black and white prints

Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Balenciaga, Zimmerman

Aminaka Wilmont, Fall 2010

Ugh these prints are good. Just look at the enlarged photo above (left), it looks like the formation of a gaseous planet or the mist rising off of some glacial pool. I wish I could get bigger pictures, see the fabric in even more detail, take the dress dancing. I really like the black satin at the left chest bit of the dress, it gives it some...stability?

source: nymag, coutorture

well look what we have here

Proenza Schouler Fall 2010

Why Jack and Lazaro, you've oudone yourselves. These prints are delightful (or in the parlance of our times, "sick"), and, with the exception of that second number (the black panel and high neckline are literally making me itch), the pieces are all cut beautifully. I really enjoy the pants from the first photo - as though someone has attacked a pair of innocent black jeans with an onslaught of ultramarine silly string. I'm a sucker for dark prints, thigh-highs, and long-sleeved mini dresses, so as a friend of mine would say, this collection is a melody. Plus the shoes look pretty cool.


source: nymag

more 3as4

ThreeASFOUR's Spring collection was based largely on the dot drawing series by Yoko Ono, who I can't lie, I've always sort of dismissed as an artist. But these patterns are beautiful, and I haven't seen the original drawings, but I'm charmed. The runway show itself was a bit of a performance art piece, with the models successively cutting a spiral garment off of the first model to appear. I quite like the idea.

Photos of the studio while the Spring collection was under works

Ono's drawings were reflected back in the makeup on the models

The shoes are the one of the most interesting parts of the collection to me - the combination of what are essentially stripper shoes with interesting bands and straps across them in black fabric, leather, and god knows what else.

blue, part I

Zero Maria Cornejo, Twinkle, Proenza Schouler, Dries van Noten

ZMC: I actually really love that this print is derived from an image of the ocean - it brings together the chaotic mixing of blue and white in a really visually appealing way without being at all like a hokey Hawaiian shirt. If anything it reminds me of the Great Wave off Kanagawa, but shinier. I also really love that the cut echoes the fluid movement evoked by the print.

Twinkle: Aside from hating the name of this label, I quite like the dress. The print reminds me of a Franz Marc painting, and I'm a big sucker for German Expressionism. I really love the inflections of yellow into the print as well.

PS: Okay, so I'm not the greatest Proenza fan out there. Frankly, I think they make some ugly stuff. But I like the texture here, and the juxtaposition of the black and white against the blue and yellow. I really can't tell what's going on in the skirt part, but from far away the effect is quite nice.

DVN: I love the use of color here. SO MUCH. Everyone knows that Dries is a master of color, and the contrasts here are striking. The Indian blue sari-esque skirt with the orange/red/black top, that (if I could see the print better) I think might be Japanese (bamboo and whatnot?). It looks so vibrant and so fresh. I also love the unexpected green clutch.

source: nymag

black & white, part I

Erdem, Anna Sui, Wunderkind



Prada, Tony Cohen, ThreeASFOUR

Exxon Valdez Chic

I am so in love with Basso & Brooke's oil slick prints.