ROCKouture

Comme des Garçons F/W 2011.2012 Paris

2011-08-30T13:26:00.002+08:00

Image source: Anyonegirl, style.com

Rei Kawakubo is known for never looking back, striving for new innovation, and creating to move forward. In the past her collections spoke for ideals, challenged gender stereotypes, commented on modern Japan. Her Frankenstein tailoring work always, even when crossing the extremely thin line of bad taste (like this collection perhaps does), intrigues the mind and provokes thought like none of her contemporaries do.

Presented in a much humble presentation, her latest F/W 11.12 collection seemed to be a best of, but elevated, collection. There is much to covet in the collection: the twisting and knotting she does like nobody else, the unexpected burst of flowing gold, and the incorporation of her personal scarf collection. All that knotting, bunching, draping, deconstructing, reconstructing, pattern mixing are so harmoniously chaotic that it's pure poetry. The silhouette is still ever-so-Rei: behind the matching and mismatching of different parts of clothes was the notion of hybrid fashion. That meant half of a single-breasted jacket combined with part of a sleeve and a collar made from tying fabrics into round knots.

With Comme des Garçons, we are always confronted with the physicality of clothes–a single garment can be a maze on its own–and what they can mean. This is the kind of clothes the Fug Girls would definitely have a field day with, but in these parts we admire the humor and the skill in fashion and style that strives to not take itself too seriously. After all, in the end of the day they are just clothes… and a part of Comme des Garçons’ longevity has come from being innovative and for sure statement making.

Haider Ackermann S/S 2011 Paris

2011-08-05T22:35:00.003+08:00

I hate to be one of those fashion bloggers that just write "LOVE LOVE LOVE" on a collection without any reason or explanation, but Haider Ackermann S/S 2011 show seriously operates at the tip-top level of fashion so much so that he's not only thrown right into the middle of it, but also he stands so far apart. It's obvious that the man knows how to cut, drape, and synthesize in the most modern of ways, and he knows precisely how to construct this sense of regal that comes through in each of these garments. It's a rollercoaster journey filled with the future, the past, the east, the west, the royal, the street... and it comes out gorgeous.

Mr. Ackermann’s garments are, well, excessively sexy. Slits travel vertically from floor to crotch, and necklines plunge lower than the belly button. However I guess it takes quite an eye to be able to reveal that much skin and never have the results end up on the wrong side of sexy-ness. His styling is always a notch above the rest, and his clothing is sublimely situated between Rick Owen's hard-edged street-wear and Tom Ford's ultra-luxe evening glamour. Using his signature dark-washed leather, this season he counterbalances vibrant-colored pleated silks with a seductive gothic sensibility. Overall, there isn't a piece in the collection that could do today's woman wrong.

Haider Ackermann is the name on everyone's lips recently when it comes to moves, shifts and job role changes in the fashion industry. With his name in many a frame right now, like having his garment on the cover of Vogue US worn by Lady Gaga and open admiration by Karl Lagerfeld, he is undoubtedly one of the best designers fashion has to offer at the moment, and I have a strong feeling that the best is yet to come.

The Best of... Marchesa

2011-07-14T18:10:00.004+08:00

Illustration: left to right Marchesa S/S 2009, S/S 2011, and F/W 08.09, Image source: MyVisualPleasures, Rlaneri, blog.beautylish.com

One thing we must understand about Marchesa is that there is no use looking for avant-garde fashion statements in their pieces. There is no signature and dominating silhouette or textiles, along with the fact that many Marchesa pieces look dangerously similar to some other fashion houses. No doubt some fashion purists consider this as a bad thing. Well, it's not about that kind of talent. It's more about execution/creation than concept, creating whimsical yet romantic, stunning - for there really is no other word for it - dresses in voluminous tulle and dizzying amounts of embroidery and intricate handwork.

Sometimes it's difficult to digest a Marchesa collection for me because it's all dresses in one collection and I am definitely not so used to that... it's wow after wow without more street-wearable passages and it gets a bit overwhelming at times. But Marchesa is not about being innovative and radically inventive when it comes to design. They create breathtaking dresses that seem to make stylists gasping for air imagining having them on their editorials, and for those actresses who are trying to create a red carpet moment. It creates a dream, and drama... two things that's still, most surely get a welcome nod.

Lanvin S/S 2011 Paris

2011-07-11T20:54:00.005+08:00

With an unshakable reputation for creating ravishing clothes that women dream about wearing, Alber Elbaz was in a less aggressive mood than usual for Lanvin S/S 2011 collection. We are being used to see seductive, almost dominating women at Lanvin with tons of heavy and exuberant accessories and flashy colors. Yet this time, everything was toned down. There weren't much explosions of bright oranges and pinks, no more crazy bracelets and thousands of necklaces around their neck, or even killer heels.

Still, if you look closely, this collection is quite major. Indeed I feel that there's an undeniable discreet refinement here. All the long skirts at the beginning worn with super tight tops, emphasize the ease and movement of the silhouette. Mr. Elbaz also worked a lot on volumes and proportions, through the woman suits, the caged tops, and the trench coats. The trends were all covered: pleating, neon, and nudes – and then a heavy metalwork set took over with origami silk cocktail dresses hung with bold silver and gold – and gladiator sandals are most definitely in for summer evening-wear. This was indeed a serious collection that, as dark as it was, lacking the swoon-worthy romance we usually associate with this label, but it was still unfailingly beautiful, from the man who builds a dress like no other.

Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S 2011 New York

2011-07-07T19:11:00.001+08:00

“If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” might well be Marc Jacobs motto for spring/summer 2011. The collection saw Marc revisiting the early-seventies-silhouettes-in-sumptuous-color idea he tackled so successfully several seasons ago. My favorite look was definitely the breezy, beachy multi-color stripe silk dress paired with casual sneaker wedges and cute bonnet-style hats! After all Marc rarely puts a foot wrong when designing an easy, upbeat day-wear that defines his diffusion line.

All told, this was a terrifically fun collection, made unintentionally poignant by the sense of ease it conveyed (through the pieces themselves and the way they were put together) – that are sure to have MbMJ fans (including me!) storming the stores.

Miu Miu S/S 2011 Paris

2011-07-03T20:27:00.004+08:00

Image source: The Catwalking, V Magazine, Marie Claire USA - March 2011

Miu Miu is one of the most highly anticipated shows each season, and this year the hype was magnified. After a knockout Fall 2010 collection that accentuated the girlish charm for which Miu Miu is known, what Miuccia Prada offered on Spring 2011 show was such a fascinating follow-up.

It definitely takes an incredibly talented designer to meld 1930s heady mix of glamour with silhouettes from the Sixties and Seventies to create a cohesive collection. I keep coming back to look at the pieces, because there's so much going on. Long sleeved satin dresses - belted in tiny leather threads of neon - recalling early Sixties demure shapes, Seventies glam rock referenced by stiff silver and gold jackets embroidered with comic book stars and day-glo details that shone straight out of the Eighties. But the brilliance of Miuccia's work is that none of these are literal references - they're made so modern and new that they're barely references at all and everything is as it never has been before.

The whole theme of sudden stardom, overwhelming success and how she executed it... just perfect. From the shapes to the colors to the materials to the presentation, it all makes sense. Truly inspiring; I could ramble on for hours and hours!

Prada S/S 2011 Milan, Part Two!

2011-06-25T23:12:00.004+08:00

Image source: www.prada.com, Streetfsn, Vogue Australia -March 2011

Still can't get enough of those bold bright color, stripes, furs, monkeys, and bananas! I think this is one of the most popular S/S 2011 collections print-wise ever, if not the most popular one, actually. I have seen it on at least twenty magazine covers! Check out my previous Prada S/S 2011 illustration here.

Reminiscence: Galliano for Christian Dior #3 - S/S 2008 Haute Couture

2011-06-11T06:09:00.006+08:00

S/S 2008 is definitely one of my favorite seasons from Christian Dior haute couture show; how can't it be anyway? Channeling the subtle sensuality and scandal of John Singer Sargent's infamous portrait of society beauty Madame X, the collection was just rolled on along as a visual treat. The colors! The lightness! The embroidery! It was magical. Technicolour treat of ruffles and virtuoso twists of satins, taffetas and lavish embroidery sauntered past on the world's highest heels: it screamed luxe, luxe, luxe! I love it so much that in fact, I just realized I had actually created a post of this collection before. Does it deserve a second post anyway? Hell yeah, absolutely.

Reminiscence: Galliano for Christian Dior #2 - F/W 07.08 Haute Couture

2011-06-09T08:16:00.008+08:00

This season John Galliano was influenced by the romantic, drawing on French painters and photographers, Spanish bullfighters and Dior's famous nip-waisted, full-skirted 1947 New Look. The first time around, the New Look spawned post-World War II street protests against the designer's conspicuous use of fabric. Now, 25 meters of silk is a God-given right.

The show began in black and white with a Jean Cocteau pen-and-ink portrait on the bodice of a ball gown, and a white bustier dress swirled into a hand-painted pink rose at the waist. What followed was a color explosion, each look more delightful than the last — a pink trompe l'oeil column dress outlined in brushstrokes, Picasso's harlequin suit done in soft pastels, a fiery crimson dress embroidered in gold like matador's costume.

It was over the top, certainly, but not too much so, a true marriage of Galliano's sense of theater and the house's ladylike elegance.

Reminiscence: Galliano for Christian Dior #1 - S/S 2003 Haute Couture

2011-06-07T14:40:00.009+08:00

With John Galliano in charge at Christian Dior, more is most definitely always more. Inspired by his recent travels to China and Japan, the vivid colors and patterns of Chinese costume and Japanese kimonos got transformed into some of the hugest clothes ever invented for Christian Dior S/S 2003 couture show. Weeping, multicolored volumes of fabric that mixed East and West, ancient and modern, were showcased amid appearances from Chinese dancers and circus performers. Models, who were almost completely submerged in cocooning swaths of brocade, taffeta and exploding chiffon flounces, teetered along on vertiginous platforms.

Bits and Pieces: Paris Fashion Week F/W 2011.2012

2011-05-16T12:21:00.000+08:00

from top to bottom Melted latex sculpted hair-do at Comme des Garçons // Leather shoes with metal spike detail at Alexander McQueen // Fringe details and belts with trompe l'oeil attachments at Ann Demeulemeester // Abstracted photographic print on a dress at Hussein Chalayan, which the designer visualized as the view through a Japanese window of an American bomber // Purse made from giant ribbons of faux leather at Balenciaga // Model Roberta Narciso wore a neon-blue LED mouthpiece and some angular gold "eye jewelry" in Gareth Pugh show // High, cotton-candy swirl of hair at Yohji Yamamoto // Burst of colors under the willow tree at Lanvin show's finale.

Mary Katrantzou S/S 2011 London

2011-05-10T12:19:00.000+08:00

Image source: The Catwalking

Mary Katrantzou has really proved herself to be in London's top tier. Recently awarded with 100,000 euro from Swiss Textile Award for her brilliant S/S 2011 collection; I couldn't think of anyone more deserving. The collection itself was so opulent, but it was wonderfully counter-balanced by something I can't quite place my finger on; the silhouette, the styling, the venue itself? I don't exactly know. I've been waiting for a collection like this for what has felt like forever, and Mary has finally delivered. It's hilarious and witty, a technical masterpiece and, most of all, extremely pleasing.

The play on the everyday, domestic object written into a garment was so uncanny. Everything in the collection looks so familiar, yet so unfamiliar at the same time! I find it quite humorous really; people live in houses but here the houses live on the people. The prints are so intense and exciting yet at the same time cold, almost melancholy in their sharpness. I enjoyed how Mary offset it with humorous detailing that blended into the dresses as both a part of the picture and luxurious embellishments, bringing the trompe l'oeil forth into a 3D space. It will definitely fall into this season's '90s redux trend, with the once-in-a-glitzy-frame-now-in-a-thrift-store fantasy interior prints that once picked up by Balenciaga last season. I don't say that Ghesquiere necessarily borrowed ideas from Mary, but that those lines of influence might have occurred tells us how good she really is.

Balmain S/S 2011 Paris

2011-05-06T12:20:00.000+08:00

Image source: The Catwalking

Over the past seasons, I always have respect for Christophe DeCarnin's work for Balmain and how strong his aesthetic is. He pulls off the rock chic look so effortlessly and the models always look so confident and forceful on the runway. I admit, there's not a whole lot of variation from season to season, but what do you expect to see from Balmain? Flowery chiffon dresses? I don't think so.

Although I do agree that Balmain sells far more from what it's worth, completely simple minded from an aesthetic standpoint, and also ultimately pretty overrated, I can honestly say that the clothes have never actually looked cheap to me. Tacky, yes. Vulgar, kind of. Obnoxious, mostly. But while I've never felt that the clothes matched their price tags, they still looked like luxurious designer-level pieces for the most detail parts.

However I can't say that about this S/S2011 collection. It is actually a little bit of a let down for me where I see it as a bit of an aftermath collection. That is, it seems almost like the Balmain aesthetic has peaked (last season with its heavy embellishment and Baroque influences, etc), and it appears that Mr. DeCarnin now has nowhere to go, resulting in a collection that repeating the exact type of clothes and mood from previous collections, this time in a double doze. Of course, sticking to what you do best isn't a problem, and I do like some of the individual pieces like the jackets, as usual, but the studs and safety pins all over are just a little bit so...overdone. More than anything I just find this collection a little lazy, although what do I know? The way some people talk you'd think they've never seen a safety pin before in their life. And after all you have to appreciate the man in how he can get away with selling filthy looking tees for thousands of dollars.

Jil Sander S/S 2011 Milan

2011-04-29T01:04:00.001+08:00

Image source: The Catwalking, Bergdorf Goodman

There's a sense in current fashion in which minimalism holds the center stage right now. It's all about a lack of fussy couture-ish embellishment, about the purity of line, about garment as an art-form, about a sense of ease and classic simplicity modernized. Whether one designer decides to follow, react against, or even redefine it, it's at the center of engagement, which defines the current language of fashion.

Along with the precise tailoring work, Jil Sander as a fashion house had always been characterized by a certain pragmatism, practicability and modesty in design. But for its S/S 2011 presentation, Raf Simons delivers a collection which shapes are definitely work against any of those values, with a strong couture reference; such a departure from the usual pure, sleek Jil Sander look.

On first impression, I think this is a collection that is likely to continue to grow on me - there is intrinsic beauty and integrity of fashion with the superb tailoring work in the pieces shown here. Some might not favor this for its lack of figure-flattering proportions, but the form and line which retain to essential simplicity, and the combination of minimalism and the voluminous silhouette which brilliantly combine couture fashion with outfits that customers can easily envision being worn definitely feels like a very fresh and smart way to channel a reinterpretation of minimalism reference.

But the biggest feat here is probably the interesting bold color palette. To repeat a palette of purity and nature (white, sand, beige, and flesh - as seen on S/S 2010 at Celine or Calvin Klein) would have been dull and repetitive and seen minimalism failing to develop and to retain interest. The interesting question is whether you can have quite this much bold bright color and still 'says' minimalism. I guess Raf achieves that here. Neon as the new natural; a minimalism that can carry a bright color, a stripe, even a print here and there. Yes, it can work. I think. A new level of minimalist fashion can be accomplished only in the hands of a designer who really gets how to deliver minimalist forms; it might take a little bit of adjusting too, but I think in the end of the day we will find Raf's collection feels increasingly 'now' and surprisingly 'right'.

Illustrators Drawing Illustrators

2011-04-21T15:36:00.000+08:00

Image source: The Catwalking

Few weeks ago, Meagan from 'TravelWriteDraw' asked me to join in her illustration project, called 'Illustrators Drawing Illustrators'. Basically she would put all of the participating illustrators' names in a jar, pair each with another illustrator to draw, and on Jan 11th we all post our illustrations and link to the person's blog, making some kind of a blog-crawl. According to Meag, I replied her email only few minutes before she pulled the names from the jar, so I'm glad that I could participate in this project after all; it was definitely fun. Thanks Meag (:

So anyway I was chosen to illustrate Meg from 'The Jersey Gem', whose blog I have been following and regularly visited for quite sometime now. Meg provided me with only a close-up picture of herself as reference, so I decided to draw her in this layered chiffon dress from Sonia Rykiel S/S 2009 collection. I think it's quirky, fun, very Parisian, and definitely one of my favorite Sonia Rykiel's show. I also tried to collage the illustration with some doodles from my scrapbook and photograph archive, just to give some breath of fresh air to my illustration. I hope you all, and especially Meg, like it!

Alexander Wang S/S 2010 New York

2011-04-13T05:56:00.000+08:00

I have always had a fascination in general clothing that sort of lacks a sense of glamour. You know, the kind of street-style idea of just randomly wearing what you want effortlessly and not doing it to look sexy. I think that has to do with a matter of taste anyway, some may like that sort of stuff, I personally do, or some may prefer Versace red carpet gowns or that sort of glam rock Gucci type of thing.

Therefore when Alexander Wang tried something slightly different than his normal clubby downtown chick looks for his S/S 2010 show, I just couldn't help but loving it. I guess it's also because of his all-American football inspiration; I've always been a huge sucker of all sort of romantic fantasy of high school drama: the handsome jocks, the beautiful cheerleaders, the cliches... Letterman jackets, homecoming and prom night. I like how Wang has taken bits and pieces from the football uniform (and what is worn underneath the football uniform) and created a cohesive collection of young and hip clothes... and I like that this time, the girls looked a little cleaner. In fact everyone looked really fresh, and I love the side braid hairstyle.

On the down side, although there were some really adorable pieces, the styling on some looks were so contrived and heavy-handed, that it detracted from the collection overall. However I applaud Wang's smart move that he didn't want to dwell on the hype he had gained over past seasons (Hello, Mr. Decarnin), instead he made an unexpected turn by trying to update the image of his brand and push his image towards a wider range.

Celine S/S 2010 Paris

2011-04-11T11:20:00.000+08:00

Image source: www.vogue.co.uk, Jak&Jil

In 2009, Phoebe Philo, one of the biggest fashion stars of her generation whose hip-yet-girlish clothes and coveted bags catapulted Chloé into the designer big leagues, said she’s ready for her comeback after three years out of the spotlight to focus on her young family. Her first creation as the head designer for Celine was being one of the most anticipated collection during S/S 2010 fashion week.

The result wasn't disappointing at all. In fact, Phoebe Philo simply took this work to another level. Her take on the asymmetrical closures and hems looks refreshing. I was totally enamored with this summer leather trend, and Phoebe has done it better than what I've seen almost anywhere else. There's such precision to the leather looks presented here that they have the longevity to get worn over one's brisk spring ensembles and carried right over to one's fall/winter wardrobe seamlessly. The overall feeling was a mix of clean lines with femininity: it was beautiful and very womanly without being overtly sexual or placing an unnecessary emphasis on the form. The clothes simply evoke the feeling rather than visually asserting it.

I have always loved Phoebe Philo. She's smart and sharp about taking the design directions - keeping the Celine ship steady and following the direction of the more respected French collections: neutrals, minimalism, classic with a modern approach. The fact that I didn't see any of the old Chloé spirit in this collection was actually making me glad. I respect her a lot more for going for a more sophisticated, minimal look this time instead of the old giggly-girly Chloé. This will sell to the old Celine customer, and win over some of the old Chloé customers as well who are die-hard Philo fans, so in all business calculations, this works even though no grounds are broken. I appreciate that fashion often goes a bit minimal during recessions,and I can't really blame the houses for wanting to make money and cashing in on their designer's popularity!

I Miss Luella! Luella Bartley S/S 2009

2011-04-07T00:49:00.000+08:00

image source: www.elle.com

Think of a nice, polite, knee-length dress you might find some royal duchess wearing to a garden party, add three of those, mash them together, add an ample amount of sickly sweet confectionery color, and a bit more, then look at it through psychedelic tinted glasses, give it a matching handbag, shoe and hat, and Luella's S/S 2009 character is born.

The color was bright, garish, sick, and the styling was so done to punk proportion. On first glance, everything is rather English and proper, but there's a strange, wonky undertone. There's bow fronted blouses, paneled tweed and lace skirts, retro handbags, and multi-colored heart fronted heel at the bottom. There's randomly pleated, floral paneled dress which graduates into a gray jersey sportswear tanktop.

Last year, the designer behind the label, Luella Bartley, announced that her fashion label has ceased trading after a key financier pulled out. Club 21, the company which holds the license to supply shops with Bartley's preppy, punky ready-to-wear clothes and accessories, decided not to invest any further with the designer. Named British Designer of the Year in 2008, Bartley regularly receives rave reviews from press and buyers alike for her English eccentric style shows.

So it was such a relief to hear that recently Target has tapped 17 designers to introduce the Go International Designer Collective line, and Luella Bartley was on the list, among Jonathan Saunders, Proenza Schouler, and Erin Fetherston. I always love the Luella character and I hope that Luella girl can have an exciting future ahead of her, whichever incarnation she takes on next!

Lanvin ♥ H&M

2011-04-04T06:53:00.000+08:00

image source: Coute Que Coute, www.hm.com

...and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which He has made,

but only after creating Alber Elbaz with his charm and bubbly personality, and blessing him with the talent to create something as beautiful (and affordable!) as these Lanvin for H&M collections.

Then, and only then, did He rest.

Christian Dior S/S 2008 Couture

2011-03-28T14:30:00.002+08:00

Images source: TheCelebrityCity

I remember growing up and following the work of John Galliano, I was always half entranced, half frightened by his models; there was always something alluring and seductive yet dark and sinister about the makeup, the styling, and the stage. And the outfits; it's like whatever the references were, Galliano's vision at Dior was to click on an image from the past and drag it like a screen icon into a new world. The silhouette he created seemed to grow out of a 21st-century body. It was magical.

The spring/summer 2008 couture collection was probably the last collection by Galliano for Dior that still had its magic for me, before the financial crisis came and affected the couture industry greatly. All the acidic colour, the headpieces, the big hair and chunky jewelries gives off a 60's futuristic Pierre Cardin/Paco Robanne vibe which I love. There's a cue of slightly futuristic take on the symbolist art movement with dramatic volumes: cocoon, A-line and souffle-like poufs, even so dramatic that if there were giant roses bursting from the hem of a purple dress, the bodice was sinuous and fitted. A cocktail dress would swell, Poiret-style at the hips, but the rest of the duchess satin would be restrained as a sheath. There's also meticulously executed rich and rare color combination (lime, chartreuse, fuchsia), and exaggerated headpieces in shapes of metallic bowl, flowerpot, and flying-saucer shapes, that created the perfect wardrobe for a modern-day couture clients.

p.s Kate Donnelly from 'From the Desk of...' wants to see how my desk looks like. The site itself is dedicated to a person's work space; it compiles snapshots of working desks from various people of different backgrounds. I found the site's really interesting and also inspiring, and it was quite a delight to see the desk of some creative artists which works I adore, such as KwangHo Lee and Grace Bonney from Design*Sponge, to name a few. Read the full article and interview here.

Christopher Kane S/S 2009 London

2011-03-21T01:34:00.000+08:00

Image source: www.vogue.co.uk, www.net-a-porter.com

Christopher Kane is never one to shy away from pushing the envelope, and therefore I guess he deserves to be one of London’s most buzzed-about designers. During spring/summer 2009 London Fashion Week, his original take on fashion brought us the circular theme he had going on with all the palettes from his previous fall/winter 08/09 collection being carried over, this time in the form of layers and layers of chiffon semi-circles.

The outfits are actually quite hit-or-miss for me. I love the scallop jackets and the semi-circular wire trimmed dresses, however I am definitely not a fan of the maribou feathers, and some scallop dresses looked quite overdone. But the monkey prints totally won me over; it was so spectacular it's like the new, younger, edgier version of Margiela horse print! While at first I kinda thought that the prints have no relevance to the rest of the collection in any way, it finally made sense after reading what was his inspiration, which were 'The Planet of the Apes' and 'The Flintstones', to name a few. This isn't modern art, after all, which habitually seems to require to be excused via a pretentious verbal explanation. In the end it's just fashion isn't it, and fashion should be fun!

Overall for me this really is a cool collection as a whole. It is terribly clever for amazing reworking of the common silhouettes and definitely isn't taking itself too seriously. Yes, some of the leather skirts are a bit tacky and the construction isn't very flattering unless you are a size zero, but this collection is definitely memorable. Even now I'm like just sitting here smiling because it really made me laugh and in a good way. Kane's definitely one hell of a designer who never wants to see semi-circles ever again.

Prada S/S 2011 Milan

2011-03-19T22:16:00.001+08:00

Image source: www.style.com, www.jakandjil.com/blog

For every season, Prada has always been like this for me. After a first look, I'd ask, "Why Miuccia? Why design a collection like that?" But then, subsequently, when I looked at it again, and see it on real people, or on editorials few months later, I will understand why Miuccia decided on these. And that's why I think she's a maestro, one of the true designers out there. She definitely doesn't just design clothes for the obvious.

But this S/S 2011 collection for me was mind blowing in endless ways; it was love at the first sight. The collection was so full of references and I think what makes it so interesting is the juxtaposition of these very references.

There was a Spanish flavor and a colorful approach to fashion, mixed in with a sort of trendy business-woman who wears her sneakers to work and changes into heels for the evening. And on top of that the collection had some kind of flapper-esque vibe in the shapes of the dresses, and the carrying of furs, and the hairstyles - all of this ending in restraint in a strong assemblage of a simple, classic Prada shift dresses.

And don't even get me started on the shoes! Absolute genius. The menswear-inspired sneakers were an interesting take on casual luxury. I like how steady and powerful they made the girls walk. It is infinitely refreshing to see a model to actually being able stride down the catwalk with force and purpose, in a pair of shoes, no?

Proenza Schouler S/S 2010 New York

2011-03-11T22:48:00.000+08:00

I always imagined a Proenza Schouler girl as a carefree, girl-about-town, cocktail hardcore, night-queen-party-crasher type of girl. And if the duo were envisioning the same girl while creating this collection, well I guess they have done a brilliantly good job! The S/S 2010 collection is definitely one solid, cohesive collection; there's a rhythm created by the colors that emphasize the aggressiveness of the girl wearing it.

The collection was personally so eye-crashing due to the mix of heavy optical materials with bright fabrics and opulent appliques. I also found the punchy beautiful colors chosen very intriguing, and the prints give a realistic and very refreshing Amazonian feel to the collection. It was definitely the edgiest color palette on a collection during the fashion week!

Marc Jacobs S/S 2007-2011 New York

2011-03-05T23:57:00.000+08:00

Marc Jacobs has always been one of my favorite designer, so I've been wanting to make an illustration of his outfit since like, forever. But somehow I never manage to do it because simply I couldn't choose which collection should I sketch! Then one day I came up with the idea of sketching one outfit that I like most from his spring collection from four years back until the recent spring 2011 collection, and what an idea it was; I certainly had a lot of fun drawing it. (:

Among all the collections, S/S 2008 would be my favorite Marc Jacobs' collection, ever. I never ever get tired of this very wearable interpretations-of-the-surrealist outfits and these misplaced pumps are just adorable, and remember the bag-on-bag bags? Well they just counts as another layer of adorableness, which makes this collection....hang on a second while I make some quick calculations...mmhmm...carry the three...ah yes, double adorable.

Dries Van Noten S/S 2008 Paris

2011-03-02T23:48:00.000+08:00

A fashion rule says that it is either the colors should coordinate, in which case the patterns can clash, or the patterns should coordinate, in which case the colors can clash; but definitely not both. Well that certainly doesn't apply to Dries Van Noten in his spring/summer '08 collection, which I think may be his most extroverted collection yet, up until now.

I remember seeing this collection back in my first year in fashion school and was struck in awe. The styling was outrageous and actually quite genius, I guess. A flawless juxtaposition of prints and patterns is a major feat to achieve, and only few designers can deliver it perfectly. The way Mr. Van Noten mixes them, thanks to his creativity and ability to actually do it, resulting the collection not looking too heavy, instead it felt fresh and bright and the silhouette was very young, but strangely it also did suited any age.

I guess this collection really demonstrates the depth of Dries' talent; and his understanding of the diverse cultures and places that influence him. He's not just a tourist who picks up random ethnic inspirations and crashes them all together without any understanding of local aesthetics. But what I saw was an excellent collection, extremely traditional in a way of staying true to the roots, to the inspiration, and amazingly modern at the same time. What more a woman can ask for summer?

Armani Privé S/S 2007 Couture

2011-02-27T13:49:00.001+08:00

Few days ago, I started working on a project of couture fashion illustrations, which is a series of seven illustrations of my favorite couturiers; Armani Privé, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Christian Lacroix, and of course, Versace Atelier!

I started with this illustration of Armani Privé from its spring/summer 2007 collection. While Armani might not be the most thrilling or dramatic and certainly not the most inventive of the Couture collections, I love it for its timeless and classic designs. And for me, the S/S 2007 collection is simply my favorite collection from the couture house, mostly because of the incredibly beautiful headpieces worn by the models!

p.s I'm going to post up another illustrations from the series soon, so do come back later! I just need to go outside right now, the weather's really lovely!

Miu Miu S/S 2010 Paris

2011-02-24T22:07:00.000+08:00

This spring season, Miuccha was questioning youth and innocence in a world that's so opposite. That explains the key of the collection, which seems to be a juxtaposition of the childlike motifs and the 'adult scenes' prints that I think were done in such a brilliant way, as it was used pretty tastefully, not in Jeremy Scott kind of way.

Overall I think it's a quirky and fun collection! It's definitely not for everyone, but I personally love this. There are times when I actually prefer Miu Miu's collection over her big sister Prada, and this season is exactly just one of those. For once they did make playing grown-up looks like a lot of fun!

choux pastry heart

2011-02-19T23:25:00.000+08:00

Over sized shirt from Topshop, a vintage necklace, and straw hat from Collage.

There’s nothing more satisfying than waking up at 11am on a bright Sunday afternoon, leaving the house after a good breakfast, going to East Coast and taking a long walk while waiting for sunset.

Me and my friend had Japanese food for dinner afterwards. The soft shell crab was damn too salty, but the grilled matsutake mushroom with bacon was too good I couldn't really complain much (:

I wish I could label myself 'hand wash only' for those extra delicate days.

2011-02-09T00:05:00.000+08:00

New shoes from Topshop!

Found these cute pairs of oxfords at Topshop a few days ago and I just fell in love! The color is exactly like 'sirap bandung', which is my favorite local beverage made from rose syrup and condensed milk...ha! :D

Marni S/S 2009 Milan

2011-02-05T22:41:00.000+08:00

If Prada was a big sister, I imagine Marni is most likely being the younger, quirky, and more relaxed cousin. I always loved Marni, but never I've been totally blown away before this collection came up! It does look like a good collection to salivate over! I love the lively color and the cool out-of-granma's-closet appeal on this collection, and the accessories are also INSANE this season! SOOO GOOD!