Absence and Fondness

We often hear that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I am here to tell you that that is mostly a lie.

You've not missed me, nor my words. Not my work, nor my charming sense of humor. My absence from the lives of those around me barely resulted in them missing me, let alone, made their heart grow fonder.

However, during my upteenth absence from what some may call the blogosphere I have found that my heart has grown fonder for this. The moment when I sit and struggle to decipher my experiences and opinions to whomever may be reading. I find great comfort and joy in words and in writing them. For me, verbal communication is not often the best, but when writing I can convey my persona how I intend to in person.

All of that having been said, I guess I should actually blog.

I think today is a good day to play catch up. In the months since I've posted last I've fallen in and out of obsessions with people and things. I've ignored fashion and wallowed in my lack of success while still succeeding if you understand. If not, I'll explain. 2014 has brought me to the realization that I am not much of a fashion industry guy, not that I can't run with the best of them. SCRATCH all of that. I got my ass handed to me a few times and I was being a beta bitch wolf and licking my wounds for a year and venturing out slowly to try and accomplish goals. 2014 may have been the biggest waste of a year for me in how much work I've accomplished, but it's been great  in other ways. I've done great things and met great people this year. I've realized that I'm not satisfied with what I've done and that just means I need to work harder and do more. I grew fonder for my goals in the fashion industry while being absent, but I also realized that I am not at all fond of the fashion industry.

I dislike the structure and rigor with which we are expected to work only to continue to struggle. I'm unhappy with where I haven't went, only because I know that I'm going. I'm unhappy with how much work I have to do, but I realize that I must work harder.

Then I realized that I just didn't like my approach to being in the industry. With all of that having been said, I now know that I will continue to work harder and adjust my approach to my goals. I could continue. But I don't know that I should. I should be working. This is only a portion of what I wanted to accomplish today.....


However the goal is to do it again next week, with a discussion in mind. I really liked my post "Thoughts On Art" and would like to return to that style of writing. Maybe I could end up being a legitimate fashion journalist. I recently read some work on an article by Cathy Horyn followed by the article (which is her return to fashion journalism) and I really think that I'd like to go that route. I like the idea of writing intellectual articles on fashion, but with a perspective like Horyn's. She's there to view and communicate her thoughts, not to appease. I'd like for that to be me.

Until next week. To whomever I am writing.

Hai

I in no way, shape, or form promised that I would be a consistent blogger. None the less, I feel terrible for not being more consistent. I often feel that there is nothing going on in my life that anyone else would care about. By my life, I mean my life--- not styling or fashion related.

I thought this would be a great point in time to pick up, or check in at least.

Let's start with today. I went out with my good friends Askia Abdull (http://askiaabdull.blogspot.com) and Rashad Benton (http://malecritique.com) to the Mary Boone gallery in SOHO to check out the KAWS exhibit. I'm really glad they got me out of the house. I've been in my head a lot evaluating my talent, creativity and where I am in life. One result of my day is that I wrote a few poems. I'm not the best, but tapping into any creativity that I can is important to me. Check out these images from today followed by the poem that they inspired.

541 W 24th St

Foreboding

Commanding silence

In an open and warm space

Grandeur,

The like of which we haven't experienced

But we have

We are New Yorkers

Awe---inspires, inspired?

Like the pavement gum

It sticks, to our minds

Art is us, We love it

Art is life

Envelop me.

---

Don't judge me, I'm working on it. =)

Prior to today I've really been working at reflecting and objectively viewing my work as a stylist. I often hear that I'm too hard on myself. However, with no formal education, I feel that I have to push myself harder. But, as of late, I don't feel that I've met my own expectations.

If you follow me on twitter, which is quite possibly true, you'll have seen that I have a crush on a guy at my part time job. The worst thing happened today! He forgot my name. In my 21 years of life, no one has forgotten Raymond Gee. To be fair, no one who has had a conversation with me and learned my last name, which I realize he doesn't know. He's also straight, which sucks a lot. Of course I can't be with him, let alone try, but it was great receiving his attention. Now, I don't know how I'll feel. I'm trying to look past this. He apologized somewhat profusely. As profusely as possible as he could be, but still keep the tone and discretion of our conversation intact. Irregardless, I was offended and a little hurt seeing that he forgot my name. I'll work on choosing better.

Looking at the length of those two paragraphs I know where my interests lie right now and it's difficult for me to accept that it isn't fashion. I have this urge to meet someone, but I'm not searching. I know people say not to search. I just don't  know how I'll find someone or be found. Someone advise me.

If you do read this,please leave a comment. I'd love to hear your feedback on the poem.

Wishing you all the best, happy holidays, safe travels, peace and prosperity. Oh, and fashion.

This is my new work for Vox Populi Magazine. I'm incredibly proud of this picture. My team did an amazing job creating this. xo

Something's Missing

Oftentimes I look at things and I wonder what can fill the space, it's like seeing a hole in a brick wall and knowing the exact pattern that the missing bricks would follow. I'm good at that. I'm good at filling the unknown with the expected. I am well versed in mathematics, logic and sense are two things that are no stranger to me.

As I continue to move forward and continue on my path as a stylist there are many things that haunt me. I wonder often if they haunt others. As of late I am often booked for jobs that I honestly am not excited about... And then I remember that as a freelancer I have the opportunity to decide what I do and do not do. I cannot be forced, but I can agree to do something and the outcome not be what I desire most. That determines the jobs that I am able to get and the ones that in some way or another I must take.

I am attempting to take myself in the direction of art, of free spirited, non constricting, but  FOCUSED work. Did I mention that I have a difficult time focusing. How can I love stories but be completely incapable of telling one that has continuity. Every time I do a shoot I'm more and more afraid of my lack of ability to both tell a story and to fill the blank spaces in my styling artistically instead of methodically. I find that having been so good at math, at least for me, isn't working out so well for being what I desire to be in the field of fashion.

I look at my work that other people seem to love so much and I can scarcely stand to look at it. It haunts me how good that it isn't. It destroys me to see myself not live up not only to my own standards but to those of people whom I want to work with. I don't want to be the Hedi Slimane of styling. Expensive with poor execution. I want to be the Grace Coddington, the Edward Enninful, Patti Wilson, Lori Goldstein, Karl Templer, so on and so forth. I want to be good at what I do.

Often times I think that it comes down to access, but continuity... is that access or is it imagination? Am I pulling all the wrong things? Or all the right things and putting them together the wrong way. I'm afraid that all of these people who say that they love my work and that I'm great are lying. I can look at my work and know that this isn't good, this isn't continuous and in all honesty...I don't like it.

Does that mean that I give up and that it isn't for me? Or does that mean that I dig in, do better, and move forward? Practice makes perfect...so maybe it's just that I have a lack of practice. Who knows? But something is missing.

xx,
Raymond

Rick Owens SS14

I just took the time to look at the Rick Owens SS14 video in its entirety and if you haven't seen it, you should. Some people say that Owens, in an attempt to say F U to the fashion industry, did just the opposite. They've said he has enforced the stereotype of an angry black woman and exploited these step teams. I however, completely disagree with Owens' critics. When I began to look at the show, the first thing I did was try to look at the clothing. But it was difficult to see the clothing outside of the context in which I normally view them. On the coat hangers that we refer to as models. 

What I thought Owens did that was genius was putting these clothes not only in a performance, but on real women--these dancers are women, no? Our minds have been accustomed to seeing models wearing clothing and then having women of not so slight measurements translate these pieces. Owens completely skipped that step for us and took it there, past manufacturing and the sales rack and onto the body of women who aren't models. He challenged our ability to see, not only beauty (these pieces are beautifully constructed) but to see clothing on a woman that isn't a model without judging her. That is what a fashion show is for. Not to judge the model, but to judge the clothing. Looking at the clothing, there were a plethora of details that one didn't notice, not because you weren't looking at them, but because he/she was too busy passing judgement on the way in which they were presented. 

Just my thoughts though.

subMISSION Magazine

I'm so excited to be able to share these images with you guys, in full that is. It's from a test shoot I styled when I first moved to New York City with photographer, Becky Siegel and makeup artist Marika Aoki. It was during a time when I hadn't been working  for such a long time that I felt weird about asking for favors... but I've learned my lesson about resourcefulness since then.

Our model is the beautiful Flaviana from Wilhelmina. Our inspiration came from images that played with shadows and bright colors. There was some indecisiveness during the shoot, definitely on my part...because well, after not styling for 7 months, I wasn't as confident in my decisions. Thank goodness that's over. That being said---let's get to the important part, the story.

I absolutely love what the team at subMISSION magazine did with the story! It was for their kaleidoscope issue, so I'm glad that we played with colors, which made for a most interesting outcome. Take a look at the pictures below.

Inner Projection

This is my first post about an entire editorial. I shot it months ago, but not long after my arrival to New York City as a permanent resident.

If you've followed me on other forms of social media since April or May, you have seen my complaints about not working, not shooting, feeling as though I had wasted my time moving. I had assisted, my now good friend, and amazingly talented stylist, Ani on a few shoots. I also worked on and assisted shoots with my good friend, Lisbeth, another amazingly talented stylist. However, when you're used to being top dog and working on big projects, that's what you do and nothing less. After a while, a photographer I have worked with before, Tak (HT Pixels) contacted me to shoot two editorials. When he presented the concepts, I immediately dismissed one, it was a little boring for my taste. I love finery, beauty, glamour, and drama. One of the stories was quite the opposite.

Both stories were for Z!NK Magazine, I acquired the information through working with another photographer (another story for another day, but most likely in person).

The idea behind this particular story was inspired by an old Gucci campaign where they projected different vanities around the models in the scene. The story started off as just very simple wardrobe, by which I mean, flirty minimalist designed dresses, with maximalist ideas. For that inspiration, Tak sent over Dolce and Gabbana inspiration. However, one thing I'm know for is taking a look at a mood board, saying screw it, and doing what I want. I don't know if that's always the best thing, but that's been me all my life. Again, another story, but most likely we should talk about that in person.

My thought process after I saw the shoot, immediately shifted because I had seen The Great Gatsby. I had read the book prior to, but it had been a while. The movie reinvigorated my inspiration for the shoot because I was drawing a complete blank. I was immediately researching the glamour of Gatsby. I wanted to recreate the luxury and nonchalance of those society women, but mix it with a noir edge. I'm completely obsessed with all things sexy, maybe one of the reasons I count prostitutes as a source of inspiration. 

When I began pulling I constructed a list of about 50 showrooms that I wanted to pull from, but only ended up pulling from 27, and ended up with around 34 different brands on my shoot. That was a world away from my last serious shooting, where I had pulled from maybe 5 or 6 designers and my racks weren't even full. 

The outcome was a 6 page spread for the Fall Fashion Issue of Zink Magazine featuring brands that I've long admired. Here are a few of the images, you can always go to my website, http://raymondgee.com, and let me know what you think.

(Amanda in Helen Yarmak, Houghton Brandon Sun, and Emm Kuo)

[Clara(L) in Mathieu Mirano, Helen Yarmak, and Charlotte Olympia; Amanda (R) in Helen Yarmak, Brandon Sun, and United Nude]

I want to take a moment to thank my team. They were amazing, every last one of them, seeing that we did two shoots that day, and this was the latter shoot. They all worked extremely hard during this shoot and I feel that we had an amazing product, one that I'm quite proud to include in my portfolio.

Photography: HT Pixels

Hair: Kia Sterling

Makeup: Maria Ortega

Styling Assistants: Rachel Addison and Angelina Scantlebury

Models: Amanda @ Major & Clara @ Fenton Moon

Post Hiatus Post

Many apologies for being MIA, however, duty was calling. I have been working almost every day since my last post. Two jobs sounded easy until one of them involved carrying full suitcases and garment bags to your night job and then home afterwards.

In other news, I thought I'd discuss some work!

The two images above are out takes from a beauty story that was featured in Culture Magazine (Australia)

I'm absolutely obsessed with our model, Flaviana. She was amazing! She was very kind, but focused on work! She came in and immediately started shooting. The shoot was with photographer, Becky Siegel and MUA, Marika Aoki. Becky and I had a slew of inspiration, but the main idea was to have fun with colorful makeup on a beautiful model, we were elated to have Flaviana because normally African or Asian models are always booked. This was a test shoot and I had to use my resources to pull together looks that were fun, but still in touch with what we wanted to do.......all without a LOR. I'd actually critique my own styling, but I'd prefer to share the entire story before that.

I'll be posting more regularly in the coming weeks. I'm actually considering posting in response to a conversation that my friends and I had about Blacks in the fashion industry. I know that it's a topic that has been mulled over time and time again, but every individual has their own opinion on the topic and I think I'd be able to bring a great perspective to the conversation.

Bon Appetit, xx.