On the Street....Alessandra, Milano

On the Street....Somerset House, London

On the Street....Olivia P, London

On the Street....After Ralph lauren, NYC

On the Street....Layered Pants, Paris

GQ Style, Romeo Gigli

It was such a thrill to shoot Romeo Gigli recently for British GQ Style.

For those too young to remember, it's hard to explain the incredible, exotic, romantic world he created on the runway and in his shops during his height in the late 80's and early 90's. 

A huge amount of my appreciation of color combinations, proportion, genre mixing and pattern play came from studying any photos I could find of his runway shows (remember, this was pre-Style.com). In a fashion world of huge shouldered alpha women his women were quiet, artistic, gentle and seemed to have a strength of wisdom.

For a kid growing up in Indiana, his world seemed unimaginable to me. Actually it seemed more like another planet.

When people ask me if street style blogs will replace fashion magazines and big runway shows I always say "of course not." Designers like Romeo Gigli or photographers like Paolo Roversi create dream worlds that challenge us to make our real lives even more beautiful.

For me, the reality-based pictures I take are a way to supplement the fantasy world of my magazines and photo books.

Somewhere in-between fantasy and reality can be a pretty great place to live.

On the Street....Leigh, Paris

Backstage at Balmain, Paris

On the Street....Rei, Paris

On the Street....Rue du Marche St. Honore, Paris

On the Street....Cheap & Chic, Milano

Isabel and Friend Vélib'ing, Paris

On the Street....Anne St, Dublin

On the Way to the Horse Track, Paris

She said that she was on the way to the horse track with her friend (the guy from this shot).

I didn't know people still dressed like this at the horse track.

Any insight as to why the Parisian horse racing community is so chic?

The Armani Question

Two weeks ago Mr. Armani spoke for the first time about his recent serious illness.

I really thought Mr. Armani had made a deal with the devil, because it seemed he would never give up the reins of his company.

But now he has cut back his working hours and will soon have to seriously consider his design replacement.

So, this raises the question, who should replace Mr. Armani? Who could replace Mr. Armani?

Jil Sander seems almost too obvious.

Tomas Maier? That could be great.

Personally I would love to see Alber Elbaz move over from Lanvin. He does such a great job with that label - but just imagine what he could do with the money, retail network and infrastructure that Mr. Armani has so skillfully set up over the last few years.

So, who do you think should take over for Mr. Armani?

On the Street....Dad's Former Sportcoat, Dublin

On the Street....Tuileries, Paris

On the Street....Left Bank, Paris

Rugby at Trinity College, Dublin

On the Street....After Louis Vuitton, Paris