Savage Beauty: Alexander McQueen at the Met

Exciting news! The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will be exhibiting the work of Alexander McQueen from May 4 to July 31. It will be called "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty." There will be over 100 pieces, ranging from his 1994 Nihilism collection to his posthumous Angels & Demons.

Autumn/Winter 2010

What I think is great is this is not just a homage to a great designer; it is recognition that he was, above all things, an artist, and deserves to be celebrated as such.

LFW: David Koma's Circular Logic

I am inexpressibly (is that a word?) in love with this show by 25-year-old Georgian, David Koma.

His designs play bright, fluffy bits of color (just a perfect amount, in my opinion) against hard-edged body-con pieces.           

As  Fashion156 puts its, there is an angelic dominatrix vibe coming off the show. The faces on the pieces are  photography done by the designer’s friend, Oleg Dou, and are actually Russian nuns. The mass of circles are inspired by the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, but there is nothing kitschy in his restatement of that artist.

I also like this show because it provides a counter-statement to the flowy romanticism of the seventies that is popping up everywhere in shows.

Hong Kong Fashion Week, Part 2

More from Hong Kong Fashion Week, as promised! These two designers are from Japan and Korea.

Unlike the Chinese designers I talked about before, Keita Maruyama (Japan) trended more toward the traditional "Asian" side, with cherry blossoms, sun parasols, sweet flirtatiousness, and shoes that were geta-inspired. I really like his touch of the flowers pinned in the hair, it slightly reminds me of Juicy Couture (sold here, but I'm sure a DIY would be easy).

Future Beauty: Japanese Design and Rei Kawakubo

Ending just last week, the Barbican Art Gallery in London put on a revolutionary exhibit titled Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion. Curated by Akiko Fukai, Director of the Kyoto Costume Institute, the exhibition was the first in Europe to dive into the world of avant-garde Japanese design from the 80's to today. With curious sensibility of and fascination with color, folding, lines, and dimension, Japanese design has influenced modern fashion in ways many people don't realize - top designer Rei Kawakubo (of Comme des Garçons) is said to have been a big influence on Alexander McQueen. From the start of their careers 30 years ago, Rei and her peers began redesigning what fashion and modern style is, looks like, and feels like.

© Lyndon Douglas

© Lyndon Douglas

Visions of China: Hong Kong Fashion Week vs Ralph Lauren

Hong Kong Fashion Week(end) was January 17 - 20. At the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza, Alex Wang (no, not Alexander Wang) and Barney Cheng strutted their skills with gorgeous craftsmanship and very modern visions. 

But that wasn't the only Far Eastern event in the fashion world. Interestingly enough, many designers were working Chinese elements into their designs this week in New York, especially at Ralph Lauren.

NYFW: Diane Von Furstenburg's Panache

Remember how I was complaining about a lack of allure in Sommerton's supposedly modern woman? Well, Diane von Furstenburg seems to have heard my plea.

Sign at DVF show / Image via Glamour.com

Isn't that sign adorable? In her collection, titled "American Legend," she sought to channel fearlessly iconic women, such as Millicent Rogers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Diana Vreeland.

NYFW: Alexander Wang's "Lost Beautifulness"

Alexander Wang / Image via The Vine

I'm always drawn to those shows that seem to have a real, thought out theme behind them. Like photographers who can tell you why they took a certain shot, designers with shows like these are able to bring you into the fold of their imagination, and can make mere cloth become a meaningful creation before your eyes.

Miami International Fashion Week!

Last year, we attended Miami International Fashion Week (namely because we live here and couldn't afford to go to New York ;)). We're looking forward to attending this year, too, and we wanted to get the word out to anyone living in the area (and/or wants to have a double-duty vacation in March).

Buy tickets here

Designers we'll be seeing this year:

We Made It to MFLL's I ♥ Links!

We're happy to announce that we made it onto My Fashion Lust List's "I ♥ Links" weekly round up :) Please check out MFLL's amazing blog (click on the picture) and read the full post to see all the wonderful posts she picked for this week.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just a quick post to say happy annual "love" day! Don't worry if you don't have a valentine... take it as an excuse to give yourself some TLC :) Here are some cute things you can do for yourself and/or with your valentine of choice.

Julia von Boehm, s'il vous plaît

After reading an article about fashion stylist Julia von Boehm (see it here), I was intrigued by the way she described her beauty philosophy.

von Boehm

Vogue Italia: Summerton's Dud Spread

We've always believed that fashion is an art form, not just a commodity. However, like in every other art form, there are going to be things you disagree with.

Perhaps because I'm currently studying gender representations in the media, this Vogue Italia spread by Emma Summerton, titled "The Blackallure," rubbed me the wrong way.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Did you know that today is Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year)? Each year in the Lunar Calendar is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac; all the animals have different characteristics. This year is...

We're Loving: The Sartorialist

Backstage vs. Front Row

Check out these amazing photos from V Magazine's backstage photographer, Schohaja. I never really thought about finding backstage pictures of the runway, but these are awesome! I feel so much more connected to the artistry of it all, probably because you get a much better view of the details, but also because Schohaja has a very mysterious, ethereal style that draws you in. It adds a complete other level of appreciation of fashion as art. 

Armani Prive

A Classier Rebel Yell

Mario Testino shot Freja Beha Erichsen, Sasha Pivovarova, Carmen Kass and Anna Selezneva in an editorial for one of my favorite magazines -V Magazine. Titled "Uptown & Down," Carmen and Sasha play the role of uptown ladies (with a salacious twist), while Freja and Anna are cast as the effervescent spirits of downtown. Testino captures that yearning that's settling into many of us in this increasingly complicated world: a psuedo-punk desire to break with tradition, change the rules, and put our own playful spin on the world.

“Sunshine State of Mind”

So last night I was looking through some February issues and I stumbled upon an ELLE photo shoot called “Parks and Recreation.” This particular shoot concentrated on only New York Spring Collections. Pointing out how much color and flower pattern many designers chose to incorporate into their collections this season. I have to confess, I'm not a huge fan of color but these images took my breath away. Carter Smith did a spectacular job! Starting with the hair and make up, the ensembles, the accessories and shoes: everything was perfectly put together to create a new sense of freedom that comes with spring and summer. The shoot took place at the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden in New York: a perfect place to create stunning images. The stylist, Mario Grauso, chose body-loving luxurious dresses and some adventurous and wild accessories to finish each outfit.

Image via ELLE.com

When in Beijing, Do As the Romans Do

In an unprecedented international art exchange, the governments of China and Italy (Beijing and Rome, respectively) have each announced long-term, loaned installments of the other country's art. Beijing will host Italian art, and Rome will showcase Chinese pieces.

In Rome, at the Palazzo di Venezia, the Chinese government has installed a "state museum of Chinese culture." The new museum has already begun its first exhibit, titled "The Two Empires: the Eagle and the Dragon." It contrasts the histories of the Roman empire with the Chinese Qin and Han Dynasties. The exhibit is part of the Year of China in Italy, where Italy is raising cultural awareness of the country they have enjoyed 40 years of diplomatic ties with.

Image via Heritage Key

Sheer Elegance: Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

This Spring has heralded something new in the world of fashion: not only a vast array of exciting, inspiring couture shows, but also the first Valentino show I have honestly been blown away by since the Emperor himself stepped down.

Exploring the limits of "ladylike" couture, this season's show flirted between clean, almost sharp prettiness and hypnotic, Rococo-esque eroticism. Although some of the first pieces were uniformly seventies inspired, the show gradually became more whimsical, the fabrics dissolving into gossamer wisps of frothy starlight. For me, these last pieces conjured up something like a Fragonard painting, starring Twiggy in a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Image via Google

Image via Istituto Italiano di Cultura

Chanel Beauty

Image via Style.com

Image via Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris

After watching Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring 2011 Couture Collection, I was surprised to find out that this season’s inspiration for him was Marie Laurencin’s portrait of Gabrielle Chanel, a painting that Coco was not exactly fond of. The portrait managed to inspire Karl and he masterfully got the best from this seemingly melancholy and rather poignant portrait and created one of the most romantic and convivial couture collections I have ever seen...

Design Daze: Lonny Magazine, January/February 2011

Lonny Magazine is an online art, fashion, and design cornucopia, with spread after spread highlighting different designers' projects, personal homes, and "personal favorites" lists (a really cute touch). Plus, all 100+ pages are totally free to view! It's like getting into your favorite art museum for free.

Of course, if you want the print version, it's $35 per issue... But getting inspiration via the online issue is just fine with us :)

This issue puts a lot of focus on the latest fashion and design trend: pops of rich and/or funky colors. When balanced with luxe textures and elegant, eccentric pieces, today's design trends have never been more drool-worthy.

Jil Sanders' new show (bottom right) epitomizes the optimistic note that fashion is hitting today

Our Picks From Golden Globes 2011

Leighton Meester:

Image via ELLE.com

Hidden Treasures: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

For every bustling city, there are little treasures that history has kept hidden away. One of the treasures in our city is Vizcaya, the grand estate built by James Deering in the early 1900’s. In order to impress his fellow businessmen and socialites, Deering used the money from his farm machinery empire to collect artifacts from all over the world. Now a museum, his home contains Asian, Italian (Renaissance), Greek, Roman, French and even Egyptian inspired pieces. It’s like walking through a famous explorer’s home! (Or the set for Pirates of the Caribbean.)

The crowning glory of the home is a stone ship with Greek and Roman style sculpture, floating beyond striped markers that look like they were plucked from a Venetian canal.

It’s great how the sculptures seem to be looking out to sea… When this was built, there was no skyline, but now the whole scene serves as a beautiful blend of history and the future.

Safely tucked away from the hum of cars, the gardens have such a romantic, left-behind-by-time feel. They make an awesome place to take wedding and quinceañera pictures.

Of course, there has to be a tropical touch. The estate is built out of natural limestone, giving it that high-class pirate, Mediterranean vibe.

And last but not least… the fashion world approves!

Happy treasure hunting :)

(All images are ours)

Recycling, The Chic Way

Every lover of fashion has a collection of magazines (Vogue, Elle, etc) that, though lovely to look back through, usually end up collecting dust on the shelf. What better way to enjoy old editorials and ads than recycle them into new pieces of art? It's also good practice for those aspiring fashion editors and advertisers ;)

Materials needed:

Fashion magazines or print outs

Scissors

Paintbrush

Decoupage or glue (ModPodge, etc.)

Something to arrange everything on (we used a spiral-bound notebook's cover)

1) Put on some inspirational music

2) Cut out your favorite pieces, perhaps with some kind of theme in mind (these are all from Vogue)

3) Have a drink (or just some Rockstar in a martini glass) to keep the creativity flowing

4) Arrange, and glue! 

 

We call this one "Wonderland Exquisite"

Happy creating :)

(All images are ours)

Meet the authors :)

Ciao! Hola! Dia Duit! Bonjour! Ni hao! привет!

We're the authors of International Fashion: Brianne and Anastasia. Nice to meet you!

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Brianne:

Image via Vogue Latin America

Favorite Designer(s): Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana, Valentino, L'Wren Scott
Favorite Piece of Art: Nike of Samothrace
Favorite Music: Edith Piaf "La Vie En Rose"
Fashion Icon: Lara Stone
Fashion Personality: The Urban Starlet
Background: Ireland
Inspired By: India, Asia, and Italy
Occupation: Ghostwriter and Undergraduate English Student

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Anastasia:

Image via ELLE Russia

Favorite Designer(s): Garavani Valentino
Favorite Piece of Art: Jean-Honore Fragonard “The Meeting”
Favorite Musical Composition: Tchaikovsky “The Swan Lake”
Fashion Icon: Nastassja Kinski
Fashion Personality: The Classicist Bombshell
Born in and Inspired By: Russia
Occupation: Undergraduate Business Student

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We started this blog to share our interests in art and fashion. We have champagne tastes on beer budgets, and we're not afraid of figuring out ways around that! Follow us as we explore our city, our cultures, and the art that can be found anywhere.

We have a lot of favorites - but the one favorite we can agree on?

Priceless (and stylish) experiences, without a designer price-tag.