Ellements Magazine feature shoot - The Quetzlcoatl

Photography Carly Wong

A few weeks ago I traipsed down to Arnos Vale Cemetery with photographer Carly Wong, hair and makeup artist Sophia Cox and Model Ali Barclay to create a dark, whimsical fairytale with pieces from Anathema designs and Death and Glory Taxidermy.

Photography Carly Wong

Photography Carly Wong

Carly Managed to capture use beavering away behind the scenes, and the van even got a piece of the action.

Photography Carly Wong

The story of The Quetzlcoatl tells of a darkly romantic mythical character half bird, half snake. As the shots progressed Ali transformed in a Swan Lake manor from a frail innocent bird to a dark Crow-like serpent.

Photography Carly Wong

Photography Carly Wong

Photography Carly Wong

Photography Carly Wong

We had a great day with a great team, and to top it all off, Carly got the shots into Ellements Magazine's September Issue.

Behind the Scenes: Ellements Magazine Shoot

In stark contrast to the test shoot with Oyeth, Amanda and Jo, I had the pleasure of working with photographer Carly Wong (who was a few years above me at school, funnily enough).  We are both mad fans of Tim Walker and were full of darkly whimsical ideas for some incredible jewellry and milinnery pieces that had been loaned to Carly.  Jo Shears (another CHS alumnus) of Death and Glory Taxidermy had created a Crow headpiece, and Anathema Designs had some chunky gold and black feather pieces that complimented the rest of the look.

The weekend after the shoot, Carly heard the brilliant news that the shoot is to be featured in Ellements Magazine, in the issue released on the 25th September.

This was also the first outing for my beloved new van, a VW Caddy Maxi. I'll miss the old silver tin can but i've got to the point where I value still being able to feel my limbs after a long journey

We shot at Arnos Vale Cemetery

Hair and Makeup by Sophia Cox 

The Cemetery provided us with a fantastic natural backdrop 

Model Ali Barkley

Crow Headpiece by Death and Glory Taxidermy

Fashion Fix: How to cover a high heel in fabric

I've been looking forward to getting my toes into these autumn stunners. The embellished heel was all over the place last year but there weren't too many autumnal day alternatives. That is all about to change.

You will need:

• A pair of shoes with block heels
• Lightweight fabric, enough to cover each heel. We used Silk.
• Pattern paper
• Fabric scissors
• Paper scissors
• All purpose glue

How to do it:

1. Make a pattern for your heel using pattern paper, allow for a small seam allowance to be folded under.
2. Trace around the pattern onto your fabric and cut out. Make one for each heel
3. Dab allpurpose glue onto a small section of the heel (starting at the base and working upwards) and glue the fabric in place, turning under any raw edges, and tugging it taut so there are no crinkles.  

TOP TIP- You will find this works best on block heels.

Shoes from: New Look
Fabric from sewbox

Oyeth Pitterson in THE Kilt shot by Amanda Thomas

This is my Step-Dad's Kilt. I don't think anyone ever expected it to look this good. My Mum has been a Scottish Dancing Teacher for years and I never thought I'd get much more use out of that other than knowing a mean 'Strip the Willow.'

Behind the Scenes: Oyeth Pitterson Test Shoot: The KILT

It has been a recent mission of mine to get a man into a kilt and style him up. It is SUCH an attractive show of strength, confidence and masculinity. With a mum for a scottish dancing teacher I didn't have to look far for the real deal either. We left this look until the end of the day so as not to freak Oyeth out. He was a complete sport and threw himself into it, and Im pretty sure was a convert by the end of the day.

Styled up with bad-ass studded high tops.

Fashion Fix: How to dip your shoes in glitter

 

Ever since the Ombre trend swept the board this summer we've been wondering what next to dip! Glitter has long shaken off the 70s disco granny evening look and now pops up across the high street, worn both day and night. Dip your toes in gold with this great Fashion Fix.

 

 

We all love a bit of glitter and this Fashion Fix is embarrassingly quick and easy. Simply mask off the area you want to cover in glitter, coat in a layer of PVA glue and pour the glitter!.

Oyeth Pitterson in Newell Bespoke, Shot by Amanda Thomas

I'm really excited to show you some of the finished product. Newell Bespoke suits come from Sartorial Designer and Central St Martin Graduate, David Newell. Oyeth looks born to wear one.

Before the shoot, Amanda and I talked about alternative ways of styling up a suit and we were keen to try a colour pop with this look. Siting unlikely influences such as Will.i.am's sartorial futurist and Richard Ayoade in the IT Crowd

All looks, Hair and Makeup by Jo Williams, Styling Harriet de Winton