big whoop

NYmag is semi-losin' it over Ya Girl B(eyonce) wearing Gareth Pugh at the MTV europe awards. Jez and Fashionista both commented on this as well. None, however made a deal about her wearing the Balenciaga gold plated outfit (leggings also owned by Terrence Koh). To be a performer who can command crowds in the katrillions at 70$ a head and be tied to HOVA, one needs a little flash. If she wants to wear Pugh Klingon uniforms, Herchovich trashbags, or Westwood bondage, good for her. At least a contemporary music artist is taking a bigger fashion risk than suspenders or prom dresses and trainers and there's nothing wrong with bringing a little avant guard to the masses. Mizz Thang below. (photos from NYmag and myfashionlife.com respectively) peaceeee.

"vintage" balenciaga

Fashionista had a post about Balenciaga mag-ads from 2000 and today. I am kind of partial to the 2000. There is wear-ability, directness, accessibility with out losing the air of luxury. I still appreciate the molded forms from ss08 and the de-constructed ease of fw08 and surely I will find beauty in the offerings for ss09. My point lies in that these ads are shown, most often, in up-market women's magazines, vogue, W, harper's bazaar, et al which, especially in American, you cannot throw a Chloe bag at the editorial section without landing on a page that is entirely recreating a Balenciaga runway look. So, why rehash the same look for the ads? The consumer has seen, most likely, the $3000 dress on the runway, in the editorial, and now must see the same thing posed against ad for horse-face's newest vomitous fragrance. Ads are inherently for sellin' and I appreciate the ads that make that a possibility for the consumer. The 2000 ad below and it is kind of refreshing to see two gorgeous people, a dog tee shirt, and a horse without the haughtiness that luxury ads can often impart.

resort 09 oh mine

Damn gina, resort 09 already? I guess that makes sense since it sets in November. Then again I don't generally know what year/month/day it is so I am not all that surprised at my own shock. This year's offerings are ridic wearable and seasonless. Which, considering consumers are taking sales staff's suggestions of buying resort because it can be worn nearly year round with the addition of a coat or removal of a sweater. This coupled with the fact that consumers are just not buying bigger items right now makes resort one of the few cash opportunities for both young and established designers. Resort originally started out as being a cruise-wearish season with the implications that the wealthy would be it's main clientelle. Since, they are more likely to buy those linen hot shorts and silk sarong to wear on their annual winter vacation to the Ivory Coast. Now, resort is becoming more ready-ready to wear. It is trend driven, but not trendy nor will it probably be included in most magazines 10lb fall fashion issues, despite it getting to stores at about the same time as fall deliveries. Young designers, who already have spring/summer fall/winter lines, are expanding into resort that will cover gaps in their shipping times. This will allow retailers to buy smaller amounts from the designers and turn that product over faster, refreshing their assortment, and supplying the designer with a steady stream of income. Though NYmag reports that the sale of many young designer's wares is, unfortunately, extremely low. So low that there are rumors that the young designers will be holding intimate showings of their spring 09 collections instead of showing at the tents. They also note that consumers are saving up for larger branded items (prada, lanvin, etc) when they are making a purchase instead of going for smaller designers like Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim. Despite these bunnies having superb shows with fantastic reviews they are hurting too. Moral of the story, buy resort; buy young. It's good for your closet and good for fashion.
(imgs l to r: ADAM, alexander wang, balenciaga, 3.1 phillip lim; from style.com)

gushing; blushing

now that i have liquid fortification, i feel well prepared to officially flip my shit in writing over s/s08 balenciaga. i mean come the fuck on, is it not blowing your collective minds? i don't want to hear anyone copping out and crying that 'its not wearable/practical' or that it's 'bizarre/weird' it is straight gorgeous! i'll say the typical fashion bitch catchphrase (because it's true) 'its not supposed to be accessible' because its not, sorry, when has balenciaga been tame and something that is pleasing to everyone? that's what gives design momentum; offending and appalling gets you further than being bland and mildly saccharine. without the obscene there would be no progression of what is considered acceptable; no movement of trend. and honestly, if you cannot appreciate prints, yes prints, that look like intricate jaquards, lanyard whip stitching to fortify exoskeletal forms, and the matador-on-meth gladiator sandals then i really don't think we can continue seeing each other. its not me, its you. please see my design spank bank of images below.

robo-matador

ok, here's what it is. this is jennifer connelley for balenciaga spring08, she is the muse of n.ghesquiere, and i won't be the first to say it, but i probably won't be the last either: wow; wow she is more model-ly than i remember and wow. balenciaga. full crazed balenciaga report to follow sometime this weekend. look for a marni, prada, LV, and sinha-stanic posts as well as relating to the hyper protectiveness and textile/shape innovations of the coming season. image from fashionverbatim

more on t.koh and the gold leggings

ok, if that below didn't make sense deal with it. however if you really got to the end and wondered what the fuck i was talking about with terrence koh and the balenciaga leggings i'll enlighten you. koh was interviewed in the fall/winter edition of purple (which is so good you should buy/steal/own/re-read it) and over the course of the interview he possibly gives maruizio cattelan ecstasy, has them both dress up in slick leather and chiffon s+m women's underwear that his boyfriend made for the interview, sings yellow submarine, declares he will stop reading at age 35 because he loves it too much, tells how sometimes he takes tranquillizers and goes to the museum of natural history just to look at all the animals, and notes that some of this art is made just so he can buy expensive clothes, like the balenciaga leggings which he plans to wear while he rides his bike. now, that may sound really shallow and coarse, but 1. he delineates shortly there-after that money, like everything else is a thing and the value of an object is null because the happiness that obtained object gives you is the most important thing in the equation. and 2. if someone really wants to give you tens of thousands of dollars for something you made with the intention of selling for clothes that is just smart business practice. he notes that he makes more expensive art for buying more expensive clothes as well as more personal art for change and impact on life.
and 3. he sounds like the best party friend anyone could ask for.

fashion nerd excitement

so! judging from the shown accessories for s/s08 there may be a new shape in balenciaga handbags! i am honestly excited for this because balenciaga makes some incredible shoes, handbags, small leather goods, and jewelry, but none of them are ever seen in favor of the ubiquitous and throughly played out motorcycle bag. the real ones are nice, but can never be carried lest you feel like looking like a mid-western college sorority sister with a love of all things celebretarded with only worn copy of Star! to introduce you to new fashions. now, balenciaga will obviously still produce and make truckloads of money off of the motorcycle bags, they just will, but these new bags are appealing; they have compartments! patent and matte leather! shoulder straps! good hardware placement! lady like but not stuffy! smart but not unwearable!

a jillion words for one point

So recently, anyone with eyes has been noticing Urban Outfitters inspired versions of American Apparel garments which are generally just crayola modified Hanes inspired garments. Urban usually under-sells AA by a couple bucks meaning that plain black tee will now only cost you 14$ instead of 16$; today I was informed of an over-priced American Apparel wannabe in a round-about way; let me clarify. Daily Candy alerted its dull-witted dear readers (the DC is on my shit-list for using 'thingy' to describe male genitalia in todays newsletter) that Kova & T are offering latex leggings for this fall! for only 113$! Balenciaga inspired and already sold out! Well here's the beef. #1 Balenciaga's Spring 07 latex leggings were real latex, not a nylon spandex blend like Kova & T's #2 Balenciaga's were teamed with garments that gave the liquid legs an outer-space-android-sex-ring vibe NOT with flannels, bed-head, and band tee's like Kova & T's are showing. What is a brand that has a customer base rooted in flannel, band tees, bed-head, and converse? American Apparel. So make like yours truely did in June and get thee to AA to pick up some black lame leggings for 44$. Because do you really want to spend 113$ on an item that has the shelf life and general wearability of a head of lettuce?

Topshop Final Clearance

Topshop is having an end of season final clearance which includes a lot of the Kate Moss for Topshop clothes. Prices USD 20$-70$, but none of it is labeled KateMoss for Topshop so you'll just have to use your eye balls and search. Though, there are much better finds to be had such as this geometric floral dress with mini ruffle. or the 100% silk utilitarian dress, that with a ethno scarf and grey knit tights you can ref. balenciaga for a 800th of the O.G cost.