Habillées pour l'été 2010...

Mostly this post is here so I can get at the video quicker. If you have time to watch all 6 parts you should (the extras are really good too), Mademoiselle Agnès and Loïc Prigent did an amazing job with this documentary. Not only did they take on the topic of Paris being a hostile environment for young designers, but they did it in a comical and lighthearted way. 

p.s. If anyone knows how I can move over the margin of the page so the whole video can fit, can you please tell me? kthanxs. 

Insight From Cindy Ferrara...

The always insightful Cathy Horyn posted an article of a conversation between her and Cindy Ferrara; Behind the Scenes: The Product Specialist. I cannot recommend reading this enough, it goes in depth about the growing conflict that is happening in New York's garment district. Perhaps what I find most interesting is how over the years is that the focus on quality and fit has drastically decreased over the years. Unfortunately I was not alive in the 50's and 60's to see the great couturiers at work; to see the meticulous attention to detail that went into making clothes. Slowly Haute Couture is dying off; people do not want to pay for a couture ensemble, nor do they have the time to invest in it in a world of ready-to-wear. This recent couture season in particular proved to be a sorrowing one, and I think everyone can agree that the last true couturier has fallen to the economy. Christian Lacroix, with his colorful, whimsical, and masterful design, announced last season that he had lost financial backing, and his company never regained the backing that they needed. Haute Couture is truly fashion at its most refined. Whenever I show my little sister Hannah pictures of Haute Couture gowns, I stress to her the importance of the clothes. It really makes me sad though, because I know she does not really understand how much goes into making these works of art; the hours spent not only constructing the clothes, but also in producing the materials to make them with. People these days who want to get into fashion look to start their own line, to just make clothes. You need to only open the newest issue of People Magazine to see which latest celebrity is dipping their feet in the fashion market. What is it that makes them qualified to do so? I'm constantly frustrated with people who show no interest in the history of fashion, to understand what to do next, you need to know what came before you. I realize this industry requires a certain amount of passion and determination, and I really feel like it is lacking. There is a reason why I aspire to work at a house such as Balenciaga or Givenchy; it is because those are houses who really care. They care about what goes into clothes. People not familiar with the fashion world seem to be shocked about some of the prices that they see, but there is a reason a pair of Balenciaga shoes retail in the $5,000 range. Not only is the design miles ahead of the competition (yes, I am aware of the occasional copy, but what designer doesn't appropriate from time to time?), but there is an unsurpassed amount of quality in materials and craftsmanship that goes into them. I feel like I might be getting repetitive with this, but I really can't stress the quality of a good enough. I aspire to work at one of those established Haute Couture brands one day so I can learn the trade, to try and keep Haute Couture alive, and one day teach what I have learned to others in hope that they will do the same. It really is a sad position we are in, to watch a craft that is so steeped in history slowly fade into oblivion. I always associate Haute Couture to Linguistics. In January, the last native speaker of the Aka-Bo language died. I can only imagine how devastating this is to people who are passionate about preserving languages. Like fashion, you can only sit back and watch as the number of people dwindle down, and others frantically try to make records of what little remains. Fashion critics have their own doomsday clock, one which midnight represents the end of Haute Couture, and I can only hope to do my part in keeping that clock from advancing to the next day. 

So Rick O...

Image from Still In Berlin

Every now and then I find an image that sparks my imagination and makes me want to raid my closet and put together some amazing ensemble. I love how the wind in this picture creates such amazing volumes, and there is just enough color to keep it from getting to monochromatic. Then of course there is the individual items like the Rick Owens t-shirts and harem pants, and the Ann Demeulemeester boots, which I would love to have, except my mind is still preoccupied with those Raf sandals on Yoox.

A Little More LOVE...

image from WWD

Just another reason to pick up that copy of LOVE magazine (still debating the Natalia or Kristen cover) on Monday, two names; Donatella Versace and Victoria Beckham. Now to just find a book store that carries it. The fun thing about Minnesota is you can drive all around the state looking for a specific magazine and never find it. And all the international ones are a good 3 months behind. It really makes being demode so much easier.   

What I Wore...

Don't expect me to do more of this kind of post. I would much rather focus on what it is that I'm not wearing. 

*cough*raf*simons*sandals*cough*

Sorry bout that, had to clear my throat. Anyways, I'd like to think that I consistently dress good so people don't need to point it out. But Monday I got not one, not two, but three comments on how good I was looking. Figuring that this would not happen again, I set up the timer on my camera and took a picture. Then yesterday I was in the mood for some Thimister inspiration pop of red and hunter boots. Then it happened. The comments came one after another. I had 4 comments on how cool the boots were, and 5 on the overall ensemble. It was like some weird twilight zone were everyone likes my outfits. To break this period of uneasiness, I scrubbed down today. And since no "What I Wore" post is complete without it...

Left: Too Boot New York diving shoes, 7 For All Mankind Slimmy Jean, Raf Simons polo, Helmut Lang asymmetrical zip up, Ralph Lauren pea coat, Ben Sherman leather driving gloves, and J.Crew tote bag. 

Right: Hunter tall boot, Raf Simons skinny trouser, Burberry polo, cashmere scarf, Ralph Lauren pea coat, Calvin Klein studded wrap bracelet. 

Thimister Haute Couture...

I'm going to make this short and sweet since I got homework to do. This post is mostly aimed at my family who hate when I insist upon wearing my tall black Hunter Boots. They don't find them fashionable, but who are they to judge fashion? Clearly they do not know the importance of the Hunter Boot in British History; It is an official brand of the Monarchy, and Kate Moss adores them. Sounds like two good reasons to me. Anyways, looking through the Haute Couture collections that just shown, I found it comical that all the men in the Thimister show wore Hunter Boots. So this is to you family, proving to you that Hunter Boots are fashionable, and in my case, the perfect footwear for walking to school in... that is of course unless I get those Raf Simons sandals... I'm still waiting for more options other than write my momma's thesis paper. Plagiarism, and lacking morals. 

Hair...

Photographs from Jak & Jil

So, mid length story short, I shaved all my hair off a couple months ago. Now that it is starting to grow back, I'm getting antsy to do something fun with it. So, I have two options that I am leaning towards.

1) Take Katie Shillingfords to die for ombre died hair, and cross it with some angular cut a la Kate Lanphear. I'm hesitant about this though, because I've spent the last 5 years coloring my hair, so maybe I should let my hair be natural for a while. Which brings me to...

2) Business on the sides, party on the top. Like if Picasso got a hold of a mullet and took the long hair and stuck it on the top. It seems low maintenance, which I am all for right now. Plus it is the hair style choice of my favorite male model of all time... Cole Mohr of course! If only every Texan could rock it like Cole (lets hope I turn out to be one of them!)