More behind the scenes from our September catalog shoot in New Tripoli PA, featuring Bambi Northwood-Blyth.
P.S. did you guys see our video of Bambi and one of our designers having a draw-off?! So cute.
Photos by Thomas Northcut.
A new feature for up and coming photographers who inspire us.
Based in: The UK, living on and off in both England and Ireland. I am half Irish and half South African (born and raised in Durban, South Africa). Sometimes I do feel like a bit of a gypsy…
Shoots with: digital or film, depending on my mood. The first camera I ever purchased (pentax 35 mm) is the one I always return to when I get tired of using digital. I love the simplicity of it. other than that, I use my canon dslr.
Favorite subject: portraiture is my thing. I love to photograph people I meet on my travels and friends who I am exploring the world with.
Inspired by: Travel. Even if I am not venturing far I like to feel like I’m exploring somewhere new. When I’m not traveling, I sift through thousands of blogs and magazines for inspiration. I refer back to a lot of films too, mostly ones I watched as a teenager for some reason. I am drawn to photograph places with beautiful light. I think because it reminds me of home and those amazing African sunsets.
Random fact: I am terrible with directions. Whilst traveling in Italy, my friend and I made the headlines of a local newspaper – we missed our last bus home from the beach, got lost in the local town center, and arrived home very late in the evening. Our host was so worried she called the police and had most of the town searching for us. I will never forget the neighbors coming in the next morning with the paper, laughing at us while muttering something in Italian.
Go see more of her work on her flickr page and website.
Our September catalog was shot by the amazingly talented Yelena Yemchuk, originally from Ukraine. After working for several years doing video and photography for bands – most notably the Smashing Pumpkins – she turned her focus to fashion photography. Her work has a moodiness to it that translates beautifully through her lens, making her the perfect photographer to shoot our September catalog with its autumnal feel.
Here are some behind-the-scenes shots of the photographer at work, as well as some of her previous editorial work that is absolutely breathtaking!
Go see more on her website.
Behind the scenes photos by Thomas Northcut.
There’s love in the air in the latest batch of fan photos…
Love this photo by Genevieve Blais.
Looking lovely in the floral halter maxi dress.
The much-loved voile and lace slip.
Beautiful Elsa of Stylebaad wearing our sundial maxi dress.
The Andean beauty dress in a shot by Taylor Herron photography.
Rocking the super 70s wideleg jean!
Reader Leah sent in some gorgeous shots from her Free People inspired engagement shoot, in which she wore one of our older fp one dresses and the sunburst maxi! Photos by Priscila Valentina.
so sweet :)
It’s tough to come up with an all-encompassing answer when people ask me how my trip to Hong Kong was. I jump to, “it was great,” because it definitely was – but it was also more…
The city has a lot to take in. Just walking around, your senses are overloaded with incoming sights and smells like you’ve never experienced before.
Visually, it’s a city full of contradictions. The city is half built on an island and winding up a mountain full of lush greenery and wild animals. As you wander through its labyrinth-like pathways, your eyes take in the many skyscrapers (each a mind-bending architectural fete) juxtaposed against an abundant natural foreground.
The people and setting are a mixture of old-world and new. Modern-day businessmen walk amongst temples and traditional street vendors while at every turn you are discovering something of British influence alongside the Chinese heritage.
And the smells! Markets with strange foods waft new scents your way. Dried seafood, bubble tea, and strange grills line the street.
I loved learning more about some of the traditional Chinese practices. One of which – ancient Chinese medicine – is very interesting. From what westerners who have sampled the remedies tell me, it really works!
I hunted down this neat place where they prepare you remedies using obscure ingredients. Once you are given the makings, you take them home and brew everything into a bitter tea-like concoction that you drink down for healing. It was amazing how busy they were doling out remedies for a crowd of clients.
In addition, I picked up some Tiger Balm which is found everywhere. I’ve fallen in love with the stuff. It works on anything from sore muscles to head-clearing for a stuffed up cold.
Lastly, there was a lot of food sampling on my trip – some good, some bad, and some just okay.
Traditional Dim Sum was as I expected. I’m not a huge dumpling fan, but it was consumable. Sadly, the congee didn’t really fly with my palette. I wasn’t a fan of the texture and overall flavor. What I really fell in love with though, was hot pot and the century egg.
Not only is hot pot a fun sociable activity, but it also tastes great. I made my sesame dipping sauce extra spicy which left me in heaven, but, if you’re not into spicy, you can prepare it however you want and it still tastes great. For those that don’t know what Century eggs are, they are eggs that are buried underground for a supposed 100 years before they are dug up to be eaten. You have to have an open mind to consume these black eggs, but I swear – they taste amazing. Also, if it’s on the menu, order a milk iced tea to go along with your meal. It has a particular, creamy, tea flavor that is well worth the try.
On top of these suggestions, I also enjoyed the variety of noodle soups, munching on dried mango, and hydrating with a selection of great iced teas that comes in fun juice boxes. There are so many things to try! If you ever go, I suggest tasting anything you can stomach. It’s an entertaining eye-opening experience – and for those who like to cook, it’s always fun to expand your horizons.
It’s a rainy, chilly day in Philadelphia and I wish I could jump inside these behind the scenes photos from our September catalog shoot. They have me longing to curl up on the couch in a bulky sweater and drink hot chocolate while listening to records.
Photos by Thomas Northcut.
How gorgeous is that sunset?! Unreal.
Even though summer isn’t technically over yet, Labor Day always seems to mark the end of it. I get terribly sad this time of year…summer is my favorite, and I never want it to end. I’m holding onto our endless summer concept and trying not to let it go just yet.
Click on images for sources – last few by Dylan Forsberg, I love his photos!
“You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.”
– J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
DO: learn a new game
Games are a great thing to have in one’s artillery. On my recent trip to Hong Kong I realized why.
Firstly, getting there and back involves an extremely…long…voyage… After a while, you’ve finished the book you brought, you get sick of the movies and you’re left to your own devices. Luckily, the man next to me (we had been chatting back and forth) asked if I wanted to play a game. It was a simple word game – fun – and a godsent gift to make the time pass. After we got sick of one game we moved on to a new one, and before we knew it the plane was landing at our destination. Without our library of games, I don’t know how I would have stayed sane.
My second recent experience which taught me the power of games happened while I was out at night with two Chinese individuals – neither of which knew more than two words of English. We ended up playing a Chinese game that involved two cups, four die, and your hands – no words necessary. After that I taught them the old American hand slapping game that everyone used to play as a kid. They thought it was hysterical, and loved it. The exchange of games was fun and allowed me to connect with two people that I would otherwise have had no way to communicate with.
So I’ve come to appreciate the simple life pleasure that games provide. They introduce people, make memories, bring friends together, and help pass time. It’s always fun to learn a new a game, so try to pick up a new one. You’ll have it in your repetoire to pullout the next time you’re bored or in need. Whoever you’re playing with might be very grateful…
Looking through our September catalog you can feel Fall emanating from its pages. Cozy knits and texture, plaid and lots of layers – all things that I can’t wait to wrap myself up in as the temperature drops. Shot at a beautiful old mill in New Tripoli PA by Yelena Yemchuk, the book features models Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Martha Hunt. Here’s a sneak peek…I can almost smell the crisp chilly air and hear the crunch of leaves beneath my feet…
Guess who else makes a special appearance?!
…Toby!!
The September catalog drops Tuesday September 6th.
Behind the scenes photos by Thomas Northcut except last two, by Jemma.
