Rankin x Kipling for the Belgian Bag Brand's 25th Birthday

How cute is this heart shaped Kipling rucksack?  Sadly, it's not being produced, it's just for this image - iconic British photographer Rankin's piece for Kipling's 'Play With Bags' anniversary artist project to celebrate the Belgian brand's 25th birthday.  I suggest getting in touch with them on Facebook or Twitter @KiplingOfficial to ask if they'd put it out - don't ask, don't get!  View the classic Kipling bags and rucksacks that inspired this and a host of other hand picked artists' who contributed to the project including Vincent Gapaillard and Li Wei, at www.25yearskipling.com

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY: CARMEN - A LIFE IN FASHION EXHIBITION (16/11/11 – 14/01/12)

Ali Mahdavi, 2011

The new exhibition, Carmen - A Life In Fashion which opens on 16th November at the London College of Fashion's Fashion Space Gallery is a must see for anyone who loves good old fashioned glamour.  Curated by the legendary illustrator and close friend of Carmen, David Downton (he of the beautiful, iconic fashion illustrations which have been brought to a wider audience in recent years through their use on greetings cards and for High Street names like M&S, Fenwicks and H&M - you can't fail to recognise one of DD's drawings), this exhibition is the first major photographic retrospective of the 80 year old supermodel, Carmen Dell'Orefice, who was discovered at just 13 on the bus on her way to her ballet lesson.  This selection of stunning images from some of the most internationally respected fashion photographers should give you a small taste of what's in store but do visit the Fashion Space Gallery website for more images and further details about the exhibition.

New York, 1947

Paris, 1957

Norman Parkinson, the Bahamas, 1959

Tim Peterson, 2010

Tim Peterson, 2010

Images courtesy of www.fashionspacegallery.com