Into the Looking Glass

Last week started me thinking about fond childhood memories, and a few Twitter conversations on the subject and a couple of memory-prompting slices of inspiration later, I can't stop thinking about Alice in Wonderland-inspired tea parties or The Secret Garden-esque hideaways and all other sorts of hidden places and passageways! And with Easter just around the corner, what better time to dive headfirst into the rabbit hole?!

Today is all about Miss Alice, and it's impossible (and possibly illegal) to discuss Alice's adventures without mentioning the famous Annie Leibovitz' editorial for US Vogue, so let's start there. Natalia Vodianova stars as our favourite Alice Liddell, and she's joined by an all-star fashion designer cast (...and Rupert Everett. What?!)

[Through the Looking Glass - Natalia wears Balenciaga Couture]

[The Mad Tea Party - Featuring Stephen Jones, right, and Christian Lacroix.
Natalia wears Christian Lacroix Haute Couture]


[The Mock Turtle's Story - Featuring Donatella Versace and Rupert Everett.
Natalia wears Atelier Versace]

[Drink Me - Natalia wears Helmut Lang]

[Tweedledum and Tweedledee - Featuring Rolf Snoeren, far left, and Viktor Horsting.
Natalia wears Viktor & Rolf]

There are still a few fantastic scans of the Vogue spread around too (like this one), which is good news for those of us who don't have Vogue back issues circa 2003! But back to reality, you don't need supermodels and Karl Lagerfeld on speed-dial to tell this great story! Here are three of my favourite Alice-inspired shoots...

This first one has already received a whole lot of blog kudos (bludos?), and quite deservedly so! Alix (aka The Cherry Blossom Girl) and La Méchante teamed up for this amazing shoot, and it's nothing short of divine. The rabbit mask is a little bit eerie (Donnie Darko flashbacks!), the colours are rich, the compositions are quirky, and best of all, there are TINY TINY TEACUPS! I'm so easily amused.







Secondly is this delectable shoot by Andrea Francesco. Andrea writes that the small-scale shoot was limited by the lack of characters at his disposal, but I think he's done a stunning job regardless. The King of Hearts took my breath away. Literally, it really did. I wouldn't lie to you about something so important!

[Down the Rabbit Hole]

[The King of Hearts]

[...Said the White Rabbit]

[A Cup of Tea]

This last shoot looks like it was way too much fun to put together! Edan Fiterman rounded up a group of friends and photographed this Mad Tea Party, complete with real cupcakes, cookies and tea! That's my kind of friend/photographer!

[Down the Rabbit Hole]

[Awaiting]

[Discovering a Mad Tea Party]

[Advice From a Caterpillar]

[Some Tea With That?]

Mmmm cupcakes. Alice in Wonderland is the perfect combination of exploration, oddity, and of course tea parties and tasty candy (let's not discuss all the drug references, mmmkay?) Like many other kidlets (from many generations!), the story captured my imagination and sent me off exploring my neighbourhood in search of the perfect tea party location. Because after all, who hasn't found a perfectly secretive spot and wished they'd brought along an 8-seater table, high tea and a group of well-dressed friends? (Even if said high tea consists of sugared water and Iced Vo Vo's, and well-dressed friends just so happen to be stuffed toys. That still counts!)

Speaking of sumptuous secret locations, the rest of the week is going to be an incomparably chaotic concoction of Secret Garden-esque hideaways, inspired outdoor tea parties and fashions from the forest (not to mention ample alliteration!)...so don't climb out the rabbit hole just yet!


[Images via fairytalecinema, The Cherry Blossom Girl and La Méchant, Andrea Francesco and aragonzo]

14 comments:

Freya said...

I love Alix'a blog, such beautiful photographs. I'm crazy about photo shoots too!

English Muse said...

This is fantastic!!!

Admin said...

Wonder Pix!!

Yelena said...

that blue dress by versace is gorgeous!!!

Fantastic Figments said...

Awesome Post. I just love Alice in Wonderland and everything that goes along with it! Even Jefferson Aeroplane HAHA. Anywho. Wonderful post and wonderful pictures and how delightful a thought as a magical tea-party... peculiar isn't it?

Thanks,

Smooches,
Steph

please sir said...

Such amazing photo collections...magical and brings me back to childhood days!

Unknown said...

Wow. That's really cool! Thanks!

Evy said...

Lovely photos! I've always loved Alice in Wonderland and it has always brought a sense of mysticism - and those photos do exactly that as well.

Thank you for sharing! Brought back some nice childhood memories.

Daydream Lily said...

awesome post!!! Im feeling inspired for a tea party.
x
Liss

Caroline D. said...

what beautiful photos... I want them in a book as illustrations of the story.

Anonymous Bloggette said...

I love the theme and the pictures are amazing. The blue dress that flows in layers and layers is gorgeous

Anonymous said...

These pictures are absolutely beautiful! I love both Alice in Wonderland and The Secret Garden. I'll never get tired of reading them again and again.
Can't wait for your Secret Garden photos. :)

Anonymous said...

L-L-LOVE this!! So beautiful.

Anonymous said...

These shots are beautiful, I couldn't stop looking at them. Thanks for posting.