Déjà Vu: Not so Unique Forms

Art sometimes flirts with fashion.

Fashion, however, is often more overt in her advances towards art.

Such was the case with these Prada heels from FW08.

I had saved this image for my archives ages ago, but couldn’t think of why I was so obsessed with these shoes.

Unique Forms of Leather in Milan, Prada FW08.

I don’t generally prefer Prada or have a soft spot for chunky, clunky shoes.

Then I realized that they emulate one of my favourite pieces of sculpture – futurist Umberto Boccioni’s Unique Forms of Continuity in Space.

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Boccioni. Movement, mastered.

The dynamic flow of movement is captured in both objects so eloquently.

The Boccioni satiates my soul, however, like only art can.

Prada image courtesy of style.com. Boccioni image source.

The Grabbing Hands…

I gasped out loud at the beauty of these hauntingly beautiful pieces of wearable art by Hussein Chalayan.

Gasp-worthy gowns at Chalayan SS10

Clasping couture at Chalayan SS10

Hauntingly haute at Chalyan SS10

A song comes to mind…

“The grabbing hands grab all they can
All for themselves – after all
The grabbing hands grab all they can
All for themselves – after all
It’s a competitive world
Everything counts in large amounts

Everything counts in large amounts.”

Lyrics from Everything Counts by Depeche Mode.

The grabbing hands grab all they can...

Just hold on...and be beautiful...

Photos courtesy of Style.com.

Tom’s Tried and Tested Team

Womenswear has been a desert for the past few years.

(The McQueens and the elites of Japan and Belgium aside of course, as that is a fantastic solar system unto itself).

For the most part, there is sand everywhere, but it is water we seek to quench our thirst.

We need the oasis that is Tom Ford womenswear.

Julianne Moore wearing Tom Ford Womenswear. Lucky lady.

A few drops of nourishment have been fed to us – we know that he is to come back – soon…

Well now, WWD is reporting that a top-notch team is being put in place to make our wells runneth over with sexy, vampy and glam glad rags.

Mr. Ford’s menagerie a trois includes ex-Givenchy RTW designer, Caroline Tixier,  ex-McQueen accessory designer, Pablo Coppola and shoe designer Michael Lewis, who has worked with Ford before at Gucci and with brands like Burberry, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Nothing but A-list for Tom.

Business partner Domenico De Sole and Tom are not commenting pour le moment.

He walketh softly and is carrying what is likely a very big stick.

According to WWD, the line could launch in Fall 2011 via presentation vs. runway show in either Milan or New York.

My guess is that it’s Milan (to stick it to the Gucci Group), plus Fall is a bigger fashion season so Tom will take it to the max in Milan.

The mysterious Mr. Ford

For a marketing maven and a man who loves excess to be so very quiet at the moment seems strange…

…but you can bet your Gucci gear that the launch will be la-arge and globally grand, my friends.

Ford and De Sole are banking on it.

Moore photo courtesy of WWD. Ford photo source.

 

Mag Rack: Meisel’s Three Women

Vogue Italia and Steven Meisel are the magazine equivalent of peanut butter and jam these days.

I love the curious mix of couture and cowboy as Meisel photographed – simply – Three Women for the mag’s February 2010 issue.

Model Agyness Deyn, model/musician Jamie Bochert and muse/mogul Daphne Guinness are the chosen three.

Daphne - hauntingly beautiful, as always.

Three Women by Meisel. The modern Three Graces?

Agyness - chameleon extraordinaire.

Jamie, lounging in couture, as one is bound to do.

All photos by Steven Meisel, courtesy of Vogue Italia.

Rubbing Shoulders

We know that the last few seasons in fashion have been all about the Big Shoulder, but have the proportions gotten ridiculous now?

Note the picture frame shoulders at Prashant Verma’s Ego collection at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week AW10.

Guess his point is that you need big a** shoulders to prop up a large ego?

Too much for moi. Don’t want to knock over random objects every time I turn around…

Head and shoulders above the rest at Prashant Verma AW10.

Photo courtesy of WIFW.

Louboutin’s Dancer in a Daydream

This sweet little video from master cobbler Christian Louboutin reminds us of the power of daydreams.

Keep tapping your feet, keep a sparkle in your step and keep dreaming.

It will all come true!

Pacified Plumes and Plain Perfection

The pompous plumes were later pacified at Gaurav and Ritika…

Birds of a different feather, at Gaurav and Ritika AW10.

The proportions and layering of greys and black in the last look on the right is dreamlike. I want to wear this for Spring and float into a brand new version of me.

The second look echoes Belgian design and is right on point in black and white.

But this next look captures the essence of the rich textural history within India and the simplicity of the new design regime.

The art of simple dressing at Gaurav & Ritika AW10.

Top photo courtesy of The Hindu. Bottom photo courtesy of WIFW.

Feathered Friend or Foe?

Big Bird, is that you?

A feathered frock that may not work on most - at Gaurav and Ritika AW10.

Photo courtesy of WIFW.

Nouveau India

The Motherland has lost her modesty.

Welcome to the New India, my dears.

She’s no longer hidden from view.

Printed lace, a pretty face, a dreamy shoe and a bit of frou at Tarun Tahiliani.

Tarun Tahliani dress for AW10 at Wills India Fashion Week.

Photo courtesy of WIFW.

Wills India Fashion Week Begins – in IST

The irony of India Fashion Week starting a day late (in Indian Standard Time) is not lost on this desi girl. Someone forgot to get a fire permit so all shows on the first day were cancelled.

It’s the second fashion week in India this month with Lakme Fashion Week happening in Mumbai earlier in March. This one, in New Delhi, is the bigger one of the two and now there are others popping up in places like Bangalore and beyond.

The perception of India in the west of course, is of the immense poverty – but this is a country of contrasts.

One of those stark contrasts has always been the division of class, but those lines are slowly blurring and blending – especially in terms of the middle class.

That middle class now have better jobs and better paychecks and along with those things, comes the want of material things.

The younger generation of Indians are also obsessed with the West.  Most wealthy sons and daughters are educated abroad and return to the Motherland to make money – and spend it.

Luxury brands like Gucci, Hermes and Burberry have not only set up shop, they are expanding their initial investments in India. The Mittals, one of the foremost empire builders in the country, have bought Escada – the first of many fashion empires, I am sure.

The fashion business is booming. Magazines like Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar have very successful Indian publications at a time when western magazines are struggling to stay afloat.

Part and parcel with this adoration of fashion is the amount of fashion talent coming out of India. While there were only a handful of known designers about 10 years ago, there seem to be dozens of new ones each season. Fashion may now even be perceived as a respectable career in the eyes of Indian parents(!).

India has always been fashion crazed – she’s just craving a different kind of fashion now – and more of it.

India is a young woman, burgeoning, and finding herself. And she wants to look beautiful.

In a country this hot, maybe a fire permit is a good idea after all.

Fanning the flames of east and west at Ashima-Leena AW10.

Keeping the home fires burning - classic salwars get printed at Ashima-Leena AW10.

Photos courtesy of WIFW.

Wonder-lust

Fashion had me at a very young age.

Well before pointy shoes and McQueen and paisley pashminas, I learned to covet shiny objects.

Like many soul sisters (and not so little boys) the world over, I adored Wonder Woman.

Her power cuff bracelets were the specific objects of my affection.

Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman in the TV series.

You know the ones – she’d raise her arms when something came at her and the bracelets would deflect it – be it bullet or bull.

A girl needs those bracelets.

As I grew older and came across everything from nazar to nonsense, I wished for those power bracelets even more.

Well, today I found something that could be the modern-day equivalent of those gold cuffed wonders.

Alexander McQueen Knuckle Duster

This McQueen knuckle duster is perfect for keeping us modern, wonderful women away from the bull  that comes at us on a daily basis.

Modern Wonder Women take no crap!

Thanks Lee.

Gleaming jewels embedded in skulls don’t lie, girls.

Consider yourselves armed – and delightfully dangereuse.

Wonder Woman images courtesy of Wikipedia. McQueen jewellery available at alexandermcqueen.com.

Anew

Dearest Goddess of Spring,

Embrace us with your warmth.

Wrap us in fantasy.

Show us your true colours.

We await the new.

One of Satya Paul's glorious saris at Lakme Fashion Week last week.

Photo courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week.

Rose Cordero for Paris Vogue

Rose Cordero channels a younger, softer Grace Jones for the March issue of Paris Vogue.

It’s bold without being brash.

Military mode in Paris Vogue, March 2010.

Love the strong makeup shades against muted tones in the clothing.

The stong shoulder, softened slightly with a knit and a knot.

Wake me up before you toga.

Ready for any style battle.

Rose also made the cover of the mag – compare it with other March issues.

All photos of Rose Cordero by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, courtesy of Paris Vogue.

City Chic

…or is it City Chick? Either way, Bottega Veneta – the name synonymous with sophisticated, understated yet luxe glamour – has us covered.

Their Resort 2010 collection was one of the best this year in terms of wearable and wanted wardrobe.

These are just amazing clothes for doing just about anything in.

Skinnies don’t always have to be skin-tight and are updated in chocolate, instead of the usual black. Pairing them with a clunky platform sandal, draped knit top and the cropped leather jacket, all in a slightly looser silhouette, softens the look but can work in any city.

I love the varying shades of cocoa and the textured bag. Bottega still makes the best totes.

Anything but boring brown. Perfect for a day in any city.

You can wear these items on holiday and just as easily, while picking up tulips and tea bags on Saturday morning.

Black and white is a continuing theme for Spring (and let’s face it – during each season) but Bottega updates it with multiple, optical patterns on this day dress.  The belt, heels and red bag add the perfect punctuation marks.

The city strut - at Bottega Resort 2010.

What I love most about the collection is the interchangeability between day and evening wear.  These looks would work just as well for market shopping in Marrakech as they would for a birthday cocktail party in Brussels.

This striped and layered dress mixes one of my favourite colour combinations – brown with red…

"Open your eyes. Day for night. Look what you done to me." - Bryan Ferry

…and then there was the more daring mix of aqua blue with deep red. I’d stop there and nix the green clutch.

Punch of colour at Bottega.

A variation of colour - still in the jewel box.

The accessories spoke for themselves in most looks – a great bag, shoe or belt adds perfection. I loved the ease of this dress with a low-slung twisted belt.

Hip to be hip-slung.

If jewellery is added, it’s bold and present – but the bag gets downsized.

Bubbles and baubles at Bottega.

I adore the empire waist on this little number.

The empire strikes back.

Also, purple and brown are back in my colour palette to be remixed soon-ish.

You know, that’s what looking at these collections is about. We can’t all afford Bottega (we aspire to one day!) and it’s not about seasonal trends. It’s about getting inspiration where you can.

This collection inspired me to rethink my all-black colour palette. Brown is a great baseline to start with. I don’t normally do dresses, but I’m loving the ease of these shapes and proportions so will try a few for summer. I like the looser, easier cardigans and jackets, too.

I know now that I need a coffee/mocha/cocoa tote for the season.  I might even do a platform sandal (clunky is usually not my vibe)!

That’s what seasons are all about – playing, re-inventing yourself and just being (a) cool city chic(k).

Out for a stylish stroll in the city.

Green with Envy

Was there a spring in your step today?

Well, if the warm weather and the fact that it was St. Paddy’s Day didn’t do it, these little numbers are sure to!

Gorgeous green strappy sandals from Gaultier, Haute Couture SS10.

Sigh. If only I were lucky enough to wear couture.

Photo courtesy of Style.com.