So often fashion is linked to architecture, Threeasfour proposes a collection for spring/summer '10 that tickles the fancies of potential architecture buffs in a shamelessly beautiful sartorial form. My thoughts? These dresses could easily pass for some tricked out, 30th century Japanese kites; they're incredibly structured while maintaining an ethereal air to them. The softness is only rooted in the sheerness of these clothes and the emphasis on the female form using lines, that is, the breaking down of the rigid architectural form offers a more feminine take on structure.
Some trend notes: sheerness, impact of fabric cut (minimalism), underwear references
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
If I could just leave my body for the night, then we could be dancing. No more missing you while I'm gone, and you'd smile and day "I love this song", and when our eyes meet there we will recognize nothing's wrong.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Photo by Jamie Isaia courtesy of art + commerce
The sunshine today withered my mood. No, really. Totally unexpected! I could go off and rant for an hour about how much I dislike blinding sunshine, but I'll be productive and study for my chemistry final. This photo, however, makes me crave cool summer days that cast sepia sunsets on dewy skin, and frozen desserts to last for days on end.
Sigh. Summer...
Anyhow! I watched Grey Gardens (the version HBO propped up) several days ago and WOW, it was extraordinary. Incredibly nostalgic and heartfelt! And the costumes! The costumes were just spectacular. Edith Bouvier Beale proves that you can look fantastically timeless, chic, and glamorous on any budget. I'll post some visuals if I have time today, if not, tomorrow! :)
Trending ---> what I have been doing. Stay tuned! Spring/summer trends *sighsummer* coming up within several days. Just what everyone needs after a week of finals!
Without a doubt, Missoni is one of my favorite fashion houses. In the wintertime it's always sweater dressing and bundling up in layers of knits to last for weeks, and in the summertime it's always whispering the seductive words of clement breezes.
Before I go any further, take note of the runway shots themselves. The colors, the hair, the styling, the purposeful crumples of the textiles. One word comes to my mind: theraputic. It's not so scorching hot in Missoni land. It's perfectly balmy at 70 degrees with a touch of cloud and gentle gusts. The casual layering of key pieces for menswear is an obvious thing to do, but Missoni takes a step away from a slimmer silhouette for men and offers something retro, loose, and effortless.
I see these men strolling the streets of Saint Tropez and then jetting back into the city. Missoni offers a highly casual yet business smart look; something laid back yet incredibly city-wise. After all, no one wants to wear a full one suit in the summertime! No matter how sharp it is!
Now let's talk about the cardigans. Or actually, we won't even talk about the cardigans because they're just that amazing. But we actually will because I have a big mouth. I'm adoring the geometric print used in very friendly colors. They're not specific to any season so they can easily be worn in the summertime and carried over into fall. Bravo, Missoni! Bravo!
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Alexander McQueen has been having a knack for quirky men's shirting and spring/summer '10 was no exception. Drawing inspiration from art movements, McQueen is able to make wearable art, as fashion is often called.
Unlike art these clothes feel effortless; like you could, would, and should just slip them on after rolling out of bed to get ready for a day of painting (take note of the paint splattered pants, a more literal translation). Reminds me of my childhood days plopping excessive amounts of tempera paint onto paper and accidentally (or not so accidentally) getting it all over myself, only more artsy and alternative as McQueen would serve it up. Surrealistic with touches of cubism and all together down right ironic (I mean, check out that hand/finger painting, not exactly like those wholesome turkeys you made in 2nd grade using your hand print).I particularly adore the cuffed, rolled up pants that give the most well cut shirt whim and ease. Also, the shoes are aged; scruffed and buffed so they look walked in and utilitarian. All in all, these clothes look like pieces that have belonged in an artist's wardrobe for years.
Photos courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen's spring/summer '10 campaign is looking a little toned down compared to his runwayshow (Lady GaGa wore the 'lobster' shoes in Bad Romance's music video). Shot by Craig McDean
Post finals week there will be a flood of fabulous posts. I promise!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Hello, starved followers! I've been so busy with homework everything that I've just left this blog to collect dust. Pout. But, I have been under the influence of massive amounts of homework/studying for finals so I thought I'd share a bit of my homework with y'all. The following text is a memoir I am writing for my English class (it's about my first trip to American Apparel).
On a more than drizzly evening, my sister and I sporadically chose to venture out into the University District of Seattle. One could say that sporadic tendencies often lead to.. Life changing experiences, more or less.
On a more than drizzly evening, my sister and I sporadically chose to venture out into the University District of Seattle. One could say that sporadic tendencies often lead to.. Life changing experiences, more or less.
The car was straggling along the streets, as all too hip college students mopped the flooding pavement with their flesh hugging trousers, flouncing feathery scarves, and smoldering cigarettes. Through the front window of the car, I saw an impressionist painting with globules of red, yellow and green: traffic lights; the downfall impaired our view of the street. On top of that, my head was being frantically jerked with every push and pull of my sister’s breaks. Those pesky colored globules were getting on my nerves! With hope, I rolled down the window to catch a breath of fresh air like a dog on a balmy summer day. (Un)luckily for me, it was less balmy but more unmanageably rainy. Oh Seattle, how you humor me…
My head was not so gruntled and oh so very moist. Harrumph! I thought to myself, perhaps Vincent van Gogh would have been more humored by my situation, perhaps artistic depression can make this situation beautifully optimistic. But, perhaps I should just enjoy the ever changing impressionist painting outside the car window. Once again, the visions of red, yellow and green spited my antsy mood. I wondered if there was anything new and enticing.
At a distance I saw a rectangular brick of light. What? What is that massive blob of light doing here? As we drove by this peculiar structure, I was transported from impressionism to something fantastically modern and all together, avante garde. Good lard! I proclaimed to my sister, demanding that she find a nearby parking space to the foreign structure entitled “American Apparel”, and so we did. And, the next few minutes felt like the mad dash to tackle the last Tickle Me Elmo at Wal-Mart on Black Friday, only not as red and furry (or mangy), and no one was trampled (at least I didn’t notice).. Closer and closer. I felt like a fly drawn to that intoxicatingly bright light. Closer and closer. So close I almost ran into the door!
At a distance I saw a rectangular brick of light. What? What is that massive blob of light doing here? As we drove by this peculiar structure, I was transported from impressionism to something fantastically modern and all together, avante garde. Good lard! I proclaimed to my sister, demanding that she find a nearby parking space to the foreign structure entitled “American Apparel”, and so we did. And, the next few minutes felt like the mad dash to tackle the last Tickle Me Elmo at Wal-Mart on Black Friday, only not as red and furry (or mangy), and no one was trampled (at least I didn’t notice).. Closer and closer. I felt like a fly drawn to that intoxicatingly bright light. Closer and closer. So close I almost ran into the door!
The door! Push or pull? I frantically jerked the glass panel, pushing and pulling it, demanding for my curiosity to be cured. Aha! Pull! As I trotted onward, a flabbergasted employee clad in a skin tight latex dress and metallic gold leggings greeted me. Space ship status, much. However, I respected that woman’s bravado to be vacuum sealed in that rubber casing like a mass produced hot dog sitting on a grocery store outlet shelf for weeks, months, or even years..
Meek- not her, but myself. I looked down to notice that my clothes had gotten much darker. Much, much darker from the immense amount of water I had absorbed from that frantic frenzy. If only I had her water repellent dress just a little bit earlier! Oh well. My distressed nature was soon to be distracted from, but not eased, as my eyes were assaulted with visions of neon gas and metallic colored garbs! You name it, my eyes were being assaulted with it!
Pause. When I said “assaulted”, I meant that my eyes were being assaulted in a good way. Onward!
The eye assault didn’t stop there; casting over space age vision was a bright white light. Hello, mother ship! As I steered myself across the white linoleum floors (all while trying not to slip on my obnoxiously squeaky sneakers, might I add) I felt like I was being force-fed 80’s pop cultural references, only they had been deconstructed, reconstructed, and regurgitated into a somewhat bearable form. Dare I say it? I liked it! I liked loved it!! Often, when people are in love they tend to be blind (or at least that’s how the saying goes). However, I was no victim of love; my eyes were being pried open and poked with deliciously tacky clothing. Bewildered by the bold, synthesized garbs, I grabbed the nearest cotton T-shirt I could find and…..to be continued….
Now, I can’t quite say I bought a skin tight latex dress (so I don’t give me a trophy of awesomeness just yet), but I can sure guarantee to you that next time you see a bright light, don’t be afraid to lured in by it.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
:0 <-- me angry
Coco Rocha looking like a swan shot by Steven Meisel.
This is my offering to you (something pretty to look at) so I rant about how much homework has been more than less "defecating" on my life. Seriously. I can't wait till the start of next semester or whenever things start simmering down again.
Lately I feel a balmier breeze. Maybe mother nature is just messing with me, but it sure does feel a little spring-y (despite the fact that it's hardly winter). And! This calls for SPRING '10 TRENDS! I'm so angry that outside sources have posted trends before I got to predict them *pout* I was stuck in traffic with the entire transferring from Tumblr ---> Blogspot deal. But! Back on topic, I'll have spring '10 trends along with oodles of my favorite cruise/resort/spring/summer/the last bits of winter '09/and maybe some prefall '10 shows popping up here and there. As for now, you get to enjoy lovely campaigns whilst I slave over homework.
Hello, my name is Ky and I'm a sucker for melancholic love songs.
If This World Were Mine- Ambrose Slade
If This World Were Mine- Ambrose Slade
Ahhh spring and summer. Nothing defines the spirit of these seasons more than eager students speeding out of school after a grueling year. Alexander Wang, with his boarding school background, embodied these eager emotions by revisiting days clad in uniforms and chinos spent on musky football fields.
Me thinks: Something about this collection excites me a bundle! AHHH SO. GOOD. Also, mens underthings = tres sexy. Looks like these girls aren't afraid to get dirty and still look sexy at the same time. Also, the use of sheer fabrications = j'adore.
Below (left to right): boxer looking skirt, "tighty whitey" dress, sexified baseball T *love it all*
Look book shot by Steven Klein, runway shots by Marcio Madeira
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Hot latkes/empanadas
Makeup, styling, photography, editing by me, myself, and I
HEATTEACH: UNIQLO
Far far away in a brilliant land called Japan, geniuses are coming up with technologically advanced (now here's the brilliant twist) clothes. We're all too very familiar with the technology Japan has been whipping out. UNIQLO, a leading Japanese clothing label (carries affordable basics: American Apparel for Asians), has launched a new generation of thermals (HEATTEACH) that can, allegedly, withstand the coldest parts of Serbia with only several layers. I've heard raving comments about this product, you can check it out for yourself here --> men's, women's. The advancements are all within the fabric; the fabric enables for heat to be retained/kept from escaping you as well as being regenerated. And, it doesn't stop there, on top of the previously mentioned, HEATTECH technology offers odor control (antibacterial agent within the fivers), stretch, soft texture, and is non-deforming (keeps its shape). And wait! Call now and you can get all this for the low, low price of... $15.50 (for the T's)!! Sorry, you can't get a complimentary egg slicer with your offer. But, seriously, you guys. What a STEAL.
Now... I know you're all like... Well... These are just really warm T-shirts, no big deal... But! Here's the magic: many people have claimed by simply wearing HEATTEACH under a layer or two, they feel absolutely comfortable at near freezing temperatures. So you can look delicious without looking like a marshmallow, even though marshmallows are pretty darn delicious...! Yeah! Check it out :) I'm sure the Incredibles would approve of these hot cakes.
I'll post the campaign shot by Mario Testino right after this
Now... I know you're all like... Well... These are just really warm T-shirts, no big deal... But! Here's the magic: many people have claimed by simply wearing HEATTEACH under a layer or two, they feel absolutely comfortable at near freezing temperatures. So you can look delicious without looking like a marshmallow, even though marshmallows are pretty darn delicious...! Yeah! Check it out :) I'm sure the Incredibles would approve of these hot cakes.
I'll post the campaign shot by Mario Testino right after this
I’m not the biggest fan of Kate Moss but I have to say, this is pretty darn amazing! Gets me every time. It’s a hologram of Kate Moss featured in an Alexander McQueen show a while back ago. Haunting!
This’ll be my first post of 2010 and my last post of 2010 on Tumblr. I’ll be taking a break to get focused with schoolwork and I’ll be returning to blogging on Blogspot/Blogger. I’ll see you guys soon! Hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year! :D
Armchairs by Andrew Bird
I dreamed you were a cosmonaut
of the space between our chairs
And I was a cartographer
of the tangles in your hair
I sang the song that silence sings
It’s the one that everybody knows, everybody knows
The song that silence sings
And this is how it goes
These looms that weave apocrypha
they’re hanging from a strand
The dark and empty rooms were full
of incandescent hands
The awkward pause
The fatal flaw
Time, it’s a crooked bow
Time is a crooked bow
In time you need to learn, to love
The ebb just like the flow
Grab hold of your bootstraps, and pull like hell
until gravity feels sorry for you, and lets you go
As if you lack the proper chemicals to know
the way it felt the last time you let yourself fall this low
Time’s a crooked bow
Time’s a crooked bow
Time, it’s a crooked bow
Fifty-five and three-eighths years later
At the bottom of a gigantic crater
An armchair calls to you
Yeah, and armchair calls to you
It says, someday, we’ll get back at them all
With epoxy and a pair of pliers
As ancient sea slugs begin to crawl
through the ragweed and barbed wire
You didn’t write
You didn’t call
It didn’t cross your mind at all
Through the waves
waves of hay and straw
You couldn’t feel a thing at all
Fifty-five and three-eighths
Time
Fifty-five and three-eighths
Time
Time
of the space between our chairs
And I was a cartographer
of the tangles in your hair
I sang the song that silence sings
It’s the one that everybody knows, everybody knows
The song that silence sings
And this is how it goes
These looms that weave apocrypha
they’re hanging from a strand
The dark and empty rooms were full
of incandescent hands
The awkward pause
The fatal flaw
Time, it’s a crooked bow
Time is a crooked bow
In time you need to learn, to love
The ebb just like the flow
Grab hold of your bootstraps, and pull like hell
until gravity feels sorry for you, and lets you go
As if you lack the proper chemicals to know
the way it felt the last time you let yourself fall this low
Time’s a crooked bow
Time’s a crooked bow
Time, it’s a crooked bow
Fifty-five and three-eighths years later
At the bottom of a gigantic crater
An armchair calls to you
Yeah, and armchair calls to you
It says, someday, we’ll get back at them all
With epoxy and a pair of pliers
As ancient sea slugs begin to crawl
through the ragweed and barbed wire
You didn’t write
You didn’t call
It didn’t cross your mind at all
Through the waves
waves of hay and straw
You couldn’t feel a thing at all
Fifty-five and three-eighths
Time
Fifty-five and three-eighths
Time
Time
When I Grow Up- Fever Ray
This ain’t no Pussy Cat Doll + it’s like… Rodarte on a budget. Suburban Rodarte, if you will
Hussein Chalayan takes it
Without a doubt, Hussein Chalayan is an artist. Chalayan’s fashion vocabulary is often out of reach for many; his clothes remove all that is frivolous about fashion and takes it to a (sometimes) cerebral realm of fantasy (GaGa land, perhaps), bending the human form into new visions. This season Hussein openly admitted that as a designer the saying “less is more” can be a technical feat to execute. With that being said, spring/summer ‘10 still demonstrated that little bit of Chalayan quirk: Madonna-esque bras (GaGa forecast: 70% chance of coned bras), sunglasses embedded into sun hats (GaGa forecast: 100% chance of blinding sunshine), as well as fabric twisted and molded to look like hands caressing the body (GaGa forecast: 101% chance of bona fide lovin’).
Although this collection is tremendously trimmed down from previous collections, the quirkiness doesn’t stop there. This collection casts a more sophisticated and sleek vision through the bending of key menswear pieces. (Reminds me a little bit of Coco Chanel first making her mark on fashion by proposing mens sportswear for luxury women’s goods) Back on topic! Chalayan’s proposal plays around with taking men’s shirting pieces (vests, shirts, cummerbunds) and forming them into 90’s inspired sleep visions perfect for a chill day on Saint-Tropez.
Bravo!
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
Note the look to the left: the long raincoat goes past the shorts. I adore this look for men because it's very subversive of traditional styling for men.
Note: utilitarian, scuba/athletic gear, sheer, plastic materials
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A nice break from all the menswear I’ve been shoving in your faces today. This is Miu Miu’s fall/winter ‘09 campaign shot by Mert & Marcus (WHOA that’s a lot of M’s). I secretly love models without eyebrows…
White + grays + black + khakis = fresh. 3.1 Phillip Lim and Celine (YAY PHOEBE PHILO’S BACK :DD) seem to be on the same page with this one. These tones and colors work together to produce a clean, chic proposal for spring/summer ‘10.
In Celine these colors are played up with mattes and textures of black as well as variations in fabric weight, whereas Phillip Lim played things up with grids to add a geometric zest to otherwise rather minimal clothes.
I’ve been searching for the perfect pair of khaki shorts and boy oh boy 3.1 Phillip Lim’s are awfully enticing.
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira (3.1 Phillip Lim) and Monica Feudi / GoRunway.com (Celine)
Ease and nonchalance is exactly the attitude we want to be carrying when the temperatures are scorching. Dries Van Noten’s spring/summer ‘10 collection for men is nothing new for the Dries customer; the collection had a strong ethnic, cultural influence with the foreign textiles in exotic prints and patters. These textiles are drawn from locales where people take it easy in the balmy climate: Southeastern Asia.
The way Dries Van Noten cuts clothes looks and feels too effortless to be true. Everything is looser all while being tailored to fit. Its this nonchalance that works so well with the prints derived from far away coasts.
Adore: the outerwear feels tailored and architectural but drapes like they’ve just been thrown on the body with casual ease. The prints are fun without being too flamboyant- just what men should have in the warmer months.
All in all, needless to say, I want everything
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
I like the idea of a really special, unique pair of gloves during the wintertime. Maybe it’s the optimist in me hoping that the vibrancy will warm up my lackluster fingertips. (left: Pendleton wool gloves with leather palms, right: handmade Mario Portolano nappa leather gloves lined in cashmere)
On the contrary, I believe that shoes for men should be rugged, heavy duty, and a ‘canvas’. Investment dressing is a big deal now that question marks lay in many a pockets (when in doubt, blame the economy), so investing in a high quality, well crafted shoes only make sense because they’ll last. (both shoes by Japanese brand Chausser)
Side note: Red Wings are extremely well priced for their fantastic construction.
My thoughts: I wonder, what will museums in the far futures be stocked with? Things are being manufactured in such a mass produced manner that quality control has plummeted, consequently, artisan products that are made to withstand time and weather are dwindling. We must remember that our past is one rich with well crafted goods. Maybe the average man will be forgotten and only remnants of luxury artisan products will persevere time. Hohum!
These three shirts are a part of their series inspired by light & dark and shadows. I adore the blocking of the tones.
ALSO. OH MY LARD…
Hello, my name is Ky and I am selfish
Well, I wouldn’t call myself selfish, but today I’ll be throwing around some things I’d adore for myself in the forthcoming months. Have no fear! I haven’t forgotten about you guys (errr girls, assuming that most of my audience is interested in womens fashion…); I’ve got some spring/summer goodies lined up that’ll intermingle with fall/winter stuff (because I’m REALLY pushing this fall/winter season since it’s just soooo goooood).
Here’s to a Ky day!
Oh yeah. I get to research for History Day today. Yicky!!
Home is whenever I'm with you
Home-Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
There’s nothing ‘urban’ or ‘dandy’ about this but it makes me want to wear destroyed blue jean overalls and ratty plaid shirts avec a straw hat. Does that make me a dirty person? American folk muzaq has been a massive contributer to my current surge of inspiration due to its feel-good, homespun, heritage based sound.
Shot by Steven Meisel
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Screencap from Brideshead Revisited
And here's the trailer for the movie redux of the book/series:
/
Oh Miuccia Prada, you smart cookie, you. Often times the fashion industry is described as rather shallow, and although the waters these models are wading in might be shallow- the collection is certainly not.
Miuccia is truly an insightful son of a gun; she’s got a Ph. D. in Political Science (whoa, I did not know that); she’s a powerful, insightful woman. And, a power, insightful woman is exactly what she is pushing for this season. The statement: a strong woman submerged back into nature- gladiatorial fishermen, if you will. Yet it never looks savage because of Prada’s sensual, womanly touch. FIERCE. Literally.
Strong, stiff fabrics: boiled wools, thick upholstery like fabrications, stiff leathers, and rustic furs. I’m absolutely feeling for the boots, particularly the shorter ones. And did you see the leather work embroidered with paillettes? Ridiculous. Amazing. I want. I love. Also, I have to blame Prada for my recent fetish with all things accented with red.
And maybe… Maybe the thigh high boots are just Prada’s precaution for global climate change and water levels rising? Maybe!
Campaign shot by Steven Meisel
Oh Miuccia Prada, you smart cookie, you. Often times the fashion industry is described as rather shallow, and although the waters these models are wading in might be shallow- the collection is certainly not.
Miuccia is truly an insightful son of a gun; she’s got a Ph. D. in Political Science (whoa, I did not know that); she’s a powerful, insightful woman. And, a power, insightful woman is exactly what she is pushing for this season. The statement: a strong woman submerged back into nature- gladiatorial fishermen, if you will. Yet it never looks savage because of Prada’s sensual, womanly touch. FIERCE. Literally.
Strong, stiff fabrics: boiled wools, thick upholstery like fabrications, stiff leathers, and rustic furs. I’m absolutely feeling for the boots, particularly the shorter ones. And did you see the leather work embroidered with paillettes? Ridiculous. Amazing. I want. I love. Also, I have to blame Prada for my recent fetish with all things accented with red.
And maybe… Maybe the thigh high boots are just Prada’s precaution for global climate change and water levels rising? Maybe!
Campaign shot by Steven Meisel
I want I want I want more of these! SO COMFYYYYY
Ahhh why aren't I 18. Pout.
So, today while I was shopping around at the American Apparel on Capital Hill with Kawa I was offered an interview for a job there. Unfortunately I’m 16 and you have to be 18 to book the job. However, the guy was incessant about me interviewing so I ran away while he was looking for applications.
Fuck my life.
Comme des Garcons spring ‘10 for men + my Mad Hatter costume for Halloween = strangely similar…
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
Photos courtesy of Marcio Madeira
Left to right: Grand Floral Leggings, Black and White Abstract Leggings, Crop Circle Leggings
Forget about it, hippies
Now, usually when I think of spring I think of… Oh I don’t know, flowers and daisy chains? Maybe a few hippies frolicking around here and there, or maybe not so much frolicking but more like ‘chilling’ around. Anyhow! Christopher Kane, on the other hand, said “off with the hippies and florals” and decided to whip out *dun dun dun* NUCLEAR WAR.
Forgive me, Lard… I never thought I’d say this but, nuclear war might just be the most beautiful thing ever. Mind bowing and explosively beautiful, Christopher Kane bends images of nuclear explosions and skies to form eerily stunning prints for his resort collection ‘10. The turquoise, gray-blues, rusts, and mustard yellows look cleansing and melancholic all together. Somehow the result looks optimistic.
Disclaimer: these two shots are not from the same spread, I just culled them together to make my own little story
The girl who could and the girl who couldn’t. Goodbye Christmas 2009 :)
Top: Mert Alas, bottom: Tim Walker
Shot by Steven Meisel (I don’t know one thing that Steven Meisel doesn’t shoot… The man is everywhere!)
Feathers, lace & sequins, and heavy metal?!
Photos courtesy of Monica Feudi & Gianni Pucci
Seasons greetings from Urban Dandy
^Yeah, what the title said.^
So… It’s Christmas (woo!)… And I’ve been a naught, naughty little boy/fashion minion. And, I’ll probably be getting a lump of coal (but I don’t mind if it’s a lumpy coal colored sweater). My secret is that I’m one and a half seasons (fashion wise) behind. I’ve got a couple more posts lined up featuring shows/campaigns from this current season (fall/winter 09) but I promise in a week or so I’ll have some hot tamales from spring/summer 10 for y’all.
Can you guys believe it’s almost 2010? It’s ridiculous. It feels like yesterday that I was running around the fountain at Seattle Center at midnight while a whole bunch of people cheered me on as I slammed into my friend’s cold, wet body in the freezing air listening to Hey There Delilah and secretly weeping/moping that I didn’t have a New Years kiss . Yeah..
A genuine reason why I love getting up on a cold winter morning is the ability to pile up on my layers and feel warm and cozy (yes, I secretly LOVE feeling like a marshmallow). Protection is the key word. Pringle of Scotland does protection in a subtle manner with key knits for a winter wardrobe.
The house’s history with knitwear was fully displayed; chunky, woolen and cashmere cardigans knitted in chains and loops were the feature of the collection. One could say the cardigans were encrusted with scales. Yes, merino and cashmere scales . And, combined with the textiles, textures, and styling- it almost felt desert-y and reptilian. Appealing/assuaging for the wintertime blues? I think YES!
Style notes: The bases of this collection? Head to toe monochrome and texture. As y’all probably know by now, I’m have a huge soft spot for textures. The idea of having a monochromatic outfit can seem pretty drab and stale, but when textures are at play it’s like Mr. Clean/Fabio-combo rescued your outfit from a dry spell.
Note the various textures of the knits; some knits are chunkier and some knits are crepe paper thin. Some fabrics have a sheen to them while others absorb light. The idea is to mix it up with thickness/texture/sheen. Also, keep in mind that there is always one very strong texture (star actor) that dominates the outfit and the other textures are merely supporting roles.
And as usual… Photos courtesy of Marcio Maderi
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Left: Comme Des Garcons, embossed black leather card & coin pouch
Right: J. Crew “the original” leather postal messenger bag is a handcrafted, artisan bag constructed out of American leather. Used by the US Postal Service from 1868 until the 1970’s.
In the words of Rachel Zoe: I DIE!!!!!
I was happily folding my sweaters when I decided to take a break, and boy, am I glad I took a break because I ran into something that stopped me in my tracks- a collaboration that reminded me of why I love fashion so much.
Fashion isn’t just about clothes; it’s about a lifestyle. Music is certainly a key component, for me. The connective thread for artists in a variety fields is passion, and passion is exactly what this Vogue spread evoked. Music and fashion certainly work hand in hand; punk wouldn’t be punk without (anti) fashion; Lady GaGa wouldn’t be Lady GaGa without Alexander McQueen and outlandish costumes.
Take for example this mind blowing collaboration between Vogue, Steven Meisel, and a myriad of musical artists (Vampire Weekend, Beirut, MGMT, Adam Green, Gold Silvers, and The Horrors). The result: an optimistic spread for the January ‘10 American Vogue issue. What a great way to start the year!
Beyond inspiring. I want everything those boys are wearing in my closet now.
Photos courtesy of American Vogue and Steven Meisel
Ky Luuser
Hi, my name is Ky Luu and I like to clean my closet while watching The Devil Wears Prada for the hundredth time (no really, I practically have the lines memorized + stage directions [yes, I sicken myself too]). Some conclusions I came to today include:
Ms. Kelly, Edna Mode, and Anna Wintour are the same person (that has multiple personalities)
My cookie dough Haagen Dazs did not have as much cookie dough as usual
Chanel isn’t as wretched as I once thought
Anna Wintour does resemble Darth Vader ever so slightly
I have a huge desire to knit massive sweaters and scarves
Ms. Kelly, Edna Mode, and Anna Wintour are the same person (that has multiple personalities)
My cookie dough Haagen Dazs did not have as much cookie dough as usual
Chanel isn’t as wretched as I once thought
Anna Wintour does resemble Darth Vader ever so slightly
I have a huge desire to knit massive sweaters and scarves
Fendi fall/winter 09 campaign featuring Jessica Stam, shot by Karl Lagerfeld (who I did not know does fashion photography as well!)
The collection was inspired by armorial and religious garments; rendering primordial, spiritual, and protective feelings from within the clothes. My take? It looks like fierce, bewildered nuns seducing a man in black, amidst a deluge of smoke and mirrors. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, I don’t know what does.
The human body is a natural inspiration for any artist. Personally, I love the idea of playing around with the architecture and geometry of the human body. I have a paradoxical view of our bodies: they are very geometric but oh so very organic at the same time. These images offer geometric yet organic takes on the human body.
Valerio Carrubba breaks it down into something surreal and very organic. The human anatomy is something artists must understand on a scientific level too fully portray its true beauty. Surrealism and science aren’t things that are often paired together but Valerio Carrubba does it with such grace.
Bits and pieces form visions of ghostly figures. Antony Gormley is renown for his sculptures of human bodies, some of which are formed using casts and others are illusions formed by clusters of geometric objects. Haunting.
Unfortunately, the last image is from an unknown artist. I recall searching for Greek art when I stumbled upon this image. The thread for this sequence of images of the form of the human body and art. Again, human anatomy is a displayed in an artful manner; the lines and muscles of our bodies piece together to form a figure frozen in time.
"…Well, what are the commonalities between a sunrise, two people kissing, plants growing out of a storm drain, a stunning film, a poem, thoughtful graffiti, and wheat fields? The closest I can come is that the beautiful forces us to pause and reminds us that we are alive…"
-What is beautiful?
Oh, well I knew you shook the set-up baby, of all the leaves up in the ground
And I know our song is over and heavy as I see dry leaves fallin' down, oh
With all this fever in my mind, I could drown in your kerosene eyes
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
And as the early sign of dawn of thunder I see you stir the fog around
And when you find the boys and gears of sunset we'll hear that high and lonesome sound, oh
And I will question every wind if they gone through the glow of your eyes
Oh, you're just a riddle in the sky
Oh, where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
Oh, well I know you soak your feathers baby upon the ghosts along my trail
And I know well I was sole and buried before I knew it was for sale, oh
With all this fever in my mind I could aim for your kerosene eyes
Oh, you're just a target in the sky
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
I say where do my bluebirds fly?
I’m a sucker for anything that falls under the categories of stellar and tribal, or both for that matter. Matthew Williamson sure tickled my fancy with his take on tribal nomads this season, all while referencing something very futuristic.
Beaded dresses glimmer under the bright runway lights like kaleidoscope visions. Cocoon like coats caress bodies corrupted by cold, and shoulders sculpted from Star Trek suits dawned for trips to the sky. Matthew Williamson’s collection looked very optimistic with the play on color, texture, and contrast. Perhaps we can live in a modern society and still pay an homage to our primordial past; thrive in a metropolis setting all while respecting Mother Earth.
Photos courtesy of Marcio Maderi
"The frightening and most difficult thing about being what somebody calls a creative person is that you have absolutely no idea where any of your thoughts come from really, and especially you don’t have any idea about where they’re going to come from tomorrow."
There are certain things in life that require a little bit of digesting before you can fully grasp the beauty of them. Among those things, for me, was Dries Van Noten’s fall/winter 09 collection which twisted classic basics in a refreshing, perverse manner.
The cliche “a roller coaster ride” is all too true when it comes to describing Dries’ collection for fall/winter 09. Fractures, Francis Bacon, and War World II were all synthesized into Dries’ equation; Dries’ iconology revolves around the concept of culling together the world’s finest fabrics and sculpting them into effortless forms. This season was a prime example. There were clothes for every client of every appetite. There were 80’s and war era references. There were fuzzy sweaters and sequined skirts. For those reasons I found it incredibly difficult to condense this collection into only three looks for your pleasing, which is why I’ve chosen six different mini-stories within the collection.
All in all, this was by far my favorite collection for fall/winter 09. It played with ideas of morphing proportions, using off colors, and mixing unconventional textures; all of which are fixtures within my own style.
Photos courtesy of Marcio Maderi
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Red with envy
With Valentino Garavani stepping down from his label, red has slowly trickled out of Valentino's (the brand) color pallet under Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's deisign direction. But, this powerful, passionate color has manifested in the collections of various other designers for fall/winter 09.
(Top: campaign featuring a selection of Valentino’s iconic dresses. Bottom: Spring 09 RTW, Valentino’s last walk on the runway Spring 08 couture, Spring 09 couture)
Warm reds haven’t been seen on the runway for many seasons, so a revival of this color seems appropriate especially now that Valentino will no longer be equipping us with his signature red robes.Red? The new black? Red has been reinvented this season through the use of a myriad of textures. Leather, plastic, velvet, fur, silk: these fabrications ressurect the forgotten color on the runway. Take notes from Moschino, Salvatore
Ferragamo, and Prada.Photos courtesy of Marcio Maderia and Valentino
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Oogly boogly Christmas apparel
So… I thought Christmas sweaters would be readily available, but today I discovered that on the contrary Christmas sweaters are a hot commodity in the world of secondhand shopping. Unexpected! I went to three thrift stores and could only find kids Christmas sweaters. I guess ugly Christmas sweater parties are a huge fad this year! Allison, if you’re reading this: if I had known I would have totally borrowed one of your puffy paint, authentic, grandma’ sweaters…
But!I did craft my own Christmas sweatshirt, however. Tomorrow’s outfit: corduroy short shorts, tacky tacky themed sweatshirt, and a fire engine red Members Only jacket. I = classy.