films

Shane Taylor: “Say yes, when every instinct is to say no”



Shane Taylor street photographer

If you enjoyed the interview with Shane Taylor last week, here’s a bonus post. I touched on this subject when Shane and I met, but we later realised there was more to say. Shane has been open about experiencing anxiety, so I asked him to email me his thoughts on how street photography had helped him to manage his social anxiety.

As an introvert who frequently experiences social awkwardness, I found this very honest account somewhat relatable. Maybe you will too…

DRG: Tell me about how you used street photography to help with your social anxiety?

Shane Taylor: Everyone should try street photography for anxiety. It’s exercise. It gets you out in the sunlight. Like any craft, it’ll focus your mind in an effort to get better at it. It’s also a simple way of engaging with society and developing a sense of empathy.

Personally, I’ve struggled with social anxiety for most of my life. For me, it manifests as an overwhelming, irrational worry about what people are thinking about me. It’s taken me years to realise that the best way to cope with it is to force myself to be as social as possible. To say yes when every instinct is to say no. (more…)



Trend report: what to wear for SS24



Bally SS24

Spring is properly here, so it’s off with the coats and on with the T-shirts. LOL April Fool! Alas no, it’s still pretty chilly in NW10, so my Spring trend report is leaning a little towards knits and waterproofs for another few weeks. But amongst the leather outerwear and aristo-inspired Barbours and barn jackets, there are skin-baring T-bar shoes, shiny, happy tinted lip oils and molto pops of primary colour (the Italians do it better). (more…)



Costume designer Wendy Chuck on cinematography, colour choices and cultural references



The Holdovers costume designer Wendy Chuck

“Sometimes things happen on the day and I remember the day that Angus sits in the background reading in a tan sweater and noticed the chair was the same color and I brought it up to Alex and Eigil and they were happy to leave it as it was and it actually works that he’s blending into the chair as he’s starting to feel more comfortable there.” (more…)



Armani, Armani, Ar-Ar-Armani



Alessandra Carlsson Beri Smither Harue Miyamoto for Emporio Armani by Peter Lindbergh 1989

Before The Row, Lemaire and Brunello Cucinelli, there was Calvin, Donna and best of all, Giorgio. A fabric meister, rigorous deconstructor (before Margiela), uber-minimalist yet (contrary to expectation) anti-perfectionist, Giorgio Armani is the godfather of what we now call ‘quiet luxury’.

Fantastic Man has a, well, fantastic deep dive on the man himself in its latest issue, as well as a mention of Made In Milan, Martin Scorsese’s 1990 mini-documentary, that gives us a delicious glimpse into Mr Armani’s influences and philosophies. (more…)