently opens up the dark, disturbing world of sex addiction to the audience whilst still making the whole film visually stimulating. Even simple scenes like Fassbender taking a night time run through the city and Mulligan singing a haunting rendition of "New York, New York" are stand out in their beautiful imagery.

The chemisty between the two leading actors creates a strange, unsettling but compelling brother/sister relationship on screen. Carey Mulligan brilliantly conveys her character Sissy's simultaneously explosive but desperate and vulnerable nature. But in particular Michael Fassbender's amazing portrayal of protagonist Brandon makes us sense the thrill, self loathing and constant thirst for intimacy that a sex addict experiences. As a viewer i was constantly caught between feeling repulsion and pity for the character but overall this makes the film wonderfully emotionally intense.

Tragic, shocking, revealing...this film goes beyond just the issue of sex and it really does provoke a lot of thought- i can't recommend it highly enough, please go see it! You can watch the trailer here .

Who's That Girl?

Apologies for being such a stranger to the blog...but just look at this face! I'm dedicating today's post to my love of the new US sitcom to grace our screens in the UK, New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel. The series explores character Jess's new life, who after a messy break up with a lame long term boyfriend starts sharing an apartment with three guys; singleton Nick, ladies man Schmidt and ex basket ball player Winston.

Hilarity is ensured by the tackling of sitcom issues we've all come to know and love- the awkwardness of dating, rejuvenation of love lives and clashing of the opposite sexes. But most of all, Jess who is so strange (she often sings to herself) and sweet is so loveable!

I am one of those people that was a huge fan of Friends, and always will be. I still miss those 6 drinking coffee on that couch in Central Perk...but i think for now, New Girl has fulfilled my appetite for a genuinely good, entertaining sitcom.

Tune in Friday's, 8:30pm on Channel 4 to see what i'm babbling on about, if not to just revel in the perfection that is Deschanel with those blue eyes, lush hair and fabulous glasses!

If I Were A Boy

With men's fashion week in Milan and Pitti Uomo in Florence, my appreciation for men's style has really picked up again, so today is just a quick post on this lovely man, Bruce Pask. He is men's fashion director at T Magazine and keeps popping up on my favourite blog The Sartorialist- even as a girl i just really love his style. I love that combination of fur and denim in the first look and the neck tie below...there's just something about the way he puts outfits together that are so effortless and pleasing to the eye. And in my opinion you can never go wrong with some facial hair.

All images taken by and from thesartorialist.com

The fabulous Mr Ford

Style Forum Special from Music Guy on Vimeo.

I love it when i somewhat randomly come across inspiring things on the internet, and this is definitely an example! A 40 minute long documentary on Tom Ford with him talking about everything from the launch of his own womenswear collection, his time spent at Gucci, YSL and the creation of his film A Single Man. There are so many things in this video that i was truly inspired by, from Ford's passionate drive for his work, his clear vision of both himself and the brand's aesthetic, to his general knowledge and creativity in fashion. I think he really is a man to be admired...

La Dolce Vita

Italy- my favourite place in the world. Host to some of the most beautiful sites and scenery, full of gorgeous people with amazing style and home of some of the best art, culture and fashion. Lets not even get started on the coffee, ice cream and pasta...

I've been lucky enough to spend time in a number of Italian destinations, from Florence, to Venice and Capri- but what i've seen that remains a constant in all these places is the importance of family, which i love. And which is why i am currently obsessing over Dolce and Gabbana's spring/summer 2012 advertising campaign.

In the images fashion design pair D&G celebrate Italian cinema (which has been a constant inspiration for their collections) and Italy's film icons like Sofia Loren, who, as they've said "personify seduction and comfort at the same time". The shots are meant to appear as stills from a film set in southern Italy, some even featuring real life Italian actors.

Aren't the photos great?! I love the stunning women in those dresses, the wonderfully dressed children, and the presence of the grandparents- the warm colouring and sepia tones just make the images even more dreamy and cinematic. Can my future family be like this please? One of my distant hopes is actually to escape to Portofino, make wine for a living and sail a boat on the shores- i now just need to find an Italian husband. Hmm...