Sunday 5 June 2011

back to basics

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When I started this blog, I assumed I'd be taking my own outfit pictures... I basically wasn't planning on telling anyone about it for a while. Then, when my sister came to Mexico for a month, I decided to make her my photographer and was pleased at the way we could go "on location" much more, and take advantage of the lovely local architecture. After she left, I forced the mantle of photographer onto Albert, who got really into it, much to my delight! ; ) Since then I've had to take the odd set of pictures myself, but was usually able to make what I had stretch over periods when I was alone.

Well, I'm alone now and the archives are dry, so I'm back to my original plan, and I'm quite enjoying it. I try to find somewhat secluded spots, since I don't have a garden or even a roof to work with, but really, it's not so terrifying once you start. Don't get me wrong though; when I go to Germany next weekend, I intend to put my photographer to work!

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This is probably the hardest working dress in my closet. I bought it in 2004 when I was leaving Scotland, because I'd been looking for something in a vaguely 1940s-tea-dance shape for ages already. Since then, it's passed from me to my sister and back more times than anyone can count, and I still love it. And I've realized that the last picture here is almost identical to this one I took of Shona last year, wearing the very same dress. These days it fits a bit more va-va-voom than I usually go for, but that's ok once in a while. : )

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dress: H&M (old), necklace: Accessorize (equally old), shoes: Fly London, scarf: vintage

Also, how annoying: I'd just convinced myself that I didn't want any more clothes this summer, and then Kater had to go post this. I'm so in love it hurts...

46 comments:

Raquel said...

I am quite right when I say H&M dresses/skirts are forever ;) that one is great!
I've been between photographers mainly the boyfriend and sister like you but I also liking using the tripod. I must get some courage like you and brave the streets! I'll try once I'm in Portugal, it's easier than crowded London I suppose.

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

Yeah, London is kind of a mad house. I felt pretty uncomfortable the one day I ventured out with my tripod there...

Sophie said...

I wish I was brave enough to venture into the streets, I am stuck in my bedrooms haha I need to man up!
You look lovely, I love your shoes!
Sophie
x

Selvaggia Capizzi said...

We share the same fate then. I always self-shoot or begging my husband!
But you are definitely better than me in taking pictures by yourself.
P.S. I AM a fashion blogger as this term was intended at the very beginning: independence
xoxo
http://dontcallmefashionblogger.blogspot.com

Ragini said...

The dress is beautiful, and your shoooes! They are so cute and look so comfy!

Closet Fashionista said...

Love the dress! It has such a great print and shape :)
Yea...I'm not brave enough to venture away from my deck for pics or to ask someone to take my pics for me, haha
http://www.closet-fashionista.com

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Ragini: Those shoes are the closest thing to absolute comfort in a non-flat shoe. I totally recommend Fly!

Caitlin Rose said...

wow, I'm having the same problem with that dress! it's amazing. but your dress is also very lovely, and it looks pretty, not va va voom, but I know I've felt that way before too.

And yes I interned for Nadinoo last fall, and it was lovely.

If you do decide to use my tutorial please feel free to ask me any questions whatsoever and I'll try and help you out! the slit pocket it really pretty easy, and it looks really impressive ; )

xx

Caitlin Rose

Annebeth said...

loving the brown with the hints of icy blue, suits you sir! ;-) lovely!

Rebeccak said...

I love this kind of dress for summer - the type you throw on and it does the rest :) You look lovely.
The thing I find hard - is knowing what will be that 'hard-working' piece in my wardrobe. I often buy things thinking they will be my go-to pieces, but then another that I never would have expected steps upt o the plate.

Shybiker said...

I've really impressed what you did with that scarf. I need to learn how to do that.

As someone who has to take my own pictures, I know what you're saying about not having a photographer assisting you.

Flashes of Style said...

Gosh that floral dress is just so sweet! You look perfect for spring.

xx,

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Awesome location just like dress!

Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

choose to be happy blog said...

confession? i just found your blog, from reading a comment you left on another's post that made me laugh. kinda excited to have found your blog!

Monique said...

The sea foam piping is such a great little detail and the floral print is sweet. I also love the low neckline. I have yet to use a tripod and am quite nervous to do so here in nyc. I just think someone will run off with the camera. I suppose a quiet spot in the park would work. Enjoy Germany next weekend!

dr.antony said...

I have to find some thing different to describe you.Always saying 'good' is not just good enough.
You have the perfect color sense and choose the colors that suits you.When I look at the dress,I wonder how it would look on some one else.Colors should suit individual tastes and should also look good.The truth is that anything would look good on you.

The location is near perfect too.

Deppa said...

Autofotografiarse! el eterno dilema de una blogger autónoma y secreta! jaja me sucede lo mismo, pero para eso tengo a mi hermanito de 7 años quien no duda en hacerme las cosas más fáciles :)

Por otra parte no te preocupes por comprar algo más durante el verano, a todas nos pasa, y con ese bello vestido es imposible evitarlo ;)

NOs vemos :)

Margaret said...

I self-shoot...badly. I'm still new to this blogging/photographing thing so I'm still trying out different things! I wish I had someone who was a wiz with a camera, though :D

Anonymous said...

I love the neckline on this dress quite a lot. Please tell me what those purple flowers ARE in the background.

Kallie, Happy Honey and Lark said...

The dress is so gorgeous! I love the pretty blue details and your blue scarf. Also, you're so lucky Albert is an awesome photographer, but you do pretty damn good on your own :) Lovely shots.

Anonymous said...

I can see the va-va-voom and I think it suits you. :)

In response to your comment on my previous post, housekeeping & work combination is not very optimal towards anything I am discovering, unless one has an excellent time management system. I'm not missing out on blog reading, but falling behind on commenting. :) So I'll see how much I'm able to practice my own preaching.

Love

Tashrin
Twitter - @ishrattrishna

sorelle in style said...

Wow I can't believe that dress is H&M, it looks like a vintage find! I love how you've styled it. The headband looks lovely, too!

Thanks for visiting us, looking forward to future posts!

-j, your newest follower :)
sorelle in style

TheLovelyHunter said...

You have a lovely sense of style, even with a limited closet:) I am so jealous of your travels--I am a fellow wandering spirit!

Sofia

April said...

My sister will never cooperate with taking pictures for me, you're so lucky! :) And it looks like you're doing a great job solo, too!

LikeSpinningPlates said...

haha I try to get my boyfriend to take my pictures sometimes but he hates it. He's always like "I just have to take one right?" and when I tell him he has to take different angles and parts of the outfit, he thinks it's the funniest thing. He totally doesn't get it. But when he does take them, they look SO much better than when I put my camera on a box and put it on self timer.

I know he secretly loves it, so I'm going to try to encourage him to do it more often.

Anyway, gorgeous photos and location. You look adorable and I LOVE that flower in your hair. So prettayyyy.

Vanessa, Take only Memories said...

Haha I'm the same! I haven't told anyone about my blog. Except my boyfriend who sometimes takes pics. My mom stalks me like crazy and found out about it through twitter and told my dad. But haven't told any of my friends...
I usually take my own pics but the really nice ones are taken by my honey. You can tell cause I look way more relaxed when he is there...
Love your dress btw :) xx

Rachel, Cold Knees said...

Looks lovely on you, I love bringing back old items like that! I find it pretty hard with no tripod and a sometimes-but-not-always cooperative boyfriend! At least you're in beautiful surroundings xx

Amrit said...

Tripod and timer can help. Haha:)) But not replacement of Albert.

Natalie Suarez said...

so so cute! love that little dress! :)

natalieoffduty.blogspot.com

Elise said...

Loving those shoes! I have a few bits like that too, some stuff just works no matter what the age! :)

BLahahaaba said...

yey. headbands ftw!!!!! :)))
Alicia im Wunderland

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Alicia: It's actually a scarf that I rolled up and then tied in a bow, but thanks!

Unknown said...

That dress is adorable on you! I love pieces that last for a long time and gather up fun histories :)
I planned on taking my own photos for my blog - bought a tripod and everything - and I quickly wimped out, asking my boyfriend to take them for me instead. I take own photos sometimes, but, you know, rarely :)

Eleni said...

Ha ha! I spent most of this weekend adjusting a (funnily enough) old H&M dress which I've had for donkey's years but which, "these days it fits a bit more va-va-voom than I usually go for"! Still got a little more unpicking to do (my sewing projects always take FAR longer than I imagine they will) but I'll put pictures up when I'm done :)

Thelma Frayne said...

Great photos... maybe you are the best photographer of them all! :)

Jenny Morris said...

"the hardest working dress" i love that! you make me want to go second hand shopping for something similar :)

k said...

aw this is a pretty dress, i like that it has some history!

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

Ughhh, I know just what you mean! AS SOON as I read Kater's post I pulled up the J.Crew website in another tab looking for THAT DRESS. I have some extra money chilling out (kinda...), so part of me really wants to pounce on it, but I know I should refrain and put the money toward ''responsible things.''

I always enjoy seeing you style this dress. You've pulled together a great transition from spring to summer look. And the headscarf to match the piping - love that!

Jenny said...

Lady, I love that dress! It reminds me very much of a 1940s tea dress and the length is just perfect. And your little hair bow is the perfect finishing touch. Can't wait to see the Germany pictures! xx

Amber Schmidt said...

I know I'm a broken record, but you really are so darn lovely.

And it's funny, but we're opposites when it comes to photos. I actually can't have anyone take my photos. I get crazy self-conscious, fidgety... and incredibly awkward!

islabell said...

That dress is perfect no wonder it's stuck around. You can find such gems at H and M sometimes. Youbdid an amazing job on these pics. I'm the same as you I've normally roped someone in to take pics so taking my own can be a little overwhelming. I take my hat of to lady's who do it all the time
X

Jul said...

Lovely dress and lovely place to photoshoot :)
Oh and thanks a lot for commenting my post!

http://lifeisaromanticpoem.blogspot.com/

Lauren said...

That dress is lovely!!! And oh I hate taking pictures of myself, but because of necessity I have started to get more used to it. I think the most awkward part is setting up the tripod in a skirt and heels. haha!

Lauren
Sparrow & Urchin

caitlin said...

pretty dress, and the bow in your hair is just darling! this is just the reason why i never can let go of any clothes--seven years later i want them again!

i have a hard time letting my bf take photos of me... he always wants to come at me from all these weird angles that just do not work. i think i trained him well, because he did a good job in the last shoot ;p

sarducci's is a lovely little italian restaurant (pretty typical, but every dish is somehow more interesting than the usual pasta/marinara combinations... my usual is a pasta dish with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, artichooke hearts and wilted spinach in a white wine sauce). i love eating :)

Virginie's Cinema said...

I am finding that taking our own pictures can be really gratifying! Lately I have been mostly tripoding (?!) it and I have to say it's nice to be your own creative director and not to feel rushed. I agree secluded spots are the best, I had my first person stop and talk to me yesterday while I was doing my outfit pic and realized it's hard to concentrate with other people around.

This dress is so cute! I love when you can get a reasonably priced item that lasts years and years!

ps: I wanted to thank you so much for the sweet comments you have been leaving on my blog while I am going through this mourning stage. It made my heart feel a little better to know that my bloggers friends are there for me. A nice comment can always uplift the gloomiest of day! So: thank you :)

Hope you have a great day,


Virginie xx

Emmett Katherine said...

va va voom is good, the dress looks great. Not only is it a great shape but the pattern & colours work really well on you.

I have tried taking my own outfit photos, but sadly they never turn out quite right. I've managed to rope my bf into playing photographer, so for now I have some decent pics! your self portraits turned out really wel, would never have guessed.