I waited for 48 hours and she finally arrived! Yes my Canon EOS Rebel T3i camera arrived yesterday, and I am beyond Ecstatic. And yes, I’ve decided my camera is a girl!
I’ve been wanting a grown up camera for a while now; there was only so much my trusty iPhone 4 camera could do {even with the fantastic editing apps, which I’ll continue to use}. I also had a Olympus digital camera, my sister gifted to me years ago, which also did the trick; but it really was time to start playing with the big girls and boys (or at least in the sandbox with the other newbies).
After reviewing this baby to death, comparison shopping, and reading everything I possibly could about this camera, I finally made the leap on Tuesday; and now it’s here. 🙂
Now if I only knew how to use it!
Have a fantastic weekend Dahhlings, you know what I’ll be doing.
Hello Dahhlings… After battling a slight cold, I’m back. Today I’m relaxing with my must read material, August’s Harper’s Bazaar (yes I’m very behind on this one) and Vogue’s 916 page September issue {it’ weighs a ton}. To help me through this strenuous task, I’m sipping on a watermelon mojito.
I discovered this delicious recipe last week via fellow blogger at Keep Calm and Eat On {read post here}. My mojito has a lot more mint in it, because that’s my taste. Visit Keep Calm’s blog to see the gorgeous photos she posted and to get the mojito receipe {read her blog while you’re there}, you’ll be glad you did.
I’m now anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Harper’s Bazaar and Elle magazine’s huge September issues, which should be forced into my mailbox soon.
This is how I’m spending today. No this is not my bedroom (oh how I wish!), but hopefully you get the idea. I just found this image on Domino Mag online (watch out for a future post on the now defunct Domino Magazine). I’m fighting off a potential cold, therefore, I’m not in a blogging mood today. So, as a compromise, I thought I’d post this peaceful visual for you, it does makes me feel a little better.
After I posted this stunning wedding dress last week, I received quite a few questions via email and this blog asking where to find the dress, and were there more photos. I originally found the dress on Pinterest. I still believe this is a custom-made dress.
One of my new followers who goes by the name Precious (aka Valerie M-W.), did some very chic sleuthing and found the rest of the gown for me. I was originally contacted by her friend Soyini G. who is getting married and was hoping to see more photos; well she enlisted Precious and now because of both of them, I am able to show you these beautiful images. Thank you ladies!
While perusing for ideas, I came across these gorgeous images relating to fashion, from the African diaspora. The colours are simply stunning, which causes the images to simply pop from the page. I’m totally loving the dress above. This couple looks like they just got married at city hall and are now about to paint the town every colour under the sun.
There are many wonderful designers coming out of the African continent, it’s time they had more of a visual presence throughout the fashion industry.
We need more of these fashions readily available to us here in the States. If you design gorgeous garments, jewelry and/or accessories, please contact me at lana@maylana.com; I’d love to feature you on this blog. See my blog post “Where Do You Sika” featuring designs by Phyllis Taylor the owner of Sika Designs, who is of Ghanaian descent and is based in London. Click here.
Kiara Kabukuru & Debra Shaw in Christian Dior Haute Couture
When I opened the latest issue of “Harper’s Bazaar” and saw this ad campaign, my mind went absolutely blank, I truly did not know what to think about this ad; and I still don’t know how I really feel about it. Breast Cancer is such a serious and most times fatal disease, that it made me wonder what the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Foundation was thinking when their ad people came up with this 1 page spread. Maybe I’ve got a dirty mind, but the first thing I thought after the initial shock was soft porn (like I said, maybe I’ve got a dirty mind!)
I myself ask what were they thinking, because as a creative person, I’m really interested in what the thought process was to come up with this shot. I am far from a prude (at least in my opinion) and I’m one of the most open people I know (my sister will attest to this), but I just don’t think this ad sends the right message, what is the message? When I think of breast cancer, I don’t think of nubile, full-lipped young women under 20, with high perky breasts (I’m not saying it cannot happen to a young woman); but I think of the pain, constant medications, chemo, loss of hair, and families trying to come to terms with what’s happening to a loved one.
I think of going for your mammogram, waiting and then freaking out when you get that phone call, telling you that you need to come back, because the image wasn’t clear or they couldn’t see properly or they saw something. A version of this scenario happened to both myself and my sister, and in my sister’s case, twice! We were both blessed that there was nothing serious, but the anguish of waiting was awful. I’ve also had other friends go though this, its nerve-racking.
Apparently this ad has been around since last year, but I’ve never seen it until recently (where was I?). This campaign was staged by renowned fashion photographer Michael Thompson, who has contributed to high-end magazines, such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair to name a few.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding this ad; I’d like to have an open dialogue if possible. No one’s answer/opinion is right or wrong, I’d just love to know your thoughts. In your opinion does it send a clear message? Is it an artful way of talking about Breast Cancer or is it just plain offensive to you?
Happy Thursday Daahlings… We’re nearly there! The weekend is just around the corner.
I’m obsessed with vintage photographs from the 40’s thru to the 1970’s, especially magazine covers, album covers and print ads. I spend a lot of time online, scouring Google Images and other sources looking for these photographs. There’s just something about them, that you just don’t see today. Is it the colour? Is it the layout? it’s just not the same. Don’t get me wrong; we have beautiful photography (that’s why I’m addicted to my high-end fashion magazines), there’s just a different way of doing things now. The look is completely different. Do you see the way they used to style the models back then? To me they really struck a pose. Here is a collection of some of my favourites; there’s a lot of them, so I’ll start with a few at a time, as this will be an ongoing topic for me.
There is an exhibit in the southeast gallery at the Grand Palais in Paris for the photographer Helmut Newton, who is well-known for his sensual and racy photos. Do you remember a fabulously naked Grace Jones curved around a body builder; the stark contrast in skin tones creating a brain searing image to remember; or a smoking Linda Evangelista standing in the middle of a NYC street, among many others. A lot of Newtons work appeared in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and other high-end media. Well to coincide with this exhibit; the most gorgeous red lipstick has been created, you know I’m in heaven.
The lipstick named Funky Ruby by Terry is only being sold exclusively in the US at Barney’s, and retailing for $49. A strong red pout always screams “I’m sexy and I’m confident” so, with its elegant casing, scripted monogram and beautiful colour this is the ideal match for a Helmut Newton exhibition; after all the man was all about sexuality in all of its many forms.
I think I’m going to satisfy my red lipstick fetish and order one!
Maylana's Chronicles 