Category — Fashion Designers

Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibit is on at the MET until the end of summer. It features intricate movie costumes and stunning haute couture pieces, as well as high performance sportswear. The show reveals the blurred line between fantasy and fashion and “how the superhero serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion and its ability to empower and transform the human body“. Since Superheroes’ conception in the 30’s, they have been idolized, redefined, revamped and recycled over and over, yet they never seem to tire us. As time-transcending and hope-invoking as they are, Superheroes will never go out of fashion since they serve as escape vehicles from reality into something larger than life. They are part and parcel of the American dream, raising social and political issues, awaking imagination and inspiring designers with their metamorphic beauty so akin to the fashion industry’s virtues.

Designers, left to right: As Four, 1999; Gareth Pugh, Spring/Summer 2007; Twin-Turbine Powered Exoskeleton Wing Suit, Atair Aerospace, Inc., 2007; Hussein Chalayan, Autumn/Winter 1999–2000; Thierry Mugler, Spring/Summer 1991; Thierry Mugler, Spring/Summer 1992; Julien Macdonald, Autumn/Winter 2003-2004; Alexander McQueen, Autumn/Winter 2007–2008 (images via MET)

Source: Digital Camcorder Redux

A tragic day in fashion. Yves Saint Laurent died last night at 71 after a long battle with brain cancer. The official YSL site posted the following hommage to the designer:

“The entire Yves Saint Laurent organization is overwhelmed by the news of Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent’s death. His unmatched genius revolutionized the world of fashion and left on it an inimitable mark. We are profoundly saddened by his passing, yet also humbled by the great heritage he leaves with us. The DNA of a brand is essential, and Stefano Pilati and I will do all in our power to preserve it. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and particularly with Pierre Berge.” - Valerie Hermann, CEO of YSL

Pierre Berge was YSL’s close friend and business partner for the last four decades. Yves Saint Laurent was one of the original true genius creators that cemented Paris as the capital of Haute Couture. He inspired and empowered women by breaking the fundamental rules of fashion for them. He not only made it ok for women to wear pants, but he transformed them into elegant and sexy. Truly daring for his era, YSL was the first to experiment with color combinations: black & brown, orange, red and pink, violet & yellow. The fashion idol extraordinaire and the man behind the thick signature black frames will be kindly remembered and deeply missed by the fashion community.

Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Safari Jacket from 1968.

It’s been a long hard week and I’m ready to slip into a cozy weekend with a book, a movie and a nap. Something between a yummy sofa and a hammock would fit the bill. Ask and you shall receive. Bless has just what the doctor ordered.

Sofa Hammock - for SNL

File Hammock - for The Sunday Times

Fur Hammock - for a nap in Neverland

I’ve been really into the plain Jane look lately, but in a good way. It feels purifying to shed stripes, patterns and ruffles and trade them for a simple, minimalist summer me. A spring cleaning of sorts, if you will. Helmut Lang is the perfect candidate for my summer threads. King of subdued palette and understated quality apparel, Lang really knows how to turn plain into classy. His 2008 Resort Collection pieces are easy to mix and match, and with the right accessories, can work for most occasions. His cuts are flattering and fabrics soothing. What can I say, I’m having a profound Helmut moment. In other words, I must have that dress!

I love Bless! The German designer duo never fails to surprise. This USB cable with fur is from their N°26 Cable Jewelry collection. Bless their hearts for being so innovative with every piece they create. You no longer have to hide your ugly computer cables or any other electronic connections or plugs, show them off for a change! They will also design a custom one for you to fit the style of your environment, if you bring in your own cable. They will transform any cable into a work of art.

Let Bless accessorize your gadgets with taste, like this Wooden Fruits cell phone charger adorned with wooden beads and bangles

or the White Lace Multiple adapter.

Still dreaming of the McQueen dress… yet I haven’t set foot in his new store on Melrose (which opened over a month ago) out of fear of um… going bankrupt. You see, I’m not a window shopper. I’m an impulsive buyer. And the all or nothing kind, at worst. So, I’ll be admiring from a distance until the wind of funds changes course. In the meantime, if you check it out, feel free to submit your reviews.

And now the last spring dress fever week pick, but most certainly not the least… {drumroll} - Alexander McQueen. Speechless was my first reaction when I saw his Spring 2008 Collection. If you can find words to do justice to this piece, then drop me a line. I am still hypnotized by the magic. I adore and salute his use of feathers in the front versus the back, which usually propels angelic reference. The use of materials and colors is exquisite. If I could only afford it, I would wear it in a heartbeat.

Gotta love Yohji for being so out there! Wait, there is a word for that: avant-garde. It was hard for me to choose only one of his dresses, if you can even call them that. They are more unique draped creations. I love his asymmetry, color combinations and the abundance of beautiful fabric. It’s wearable art, is what it truly is.

Yves Saint Laurent has been the paragon of class, elegance and simplicity since the beginning. This mod inspired dress is no surprise, but a confirmation of “less is more”. Yet, simplicity is sometimes harder to achieve than we think. We tend to either overkill with jewelry or understate with flats. Stripped of superfluous accessories, this look is so clean and fresh that it needs little else. Let your glowing skin get all the attention this spring!

Uh, this dress is just what the doctor ordered this spring! The over-sized loose casual cut creates a comfort quality and the open neck is revealing enough to feel sexy. Green is one of my favorite colors and this shade is very soothing. Thank you, Diane Von Furstenberg, for a beautiful spring dress… that I just might have to splurge on.