Who’s That Guy?

Finally! Solid fashion news…’coz honestly, we ain’t feelin’ all the model gossip junk that’s been circulating around lately. I mean, who cares if Gisele wants 4-5 babies, really! (Just so you know, we’re updated but we’d rather spare you ) 

In any case, we stumbled upon this news of Guy Bourdin’s upcoming exhibition at The Bon Marché department store in Paris (September 18-October 29). The late French photographer is known for his infusion of surrealist elements into fashion photography (Chanel, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue). We like his irreverent, nonchalant approach to fashion, and even more so after we found out that he once turned down the Grand Prix National de la Photographie Award from the French Ministry of Culture. He’s good and he knows it!!!

Well, anyway, WWD reports that the exhibition, “Guy Bourdin, Ses Films revisits his short films produced between the Sixties and Eighties. The clips — ranging from studio shoots to favorite locations, “works in progress” to personal moments — will be projected on floating screens in darkrooms, mimicking the surrealism Bourdin captured “by accident” for his fashion-world campaigns.”

Photo: hintmag.com, artnet.com

Summer Love

Hi folks! First and foremost, please pardon the recent lack of updates. I admit I ‘ve been rather negligent but I honestly don’t think there’s anything exciting out there around this time. BUT today (out of boredom) I stumbled upon Garance Dore’s blog that I’d bookmarked and started looking through her illustrations…again. I’ve been a fan of her work for some time now but every time I look at those images…ahhh! Love the fine lines and those expressive eyes. She does a fantastic job capturing silhouettes and textures too. Simply marvelous! 

 

Photo: Garance Dore

Prada Fall 09 Look Book

This is why we don’t agree when people say that the current economic recession has a dampening effect on creativity. On the contrary, we think it’s a blessing in disguise. As designers abandon the convenience of big budget productions for new, exciting and affordable ways to realize their vision, we see creativity rise to an entirely new level altogether. Take Prada’s Fall 09 Look Book for example. The concept of using runway photos for ad campaign etc isn’t new (Donna Karan did that first) but to have someone doodle and/or superimpose graphic images on the models’ face is really fun and refreshing. Not only does it focus your attention on the merchandise, we also like the undercurrent of irreverence and playfulness that run throughout. See if you agree with us. Check out Fashionologie to view the entire gallery. 

Photo: fashionologie

The Dark Of The Matinée V.2

This time around, we’re lucky enough to have 2 extremely talented photographers taking part in the shoot so we decided to juxtapose both perspectives together. Let’s give them a rowdy round of applause, shall we!!! 

Photography: Steve Wahyu

Wardrobe: Proud Parents

Model: Lani Leyli 

The Dark Of The Matinée V.1

Lo and Behold our newest editorial offering. Many thanks to all the generous and talented people involved. 

Photography: Grace Gunawan

Wardrobe: Proud Parents

Model: Lani Leyli

Watch and Learn: Jane Birkin

This is how it should be done! ‘Nuff Said! 

Photo: via modelinia.com

Dazed & Confused Goes 3D

This is interesting. Apparently, the latest issue of Dazed & Confused is presented in 3D! Yup! Not just the cover…the entire magazine! It comes with 3D glasses too! Can’t wait to get our hands on this!!!!! We’re not crazy about Julia Hafstrom’s expressions but Nicola Formichetti’s styling is supremely on point with Terry Tsiolis‘ dynamic shots. 

Photos: models.com

Coco Avant Chanel Costume Sneak Peek

We don’t know about you, but the one movie we’re dying to see this year has got to be Anne Fontaine’s Coco Avant Chanel starring Audrey Tautou. Above all, we’re really looking forward to see the fashion. Lucky for us, Vogue has published a sneak peek of some of the costumes!

“We did research from real garments – in museums, flea markets, vintage shops or private collections – and research from painting and photos. For the show of the end we used authentic outfits from the Chanel Conservatory and Audrey Tautou wore a Chanel suit inspired by ‘Mademoiselle’ in the Sixties,” explained costume designer Catherine Leterrier.  

Photo: vogue.co.uk

Jil Sander for Uniqlo

My my…don’t we love it when designers collaborate with high street labels! Now, just to clarify, when we say Jil Sander, we mean the German designer, NOT the label–she no longer owns the rights to the eponymous label since her break with then-owner Prada group. So…to avoid any legal consequences, her collection for Uniqlo is simply named +J but really, we don’t care what it’s called. It’s been 5 years since Jil Sander left the label so we’re super excited to see what she has up her sleeves this time around. The +J collection will be sold at all major Uniqlo flagships as well as the brand’s website. We will update you as soon as we receive more info! 

Photo: Courtesy photo via wwd

Manolo Blahnik is not that crazy about shoes

Imagine you’re sitting across from Manolo Blahnik, expecting him to blow you away with his tales of shoe passion but instead, all you get is, “Shoes? I guess … they have a life of their own. They are independent. Dresses you have to wear. But I don’t think about it that much.” Believe it or not, that was a direct quote from Blahnik’s interview with the Financial Times‘ Vanessa Friedman. 

We shall not take away from Ms.Friedman’s lively interview with the shoe wizard…please click on the link for the complete article..but we will leave you with some of Mr. Blahnik’s very interesting rhetorical monologues. 

“Are shoes so important? Really? If I was a woman, I would be dressed in the same thing for a month and just change my hat and gloves. Maybe my shoes too; yes, I see what you mean but, really, it’s jewels that change an outfit. And I do love gloves. And I adddore hats… shoes are so strange, so vulgar. I hate these platforms that are all over the place today; they are all about grabbing attention. They are suburban! I never do a platform. Well, I did, in the 1970s, but that was a bad experience.”

“I like going to the same places, knowing the people. Tradition! I love these traditional places… I detest this period of fantasy we were in where you had something for three seconds and then you threw it away. The last few years have been a nightmare! It’s one thing to have a dream, but this was overkill! I was in Los Angeles last year, because they were giving me that award where they can spit on you and stomp on you. What’s it called? A star on the Walk of Style?” (He means the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style, a series of plaques awarded to fashion and style legends that are embedded into a Beverly Hills pavement.) Yes, the Walk of Style. They asked me who I wanted to give me the award: Chloë Sevigny? I said, ‘No, I don’t get her.’ Lucy Liu? Oh, she was divine. I looooove oriental girls. Do you love oriental girls? And she was wearing something by Riccardo Tisci, who is my favourite boy.”

“It took me 10 years to really learn how to make a proper shoe and I’ve never made a perfect shoe. I’ve come close, but never. I still have to do that. Oh, there is so much to do. I thought I would get more blasé over time but I have just gotten more neurotic. Do you know, I don’t watch the news any more? I refuse to lose my optimism … ”

Do you notice how he always manages to digress away from the topic of shoes? Wonder what’s up with that? Hmmm…

Illustration: James Ferguson via FT.com