Rihanna for Balmain and Erykah Badu for Givenchy

Eighties/Nineties throwback! I am absolutely in awe with Rihanna in the latest French Fashion house Balmain Spring Campaign. She is stunning! It was photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.  it was styled by Rihanna's own stylist, Mel Ottenberg. "In front of the camera, she makes you feel like she is the only girl in the world," said label's creative director, Oliver Rousteing. 

Here is a little previous of Erykah Badu for Givenchy‘s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign by director Riccardo Tisci shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott.. I like the mix of African and Japanese influences.. I think she is perfect for this campaign! I am a huge fan of Erykah Badu. I saw her in concert at the Massey Hall in Toronto and it has to be one of the best concert I have ever seen. She is flawless, she is a timelessly beautiful, and she has a voice that take me to a different world. I am NEVER tired of listening to Erykah Badu.. ♡

It's a wrap on Sensitive Skin with Kim Cattrall!

It's a wrap on TV series Sensitive Skin!

Two months ago, I was approached by the one and only Kim Cattrall regarding her upcoming TV series Sensitive Skin to be her wardrobe stylist consultant.  Shortly after falling off my chair.. I found myself shopping for her in her new role as Davina and it was an amazing experience! 

Sensitive Skin is the story of Davina Jackson. Davina is going through her mid-life crisis and she is taking everyone with her. lol! The story is witty, happy, sad.. and well it's life. Sensitive Skin is the remake of original BBC TV series, a comedie that got great reviews in 2005. Watch out for it next Spring 2014 on HBO CANADA The Movie Network!

Davina's fashion style is elegant and classy. She is sophisticated, yet still seductive. I must admit, when I started my shopping, I would often gravitated toward some pretty  suggestive sequins number.. In fact, I lost count of the  amount of times I thought to myself.. "this would be perfect for Samantha Jones!". But since I was not working for Patricia Field, I quickly had to move on to the next clothing rack!

I was very happy to found out that Kim was looking forward to wear Canadian Designers designs. Kim is Liverpool-born Canadian bred NewYorker and she is proud of her Canadian love. For a few days, myself and Lea Carlson (costume designer for the show) strictly focus on Canadian Designers.. unfortunately, choices was limited. It was often impossible to find what was needed in the perfect style, the perfect colours and the right fabric from each designers. Although challenging, It was a goal of mine that Kim would wear a something from a Canadian Designer for every outfits worn! 

Here is a list of designers that Kim wore during the filming of Sensitive Skin.. I hope I did not forget anyone. I also added a few pictures of Kim wearing Canadian Designs that she posted on her twitter account. Make sure to follow Kim @KimCattrall and @SensitiveSkinTV for more details and for more great pictures!

Blouse from Freda's

Blouse from Dennis Merotto 

 Skirt, blazer and dress from Lida Baday

Dress from Arthur Mendonça

Skirt from Lucian Matis

 Blouse & skirt from Pink Tartan

Coat from Sentaler

Leather Jacket from Roots

Jacket from Jeremy Laing 

Belt from Dsquared2

Belts from Suzi Roher 

Gloves from The Quill and Tine 

Pumps from Ron White
Lingerie from Christina lingerie available at Pert Lingerie
 Jewelry from Arielle de pinto available at Gravity Pope
Wedding ring by Shannon Hazell

Thanks to:
Eve Gravel, Brunswick and co., ZANE, m0851, Anne Sportun, Made You Look,
Shopgirls, Forthnight Lingerie, Caitlin Power, Mackage,
Gail at Stylist Box, Patricia at Faulhaber Communication

In this picture, Kim is wearing an amazing skirt from Lucian Matis latest collection!

Here she is wearing a Jeremy Laing Jacket.. probably wishing she would be wearing Marc-André lol

Here she is again looking beautiful wearing the Jeremy Laing Jacket.. 

Here is Kim wearing an amazing leather jacket from Roots. Thanks Roots! It looked amazing on her and she loves it!

Keeping "warm" on a bike wearing the Alana leather Jacket from Roots in chocolate brown and you can see a glimpse of the Carleton black leather gloves from Quill and Tine! 

Enjoying a tea in the company of Director/actor Don McKellar and writer Bob Martin. In this picture, Kim is wearing a stunning coat from Sentaler.

The cast of Sensitive Skin is amazing! Kim Cattrall is not only the series lead but she is also the Executive Producer. The very talented Don McKellar is the director and  he plays Davina's long-time husband's, Al. Other casts included the handsome acteur Québecois Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y.), Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H, Friends, Ray Donovan), Nicolas Wright (White House Down), Colm Feore (The Borgias), Joanna Gleason (Last Vegas), Clé Bennett (Flashpoint), Mary Walsh (This hour has 22 minutes), the lovely Jennifer Podemski (Empire of Dirt, Take the last Waltz) and the list goes on and on.. 

Aside from her film work, Kim Cattrall is also a very talented stage and theatre actress. I think she is fantastic and a very talented actress. She has been working on Sensitive Skin for years now and I feel very fortunate to have been part of it. I meet some great people and I got to work aside the talented Lea Carlson, Costume Designer for the show. 

SENSITIVE SKIN is produced by Rhombus Media in association with Baby Cow Productions, The Movie Network in Eastern Canada and Movie Central in Western Canada. 

Sensitive Skin IMDB page

Follow Sensitive Skin on Twitter

Follow Kim Cattrall on Twitter 

I could not post a blog about Kim Cattrall without mentioning Samantha Jones. Simply because I have watched the Sex in the City series many times, maybe to many times and this show changed my life. Not only for the fashion but for Samantha Jones funniest quotes/life advices. And this is how I will end my post. Enjoy!

1. On dressing one's age: 

I am fifty fucking two, and I will rock this dress!

2. On personal goals: 

I have to start writing things down. I also have to start drinking heavily.

3. On self-preservation and gossip: 

Sweetheart, you can't go listening to every fucking little voice that runs through your head. You'll go nuts!

4. On difficult people: 

His problem is he's an asshole!

5. On mens:

They are two types of men in the world the one that wants to fuck you and the one that wants to hold your hand..

6. Decide on what to wear for a date:

Hi, I need something that'll make a guy cum in his pants as soon as he sees me!

7. On faithfulness:

Men cheat the same reason dogs lick their balls, because they can!

8. On repeating and learning from past mistakes: 

Fuck me badly once shame on you. Fuck me badly twice shame on me!

9. On men's grooming:

Could you shave or something? Blowing you is like getting my teeth flossed!

10. On independence: 

I love you but I love me more..

11. On Money, power and money:

Money is power. Sex is power. Therefore, getting money for sex is simply an exchange of power.

12. On blow job:

You men have no idea what we’re dealing with down there. Teeth placement, and jaw stress, and suction, and gag reflex, and all the while bobbing up and down, moaning and trying to breathe through our noses. Easy? Honey, they don’t call it a job for nothing.

13. On aging:

"I found a grey hair… Down there. What am I gonna do? No man wants to fuck grandma's pussy!"

14. On LGBT RIGHTS: 

Gay men understand what's important. Clothes, compliments and cocks!

15. On settling down: 

If you turn into one of those married asshole I'll kill you..

Best ad I have ever seen. Bravo JCVD and the drivers!

Volvo Trucks - The Epic Split feat. Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme on location in Spain.

The Scorpio Arm Camera Car was used for shooting the stunt.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

THE DULUX COLLECTION & the day I became DEXTER

Images © Spot Cinema

When I was in high school, I spent countless "nuits blanches" painting in my tiny bedroom. I would pretend to go to bed, rolled a dark towel at the bottom of my door so my dad wouldn't see the light and I would paint all night long listening to my Nirvana tape Nevermind over and over. 

I LOVE painting during the middle of the night. It's quiet, there no rush, no schedule, nowhere to go.. But most of all, I love painting because of the way it makes me feel. It makes me feel good. Twenty years later I am still a night owl, still love to paint but I have no time!

Until recently when the amazing George Simhoni from Westside Studio asked me to work on a job for the paint company Dulux. This was no ordinary job, I had to create a clothing collection with paint splatters for a fashion show, THE DULUX COLLECTION. Somebody pinch me? This is a dream job? With the one and only Nikki Ormerod shooting stills? Can this job get any better? 

My very helpful cat Cleopatra

My tools

Before Jackson pollock-ing any garments, I installed protective plastic film all around my living room and my kitchen. Even the ceiling, everything had to be cover. Do you watch Dexter? I even had a little table with all my tool set up. Just like Dexter. All I needed was some clothing and some paint to start my experiments!

Its a good thing that the Dulux store is minutes from my place because it took me hours to  make decision on colours. I walked-in with a very good idea of what I wanted, but I got overwhelm looking at all the other beautiful colours! It was very important to have nice colour combination so the splatter would have a good flow on the garment. Overall, I am very happy with all my colours.. except for the red. Even if I love red, It just looks like blood. It's ok for my apartment to look like Dexter just moved in but the blood splatter on my clothing was just not working. 

How to create the perfect splatter? I tried everything. From simple paintbrush, sponge, straws, sling shot and shoot glass, water guns, water balloons filled with paint. For a few days, my neighbour called me Dexter and I became a paint splatter analyst. Thanks to my good friend Nikki Ormerod that gladly volunteer to help by trowing me shot glasses full of paint.. That was great help Nikki thanks but but my best splattering option turned to be a turkey baster. Seriously! 

Once I had all my colour combinations figured out and successful messy experiments.. I was ready to start "The Dulux Collection"! This was such a fun job to do.. for me it was not work. I was no longer paint splattering a dress for my Dulux job, I was making art and I was loving it!

This is the white board that I used to do the accessories. It on on the floor in the previous picture. I decided to keep it, I love the way it "happen"

Crime scene

In action

My victims :)

Here is my "trophy",  THE DULUX COLLECTION fashion show! 

The Dulux Collection from Spot Cinema on Vimeo.

http://www.dulux.ca/theduluxcollection/ 

Director: George Simhoni
Photographer: Nikki Ormerod
Agency: Reason Partners, Jeff Plowman 

Creative Director: Peter Holmes
DP & Editing: Spot Cinema Inc.
Hair & Makeup: Jukka, Lisa Vella & Cait Mitzi
Stylist & Wardrobe: Marie-Eve Tremblay
Producer: Tom Nesbitt 

Assistants: Gabe Nivera, Marvin Kwan, Bryan Ulrich, Noel Araquel, & Laura Crowell

And some beautiful shoot by Nikki Ormerod and some clever ads to advertise the colours names..

Images © Nikki Ormerod

Images © Nikki Ormerod

Images © Nikki Ormerod

Images © Nikki Ormerod

Images © Nikki Ormerod 

Images © Nikki Ormerod 

Westside's blog

PHOTOGASM | THE DULUX COLLECTION

http://www.westsidestudio.com/blog/?p=19082 

Visit the Facebook Dulux page to create your own t-shirt! 

https://www.facebook.com/duluxcanada

www.dulux.ca

www.simhoni.com

www.nikkiormerod.com

Mes pieds :)

The Psychology of color in fashion

   Back in 1686, Richard Waller “Table of Physiological Colors Both Mixt and Simple” offered a handy table for cross-referencing colors one might find in nature samples.

 And here is the 2013 version.. 

I DECLARE WAR - THE MOVIE -

How strong was your imagination growing up? Mine was expressed on paper drawing pink dreamy dresses quietly for hours and hours wearing my mother's heels..

But for the teenagers in I declare war, they don’t joke around and definitely don't wear pink. They play war and they this very seriously. 

I Declare War is about two groups of 13 years old friends that often meets up in the woods to play war. One afternoon,  the game gets out of control and their fantasy game soon becomes reality. They have rules to follow, they built weapons, grenade and they have flags to collect.. Things get really nasty. Friendships get tested, they get jealous, they lie, they get competitive, they fall in love.. they wanna win and will do ANYTHING in their power to win.

I worked on I Declare War as the costume designer over the summer of 2011. It was A LOT of work but a great experience. I’ve had the privilege to work with a lot of young actors in my career, but few have impressed me and inspired me like the gang of I Declare War. I miss them all.. yes including their multiples f-bombs! Fuck I miss them!!  

I am now very proud to announce that I Declare War is showing at the Toronto TIFF Bell Lightbox from May 10th through May 16th 2013. You can see the full schedule and purchases your tickers HERE.

I DECLARE WAR - The Movie Trailer:

Written by Jason Lapeyre. Co-directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson. Produced by Lewin Webb,  Samaritan Entertainment Inc.

Starring Mackenzie Munro, Andy Reid, Gage Munroe, Siam Yu, Michael Friend, Eric Hanson, Aidan Gouveia, Alex Cardillo, Kolton Stewart, Dyson Fyke, Spencer Howes, Alex Wall 

I have been getting a few questions regarding the wardrobe of the movie. The main question that always come back is how do I decide what each actors will be wearing? I wanted the clothes to reflect a little bit of each actors personality and represent each character correctly. Like in real life, what you wear says a lot about yourself. As a costume designer, I had to make sure that was felt. I got inspired a lot by watching teenagers in the street. Budget was limited so I also had to get crafty by creating some of the t-shirt design for Skinner, Frost, Kenney and Jocker. People watching is the best! But I also watch a lot of movies that showcase teenagers such as Lord of the Flies (1963), The Goonies (1985) and of course Stand by me (1986).

One of my biggest challenge was to find multiples of the same items, aged and distress the same outfit to follow the continuity of the shooting schedule. Of course when the actors started getting nasty to each other, so did the wardrobe! Oh la la I spent days and stayed up at night washing and scrubbing, distressing, aging, over dyeing and scrubbing the clothing.. did I say scrubbing? And I can honestly say that Oxi Clean truly works. They should pay me for that.. right?

Although it is a movie about a one day war.. a lot can happen in one day. Every actors needed more than one change of clothes and shoes. Thanks to Adidas for getting me a great deal on a LOT of shoes! Some kids needed up to 8 changes of the same outfits.. and all 8 changes had to be the same. Washed the same amount of time, dyed and aged the same exact way. Thanks to all my wonderful wardrobe assistant! 

I am very proud to have been part of this movie and to have worked with all theses amazing talented teenagers. I Declare War is an amazing movie not to be miss! It has been getting really amazing reviews! It have been compared as a modern twist of Lord of the Flies. The movie has won the best screenplay and the Best Movie at ActionFest 2012. It also showed at the TIFF in September 2012. It also won the coveted audience award at Austin's Fantastic Fest. Honestly, I lost count on the amount of great reviews I have read over the past year. Just go see it! 

"I Declare War is the best movie at the Chicago Critics Film Festival

and one of my favourite films of the year" - Patrick Bromley

"I Declare War may be the best movie for adults starring children ever made" - Toro Magazine

"Sharp, funny and edge of your seat chilling" - The Globe & Mail

"I Declare War is a must see movie" - Twitch

www.ideclarewar.ca

www.facebook.com/IDeclareWarTheMovie

Vancouver International Film Festival from May 17th to May 23nd 2013

Myself Costume Designer, Lisa Mandel the key make up artist, Michal Page the Second Assistant Director

Myself on set trying to look gangster!