{favourite five: artist photographer romina shama}

It is true that a picture can convey a thousand words through just one still image -- but what if that image is so divine it simply takes your breath away and there are no words?

Romina Shama is a Swiss-born, Egyptian-Italian fashion photographer and film director whose works will leave you utterly speechless, for she does not merely photograph her subjects, but rather, it would almost seem that she is illuminating their thoughts. Romina, who lives and works in Paris, combines the raw beauty of natural light along with the classic style of an analog camera to produce a strikingly delicate and cinematic effect in her photos. Her photography leaves us wondering about the romantic daydreams of her subjects and makes us long for the heavenly, dream-like escapes portrayed therein.



Having studied film in addition to photography at Central St. Martin's School in London, Romina and the work she produces have undoubtedly been impacted by aspects of cinema. This week, we asked her:

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{what are the five most intriguing ways the study of film has influenced your photography?}

1. Roland Barthes wrote: "... an image produces death while trying to preserve life". This very feeling is exactly what attracted me to photography. I started thinking that in avoiding life, I may be able to portray it. I started focusing on capturing "absence", or the "let go" feeling in all my subjects and landscapes. I decided I wouldn't "take" them.

2. There's a cinematographic feel to my photographs and a very photographic feel to my films. They are linked. Together they help me avoid the fact that we perceive time as linear.

3. Films that are made for the sole purpose of creation inspire me very much. To me, they make time feel dimensional. Sometimes, they make me want to capture every frame of them.

4. The timelessness of great films.

5. The fact that I always wished I could pause life and rewind it at times.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* interior designer: tricia foley
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré

~ laily

{images: all photography by romina shama}

{hair how-to: sexy & tousled}

. . . before dashing out the door with a latte and mile-long to-do list, a very favourite way to wear my hair {besides a chignon, of course!} is in soft, loose waves, a little tousled, a little sexy and a little '70s -- wonderful for the work-week, but especially so for the weekend, but whether it's a downtown lunch meeting or a late sunday brunch, it's always perfect for breezy april days . . .

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b e f o r eoy o uob e g i n,op e r f e c tot h eos e t
three essential steps, for just enough volume & bounce to be the building block of any style:

o n e
begin with freshly shampooed hair, for a beautiful, natural shine

t w o
massage volume & body mousse through the roots, then blow-dry hair smooth, using a large round brush if your hair is naturally curly, or a paddle brush if your hair is naturally straight

t h r e e
for body, you can use hot rollers, velcro rollers, or a large curling iron; for a curling iron, randomly twist slices of hair around the barrel and carefully pin up until cool, and you're set for any of the sexy, tousled styles below...




e a s y t w i s t
a ponytail on top, pulled up in the back, then turned over on itself like a bun--but only half done; one elastic band (and a couple of pins if your hair is really thick) should do the trick





u n d o n e u p - d o
a random parting, a few loose tendrils left out and a tiny bit of back-brushing on the crown, gently lift the top and sides, ease it all back and hold with an elastic band





s o f t b u n c h e s
let hair fall into a natural, off-centre part, then gather the lengths into two ponytails and fasten very loosely with ribbon just below the shoulders







n a t u r a l b o d y
or, if your prefer, for an even less laboured look, after hair is set, simply brush out just enough that it looks a little lived-in, being careful to not straighten ends, keeping a few relaxed a curls

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{p.s.} previous how-to's:

h a i r
* a side chignon
* a classic chignon
* a double-knot

e v e r y t h i n g e l s e
* a braided brass hex nut bracelet
* a sweet nothings garland
* a classic english hand-tied bouquet
* summery ombé napkins



{images: from glamour uk, fashion editorial, the big easy; model: lindsay lullman at next models, london; photographer: simon emmett; creative director: charlotte-anne fidler; hair: sam mcknight at premier; makeup: mary greenwell at premier; nails: andrea fulerton at emma davis via fashionising; steps adapted from glamour uk}

{have a beautiful weekend + late-sunday links}

. . . there is just something about sundays -- everything seems to slow down to a perfect pace, and whether off to the countryside, catching flights or catching up on beauty sleep, it is nearly impossible not to relax on sundays and it's positively luxurious . . . and while last week was filled with loveliness, working in sun-drenched cafés and evening walks with the dog that ended in new summer wedges and a little black dress, there is a certain hope about sundays that always leaves time for brunch, a good book, the flower markets, handwritten letters, and moments lost in daydreams . . .

hope you're having a wonderful weekend & that it's beautiful where you are, ~roséline xo

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{a few lovely links:}
* photographer: maggie harrsen
* DIY: pretty paper clips
* at the shops: french cleaning supplies
* upcoming: a brand new magazine
* décor inspiration: canopy beds
* spring shopping: these & these
* travel: corinthian club, glasgow
* print & pattern: new designs by coralie bickford-smith
* and more: patterns
* at home: pure gold
* and more: porter chairs
* at the side: this room & that dress
* from the archives: dusky blue & driftwood grey
* make a difference: all proceeds from this print & this print will help

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* monday, monday & a few lovely links
* two lovely things: all that glitters
* style inspiration: beautiful details
* thought for today: il n'est jamais trop tard...
* the last of the great icons: farewell elizabeth taylor
* storage inspiration: on display
* spring collection: french chic
* champagne picnics & wishing you a happy spring
* simply chic: portfolio clutch
* favourite five: rachel ashwell

{& new for the weekend:}
* art print: love, love, love

{images: chloé fall 2011 rtw via vogue, photography by marcus tondo; decoracion de interiores via eclecchic; style.com; 812 park avenue via rdujour; eclecchic; rodarte spring 2011 via vogue, see also a glamorous little side project}

{style inspiration: pretty pleats}

. . . currently playing with the notion of a quick trip to new york -- {only pause for consideration being, taking the trip without p, who is has always been my constant travel companion} -- there would be meetings & appointments and catching up with friends, as well as a launch party, meaning, of course, much planning and dreaming up ideas of what to wear, and imagine something floor-length and with sleeves, cinched with a bow and flowing in pretty pleats a whispery shade of champagne-drenched honeysuckle may be just the thing . . .







* CLICK TO VIEW THE REST OF THIS POST >>>

{two lovely things: red hair & lipstick}

. . . often thought to clash, red hair & lipstick actually looks rather fetching, don't you think? . . . and despite the myriad of beautiful options for taming winter tresses, still clinging to a chic and messy topknot or a classic chignon for simplicity's sake, although now may be a little inspired to weave a tangle of braids . . .

{photography by ellen von unwerth, via a glamorous little side project}

{winter hair how-to: the double knot}

. . . have had this fun tutorial planned for well over a week now, as a follow-up to the ultra-chic and wildly popular side chignon, {which some of you had great success with}, but in all this week's excitement, hadn't a chance to post until now . . . perfect for unruly winter hair, this look is a beautiful, more casual alternative to the sleek classic chignon and goes easily from a day at the office to dinner reservations at seven . . .


* CLICK TO VIEW THE REST OF THIS POST >>>

{elegantly chic: the classic chignon}

. . . for an evening out, often prefer flowing and softly skimming just above the collarbone, tousled and sexy, but at the office and for meetings and appointments, swept away seems best for a busy day, and beautifully swept into an elegant and always classic chignon is best of all . . .

{p.s.} more classic chignons & a side chignon

{image: lopp}

{style inspiration: the perfect leopard print coat}

. . . and perhaps it is the elegant half-upswept hair with dipped ends or the nostalgia of old stone houses in the english countryside, but the search for the perfect leopard print coat may have just ended here . . .

{p.s.} also new today: weathering winter beautifully

{images: a|wear autumn 2010 via mugo for the fashion spot, modeled by cara delevingne, also seen at wildfox}

{holiday hair how-to: the side chignon}

. . . for late lunch dates and last-minute meetings, it's been mostly chic & messy topknots, and sometimes, even, a classic chignon -- but as the holiday invitations begin to pile up, something a little more sophisticated is in order for those elegant dinner parties filled with sparkling crystal champagne flutes and conversations that last long after the crème brulée has been served -- and of course, the perfect solution is the always lovely side chignon . . .



{one}
using a round brush, blow-dry hair smooth and straight, focusing on the top sections

{two}
once dry, use a large-barrel curling iron to create waves from the ears down

{three}
build height and volume at the crown by teasing hair gently with a fine-tooth comb

{four}
gather hair into a low ponytail; twist it along the nape of your neck, pinning as you go

{five}
once you reach your ear, shape the remaining hair into curls, and pin them back over

{six}
red, red lips and platform peeptoes and you're set!

{p.s.} previous how-to's:
* a classic english hand-tied bouquet
* a driftwood table lamp
* a fun weekend project
* a glamorous guide to champagne

{images: martha stewart weddings via hip hip gin gin; instructions via martha stewart weddings, with the exception of step number 6; numbered image sequence composed by this is glamorous}

{bits of gold & chic chignons}

. . . a graceful archway and inlaid floors, a grand piano and classic chignons -- a few beautiful thoughts floating about on this perfectly clear and ever-so-slightly crisp sunny autumn afternoon . . .

{images: 1 & 3 - david hicks via desire to inspire; 2 - chloé via style.com; 4 - lilac and grey}

{have a wildly romantic weekend + links}

"who knows where this path will take us but let's go forth hand in hand and promise not to let go because it may lead us somewhere vast & amazing"

*****

. . . trench coats and tartan skirts, kitten heels and argyle sweaters, another autumn weekend is here again, and everywhere, leaves are falling, falling to the last fading rays of golden light, and there are deep coral sunsets and charming pubs with velvet benches to look forward to, apple orchards in the late afternoon and evenings spent lingering by the fireplace, deep in conversation well past midnight . . .

à bientôt / see you soon -- hope you're having a stunningly lovely weekend & that it's beautiful where you are,
~ roséline xo

{a few lovely links:}
* falling for fall: orange velvet
* at home: five uses for wallpaper
* fun: model metamorphosis
* autumn inspiration: pumpkin recipes
* reading: a parisian treasure trove {via pia on twitter}
* packaging: penhaligon's sartorial
* a glimpse: interior designer andrea wilson

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* style inspiration: bits of gold & chic chignons
* at the shops: rothschild & bickers
* runway: valentino, paris
* perfect pairs: palest pink & leopard print
* runway: chloé, paris
* style inspiration: sofia coppola & louis vuitton
* runway: lanvin, paris
* shoes, shoes, shoes: all aglitter
* at the shops: mrs. press
* travel: tinos, greece

{images: editorial - an education, angelica bogatyrova & alex s. by chloe mallett for marie claire UK october 2010; styling by arabella greenhill; via vintage guide, photo-editing by this is glamorous; quote via design is mine}