Name behind the Frame

Year ago, at about the same time, I started a nice tradition of sharing with you 'names and frames' of my favorite fashion photographers. Back then it all started with a brilliant Christopher Anderson, as I am insanely fascinated by the work he does: richness of colors, complexity of shapes, sophistication of a story - you better check it by yourself! So stunning!

My TESSful WOW of today goes to another uber-talented cameraman - Kevin Tachman. You can see his work quite regularly in Vogue, Tmagazine, TheDailyBeast, GQ; however, my favorite source of his inspiration is a web-site, called www.BackstageAT.com. Kevin launched this photoblog in September 2009 to share a collection of behind-the-scene moments from different fashion weeks and shows.

 Get inspired by the unseen side of catwalks, as TESSfuly spotted by Kevin Tachman:

NY Fashion Week Backstage, Spring 2012

Dior Haute Couture, Spring 2012

Jason Wu, Spring 2012

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2012

Jason Wu, Spring 2012

Images are courtesy of Kevin Tachman

*** By the way, WHO is a FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY GURU for you? ***

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Mind your Business

Time is up, my dear TESSies... 2013 is almost showing its tail! 

But before we leave our office desks and go on so-much-deserved winter break, there will be multiple end-of-the-year meetings: for business and for fun. Make sure you look sharp, sleek, TESSful and professional - even if you simply need to queue for a lunch or a reward bonus (I am sure you will get one :) And then as I say, work hard - shop even harder!

Clothes: Black Bow Shirt Dolce&Gabbana, €659 (TESS), Dégradé Satin Skirt Milly Karina, €380 (TESS)
Shoes: Ankle Booties Sergio Rossi, €625 (TESSfully sold out), Black Diamond Tights Gerbe Parisienne, €33 (TESS) 
Accessories: 'Medusa' earrings Gianni Versace Vintage, €275 (TESS),Butterfly Watch Olivia Burton, €98 (TESS)
Cosmetics: Viva La Juicy Noir Eau de Parfum Juicy Couture, €65 (TESS), Eyeliner Stila Cosmetics, €15 (TESS) 

*** So, how will YOU PAMPER YOURSELF this CHRISTMAS? ***

(Keep your DREAMS COLORFUL)

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Valentino F/W 2013 Ad Campaign

Valentino F/W 2013 Campaign is a real boon for the art lovers! 

Influenced by the Baroque paintings of the Dutch Golden Age (roughly spans the 17th century), Valentino's designers - Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli - sourced their inspiration from the far-famed portrait works of Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. Both artists were known for the subtle colors and dark backgrounds of their masterpieces. They tended to portrait people in a real modest way without any swagger and excessive pomposity, sometimes using props (flowers, fruits, dead animals etc.). 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer can be a clear illustration to this tendency. In fact, this painting brought the most profound influence on the Valentino's collection, giving it a graceful and exquisite touch. 

In thiss TESSful F/W 2013 campaign Valentino's models are shown as 'a real-life paintings' surrounded with accessories as an alternative props. 

All Images are courtesy of VALENTINO

Campaign features mostly fresh faces: Magdalena Jasek (Polish), Laura Kampman (Dutch), Irina Kravchenko (Ukraininan), Erika Labanauskaite (Lithuanian), Sasha Luss (Russian), Kati Nescher (Russian / German), Sam Rollinson (British), Nouk Torsing (Dutch), Tamara Weijenberg (Dutch) and Maud Welzen (Dutch) and was TESSfully photographed by the world-known Dutch duo Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. 

*** So, do YOU SEARCH for INSPIRATION in ART? *** 

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Cultural Sunday

I love museums - I guess I have never mentioned it before - but I surely do! I believe it is one of the easiest, fastest and cheapest ways to ensure your constant growth and personal development. Not to mention, that it is also a great place to meet strongly intelligent people and make new friends. 

This has been said, I always treat my 'cultural' looks with the same diligence and attention to the details as I usually do for my 'office' or 'leisure' outfits. They all must be TESSful:-) (as you might have guessed).

For the last 'museums-check' in Paris I picked a splendid place dedicated to the French architecture: Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. If you appreciate a good architectural design as I do, then don't miss this wonderful site with its 8,000 m² of permanent exhibit space! 

Without revealing a content of the museum (...you will check it by yourself!), I better reveal to you my 'museum' look: TESSfully simple and cozy, yet elegant and refined! 

Well, wait :-) ...before you actually start questioning... or even making fun of me... this and the following two pics were NOT taken on the floor at the museum, but the last one - was (not on the floor though:). I just wanted to capture this look in all its TESSful beauty to share with you:)

So, TESS of the day: 

Dress, Jacket - BCBGMAXAZRIA, 

Necklace - BCBGeneration, 

Bracelet - Banana Republic, 

Glasses - Max Mara,

Handbag, Key ring - Louis Vuitton,

Bottillons - Jimmy Choo. 

Don't forget to check out some other stories I brought for you from museums:-) 

***So, what do YOU usually WEAR TO MUSEUMS?***

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Elegant Elie

Guess who is here... yes, TESS is back:) I know - I know, I've said it once before and then disappeared for months - this time I am back for good. Promise! Simply because I missed you, TESSies, so much, that I couldn't be away any longer. If you still don't believe me, then have a look at this video. I am sharing it with you at the risk of being called unTESSfull (never!), but the drama there is so real that you must watch it to visualize me... all this time... without you: 

Video is courtesy of Toyota

Now, when I am finally back, you totally deserve to know where on Earth I've been all this time and why I 'procrastinated' that much (did I?)... Fair enough. In two words, I was here working on this, drinking this and shopping this:) Plus, doing some other things that would be too boring to discuss. However, what I can surely admit is that I didn't procrastinate a single minute and have lo-o-ots of TESSful things to share with you!

For a starter, here goes a stunning TESSful collection of wedding and evening dresses by Elie Saab as spotted in the Four Seasons Hotel George V during the Paris Fashion Week. Eight gorgeous dresses from the latest Fall-Winter 2014 Haute Couture collection were displayed in the lobby of the hotel organically framed by 15,000 red Naomi and 9,000 white Avalanche roses. All gowns made of silk tulle and lace were neatly decorated with crystals, sequins and fine beads. The mirrored plexiglas stands reflected the colors and the lights giving a refined touch to the exposition. It was TESSfully spectacular!

All images are courtesy of TESS

***Do YOU PREFER SHORT or LONG EVENING DRESSES?***

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Your Tess

      

Shoe Science

For all the shoe lovers out there... I put together this little cheat-list in case you feel lost in the world of heels or, vice versa, if you are too advanced and need a detailed tracking sheet to organize your shoe-shelf (or, shall I say a 'shoe-room' then?!) In any case, hope you will enjoy this TESSful dictionary!

Source: Polyvore by Mademoiselle-Tess

***So, WHICH ones are YOUR FAVORITE?***

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Your Tess

      

INNO Fashion

We've been discussing with my colleagues some innovations today. You know all these marketing debates about which product to launch, will it be the right move on the market, do consumers really need it etc. Frankly, gave a lot of food for thoughts to all of us...

Personally, it got me to the point where I started digesting what exactly (as a consumer, of course) I want to have NEW in my life? What could be that TESSful something that would make me go WO-O-O-OW without stops? ...that would change my life drastically? ... bring it to the new level in terms of quality and convenience? (In fashion, I mean). The times when this sound was caused by a mini skirt, bikinin, pantsuit (you name it) have kind of went away and, unfortunately, it was not our generation who shared the happiness of seeing something different and completely unusual. 

With this thought in mind, I went to 'google the Google'. I was just curious to see if there is anything out there that could give me a spark. Good or bad - it doesn't matter, just something! And guess what? I found it... So, here is my TOP 3 of 'innovations' in fashion. How meaningful they are - I will let you judge.

TESS #1: 'Metal steps' for the metro grate. Seriously, it is the most wisest thing I've ever seen in the past years! So many good heels were killed or badly damaged due to these metal bars... Oh, men, you don't even think about our Jimmy's and Christian's when make the ventilation 'windows' on the street. But now, when solution is found, we must execute it! Properly, please.

Anti-TESS #2: High-Heeled Ice Skates. Frankly, I don't even know where exactly they could be found in a shoe store: sport shoes vs. evening pumps. But clumsy fall is guaranteed, I bet!

Anti-TESS #3: Tights with hairy arms kind of checking your legs. What for? Seriously. I guess this design aims to publicly claim the instant male attention you've got. (Why so hairy though?)

All pictures are kindly provided by Google Images. 
Let me know if you are aware of any (c) I need to keep.

***So, which FASHION INNOVATION would MAKE your LIFE DIFFERENT?***

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Your Tess

      

Ma Nouvelle Vie

Voilà, I am back... finally! Well, I better say FINALLY, 'cause I know that you all lost me (in fact, I lost myself as well:) Thank you so much for your patience and care, my dear TESSies. Every single message I received (and I must admit that I got quite a few of them!) asking if everything goes well on my side, surely made my days sunnier and happier! You gave me energy to move... move out... and move on. That, actually, answers the questions where I have been, what I was doing and what exactly I am back to.

Here is the story. Being totally spontaneous, flexible and free, I decided to move to another city! As simple as that. After spending some good time in Geneva, my Swiss periode of life is over (however, as life taught me never to say 'never'... I may still be back there one day... who knows:).

Audrey Hepburn once said, that Paris is always a good idea. Following her advice (as well as some of my dreams), here I am, starting a new page of my life. Kind of 'Parisian' tabula rasa with so many things to discover:)

Source: Polyvore by Mademoiselle-Tess

So, wish me luck in my new endeavors! I hope that this (usually painful) 'settle down' phase will pass quickly and that I will fully embrace my new city and my new life already soon. In any case, I am back to TESS and back to you, full of creative ideas and things to share. Let me know, how you have been all this time and what's new on your side and... by the way...

***Have YOU ever BEEN to PARIS?***

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Your Tess

      

Spring is Calling

Well, it seems like spring is not rushing this year... Pity, indeed, but so what?! They say, that somedays you just have to create your own sunshine. Why not today? Me, here - I desperately need it. It is only +3° in Geneva and it has been pouring since early morning. So, please, switch on the sun! While weather manager is trying to fix the issue (yet, I still believe he should be fired this season), I put together this fresh, minty outfit for sunny days to come. 

My main piece of inspiration was this TESSful leather jacket from RED Valentino. It's kind of stuck in my head for already several months since I first saw it in NYC among other items from the new collection. When you look closely, you can immediately fill the softness of material without even touching it. The leather is so refined, design is elegant,  embellishments are at the right level... Mmm:)  

Amazing piece to have for sunny spring and chilly summer. (Well, fingers crossed, that summer won't be chilly at least).

CLOTHES: RED Valentino Ruffle Trimmed Leather Biker Jacket, €909 (TESS), Monsoon Sofra Printed Pencil Skirt, €66 (TESS) 

SHOES: Luichiny Mint heels, €58 (TESS) 

BAG: Brahmin Hingham Large Satchel, €621 (TESS) 

ACCESSORIES: Kate Spade Crystal Index Watch, €197 (TESS), Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses, €164 (TESS), Fendi Kefiah Zucchino Red Scarf €152 (TESS), ASOS Triangle Doorknocker Earrings, €13 (TESS)

COSMETICS: Victoria's Secret Italian Mandarin Eau de Parfum €43 (TESS)

***So, have YOU COME UP with a DREAM OUTFIT for SPRING?***

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Your Tess

      

AutoDream

Is anyone up for a ride? 

If so, then let me drive you around the 83rd International Motor Show, that took place in Geneva from 7th to 17th of March. This is one of the «Top 5» Salon de l'Auto in the world and each year it welcomes more than 700,000 visitors. Well, I kind of hear you say: 'Pfff! That's not for girls and what, for the God's sake, this post is doing in the fashion blog?!' But wait! Look at it as an example of a tasteful style and a sophisticated design! Check out the soft shapes, clear lines, refine materials, rich colors... Be able to find inspiration in anything you see around you! Stay tuned and keep your eyes open!

So, even if you do not fancy a new car - then just get inspired by these TESSfull masterpieces:

***So, what CAR would YOU LIKE to DRIVE?***

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess