Mara Hoffman Hustles With Disco For Fall

mhcyt

Had you been at Mara Hoffman’s RTW Fall 2016 collection presentation, not your typical runway show, you could have easily picked out a lot of her favorite icons from the Seventies disco era. Cher, Grace Jones + Jerry Hall could all be spotted, if not channeled by Hoffman’s dead-on contemporary iteration, of looks from a time of sexual abandon, excess + artifice. As she told VOGUE RUNWAY, “It was about bringing all my muses into one place.”

mhcy1

From her tapestry printed dresses + caftans, signature brightly colored florals + sequined zebra stripes, the wearer could easily travel back in time, yet, always moving forward towards the present, with modern touches including flat laced up sandal shoes + dark nail polish. There were jumpsuits, halter tops, front tie blouses, wide leg trousers + plenty of maxi dresses to drool over.

_AG10142mhcy2_AG10004

The main goal of Hoffman’s show was to create an experience where she could imagine herself partying with her icons + this environment could story-tell this much better than the runway, as she told VOGUE RUNWAY. Of course, the best part of this story was 90ish acclaimed artist, performer + raconteur Ilona Royce Smithkin, who could easily be the kind of chick Cher, Hall + Jones would easily kiki with. She not only added that extra something to the whole presentation, but, it was Hoffman’s way of showing ‘the ageless + timeless beauty of women,’ as she put it.

Brava Mara!

mhcy3

(via VOGUE RUNWAY)

Siki Im’s Fall Looks For The Modern Vampire

moncyt

As luck would have it, there was a Fall collection inspired by vampires, my favorite! Siki Im’s Fall Menswear collection had models walking down the runway with dripping bloody mouths, one could refer to as dried blood, as well as ‘blood drenched’ ears, with ‘blood’ dripping down their necks. According to VOGUE RUNWAY, regarding designer Im, “…he listed his favorites in the program notes, classics old + new, ranging from Nosferatu + Dracula to The Hunger + Only Lovers Left Alive.”

With a color palette of black, blood red + burgundy, there were plenty of obvious choices for the modern vampire, including leather looks + texture, but, with twists of their own, naturally.

moncy2

There were jackets + pants, with leather panel accents in geometrical shapes, where in the case of pants, the leather on front, seemed to highlight the crotch area, which, in keeping with the vampire theme, could remind the viewer of a vampire’s virility + undying sex appeal. Zippers were also seen throughout, from the bottom of pants to the sides of sweaters. There was as much tailoring as there were relaxed looks, like those featuring drop crotch pants + skirted looks paired with a burgundy short sleeve tee, decorated with a black + white abstract ‘Vampyro Lesbos’ scene (another famous vampire flick), over a long blood red sleeve tee. This tee in fact, among others, was from Im’s extension line, Den Im, shown together with the Siki Im main line.

_MON0453_MON0344

David Bowie, in ‘The Hunger’, easily came to mind in a look that featured a textured mohair dark burgundy blazer, minus lapel, over a white tee, over a french-cuffed white shirt with a burgundy leather accented v-neck (above).

Overall, the collection is very wearable, with pieces I wouldn’t mind seeing on whomever ‘he’ is on any given week! But besides listing his favorite vamp flicks in his program notes, Im told VOGUE RUNWAY, “The reason we love vampire films is because we recognize something in ourselves. We all have demons. It’s human nature. We’re not perfect, + there is beauty in our imperfection,” + who could argue with that beautiful truth?

moncy1_MON0008(photos: Monica Feudi)

(via VOGUE RUNWAY)

 

 

Eating Cake In The Desert Becomes Chic With KENZO

It’s amazing to me how food brings people closer together especially when it’s so special as cake! This baked good is often associated with celebration, be it a birthday, a new baby, and even a breakup! But there’s just that extra added magic when it’s homemade, frosting and all!

That’s what’s so sweet about this fashion film called “Snowbird KENZO”.

When I heard that ‘Tangerine’ director Sean Baker and KENZO creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim were working on a fashion film together, I knew it was going to be good. ‘Snowbird’, an ad campaign showcasing KENZO’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, starring Abbey Lee, whom you might know from ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, is a perfect film, in every way, through Baker’s lens. And yes, Baker used an iPhone for this film too, as he did for ‘Tangerine’. With the lighting, setting, and score by Stephonik Youth, the 11-minute film assumes the style of a vintage home movie.

Produced by 3DMC2 & Cre Film and filmed on location at Slab City, (also known as The Slabs) in the Sonoran Desert located in Imperial County, California. And if you’re wondering about the “Snowbird” title, it has to do with its snowbird community, which is a person who migrates from the colder northern parts of North America to warmer southern locales, typically during the winter.

Not a fan of spoilers, I will tell you that ‘Snowbird’ involves Abbey Lee, KENZO clothing, the desert, trailers, colorful characters, and cake.

Enjoy!

 

(via VOGUE.COM)

Celebrate Serpent Day With One Of These Items

giphy

In celebration of today’s Serpent Day, you can’t help but notice, the “big snake in the room” can you? From the corner of your eye, it hisses at you to take a look. And why you ask? Well, you keep seeing snake print or snakeskin continue to slither its way into seasons, back-to-back. Then again, there’s no mistaking its timeless appeal and big impression of the serpent on the world of fashion. So come along with me and celebrate. Let’s give this classic motif and or accent a round of applause with a few items I’ve selected. You deserve to gift at least one for yourself or the one you’re with, come Valentine’s Day!

Snake Bags Are Not Cold

Serpent Day, bags, cause and yvette

Anything iridescent is okay in my book, so of course, there was no denying my gravitating to this Iridescent Snake Frame Clutch Bag by NEW LOOK, ASOS. When it comes to the Rattlesnake Safari Clutch by LIZZIE FORTUNATO, BONA DRAG, you just can’t help but picture yourself channeling the Seventies Honey, with that ‘homemade’ looking hand embroidered snake, set with faint jewels. Then you have this glorious colorful Glam Leather-trimmed Python Shoulder Bag by DOLCE & GABBANA, NET-A-PORTER, with a color palette of brown, burgundy + blue, accented by bright yellow + gold hardware.

Fitting Into Snake Print

Serpent Day, clothes, cause and yvette

To wear snakeskin, is as easy as these casual pieces, even though it’s just a snake print. For the guys, although I’d rock this outfit too, it’s no surprise that this brilliant Black & Blue Potosi Windbreaker Jacket  + Black & Blue Potosi Lounge Pants would come from the mind of Marcelo Burlon County of Milan, SSENSE, who’s adopted the snake as his signature print motif. For us ladies, there’s this cute Off-the-shoulder Snake-print Chiffon Dress by NORMA KAMALI, NET-A-PORTER, where you’re showing just enough skin, but full of drama, with such full sleeves + ruched waist, giving the top a blouson effect.

Stepping Out With Snakes

Serpent Day, shoes, cause and yvette

Shoes are another one that you just can’t whittle down to a few. That’s why I tried to keep it simple and modern, with a little kitsch. ASOS Start Up Pointed Heels by ASOS COLLECTION, ASOS, have the right amounts of black + white. Now, to step it up many, many notches, nothing spells sex like these Python Ankle Boots by ALAÏA, NET-A-PORTER. For some fun, why not try Chuck Taylor 1970S Hi Dokuro ‘Snake’ by CONVERSE, END? Paying their homage to popular satin souvenir jackets in post-WWII Japan, they add interest by blending both Eastern + Western iconography. As an added plus, they have embroidered leather uppers and leather rope laces. And last, but certainly not least, how could I not include a snakeskin + wooden platform something, like these Grey Snakeskin Gladis Clogs by Giuseppe Zanotti, SSENSE?!

A Snake Accessory That Doesn’t Bite

Serpent Day, jewels, cause and yvette

Jewelry and serpents is a no-brainer.  They’ve been as close as PB & J for the longest and narrowing it down to just four items was tough. And it doesn’t have to matter what it is specifically. Either f it’s a pair of earrings, a bracelet or both, something “slithering” on your body, is always sexy. Speaking of which, how could anyone not want this Gold Plated Joos Bracelet by Paula Mendoza, ANTHEM WARES, since it screams all kinds of sexy?! These Snake Hoop Earrings by LANVIN, FARFETCH, have just the right amount of opulence, without overdoing it. LUXURY FASHION‘s Embellished Double Snake Ring, FARFETCH, is perfect in its simplicity, as is this Brass Serpent Hoop Earring by PAMELA LOVE, BONA DRAG.

(Some links have been removed due to the item being unavailable or sold out. *UPDATED: March 2020)

 

 

Paul Smith Men Stand Out With Color, Pattern + Whimsy For Fall

psfmcyt

I love any man that wears Paul Smith. For a man to wear Paul Smith anything, they can’t be afraid of color, especially bright color or uber graphic patterns, which made this Fall Menswear collection another winner for me. There were plenty of mens suits in the mix, sporting trousers that either had a gentle low flare to narrow high crop, perfect for showing off a boot. Of course, these suits were anything but stuffy, paired with casual tucked in sweaters or at times, layering the jacket over a cardigan + shirt.

psfmcy2

Smith’s suits furthered the casual vibe by adding patterns, if not graphic details. There was one with a bold vertical stripe right down both the jacket + pants, while another had two thin vertical stripes, in the same fashion. Yet, what made this suit different was that there were two pant stripes, making the pants look creased from afar. Another suit held your attention with its white multi-striped lapel, followed by piping along the front + bottom of the jacket, making it a winning combination when paired over a paisley patterned knit cardigan.

_AG18966

What struck me as wonderful was how when socks were not visible, + if they were, they were plain but colorful, was how a decorative pattern a sock might have, crept its way up an ensemble, like embroidered paisleys on jeans, as seen below.

psfmcy1

I loved how Paul mixed different colored check patterns, then adding a striped neck turtleneck, with paisley salmon colored socks inside black + white polka dotted slip-on kicks.

_AG19204

 

(photos: Alessandro Garofalo)

(via VOGUE RUNWAY)