Hip, at Rawvolution...

Emmalea works at a health food store, Euphoria Loves Rawvolution, in Santa Monica, but she should really be a stylist!

Cooking in New York...

100+ degree temperatures in New York City!!! Wow!

(pics from a recent catalog shoot - more on ninovia.com)

Beautiful in Tuscany

Everyone looks beautiful against a backdrop like Tuscany, Italy.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, wearing the "Grape Dress", editorial for Harper's Bazaar. Original design created by famous designer Jean Louis, 1958, originally worn by Marilyn Monroe.

More photos at: http://www.photoshelter.com/c/ninovia

I live

He:  “So, what spiritual form do you practice these days, do you pray? Meditate? Chant?"  

She:   “I live.”

Who would YOU have over for dinner?

Who would I have over for dinner?

David Bowie. Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, Helmut Newton, Sophia Loren, Jesus, George Carlin, Leonard Cohen.

Film stripped.

Film stripped.

Reflections of a Celluloid Dreamer.

"Welcome to Hollywood"

The "new" Benetton.

Fierce.

Sometimes a fashion image is so intense and vivid, that it doesn’t need to be described: you just want to keep looking at it.

(more at: www.ninovia.com)

Be happy, one moment at a time.

Grow up.  Get a life.

Live it well.

(more lifestyle photos)

PereLachaise Cemetery - Paris.

...and then you die. 
The End.

PereLachaise Cemetery, Paris.

Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Isadora Duncan,...

just some of the personalities buried there.

Buster

Buster R.I.P.

In loving memory of my cat Buster.

Courageous. 

Fearless. 

Adventurous. 

Passionate.

A true inspiration for living!

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron

wearing "cigarette dress" by famous designer Charles James.

Charles James has been called America's first couturier. He is famous for his beautiful, sculpted ball gowns and tailored daywear.

Learn more about Charles James on Wikipedia
(more Charlize on my site: www.ninovia.com)

John Enos

The original "spider" man, elbow and all - JOHN ENOS.

Had a dog named Enzo.

"Everybody wants to be Italian"

John's credits on www.imdb.com 

JUST OMAR - Part 2

PART 2

Part 1: Scroll down to previous post.

V:  Greatest fear?

O:  To fail as a father.

V:  What person do you most admire and why?

O:  My mother, because of her kindness and honesty. She was the most amazing woman  I ever met.

V:  Who is the greatest love of your Life?

O:  Alesandro Ernesto Albertto (my son).

V:  What quality do you like in a woman?

O:  Femininity-Fashionable.

V:  What quality do you like in a man?

O:  Being in touch with his feminine side.

V:  Describe your personal style.

O:  I dress according to my mood :)  I love what was, what is and some of what will be.

V:  Favorite shoes.

O:  GJ Cleverly and Belgian Shoes; Boot Company by Timberland.

V:  Favorite suit maker.

O:  Bespoke by my recently traveled dad, Sr. Carlos.

V:  Any regrets.

O:  Not signing my models to management agreements.

V:  What is your state of mind?

O:  Same as always: Give Love.

JUST OMAR - Part 1

OMAR.  Just Omar.

If you’ve been around the modeling/entertainment/fashion industry in Los Angeles, chances are you know OMAR – an icon in this town.

Here, in his own words... PART 1 of an interview with Omar.

The Visionary: What motivates you?

Omar:  My dreams.

V:  What inspires you?

O:  My fantasies.

V:  Style icon?

O:  I have a few: The Duke of Windsor, Manolo Blahnik, David Niven, Giorgio Armani.

V:  How about female icons?

O:  Diana Vreeland (Nuff Said)

V:  Most cherished item?

O:  My mother’s gold pendants.

V:  Favorite fashion movie.

O:  Eyes of Laura Mars; The Great Gatsby.

V:  Most stylish city.

O:  New York City.

V:  Which talent would you most like to have?

O:  I wish I could sing.

V:  Your idea of perfect happiness?

O:  My mother always said to me, when all is perfect something is wrong: I stay Happy :)

(Stay tuned for Part 2 to follow....)
Stay Happy  :) 

Make a mark...

Make a mark and leave no footprint.
(more on www.ninovia.com)

Let your art speak for you

Shut up.

Let your art speak for you.

Students at FIDM teamed up with Fender Guitars Co. 

to create a series of one-of-a-kind-guitar-designs.

Awesome!  

A Breath of God

A Breath of God.

Breathe!
(No, it's not Photoshop)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter,

to all.

Renew your sense of Self.

PEACE

Don't save the best for last...

Don't save the best for last, you might run out of time.

Do it now!

A Fork in the Road

A fork in the road...

Trust your intuition. 

Webster defines intuition as: "direct perception of truth." 

Hmmm....

Drumming to the rhythm of MY life.

There's only ONE with your dna: YOU.

Find your own voice,

your own style.

Listen. 
And do it.
Sophie, pictured above, naturally and spontaneously, knows her own rhythm...
...too bad we seem to lose it as we grow older.

"Continue your work".

I may not always know what I want,

but I always know what I do NOT want,

and by process of elimination and exclusion,

I discover a new world!

Continue.... 

and discover.

Note to self:

“Continue your work.” 

Change your attitude and you'll change your latitude.

In this picture, this statue looks gigantic.

Actually, it was only 3 feet tall.

I laid down on the floor and took the picture looking up at it, 

thus making the statue seem huge.

Sometimes all it takes, is to change your point of view!

Have a magical day!

Fairies. 

Magical creatures. 

Messengers, between this reality and the unseen world...

a world of possibilities....

Have a magical day!

The secret is in the details.

A stylist’s touch.

The difference between good and great is “an eighth of an inch”. 

That’s what Ralph Lauren would say during fittings, when I worked for him.

Perfection is in the details. 

In this picture above, a stylist removes lint from a pant, on set of a 3 day catalog photo shoot I just finished. 

Well done Brian! (Brian Primeuax, stylist, Art Mix, LA)

Vestige of Time

Wrinkles.

We are so obsessed with staying young.

And yet with age comes

experience

knowledge 

wisdom

endurance

strength

enlightenment.

Enjoy the trip!

:)

Take care of yourself

This  blind  beggar 

would have a perfect excuse for looking disheveled

and not take care of himself.

And yet, he is dignified and well dressed: 

The leather cap, the sandals, the vest, the bag,...

Take care of yourself.

Don’t be a victim!

Just passing through...

Life is fleeting.

Have you ever had a moment....

.....and then missed it.

Like.... when you feel like saying something to someone,

and you don’t say anything,

and then regret it.

Be present in every moment around you

there’s life everywhere

see it

feel it

grab it

before it passes by.

We’re just passing through...

Truth and Beauty

As beautiful as these masks are,

they hide and conceal one’s true self.

Truth cannot be masked,

eventually your true colors will shine. 

Be honest.

Be authentic!

A Draping Class?

A course in fashion draping?

No. 

For some women this is a typical and ordinary, daily way of dressing. 

Next time you moan: “What am I going to wear?”....count your fashion blessings. 

(more on the Burqa at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-burqa.htm )

You will never have this day again

In view of recent earthquakes, we must stop, reflect and appreciate life. 

Each precious conscious moment.

Each heartbeat.

Each breath.

Breathe!

You will never have this day again.

An Ensemble of Symbols

Every item you wear is a symbol representing something.

(note in detail all the symbols this man is wearing!)

With time and practice you can learn to “read” people.  

What you wear says something about you. 

And through your clothing you speak to the world. 

What do YOU want to say?

Putting herself together

Recently, while shooting this girl, in Rome, I noticed how she spent a good 20 minutes totally self-absorbed in putting herself together – re-brading her hair, fixing her make-up, lipstick, sunglasses, earrings, belt, bag....

  

And, as a finishing touch.... she lit a cigarette.    How Italian  :)

A Man in Uniform

An Italian Carabinieri, 

looking very “GQ” magazine.  

There’s something about a man in uniform that reflects authority.

For example, the Nazi uniform, designed by Karl Diebitsch and Walter Heck, were designed to project authority and power, and to foster fear and respect.  They were produced in part by, believe it or not, HUGO BOSS (named after its founder Hugo Ferdinand Boss 1885-1948).

Designers take note: the uniforms were purposely designed to perpetuate the Aryan “superman” myth, by placing the belt and the skirt of the tunic intentionally high, making the wearer’s legs look longer and thus exaggerating his height.  

Students: study your proportions :)

Passion in Fashion

Passion is the fuel to creativity and success.  And passion expresses itself in different emotions.

This picture tells a story.  What story?  You decide....

(more pics on my site)

Inspiration

Inspiration.  From tea?  Yes.

Yellow.

Chamomile yellow – soft, not too bright, not too dark.  Soothing.

Like the tea.

A nice warm calming relaxing cup of tea.

Mmmmmm...

Feel the warmth, flowing

filling your belly.

Stop

Close your eyes

Breathe

Let ideas come to you

Open your eyes

Get a pencil

Draw

Sketch

Write

Compose.

Yes, yellow – chamomile yellow.

Tomorrow? Jasmine :)

Watch Your Back

What does the back tell you about that person?  What do we assume about that person just from looking at her back?
  

Watch your back :) 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Even though I took this picture over a year ago, it’s such a great shot and apropos for Valentine’s Day (they’re in pink after all.)

Two of my former students, Angel and Alyse, did the styling, make up, props, etc. – very creative! And fun!

(more pics on my web site at www.ninovia.com )