Unlock your wish

In the final chapter of my collaboration with Cartier, I hoped to explore the idea of unlocking a dream or wish with this personal talisman. It's a little hard to explain the meta-nature of this post, because it was the act of conceptualizing this post and making these photos happen that really WAS my wish. Having my wish come true is being able to express myself in my photography and to have the ideas in my head be translated into something I can share with others. I am the happiest when doing so. Sometimes my friends hear me joke that when I'm not shooting or shopping, I'm rather depressed, and the part about shooting really is true. If I'm not producing work, I feel lost and don't know who I am.

Here I tried to convey the simple act of falling asleep on the sofa, lost in the dream world that the Amulette unlocks.

Shot on a grey rainy day, the darkness of my living room was the perfect backdrop for this series.

So long as I can continue to make this dream my reality, I don't really need to wish for anything else.

Outfit details: Theory Top | Self-Portrait Skirt (find similar here and here)

Inspired by Lapis Lazuli

The way light hits an object can completely change its color and mood. But you probably knew that, and I'm stating the obvious. In the second part of my collaboration with Cartier, I wanted to highlight the color of this particular Amulette with even more emphasis than in part one. I could wax poetic about this particular shade of blue for days. It's very reminiscent of Yves Klein blue, and I really wanted to bring that out with the textures and colors of the environment I shot it in.

I immediately knew I wanted to create a dust/powder in that color, so I started brainstorming how I could achieve that. My initial thought was to buy a TON of bright blue eyeshadow and crush it up. Then I thought about dyeing sugar or flour (but obviously the liquid would mess up the texture). Then I was at an art store and considered grinding up chalk pastels. Finally I learned that I could get paint in the form of dry pigments. Perfect.

Above, you can see fleck details in the Amulette. It almost looks like a galaxy swirl in there.
Change the light and environment as in below, and the Amulette becomes almost a satin-y glossy blue.

Change it again, and the Amulette turns into a midnight moody blue. This last frame also gives you a sneak peek of what's to come in the final chapter. I can't wait to share.

Amulette de Cartier -- Lapis Lazuli

I feel like a broken record when I talk about wanting to add more color into my wardrobe, and then doubly so when every time I do it, it's with some combination of blue and green. I guess I'm a one trick pony! I'm so honored to be working with Cartier once again to create a series of posts dedicated to the new colored Amulette collection (see last year's posts here). The Lapis Lazuli version is a beautiful intense blue with specks of darker silvers and a subtle shimmer. Though I felt a little out of my element in so much color at once, I also felt a bit more daring than usual (like I could more easily get myself caught in some adventure). And of course, playing up the allure of the Amulette is always a fun journey in itself.

Shot on a very windy day in Tribeca.

Amulette III

There's something to be said about the power of an understated but classic accessory piece that can bring a little magic to any old outfit. In the final stage of my project with the Amulette de Cartier, I'm taking the pendant out of its dream world and bringing it to reality and daily life. Though, to be perfectly honest, these are still the filtered pretty views because most days you'll find me cooped up at this computer in my fancy sweatpants with an overflowing messy desk. I've been working on some ongoing projects that I know will be rewarding, but have pretty much wiped out the idea of free time this summer.



It's been surprisingly "mild" this summer (as far as my memories of NYC summer go), which has been great as I'm much more of a jeans/pants girl than a skirts/dresses girl. I often cut through this park on my walks, as it's much prettier than the alternative. I keep thinking about how nice it'd be to just park myself on a bench and get some summer reading done, but I find that the city's pace and energy can make it hard to sit still in one place for long.

[Everlane Tank / MiH Jeans / Hermès Sandals ]

One early morning last weekend, Jimmy and I headed to Bowery Coffee, which used to be one of my favorite spots. They've since changed a few things and don't offer pour over anymore, but truthfully, I go for the Doughnut Plant cake donuts anyway. That morning, we had the blackout chocolate (devoured before we took these photos) and blueberry donuts.

[Everlane Shirt / Imogene + Willie Jeans / Giuseppe Zanotti Flats / Illesteva Sunglasses]

It's been a fun challenge envisioning the Amulette in these different scenarios and attempting to transfer that vision over to photos where you, too, can imagine the thought process and interpret in your own way. If you've missed any of the other posts in this series, see part one or part two here.

Amulette II

In part two of my project with Cartier (see part one here), I've illustrated the dream world of the Amulette, specifically my dream world. When I sat down to think about what this world of unlocked wishes looked like, I couldn't really come up with anything tangible. After all, that's part of the magic of such a dream world.

But my thoughts always returned to Paris. As cliché as it may sound, the idea of Paris at dusk and night time always resonated with as concrete of a dream world as I could conjure up. There is something about the beautiful courtyard entry doors that seems to hide a secret world of which we passersby can only imagine. Perhaps it is what is unseen that I find so alluring. On this past trip to Paris, I paid a bit more attention to light and shadow than I had on previous trips. I still hoped to portray a sense of mystery in this set of photos, and leave you to imagine the rest.

"What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
Into the rose-garden. My words echo
Thus, in your mind."
-T.S. Eliot

Amulette de Cartier

I can't quite begin to describe what an honor it is to be working on this campaign with Cartier, a brand I very much respect for their history and their unwavering attention to detail. Cartier recently launched the Amulette collection, personal charms inspired by the idea of talismans to capture one's wishes and dreams.



One thing I've always bemoaned about necklaces is how the clasp always slips to the front as I'm wearing it. The Amulette opens like a padlock so there is no visible clasp. It's quite a special piece, and mother-of-pearl is a material I can never stop admiring.



Cartier also recently launched a tumblr showcasing the Amulette collection. Next month, I'll be posting a second series of images for this campaign with a very different mood. It's still a work in progress, and I'm excited to share the final results.

*Special thanks to Still House for lending a few props for this shoot and Kira Corbin for her styling help.