31.1.07

from the mouths of males

I've had a love/hate relationship with these Balenciaga booties since they first came down the runway... At first I thought "hideous generalus!", but they grew on me after a few months, and now I'm at the point where I sketch little Balenciaga hooves next to my notes in class, and dream of what trips to the grocery store would be like if I had 5 inches of solid Ghesquière beneath me... The fact that these boots would cost more than one month's rent in Paris (and are therefore ludicrously unattainable) only fuels the fantasy fire, so it is at times like this when a man's brutal honesty can be refreshing:

"Let me be completely honest here, those shoes, when not placed on a woman’s foot, are structurally and aesthetically sexy (maybe it’s the S&M and not the H&M in me). But when said shoe is placed on an actual foot, that woman begins to resemble a goat. A female goat, yes, but a goat none-the-less"

Wrong perhaps, but refreshing.

See, a random fact that I didn't include in the "sixes" post is that we used to have a goat farm. I loved our goats very much but don't want to look like one. I don't really want to look like Mary-Kate Olsen either (this would actually be impossible so I'm more worried about the goat bit) however these boots have me in high smit, and I am interested in your verdict...

The Balenciaga bootie...
Goatlike?
Gorgeous?
Undecided.

via NYCydney

so...


Who among all of you will be in NY for Fashion Week on Feb. 2nd? Who is going to Paris instead? Who will be where they are now, surfing through style.com rather than working..?

gratuitous, gorgeous grey

Socks and sandals in winter... I love this look and have recently stepped over the odd snowbank with feet warmly ensconced in NOT BOOTS but strappy wedgelike heels and black stockings. A stylish fallback for everyone, even if you are not Parisienne and featured in the photos above. Any favourites? I'm guessing #1 will be popular...

28.1.07

curiouser and curiouser

Love: the Swiss, her clutch, and the premise of this photo.

Hop over here to see a few more model citizens in Zurich. They aren't all bankers you know :)

printed lady

The first time I encountered Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato was via this femme (photographed by facehunter last February). Her trompe l'oeil dress caught my eye, and then a few months later Audrey Tautou wore this whimsical creation to Cannes. That sealed the deal and I've been looking for TC frocks on ebay ever since. Of course, like most covetable garments, they're hard to find but at least I can gaze longingly at her new and curious ad campaign...

others can be found here.

diva austria

I've fallen madly in love with French stylist Lala Adrianarivony (her domain is aptly titled we love lala). In fact, perhaps love at first sight really is possible (with people I mean- obviously it is possible and torturously common in relation to beautiful clothing). Her 'galeries' of style are the stuff of dreams.
The sense of grandeur and solitude in the image above reminds me e'er so slightly of another Austrian diva:

coruscating colour

There are three specific groups who immediately come to mind when I think, "who can pull off orange and fuschia together in one outfit and not look like an '80s inspired scenester on crystal meth?".

They are:

1. Dutch. I say this after noting all of the deliciously bright Oilily fashion present in Holland.

2. Indian. To quote Diana Vreeland, "pink is the navy blue of India". Orange is also a popular shade and I have never seen women look more beautiful in it.

3. Brazilian... ('nuff said).


I wish her nails were fuschia too, but the back more than makes up for any miniscule faux pas...

Now I am not Dutch, Indian or Brazilian, so I would really like to have a dress similar to the one above, only in black (#7 by Bi La Li).

strangeness in sixes

I've been tagged by two beautiful bloggers to write 6 strange things about myself. This is a lazy Sunday (and I dare not disturb the cat lying across my outstretched legs) so here goes...

When I was 17 and contemplating what to take in university, I had the choices narrowed down to Fashion Communication or Forensic Science. The latter seemed less scary (I was more squeamish about lip gloss than entrails) and I interned at a morgue to gain some practical knowledge. I loved it. The forensic pathologists who worked there were the most gracious and respectful people I had ever met, and I learned more from what they shared during autopsies and toxicology tests than I have from any university professor. Despite my constant interest in this field, the smell of formaldehyde was too much for me and I decided to pursue the arts instead.

Anyone who knows me or who has read my profile may have noted that I am a bootaholic (yes, even at the height of summer in Australia, I was the girl in leather boots). This is actually the only kind of footwear I really own. I often fantasize about pumps and peeptoes (there a few pairs from Paris sitting prettily on my closet floor), but they never find a way onto my feet. This could be because those feet are size 41-42 and just don't look as graceful in delicate shoes as a petite femme's might. Whatever the reason, I'm sticking with knee high Miu Mius and sturdy Demeulemeesters.

Graffiti is one of my favourite art forms:
You can see a lot of it around my apartment and I obsessively hunt street art (rather like Yvan hunts street style) with my camera wherever I am in the world.

I prefer men's magazines to women's magazines as the articles cover a broader range of subjects, however I also love perusing style manuals in languages I don't speak. Essentially I am just admiring the styling and photography, but I get very excited when a phrase is similar enough to English or French that I can (sort of) understand what is being said. Or not, in all probability. Swedish and Italian are particular favourites.

My brother and I were born at home. We were raised in an androgynous fashion with matching short hair cuts, overalls, shoes- the lot. There was no TV (except Star Trek), no piercings allowed, and typical "boy/girl" toys were out of the question. This was, in theory, a great idea and like homeschooling, I couldn't have wished for a better way to grow up, but androgyny was forcibly thrown out the widow around age 6. Much to my mother's amusement, I started to draw dresses and added frilly trim to my clothing. I couldn't have rapunzel hair, so I always wore a scarf tied around my head in a bow. The tops of my ears were pierced with a syringe from her midwifery kit, and I stole barbie dolls from daycare to play with at home. The list could go on but you get the idea. I'm not sure what this says about biological determinism but it makes me feel like I'm in the right field.

My mother lived in India, and Bollywood culture has always been of huge interest to me. I hennaed my hands like an Indian bride and wore a bindi through a few teenage years, stopping short of a sari only because wherever we were, it was generally too cold for one. There are still a few salwar kameezs in my closet however, and I google Aishwarya Rai every so often just to see what she is wearing.

Mutti and her cow in the early '80s (pre moi :)

Six is quite enough...

Care to share any of your eccentricities or unique life experiences? I would love to hear.

27.1.07

the little mermaid

All grown up.
With the exception of Lacroix (whose dizzying confections usually transport me to a colourful dreamworld), I don't follow Paris Couture Week very closely. I prefer subtlety in most forms of apparel, and couture tends to be so overwhelmingly ornate that I end up diving into Swedish minimalist design books in a sparkly tulle induced panic. That said, several of Riccardo Tisci's gowns for Givenchy this season were the epitome of understated gothic mystère*. I happen to also have a slight obsession with merpeople, so when Tisci described this collection as illustrating the "metamorphosis of sailors into mermaids" he had my undivided attention... Flavia's dress (above) is my favourite. The wet and misty staging must have been extraordinary to see in person...


Do you have any couture week favourites?

*enormous bobble sailor hats excluded

23.1.07

checkmate

- Paris -

- Liverpool -

Now I realize that you can't see the front of the Parisienne's outfit, but in my [thoroughly biased francophile] opinion, girls in Paris typically outmatch girls in Liverpool hands down, so let's give her a chance...

source: gritoland, hoy

20.1.07

glamourous grunge

There is an art to pulling off shabby clothing as chic ingenue wear. Generally, being small and pretty like this femme does the trick, however it amazes me still (as this is not a new look) that one can go to a fashion event dressed in what is essentially casual pajamas, pull a fur or leather jacket over their shoulders and stand out as belle of the ball. I've seen very fashionable women dressed like this at fashion weeks in Paris and NY, which of course has caused me to examine the style more carefully, but it still looks more like an outfit to chop wood in than anything else. Any opinions? Do you prefer more tailored, classic glamour or do you subscribe to the bedraggled beauty aesthetic?

** I do give kudos for the knit hat though. Next to boots, beanies are my most dire addiction.

//At Matt Irwin's photography exhibit in London//

16.1.07

moon girl


I'm obsessed. These metallic booties (among other Pierre Hardy designs) are still haunting my dreams at night. They have been included in sleek magazine's street issue where a few of the world's finest shoe creators are asked "pertinent and impertinent" questions about how they make our feet "so damned alluring". PH says his shoes are the elite of the street. If only the pricetag was plebeian...

14.1.07

eye of the beholder


Found this clipping pasted above a doorway last night. Something to remember as the fashion weeks approach and city centres are packed with impossibly impeccable people. You may well be one of those individuals, but everyone should remember these 3 words.

12.1.07

miu miu marionette



When it was announced that Lindsay Lohan would be fronting the new Miu Miu ads, I wasn't expecting much. However, the first campaign image was just released and I'm impressed. Rather than drawing on her celebrity, the photographers created an entire character around Lohan; this doll-like creature is not instantly recognizable as the actress and could be almost anyone. I particularly love the carefully posed angles... from her flexed, Miuccialy shod feet, to the triangle created by her tightly cinched waist. I'm not sure if the firecrotch reference was necessary, but it does go well with the red hair.

update: rest of the campaign...

I think this exquisitely photoshopped creature is better viewed from afar, as in the first image. I love the pink peter pan collar, particularly against the midnight blue silk, but I'm not crazy about the handbags this year.

And on to the third...

Is this Miu Miu or porn? Hair and makeup is stunning, but the outfit is wholly non-descript and an upskirt cheerleader shot is tacky and unneccessary. Miuccia, what is happening?!

I have faith in next season.

a site to see

At the moment I am mesmerized by this new Julian Red website. Check it out and turn up the volume when you have a quiet 5 minutes. It makes me want to be a boy, which is a difficult thing (actually, nightmare) to comprehend for a die hard femme comme moi. The Hoboken "Dark Dancer" jeans and Loveless top in the 9th section of this showcase are perfect for strolling the Swedish streets.



via minirobot

face of fashion

There are a few reasons why I am looking forward to being in London this spring... One of them is that I always look forward to seeing what is being worn on the streets (though LIB reports that British femmes are at a style standstill) and the other -also predictable- is for the impressive range of exhibits at museums and galleries throughout the city. The latest one to pique my interest comes via susie bubble: the works of photographers Alas & Piggott, Corinne Day, Steven Klein, Paolo Roversi and Mario Sorrenti are to be featured in an exhibit titled Face of Fashion at The National Portrait Gallery. I wish that a wider range of photographers had been included, but as it is, the exhibit's title asks a curious question. Can fashion be defined in just one face?

More images at Vogue UK.

back and black

Well, brunette, but at least the blonde pixie cut of 2006 is finally done with, and Maria Carla, who was conspicuously absent from the spring shows, has popped up in February's W magazine. As fashionologie noted, there is a lot of mustard and gold present in this editorial (shot by Juergen Teller), which contrasts beautifully with the black and white. The theme continues... I missed Maria Carla (and her dark locks). Hope to see more of her this year.

baby got doll

Cynthia Steffe's spring line is all sickeningly sweet gingham and eyelet (which would characteristically send me running in the opposite direction as my style is more on the Demeulemeester black side) but from the nine '60s inspired pieces offered online, I have fallen for this white pinafore dress.

Rosemary would have given up her baby for this dress.

(before it was born and turned out to be the devil, obviously)

Actually, I'm being slightly boring as the frock above is very similar to an ivory '60s shift I loved to death this past summer, but sometimes it's best to stick with what works. And the Cynthia Steffe one is shadowstriped where my older one consists of openwork over a slip. Is this enough of a difference to justify a $305 price tag? Hmmm.

* I'd like to take this one to my [imaginary] cabana too...

louis does laundry

So, I realize that the giant, checked shoppers commonly carried by elderly ladies in Chinatown have suddenly become fashionable thanks to Louis Vuitton's spring collection, but like Chanel's trash bag tote, it doesn't work for me. Maybe this is because my mum used the exact same oversized, plasticy bag to take clothing on international laundromat adventures, or perhaps I just can't shake the image of an 80+ year old woman on the subway today- stooped and wearing a wide hat to ward off the winter sunlight- who had a red and blue one hooked onto her trolley. Regardless of my opinion, the boxy bag is evidently here to stay for a month or two and I'm curious to hear what the general consensus is... are these 'too cool for school' or should they be reserved for grocery hauls?

The Ukrainian femme can be found here.

6.1.07

merci...


Thank you, emi for mentioning La Femme in French Vogue online.

zapatos mágicos

Well, Toronto is into dreary January, and as I was longing for a little culture and beauty in the midst of grey commerce, I chanced upon an unadvertised, gently hidden artistic treat...

I am referring to the unique work of Toronto based artist and photographer Marina Dempster, whose fantastical shoes are on display at the Bata Shoe Museum until January 19th. Although not advertised, this artist’s work definitely deserves viewing. For those of us who combine a love of extravagant shoes with an appreciation for talented artists, Dempster’s work is a must see. She has created extraordinary shoe sculptures which are a contemporary interpretation of the traditional artwork of the Huichol people in Mexico.

After I saw her shoe sculptures, I contacted Marina Dempster, and she graciously agreed to be interviewed. As she explained, the Huichol people have existed since pre-Colombian times, and it is likely that they are related to the Aztecs. They call themselves ‘the healers’ and believe that the perpetuation of life and the protection of nature’s creations is their responsibility. Their art form is known as yarn painting, and it involves the covering of everyday objects with intricate embellishment, serving a healing and story telling function, Dempster related, particularly as the Huichols have no written language.

This artist told me that she found herself drawn to the technique of yarn painting. The artistic process begins with covering the discarded object, in this case shoes, with a combination of beeswax and pine resin warmed and softened, then spread on the surface. This covering is then embedded with yarn or beads until the entire surface of the object is implanted. Dempster emphasized that this labour intensive process is contemplative, and for her has lead to communication and learning between cultures.

For this viewer, the sheer spectacle of exuberant colour is the first pleasure offered by these storytelling shoes. They practically sing with bright green, red, blue, orange and turquoise. The second is the elaborate and absolute decoration, as every part of the shoe is beautifully embellished. Porcupine quills and lavish feathers extrude from some shoes, while others sparkle with dozens of tiny mirrors.

Dempster described her work as a hybrid of multicultural ethnography and haute couture. When asked about the message her shoes have for viewers, she replied “my only hope is that the work brings light to people’s faces... that the pieces resonate with each viewer in a personal and meaningful way”. So, if you are visiting Toronto,or live here, treat yourself to the experience of Marina Dempster’s magical shoes.



You can find more about Marina Dempster here.

5.1.07

jolie jaune

This colour is growing on me...


Perhaps it's the flashing contrast created when a bisque shift is worn with metallic accessories... or maybe it's because Jil Sander had a few stunning yellow pieces in her last lineup... or it could just be that I saw Little Miss Sunshine tonight and am feeling cheery. Whatever the reason, yellow fever is running rampant in the fashion world (check the cruise collections), and I'm happily infected. This is the only shade I've really avoided for most of my style-conscious life, but come spring I'll be dressing more like the girl above. What is your opinion?

images: panda head, jr blog

update: It's catching on in London too, but what I really love in this picture (click on the link to see) are the motorcycle boots! Not surprising, given my bootaholic tendencies...

3.1.07

bangkok beat, and other travels

I haven't died... Xmas and the New Year have been brilliantly busy with visitors and travel, and I am just back to my little apartment, relishing in silence at last with a mug of mint tea and my sleeping Finnish cat. I hope you had a voguish holiday season. Mine involved two stellar pairs of boots, one chromey motorcycle (not mine), and a plane ticket to Northern Europe, set to depart this spring. In other words, perfect. Thanks so much for your comments and emails. Bonne chance et beaucoup de bonheur pour la nouvelle année!

Kyssa, A

PS. Have you met Bangkok model Alien yet? Yes, her actual name is Alien. I like my stony Eastern Europeans, but the modelling world could use a Thai femme or two. I hope to see more of her this year.


source.