Mirror, Mirror

"That which you behold is but the shadow of a reflected form and has no substance of its own. With you it comes, with you it gostays, and it will go with you ..." (Ovid: Metamorphoses)

ph1: source unknown ph2-5: various designers www.areaware.com

Deja-View

You know that old expression, there's nothing new under the sun? Well, it kind of makes a really good point. In fashion, everything gets recycled (we were way ahead of you Al Gore) via trends. That's part of the reason why I would imagine being a rigid trend follower would be a rather frustrating process.

Here's a scenario. A few seasons ago you were told to ditch those flares and bootcuts and now you're having a nervous breakdown in your closet, surrounded by every wash ever made for skinny jeans while contemplating hanging yourself with one of your (many many many many) pairs of leggings. The only thing that stops you is the knowledge that you never invested in (the rather unfortunate and unfortunately named) jeggings. Why all this distress? Because lo and behold Marni, Burberry and the like have been sneaking streamlined flares and bootcut back into circulation. Your first instinct is to now purchase some but we are in the midst of a worldwide economic crisis so there's only one reasonable solution. March down to your local Salvation Army and demand that they return the seven pairs you donated four years ago. On the off chance they refuse to do so then I'm sort of sure that you might have grounds for a lawsuit. (p.s. The awkward wording in that last sentence is to protect myself from a lawsuit).

Honestly though this whole 'what is old is new and old again..but will soon be new'... trending can become mildly perturbing occasionally. I grew up in the 90s and though I was young, I still remember being traumatized by and/or succumbing to many of the trends (neon colours anyone? Lycra cycling shorts? How about Neon coloured cycling shorts? I will only admit to such a ghastly offense in a court of law, thank you very much.) That's why the hipster-led revival of that very recent decade has left me feeling as if I'm in a time warp sometimes. Seriously, are we still in the 90s when Julia Roberts played the same character in every romantic movie,  Madonna was re-inventing herself in order to make the charts, the Backstreet Boys were touring and Kate Moss was in every major fashion publication? Actually, on second thought those might not be the best examples.

     
ABBEY LEE  (2009)                                                                       AXL  (1990)    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

I'm almost convinced the stylist had this magazine cover saved somewhere.

Anyhow, Abbey could easily be the new Erin Everly. Axl is on the market and as long as she doesn't mind supporting him as he takes 15 years to complete another album and doesn't hurt his feelings by telling him that having braided extensions while wearing football jerseys is probably the worst fashion offence of all-worse than socks with sandals and even *shudder* wearing Crocs (in public or private, it's just wrong). She might even get a song written for her and be immortalized  in a Guns N' Roses music video. (For those not in the know, Sweet Child O' Mine was written by Axl for Erin and she appeared in the song's video.Axl apparently likes to put his girlfriends in his videos.See: Stephanie Seymour and the epic 'November Rain').

                                                                     

ph 1: via fuckyeahcutehair on tumblr. ph2: google images

T-Shirt Philosophy

T-shirts like bumper stickers offer their own  timeless yet succint wisdom. You just need to dig deep...really, really, really, really, really, really deep sometimes. Like this t-shirt for example.

The message might not be obvious at first (if at all) but once you meditate, ponder and perhaps consult several spiritual leaders such as your community's Rabbi, local shaman and yoga teacher, you'll realize the true message:

Lions are just (really) big cats. 

Or  perhaps

We should face our fears because they are never as frightening as they may seem.

Hmmm.... maybe we'll just stick with 'lions are just (really) big cats'.

ph1:www.ayearoftees.com, ph2: 60s flickr group

The Artist and the Aesthetic

The Artist and the Aesthetic

Terrence Koh on the streets and Terrence Koh (for Converse) on your feet.

 

I find it interesting to see how the personal style of an artist or designer is reflected in their work. The all-white aesthetic of Mr.Koh, pictured here in a streetstyle shot by Hanneli Mustaparta, is mirrored in his Converse collaboration.

ph1: www.hanneli.com, ph2: via www.knotoryus.com

The Shape of Things to Come

Shoe trends usually focus on the style, type and the height. Other factors we are swayed by season to season, include such things as the shape of the toe. Remember when pointy toed shoes were in, then square, then round and it looks as if pointy may be trying to make a comeback. I sincerely hope it has as much success as David Hasselhoff's attempts to return to the music charts.
We've toyed with the amount of straps (S&M bondage inspired straps and buckles remains the current rage) and even the heel (Marc Jacobs' reverse heel anyone or how about those ultra-curved Christian Sirianos?) But I've noticed a new area of interest....at least new to me. It's not exactly caught on like wildfire, perhaps because it's a more subtle detail. Or perhaps because it could potentially prove to be a tad uncomfortable. (Actually considering the 6 plus inch heels we're generally expected to totter around in while silently praying there is never an occasion where we need to run for our lives, I'll just dismiss comfort as an issue). The shape is a curve which begins at the top of the shoe.

 Exhibit A:  Red deliciousness by the late great Alexander McQueen

Exhibit B: Mechante of London's Beatrix which takes the curve to even greater heights

Exhibit C: The Redbywolves Amber boot comes with the option of folding the top down

Exhibit D: Carol Christian Poell boots for those recovering from sprained ankles courtesy of the aforementioned 6 inchers, a flat option

Exhibit E: For those planning to single-handedly revive disco inferno,Funtasma by Pleaser's Dame in gold should do the trick

 Exhibit F: And finally, Melissa serves up eco-friendly options for the vegans and eco-trenders among us. Bon appetit.

ph1: www.net-a-porter.com, ph2: www.mechanteoflondon.com, ph3: www.notjustalabel.com, ph4:www.stylezeitgeist.com, ph5: www.ebay.com, ph6 and7: www.fashion-conscience.com

Rogue Rouge

Red.

Several studies have indicated that red carries the strongest reaction of all the colours.

• Both the Greeks and the Hebrews considered red a symbol of love, as well as sacrifice.

• In China red carries a largely positive connotation, being associated with courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune, fertility, happiness, passion, and summer.

• In Japan, red is a traditional colour for a heroic figure.

• In the Indian sub-continent, red is the traditional colour of bridal dresses. It is also the colour of wealth, beauty, and the goddess Lakshmi.

• In Central Africa, Ndembu warriors rub themselves with red during celebrations. Since their culture sees the colour as a symbol of life and health, sick people are also painted with it.

ph1: www.conniechiu.com ph2 and 3: google images. All information via wikipedia.org

QUESTION?

Do we ask ourselves enough questions? I guess that might seem like a silly....(er...warning unavoidable and terrible word usage ahead) question but when it comes to learning new things, asking is probably the easiest way to gain knowledge. (That might help to explain why toddlers go through the 'but why?' phase that many a parent and babysitter across the globe has had to suffer through. You can always tell a former babysitter because they have the telltale sign of a spontaneous eye and/or bodily twitch  whenever you begin a sentence with 'BUT WHY?' Perhaps one day someone will start a support group. Oh, don't look at me. I don't have any kids and I rarely babysit so I'm safe ;) Yes I have younger siblings but I managed to get away with not babysitting. How you may ask? Don't worry, I'm compiling a guidebook as we speak.  Be forewarned however that my tactics require more stealth than those listed in the Art of Ninja guidebook.

But back to the topic at hand. My QUESTION? sections will be something I encourage you to ponder, in order to learn more about....yourself. We rarely question our views on anything unless they are challenged. Sometimes we need to present ourselves with the challenge. But the Q&A need not end there, always question others. After all life is about learning and knowledge is infinite.

#1: QUESTION your views on art. Who is your favourite artist? Who is your least favourite? Why are you drawn (oh a sneak attack with a bad pun) to one as opposed to the other?

                       

ph1: 60s flickr group ph2: Jeffrey Campbell shoes via www.modcloth.com ph3: www.georgelois.com