"A couturier must be an architect for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for color, a musician for harmony, and a philosopher for temperance." ~ Cristobal Balenciaga

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Valentina, Valentino


Hello Lovelies,

Spring is in the air!  Ahh, Spring...a time for flowers, baby animals, and new fashion ad campaigns!

Has everyone seen the beautiful Spring 2012 ad campaign for Valentino?!  The elegant and feminine Spring collection by Maria Grazia  Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli was photographed by Deborah Turbeville, featuring models Bette Franke, Fei Fei Sun, Maud Welzen, Zuzanna Bijoch, and Clement Chabernaud.  The pretty campaign was shot near Turbeville's home in Mexico, although the setting's textures and colours makes me think of sunwashed stones and romantic ruins in Italy.  The exquisitely delicate and graceful designs against the unrefined backdrop, punctuated by sunlight or shade, made for an ethereal and slightly distant tableau.

I was so struck by the gorgeous Valentino images that I was inspired to create a photoshoot of my own for my sister's upcoming cello concerts this Spring and Summer.  I regularly use my lovely sister, Kathleen, as a model, and you may remember her from a previous cello photoshoot we did a while ago.  For this shoot, it was difficult to create a background that gave the feeling of a sun-drenched Rome here in Toronto, but with some assistance from my location-scout-extraordinare Mother, I think the suggestion is there :)  Kathleen didn't really have a dress she wanted to use for the shoot, so I designed and made a gown for her.  It's actually eco-friendly - I didn't have any material around that quite fit the bill for the colour/texture she was after, so I used some old curtains of hers that were lying around (and were on their way to be given away!) that were just right.  If curtains are good enough for Scarlett O'Hara or Maria von Trapp to sew into something to wear, they're good enough for me!  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos!!

Here is a sample of the original Valentino ad campaign:











{images via: Valentino}

And here is my Valentino-inspired photoshoot:  


















{photographer | designer | art director/stylist: Corinne Monique
location scout | creative consultant: Norah Long
hair + makeup artists: Corinne Monique & Kathleen Long
model | cellist: Kathleen Long}

Oh, and did I mention Kathleen's cello's name is Valentina?!  Talk about meant to be ;)

Corinne 

xoxo

23 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures! Love the dress and her hair ist fabulous! Sublime and lovely!

    fashionistafueradelaciudad.blogspot.com

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  2. <3 these pictures!!! <3 this blog too!!!
    the Valentino campaign is beautiful & you have captured the essence with your lovely model, gown, & photos!!!!!!!!

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  3. lovely !

    Valentino campaign is really nice!

    ciao ave

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  4. very nice pics

    xo xo Nicol

    www.fashiontnt.com

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  5. oh my god girl you've got talent i love the second last photo, you got your sis at the perfect angle and the dress looked magnificent just floating in the air :) mom gave you a good suggestion, i think the setting was perfect really captured the valentino campaign. And you did an excellent job sewing the dress for your sister, it looked gorgeous on her, and i'm sure no one would guess they were originally curtains :D
    hope you're having a great day
    XO stephi
    http://chiikalivelovelaugh.blogspot.com

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  6. Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! Following you back on bloglovin too!
    Come back soon to visit my blog, I'll be waiting for you!!
    Cosa mi metto???

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  7. I really like the new Valentino / Valentina scent !


    http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/

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  8. Beautiful photos, like the dress. Love Valentino! Great blog.

    http://anjasfashionblog.blogspot.com/

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  9. oh, what a fabulous dress... i love the color and style!

    It’s a GIRL Thing

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  10. Gorgeous, I adore Valentino and all their ad campaigns have been such successes! Thanks for sharing these great pictures dear :) There's a new post up on my blog and I'd love to hear what you think of it, so feel free to stop by!
    xoxo, Veena

    http://seven-inch-stilettos.blogspot.com
    Twitter: @VeenaMcCoole

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  11. beautiful photos and I always adore his work with draping! thanks for sharing this insightful post hun!

    love from the NANA girls xoxo

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  12. Oh wow! You did a fantastic job channeling the Valentino original. Your sister is fab and I am in love with that gown!


    oxo

    ML
    Twenty York Street
    www.twentyyork.com
    Follow me in Twitter: @20YS

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  13. omg amazing campaign by Valentino, love the background and collections!! you look gorgeous in blue dear <3


    http://mithakomala.blogspot.com/

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  14. You did a great job - love the cobalt blue against the grey.

    Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you stop by again soon.

    The doll on fashion

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  15. Hi,

    congrats on making the Links A La Mode!

    Best, Jenny

    http://www.dresscodehighfashion.com/

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  16. Beautiful and so creative! I love the movement of your dress in the wind.

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  17. You MADE the dress?! It's fabulous! the photos turned out beautifully, well done to both you and your sister (and your mum for scouting the location too).

    Meg x
    http://wardrobeworship.blogspot.com

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  18. Wow! Just..wow. I can't believe you made that dress - it's absolutely gorgeous! And the photos are so stunning.

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Thank you so much for your lovely comments! I really appreciate your support! Please leave your blog address, and I will repay the visit! :)

Corinne xo