Uomo

Vintage Bomber Jacket,  American Apparel t-shirt, Vintage shorts, Dr Martens Boots

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, the definition of masculinity and what it means to be a man. Growing up with instilled illustrations of traditional gender roles where toughness and ruggedness was physically associated with male imagery. I’m not a fanatic when it comes to sports. Never have been.  Of course, I’m a geek, and not being into sports is almost part of the definition of being a geek. The dichotomy of the jock/nerd ‘theory’ has led to ideas which heavily define masculinity. Strength, in my opinion, comes from within. It isn’t loud and impetuous, it’s quiet. I’ve never thought of needing to prove its existence because it doesn’t require the validation of others to exist. Strength to me is not being afraid to be vulnerable or to present your authentic self, to conquer and face challenges to the end even at the risk of failure. The ancient model hurts figuratively. It’s time for a change.

Revolution

Hat from Shibuya, Simon Carter shirt, American Apparel sweater, Cotton On tracksuit, Adidas sneakers

I have never felt an affinity with a song until I heard ‘First’ by Cold War Kids. The vulnerability and rawness of emotion in the lyrics carry such power.  I’ve been hibernating for quite a while, attempting to recover, yet scars remain from a malicious bite. Imagination haunts me, it is anxious and psychotic. The part of me that is afraid (the whole of me) is rejecting a permanent place, refusing to be pacified. What I thought was a gift to us was simply just knots of lies.  Summer is coming close, I guess it’s a time for change, a time to leave the past and breathe the present.

     

Mon Amour

NIKOLAS - “mon amour” Spring / Summer 2016 Collection from Frazer McBride on Vimeo.

Designed by NIKOLAS, “mon amour” is a lyrical poem evoking the beauty of sadness. Five looks have been created to entail a story of love, its innocence and the downfall. Whilst constructing this capsule collection it was in my mind to understand what it is to be loved and loving. Thoughts trembled and it sparked a conception of how our experiences strengthen the spine. I love black for its punctuation, a colour so psychometrically immeasurable.

Thank you so much Frazer McBride for making my vision come to life. No words can describe how grateful I am to have collaborated with such a talented and creative friend. As we were discussing how to approach the film, our ideas synchronised. He has an invaluable gift of interpreting moods and encapsulating emotions,

enabling him to create his vision with such innovation and versatility. Explore more of his work at http://www.frazer-mcbride.com/

Endangered Species

Model: Annie Summer Dinh

Photographer: Carolyn Do @ http://www.capturedbycarolyn.com/

Here's a little sneak peak of my unisex capsule collection which is coming up soon. For months and month I've been talking about creating this collection and never fully committed into finishing the project (which should have been completed during the summer). Annie and Carolyn are both of my friends who I really treasure and admire. They inspire me and compel me to believe and conquer my dreams. I feel so lucky to have them in my life and to have shared this adventure of my first capsule collection with them.

Child Walker

Hat from Shibuya, The Fifth Label coat, Uniqlo turtleneck, Vintage trousers, Doc Martens boots

Busy is not an excuse, neither is procrastination. I’ve always had conflict with motivation and my attention span is as dreadful as a fish. I had a five week holiday which was well spent catching up on sleep and refreshing my batteries. Currently I’m in placement, paediatrics to be specific. I don’t know why but working with children has recollected my memories of my father and I when I was a child. Some of the fondest memories I remember is of us playing endless games of hide and seek, or when he took me to watch the acrobats in a circus when I was 7. Our lives have become so hectic; we rarely spend time with each other which makes me feel a bit down. My father has been one of the main photographers for my photos on my blog and I’m very proud of him; we’ve spent so much time together it has somewhat reconnected a father and son bond.

Denial

Hat from Shibuya, Rise of Dawn turtleneck, Monki culottes, Doc Martens boots

Photography by Carolyn Do @ www.capturedbycarolyn.com (visit her website for more of her talented work)

There’s an old Chinese proverb which goes like this: ‘once you’ve been bitten by a snake, you’re even afraid of a piece of rope’. I never really understood this idiom until I encountered what I had encountered earlier this month. The poison from its venom had bewitched my senses and only numbness radiated from the tips of my fingers and toes. What I had believed, what I had loved, it was raw. My innocence had left the door and it was time to step over to reality.