Genuine Beauty
The Olsen sisters got talent – beautiful pieces! / The Row – Pre-Fall 2016 / images via vogue.com
Layering Skirts
Nendo ‘skirt shoe’
Balenciaga see-through layered skirt
Budapest – A Different Point of View
Hungarian photographer Zsolt Hlinka captures stunning architectural details in his photo series dedicated to 100 years old houses in the historical area of Budapest. Altering spatial perspective, the photographer creates exquisite and extremly modern looks, considering the real age of the buildings showcased. I guess modernity is in the eye of the beholder – reality is defined through the lens of the artist.
Photo: Zsolt Hlinka / images via designboom.com
Vogue x Saudi Arabia
Vogue Italia teamed up with Rubaiyat, the faimous Saudi luxury fashion retailer, to support the young talents of Saudia Arabia fashion scene. The result was a great event held during 3 days (20th-22nd of April) in various locations of city of Jeddah – Boulevard, Rubaiyat Department Store, Park Hayatt hotel.
10 Saudi young fashion designers – the finalists of the Vogue contest, had the opportunity to showcase their creations in front of the Vogue team and to meet iconic figures such as Franca Sozzani, Alberta Ferretti, Silvia Venturini Fendi.
Finally there was not one, but four designers, selected by Vogue Italia as result of Saudi Talent Scouting. They will be further promoted by Vogue Italia, who provides them with a valuable support at the beginning of their career. Nora Aldamer of Chador, Mariam Bin Mahfouz and Nouf Hakeem of Haal Inc. will have the opportunity to participate at Milano Moda Donna, while Alaa Balkhy (Fyunka) will start a collaboration with Carpisa.
For me, as I attended for the first time a fashion event in Jeddah, it was a good opportunity to get a real picture of the Saudi fashion design scene and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. There were plenty of passionate youngsters, fresh graduates that showed maturity and professionalism in their creative approach. Therefore Vogue Experience Jeddah will go on.
Selection of young Saudi fashion designers work, as displayed at Rubaiyat Department Store during the Vogue event, Saudi Talent Scouting in Jeddah.
The Cloud Gate Becomes the Void Gate
Anish Kapoor – Cloud Gate / before & after
The “Cloud Gate”, Anish Kapoor’s iconic public sculpture placed in Millennium Park of Chicago, recently encountered an unexpected creative twist. Issued by artist himself, the change could be regarded as extreme, controversial, trendy or deeply conceptual.
Kapoor covered the mirror-like surface with something that seems to be exactly the opposite – a deep black material called Vantablack. Vantablack, labeled as ‘the blackest black ever’, because it absorbs up to 99.96 percent of light (radiation in the visible spectrum), was initially developed by British company Surrey NanoSystems for military purposes and astronomy equipment. Anish Kapoor who gained exclusive rights in using this material for artistic purposes, says that he plans to explore it further and review many of his famous art pieces within the next years.
The project itself is challenging not just through the way contemporary art meets high-technology, but also in the way it blends with the work of an artist like Anish Kapoor. While the idea of an artist adhering to a specific ‘color’ and making it ‘his own’ created a buzz around the art community, I guess this is not the main attraction here. However, it has happened before (see the Yves Klein blue – IKB).
The project of reformulating referential art works, so well ingrained both in artist’s track record and in public consciousness, this is really challenging. I love the perspective of iconic art pieces seen as work in progress, projects that can be periodically revised, evolving in new unexpected ways. I love the idea that something like the Cloud Gate might not remain forever a mirror of the clouds, and one fine day might become “a void of nothingness”.
Creepyyeha
Definitely, launching and promoting your own fashion label became way easier these days. Yet with all the benefits provided, social media cannot do the job alone. The originality, creativity and desirability of the final product are also required for a successful business.
Creepyyeha is a good exemple. Brainchild of New York based designer Lisa Leung, Creepyyeaha offers an alternative approach to lingerie. Promoting the tempting game of underwear versus outerwear, hard pieces versus soft touch, Creepyyeah successfully mixes pop references in a new look of harajuku-style-lolita playing femme fatale. Using casual and charming presentation (most of the pieces are modeled by designer herself), adorable, eclectic and unique, Creepyyeaha rapidly gained attention both online and offline.
All the lingerie items are custom handmade, and can be ordered simply by contacting the designer.
A Very Particular Approach
Perfectly designed and featuring a particular approach to the fashion clientele, Jun Takahashi’s latest Undercover collection might be regarded as the most pleasant surprise of the Fall 2016 season. The sophisticated shapes and fabrics, color palette, wonderful prints inspired by the works of Matthieu Bourel, the gracious styling, the unconventional casting, everything comes together in a coherent and topical fashion statement. I felt it like a breath of fresh air.
Images source: vogue.com
