2013 marks ‘The Year Of The Snake’ + what better way to pay tribute than with Bulgari (if you can afford it, that is)? In fact, as of Feb 9 – 28, Bulgari will be holding a Retrospective Exhibition at their Fifth Avenue NYC store, celebrating their iconic ‘Serpenti Collection’. The ‘snake’, a symbol used throughout jewelry history, dating back as far as the Egyptians, then gaining momentum through the Victorian era into today, never loses it’s charm. The retospective will be featuring plenty of vintage pieces dating back to the 1940’s to present day including the watches above from the late Sixties (sneakily covering the watch face inside the snake’s mouth) to the more contemporary pieces below, showing various iterations of the famous ‘Serpenti’ bracelet and watch.
And if you can’t make it to NYC to check out the retrospective for yourself, there is an accompanying book entitled ‘Bulgari: Serpenti Collection’ by Marion Fasel + released by Assouline publishers, that will more than satisfy your curiosity. From the history + symbolism of the snake motif, to shots of the famous serpent-shaped watch Elizabeth Taylor wore in the 1962 film ‘Cleopatra’, it’s all there. For those into haute glamour and luxe tastes, this would make a great addition to your coffee book collection.
Aren’t these pieces just fabulous? A lover of African textiles myself, Ohema Ohene (pronouced ‘Oh-he-maa Oh-he-nee’)uses them in a way that gives them that hint of surprise, especially for their SS/13 Menswear collection (above + below). Based in London. Ohema Ohene (referencing the designer’s Ghanian heritage) was created in 2008 by designer Abenaa Pokuaa and it’s described as ‘African Inspired Fashion With A British Twist’. Utilizing rich prints, directly sourced from Ghana (including authentic traditional motifs), blended with more contemporary imagery as well as Dutch Wax prints from Holland designed by the designer, her spin on the use of African textiles is definitely unique. Take the African Bomber Jacket below for instance, in the teal, mustard + black colorway – talk about graphic, fun + bright – three key trends for Spring.
Then you have the black cardigan below whose pattern takes over a front panel of the cardigan, then wraps itself around the neck and down the buttons placket. Love how the designer used colorblocking on the shirt top right, with patterned shoulder + front panel details.
Better even is how in addition to menswear, Ohene also carries women’s + footwear – which is no surprise as ‘Ohema Ohene’ means Queen & King in the Ghanaian language of Twi. Here are pieces for women showcasing the designer’s own twist on African textiles – a patterned peter pan collar added to a lace shift (upper right, below) + applying pattern to a peplum style skirt (lower right, below).
Love the neckline on the dress below + how well it compliments the style of the dress. The jumpsuit to the right is just super killer!
As far as footwear is concerned, they too are pretty spectacular as the designer has a great eye. Yet, I must admit, when I saw the sneakers + espadrilles, SUNO came to mind (the label also uses African textiles, but their’s are vintage Kenyan textiles) however, the high top sneakers are unlike any versions I’ve ever seen.
(photos: Ohema Ohene)
No matter, you should definitely pick up something from this designer for Spring, for the impact of color, pattern and style. Available for purchase at Ohema Ohene online.
For GARAGE magazine’s latest issue, the theme of VANITY is approached in the most creepiest if not brilliant, of ways. The fact that a fashion magazine would choose vanity as a theme is an oxymoron as the reader immerses her/himself in wanting to be as beautiful as the model before them, own that jewelry that might compromise their livelihood or even possess a body that they could never aspire to, with every flip of the page. Yet, when it’s a magazine like GARAGE under the helm of editor Dasha Zhukova, the conventional approach is challenged by turning things upside down that result in a unique POV that makes you see things you thought were never there. But when you throw artist Cindy Sherman into the mix, you’re provoked to feel uncomfortable, especially when all the models on the cover and throughout the spread, as seen below, are accessorized with a Cindy Sherman mask created via ThatsMyFace.com, after submitting a picture of the artist.
(photo: GARAGE)
With the artist’s blessing, the masks were created from her face in ‘Untitled #461’, part of Sherman’s recent MoMA exhibition (below). For Zhukova, Cindy Sherman was the only one
(photo: Cindy Sherman)
that could truly bring something worth talking about to the table.
‘Cindy Sherman’s work raises such important and challenging questions about the representation of women, both in media and society. There was no better likeness to illustrate issues of identity and facelessness in the fashion industry’.
In looks by Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, McQueen, and Dolce & Gabbana, beautifully shot by Patrick Demarchelier, provocatively posed like the great picture below, featuring one of the model’s with a covered vagina with a tropical Anthurium flower (also known as ‘flamingo flower’ or ‘boy flower’) which seems to have an erection of sorts, your initial reaction is to take pause. With the models all looking alike, your eyes zone in on their faces but just as quickly, your eyes jump to the clothes, emphasizing the idea of model as clothes hanger and that’s it.
(photo: GARAGE)
This following pic reminded me of that famous Peter Lindbergh shot for VOGUE magazine featuring the ‘Supermodels’ of the Nineties including Linda Evangelista + Christy Turlington – of course, Demarchelier’s is a lot more risqué.
(photo: GARAGE)
(photo: Peter Lindbergh)
But how apropos is the comparison when the ‘Supermodels’ were all about vanity back then – remember, Linda Evangelista was the model that caused all that buzz for saying, ‘I don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.’ Sadly, that arrogance is bittersweet as that was a time when glossies cared more about fashion plus model equation than what’s going on now with celebrity obsession, specifically those sought after because of scandal + not true merit – Seriously, Kim Kardashian’s impetus to fame was porn…homemade, unbeknownst to her, anyway you play it, it’s porn. Why celebrate + reward mediocrity?
Another thing I noticed was how closely Cindy’s mask looks like Madonna’s face –
(photos: GARAGE + Getty Images)
no offense to either artist but interesting, as Madonna triumphed, throughout her career in challenging and provoking the female identity + sex by taking control without apology.
The artist has yet to see the pics herself but maybe she will see them with the rest of us when the magazine drops Feb 9th.
In light of Valentine’s Day coming soon, here are a few pink + red items to buy for yourself, your honey or that ‘Mr. / Ms. Right Now’ + in that order too – you should show your love for the one you’re with every day, not just once a year, BUT, guilt can be sooo pretty in it’s many forms including expensive flowers, jewelry, designer anything et al. Just remember,like RuPaul always says, ‘Learn to love yourself, ‘cause if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?’
4VISIONAIRE 37 VREELAND MEMOS at NET-A-PORTER – for any die-hard Vreeland fans, this one can’t be beat, containing 150 memos from the late irreverent Vogue editor Diana Vreeland dating back from 1966 to 1972. Described by Diane Von Furstenberg as the first blogger, Vreeland wrote memos that read like stories yet, without editing + lots of attitude, these memos must be magic (p.s., if you haven’t seen Diane’s documentary ‘The Eye Must Travel’, you must, especially if you’re into fashion and or a quick wit with unbridled imagination) 5LANVIN Clear Visor– a super cool way to keep the sun out of your eves, even when indoors (sure, why not right?) – I see a visor as an extension of sunglasses that can be worn in +/ or outdoors, especially when they have a metallic pink headband + clear pink visor
11EMILIO PUCCI Small Marquise Bag at L’INDE LE PALAIS – very lady-like but still tough around the edges 12 LANVIN Lacquer Dipped Repp Tie at BARNEYS – who wouldn’t love a Silk tie with teal diagonal stripes on green with the end lacquered in iridescent pink?
(photo: LIFE)
13LANVIN Maria Felix Bangle at MATCHES – You know LANVIN is dope when it designs a bracelet inspired by the late Mexican actress Maria Felix, one sick creature – check out them brows – she served as my inspiration for super high arches
16CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Freddy Flat in Red at BARNEYS – would look great with just about anything, if you ask me | also comes in Rose Paris / Fluorescent Pink
17 BALENCIAGA The Pocket Tote Bag at MATCHES – with this color block beauty, you get the best of both18CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Pandora Perspex Clutch at NET-A-PORTER – loving the impact with it’s simplicity + cool, modern + sculptural elegance but get this, it’s named ‘Pandora’ since it has a crystal embellished spider clasp. Sick!
21STELLA MCCARTNEY Faux Python Clutch With Shoulder Strap at LUISAVIAROMA – not only great for ‘Vday’ but also a great way to commemorate 2013, the Year of the Snake starting Feb 10 22RICHARD JAMES Ribbed Cotton Socks at MR PORTER – here’s a great example of what Richard James does best, his signature of cleverly using color for impact. I especially love a man who wears colorful socks in fact, every first date I’ve been on, I’ll casually ask my date to lift up his pant leg to catch a glimpse of his socks + if it’s white gym socks I see, I’m done + out – nothing sexy about that!
Happy Monday! Here’s a fashion film featuring Marcelo Burlon‘s sick County Of Milan AW/13-14 collection of amazing tees, thanks in part, to the combined genius of graphic designer Giorgio Di Salvo. Worn by his very attractive cast, set against sweet beats + smooth moves, you’ll want to jump in + rip the tees right off any of them, if not, to just see a little bit more skin. Marcelo’s cast includes Alejandro, Bertrand Le Pluard, Daniel Inked, David Fischer, Dawid Auguscik At Rock Agency, Ladyfag, Laust Frederiksen, Marcus-Paul, Maximiliano Patané, Nordine Benotmane, Philly Gaedicke, Samir Gharroub, Stephanie Ashpool, Tina Leung, Tom Brunett, Willy Cartier + Yue Wu.
If you haven’t caught up yet, last Friday, Opening Ceremony hooked up with DKNY for a capsule collection of re-issued styles for Spring 2013. A collection with looks pulled from the Nineties – specifically 1991-1994 – comprised of 15 women’s + unisex pieces including jumpsuits with drawstring waist emblazoned with many iterations of the DKNY logo like a stripe down the leg spelling out DONNA KARAN – NEW YORK – 1991, puffer coats, and tees.
I’ve always been a fan of taking athletic looks out of the gym + reinterpreting them for everyday wear + Donna Karan totally got it, designing such practical, functional yet stylish pieces. Don’t you just adore this yellow body-con dress from 1994 along with the jumpsuit bearing a touch of yellow?
(photo: Opening Ceremony)
Even this image below, from the DKNY for OC lookbook looks like it’s from the Nineties, from the female model’s Björk hair to the side-by-side posturing next to the male model wearing a beret.
(photo: Opening Ceremony)
One of my favorite pieces is this maxi hooded dress below – I could see a few designers bringing this look back effortlessly including Isabel Marant, Jeremy Scott + Yohji Yamamoto for Y-3.
(photo: Opening Ceremony)
The tees to the right in row 3, bear the image of the exact ‘DKNY!’ that was a mural on Houston at Broadway in New York, which for many, when thinking back to the Nineties, that mural was a ‘permanent’ fixture of the area. Leave it up to Opening Ceremony to make something so dated look new again but they’re no stranger to accomplishing such feats – remember their Betsey Johnson Archive for Opening Ceremony Spring 2010?
DKNY Exclusively for Opening Ceremony is available for purchase here.
(via Opening Ceremony)
Check out this cool fashion film for KTZ AW/13 Menswear collection with music by the inimitable DJ + Producer Diplo. With head-to-toe patterned looks, glow-in-the-dark accents, a sick mask, which reminded me of late costume designer Eiko Ishioka’s mask for Mickey Rourke’s character in the film ‘Immortals’, as seen below and a couple of hats
(photo: Immortals)
including a hard cap silhouette with arrows shooting out in opposing directions reminiscent of Hermes, the messenger god in Greek mythology, who wears a winged helmet. My favorite looks were a raincoat with glow-in-the-dark piping throughout and the black v-neck top with super long fringe over a black shirt, accessorized by that mask, that mask, that mask, designed by Dutch artist, Rein Vollenga!
Show your love to a loved one or yourself with Yoko Ono’s limited edition ‘Grow With Me’. A ‘magic bean’ (for reals), encased in an aluminum can with minimal design, contains a
(photo: Serpentine Gallery)
seed that’s been laser-etched via a patented process, revealing the word ‘love’. After a couple of days of TLC, the seed coat falls + the word ‘love’ is revealed on the inner cotyledon or embryo. First yellow, it then turns green with sunlight. After turning green, the seed starts to crack open, revealing a leaf aimed for something higher with the word ’love’, as seen below.
(photo: Serpentine Gallery)
But it doesn’t stop there kids – this gift keeps on giving. After plant matures, once relocated into a large pot or ground, the plant will start to flourish super fast. This ‘message bean plant’ eventually not only continues to grow with you but it will stand as a symbol of love for many more years to come. Like many of Yoko’s art objects, less already results in more and this is definitely no exception.
