Givenchy Spring 2013

This was by far my favorite fashion show of the season!  That's not new to any of you though - I'm addicted to Givenchy.  This time around, Riccardo cranks up the gothic realness a bit with some more deliberate references to the Catholic church - which is something that always looms in his work.  The graphic placements are fantastic.  The fabrics are beautiful.  I love the shot of unexpected baby pink in the show.  I can't wait to get my hands on some of this!

 

Atlas Cloud

Wow - I haven't been this excited for a movie in a VERY long time!  It looks like it's going to be fantastic.  Fall can't come soon enough!

Dries Van Noten Spring 2013

Hello visitors,

I haven't posted in a VERY long time.  I'm going to get better about this though, promise!

So - the Spring 2013 menswear season has come to a wrap.  This was one of the most exciting seasons in menswear that I've ever witnessed.  So much color!  So much pattern!  So much focus on silhouette and proportion!  It was the equivalent of a mens couture fashion week.  I'm going to point out some of my favorite collections of the season throughout the week.

Of course, I decided to start with Dries.  He's gotten into such a rhythm with his menswear.  His proportions are so recognizable now.  There's always a streetwise flair to his collections, but also an attention to detail that is such an inherent quality in his clothes.  I can tell that I'm looking at a rack of Dries clothing from a mile away!  This collection was amazing.  It was true sportswear with a twist.  I don't think anyone has made camo look so good!.....well Valentino was spectacular as well.......but you can tell that the camo trend (that many put into Nick Wooster's hands) is not going anywhere!

Rodarte Spring 2012

What a wonderful fantasy the Mulleavy sisters spin!  This collection was one of my favorites that I've seen from the girls in some time.  The artistry shown here is comparable to nothing else in American fashion.  This collection was oddly reminiscent of the first two Rodarte collections in terms of the couture quality of each and every piece.  Every fabric, color, and embellishment was in it's right place.  It was part of the allure that drew so many of us to Rodarte.  The other part was a heavy dose of fantasy, which was also present here.  What I also find so fascinating is that this collection returned to a truly feminine place, which is so in tune with another major trend that emerged in the collections this season.  The use of Van Gogh prints in these pieces added the right amount of surrealism.  I can't think of any girl that I went to high school in the late 90's that wouldn't kill to wear one of these dresses to prom!  That's obviously part of what I really loved about it all.  I can't wait to get to see some of these pieces up close.  There is so much to admire here!

Proenza Shouler Spring 2012

Wow, I'm so behind on my biggest obsession!  Well, I guess I'll speak about the collections that I cannot wait to see in stores over the next couple of months!  One of the standout collections of the New York season for me was Proenza Shouler.  I am pretty obsessed with them as it is, but they've just been killing it season after season.  This time around, it felt as if the boys took inspiration from the island of Cuba in the 50's and 60's.  The proportions were a little fuller than they have been over the past couple of seasons, which was a nice change.  I only say this because these boys were one of the few American design houses to somehow know that body con would become a major trend, infusing neoprene and skin tight clothing into their collections when the innovators of Milan and Paris were doing it.  Their signature cutouts and beautiful layering were all still present, but there was a wonderful addition of patchwork elements this season that felt in tune with what's happening in fashion right now.  This also signaled the return of the knee length skirt, which has been creeping into the scene for the past 3 seasons.  The prints were gorgeous and, as always to be expected, the level of detail and craftsmanship were outstanding.  The girls all felt very much like Proenza girls, which is an amazing feat when a house continues to evolve its aesthetic.  

A Case Of You

Another one of my favorite artists of the year.  He's definitely one of the most exciting artists to have released music this year.  His way of bending genres and flipping between dub step influences and creating some of the most beautiful ballads I've heard in a long time is unlike anything I've heard.  He rose to fame by covering a song by Feist, "Limit To Your Love".  Here, he covers the amazing Joni Mitchell and brings a new anguish to this song.  Don't get me wrong, even trying to come close to Joni is usually a massive mistake in my eyes, but James manages to take this song to a new place.  This video also plays a huge part in that sentiment.

You Can Count On Me

A psychedelic treat from Panda Bear - the new video for "You Can Count On Me", the opening track from the album, Tomboy.  This is one of my favorite albums of the year.  Does the fact that Panda Bear is a project by Noah Lennox of Animal Collective fame have anything to do with it?  Maybe.  There are similarities to their sound, but Panda Bear pulls most of their references from hip hop and R&B in this album, taking it to a very different direction from the otherworldly sound that Animal Collective has been building upon for several years at this point.  Ok, I'll stop blabbing now and let you enjoy!

Givenchy Womenswear Spring 2012

I've had Givenchy on my mind all day.  I was in Chicago shopping for work and tried on 6 or 7 pieces from their Fall collection and it brought this collection to mind.  I'm surprised I haven't blogged about it already!  

You all know that Riccardo is my biggest design icon right now.  I can't say full heartedly that every collection has been a winner.  He's had moments where he's trying to be everything to everyone.  His strongest moments have all happened when he's hyper focused and really zoning in on an idea.  This collection was one of those moments.  He's self described this collection with a story about a mermaid meeting a grungy surfer.  There are definitely some oceanic references in this collection - mainly in the organic peplum shapes and fish tail hems, but most literally in the amazing shark teeth necklaces.  What really amazes me about this collection is that it references an emerging trend that was used on several runways throughout Paris, but he does them in such a way that has become part of the Givenchy DNA, that it becomes somethings so singular that stands on it's own.  This collection was a knockout in my eyes.  

Chanel Pre Fall - Paris Bombay

Only Karl Lagerfeld would allow such an opulent and over the top set and collection to happen in a time of economic uncertainty.  I guess that's why we love him, right?!?


Karl does no wrong in my eyes.  He's been around for such a long time and continues to have his finger on the pulse, pushing a house with such a recognizable DNA further.  The section of the show with the white sweaters was a bit of a step in the wrong direction, but the other pieces in this collection were spot on.  I am especially in love with the mummy wrapped skirts, which actually remind me of a traditional short from Thailand.  The jewelry is all gorgeous.  I'm also completely in love with the dreds!

I Follow Rivers

This is my top video of the year, hands down.  Not only that, Wounded Rhymes is also ranked as my #1 album release of the year.  Lykke doesn't even know how powerful of a spell she cast on me this year.  It's such a transformative album.  I mean, this album caused a dramatic change in my fashion choices for the year.  Lykke is to thank/blame for my neo goth phase - think skinny jeans, Rick Owens tops, cloaks made in Berlin.  Yeah, it's serious!

Lovely Owl

I've always been fascinated with these creatures.  The owl that's being petted in this video almost looks like an animatronic robot!  

Pleasure Principle

FANTASTIC live performance by the one and only Sufjan Stevens performing Pleasure Principle.  It's such a beautiful song.  That little smile at the end of the video KILLS me!

VESSEL

Zola Jesus is amazing!



ZOLA JESUS "VESSEL" MUSIC VIDEO from FUTURE PRIMITIVE FILMS on Vimeo.

LumiBots

Pretty cool!



*new* lumiBots documentation from Mey Lean Kronemann on Vimeo.

VOMIT

It's been a while since I've posted anything!  I'm glad I'm beginning once again with this amazing video of Girls performing Vomit live.  I love their new album!

Dancing on Her Own!!!

I know that I'm tardy for the party, but still felt compelled to post the latest video from Robyn.  She's another one of my favorites and at the complete opposite side of the musical spectrum from Lykke Li, yet they are both from the same country.  Call Your Girlfriend was my favorite song from Body Talk Pt. 3.  It's an excellent track and I love the perspective from which the song was written - the girl who's the cheater telling her man to call his girlfriend and break up with her.  That takes some guts!  Plus, the video is pretty amazing.  It's just Robyn dancing on her own.          She even busts out the Electric Slide!  I mean, who does that?!?  Robyn, that's who.

JEROME

Lykke Li has turned out to be one of my favorite musicians of the year.  Wounded Rhymes is definitely in my top 5 for the year and may just end up taking the top spot for me.  It's an extremely powerful album that moves between some of the darkest and most beautiful moments I've heard in a very long time.  Jerome is one of my favorite songs on the album and this video captures a different side to this song.  The coven of girls is AMAZING!!!!  Enjoy!

Givenchy Men's Spring 2012

I know that this collection is one that you either love or hate.  I don't think I need to say what side of the fence I stand on.  Riccardo is letting some light into the darkness.  This collection continues to maintain the street edge that Riccardo has brought to Givenchy menswear, but elevates it with a superb use of color and unexpected finishing details.  There is a complexity to these clothes that is usually lost in the layers of black, so it was nice to see the amount of work that really goes into these clothes.  I know it's not for everyone, but he still managed to incorporate the key trends of the season through print and color use and still managed to make it all his own.  Bravo!

Riccardo is a BEAST

I love this man!  Riccardo can do no wrong in my eyes.  This image captures everything about his Fall 2011 collections for Givenchy so perfectly!

Lindesfarne