Balenciaga fall 2010

Transformation of materials is always an interesting thing. Balenciaga is an always an interesting thing. Vicissitude is when fur is shaved to look like quilting; when cashmere is made to look like industrial foam; when shoes are encased with chunks of plastic- looking like expensive legos. Vicissitude is Balenciaga. Whether wearability stands as a dilemma or not, Balenciaga is doing what the fashion world needs. Paris needs someone to do something different, someone to take a walk on the wild side. Nicolas Ghesquière is pushing things forward. Sometimes fashion needs to be made enigmatic for pure arts sake.

Anna Dello Russo's favorites

Anna Dello Russo- Fashion director at large for Vogue Nippon. Possibly one of the most interesting women of the fashion world. She is mysterious; a creator of curiosity. Not much information can be found on her, but the street style photos which emerge fashion week after fashion week are satisfying enough.

Here are a few of her favorite things, as shot by Tommy of the jak & jil blog

Mood

Mood: temper, humor, disposition, inclination. What does a mood board stand for? What does your mood board stand for? And what about his? Hers? Theirs, and its? I feel it necessary to make a mood board every once in a while. It's soothing, really. This one contains clippings from Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and Vogue Nippon.

Desks, of all things

I am one who regards the surrealist/futurist movement as one of the most profound enterprises of all time. The dough of an idea starts as a bland and wanton lump, but when other elements are added, other spices are combined, some kind of unmitigated, almighty bread comes forth. It's the directness of the connections from art to fashion- fashion to art. Everything was looked at as a art. Everything had a superior concept behind it. The surrealists took perception and added a drop of psychology. Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian fashion designer (1890-1973), collaborated with Salvador Dali, taking a few of his artworks to literal terms.

You have no idea how important your expression is...

Be careful.



From

Qui etes-vous, Polly Maggoo?

A film by William Klein. Polly Maggoo, a french model is followed by a camera for a french television show in search of finding out who she is. The film becomes more and more bizarre, terrifically surrealistic, and jarring as time goes on. Polly is seen flying over roof tops with an unidentified prince, dancing and singing about animal crackers, and as a young girl screaming and tap dancing. Definitely a must see.

WHITE

White often symbolizes new beginnings. A new alpha, a new wave rolling towards the shore. Baby lambs are being born, Spring is coming, and everything will soon change. I am overcome with the feeling that everything will be okay. Editorials are making great use of the color white and tying it in with Spring, as always. Magazines all over the world are putting their trust in a simple pigment- white. Winter dies; the white snow turns to brown, offal, rubbish! ... But subsequently, the grass is reborn, the flowers found, reawakened, and reclaimed! Bunnies will play, dresses will be worn without stockings, and high-heel sandals are ultimately once again permitted.

[Vogue Nippon March 2010]

Antiques

We all know that dreary and often drafty antique store that goes by, making it's way in the world as an old stale collection of dusty things, occupied by the elderly. However, sometimes what is and what should be agglutinate together in a parallel universe called "life".

"Hello, how do you do there, antique store? I've come looking for something, anything that you have to offer from your deep despairs."

Many minutes accumulated but eventually lead to something rather interesting. An oddly shaped pearl necklace, tinted with yellowy-green. A ring with a properly working watch face on it.

It just goes to show, life is spontaneous. You never know what you'll find whether it be a piece of jewelery in an antique store, or a new friend met in an unexpected place.