Raquel Vidal Archives - Steve Marsel Studio

The Power of White Fashion Photography – by Boston Photographer Steve Marsel

November 11, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

The Power of White by Terry J. Wheaton

White…is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black…God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white. G. K. Chesterton

Original Photography by Boston Advertising & Commercial Photographer Steve Marse — The Power of White By Terry J. Wheaton Photo by Steve Marsel

White is the sum of all other colors in the spectrum. It reflects light. In this image white evokes thoughts of subtle church music, smells of incense, and the wonder and excitement of a new bride. It sets the mood; it encapsulates all that is white and pure. It transcends continents and transports one to a mindset and time when all things are possible. From the straight lines of the architecture, to the innocent almost timid expression of the model, one can almost forget time, space and reality getting lost in the beauty of what could be.

Terry J. Wheaton Headshot — Terry J. Wheaton

Guest blogger Terry J. Wheaton (Desired Results by Terry ) is a Fashion Stylist with a wealth of diverse experience. Her many years in front of the camera as a model have given her a unique perspective on styling. Terry understands what it takes to produce a quality image. Her attention to detail and unparalleled organizational skills make her a leader in the field. Comfortable in all types of settings and working with photographers and models at all skill levels, she brings her creativity and diversity to all that she does.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Hair and Make-up by Lisa Roche, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Talking Hats – Original Fashion Photography by Boston Photographer Steve Marsel

November 4, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

Before bumper stickers and t-shirts, many of the loudest personal statements did not come from the mouth, but from an artistic formation of fabric, straw or leather strategically worn atop the head. The hat continues to scream style, aspiration, status, and sense of humor. We can hide demurely under a black wide brim and sunglasses, evoking Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, balance a fruit and straw creation on the dance floor announcing,”Step back, I’m Carmen Miranda and I’m fun!”, perch a pillbox elegantly a la Jackie O. We can look unflappable in 20’s-inspired flapper cloches, top notch in top hats, newsworthy in chic newsboy caps.

We can further our self-expression by choosing how to wear our hats. Our fedoras can tilt dangerously, our baseball caps can have a major league curl to the brim, our skull caps can slouch and sulk. One thing comes across loud and clear, however; hats talk. They tell stories. They reveal dreams. They tell lies. Don’t believe a word they say.

—Raquel Vidal

Raquel Vidal

Guest blogger Raquel Vidal is a New York city based fashion stylist and the former accessory editor of Mademoiselle magazine.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Make-up by Jeni Teran , The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal, Photography by Steve Marsel

The Story of Pleats and The Magician of Venice Photography by Boston Photographer Steve Marsel

October 13, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

The Magician of Venice by Raquel Vidal

Although Mariano Fortuny took his silk pleating and dying techniques to his grave with him in 1949, his pleated “Delphos” gown was no secret to the fashionable a century ago.

https://www.stevemarselstudio.com/blog/ — The Com-pleat Magic of Fortuny

Worn by such legends as Isadora Duncan, Sarah Bernhard and Mrs. Conde Nast, and now fetching well over $40,000 at auction, his couture confections were one of a kind masterpieces inspired by his love for ancient Grecian styles and the creation of sumptuous textiles. A true Renaissance man, Fortuny was an exceptional painter, lighting designer, photographer, inventor, textile designer, architect and couturier. Some of his stage lighting innovations are still in use. If he were alive in this day and age, he would easily keep the same nickname, “The Magician of Venice” despite today’s headline-hungry press’ probable attempts to label him as “Wagner Groupie” (he followed composer Richard Wagner obsessively all over Europe) or “Venetian Eccentric” (he favored 16^th century costumes while working in his palazzo, now the Museum Fortuny). One thing is for certain, however: every pleated gown designed today bears homage to the ever lingering magic of the great master.

Raquel Vidal

Guest Blogger Raquel Vidal is a NYC based fashion stylist, and a former fashion editor at Mademoiselle and Kidstyle magazines.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Hair and Make-up by Lisa Roche, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

The Tim Burton Effect – By Hannah Kittell

October 5, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

Many of us have gone through a “goth phase” at some point in our lives. For me, that phase started at the age of five. For this, I mostly blame the works of one Mr. Tim Burton, influential filmmaker, infamous weirdo, and master of the charming-macabre aesthetic that has colored an entire generation.

Fashion Photography by Boston Photographer Steve Marsel — Photo ©2010 Steve Marsel

Like most arty types with a vision, Burton started out small, filming stop-motion shorts in his yard as a child. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and went on to work at Disney, where he quickly gained the attention of critics for short films he made, and continued to make after leaving Disney, such as Frankenweenie, an adaptation of the Frankenstein story told about a boy and his pet dog, which was one of my childhood favorites.

Burton’s first feature was Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which was a box-office success and proved Burton could work his magic full-length films as well as shorts. It was Burton’s second feature, however, that holds a special place in my heart. Beetlejuice, released in 1988 (the year I was born), is a dark, twisted, hilarious little masterpiece that entrances me as much now as it did when I was too young to understand half the jokes. Perhaps it was the morbid, rebellious young heroine, or the idea of having ghost-friends who would levitate you to music if you got good grades, or perhaps it was the surreal cartoon-quality of the characters and the scenic design. Whatever it was, it colored my childhood, my life and my work as a designer indelibly.

After Beetlejuice came other greats, my personal favorites being The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, and the highly underrated Mars Attacks! Burton’s films have a cohesive feel that is unique and captivating, whether or not you’re a little goth kid like I was. His more recent films, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland, do have a distinctly different flavor than “old school” Burton, I’ll admit, and many fans of his earlier works are on the fence as to how they feel about this new turn in his film making. Say what you will, but one cannot argue the fact that no matter how his films have changed, he is still doing what he did years ago: his films still transport the audience right smack in the middle of his own vivid and fantastical imagination, something we, as an audience along for the ride, can all appreciate. I certainly think my five-year-old self would approve.

Hannah Littell

Hannah Kittell graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2010, and works in costume design for stage, film and television. She is a native of Warwick, RI, and lives in New York City. Her work can be seen on her website at www.HannahKittell.com.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Make-up by Jeni Teran, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

What does color mean? By Kristen D’Amour

September 28, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

Look in your closet – what colors do you see? Why did you choose those colors for your wardrobe and would it change if you were in a different part of the country? If you are in Boston, it’s likely hues of black and brown started overpowering your closet once the temperature outside dropped. If you’re in Southern California, your closet is probably full of white and other light colors. Why is this? And how does color affect how we feel?

The main reason why people in cooler climates wear dark clothes and people in warmer climates wear light color clothes is pretty straightforward – it comes down to balancing our own body temperature’s with the environment outside. Dark colors, like black, absorb heat, keeping us warm in cool weather whereas light colors, like white, reflect the light, keeping us cool. The color you wear is also affected by the culture around you. For instance, Miami is heavily influenced by Latin cultures, where bright colors are popular, so clothes there are usually in shades of orange, yellow, bright blue and purple. (continued below photo)

LoringHouse-RoundRoom208-e3workingWM — Photograph © 2010 Steve Marsel

On a psychological level, how does the color you wear affect your mood? Research on this subject is limited, however some evidence suggests that color influences the pituitary gland, which controls hormone levels and thus our moods. There have also been studies about the affect of certain colors, like a 2008 University of Rochester study in which photographs of men and women wearing red were considered more attractive than in other colors. And around the world, colors have different meanings. For example, in America, white means purity and happiness, making it an obvious color choice for wedding dresses. However, in eastern cultures, white symbolizes death and is worn to funerals.

This is all consistent, for the most part, with what you see from the fashion and merchandising industries. For fall/winter, black is usually more prominent on the runway and in stores than bright colors, which are seen more in spring/summer collections. This all results in why a closet in Boston looks quite different from one in Southern California.

Kristen D’Amour is the Founder/Owner of the clothing menu, a fashion blog and online boutique that supports independent fashion designers.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Make-up by Jeni Teran The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Androgny in Fashion – Photography by Steve Marsel

September 22, 2010 // by Steve Marsel

“No question, there is something innately sexy about a woman lying in bed wearing her boyfriend’s button down or wearing his blazer for the day! Is it because of the self confidence seeping through or is it simply a woman proving herself in a man’s world, all the while looking fabulous? That is for each of us to decide. The idea of women wearing mens fashion dates from the 1930’s/1940’s and currently accounts for 20% of sales from some of the largest mens designer stores to date.“

Original Photography by Boston Advertising & Commercial Photographer Steve Marsel — Androgny in Fashion

Terry J. Wheaton

Once Again We express our gratitude for the opportunity have shot at Loring House. Special thanks to Jonathan Loring for graciously granting us permission & Al Levasseur for guiding us through the property. Additional thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Stellina, Hair and Make-up by Jeni Teran, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal.

Raquel Vidal

The Power of White by Terry J. Wheaton

White…is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black…God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white. G. K. Chesterton

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Hair and Make-up by Lisa Roche, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

—Raquel Vidal

Raquel Vidal Guest blogger Raquel Vidal is a New York city based fashion stylist and the former accessory editor of Mademoiselle magazine.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Make-up by Jeni Teran, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal, Photography by Steve Marsel

The Magician of Venice by Raquel Vidal

Raquel Vidal

Guest Blogger Raquel Vidal is a NYC based fashion stylist, and a former fashion editor at Mademoiselle and Kidstyle magazines.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Hair and Make-up by Lisa Roche, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Make-up by Jeni Teran, The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Make-up by Jeni Teran The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Raquel Vidal

Guest blogger Raquel Vidal is a New York city based fashion stylist and the former accessory editor of Mademoiselle magazine.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Make-up by Jeni Teran , The incredible retouching of Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal, Photography by Steve Marsel