Too Miuccia II

I swear this show wrapped just a bit ago. But so beautiful, dreamy, smooth--her fabrics and the way she uses them--with so much integrity. We should all treat our clothes so well.

“Beach and antiquity — high and low — it is all the same,” Prada told Suzy Menkes backstage. “It is supposed to be an ironic take — sometimes nostalgic, for a contemporary take on antiquity for those who don’t understand the beauty of the past.”

Glittered Inadequate Animal

Here are some preliminary selects from the shoot i styled this weekend with the phenomenal Alex John Beck. These are unretouched, and just some quick picks (of which there are plenty more looks and setups) since we wrapped at 3am sunday morning. Alex = the next male Rinko Kawauchi of Fashion, no? Quite glittery and obtuse.










Photographer: Alex John Beck
Stylist: Natalie Toren
Hair: Yo-hey Nakatsuka
Makeup: Thomas McEntee

PS. Some of the amazing clothes provided by: my friend Evie (the designer behind Bodkin), the very talented Parsons grad Desiree Neman, and Victoria who makes the brilliant horse-hair necklaces that they sell at Maria Cornejo (line called Saltalamacchia)

Like a Tree

Breathing through it's spectacles?

Nina Ricci's never-produced monstrosities. Like a dripping Dali clock.

Nom-de-Porter

"Nada mas que plumas y pieles...ya lo sabes"
I can't take credit for that sage adage: the beautiful boys of Madrid (shoutout to ALT, Maddox, and Maldito) could not have said anything truer. Loosely translated (or rather, exactly translated) it means nothing more than feathers and furs, but you already know that.
I love (love LOVE) this coat spotted by The Sartorialist, though i'm thinking its a vest over a leather jacket. I'm also thinking it might be Ohne Titel, or if not, really similar to some of their looks. I liked their fall show, incidentally, nothing ground breaking, but good, solid, and interesting. Can't find their fur pieces on style.com, but these are worth seeing:




Also, i was talking to my brilliant friend Sarah, and we were thinking about the serious shift in attention to street fashion as the new source of editorial fashion (I know this isn't new, but it is to the point where its ultra-saturated that its leaking into ad campaigns). How come there isn't a blog that sources from everyone (Garance, jakandjil, et al) that breaks down the looks? Not where the clothes are from necessarily--i don't want to recreate the look, and i don't need cheap alternatives-- but decoding why the looks work. Or maybe even a magazine--I mean, that is the broader point of a fashion magazine? Hmmm? Though that kills all the effortless Parisian engima from the whole endeavor, doesn't it.

Off to Baltimore this weekend, lugging a huge suitcase of way too much of my own clothing on the subway this morning. Leaving some room in there though for some Baltimore thrifting, hopefully.

PS I Love You

Teaser-Proenza

I said my photo was better...

Also, my shot of fiery-haired Vlada used here

Recap: Proenza Scouler F/W 09

Wow. I was backstage for this one too photographing hair/makeup and so I got to see some of the clothes (and touch them!!) and the shoes (I'll post pictures later). I didn't stay for the show, but I keep reviewing style.com and it just gets better and better each time. They are, in my mind, among the very few internationally competitive and progressive designers that show out of New York (the list changes, but at this point I'd safely say Marc, Rodarte, Calvin Klein by Francisco Costa, and PS. Sometimes Thakoon.). At this point, I love how self-referential the collection was (reprising bodice elements from their first collection, fabric themes, etc). They have just built this incredibly forward hybrid of downtown proportions and really high end clothing. And while its not exactly feminine proper, it's a mix of structured and effortless and in that, so New York--one of the highest compliments. What I think are the highlights:


I love shorts for fall, but not when they look vampy or attention-calling. They should be worn as if they were pants, and so these work. These are the perfect length, and also narrow enough to be feminine. Also the tapestry shoes are killing me. In a good way. You can see more detail if you enlarge the photos I took backstage.

Gold zipper and tweed.

I love the pant, and I like how it awkwardly rides over the boot. Very classic and cool. Also the gloves-- and the chainmail-like top is gorgeous; completely wearable.

Notice the collar and closure on this jacket above. Also Proenza always does this great brocade-jacquard-metallic fabric thing, and it never looks overdone. This skirt was good, but the other ones PS showed with the scalloped hems--not good. Boring and unflattering. Probably my only criticism with the show.

I need this coat above. And below. Again, the slacks. I don't feel we've seen these mid-range widths in a while. They're not tight or bootcut, but they don't look grungy or baggy either, very tailored and timeless.

This dress below was divine in person. I touched it, we shared a moment. It's this electric velvet burnout over sheer chiffon. Its perfect. Better than any second-rate knit burnout sweater that I'm already sick of (yet wouldn't say no to...)

Best Black. Race-car uniform style.

No, thank you. But my picture of the duo is better....