// Fade to #C5C5C5

Kool Kids’ Trick

NYFW has been nearly a week and close to its ending. Accessories wise the first I noticed ever was of course Alexander Wang’s ‘Gang’ (that’s what he calls his girls this season). The super pointy pump looks very striking and crying out to fetch everyone’s attention. After having a decade of semi round toes and semi pointy toes, I was not sure at the beginning how to accept it, also because they also look quite painful!

But soon later, I started to notice that there’s a whole group of designers joining the trend of nineties-ish pointy shoes! And believe or not, if you’re a kool kid in NYFW showbiz, then your models would be rocking a pair of pointy shoes.

Altuzarra’s pointy shoes are less motorcycle themed as Wang’s and a bit more of a power lady look.

Daryl K’s pointy shoe boots are more rock n roll

Duro Olowu’s metallic pointy pumps are very pretty lady tasteful!

Thakoon and Peter Som’s collections are also included with semi pointy shoes. Now I realized most of the kool kids from NYFW are definitely at top of the new trend waves…yes bring back a bit of 90s and bring back some sharpness from those olden days!

Tags: Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Daryl K, Duro Olowu, NYFW, Peter Som, Thakoon

Favourite Resort 2012 – Alexander Wang

I’m really worrying about my wallet at the second when I saw the first image of Resort show by my favourite designer Alexander Wang. The collection got a very refreshing colour pallete – sporty, a bit vintage mood (referring to the vintage 70s sportsmen photograph Wang has been referencing from) and some futuristic technology, and of course the very important element of Wang-esque – the ‘street feel’ – sporting swim suit together with day wear is a new trend peeking out of New York street scene!

And here’re the evidence.

Wang has also announced to schedule of opening his second store, in Beijing!! I guess there’s also a possibility due to the image and quality control. Because since his name is widely spread in China, it’s very difficult for any Chinese followers to purchase his designs. Hence why there’re so many purchase agencies Chinese on-line operating purchases from individual buyers and of course there’re many fakes floating around in China and HongKong areas. Therefore,  I think that’s a very strong clever move. Instead of planting his second store in any of european cities, he is going to put his foot firmly to the root.

Tags: Alexander Wang

Details of Alexander Wang AW2011

Luxury is when you look into something, it just becomes more and more and more interesting because there’re so many micro details. And that’s exactly what Alexander Wang is pushing his brand into for AW2011. Mixture of different materials are key…

… …needle punch is a new word I heard for this collection. It is interesting to see how it works in close-ups…

Wang has linked up with jewellry designer Betony Vernon on 2 sterling silver art pieces. For full detail you may view here.

side-open chunky knits and double-sleeves jacket are looking very layered and clever…purple shimmer cigarette trousers adds some perfect high-light to the look, so it’s not too black and dull… …

….love the bronze on black…

feminine sheered shirty blouse toughened up with leather-waistband-zip-decorated military evening trousers…

… …full on sheerness added with a tiny sparkles on cute collars…

….really love the skinny strappy sandals teaming with long cigarette pants, brings back some mid-90s vibe…

…I could see all panels are bagged out, double layered….craft!

Tags: Alexander Wang

A Few Favourite Outfits with Liu Wen

Liu Wen for Proenza Schouler

Liu Wen for Anna Sui

Liu Wen for Dolce & Gabbana

Liu Wen for Roberto Cavalli

Liu Wen for Rodarte

Liu Wen for Alexnader Wang

Tags: Alexander Wang, Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, Liu Wen, proenza schouler, Roberto Cavalli, Rodarte

‘Talking to Himself’ — Yohji Yamamoto

Always admir Yohji Yamamoto since a very long time ago. First impression of him and his work was black…and his quietness. You could feel the frustration and anger within his work and that’s why most of time he chose to be silence, and simply, let his work to speak for him.

And the perfect way of expressing himself, apart from his music (Yamamoto is also a published musican) would be a book. It was 2002-3 when an editor friend in Shanghai asked me the favour to get her this book—-’Talking to Myself’ and it gave me the first opportunity of owning something Yohji Yamamoto, a piece of his mind too.

It was probably the most expensive book I have ever purchased. With a £99 price tag (£200 for the signed collectible version) the book itself is indeed a piece of art too. It has won the silver prize of Leipzig Book Fair. Each book was hand written with its own code while distributing.

Navy and black are Yamamoto’s favourite colours, unique. He explains, away from the colour distraction, it is much easier to focus on the construction. And this type of black, which is laid over navy, has more shades and secrets than a simple black.  His AW2010 collection shown here, played his best known colour combination the finest level.

At Barbican Art Centre’s recent Future Beauty exhibition, Yamamoto’s designs were taken the majority of attention. There’s something poetic about his work, same as this book.

The book combines 2 parts which contains his work, sketch, thoughts, quote…

The quote Mr.Yamamoto said in a video interview shown at Barbican Art Centre has somehow awaken me — ‘fashion is to design time’.

Tags: Yohji Yamamoto

SS11 Detail: Lanvin

This post is going to be a ooooozing long one followed by the hearted passionate Lanvin for H&M collection on post below. Zooming in all the details of Lanvin SS11 show, I still couldn’t stop oooozing in front monitor after these weeks, so imagine the ‘oooozing’ noise during the live show from people sitting there??

Tags: lanvin, Liu Wen

SS11 Detail: Kenzo’s 1001 Flowers

Many years ago when I was little I once read an article that said that Mr.Kenzo could redesign, remake and present flowers in print in at least 1001 different ways. I thought that was a very precise number and that’s how I’ve always remembered Mr. Kenzo, as someone who does floral prints well. The article was limited to six pages, and only displayed a few of his floral prints. I was anxious and desperate to see the other 987 ways he would draw flowers. The spring/summer 2011 collection from Kenzo has a lot of floral prints and other floral details. I haven’t counted, but maybe the article was right – Mr. Kenzo can certainly do his flowers in 1001 ways.

Tags: Kenzo

SS11 Detail: Underwear as outerwear

Fashion magazines, trend agencies and trend setters have been predicting that underwear as outerwear would become a major trend for I-don’t-remember-how-long. Now it seems like it’s finally happening, the hype is finally becoming true. A good example of this is Kenzo’s spring/summer 2011 presentation.

…another good example is the Proenza Schouler boys, who have just pushed this trend to the extreme.

Celebrities who have been rocking this trend include Chloe Sevigny and Zoe Saldana. These two have been channeling this trend since last season. I have no doubt believing that there will be a “trickle down” effect very soon and that the high street will pick up and transform this trend and give it a broader mainstream appeal very soon. Perhaps they will make it more acceptable for people by making garments where you don’t show the bra directly, like in first picture from Kenzo, but instead use sheer layers that just reveal a little bit – leaving a little bit of imagination to the viewers.

Tags: Chloe Sevigny, Kenzo, proenza schouler, Zoe Saldana

SS11 Detail: ‘Long Live McQueen’ again

So the man is gone himself, but the show must carry on. And this huge responsibility has landed on Sarah Burton’s shoulder, who has been Lee Alexander McQueen’s right hand for more than 15 years. After a great presentation of Resort11 a few months ago, people were guessing whether it is the right timing of her to be ready for a solo show for Paris Fashion Week season. Without a single doubt from the main critics, Sarah has once again delivered a spectacular show, and not just a presentation, but an actual catwalk show.

Sarah has added that female hand-writing to McQueen and this message has clearly marked out as the show background stage by striping off all the dramatic backdrop and just with simple wooden flooring and grass hinting the show’s main spirit – the mother earth. I totally embraced the idea, however, I couldn’t help but wonder, whether the mad dark magic is going to fade from McQueen?

I mean, Lee McQueen has laid the ground carefully in the past many years. The magic of his tailoring skills is just simply spectacular. And the richness what he has left could have driven this fashion house going on for a few more years without a single doubt. Below 2 images are obviously the same pattern, left is created by Sarah Burton and right was from Lee’s unique last show ‘Plato’s Atalantis’. Same pattern, same dress, just different material…do you think what I’m thinking?? — isn’t the left one becoming softer?

This was my main worrying when I watched Sarah’s first show for fashion house Alexander McQueen. The brand is famous with its powerful style representing the sadness and the anger. McQueen himself once said, ‘I found anger is very inspiring.’

I somehow can’t really feel that ‘anger’ inspiration any more from this show. The show its own is truly amazing to every single detail… as you can see the weaved hair detail…

…the applique detail and embroidery…

…the beading detail for the ‘Harvest Dress’… looks like just being weaved out of a gold corn…

…for a while, I lost myself and wonder whose show I am looking at… then I call this ‘moth dress’ came out…and suddenly all those darkness of true McQueen has came back again…

There’re still a right amount of darkness power presenting in the show. I am really glad that Sarah, an elegant female taking the leadership of this fashion house and I am grateful that she has brought the hope and sunlight to this brand.

As much as I am still mourning and appreciated for the entire history of Lee McQueen, I think it would be now a time to light up the torch and let’s search the end of tunnel, the hope will be soon at a near front.

all images are sourced from stylesight.com and edited by @QueenYoung.

Tags: Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton

SS11 Detail: Balmain

Ladies…boys…we’ve got some jobs to do. If you can’t afford the 4 digit figure of Balmain real deal, then it’s time to bring out some of your inner-hidden-creativity. The collection overall might not be any new concept, but, it will definitely sell sell sell! Just by checking up all these close-up details. Simple shapes + overly-done-embellishment = WOWZERs!

Anyone could tell it’s from last SS10 shape and idea – still in the liger pattern, only the silver studs are changed to safety pins.

actually coloured leather, not bleached denim…

…love the zip-off detail on multiple belts…

might need to do some burns and torns…

all images are sourced from stylesight.com and edited by @QueenYoung.

Tags: Balmain