Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Calvin Klein
Beach House Inspiration...
This is Calvin Klein's Miami beach house featured in Vanity Fair some time ago, photographed by Bruce Weber and reblogged from Habitually Chic.
This is Calvin Klein's Miami beach house featured in Vanity Fair some time ago, photographed by Bruce Weber and reblogged from Habitually Chic.
Derek Lam
Though he was raised on the West Coast, Derek Lam‘s fashion ascent is a very New York story.
After graduating from Parsons School of Design, he cut his teeth working for Michael Kors. In 2003, he launched his own label, winning a CFDA award in 2005. Season after season, he continues to secure his place at the forefront of New York fashion.
And while his signature pieces—delicately flowing frocks and crisp, structured silhouettes—continue to define his aesthetic, it’s clear he’s poised to evolve with the times. His recently launched collection for eBay and his upcoming diffusion line signal the imminent growth of his empire, but his highly coveted ready-to-wear collection is what keeps us hooked, season after season.
Below, Mr. Lam chats with Barneys New York about his latest collection, Tilda Swinton, and how he designs for the decisive New York woman.
_________________
Barneys New York: Tell us a little about the thinking behind your Fall 2011 collection.
Derek Lam: I was thinking of uniforms. I like the idea that men have this everyday uniform, which is the suit. They can go through life and just get to work and do what they need to do. I wasn’t going to do business suits [for women], but I was thinking about when we all anticipated going back to school, and the idea of getting new fall clothing. So it was kind of a play on the collegiate uniform.
BNY: How do you think you’ve evolved as a designer since starting your label in 2003?
DL: I started off really thinking about atmosphere and doing something romantic, something that was a little cinematic. What I’ve found over the last few seasons is that I really don’t want to give up that side of what I design, but I also think about, “Okay, how do we live in now? What can I design that’s relevant beyond just the fantasy? “
BNY: So how has the reality of the New York woman informed your designs?
DL: I think that New Yorkers are so busy, and when they think about fashion, they’re very no-nonsense. They go for what they love, and they want to be multi-dimensional in their wardrobe. In New York, women are very decisive.
BNY: Is it daunting to design for the decisive woman? She sounds hard to please.
DL: Well, she’s decisive because she’s busy, and she has compartments in her life that she needs to address. I try to create clothing that works into that mentality, where it’s not about special occasion clothing. It’s part of her wardrobe, part of her personal style. Even when I present a collection, I’m much more driven by thinking of individual items. What does a woman want that’s new in her pant wardrobe? What’s the new jacket?
BNY: Any particularly decisive women that you find inspiring?
DL: For me, the ideal who represents how we live now is Tilda Swinton. She’s super attractive and ethereal, but she doesn’t look like she labors over [her style]. I find her very appealing—she looks like she’s from this moment.
BNY: Speaking of this moment, many consider you to be one of today’s quintessential New York designers. What does that mean to you?
DL: In New York today, each of my peers has a unique kind of vision. It’s not that old-school thing, like with Calvin, Donna, Ralph—everyone was doing minimalism and go-to-work clothes. That was a very American point of view back then, and now it’s much more individual. It really comes from a personal vision. That’s what’s amazing about New York: it’s a place where so many different ideas are relevant at the same time.
BNY: Are there any emerging themes that you think might unify the current wave of New York designers?
DL: I think there is an overriding theme in classic American design that form follows function. And we have such a wealth of American iconography to inspire us each season. I’ve been inspired by the West, I’ve been inspired by California, so there is definitely an American culture that I tap into to represent what American design is about.
BNY: If you had to swap your current moment to design in another time and place, when and where would it be?
DL: Maybe the 1920s, working in Paris. It was just such a revolutionary time in fashion and how fashion reflected a new modern person. To be able to live in the moment that [Coco] Chanel lived would be incredible.
O'mast
It's interesting that over the last few years there has been an increased interest in the art of bespoke tailoring - at least that is my observation. It seems that it is coming from a younger generation. I just hope the art is passed on to the next generation. The actual skills can be passed on and over the coarse of time improved and perfected - however, passion has to come from within...let's hope that those fires burn.
Sartoria Panico, Napoli, Photo by Christian Kerber
Sartoria Panico, Napoli, Photo by Christian Kerber
Monday, July 4, 2011
Radiohead goes to China
By MIN LEE, AP Entertainment Writer
HONG KONG – Radiohead has taken a tentative step into censored Chinese cyberspace, even though the British rock band has been critical of China's human rights record.
Radiohead recently launched a page on the "weibo" site of leading Chinese Internet portal Sina.com. "Weibo," which translates as "microblog," is the Chinese-equivalent of Twitter.
But the band has only posted a single message on Friday. It says "testing the weibo."
Sina.com checks the authenticity of celebrity weibos and has certified the Radiohead weibo as genuine.
The move comes despite Radiohead's activism against Chinese government policies. The rock group has performed at Free Tibet concerts and in December, posted a note on its official website urging fans to campaign for the release of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. "You know it makes sense," the band said.
Such comments will be unthinkable on Radiohead's Sina microblog. The Chinese government screens Internet content for material it deems politically sensitive, such as calls for greater autonomy in Tibet and commentary on the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Foreign social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are blocked.
Microblogs are required to delete questionable posts.
Sina CEO Charles Chao told Forbes magazine in March that its weibo has at least 100 employees monitoring content 24 hours a day.
In a recent example of suspected celebrity censorship, Hong Kong actress-singer Gigi Leung last year removed an excerpt from a news story about a Chinese activist's court case from her Sina weibo account. Fans believe Leung was muzzled but her agent said she removed the story herself after some of her followers left messages saying they were upset by the story.
Radiohead's testing of the weibo platform highlights the dilemma facing foreign acts eager to tap the massive potential of the Chinese market because they must be willing to subject themselves to some degree of censorship.
Foreign musicians have been scrutinized after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet!" during a 2008 concert in Shanghai following a song called "Declare Independence." A year later, another British rock group, Oasis, scrapped its planned debut in China, saying Ministry of Culture officials were offended by the fact that front man Noel Gallagher performed at a Free Tibet concert in New York City in 1997.
There was much speculation about whether Chinese censors would set restrictions on antiestablishment icon Bob Dylan when he performed in China in April. Dylan said in May that Chinese officials asked him for a song list but didn't censor it.
Radiohead's appeal in China is clear from the big following its weibo quickly drew. The website now has nearly 49,000 followers and its terse first message has drawn 3,800 comments and already been reposted nearly 10,000 times.
"Is this for real?" user BrattyB said.
"OMG ... PLS COME TO SHANGHAI !!!PLS!!!!" another user, Stephan Li, wrote.
Radiohead is not the first western celebrity to set up a weibo. Others include Tom Cruise, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and NBA players Ron Artest and Kevin Garnett — although the number of their followers trail far behind Chinese celebrities.
A U.S.-based publicist for the band did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
___
HONG KONG – Radiohead has taken a tentative step into censored Chinese cyberspace, even though the British rock band has been critical of China's human rights record.
Radiohead recently launched a page on the "weibo" site of leading Chinese Internet portal Sina.com. "Weibo," which translates as "microblog," is the Chinese-equivalent of Twitter.
But the band has only posted a single message on Friday. It says "testing the weibo."
Sina.com checks the authenticity of celebrity weibos and has certified the Radiohead weibo as genuine.
The move comes despite Radiohead's activism against Chinese government policies. The rock group has performed at Free Tibet concerts and in December, posted a note on its official website urging fans to campaign for the release of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. "You know it makes sense," the band said.
Such comments will be unthinkable on Radiohead's Sina microblog. The Chinese government screens Internet content for material it deems politically sensitive, such as calls for greater autonomy in Tibet and commentary on the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Foreign social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are blocked.
Microblogs are required to delete questionable posts.
Sina CEO Charles Chao told Forbes magazine in March that its weibo has at least 100 employees monitoring content 24 hours a day.
In a recent example of suspected celebrity censorship, Hong Kong actress-singer Gigi Leung last year removed an excerpt from a news story about a Chinese activist's court case from her Sina weibo account. Fans believe Leung was muzzled but her agent said she removed the story herself after some of her followers left messages saying they were upset by the story.
Radiohead's testing of the weibo platform highlights the dilemma facing foreign acts eager to tap the massive potential of the Chinese market because they must be willing to subject themselves to some degree of censorship.
Foreign musicians have been scrutinized after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet!" during a 2008 concert in Shanghai following a song called "Declare Independence." A year later, another British rock group, Oasis, scrapped its planned debut in China, saying Ministry of Culture officials were offended by the fact that front man Noel Gallagher performed at a Free Tibet concert in New York City in 1997.
There was much speculation about whether Chinese censors would set restrictions on antiestablishment icon Bob Dylan when he performed in China in April. Dylan said in May that Chinese officials asked him for a song list but didn't censor it.
Radiohead's appeal in China is clear from the big following its weibo quickly drew. The website now has nearly 49,000 followers and its terse first message has drawn 3,800 comments and already been reposted nearly 10,000 times.
"Is this for real?" user BrattyB said.
"OMG ... PLS COME TO SHANGHAI !!!PLS!!!!" another user, Stephan Li, wrote.
Radiohead is not the first western celebrity to set up a weibo. Others include Tom Cruise, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and NBA players Ron Artest and Kevin Garnett — although the number of their followers trail far behind Chinese celebrities.
A U.S.-based publicist for the band did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
___
Location:Radiohead goes to China
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Diving Bell and the Butterfly...
Read the book and listen to the soundtrack...
'The Diving Bell & The Butterfly' Soundtrack tracklist
1. Charles Trenet - La Mer
2. The Dirtbombs - Chains of Love
3. Tom Waits - All the World Is Green
4. U2 - Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
5. Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle - Don't Kiss Me Goodbye
6. The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes
7. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Ramshackle Day Parade
8. Paul Cantelon - Theme For the Diving Bell and the Butterfly
'The Diving Bell & The Butterfly' Soundtrack tracklist
1. Charles Trenet - La Mer
2. The Dirtbombs - Chains of Love
3. Tom Waits - All the World Is Green
4. U2 - Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
5. Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle - Don't Kiss Me Goodbye
6. The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes
7. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Ramshackle Day Parade
8. Paul Cantelon - Theme For the Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Dreaming...
When I met you in the restaurant
You could tell I was no debutante
You asked me what's my pleasure
A movie or a measure?
I'll have a cup of tea and tell you of my dreaming
Dreaming is free
True Story...
Re-blogged from A Cup of Jo:
Did you hear this crazy story: In late May, a NYC cop allegedly pulled over a Dutch tourist, pictured above, and reprimanded her for riding a bike while wearing a skirt. He said she was distracting cars! At first, she thought he was kidding, but quickly realized he wasn't when he asked for her ID. How insane is that?! So, as a lighthearted protest, a bunch of girls (and a few guys) came together for a skirt bike ride yesterday evening. My friend Shannen snapped a few photos...
Did you hear this crazy story: In late May, a NYC cop allegedly pulled over a Dutch tourist, pictured above, and reprimanded her for riding a bike while wearing a skirt. He said she was distracting cars! At first, she thought he was kidding, but quickly realized he wasn't when he asked for her ID. How insane is that?! So, as a lighthearted protest, a bunch of girls (and a few guys) came together for a skirt bike ride yesterday evening. My friend Shannen snapped a few photos...
Men of Cloth
You can watch it here:
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Saturday, July 2, 2011
Kiton Style...
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http://vimeo.com/8717466
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Friday, July 1, 2011
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