Louis Vuitton's Eccentric Traveller

 

 As of now, there are two fashion houses that have really impressed me with their presentations of their respective fall collection. One is Chanel and the other Louis Vuitton. The latter has always struck me as a more retail designer brand because of their blatant use of the brand logo at every opportunity they get and as a result never regarded Louis Vuitton as exciting. But, ever since the their earlier 50s retro themed collection, I understood why they stood as one of the most successful in the industry.

Now, the Louis Vuitton 2012 A/W collection.

The hiss of steam in the night of Paris, followed by the entry of a locomotive and the accompanying porter of the aristocratic woman set the mood for the Louis Vuitton's magical fall collection. I can sense the 1910s era in the collection, so the shoe collection has a very vintage but luxurious feel to them. Louis Vuitton's shoes radiate an eccentric but a colorful ladylike aura with the use of ostrich leather, horse hair, jeweled buttons and huge platforms. I must admire how the addition of the perspex heels have not taken away the vintage magical feel from the collection but rather has complemented it. My favorite designs are the black brogue cum loafer, the orange brogue and the horse hair brogue.

All photos are courtesy of fashionising.com
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Chanel Has Keira Leather-ly

I was re-editing my posts on leather jackets and decided to re-post this video separately.

It's a 2011 Chanel advertisement for the Coco Mademoiselle perfume starring a mysterious Keira Knightely being dare-devilish on her motorbike, then frolicking with a photographer and finally rides into the sunset. Just watch it, its a visual treat.

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The Yves of Metal

Gold, silver, chrome or bronze.

The metallic palette if applied properly always adds a touch of class to a pair of shoes. An upgrade in perception I'd call it. The glint of that shiny metal is something I favor in shoes. However, it shouldn't overwhelm the design of the shoes instead just enough to imbue that flavor of glamor.

Enter the Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2012 runway. 

Personally, I didn't find the YSL A/W 2012 as visually exciting as the YSL S/S 2012 - shoe wise that is. The shoes for the collection were armored in gold plated metals. Under the 'armor' were clean and classic designs, giving its golden armor a greater emphasis.  Among the more simple/tame designs, there are designs that presents themselves more like a mace but where there should be the spikes of death, there are diamonds of opulence. 

A collection suited for the modern warrior princess.
 

All photos are courtesy of vogue.com.uk

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Cut & Paste The 60s Groupie

I have an imagined nostalgia towards the 60s. 

Imagined nostalgia because that's the only thing an individual born way after that decade can do. In this imagined nostalgia, is content curated through available means like pictorial books depicting the lifestyle of the 60s, second hand experiences from the parents, retro movies, etc. So yes, I may have a theatrical view of it but leave it be! 

The retro groupie. 

Now, cue in four smartly dressed blokes from Liverpool singing "Can't Buy Me Love" to a legion of screaming fans who are craving for just a look from one of their idols. That is the exact emotion this editorials intends to channel through model, Tati Cotliar. And she delivers it well by posing in modern designer pieces alongside the retro photos of other screaming music fans. The black & white setting of the editorial allows the focus to be on the details of the outfit and also on the emotions portrayed by Tati Cotliar. But most importantly, it gives a real stillness or suspension of time within the photos. 

Baby It's You by Benny Horne

for

Oyster Magazine

All photos are courtesy of oystermag.com

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Chanel's LBJ No.2

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Chanel's LBJ No.1

The Little Black Jacket


by 


Karl Lagerfeld & Carine Roitfeld

Iconic personalities + background story + classy photo shoot + publish book 

= 

A priceless/timeless piece of clothing?

I understand that they're trying to present it as the 'denim jeans' of jackets - versatile.

But, it sounds a lot like taking the denim jeans which was actually the man's staple clothing then redesigned to better suit the woman's frame then sold back to the man again. Except, Coco Chanel wore a very similar one...

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, as I've barely had enough information on this project. Personally, I wouldn't wear one though. Too feminine for my taste. But, it makes an ideal piece of clothing for the woman in my opinion. Business or pleasure.

Criticism aside, this collaboration project to revisit a classic Chanel piece by Karl Lagerfeld & Carine Roitfeld is absolutely classy/stunning with a star studded cast of Anna Wintour, Kanye West, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claudia Shiffer, Yoko Ono, etc. And those are just a few to name. Soon to be compiled into a book and released soon.  

For more photos and info, click here.

All photos are courtesy of hypebeast.com

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Techno-Punk Balenciaga Shoes

The 60s & 80s eras are places that I wished I could experience but alas, it was not meant to be because:

First, my direct forbearers were unmarried and still grooving to psychedelic tunes of the 60s. And second, my first breath of air came only at the end of the 80s. So both eras went past me. 

I've always felt that both eras are forward-thinking and always aspiring to a futuristic world. This is clearly seen in the culture/fashion of both which sometimes lead to very unusual or queer styles.

 Fortunately, this time round Balenciaga's creativity was leaning to a sci-fi 80s and the setting was to be an office, so it should be a real visual treat.

"So I imagined a company, Balenciaga, Inc., and what all the different women would wear to work there," - Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga

What makes the Balenciaga A/W 2012 collection cutting edge is that the modern-looking materials and futuristic designs are applied tastefully without looking costume-y which allows the collection to give off an 80s vibe seamlessly without being literal.

Couldn't help but include some outfit photos.

The shoe designs are a cross combination of classic and modern design/materials. Looking classy & futuristic without looking plasticky. There is a hint of a subtle edgy look even with the clean designs too. My personal favorites are the laced up leather heels(the last 2 photos).

All photos are courtesy of fashionising.com Pin It Now!

Shoes With Power For Men

Clothing is a tool of power and a way to express male vanity. That was according to Miuccia Prada.

What attracted me to this Prada collection is the theme which draws its inspiration from men of power. No, not because I crave it. Rather, there is always an unseen expectation for the male to exert his 'authority' whether it be over himself or surroundings and Prada might have a way to achieve to do so.   

Masculine elegance.  

The collection is intriguing, probably because of the choice of models too. Actors chosen were of a distinct pedigree within their theatric realm - William Defoe, Adrian Brody, Tim Roth, Gary Oldman & Jamie Bell.

The shoes are, gem to me. Men shoe designs cannot deviate much without losing its semblance to an accepted 'male' shoe. Prada shoes of the A/W 2012 collection are brogues decorated with emblems/badges which has its roots in nobility/military, lending more to the theme of 'power'. Just like the women's A/W 2012 shoe collection, the shoes appear to be chunkier/broader. For the men's collection, it is to bestow a stronger/more masculine form to the man.  

My choice would be the black brogue with prints. 

Photos are courtesy of thesartorialist.com & i-donline.com

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