chiaroscuro

The fall 2010 Chris Wijnants collection truly captures the minimal spirit
that is so prevalent this season. With a welcome contrast, it captures a
thoughtful and quiet air in its simplicity. It feels more refreshed than many
of the minimal takes that are just slapping on camel coats and calling it clean.
Frankly, I'm totally disappointed by the print development this season and
so appreciate what Wijnants has done here. The dresses printed with soft,
fleshy bodies have a Tuscan feel about them and are inspiring me to plan
an autumn olive picking excursion. His work reminds me of a young
Dries Van Noten and that is a serious compliment.

punch drunk

Marni Autumn 2010

a grand greek revolution

Mary Katrantzou Fall 2010 offerings really floored me. I have been
watching her evolve since Central Saint Martins graduation and
am consistently pleased with the results ever season, being the
print fiend that I am. These particular ones seem like spontaneous
meetings of fractured chandeliers, bloody french revolution flags,
rococo swirls and rare gem box tops. I love how they are blended
together so you can't pick out the seams.

my bed is a pool and the walls are on fire

i want to walk around with you in summertime clothes.
nina ricci/spring 2010

she's no drag

vena cava for converse on sale december 5.

seahorse and i

the annual prada friends and family sale yielded
some unforeseen gems.
the grandiose pink prom gown skirt from resort 2008
and a piece from spring 2009.
i was a bit brokenhearted when i saw the faded seahorse
and mermaid fish print from spring 2009 tie shoulder dress,
which i pined for since the show last october, so badly damaged.
i couldn't bring myself to purchase it so i went with the apron
skirt piece. a good, convertible substitute.

beach baby, peach baby.

angry dancing ladies

this is the perfect time to come to sevilla, semana feria.

two weeks after semana santa and easter, sevillianos get down for a week

with horses, open up the bull rings, drink and dance themselves silly and

pull out the festive get ups.

all the chicks had out of control trajes de flamenco on. in all colors and shapes.

(i think the polka dot prints are a must)

they were also tricked out with the fans, fringe shawls, huge earrings, espadrillas,

hair combs and flowers on top their heads.

my first hour in the city, i saw a cluster of mujers singing and dancing in the street.

they looked great and i totally regretted not bringing along my red polka dotted number.

my alpine girl

i really enjoyed the marni show this season. it grew up a bit from the wild weirdo girl it turned

into last season (although in some aspects i prefer that girl). it has been interesting to watch

consuelo evolve the sport influence and this felt like the ultimate climax of that. i saw a particular

mountain hiking influence with climbing leggings fused with patterned trousers and the anorak dresses

and over pieces. hit the slopes.

throw colour far

i'm pleased to see peter and christopher progressing

beautifully and thoughtfully

peter pilotto fall 2009

dreamy dunks

aren't they just?

patchwork liberty dunks and wildflowers from greece

mon dernier tango à paris

clips from paulo melim andersson's last collection for chloe, fall 2008.

i'm particularly fixated with the embellishments, details and wispy 70s feel.

although this being the collection that knocked him from his creative director post,

i love it and find it well aligned with the last tango in paris inspiration.

i'm attempting to try my hand at recreating some of these ideas.

le futur prada

thanks to the prada friends and family sale, i have fantastic additions to the

art collection. dress from spring 2008 and sweater from fall 2007.

i'm in awe of them hanging on my rack.

magic eye

houdini magic eye prints-rachel comey autumn 2008

the age of antiquity

miu miu spring summer 2009

to me, it feels like ancient columns. structures of grandeur and function in ancient rome.

the pantheon. the forum.

pillars of history, marble and alabaster. with the chips of time and ages past.

the rips and the tearing on the silk and what looks like burlap.

tiered apron shapes, pleats and simple drapery.

the prints are fantastic. from walls and tiles. ageless icons. 

it has a grotesque and raw element to it, made beautiful.

its almost daunting in its amazing fucked up way, similar to roman history-i love it.

of the last time i was in rome, i remember watching the city pass through the bus window,

thinking how its always in a state of falling down and apart and it will always be this way-

somehow this makes it the eternal city?

but also that everywhere there is street art and scribbles of graffiti and what a wild combination

this shocking paint out of spray cans and these age old buildings makes.

with the squiggles of neon pink and blood red orange, it reminds me of rome.

so i feel the ages and i feel rome embodied in this show.

and its wonderful and so italian, something i am happy to see miu miu be at this moment.

polka dot.

marni resort 2009.

consuelo always gets me in the heart. without fail.

busta flora

dries van noten. spring 2008.

digital

pictured - jonathan saunders resort 2009, bottom photo richard chai resort 2009

while i usually find resort collections a bit irritating - and only good for the star designers-

i loved the jonathan saunders prints and the sleeves at richard chai. 

nearly all ny designers are under taking resort collections.

les petites fleurs sauvages

its true, i have been seduced by these liberty print dunks. 

still debating if i should snag a pair solely for hip hop class and flower jobs.

age of antiquity

this imagery is nearly exactly what i was thinking about last summer after watching rome and

i, claudius. thinking of returning to those antiquity print ideas.