RoseGoldGirl
I had the chance to spend some time with my friend Galya over the weekend and was so pleasantly reminded of how she bursts with mind blowing talent, beauty and fun. I got to use these stunning melon ball and rose gold shoes that she had a hand in designing for a shoot and grabbed a moment with them to do some outtakes. Galya is a brilliant shoe designer, a fellow lover of Italian food and vodka cocktails and an absolutely inspiring creative person to talk to. She helped truly ignite some of the ideas that have been swirling around in my head since my journey through India. Thank you lady, its a pleasure to have you in this life.
best ride, best view.
Julian made a video of our journey through the Sunderbans.
You may know, if you know me well enough, that I quite love Valentines day. It is a public guilty fix of mine, partly because I take such pleasure in making Valentines, but mostly because I have long found the human heart a source of endless inspiration. This year, having been struck with creative forces from my recent journey in India, I have looked to temples, puja, deities, fire, saris and brilliant colours as my main igniting source. The Valentines have become a project that will extend far past this evening and I’m excited about the ideas that are coming to the surface and see this as a chance to interpret my travels. May days of eternal love inspire you.
Pictured: Prada heart slip, Santa Maria Novella Elisir Di Rose, Rajasthani mens pink turban fabric, Rajasthani thread and rubber bracelets and copper Indian puja dishes
Clockwise from left corner: My mothers vintage Victoria’s Secret rose Slip, Pink Prada flower kirt, Prada Mens Heart button up, Undercover striped dress, Vintage Ports 1961 polka dot dress
I cannot take my mind off the image of the traveling Jain nuns that we witnessed in Udaipur at the beginning of the trip. Photographing the occurrence didn’t seem appropriate at the moment as they radiate such a holy vibe that one cannot possibly capture.
There were about eight nuns in the group we saw, walking slowly barefoot through town. They were dressed in pristine white robes, carrying cloth brooms to sweep the ground before they touch it and covered their mouths with strips of fabric to prevent them from accidentally inhaling insects.
Jainism is one of India’s oldest religions. I had heard about it from Indian acquaintances while growing up, but never knew the strict extent of it until I read William Dalrymple’s book, Nine Lives. Dalrymple writes affectionately of a young and absolutely devoted Jain nun. I highly recommend it.
Jain nuns and monks practice hardcore devotion, including extreme non violence and vegetarianism, studying ancient scriptures and traversing all of India barefoot. Complete detachment is a pillar of their beliefs. Jain temples are some of the most magnificat that I have seen in India, ancient and immaculately kept. Visitors rarely catch a glimpse of a nun or monk praying, so it was particularly moving to see them going about their daily lives.