It’s hard to write about London, girls and empowerment without wanting to break out the Union Jack teatowel dress. But it’s not the 90s, and I’m definitely not Ginger Spice, so last night I exorcised a few teenage demons by popping by the launch party for Girlcore‘s new book and exhibition at the Orange Dot Gallery.

For the uninitiated, Girlcore is the kind of project  I wish had been around when I was 16, kicking about with my hair twisted into a poor imitation of Bjorks’ and consoling my best friends over the break-up of Take That. It’s an online and real-life community of like-minded girls who provide a showcase for other like-minded girls working in the creative industry, in the kind of supportive, mutually inclusive environment that makes me want to put on a Patti Smith record. The online portfolio of works from photographers and illustrators is an inspiring collection; it’s genuinely a club you might want to belong to. And nobody is screaming BLOODY FEMINISTS at them… and it doesn’t scare off the boys either. I know because I saw some last night.

The girls behind the Girlcore concept started out as friends still high on festival vibes who wanted to recreate their summer of love in the form of a London club night. Using their network of DJ and promoter friends, they started to build this mini-empire which was all about pushing forward their equality as talented female mates. From there grew the website, the online portfolio and now this book and exhibition which kind of solidifies the Girlcore identity. The influences and role models are varied, old and new; they’re Peaches and they’re Virginia Woolf and everyone in-between who has ever inspired anyone to do something creative.

Girlcore Magazine runs at the Orange Dot Gallery in London until February 27th. Head over to LOOKBOOKS to see the original story.

Photos: Models.com / Click here for the first 4 covers!

The whole alppum (as I’ll now refer to it) is really one “mother app” that houses 10 mini apps that correspond with each song,  letting the listener interact with the themes and meanings within the songs. Each song app is a game, some will even allow you  create a new version of the song!

For one song, Virus, the game is a close-up study of cells being attacked by a virus and the goal is for the listener/user to halt the oncoming virus before it destroys the cells. If you want to hear the rest of the song, you must endure the virus as it takes its course.

Scott Snibbe, the interactive artist with whom she collaborated gives us insight into the idea, ”Björk’s put herself way at the forefront here by saying, ‘We’ll release this album and these apps at the same time and they’re all part of the same story.’ The app is an expression of the music, the story and the idea.”

And the alppum will grow and evolve even beyond the release with new updates periodically.

Um, Angry Björks pretty please! I cannot shake the vision of the Swan Björk catapulting into a brickwall. Thanks.

Image: FashionIndie original

Link Love: Guardian

Erez works with one of fashion’s most visionary and relevant agencies, Kate Ryan. His style blends striking high fashion concepts with subtle artistic undertones. One has only to catch sight of Erez’s photography to realize his deep passion for his profession.

Recently Fashion Indie was awarded the chance to ask Erez about his incredible images and views on the industry. Here’s what the multimedia artist had to say.

Who or what influenced and shaped your photography style?

I began shooting at 16. As a teen growing up in Israel, I was always interested in magazines like The Face. Nick Knight and Javier Vallhonrat were photographers I admired.

The turning-point came when I moved to Paris to shoot for magazines like l’Uomo Vogue, Detour and 20 ans (of which Emmanuelle Alt, today editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, was fashion director).

You can still see traces of that influence in my work as a director and multi-media artist. For example I did a show at the International Fashion Festival in Japan, “Master Minds of Mode,” which was all about painting my subjects with lighting.

So many of your portrait shots not only convey a message, but have an artistic nature infused within. What’s involved in the creative process to capture your photos?

To each portrait shoot I bring 100% of my energy. I aim to capture the best of each subject, looking from the perspective of a warm heart with a cinematic sensibility. I’m only satisfied when magic happens on set, and have been fortunate to work with an amazingly talented team.

I spent almost three years shooting images for my first book “My Favorite T-Shirt,” which explores the lives of artists in New York. It was a fulfilling journey for me as an artist, very pure and honest – no digital, no retouching and no cropping. It felt like I was seeing everything for the first time.

I’m amazed with how you use location and setting to create a real depth in so many of your images. What are some secrets to making your surroundings work for you and not against you?

Some places really inspire me, such as Azerbaijan where I shot a story for Baku. You can see how we enjoyed shooting this in a behind-the-scenes video we made. I enjoy integrating subject and setting, creating a synthesis. An inspiring location helps create dynamism, movement and high energy, as well as the interaction of textures, colors and light. Trying to do justice to the setting, you have to make sure you’re not distracted from your subject.

What advice might you have for other young photographers who would like to achieve the same level you’re at?

Keep going. There are so many others in the field now, but you have to focus on ensuring that the amount of love you have for the craft shows up in the images. Trust yourself!

What’s your favorite camera to use on a fashion photography shoot?

I use Hasselblad with p+30, P45, Canon 5D Mark2 and MAMYA RZ. It all depends on the project.

See the rest of the interview + more pics on LookBooks.

So what is a great Oscar gown? It’s a dress that is memorable, history-making, scene-stealing or just plain fucking perfect. With that, I just don’t get the fuss over Gwyneth‘s pink prom dress and refuse to even acknowledge that gown or the fact that she has an Oscar.

Audrey Hepburn (1954) Auds became a star and a fashion icon that night when she wore Givenchy, beginning a lifetime collaboration between the star and designer. Along with America’s heart, she took home the Best Actress trophy for her debut performance in Roman Holiday.

Elizabeth Taylor (1961) In the pantheon of great movie stars, few shine brighter or longer than Liz Taylor, thus a list of the greatest Oscar gowns could barely be considered legitimate without Liz throwing her white diamonds into the mix — I hear they’ve always brought her luck. Taylor won her first of two Oscars for BUtterfield 8 and wore this gorgeous Christian Dior number to claim her statuette. It’s generally accepted  – even by Liz herself — that Taylor won the award through a vote of sympathy after losing her husband Mike Todd in a plane crash – only to seek comfort with Debbie Reynolds’ then-husband Eddie Fisher —  and suffering a life-threatening illness during filming – at one point she was actually pronounced dead. Six years later she took home a well-deserved trophy for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Cher (1984) Cher might have proved that she was a serious actress with her Oscar-nominated turn as Meryl Streep‘s lesbian lover in Silkwood, but she’s still fucking Cher. The icon wore Bob Mackie (natch) to the 1984 ceremony but lost only to win three years later for Moonstruck. And that gown was no less show-stopping, but didn’t have this amazing headdress.

Halle Berry (2002) Halle Berry not only became the first African American to win a Best Actress Academy Award that night, but she also launched Elie Saab into the sartorial stratosphere. This was Berry’s and Saab’s shining moment and everything since then has been an enormous letdown. On both their parts.

Barbra Streisand (1969) Eschewing tradition and helping to usher in a new generation of movie star, Babs wore a see-through sequined sailor pantsuit by Arnold Scaasi. It was a big gamble but La Streisand came out the winner and made history by tying for Best Actress with Katharine Hepburn when they won for Funny Girl and Lion in Winter, respectively. Kate chose not to attend because, honestly, it was her third (of four) Oscars and she couldn’t have been bothered.

Celine Dion (1999) Was it a stroke of genius that caused Celine Dion to turn her Christian Dior blazer back-to-front or did she simply forget to take her medication that day? Either way, Celine was memorable the year after her heart went on and on to win Best Original Song (though the award itself went to the songwriters, I. Dunno and No-one Cares).

Nicole Kidman (1997) Nikki Kids was a greenhorn on the red carpet before this Dior gown and became one of its reigning queens after. Though she gave an incredible performance the previous year in To Die For, she won in 2003 for her brilliant portrayal of Virginia Woolf in the saddest movie ever made, otherwise known as The Hours. Nominated this year for her third Oscar for Rabbit Hole, she’s got some big shoes to fill: her own.

Anjelica Huston (1976) Former Halston model Anjelica Huston looked flawless and managed to do what few people can claim: take attention away from Jack Nicholson, who won his first of three Oscars that year for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Huston would claim her own statuette, for Best Supporting Actress, a decade later for Prizzi’s Honor, also starring Nicholson.

Sharon Stone (1999) I usually spell “batshit crazy” S-H-A-R-O-N-S-T-O-N-E, but Stone looked the picture of elegance in a Vera Wang skirt paired with a Gap button down. The marriage of high and low was made in heaven that night, though I still couldn’t tell you why she was at the ceremony that year. But like most things with Sharon Stone, I don’t question it.

Björk (2001) The dress that launched a thousand jokes, Björk’s Marjan Pejoski swan dress was perhaps the last epic thing to stroll down the Oscar red carpet. Nommed for Best Original Song that year, Björk may have left empty-handed but no one will ever forget that she was there.

Who will leave tongues hanging or heads scratching at this year’s Academy Awards. Of the 10 Best Lead and Supporting Actress nominees, I’m most looking forward to Kidman, teen breakthrough Hailee Steinfeld (as well as peer Elle Fanning who will get her own nomination one day), the almost always flawless Michelle Williams and kooky Helena Bonham Carter.

Unfortunately, Natalie Portman is preggers so naturally I have no interest in what she’s wearing and just hope her water doesn’t break while accepting her award.

Photos: Vogue UK, Time

Joan Rivers loves to hate and hates to love Lady Gaga. She gives her thoughts to Metro after the jump.

Metro: Who is the best dressed celebrity around at the moment?

Joan Rivers: Lady Gaga. She uses fashion for what it should be used for – she’s having fun with it and is original.

Metro: And who is the worst?

Joan Rivers: Lady Gaga again. Have you seen her? I like some of her outfits better than others, put it that way. She makes Björk look like a nun.

1. The Cremaster Cycle– Matthew Barney

Bjork – Pagan Poetry from Medusa on Vimeo.

2. Pagan Poetry, Bjork – Directed by Nick Knight

3. The Last of England – Derek Jarman

4. Meshes of the Afternoon – Maya Deren

5. Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome – Kenneth Anger – Starring Anais Nin

Chris Cunningham for Gucci from Stas on Vimeo.

6. Anything by Chris Cunningham (Flora, Flex, Frozen, etc)

7. Greed – Francesco Vezzoli

8. Inez & Vinoodh’s films for YSL Manifesto

9. Andy Warhol – Empire

10. Pedro Almodovar – Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios

11. Lars Von Trier – The Five Obstructions, Dancer in The Dark, etc.

That’s eleven….oops!

Bjork photographed by Laura Levine in 1991. Some of Levine’s work will be included in Brooklyn Museum’s upcoming “Who Shot Rock & Roll” photography exhibit, running from Oct. 30 through Jan. 31.

LINK LOVE

Dennis Lanni has done it all. With editorial, celebrity and advertising styling under his belt, his portfolio of magnificent hairdos has grown to illustrious proportions. Working with the likes of Terry Richardson, Zooey Deschanel and Bjork and styling ads for Chloe, Uniqlo, Apple and Sisley, Lanni has made a significant impact on the fashion world.

Check out this exclusive behind the scenes look at the making of Bjork’s latest video, Wanderlust.