Atelier Versace’s Spring 2016 Utilitarian Couture

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Atelier Versace’s Spring Couture collection had surprising elements, considering all the glitz and  glam attached to this brand. Granted, that was all very much there, but, with the addition of utilitarian accents, which in someone else’s hands might not make sense, but of course, not for Donatella.

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Present, were her signature long whispy dresses-some with the requisite high leg slit, if not a plunging neckline or both, but a lot of the looks included belts that could double as seatbelts, whereas other times, there were straps with hooks, perfect for strapping it to a purse or keys. Some looks had Swarovski encrusted cords, as ties for a dress + for shoes.

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Of course, there were many of Versace’s short mini bodycon dresses, for those nights you’re not planning on eating. But what I loved the most, where the liner patterns in the forms of shiny embroidery along the top of a dress if not, from the breastplate down to the ankle.

The collection proved to be sexy as usual, but with much graphic appeal!

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(photos: Yannis Vlamos)

(via VOGUE RUNWAY)

The Chemical Brothers + Beck Get ‘Wide Open’, Complete With Holes!

To say weird, The Chemical Brothers + Beck in the same breath, is nothing new, but, what IS new is this video for track ‘Wide Open’. Featuring vocals by Beck + music by The Chems, in the video, as hard as it might seem to comprehend the beauty behind it at first, you see a dancer dancing inside a busted basement, as her body starts to slowly turn hollow, full of geometric holes. Eventually, this transformation takes over, as it envelopes her whole, turning the dancer into a beautifully haunting sculpture.

Enjoy!

(via pitchfork)

GASP! Grace Coddington Is No Longer American Vogue Creative Director

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(photo: Sebastian Kim)

Grace Coddington, the brilliant creative director of American Vogue for almost 30 years, is stepping down, effective immediately. Grace told BoF, in an exclusive interview, “I really love Vogue, it’s been in my life always, they discovered me as a model at 19,” adding “I’m not running away from Vogue, because it has opened so many doors. But it will be nice to collaborate, and nice to go out [and] give talks to people. It’s just another approach. I’m certainly not going into retirement. I don’t want to sit around.”

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Since she is still contracted to produce at least four editorial spreads a year for the magazine, there is still no news as to whom is to fill such big gilded shoes. But, she won’t be too far away, as she will still have an office + an assistant, at Vogue’s offices at One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.

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Since joining Vogue back in 1988, this is the first time Grace will be allowed to work on external projects. As far as other pursuits are concerned, Grace excitedly, will be working with Comme des Garçons on an upcoming fragrance. Of this collaboration she told BoF,  “That is something I’m really excited about. I’ve always been a big fan of Comme des Garçons. I never take the commercial approach, and the process of it is fascinating to me. I don’t know how to produce a perfume.”

She will be represented by Great Bowery, a super-agency founded in 2015 by Matthew Moneypenny, chief executive of Great Bowery + founder of image-licensing company Trunk Archive, which represents some big names including Bruce Weber + Annie Leibovitz. Coddington will be the agency’s first represented talent. Grace realized she needed help with pursuing these other projects which is where Great Bowery came in.  Regarding her decision to go with Great Bowery, she told BoF, “I suddenly realised that I needed some help from outside. I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into just styling a shoot, I wanted to do something beyond. I approached them + they were willing to help me on all sorts of aspects. They’re thinking up ideas for me, which is fun.”

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After the public response of documentary ‘The September Issue’, it prompted Grace to write her memoir, ‘Grace‘, published in 2012, which according to BoF was optioned by A24 films, makers of Ex Machina  + Obvious Child. A follow up to 2002’s ‘Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue‘, which will document Coddington’s work from the past 15 years, will be released by Phaidon this fall.

I just hope, for the sake of American Vogue, that their next creative director, will be as witty, meticulous + a natural, at making fantasy so real (see all above editorials featured here), like Grace has. After all, Grace Coddington IS as much of an institution as American Vogue is.

Good Luck Grace!

(via BoF)

Snoopy Inspires Gucci Fall 2016 Menswear

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Creative director Alessandro Michele told VOGUE RUNWAY, “The ’70s is the most powerful image, for me, for the brand. The brand has a soul—and its soul is really that kind of ’70s moment,” which is very evident from his Fall Menswear collection. Naming Snoopy as one of his collection’s inspos, one can’t help but see how that tied in with his seamless union of high fashion with low or pop culture, to say the least. Michele even mused to VOGUE RUNWAY, “You know, Snoopy is like a philosopher.” Who knew?!

There were plenty of looks that led one to think they were very lax, but then you see a velour suit with the most impressive embroidery, worthy of a priceless gown. If there was a buttoned double-breasted jacket paired with creased jeans, as your eyes trail down, the hem is frayed, as if the wearer wanted to give his look new life by cutting the bothersome hem on his way out. Some pant suits, had quirky patches on them, drawing on their overall graphic appeal. Lurex was also present, which definitely harks back to the ’70s, but here, we see it in socks, a short skirt + a short set complete with a matching baseball jacket. But this was not the only presence of the baseball jacket, as you see it again, but this time, paired with long pants, in the same pattern.

This collection by Michele, having referenced the archives or not, still has a huge lingering imprint of the Gucci feel, just packaged differently, which is the point when assigning a new captain to the helm. With a fresher feel, where the wearer is as much present as the clothes are, his or her personality still begs to twinkle amidst all this luxury + its history.

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Grimes’s New Video For ‘Kill V. Maim’ Enters The Cyberpunk Void

On a day as cold as today, Grimes’s new video for ART ANGELS track ‘Kill V. Maim’, is perfect for melting the chill. Shot in Toronto, directed by Claire Boucher+ her brother Mac, you see Grimes + friends in a world where Gaspar Noe‘s film ‘Enter The Void‘ (MUST see) left off, a cyberpunk void, full of colorful characters hanging out + carrying on. What’s super funny + ironic is how the title credit is straight from the tv series ‘Law & Order’.

As far as the track goes, like most of Grimes’ tracks, it’s infectious! This track will be on repeat for a while.

Enjoy!

(via pitchfork)

 

Moncler Game Bleu’s Fall Menswear Falls Head To Toe For Camouflage

moncmfcytMoncler Gamme Bleu’s Fall Menswear collection has me going insane! A sucker for camouflage, the collection off the bat was a hit with me, but every nuance of each look just kept me gagging over and over again. We’re talking head to toe camo print-even the models’ faces were painted in the same pattern!

There were fur patchwork coats mimicking a camo print, in the collection’s color palette of periwinkle + sky blue, dark + heather grey + burgundy. There were grey pinstripe suits with camo print all over, while suits in the same print were not only covered in camo print, but, in plaids as well.

As far as jackets were concerned, there were short blazers + a moto cape jacket. Underneath each jacket was a button down shirt, buttoned all the way to the top with a tie in camo. And don’t think the shoes survived this camo slaughter. On the runway, you saw wingtip brogues + combat boots in camo print.

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(via VOGUE RUNWAY)