16.10.10 0
7.10.10 0
Digital Portraits
... in the shape of clothing.
(Marcus, the boy brought up by wolves).
By Mashallah Design and Linda Kostowski.
20.9.10 0
Lovely strange jewellery and I-still-don't-know-what fashion
I opened my Google Reader (which I suspect can do much more than I know) and saw a few new posts in Today and Tomorrow. The first one up was on Imme van der Haak's jewellery. Her work is Fan. Tas Tic. And I could so relate it to a recent post on Mette Klarskov Larsen. I had it all in my head, so I happily scrolled down. And the following post was on Jeremy Scott's summer 2011 fashion collection (which, by now, has been around a few blogs).
Now, I didn't know what to make of these. I already posted a similarish idea seen on a bag by LV. I do get the idea of trash and fashion. The doubt is whether the rubbishness refers to fashion (as a critique or as a joke) or to women. That's where I think this can get a bit dubious. I mean what goes inside the black bag/dress is the trash/lady. And then there are the shabby hair rollers ( a bit Gaga-esque), which I have not much against, but they still have this negative side to them. And the animal paw shoes (I've liked versions of this idea in the past, but as a combination with the other concepts... There is a meat dress somewhere in the show if you watch the video. Again, it's been done before and recently with different tones). Don't forget the message on the bag (here? Where?). Or the men's underwear.
Maybe it's all about the crisis of capitalism, of excessive consumption. A comment on recycling and global warming.
But then there's the mad-woman wedding dress. And there is where you wonder if the designer is saying women are mad to follow fashion (a statement that's becoming popular as far as I've seen in interviews with designers), or mad if they get married. Or, plainly, just mad.
I cannot make up my mind. What do you think, smart and witty and political? Or silly, offensive and diminishing?
14.9.10 0
E. V. Day
Loads of work, very expressive, very coherent (although in a rather terrible site).
13.9.10 0
Women in images
Dear everyone,
I've been watchin a lot of Target Women lately, and found it very funny. I've also found Killing us softly (3), a more profound anlysis of women on the media, specially in ads. If you did not know any of these two documentaries, please go ahead and watch them: they are hilarious, intelligent and infuriating.
For instance, do you remotely feel that this ad (by Sisley -who actually makes women clothes!) could suggest she is just fast food? (notice her passivity toward being locked in a fridge, a suermarket fridge), the re-branded food (all readable brands are "fast-food") and the position of the beholder.
And, er, this one:
Not to mention the one at the top by alledgedly (there's been controversy over the fakeness of the ad) the same company (women as sick addicts for consumism, notice the makeup and look). Not enough? there's more "interesting" ads by these people here and here.
I've always been interested in reading images, but when I saw the following pics from a fashion show , I just couldn't get my head around them. I've heard of super skinny models (some say that extreme thinnes is to make them look infantile, or masculine, or minimal, quiet). But these?! These?! I understand fashion is art and at some level it may go beyond what's flattering but what do these tell you about women?
Bald, bearded (scarcely bearded, as well), skeletal, pale. Words like cancer, chemotherapy, hormons, disease, apocalypse come to mind. And at the end of the day, I do not want my jeans to remind me of any of that, do I.6.9.10 0
Inspiring ladies
This is, to me what fashion should be about. Personality. And tons of it! These ladies live for their clothes, but are not mere fashion victims. I was once talking to my art theory teacher (that's the feminist lady I've mentioned before) about fashion and design and jewellery. She mentioned a quote that said something like "but once you remove all that, we are just naked". Liking clothes it's not a sin. Being strong and intelligent does not mean you can't care about what's in your wardrobe. Your clothes tell stories, and you can be the narrator. Otherwise, you are just naked.
4.8.10 0
Bodybell campaign
Bodybell is a Spanish chain of perfumery shops. Now, so far so good. As many other companies, they've decided to appeal to the solidarity of their shoppers and create a collection of t-shirts which will help a NGO dedicated to refugees. I am not going to get into this whole shopping solidarity thing, I am just going to translate what the shirts say:
-No one has erotic dreams with a "nice" person
-That your mum thinks you are hansome does not mean you are
-Love at first chat does not exist
-The pretty one envies the luck of the ugly one.... hahaha, right.
When I go in a beauty store, I hope not to feel intimidated or god forbid, uglier. I like stores that rather than selling you their most expensive lipstick and then try to tell you you need some corrector too because you look terrible; listen to what you ask for and accomodate a more wholistic need.
I might not have a sense of humour, but these sound rather offensive to me.
How do you feel about them?
3.8.10 0
Best glasses ever
in the whole of the universe
in all its expanding glory
in the forevereness of all times
Thanks, Prada.
7.6.10 0
Wafrica
Kimonos made with African wax fabric by Wafrica.
Interesting point of this being transnational or a third aesthetic rather than multicultural or fusion-like. Rather than just a commercial opportunity for a younger market (of which there's part), I can also see a dialogue, a greeting, an exploration between cultures. The more I learn about postmodernism, the less I know if we are happily overcoming it or if it is just laughing on our faces (I know cultural debates don't really do that, but hey).
I've been seeing all these African print clothes sprouting everywhere in Europe this spring (World Cup, maybe?), but,as you can see, this is just the beginning. Bring. It. On.
19.3.10 0
Rich Rubbish
Sometimes designers can be a bit too smart. Even if Marc Jacobs is just having a big fat laugh at the people who buy LV, seeing a trash bag retailing at over 1000 euros can be insulting.
12.3.10 0
the answer is Schiaparelli, Elsa Schiaparelli
And the question was about a dress worn by Lady Gaga. I had not seen this piece in a long time and, the other day, google randomly offered it to me. Then everythingmade sense. It so happens she was not necessarily promoting extreme thinness, but illustrating the public about her Surrealist influence. Kudos, Gaga.
11.3.10 0
Tallas (Sizes)
This installation by Ana Alvarez-Erracalde imitates a shop, where on can try the bodies of women in different shapes, sizes, ages or races.
I am enjoying the aesthetics of it, so very boutique-y, but somehow still very butcher's. in the end, meat is meat, however it is sold to us.
What would you buy in this shop? Do you think there would be a best-seller, or that all models would have some success?
11.2.10 0
Walking on lobster claw heels to heaven
Alexander McQueen passed away this morning.
There goes a true talent. He wasn't vegan-friendly precisely, but he was an absolute fashion genius. Mourning all the creations we'll never see.
