Influencers

I found this short documentary about "Influencers" very interesting. NB: It may require you to sit still for 13 minutes, but you will take something from it, I promise.

For those of you who don't take the time to watch things, I will quickly explain to you what you could have seen.  This documentary explores what it means to be an influencer. It then goes on to talk about how trends and creativity is becoming more widespread within today's society due to music, fashion and entertainment.

My thoughts on Popular Culture and it's influences on our society: Pop culture is so ingrained into our society that it's impossible not be influenced by it.  I think it's great that it is having such a massive impact on people identities. My life has changed immensely since 2008 (around the time I realised I loved fashion so much) because I have been able to access broad based mediums and because it's become easier for me to search for instant information. I have been able to absorb all this information and it has now helped me to formulate my own ideals, opinions, and essentially my outlook on life. So I believe without pop-culture my "influencers" would have been completely different.

So my questions to you are: What and who are you influenced by? What shapes you as a person? Has it been someone who has created something? A musician? An everyday person? A fashion designer?

See more on the Influencers site

Written and Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today's pop culture.

Ally xxx

The man on the bicycle

"The best fashion show is definitely on the street" - Bill Cunningham

On Saturday night we stayed in and watched Bill Cunningham New York. And far out, what a fantastic documentary!

For those of you unaware of Bill Cunningham/ the man on the bicycle, I'll bring you up to speed. Bill Cunningham photographs people and the passing scene on the streets of Manhattan daily. Through watching this documentary you will see he only photographs people who are wearing extraordinary things. Bill Cunningham has a keen eye for fashion and likes to see people steering clear of "cookie cutter" sameness. And I for one have that same outlook. Why would you want to look like 10 million other people when it is so easy to be an individual?

What really was inspiring about this documentary was that Bill Cunningham is an 80+ man still doing what he loves and what he describes as "not work, it’s pleasure.". He has retained such a youthful spirit - He is still riding a bike around daily, he’s still on the street and is still doing his two columns for The Times. It is inspiring to see there is no age limit on the things you love to do and that if you keep active you will live a long, fulfilled life.

The documentary also has a sad undertone. Bill has chosen to live a modest life. He doesn't care for money and his apartment is very small, filled with filing cabinets upon filing cabinets. This is where he stores every photograph he has ever taken for his own reference. Bill's bed is merely a plank of wood and a mattress. He has never been in a relationship and he doesn't have any children. But he doesn't seem to care. He said he "hasn't ever had the time" - he's always been "too busy" to fit anything along those lines in. He works day and night, and has done so for years. Through this you can see that he has really taken a vow of fashion.

It truly is a must see - so please do! I bet you won't be able to stop smiling at how amazing this gentleman is.

PS: One of the only reasons why I want to go to New York is so I can bump into Bill on 57th Street and 5th Avenue. That would be amazing.

Happy Tuesday
Ally
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a visual life

My friend shared this little documentary she found of Scott Schuman, the guy behind The Sartorialist. I normally check out his site quite often, but for some reason I haven't in about a month.

This short clip is very inspirational and just goes to show, if you work hard you will get to where you want.

Thank you Shari!

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