Queen Viv

One of my favourite designers is Vivienne Westwood, and this illustration of mine is based on one of her designs. It was the panda style warrior make-up, and doll like puppet stance of the image that attracted me to draw it.

 

Illustration by clare and the bear

David Sims: Grunge

Illustration by clareandthebear.

Inspired by a photograph in the Grunge style section of Luella's Guide To English Style book, taken by her photographer partner David Sims in the 1980s. I love the grunge era, the rawness of it. The simplicity of the nude makeup and scrawny limp hair with the "thrown together without a care in the world" style. Its very in again this season. Inspiring celebrities from Kirsten Stewart to Pixie Geldolf.

Glamour and Glitter, Fashion and Fame

Found this picture of me backstage at my 'Jem and the Holograms' photo shoot back in la uni days. It made me chuckle lots.

MR MEN FASHION EDITORIAL

Bonjour! Yes I know, there's been big lack of posts recently, but here as my come back post are finally images of my project with my friend Lacey, the MR MEN fashion editorial.

Photography: Lacey Jayne Clements. 

Styling: Me (Clare and the Bear). 

Hair: Chris Dennis and Karen Dennis. 

Makeup: Katie Standen.

Costume Designers: Clare and the Bear and Judy Clements.

Illustrations/Graphics: Clare and the Bear.

Models: 

Laura Medhurst as Naughty

Ben Lux as Bump

Katie Standen as Chatterbox

Danielle Parker-Thomas as Magic

Steven Dennis as Impossible

Sarah Marks as Sunshine

Pat Hurley as Messy

Charlotte Rayment as Splendid

Brad Parrott as Topsy Turvy 

Vicky Rayment as Scatterbrain

Little Miss Naughty 

Mr Bump 

Little Miss Chatterbox

  Little Miss Magic

Mr Impossible

Little Miss Sunshine

Mr Messy

Little Miss Splendid

Mr Topsy Turvy

Little Miss Scatterbrain

Laura Marling: REPRODUCED

The effortlessly beautiful Laura Marling is another of my loves and icons. Here's my illustration of her taken from The Mystery Jets song 'Young Love' which she features in.

And here is the super groovy song itself;

Here's my illustration of LA ROUX. Now I'm not much of a fan of her music, but I do find her face fascinating, with her tomboy, androgynous and simplistic features. Though she dapples with futuristic stylings I quite feel she has a very 60s/70s vibe about her.

I like this remix version of 'In for The Kill' I found on youtube. It's eeriely ethereal and her vocals are more hauntingly.

DAISY CHAINSAW illustration

A huge HUGE love and inspiration to me is the beautifully ethereal Katie Jane Garside. Oh my wow, she is sensational! In style, music and mere presence; she steals my heart and hypotizes me. I adore her in all her music ventures; Daisy Chainsaw, Queen Adreena and Ruby Throat. I'm completely in love with her poetic sensual vulnerability. She is like a child of the earth, a nymph, who has somehow stumbled into fame and television, although amazingly gifted, she doesn't seem to belong there, and is solemnly awaiting to return home to a magical river or wood.


Below is my illustration of Katie, inspired by a photograph of her back in her Daisy Chainsaw days.

To Daisy, with love X

TOPSHOP: HAIR illustration

Hello kats and kittens and general folk. Haven't posted any artwork for a muchos long time so **tar darr** here's one for ya!
Its titled TOPSHOP: HAIR and is by me clare and the bear

Inspired by an image in a Topshop magazine of a girl with her head held down and depicting just her hair, I do adore lank messy hair! There was summat about having her face completely hidden by her hair that captured me. Surprisingly I found it more challenging to draw someone without a face than with one.   

Tarot card Jewellery

My love for all that is magical and spiritual spells over into a collection of books, films, jewellery and ornaments/statues. I stumbled on my tarot cards today which inspired me to collaborate jewellery that resemble tarot cards.

...DEATH...

Beaded cross necklace: ASOS, cross drop earrings: ASOS, matt black dual chain cross necklace: ASOS-MAN

...THE EMPRESS...

Black Cameo on ribbon chain: VINTAGE, silver & turquoise ring: VINTAGE, silver faerie dust necklace: VINTAGE 

 ...THE HANGED MAN...

Skeleton necklace: TOPMAN, Tribal earrings: WAREHOUSE, Plastic skull ring: CLAIRES ACCESSORIES

...THE HIEROPHANT...

Plastic skull ring: CLAIRES ACCESSORIES, Sagitterius star sign ring: GIFT, Spider ring: URBAN OUTFITTERS

...THE MAGICIAN...

Green Magic eye pendant on leather cord: VINTAGE, Silver Blue Magic eye ring: VINTAGE

...THE MOON... 

Silver shell necklace: VINTAGE, Sagittarius star sign ring: GIFT, Yin Yang perfume bottle pendant: VINTAGE

Desperately Seeking Susan Fashion Tribute

Back again with my film/fashion tribute this time with another of my all time favourite films DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. This 80s cult classic starring Madonna is truely inspirational to me and my love of 80s music and fashion. Although these days my style favours more ethereal and gothic tones, the 80s and its trashy, rainbow coloured, sequins and glitter, multitude of accessories with entourage of back combing and hair spray, will always remain close to my heart.

  (all images above are from google.com)

This decade is the most fun and playful of all the styles I love. With bright colours and playful prints and combination of feminine sexy dresses and underwear as outer wear paired with boxy oversized men's blazers and tee's. This style screams playful attitude. Denim resides throughout for it's casual, laid back essence. Stealing your boyfriends clothes is a necessity for achieving this look, whether its their tee's that you've rolled the sleeves up and tied a knot in the waist, or their blazer jacket. Head scarves and bows achieve that vital Madonna esque vibe this style epitomizes. Clothes are a 'mish/mash and trash' style with a thrown together, yet making an effort in a can't be bothered fashion.

(all images below are from style.com) 

 
A Vivienne Westwood Fall 2006 B Vivienne Westwood Spring 2007 C Miu Miu Spring 2006 DAshish Spring 2010 E same as D F same as D

The Virgin Suicides Fashion Tribute

Continuing on from my previous post 'The Lost Boys', where I spoke about film inspiration to fashion and style, this time though focusing on another of my favourite films; The Virgin Suicides. An amazing book translated into a nostalgic, ethereal yet beautifully gloomy visual. This film emphasizes the angst of adolescent puberty and also natural gentle femininity and troubles that coinside with being both at the same time.

My favourite character is Cecila Lisbon, the youngest of the sisters, and the first to commit suicide. Cecilia's character is a romantic lost soul, and hopelessly love lorn for the dying animals and world that surrounds her and the delicate sadness of her desire of death. I found this chararcter completely fascinating and admirable, as her poetic and sensitive essence and sweet melancholy bound far beyond her years.

(all imagaes found on google.com)

 

Focusing on the delicate innocence of the Libson sisters and combined with awkward essences, I've collected imagery of numerous designers that I feel reflect the double entendre of innocence and grit, youth and death, beauty and depression. 
Florals and block nude colours consist throughout the style theme. School girl features such as collared shirts/blouses paired with pleated or ruffled skirts occur but with a less cute and sexy approach and more grit and grungey attitude. Oversized jumpers worn over dainty fabrics desexualise the girlyness. There's a uniform element to the clothes which are grudgingly worn in a solem way. Also trying to capture adolenscent awkwardness within the style where either the clothes are the too big, older sister 'hand me downs' or ones that the she is 'out growing' and appear small/cropped.

(all images found on style.com)

 (left - right: 3.1 Philip Lim Fall 2010, Spring 2009 and Spring 2010)

  (three images on left: Marc jacobs Fall 2010, image on right: Marc Jacobs Spring 2010)

 A Acne Spring 2010 B Alexander McQueen Spring 2009 C John Galliano Spring 2008 D Louise Goldin Spring 2010 E Vivienne Westwood Spring 2011

(left - right: Anne Valerie Hash Couture Fall 2004 x3, Anne valerie Hash Spring 2010 and Fall 2009)