Scott Schuman’s blog, The Sartorialist, began simply because he wanted to share photos of everyday people, going about their lives, that he thought looked great. These “street style” blogs are now quite numerous and have huge influence on designers, stylists, photographers and other taste-makers. What keeps me going back to The Sartorialist is that Schuman doesn’t simply post photographs of outfits- he posts photographs of people. While some street style blogs always have their subjects pose for the shot, awkwardly doing their best model pose, quite often Schuman shoots them unawares and captures a fleeting moment of time. It’s his style of photography, not just the style of his subjects, that makes his blog one of my weekly must-reads.

Now you can give your coffee table a touch of Schuman’s style with The Sartorialist book, which was released earlier this month. Featuring 500 pages of photographs-favorites and many never before seen- and some commentary, I can’t wait to get lost in print version of his beautiful photographs.

Join me? The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman

Ever since a long weekend in my hometown over the 4th of July weekend, I’ve been feeling a bit homesick and nostalgic for my small town upbringing and the summers spent in the countryside. Don’t get me wrong, I love Los Angeles in the summertime- the weather is great, the beach is lovely, the sunsets are to die for- but it just doesn’t quite compare to those of my youth. Days spent up at the lake, endless fields of wild flowers, being able to bike to the other side of town for the perfect greasy burger, that dusty, warm summer smell in the air and the feeling of total freedom (well at least until the end of August) is something I long to relive. I stumbled across these images of Missoni’s (yes, I just transitioned from small-town-America daydreaming to Missoni, this is how my mind works) f/w 09 campaign and just about died. Something about these images perfectly captures the summertime freedom I’m missing.

The campaign was shot by Ryan McGinley, who also did Stella McCartney’s fall campaign. I need to do some more research into his work, he has seriously stolen my heart with this one.

I may need to cure my summertime blues with a little retail therapy. Somehow, a Missoni scarf seems like the perfect splurge.

Last week Kodak announced that it is discontinuing it’s Kodachrome film due to declining customer demand. In addition to the implications this announcement has on one of my favorite Paul Simon songs, the news made me sad for the fashion industry- which is still reeling from Polaroid discontinuing their instant film. Some of fashions most beloved photographers, such as Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin, used the high contrast film for their photographs. The film is know for it’s high contrast and saturated blue, green and red colors which create dramatic images that perfectly compliment fashion’s heightened sense of reality.

Want to learn more? Check out Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography.

Obsessed with this cheeky editorial in Vogue Parisshot by Terry Richardson. I can’t blame the older woman in the first shot for checking out Anja Rubik’s legs, the lucky woman has stems for miles. I’m more than a little jealous. Not helping the jealousy factor is the hosiery she is wearing in these shots. While I love both pairs, the polka dot tights are really perfect and I fear that I must splurge on them immediately. Love the sheerness of the black and the tiny, tiny size of the polka dots (larger polka dots are tricky on the legs, in my humble opinion). They are totally 80’s and glam while at the same time understated. You can wear these a million different ways- paired with white summer mini dresses and layered with skirts and boots come fall is what I keep picturing- and they will last you season after season if you treat them well.

That’s how I’ll justify splurging on Wolford for these polka-dot bad boys…

Image Source: Models.com

For more images from this shoot, check out this LiveJournal link.

Caftans and muumu’s get a bad rap, just saying either word conjures up visions of unkempt housewives puttering around the house- think Edna Turnblad before her Hefty Hideaway makeover- or Mrs. Roper from Three’s Company. Yet, I’m all for effortless, comfortable dressing, and think that the caftan may not deserve such immediate name association. There is something to be said, especially during the summer, for an outfit that is lightweight and breathes. There is nothing worse than tight, synthetic fabric on your skin when the sun is pounding down. Caftans can be thrown on at the beach, or dressed up with some costume jewelry and cute shoes. Take this chic woman, photographed in South Beach Miami by The Sartorialist:

I love this look! This woman manages to look put-together, comfortable and stylish all at the same time. The tie-dyed, ethnic vibe of the caftan is on-trend, but not overly trendy. A few simple accessories- gold sandals, a killer gold bib necklace and funky bracelet- take this from beach cover-up to a look that could be worn to a summer dinner party.

This green Kente Kaftan caftan has a great print and is a less expensive option to buying a “designer” caftan that is styled to look trendy and hip. The authentic print and shape give you a canvas to make the look your own by accessorizing.

Image Source: The Sartorialist

Hedi Slimane is known and adored for being the musically influenced former designer of Dior Homme who created the collection’s infamous androgynous, slim-fitting menswear silhouette. Perhaps he is less well known for his photography, but it is definitely worth checking out. Slimane’s photography first came to my attention when he shot Prada’s spring campaign- black and white shots of non-models Louis and Claude Simonon, the sons of Paul and Tricia Simonon, the bass player and manager of Punk band The Clash. It was after seeing this campaign that I learned that he has published several photography books, among them Stage, which is a collection of his rock concert photography. As I have a ravenous appetite for all things music, fashion and photography, this was great news. Even greater was when I discovered his online photo diary which- while it doesn’t quite satisfy my need for one of his books to be part of my coffee table book collection- is free to peruse at your leisure all day, everyday. And updated regularly. Just a few of the awesome shots:

Image Source: Hedi Slimane Diary