Friday 23 March 2012

Lana Del Rey

lana del rey illustration drawing lizzie grant fashion vogue flowers born to die video games blue jeans jimmy lovine
Illustration by moi.

 "It" girl of the moment Lana del Rey has taken the music and fashion world by storm. Hailed as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra", she's enjoyed chart-topping success with her album, Born to Die and has already graced the cover of UK Vogue after having barely long been in the public eye.

Love or hate her, she's certainly made an impact, all doe-eyed with her tumbling auburn tresses, bee-stung pout and incredible, throaty voice. Whilst I put my hands up to enjoying Born to Die and Video Games, I ultimately found the rest of the album dull, repetitive and depressing. Don't get me wrong, I like her voice but this music doesn't do it for me. Hats off to her for writing all of her own material, though.

She was recently praised (to the dismay of her critics) by Jimmy Lovine, legendary music producer and head of Interscope Records, he controversially claimed: "Lana Del Rey's voice haunts me the way Stevie Nicks' did". I think people are getting the wrong idea, Lovine didn't in any way say her voice was as "good" as Stevie Nicks', he merely claimed that it was as "haunting", which is entirely different. If anyone is wondering who Stevie Nicks is, she was the front woman for Fleetwood Mac and has one of the greatest, most powerful voices I've ever heard in my life.

Music aside, I am absolutely taken by LDR, the character, the image. Whilst many may debate that her rise to fame is all down to daddy and his millions, buying her way to the top. I disagree. To me she appears modest, charming and intriguing, with her cryptic tweets and softly-spoken voice.

Her look combines sixties siren, california cool and nineties grunge with a contemporary twist; an unlikely combination that works only too well in her favour. Del Rey was a breath of fresh air from the moment I saw photos of her in the Mail Online, papped shopping in New York. She was clutching two handbags, loving life in her blue jeans, Ferrari bomber jacket, back-to-front cap and python pumps, yet still magically pulling it off. How does she do it?

14 comments:

  1. I guess we are all inspired by her lately. I´ve also amde an illustration ;)

    http://originaleegggoo.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/no-need-to-give-names-about-who-is-she.html#links

    I think i learned to love her a little bit. At first i didn´t stand her.

    xx

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  2. Can't wait to see more of your work:)

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  3. illustration is amazing! http://antoinettevintage.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. Gorgeous illustration! I actually went to boarding school with her!

    Alas, glad I found your blog, I love going through other peoples sketches being an artist myself! xxx

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  5. really do admire your illustration!

    wishuponasmile.blogspot.com/

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  6. oh my god. this illustration is beyond amazing. i love the detail and the colors!!!

    xx, Meghan

    helloyesterdayblog.com

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  7. f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! can you do an illustration of me? ;) kidding.. very nice..

    -Dee
    deechicprincess.blogspot.com

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  8. I love her! Sadly I dont like her music cas its a bit to melancholy for me but i think she is gorgeous and has a lovely voice. Great illustration by the way
    xx
    http://junebiswas.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow. Thanks for the Lana love everyone!

    Paola, so cool you went to school with her. What was she like?

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  10. What a gorgeous picture! I'm sorry, but I love her look and the whole pouty, sixties rich girl aesthetic - totally my cup of tea:) I'm actually considering taking my hair redder as a consequence!

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    1. Thanks! I also adore her look, she's absolutely stunning. The sixties aesthetic is my favourite look, so she's a winner from me. She's fresh, demure, simple yet glamorous and not so manufactured. Here's a shoot I liked by Terry Richardson for an article in the NY Times. Her interview's worth a read too: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/a-star-is-born-and-scorned/?hp

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  11. Such a beautiful illustration... You are so talented! please post more of these!

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    1. I'll be posting these weekly, don't you worry :)

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  12. this is an absolutely brilliant illustration!! youre extremely talented xx

    www.sarablahblah.blogspot.com

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