Tranny Realness

James Franco shot by Terry Richardson for Candy Magazine.  Pretty amazing!

RUNAWAY

If you have an extra 34 minutes to spare, you must watch Kanye's new video for "Runaway".  I know, many people hate him, but his creativity cannot be denied.  In case you were wanting to know who designed the fantastic feather jacket, it was custom designed by Philip Lim for this video.  Pretty amazing!

Drumroll Please!!!

And the Designer of the Year as named by Design Miami is Konstantin Grcic!  I really admire his work and it's very interesting to get to hear him speak about his process and what drives him to continue his work.  

Only Girl

So, I do have a spot in my heart for female pop stars.  Rihanna has been there since the beginning of her career.  I am absolutely in love with this song!

INFLUENCERS

I'm definitely going to see this when it is released.  Seems like an interesting perspective on a conversation that has been happening over the past couple of years - what makes something stand out from the millions of messages that hit people every day?

INFLUENCERS TRAILER from R+I creative on Vimeo.

BARBARA STREISAND

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm totally in love with this song and video!

Tortured Soul

I'm going through an internal struggle right now.  I've blurred the lines between me trying to understand what that final piece of the puzzle is for my own personal fulfillment with trying to understand why one of my friends is doing something that I feel is absent of any positive fulfillment.  I feel torn and now am trying to weed out my needs from my concerns for my friend.  I feel very much like one of the twisted creatures that made Robert Longo famous....

The Spirit Was Gone

Antony and the Johnsons released a new album yesterday.  With it came a video for a song on the album, "The Spirit Was Gone".  It's comprised completely of video footage taken of the amazing Kazuo Ohno, the face of a haunting Japanese dance form known as Butoh.  This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written by Antony and the video is very fitting.  

ENTER THE VOID

Going to watch this tomorrow.  So excited!!!

Limit To Your Love

Cover of the fantastic song by Feist, performed by James Blake.  This song was one of my favorites from her last album and I never thought I would ever hear a cover that could match the genius of the original track.  I DEFINITELY didn't expect to hear it from a 21 year old musician.  The song has always been a sad song about coming to the realization that you are in a relationship with someone who isn't giving as much as you are and never will, but James' interpretation takes it to a much darker place, and I really love it!  Can't wait for his debut album!

RUNAWAY

I am actually looking forward to this.  Never thought I would say those words in association with Kanye West, but he's surprised me once again.

Nomadic Minimalism

I don't think there's any other way to describe the latest Bottega Veneta collection.        Once again, the minimalist 90's influence showed it's face in this collection.  What I found most interesting in this collection was the use of fabric.  The series of dresses that started the show were composed of at least 3 fabrics each.  This collection also touch upon some trends that became spotlights for the season - deconstructed garments and unexpected embellishment.  Many of the pieces in the collection had unfinished hems and the seam allowance was exposed to the exterior.  Tomas also focused on embellishing in an unexpected way.  The perfect example would be the metallic dress with goose down feathers embroidered all over.  These are the details that someone who is really looking for luxury is lusting over.  It's not about showing everyone how much you have, it's about showing those who do have a lot that you are better than they are.

Black Magic

Video Presentation for Gareth Pugh Spring/Summer 2011 collection.  Really amazing.  After watching this, the runway show just doesn't do the collection justice!



Gareth Pugh S/S 2011 Collection - Director: Ruth Hogben from SHOWstudio on Vimeo.

Sunshine

This song makes me miss summer!  

Baptism

Obviously, there's a trend with the music that's turning me on right now.  The first Crystal Castles album was touch and go for me.  The second album is SO GOOD.  I'm glad I gave them a second chance!

ASIA

Video for "Asia" by my favorite band of the moment, Salem.  I'm really into Witch House.

IT'S TIME FOR THE PERCUMAJOR

Sabor de Fendi

I didn't want to get ahead of myself, so I'm going to continue to post my favorite collections from Milan.  As I mentioned during my Prada post, there was a major Latin flavor running through Milan this year.  It was a nice way for the italians to take on the return to minimalism that has become the overarching trend throughout this fashion season.  Fendi also took this trend on and Karl created something that stands on it's own without relying on trend.  His collection definitely had a laidback latin elegance running throughout.  There was a nod to the 70's in here as well, which has also been a trend sprouting up here and there.  The most interesting thing about this collection is that it was not directly inspired by Latin America in any way.  Karl was playing with proportion and geometry and the results happened to be oh so current.  In terms of proportion, everything was more languid and voluminous at the same time.  Rises were higher, skirts were longer and a bit fuller, everything was slightly drop shoulder with a longer and more full sleeve.  EVERYTHING was nipped in at the waist.  It all felt right.  What else do you expect from the Kaiser?  What I also like about this collection is that it continues to reinforce that Karl is no longer treating Fendi like an after thought.  He's developing a design language for the brand and it's really beginning to stand on it's own two legs.