♥ GIRL FRIDAY ♥ STYLIST MASAYO KISHI & HER JUNKO SHIMADA STORY ♥

I have been dying to have one of my favorite stylist and friends, MASAYO KISHI, be a part of Nancy Girl...well, now she is! She offered a very gorgeous story about JUNKO SHIMADA, and I took it! If you're in the industry and looking for genius stylists, she's someone to keep at the top of your list...enjoy! CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM...it's worth it!♡

INTERVIEW WITH JUNKO SHIMADA 

Inspiration for design 

Chinos are what General of The Army Douglas MacArthur used to wear. Shirts from the Army, uniforms from Pan Am airlines and French marine hats. I usually get inspired from traditional items. Textiles for marine looks, gingham checks and stripes are Junko Shimada's basic look. I also use a lot of snake prints. I believe that snakes protect our lives and homes from evil spirits which are ancient beliefs.

In Paris

When I arrived in Paris, it was right in the middle of French New Wave: Jeanne Moreau, who played Elevator to the Gallows, Anita Ekberg, in La Dolce Vita, especially the love scene at the Trevi Fountain with Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti in The Eclipse who performed with Alain Delon.  They are perfect for Junko Shimada.

Photographers

After being in this industry for decades, I have two favorites that I have worked with. One is Guy Bourdin who shot numerous iconic pictures with a french essence.  Sometimes eccentric yet strong and sexy. The other is Arthur Elgort who is strong but a different type of atmosphere from Guy within natural light. He surely understands women and extracts sophisticated beauty.

What is your future and expectation after 30 years of working in fashion?

I always believe that I will make better clothes tomorrow.

Collage and Interview Credits

Illustration: Tsuyoshi Hirano
Art works: Kazunori Izumiya
Contributor: Naohiro Tanaka 

Fashion Story Credits

Photography: Makoto Nakagawa

Styling: Masayo Kishi

Hair: Matsukaz (3rd)

Make up: Sadafumi Ito (Nars)

Models:

Iryna R .@Bravo Models 　

Magda S. @Stage Tokyo Model Agency

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SATURDAY SHOPPING ♥ THE 3 FACES OF ME

I'm still so bored of fashion week. Maybe it will change once we get into Paris? Last season I was staying up late and waking up early to watch the live streams. This season, I just can't be bothered. Is it just me??? 

It's a good time for a break from fashion stuff, or fashion week stuff, to tell you about a shopping site that my dear friend Masayo Kishi has launched. She is by far probably my favorite stylist that I've worked with. She is a genius. She's worked with a load of top notch brands and people and is one of those people everyone in fashion knows in New York City. She's also the Fashion Editor of Viktor magazine.

Masayo's new concept shopping site is called THE 3 FACES OF ME. A super name, right? It's what she describes as something like "a fashionable erotic Colette Paris"...with "sexy merchandise, erotic art and books." I'll get Masayo to do an interview or something on here, but let's have a look-see at some of the items on 

THE 3 FACES OF ME:

Romana Sheep suede Corset Belt, T3F and Subconscious Leathers  exclusive collaboration $680

leather knotted turban by jennifer behr $245

catsuit by maison close $115

fassbinder's tank by jordan mattos $400

massage candle by maison close $40. look at that gorgeous biba packaging! comes in amber, monoi or orange blossom.

signed photo by rosalie knox $180

japanese gay magazine $150

"sexual heeling" drawing by rikki kasso $1500

more saturday shopping ♥ dolls & roses

images from thethreefacesofme.com

TUESDAY TAILOR ♥ STELLA MCCARTNEY LINGERIE FALL 2013 COLLECTION

I have to say that I used to be such a hater when it came to Stella McCartney. Slowly through the years I have to also admit that I have been won over by a lot of her collections, her ethics when it comes to vegan clothing and some of her famous or key pieces. Now I did a post a long time ago on some of her panties, but now I am so loving her new Fall 2013 lingerie collection and I have added some of these pieces to my wish list. I also like the model they used in the shoot. Though she's still very thin, I love how (in some shots) she actually looks like she might have a little meat on her bones. Maybe even a tiny tummy...I prefer this to the models who are just boney and bones and have gutted stomachs. :) ♥

i love this shot.

i love this set. it has tiny little bows either printed or flocked all over it.

more tuesday tailor ♥ masayo kishi styles brady corbet

♥♥ I HEART MATERIAL GIRL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2013 EDITORIAL ♥♥

Oh how do I love thee, Material Girl magazine! I just noticed there's a new issue out...issue 22 Summer 2013...I cannot wait to get it. I wish I had every issue and I shall buy every issue that I do not own as soon as I move, whenever that is! 

But here it is. I'll get the details later. I honestly thought I had already done today's post, but then realized that I hadn't. So many cool things to post up soon...we have a record give-away coming up (listen to it on the sidebar! Especially "Emo Boy"! It rules!)...and I got another box today from a friend in New York with some amazing cosmetics from RMK and even Shu Uemura! I have stories for both brands on here coming up shortly and they're not just makeup reviews! They are pretty exclusive yummy bits that you'll love to see/read! But the makeup...let me tell you...I have one of the RMK nail polishes on right now and OMG I AM IN LOVE!!! (Thanks, Masayo!) I won't tell you anymore. You'll have to wait until the posts go up. The one about Shu Uemura is amazing, too! 

Okay...hope you enjoy this editorial as much as I do! I wish these magazines were out when I was 17! :) And PS...the post tomorrow might be later in the day...maybe not. But in case you don't see it straight away, it's because I had to take care of some things, I have a meeting (wish me more luck, please) and I'm returning a Clé de Peau serum I bought because IT DOES NOTHING. I'll exchange it for some other things. More on that later...

look at this cover!

LOVING IT! LOVE LOVE LOVE MATERIAL GIRL! Okay...more later. Night night! xx♥

more tuesday tailor ♥ uniqlo and cacharel

♥ GIRL FRIDAY ♥ THE BEAUTY PROFESSOR RACHEL ANISE ♥

So I wanted to showcase another YouTube beauty lady that I have been loving and learning a lot from lately...she's THE BEAUTY PROFESSOR and her real name and channel are Rachel Anise. She has a successful blog, but I guess her YouTube channel is a bit newer. This girl is SMART. Just listen to her lingo. She obviously has a really high I.Q. as well as exquisite high-end, uber-exclusive taste, which I like, because you get to hear the dish on some products most of the other thousands of YouTubers never ever talk about. She's also quite pretty, in a kind of (young) Bo Derek way (she could also be a character from my novel, too), with giant saucer eyes and very pretty hair. I also love how her smokey eye day look is so wearable. I am attempting to copy this without looking like a hooker at the grocery store...she makes it look so easy. But it's really her skincare and beauty suggestions that I am obsessed with. By Terry, le Métier de Beauté, Rouge Bunny Rouge and some other ones I've never heard about are always on her faves list. If you haven't watched her vids yet or read her blog, and you love learning about the goods (the real goods) from someone who actually buys and uses these products and looks great doing so, then by all means sub to her channel AND her blog. You won't be disappointed.♥

more girl friday ♥ stylist masayo kishi

SATURDAY SHOW ♥ IRIS VAN HERPEN COUTURE 2013 COLLECTION ♥

Iris Van Herpen is crazy good at what she does and I think she knows it. It's obviously very McQueen....at first notice. But the more you follow this talent, the more you see her in the pieces. I think the closest thing between her and McQueen is the immaculate craftsmanship. When I look at her pieces, I think more of Thierry Mulger..not the Mugler of today but the real Mugler when Thierry himself was designing it (those were the days). I especially thought that when I saw the Couture 2013 collection, and the smiling models. I dunno. I can see these back in the day on Nadja or Linda or Christy, too. (Sunday's post will be all about vintage amazing Thierry Mugler so you can drink your tea or coffee on Sunday morning and watch the Thierry Matinee!)

Also, as a teaser I want to mention that we have another post coming up next week from Masayo Kishi and a fashion shoot she did for a very big magazine with Iris Van Herpen pieces! It's amazing as always, so stay tuned for that!♥

look at that cheeky stoked grin on iris... :)

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♥♥♥ FAVORITE YOUTUBERS FEATURE ♥ VERYELLE14 ♥♥♥

I thought today I'd do a favorite YouTuber feature instead of the fashion-y post I had planned. I'll post that up next week (we also have another amazing guest post by NANCY GIRL contributor Masayo Kishi going up next week, too!). I don't know if I featured this YouTube beauty guru before. Basically, I like to start my day with a cup or two of tea with sugar or honey and cream (mostly coconut or almond milk) and watching my YouTube subscriptions, which consist mainly of all these adorable beauty girls. The channel I wanted to feature today is called VERYELLE14 with a very nice and sweet and smart lady named Alexandra. The best thing about her channel is that she is a wealth of knowledge and an education on French beauty brands. And her reviews are really thorough as she is so damn articulate when she speaks about them. I really love watching her channel. Her own makeup always looks amazing and she has really good taste in products. She also has great overviews of some awesome cosmetic brands like Laura Mercier and Kiko. If you love the Frenchies and you love French beauty brands, then you will love her channel! Go to it and subscribe NOW! xx ♥

I tried to embed her vids, but it wasn't working. So until I hear from her...you can check out some of my favorite videos from her:

LAURA MERCIER CREME DE PISTACHE BATH AND BODY REVIEW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOSy_8BK8uY

KIKO MILANO MAKEUP BRAND OVERVIEW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHZKeRetxs8

CITY PHARMA FRENCH SKINCARE HAUL 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_zmQP_QOMI

more saturday shopping ♥ big shady hats

♥ BOOK NEWS AND GUEST BLOGGERS SOON! ♥

I might have a guest blogger post something on here in a bit. If not today, then tomorrow. It's fantastic because it's my dear friend, stylist Masayo Kishi, who is really one of the most talented fashion people I know. Plus she is funny as hell. If she doesn't get back to me today, then I'll post something a bit later and post up her guest story tomorrow. 

BUT...I mentioned there was so amazing press this week. I posted up the review of my novel on Searching for Style earlier this week. Yesterday a review and interview with me went up on VICE.COM ! And it's really awesome! I am super happy with it and super happy that people like my novel! :) If you'd like to see it (and a picture of my little dog, too, with me), then go here. 

I want to thank Christina Catherine Martinez for really taking the time to explain my book and read my book and like my book. :) It's also really nice to be on the Vice site because I have a sentimental attachment to the magazine (how could that be, right?). Way back in the day, at least 10 years ago or around there, I befriended some of the Vice boys including a couple of the founders. And I had many fun times with them. (The icon of the face you see as the favicon on the site and on the corners of the pages in the magazine is one of the dudes.) They are really brilliant geniuses and very sweet sweet men. It's so nice to have my book featured in their publication.

Thanks also to my loyal readers. I am sorry things have been off and on on this blog recently. I really do need a vacation and to have some fun. I have been too much work work work. But thanks so much. If any of you have blogs and are interested in reviewing the book, I would love that, too. It doesn't just have to be big magazines. 

Thanks again. See you later with either a guest post or my own post! ♡

more friday stuff ♥ borrowed from boys

GIRL FRIDAY ♥ NORMA KAMALI & NYFW!

It's been like for ev er since I looked at the show/runway collection images for New York Fashion Week and saw Norma Kamali among the bunch. I love that woman. I did a great long interview with her for Oyster magazine a few years ago...maybe 4 or 5...when I was still the US Editor. She is an amazing woman. And I love all the iconic and smart things she's done. Plus, she is always on her game and plays the game her own way. I'll think about publishing the interview on here. She allowed us to use her archive for a shoot to go along with the story and my dear stylist friend Masayo Kishi went nuts! :) She was one of my favorite interviews ever. Plus, she's still hot. (See recent video below.)

So here's some of the new Norma Kamali collection...mind you, she has so many divisions, I can't keep up. But if you go to her site, you'll be able to figure it out. And maybe if you're really lucky, I'll post pics of my Kamali collection on here. It's a doozy.♡

her tour de force...kickass swimwear for spring...only Norma Kamali!

more girl friday ♥ maja sten horoscopes

images from vogue.it