Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Alexander Wang - Menswear Ready-To-Wear Launch.

Alexander Wang is very much the designer of the moment. Only a month ago he opened his first ever flagship in Soho in New York. He is currently busy designing two labels, and now already  with numerous awards and accolades under his belt, the designer has recently been nominated for a category which until three years ago was alien to him - menswear. In fact his T by Alexander Wang menswear label proved to be so successful that the designer has decided to introduce a men's ready-to-wear collection and I for one am dying to check it out. I wouldn't have posted unless of course there was a photo giving us a sneak peak into his collection, it has just been released (see below; I want it all).

He said last week that it was mainly his surprise at the interest in his men's pieces as well as picking up the GQ award for best new menswear designer that has urged him to expand and create a ready-to-wear collection. His collection is based on "utilitarian references" something that he says he "always felt a close attraction to" . His suit pants are in fact leather or nylon tracksuit bottoms, his overcoats and varsity jackets have leather sleeves, the wool felt jackets and gabardines have silk tuxedo collars and there are some knee length leather shorts (of which I need a pair in my life, any offers?). Accessories are not on the menu yet however the designer has promised that there will be accessories in his second collection which will follow in Spring 2012.


Prices for his collection will start at £220 and you may expect to pay about £700 for some outerwear (which as you can see below is kinda a little bit massive). The first collection which he said is small enough to be described as "capsule" will be available in London from Dover Street Market and internationally at Barneys, Colette and Joyce as well in Wangs' flagship store. 


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang




Faboosh



Monday, March 28, 2011

James Franco: An Evergreen Media Fascination

James Franco

Every once in a while Hollywood delivers an actor that is fascinating in more ways than one and although everybody has their opinion, for me, there is none more fascinating than James Franco. The Oscars 2011 host and nominee (for his role as mountain climber Aron Ralston, who in April 2003, became trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah for more than five days before amputating his arm with a dull knife) is not only one of the next generation great actors but he is talented in more ways than one. The actor recently showed that he intends to rival the art installations of big names such as Terence Koh, Dan Colen and Bruce LaBruce, when he opened his first European solo exhibition at the Peres Projects Gallery in Berlin. Although Franco is a household name, fame was not the focus of his "The Dangerous Book Four Boys", he sprinkled grace note allusions to his star power throughout the witty multimedia exhibition. But the theme of play that links his clutter-art installations is a fun sort of play, not necessarily the acting sort - it animates his melted toy houses and video installations of Captain Kirk and Doctor Spock and in the process explores their sexual tension (making this just the sort of video that makes is-he or isnt-he speculation such an evergreen media fascination). I for one lay in hope that Franco, a true artist, is a member of the team! (",)


Ahhh here now!



From his portrayal of James Dean (above; for which he won a golden globe) back in 2002, Franco and his insanely  handsome yet rugged looks have continued to thrill the art world, and if asked that is precisely what he would class himself as, an artist. At the exhibition in Berlin, Franco explained that art is the forum that enables him to connect widely disparate and often controversial endeavors in acting, literature and academia. "All these worlds influence each other and translate into art," he explained. Artists are expected to work in different mediums and explore different disciplines. They are permitted to experiment. Outside the art world, even in established creative fields, there are still perceived divisions between high/low culture and different areas of intellectual inquiry. But art is freer and more forgiving".


Now forgive me if I'm wrong, but is this not the type of stuff that makes you fall in love with him. An actor, director, artist, model and (as a friend informed me yesterday) an avid tweeter (which if things keep going the way they are, will be a verb before long, I tweet, you tweet, he tweets, she tweets - just like google), is there anything Mr Franco can't do? Judging by his inherent intellectual nature and love of all things art orientated, one thing is certain we will be hearing a lot more from James Franco in the not too distant future. If we can urge him to wear more Tom Ford suits, I guess that will just be a bonus.


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Parisienne Rules

Why Paris Will Always Come Out On Top


In a time when so many of the major fashion houses are afraid to push boundaries due to the current and ongoing economic state, Louis Vuittons' latest offering was a breath of fresh air in a smoke filled room. Literally (Kate Moss walked the runway, smoke in hand, wearing a black brocade lace bodice with fur sleeves and wire strap knee boots yet managed to look amazing doing it). Marc Jacobs is a man with pulling power in the fashion industry and he proved it when Naomi Campbell, Carolyn Murphy and modern muse Jessica Stam all joined Moss on the runway.

It is so easy to design to the conformaties of a fashion house by following the inherent characteristics of the brand and its clothes but the task lies therein; making every collection appear unique from the next whilst still maintaining the brands commerciality and luxury appeal. Jacobs has perfected this at Vuitton and it didn't stop with the clothes. The set and the models all added to a beautiful show. The high gloss black star floor, the working lifts operated by real porters and the ornate gold detail spotted along the runway all played a part in making the show a huge success and the talk of Paris fashion week.

The clothes themselves consisted of a provocative fetish-esque fashion statement; tights to the thigh, luxe pencil skirts, oversize high gloss plastic and leather belts, structured jackets, button back blouses and fine fur in abundance. There was no sitting on the fence for Jacobs, it was a clear and progressive move to sex things up. That was plain for all to see as soon as Aymeline Valade opened the show in a sheer pencil skirt, thigh-highs in light dernier, a cordovan belt and a collared top. The "high class escort"  look that Jacobs set out to achieve was complete when he added a high gloss hat and matching chin strap. The extremeties of the fetish fascination resurged when sheer macs and rubber dominatrix boots marched the runway.

All n' all another great outing for Vuitton under the watchful eye of man of the moment Marc Jacobs (who just seems to be getting better looking after every collection)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang xx