Personal Style 102
By purplekicks · July 15, 2008 · 8 Comments · 1 Views
Yesterday evening I returned home from work to find my package from London (via Italy) waiting for me. I deftly cut the box open with scissors and then carefully peeled back the layer of silver paper that covered a simple, cotton dustbag. I gently pulled the weighty dustbag out, consciously feeling what it held inside with my hands before sliding out the soft, wrinkly bag made of goatskin. Before me lay the treasure I anxiously waited two years to purchase: a black Balenciaga Work bag. Let me say this just once: finally!!! It can be tricky to find unused bags from past seasons (in this case, Fall 2006), but because it's black it wasn't too difficult. Because it is new I will have the pleasure of breaking in the leather and watching it slowly form the perfect slouch. Knowing fully well that entering college I will not be able to make such a large purchase again for years I made certain to choose a bag that I could wear with almost anything and continue to love for years. Those requirements narrowed my choices down to a black, mid size bag with subtle details - and since I almost always wear jeans and a tee shirt, the bag had to look casual, which immediately took anything YSL out of the question. And voila!
Above is the wrinkly, distressed goatskin (chevre) leather that Balenciaga is known for. Starting in 2008 Balenciaga switched to lambskin (agneau) and has also raised prices on all of their motorcycle styles, in addition to changing small details on the bags to cut production costs.
Tagged with: Balenciaga, personal style
Fall 2008 Haute Couture
By purplekicks · July 13, 2008 · 2 Comments · 0 Views
Being a middle class eighteen year old American boy, I can hardly contemplate attending a couture show, much less conjure fantasies of owning haute couture (okay, that's a lie: I fantasize about wearing one of Riccardo Tisci's signature black jacket/white blouse/black leather pant ensembles [the definition of fierce] quite often). It's simply unobtainable, unrealistic, and unbelievably fabulous. So for one who adores shoes, I always enjoy seeing what Lacroix, Gaultier, Galliano, Lagerfeld, and Tisci (my favorite couturiers) deem appropriate for the models to walk in. Galliano seems to favor platforms with chunky, ornate heels, as if couture requires a certain amount of elevation. On the other hand, Lagerfeld has shown past collections in flats and low heels, though this season he chose high, but reasonable pumps with conical, lucite heels. Lacroix has been collaborating with Christian Louboutin for his shoes and this season showed thick, sculpted heel pumps that looked frighteningly 90's yet somewhat refreshing. The look is too dated for my taste but certainly a welcome change of pace that looked appropriate with the clothes. Gaultier showed simple, slightly chunky, straight heeled ankle boots, strappy pumps, and sandals in a variety of materials including satin, snakeskin, patent and matte leathers, and herringbone tweed. At Givenchy there were boots with heels concealed by what can only be described at shin chaps and simple sandals that had a seductive lace up detail on the back of the ankle.
Dior
Chanel
ChanelGaultier
Christian Louboutin for Lacroix
Givenchy
Tagged with: chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci, Haute Couture
Balenciaga's S/S '07 Leggings
By purplekicks · July 11, 2008 · 3 Comments · 9 Views
As you may know, the much talked about leggings from Balenciaga's Spring 2007 collection were later worn by Beyonce in a performance at BET's 2007 music awards. I believe right now there is also a pair on display at the Met for the superheroes exhibit. Apart from that, these leggings, which - correct me if I'm wrong - cost around $150,000, have remained relatively unseen off the runway. At least until I came upon photos of Terence Koh, a Canadian artist, wearing them nonchalantly with a white tank and black trainers at Le Baron, a club in Paris.
I've seen a photo of him at Paris fashion week; he was wearing an Azzedine Alaia white fur jacket over a Junya Watanabe black motorcycle jacket with jeans, white Reeboks, and white Wayfarers - needless to say, it looked flawless. You can find out more about him on his website (asianpunkboy.com) and you can even buy underwear that he has worn and soiled with your choice of either semen ($200) or feces ($150).
Tagged with: Balenciaga, Terence Koh
MKA Obsession Part II:
By purplekicks · July 8, 2008 · 2 Comments · 0 Views
Let's get real: the Olsens' "fashion line" for tweens at Wal Mart is neither something they would take pride in nor something they would even consider a fashion line for anything more than the money it rakes in. Even their contemporary line, Elizabeth and James, is admittedly not something they are too involved in. Their pride and joy is the Row. The Row is the Olsen aesthetic - high quality, versatile basics in a minimal palette with couture details - available for public consumption.
Note: most of the accessories included in the video are worn by Mary Kate and Ashley: Chanel half tint sunglasses, Lanvin cone heels, Louboutin Pigalles, etc.
Note #2: I know this is an old video. I feel obligated to share the Olsen's style with readers less familiar with them than myself.
Note: most of the accessories included in the video are worn by Mary Kate and Ashley: Chanel half tint sunglasses, Lanvin cone heels, Louboutin Pigalles, etc.
Note #2: I know this is an old video. I feel obligated to share the Olsen's style with readers less familiar with them than myself.
