pretty picture: strong dancers

there are no words to describe how moved i feel after seeing this photograph.  wow.

taken by the incredibly talented marcus roy hoffman

fashion: forever new a/w 2011

confession time: i had never heard of the australian brand forever new before i came across their autumn/winter 2011 collection on fashionising.  i immediately felt very in the dark because my-oh-my this style is my style!  what a treat!   i mean, the show started with ballerinas!  if that isn't perfectly "kait-esque," i don't know what is!

but anways, on to the main show - the fabulous fashion --

and the TWO looks i most want (usually i can narrow it down to one... not this time!) --

 ~ ONE ~

that neckline!  that belt!  that silhouette!  whoooah baby...

 ~ TWO ~

 pretty sure i need this soft rose jacket in my life.  i mean, that back tie-bow?  perfection.

head on over to fashionising to see much, much more.  

truly - i just skimmed the surface of this collection's loveliness!

side note: also in love with the styling for the models.  especially the soft wave-curls.  woah.

* expect to see more of forever new here on pretty things in the future! *

-kait

etc: flashmob aweseomness

flashmob highlighting all forms of dance ~ in berlin this march.

seriously - just awesome. watch the whole thing & thank me later :)

[discovered on dancers are the athletes of god]

pretty pictures: fred & ginger in vogue nippon

gorgeous model raquel zimmermann throws on some designer gowns and goes dancing in this incredible editorial shot by inez vinoodh.  check it --

i just can't get over how incredible the fabric of these gowns look here... wow.

incredible modeling, incredibly styling, incredible photography.

all the elements of an incredibly fab photoshoot!

vogue nippon march 2011

via

pretty pictures: la ballet

proper french aside, this editorial from vogue girl korea [feb 2006] is amazing.  

here are just a few of my fave shots: 

focused & graceful, oh joong seeok is the model prima ballerina in this spread.

love, love, looooove.

  

see the whole editorial here

etc: happy ballet day!

did you know February 7th is ballet day? well, it is!  i first saw it on mimi + meg's February calendar of celebrations but thought it was too good to be true.  well lo and behold - true! check it out:

"On February 7, 1827, French ballet was introduced to the United States with a performance of "The Deserter," staged at the Bowery Theater in New York. For that reason, today is considered by some Americans as Ballet Day." [source]

 AWESOME!  in celebration, i'm going to share with you one of my fave dance videos ever.  Polina Semionova is a true ballet goddess and this music video is proof.  i'll never stop loving this video, and never stop loving her passion.  enjoy :

p.s.  it's also my parents' anniversary.  so it's an extra-special day :)

pretty pictures: curtain call

photos from elle, feb 2010, featuring model natasa vojnovic & the talented dancers of american ballet theatre. photographed by carter smith and styled by mario grauso.

i'll never get enough of ballet dancers in fashion editorials!

images via -- go here to see more

pretty picture: dancer in the window

 what a beautiful strong woman!

love.

image via

pretty pictures: dancing with little boys

 gorgeous photo shoot by tae woo for vogue girl korea --

& my fave shot:

 

lovely. 

images via

pretty picture: ginger snow ballerina

today's pretty picture is in honor of my snow-loving-ginger-ballerina best friend who lives in minnesota.  she is going through a hard time and today i will be reunited with her and will hold her hand and wipe her tears and tell her everything is going to be alright.  not exactly "fun," but i am glad to be able to support her.

image via

quotation: wendy whelan on grace

words can't put into words how much i love this quotation.

& this image.  beautiful.

image via

[original source unknown]

pretty picture: mini ballerina

it's been a really rough week... yes, i realize it's only wednesday, but it's been rough... except this picture really, really, really helps!!

hope it made you smile!

[via]

link love: 11.28.10

design/decor:
- metallic wallpaper: it's jewelry for your walls!
- some lovely rooms where yellow is the name of the game
- rooms where red is rad ~ i think the first room is a little overwhelming, but the red-themed organization in the 4th is kinda awesome!
- tory burch stores [although i wish chicago's pretty little store had been included!]
- love this funny "he said, she said" about eclectic design

fashion:
- an ode to wide-brimmed hats.  i can't pull it off personally, but i still love the look.
- i've read a lot of negative feedback [e.g. kaiser over at celebitchy]to natalie portman in a strapless floral dress at the AFI fest 2010 "black swan" closing night gala, but i personally love it.  it's relaxed, fun, & feminine... & still super classy.  [i'm so glad my fave blog red carpet fashion awards agrees. click the link to see the dress] 
- an ode to ballet inspired fashion
- in case you were wondering... stars sans stylists: what it really means
- i LOVE the boho-fem look of isabella marant. as the blogger the runway romantique describes her clothing soo perfectly: "her collections are always light-hearted, perfectly blending a style that suits lovers of bohemian and french chic."  yesssss.
- it's a sad day for sophie at diary of a young designer.  forever 21 ripped off her pretty headband :(  join in the boycott & show your support for indie designers!

photography:
- fabulous photo shoot highlighting golden fashion & doutzen kroes' beauty [even with an afro!]
- love this photo of gold sequins in the desert with the sun setting in the background
- photographer moises gonzáles recreates some of gustav klint's most famous paintings
- vogue covers from around the world this november

etc:
 - an ode to burberry plaid
- the hierarchy of candy
- adorable little girl's art gallery party
- cute & clever tie-pography
- rustic glam wedding photo shoot that will make your heart melt.  beautiful.
- super cool vintage magazine covers, including vanity fair & vogue

pretty picture: waiting by the window - pt. 3

yet another.  this time our model [julia dunstall] is also playing the role of a pensive ballerina wearing killer red pointe shoes.  awesomeness.

just like all my other "waiting by the window" pictures, i can't help but wonder: who is she?  what/who is she waiting for?

for this photograph, i've decided she is an ex-prima ballerina.  her prime dancing days are over, perhaps due to an injury since she looks fairly young, but she still throws on her fave [red!] pointe shoes to dance around in the privacy of her home.  it doesn't matter if she slips up or doesn't look perfect or even *gasp* falls -- this performance is for her, her enjoyment, her passion, her love.  why is she by the window?  she is relaxing post-dance, staring out at the expansive outdoors, reflecting on her time spent on the stage.  not waiting, but reminiscing.

that's my story.  maybe it says more about me than the actual image or photographer's vision, but it is what i see.  [& that's why i looooove photography, it allows you to interpret it however you wish]

what do you see?

from elle [U.S.] march 2009

photographed by david armstrong

via dustjacket attic, along with the rest of the full photo shoot.

pretty pictures: vogue 2004

the other day i picked up the [heavy!] vogue september issue & immediately started salivating over the gogeous photos.  it made me think of my very first september issue, purchased 6 years ago, & it's epic photoshoot of nine top models. 

daria werbowy, natalia vodianvoa, gisele bundchen, isabeli fontana, karolina kurkova , liya kebede, hana soukupova, gemma ward & karen elson

here are some of my favorite photos from the editorial: 

...and my all-time favorite:

ever since, my love for fashion, photographry, & [above all] fashion photography, has only grown.

[i posted yet another photograph from this editorial here]

from vogue september 2006 

photographed by steven meisel 

find all photos from fashion spread here

pretty picture: ballerina bride pt.2

center stage: ballet wedding by ditte isager for martha stewart weddings

is there anything more beautiful & elegant than ballerinas?

only ballerinas in bridal.

via the terrier and the lobster