Selfie? I’d rather go old school in sequinned Marc Jacobs

2013 October 15. | Szerző: shannon

As the narrow-eyed stare of my byline photograph suggests, I have a pathological hatred of having my picture taken. I have the utmost respect for models: I can’t think of anything worse than being subjected to a constant barrage of shutter snaps.

In the 19th century, Native American tribes believed that photography could steal the soul. My fear is more concrete, namely that a bad fashion choice, bad hair day or just a badly timed grimace could be immortalised. The advent of Google image search, Facebook tagging and Instagram means that they’re immortalised and accessible. It’s a phobia I know many other share. Hence the proliferation of the “selfie” – the idea being that you can control your own depiction, and decide if it’s worthy of publishing.

So it was with trepidation that I agreed to have my picture taken by the artist Walter Hugo as part of his latest series of portraits. Hugo uses a giant camera obscura to capture his images the good old-fashioned way, fixing them on plate glass with silver nitrate. He’s installed himself in the basement of Paul Smith’s newly expanded shop on Albemarle Street in London for an exhibition opening tomorrow to run during Frieze Art Fair.

Of course, it brings up a whole host of Dickensian issues. Firstly, there’s no retouching on the plate glass. Secondly, there’s no re-shooting. Both anathema to contemporary fashion photography. Hugo recently shot a series of lookbook images for Smith with the same olde-worlde provisos.

The process is nothing I’ve experienced before: the exposure takes 17 seconds, the opposite of an iPhone snap. There’s a clamp to hold your head in position. And it took me a long time to decide on what to wear. It’s sequined Marc Jacobs. Which may be a foolish seasonal choice as, bar the glass plate’s propensity to smash, Hugo asserts that the image can last for 500 years, much longer than a paper counterpart.

It didn’t get me over that photographic phobia, but interestingly I don’t hate the results. Even though it’s about as far away from an arms-length “selfie” as you can possibly get.

popular prom dresses uk online | where to find strapless prom dresses in England

How to wear the hottest haircut

2013 October 11. | Szerző: shannon

TOI’s comprehensive guide to this season’s hottest haircuts and how to wear them

So, the party season is just hotting up with allnight Navratri dancing, chased by Diwali taash parties, and New Years to wrap it all up in a neat glittering bow. You’ve got yourself a fresh wardrobe. You can’t get yourself a new face. But, you can radically change the way it looks by getting a mint new haircut.

Depending on whether you are in the mood for a few snips of a full-on carving session, here’s an 8-style chart to help you pick the crop of your choice.

The don draper

It’s the side part synonymous with the ’60s, made popular by the ad executive who wants to stay in power. Ask your barber to give you the simple scissor trim, to take it tight at the sides and leave it log at the top. Here’s the styling that’s key. Start by washing your hair with an oil-free shampoo. Rub a 50p size blob of gel into it and use the edge of your comb to pull your hair back and make the side parting. Be precise. Comb the top section over to the side, and the side section down, and back. The front needs a lift. When you comb it, raise it slightly into a soft quiff. Akshay Kumar gets it right

The pompadour undercut

Here, the sides and the top are treated as distinct identities. What this does is gives you more length on top, say five inches, and shorter sides. The hair is swept upwards from the face to create height on top. It can be worn textured or straight. For styling you need a volumizer, a blow dryer and your fingers. Blast the dryer on high and use your fingers to work your hair upwards. Pull it forward and bend it back so you get the quiff shape (dry your roots too). Keep working your fingers through the roots to create movement from within. A generous dollop of gel will stiffen the pomade. Think Shammi Kapoor, and Elvis. Davi Beckham gets it right.

Gordon gekko slick back

Inspired by the character played by Michael Douglas in the 1987 hit Wall Street (who never left home without his suspenders, bold striped shirts and slicked-back hair), the Gordon Gekko works on straight hair and slightly long hair (short, and it veers towards spikes) and spells power-dressing. A good quality hair gel is your weapon. Use it on dry hair and then run a pump of hair serum over the top. Rake it through with your fingers backwards, and you are good to go. Saif Ali Khan gets it right

The James Franco

This one’s for those who have a bit of a wave. Ask the hairstylist to keep it trimmed on the sides and back but longish with jagged layers on top, so that it can be fashioned into a coif with a bit of gel to hold it down. It allows the natural wave to fall in place. Looks best on those with a lean face and prominent jawline. No one but Franco can get this one right

The long buzz

This is the grown out version of the buzz. No styling, no combing. Just shampoo and go. Make sure the back is styled well. You don’t want to end up looking like the politico who went to a ‘saloon’. Brad Pitt got it right in Oceans Eleven.

The better Caesar

This one is a laidback shape. Get the sides to be short (you can even opt for clippers) and leave the locks above lengthier. Think Julius Caesar but better styled. George Clooney gets it right.

kissy long prom dresses | kissy white prom dresses