Happy new year 2012!

Send you a New Year card, 

 all filled with the best wishes.

 It is the beautiful blessing of a whole new year, 

it is the nice wishing of a whole new year.  

The next year, 

we will continue growing up together;

 we will continue leading happiness life together.

Listen,

It is the sounds of people's laughing on the streets,

It is the sounds of fireworks' running in the sky.

my dear friend,

 Happy New Year!

Well...what's my wish of the new year?

Being a better artist!

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Happy Birthday to my mom.

   It is very difficult to express my love to the closest people of mine. It is my mom's birthday, I paint this drawings for my mom. She is the one who told me the most beautiful outfit of girls is their confidence; she is the one who told me your drawing shows your personality. She always support me, she always being too busy to remember her birthday properly. I couldn't celebrate today with her, but I really want to tell her-It is the luckiest thing to be your daughter.

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Black and White.

    There are always 2 opposite elements that exist separately at the same time in the world. Similar as Yin and yang, black & white is the purest and strongest contrast color combination. B&W art presented a classic, decorated style, which you could imagine any colors from it. And black and white outfit always give people a serious but elegant feeling, a great black neat outfit could be suitable of any sexuality. Just like the theme of today, a neat black outfit which was inspired by jewish men's black outfit. The inspirations of fashion designs are all from human's traditional culture, nothing has been created originally without nature and culture's inspirations. People used to say fashion is kind of " Recycle", actually I really think everything in the world is like recycle, include of our life. Recently I realized it is so much fun to record my inspirations and recreated them with my brushes and imaginations again. I used to make my daily inspiration book long ago, but I more enjoy sharing these things on blog- Inspirations are not secret.  

Hat by Malene Birger

Shirt by Marc Cain

Coat by Marc Jacobs

Heels by Topshop

Bag from Vintage shop

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Ajdin.B

Inspirations-Jewish men's black outwear.( picture was collected by Contemporary Jewish museum, jewish theater.)

Inspirations2- Natalie Portman's men look/ 1834 french gentleman style

The General.

   Every emperor had their own legends in their era. For example when you read french history, you could find some soft emperors such as Louis XVI, some powerful emperors such as Louis XIV, Napoleon I. You couldn't say the soft emperors were bad people, but irresponsible emperors. their characters just weren't suitable of their position. Which elements did a good emperor need? I guess they are ambitions, responsibilities, courageous and wisdom.
   So that is why Napoleon could become one of the most unforgettable emperor in history. As a controversial emperor of the french,  he showed his ambitious and wisdom. Which comments he got, there is not doubt his ambition changed the whole europe, similar as Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire at hundreds years ago, which became the largest contiguous empire in history.
   But I dislike the way that people always say the hero as a exact one changed the human's history. I think the history circumstances never be made by any single people, it always follow the track by itself. More like destiny, heros were made by circumstances in the history.
   To pay tribute to Napoleon I and his style, the theme of this series pictures is" The general." Actually it isn't the first time to dress up military style, but this time, I want to show a truly military style properly, no girlish or feminine elements (well, apart from me). Jacques-Louis David's paintings were my biggest inspirations. 

Jacket and vest from Antique shop

Shoulder accessories by Binka

Blouse by Marc Cain fw 2011

Pants by Halston Heritage

Over knee boots by Topshop

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Ajdin.B

Napoleon I- Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David 1800.

Inspiration1-"The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries" - Jacques-Louis David, 1812

Inspiration 2- Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808  – 9 January 1873), the 1st President of the French Republic

Merry Christmas!

Time flies, it is Christmas again. Hope you will like my Christmas card of this year ^_^~

Have a Merry Christmas with your family and have a lovely holiday!

Greeting from Berlin!

Illustration by Nancy.Z

An old school charmer.

   Old school men's wear always could show elegance and strong personalities. Men's wear isn't only for gentlemen's style personified, but also it shows more confidence on women. Since the beginning of the last century, men's costume design hasn't change so much, but more textiles designs and fabric experimentation. The classic age of men's wear was 30s from my opinion, golden age of hollywood movies influenced fashion industry a lot. Tweed became the most popular fabric for men's suits with wide cuts. After 40s the casual suits designs became trends. 

   I have to admit that I adore old fashioned men's style, especially I could match different textiles blazers and different patterns vest. It is a lot of Fun for me. Perhaps because I have a kind of boyish character, men's wear is very suitable of personality. 

Men's shirt by Givenchy

Silk print vest by Emanuel Ungaro

Blazer by Hermes

Bag, flats and belts from vintage shop

Illustration by Nancy.Z

photography by Ajdin.B

A example of men's wear progress.

Classic men's suits design.

Louise Gadbois, Portrait de Thérèse Frémont, 1939

Draw me.

  After a unbelievable busy period, finally I could take a break, start to prepare my second book" Street impressions", which will be published on next April.

   I still remember it very clearly, I came across a girl in navy coat last Christmas eve, she was so chic and her emotion were so unforgettable, I said to myself I have to use my pencil to capture her moment. Of course I did it. Afterwards more and more moments were captured by my pencil, become a " Street impressions album". I realized painting is my tool to capture not only a fashion moment and elegance of character, but it also recorded people's touching moment: happy, busy, moody, warm, emotional...a woman was walking out of the cafe and holding a cup of coffee in the cold spring; a father was staring at his baby with love...photographer capture the great moment by camera, I express the warm emotions by my brushes.

   To share the lovely and beautiful things I created is a kind of happiness for me.

   So I started this contest " Draw me!" with lookbook.nu , for appreciating every readers who always support me.

   The theme of the contest is" Do you love solid colors or prints and patterns?"

   Post your best solid color or print and patterns outfit and tell us a little bit about it! 3 winning outfits will be selected to be drawn by me and published in my upcoming book, Street impressions Illustrations, which is coming out in April. I will feature these winners on my specially part " draw me " in this book. Winners will also receive their own free copy as well. 

To enter, title your look "Draw me Nancy!" now (December 14th) through December 28th.

Black Swan.

  The inspiration of this theme comes from the movie" Black Swan" 's posers design. I think you all noticed this already. It is such a great movie, especially the ending part, although I think some parts of it could make even better such as the rhythm of cut, details of heroine's act. But anyway it is one of the best thriller movies in these few years. I think many people have many sides to their character, the worst enemy is your own self in many ways. 

    So, this is where I put on my little thinking hat. This film was really something that stood out from others I have seen recently, an there are many tat have come out which seem full of special fx but lack story or conviction in its narrative. In recent years the protagonist or antagonist of any story has become a pale shade of a human personality, wooden and stiff, hardly full of any life. Why am I writing about black swan? Well it is a major film and it was something that I loved to see, it moved me. Films for me are very important, they are art in motions, thousands upon thousands of pictures or display in mere seconds created by so much talent in a film crew and spear headed by the director and writers. This film had style and class, the fashion in it is clear and elegant, costume design just was perfect especially when it comes to the black swan herself with the feathers, somewhat comparable to the style of Mqueen. 

Stories are the core of any culture, fairy tales , folk lore, novels e.t.c. Stories are a form of wisdom as they contain much guidance of life, for one random example morality. Stories are how we teach one another about certain human behavior or thinking, ideas passed on threw the form of a adventure story. This is why I see cinema not only as moving art but a way to gain wisdom (of course there are also too many horrible films out there that should be burnt). One of the other films that was more closer to philosophy was Inception, stylish and cool film, full of amazing costume design, set design, story board design, design design design... It was amazing, and it felt great to see such a film backed up buy a great story. Black Swan is also like this, full of visuals that give your eyes a great work out, and your mind spiral into thought during film.

Films should be thought provoking, with great cinematography and numerous good quality "designs". It all has to work together..so in my conclusion Black Swan is one of these films. 

Something Off Topic -  I really love the film industry because of all the talented artists, visual fx designer , fashion and costume designers, Directors and Writers but it is more and more a difficulty to find films that move you in every sense as I mentioned above. So when I do see a film like this, I have to write about it! I can make a long list of films from all over the world that I have seen which have moved me to tears, to joy, to sorrow and then back as if on a roller coster of emotions and feeling. This in the end is what is important as well for any film (and i'm talking about the story now as its individual part of a film), that it be provoking your mind in every way and visual senses. 

Tops from Vintage shop

Shorts by Zara

Heels by Melissa

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Ajdin.B

 Inspirations:Black Swan Poser

The posers design of Black Swan were inspired by 80s old fashion decorated art, were built by Simple shapes in black, white and red.

Urban stories.

   Around one month ago, I has cooperated with Lee for the project"Urban stories". Cities are the most familiar things to us.  At least there is one moment of the city where you live could really touch your heart.  And for me, the cities will be Berlin and Paris. 

   Berlin is a rebirth young city from my opinion, it is full of youthful energy, it is full of peaceful atmosphere. Freedom and love is the aim that berliner is looking for. More and more young artists start their dream here. Friendly, gloomy, lovely, cloudy, rainy...too many words to describe this city.

    People always said Paris is a romantic city, I am sick of this type of descriptions.  Paris is amazingly attractive city for everyone, because this city has the charm of a nostalgia, is because of the Parisian's attitude and thinking of philosophy, politics, literary and art. They are the real people who love life the most. Parisians are not romantic, but loyal to themselves and know how to enjoy life under pressure, understand the feelings of self-retention.

    If you ask me where do I want to travel the most, I will tell you Tibet at once. It is a sunny, dreamy paradise. Like one of my reader's description: Lhasa is the city of sunlight. Many people come and go but they will come back again after a while. People love using" Back to Lhasa" this words, tell everyone"I want to go back there". It seems like time of Tibet goes much slower than other place, feels like we live in the paradise place, don't know what is the day today. Light and shadow have strong contrast, the heating of sunlight here could warm your heart, get rid of the cold feeling completely.

  Well, those are my urban stories, let's go back to fashion. I love dressing very colorful during freezing weather, at least it looks warm, the northern snowflake knitting pattern is always full of  lovely Christmas atmosphere. So what's your plan of this Christmas? Time for sending presents and postcards to friends :D! 

Scarf and flats,bag from vintage shop

Jacket by LEE FW11

Jumper by COS

Shorts by A.P.C

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Ajdin.B

The urban self.

    I believe every city has their own soul, there is a really strong collection between people and cities. It is emotional thing, wherever the city you live currently or your hometown. When you move to some strange cities, after while you will fall in love with this city little by little. Whatever how busy or peaceful your city is, Your character will be influenced by these cities' characters. Everyone has their urban story which is personal to them.

   The main reason that we fall in love with a city because we start to create new memories. New home, new job, new surrounding of your life, it is not a whole new beginning but new experiences, a new chapter. Also, that's why people love traveling, people love to have fresh experiences, to see different cultures.

   The theme of this outfit is " Urban chic". Usually my style is dramatic, idyllic, but I am also influenced by Berliner's style - a casual, urban chic way. It is so nice to walk around with something casual on the street after horrible rainy weather. Just like I said, the style could be influenced so easily.

Hat by MarcCain 11FW

Shirt and Denim by Lee 11FW

Vest and bag from Vintage shop

Flats by handmade

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Ajdin.B

At Pergamon.

   Pergamon is the best museum in berlin from my opinion. The name of this museum was inspired by their famous collections-Pergamon altar, which is a great temple from ancient Greece. Also,it was an ancient city in Greece. This altar's decoration on the wall describe a huge war of Gods, it was destroyed for thousand years,  it was discovered by german engineer in the beginning of last century.  I always adore greek mystery god legends. When I am staring at Pergamon those sculptures, it feels like those artist put their soul to these character sculptures, their poses,their expressions, you couldn't tell anything wrong.Everything is just perfect.  Thousands years ago human's art structure was so accurate already，the figures of gods are not skinny, they are strong, elegant, sexual, powerful.

   Middle east museum of pergamon is also a big influence for me, people used their love and wisdom to wave these amazing beautiful and colorful textiles, these patterns always give me so much inspirations.

   The wisdom and creation is the most precious of human's culture, absolutely true.  

Dress and Heels by Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti,

Tights by Bebaroque

illustration by Nancy Z

Photography by Ajdin.B