(via WWD)
For #FlashbackFriday, here’s a little lesson in art history on the ‘Paranoiac Critical Method’ created by the iconic surrealist Salvador Dali + described by the master himself in a 1963 David Bryson interview.
Now, I post this not just because I love Dali, or I want to teach you something, but rather, for you to hear how the master spoke English. I’ve always loved the way he spoke English – it’s what legends are made of! Once you hear Dali’s English, it will stay with you forever as it has with me.
Think of it as ‘Surrealist Enunciation’.
Enjoy!
Now this is how you start your weekend during the holidays with class!
There’s no mistaking I love, love, love John Waters + what better way to sprinkle some holiday cheer than with a few words of wisdom from Waters himself in a film excerpt from ‘Jingle Bell Rocks!‘ presented by NOWNESS. With the Xmas holiday soon upon us, one can’t escape it, as Waters says, what with all the commercials, holiday windows + that dreaded color combo of green + red – it’s the only time of year you can get away with it as it’s been branded into pop culture as official Xmas colors. But I can’t lie, the I’m like a moth to the flame when faced with a variety of Xmas lights – need to take a moment to swallow it all in. I’m aiming for a smoke machine under my Xmas tree this year – that should be something!
But this film follows the cult of the Xmas record through visits to Waters, Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne + Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons of Run DMC et al, where according to NOWNESS, director Mitchell Kezin, posits the Christmas record as a uniquely outré genre to be cherished, for its potential to tickle feelings of warmth + magic unique to the time of year. Sure, most remember Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, The Chipmunks + Mariah Carey, transporting them back to childhood Xmas memories, but this film rather pays homage to obscure tracks like ‘Santa Ain’t Coming to Town’ + Teddy Vann’s provocative take on ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ 1973 single, ‘Santa Claus is a Black Man’ (which you can hear below)
sung by his daughter Akim. (As a first time listener of this song, why weren’t more like it created or maybe there were + I just don’t know, which is sad, I know.) Of Vann’s song Waters said, ‘To me as a kid I thought what a great idea,’ who included the release on his 2004 compilation ’A John Waters Christmas’. ‘Santa Claus is a black man, I hope.’
But seriously, all Xmas memories should be filled with such precious moments, of your near + dear, wearing a santa hat in their mugshot, like the one of John Waters shown in the film. Priceless!
‘Jingle Bell Rocks!’ is out in select US theaters this month, + available on DVD, cable VOD + digital platforms from December 9.
Enjoy!
(via NOWNESS)
‘KOH-I-NOOR BROOCHES’ Tee Collection By MONOTIP
When you see designer Mona Velciov’s MONOTIP tees from her ‘KOH-I-NOOR BROOCHES’ collection, you must admit feeling a small smirk making it’s way to the corner of your mouth. Usually, tees are considered a common denominator when it comes to fashion, ascribing to every class level. Of course, through the years, plenty of designers have elevated this sportswear staple by either throwing in some stretch, for form fitting silhouettes or using various embellishments to make them extra special including rhinestones, ribbons, lace or a variety of skins. But what I love about MONOTIP’s tees are the juxtaposition of high + low mixed so well + so beautifully.
Here you have a plain white tee + normally, the area where that cumbersome + useless small pocket always is, gets replaced by pieces of tulle, often associated with haute couture gowns, attached by a worthless paper clip + a beautiful reinterpretation of a brooch made up of 2 huge metallic 2D multifaceted gemstones. Now, for those who don’t know, they’re called KOH-I-NOOR brooches because like the infamous real Koh-i-noor (Persian ‘Mountain of Light’), a diamond that was originally 793 carats when uncut, they’re very large in size too.
Yet, the question remains – Are those really pieces of tulle attached to the tee or are they simply screen printed pieces of tulle on the tee? Quite beautiful, wouldn’t you say?
(via NOT JUST A LABEL)
WANTED: Open-Back Cady Jumpsuit By Barbara Casasola
Just in time for the holidays too!
I so love this ‘Open-Back Cady Jumpsuit’ by Barbara Casasola – it’s an interesting twist of the tux look for evening. With an open back accented by faux white lapels, making it look like a tuxedo jacket worn backwards, the flash of skin creates a sexy contrast. From the front, you see a long-sleeved, wide-leg silhouette + then, when you turn around, surprise! So if you wear this jumpsuit for a night out, expect taking many trips to the bathroom, just so neighboring eyes can see you walk away, again + again!
The ’Open-Back Cady Jumpsuit’ by Barbara Casasola is available for purchase at MATCHESFASHION.COM.
Voice-over narration can be tricky sometimes, but other times, it’s pure genius, with the right voice of course. Such is the case with ‘Barbara Casasola: Menswear For Women’ By Marie Schuller for SHOWstudio, this year’s Beauty Prize winner from A SHADED VIEW ON FASHION FILM festival. Starring Jamie Bouchert, the alluring, mysterious + sexy musician slash model, her voice-over is just perfection!
Rather than focusing on the clothes, SHOWstudio’s Marie Schuller focuses on capturing the independent spirit + playful attitude of Bouchert, considered to be the perfect example of the independent Barbara Casasola woman + muse to the Brazilian designer. Many of the shots explore nudity or the naked body getting dressed, offering a sensual nod to Casasola’s obsession with the unclothed female form when designing. Notice the heavy influence of Guy Bourdin + Helmut Newton seen throughout the film, especially those blinds?!
Of the lines spoken by Boucher, here are a few of my favorites:
‘I learned that the hands, if you observe them well, can be as expressive as the face, even better than the face, as they more easily escape the control of the will.’
‘For me, there are three types of girl – those with one expression, those with two + those with three.’
‘It’s too beautiful here, to get any work done. All this beauty can be exhausting. After all, everything is beautiful.’
Enjoy!
(via VOGUE PARIS)
Ahhh, nothing better than waking up to the sound of empowerment, especially when it’s Charli XCX, in a new video for ‘Breaking Up’! Breaking up, usually painted as something that’s too hard to do, is sometimes the only thing you CAN do, particularly when the relationship is so wrong. But when Charli makes it look like this much fun, the fear attached to such a thing is blown away, sealed with a goodbye air kiss! Directed by BRTHR, with colorful graphics, cheesy fonts, very short skirts + high high heels, in the video, Charli dumps her boyfriend + hangs with her friends at a bowling alley, where they threaten some guys with bowling balls + eat a bunch of candy + ice cream. The video is very ‘NASTY GAL’, don’t you think? Do I smell designer collaboration?
So if your relationship sucks, there’s no better time to break up than now, especially with the holidays coming up! Not only does Charli prove how not bad it is, just think, one less present to buy with your ex out of the picture!
Enjoy!
(via pitchfork)
For Fall, MoMi-Ko Finds Inspiration In Japanese Unis + Origami
I am so in love with MoMi-Ko‘s AW/14 collection called ‘Seifuku – Say What?’. Besides all of the interesting origami details, sprinkled throughout the collection, in the form of backpacks or coat details, I adore the element of surprise in mixing holographic tights under the utilitarian look + feel of the Japanese uniform-inspired look, in pic 4 below. Polish designer Monika Misiak-Kołsut also does a great job in mixing sheer elements with each other + other fabrics.
(via WE ARE SELECTERS)