// Fade to #C5C5C5 » Tom Ford

This Other Night

Qing — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:44:46 +0000

This other night, passing Selfridges…got caught by another sexy ad by Tom Ford’s new launched perfume – Neroli Portofino

A bubble wall was created on the window of Selfridges with all bubbles risen upwards…

Tom knows how to sell his product….of course…always sexually…

Vogue Paris & Mr. Sexy American

Qing — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:37:52 +0000

I learnt the news of Tom Ford guest editing Vogue Paris December from actually a streetwear website. Anyway, the news was great and when I got the issue, I have to admit, you can put the french spirit inside a stylish man, but you can never take his American heart away. Here’s a series of editorial.

All started very passionate and quite french…

….until it gets a bit ‘too passionate’…which is Ford’s american heart starting to show….

….then…become more sexual…this is equally frenchee and americanee

Returns to the Parisian way….

Have to say this is a series of very powerful shots. I like the concept behind it….2 old people….crazy in love….could we all still hold our passion still to that level when we are old???

What’s In Your Bag? – vol.2

Qing — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:45:46 +0000

It took me a while to find the next person to interview since the last ‘what’s in your bag’ post in April. Though it’s only the second, I am very intrigued to see what people have inside their bags. It tells so much about their personality. This time, I’ve interviewed another colleague of mine, Amelia.

‘so where is your bag from?’

- ‘Topshop. My favourite ‘wang-esque’ bag broke which was also from Topshop. So went to replace it but found Topshop stopped stocking it. Bought this one which has now taken over as my favourite! I’m loving it!’

very casually mixed and matched with bleach denim, worn-looking vintage tan belt and the vibrant rubber band by Marc Jacobs.

In Amelia’s bag she’s carrying at the moment – new Vogue Paris (special guest edited by Tom Ford), her YSL ring, Evian water, perfume by Paco Rabanne 020, iPhone 4, Sunglasses by Marc Jacobs, car key for MINI, little pony, rubber wristband by Marc Jacobs, cigarettes.

Chanel wallet was an 18th birthday wallet from her generous mum. Amelia is definitely keeping it for a few more years as it’s such a classic piece… She also refers her beloved MINI car as a female ‘She’ as ‘She’ has a personality in her eyes.

I think this corner tells quite a lot about Amelia. She’s fun, bubbling like freshest champaign. When asked about the little pony, she replied that was only 1 of 3 ponies from her. Colourful rubber band with tiny bells were cleverly sourced by herself from Shopbop.com (£10 for a set of 4), a terrific present for any friends.

Special edition of Vogue Paris is a hot topic on every fashion person’s lips as they are guest edited by Tom Ford. Very artistic and controversial which I’m going to blog about in a separate entry. YSL ring was a gorgeous amethyst, a well deserved real treat for herself.

I am sure you could guess by now that she is young, fun, full of energy and bubbly which was all her contents showing about. Oh and her plan for next handbag? It will be a Balenciaga CITY.

Fashion Windows: Shanghai (NanJing West Road) August 2010

Qing — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:52:47 +0000

Nan Jing West Road 南京西路, is a classic shopping street in Central Shanghai which can be dated back to 30s. Nowadays, it’s filled with flagship stores and department stores. It is a equivalent of a nice mixture of London Oxford Street, Regent Street and Kings Road.

Louis Vuitton flagship store is under construction and it strikes about a 10 story height…

More pictures from Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Miu Miu and Tom Ford after the jump.

…’Object’ theme is continued at Loewe store here too with simple black and white poster and a standing lamp focusing on their key product…

…new Loewe tote is kind of a bit similar to Celine tote…

…from here you can see how tall the LV case is…

Dolce & Gabbana window is really boring…kind of quite cheap…and isn’t it ‘super yesterday’ with Madanna holding a young male model’s arm in their campaign? She really should say no to that idea.

Miu Miu store is located right next to 5 star hotel Ritz & Carlton…looks like a fruit jelly sitting there…

also Tom Ford has opened his menswear shop around the area…

Marchesa Casati – A dash of eccentricity

awais — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:45:22 +0000

Earlier we’ve blogged about how art inspires fashion, but how about when the artistic inspiration is a person – a muse? One such person, the Marchesa Luisa Casati, has inspired many writers, painters and also fashion designers .

The Marchesa was born into a wealthy Austrian-Italian family in Milan in 1881. A patron of coutouriers such as Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny and Erté and jewellers like Lalique, Casati astonished European society for the first three decades of the 20th century with her eccentric personality and outrageous style. In his autobiography Erté described her as the “the most extravagantly odd woman I have ever met”. She would wear living snakes as jewellery, throw parties where her servants were covered in leafed gold from top to toe and parade her pet cheetahs around in Venice on leashes covered with gold and diamonds whilst wearing nothing but a fur coat. Her hair was a dyed a deep henna red, her skin powdered pale white and her eyes heavily kohled.

The Marchesa painted by Augustus John to the left. Carina Roitfeld as Casati, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld.

More after the jump

She wasn’t only an inspiration to her contemporaries, more than 50 years after her death she still continues to inspires artists and fashion designers alike. In 2003 the New Yorker wrote an article about the Marchesa. The photograph of Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld dressed as Casati was taken by none other than Karl Lagerfeld. The article also featured sketches by Lagerfeld inspired by Luisa Casati.

Chanel resort collection 2010

The Marchesa also seems to have been one of the main inspirations for Lagerfeld’s resort collection for Chanel 2010. The show was held in Venice, a place which was home to Casati for a large part of her life. The models’ hair and makeup was clearly inspired by her signature look.

Another designer who cites the Marchesa as a major influence is John Galliano. His extravagant haute couture show for Dior in 1998 was inspired by her and cost 2 million dollars to stage. The show was held at Opéra Garnier in Paris and the setting was inspired by the Marchesa’s lavish soirées.

Galliano for Dior Couture 1998

Galliano was also inspired by Casati when he launched his debut fragrance in 2008. The design of the flasque is inspired by this portrait of Casati, painted by Giovanni Baldini.

For his autumn/winter 2004/05 collection, which was named ”a dash of eccentricity”, Armani named Visconti’s movie The Damned, La Belle Époque and the Marchesa as his main influences.

Armani autumn/winter 2004/05

She was also the main inspiration behind Tom Ford’s spring/summer 2004 collection for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

Yves Saint Laurent, spring/summer 2004

The Marchesa is also the theme of a recent editorial shoot in Acne Paper’s fall/winter issue. The shoot features Tilda Swinton and was shot by Paolo Roversi.

Tilda Swinton as the Marchesa in the autumn/winter 2009 number of Acne Paper

Casati was once quoted saying “I want to be a living work of art”. Throughout her life, she tried to commision her own immortality by patronizing some of the biggest artists of her time. When looking back at how she still manages to inspire people to this day, I would say that her quest was successful.

Photo sources: Vogue/Style.com, Acne Paper, Chanel, The New Yorker