The Weird and Wonderful Files

A Palette of Paillettes (aka Spangles, Sparkles, and Sequins)

 

 

 

  

Feathered Head

Juxtaposing Junnya Watanabe's head gear with McQueen's 2008 collection.

Amor Armor

(Rag and bone Fall 2012)

Fall 2012 is in love with Armor! This idea has been something that I've always found intriguing. I love layering heavy coats and jackets, dresses over turtlenecks and sweaters over dresses. Most of the time I feel naked without at least a vest, jacket, coat or sweater layer even in the summer. It seems though that the need for the every day woman to dress in a sincerely protective manor is, in this day in age, completely obsolete. However, I think as a modified aesthetic, the idea of armor in fashion speaks to the needs of a women's desire to communicate the "psychological" need to protect. When women layer up at work place, it implies a message to her co-workers, "take me seriously! I ain't messin' around!"

I see the trend in various forms and contexts. Jewelry and accessories seem to be taking on this feel as well. Bags are more structured and protective of the contents carried inside. Shoes seem to mirror the sentiment. Oxford lace-ups, over the knee musketeer boots, and exaggerated heel forms. The materials too are more durable and unyielding like chagrin. Which is a very tough leather made from the hides of stingrays. I am seeing this in prints, on shoes, and handbags.

Over all, be it literal our figurative I'm seeing it every where. But can we bring the attitude too, ladies??

 

In Horrifing Fashion

I stumbled upon these arresting images haphazardly one day. They were so strange and so against the usual fashion grain. At first, I wasn't even sure this WAS fashion because the horror element in these was so strong. I did some digging around and I think they were take by the photographer Alexei Hays, but I can't be sure. But take a look at them next to this still frame from the movie "The Birds" can you tell the difference??

 

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T H E              B I R D S 

The Dissection of a Collection

Willow Fall 2012. Stunning.

(www.style.com)

The Fantastic Three ASFOUR!

I had to talk about this outstanding Autumn/Winter 2012 ThreeASFOUR collection. The gorgeous laser cut leather masks are amazing. The girls seem to be all at once a little superhero, a little Deep Space Nine, and a little Greco-Roman Goddess. Yummy architectural hooded coats, and EVEN some modernized Princess Leia buns. The jumping off point here seems to be crop circles but then you notice the Greek key pattern on the black coat which brings to mind those Ancient alien theories and the conspiracies of 2012 being the end of the world?

At any rate it's lovely to see this cut out leather technique put to use not just to adorn shoes, belts and accessories but as the focal point of a collection. The Stunning clothes are used to their full effect in these gorgeous backstage photos. (dossierjournal.com)