fashion

aesthetic improv

September 14, 2010
By
fashionvictim

Fashion? Fashion. Ok, I can deal with that. Well, maybe not. The thing is that I am an absolute dunce when it comes to anything fashion related. I can’t coordinate shoes, I rarely wear jewelry, and applying make-up is often the single most challenging thing I do in a day. So, what does fashion mean to performance? Besides the obvious superficial performative characteristics of fashion, I believe that it runs deeper. Fashion is personal aestethic, not just ornamentation. It lives deep within our bodies and minds. It’s how we craft a snapshot of ourselves in the world. In order to demonstrate this fully, I would like to invite you to do a little improvisational exercise. One of my favorite things to do in acting classes was mime. I know, I know: it’s so Jaques Lecoq of me. But while you’re getting ready for the coming fashion shows, why not try this out and see where your body leads you? 1. Get together with a group of people. They can be artists, or not, but preferably radical (just because it’s always better that way). 2. Split the group in half. 3. The first half, stands before the second (create the spectator

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commodity fetishism gone right\/\/the epic east village lingerie tour

September 12, 2010
By
commodity fetishism gone right\/\/the epic east village lingerie tour

I didn’t get much sleep last night thinking about underwear Have you ever stopped to consider underwear in the abstract When you really dig into it some shocking problems are raised Underwear is something we all have to deal with Everyone wears some kind of underwear Even Indians wear underwear Even Cubans wear underwear The Pope wears underwear I hope The Governor of Louisiana wears underwear I saw him on TV He must have had tight underwear He squirmed a lot Underwear can really get you in a bind You have seen the underwear ads for men and women so alike but so different Women’s underwear holds things up Men’s underwear holds things down Underwear is one thing men and women do have in common Underwear is all we have between us You have seen the three-color pictures with crotches encircled to show the areas of extra strength with three-way stretch promising full freedom of action Don’t be deceived It’s all based on the two-party system which doesn’t allow much freedom of choice the way things are set up America in its Underwear struggles thru the night Underwear controls everything in the end Take foundation garments for instance They are

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shh!! don’t tell\/\/lockets

July 22, 2010
By
Pamela Love Heart Locket

Secrets. They’re the one thing everyone has that everyone else is dying to know. So the question is: How do we maintain our “secret selves” in the face of the world’s prying attempts to figure us out? Designers have risen to the challenge, and consistently created inventive and stylish ways to help us remain enigmatic. Everything from sunglasses to the trench coat have kept peeping Toms at bay but now lockets are staking their claim amongst the secret chic. Jewelry designers like Pamela Love have taken to the mysterious and romantic qualities of the locket and incorporated them into her collection to make something intriguingly beautiful this season. My personal favorite is the locket of the not-so-traditionally shaped heart, made in the shape of an actual human heart. The idea is eerie and mystifying –playing seamlessly with the secret motif and keeping everyone in the dark. Websites like etsy.com have vintage lockets for sale as well for those who favor the more classic lockets. So with your sunglasses, trench coat, and locket, you’ll have everyone wanting to know more. Photo credit: Pamela Love

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clothesreel\/\/tom ford

July 7, 2010
By
Colin Firth A Single Man

Its not a secret that designers are often inspired by what they see on the big screen and its not exactly hush-hush that feature films name-drop designers as if it were part of the script. Breakfast at Tiffany’s has patented the “little black dress” and the Sex and the City movies were essentially a glorified fashion show but rarely has a designer stepped away from the studio and swapped his sketchpad for a director’s chair. Tom Ford basically came out the woodwork with his feature film, A Single Man, in late 2009.  The film, which was five years in the making according to Ford, is based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel similarly titled A Single Man, a story about a gay professor living in Southern California in 1962. Although the story line is intriguing enough, Ford did not let his expertise go to waste. The movie is aesthetically stunning with Ford’s eye for detail and impeccable sense of style. Everything from the masterfully crafted suits to the architecture to the hair and make up is overwhelmingly gorgeous. His creative contributions really enhance everything in the film so even if the storyline was shit, it wouldn’t matter to me because everything was

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have your pie and eat it too\/\/trapeze dresses

June 29, 2010
By
Cotton Trapeze Beach Dress

Summer is definitely my favorite season. Despite the few minor setbacks like the temperatures pushing 100 degrees and the bugs that give welt-sized bites, summer is the season to be social. My favorite way to socialize is by grabbing dinner and sitting outside. Though the weather is perfect during the summer for twilight meals or late afternoon drinks alfresco, more often than not I have a problem of deciding what to wear. I have to dress consciously for the sweltering weather, but without sacrificing my personal style. Trapeze dresses come to my rescue. They are the perfect airy silhouette that boosts both functionality and elegance. Teen Vogue is enamored by the flattering sleek shape and inspired by the fun the trapeze dress offers. TopShop, Shopstyle, and ASOS are also promoting this perfect summer dress as they offer a variety of styles at economically friendly prices. The trapeze dress is the best way to look chic both before and after the margaritas and nachos. But the best part is with its breathy silhouette, there’s always room for pie. Photo Credit: asos.com, topshop.com

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red hot\/\/cinnamon spice

June 22, 2010
By
Givenchy Resort 2011

Red has always been a dynamic color in the world of fashion. From the sizzling red lips of Marilyn Monroe to the trademark soles of Louboutins, the color has never failed to impress and entice. Even Cruella de Vil rocked eye-popping red that caught attention and put her down as one of the most frightening but best dressed villains in my book. Red’s sultry and smoldering reputation has yet to falter, but this season, it’s staking its claim as a classic on top of the previous connotations of bold, hot, and dangerous. Phillip Lim held nothing back with his Spring 2010 collection and let his aesthetic run wild. The product was a geometric red runway, with subtle red makeup, and a collection littered with powerful red pieces that could have easily grabbed the attention of anyone sitting in the last row. Both Givenchy’s Resort 2011 and Fall 2010 collections are so loaded with red that “the shop floors are stocked with the pieces that our girl has gotten attached to,” as Riccardo Tisci said. Tisci and Lim ensured that this spring and fall weren’t devoid of pieces that I would want to re-familiarize the usage of my credit card to.

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anything you can do i can do better\/\/DIY fashion

June 15, 2010
By
anything you can do i can do better\/\/DIY fashion

DIY fashion is one of the newest trends that aims to silence those familiar grievances with fashions in stores and inspire people’s creativity. Aided by the breadth and convenience of the Internet, people are now managing to steal some thunder from the Gaultiers and Marc Jacobs of the world. No longer limited to the selection available in an array of boutiques, the power is literally in the hands of the consumer. Instead of wishing that the pair of shoes you’re lusting after had studded heels, DIY fashion challenges you to customize them and make them distinctly your own. Websites all over are advertising DIY fashion not only to advocate self-constructed fashion but to support ways to maintain style in this economy without putting yourself in the poor house. Recently, I adopted this philosophy when I tricked out a plain white pair of TOMs shoes. Inspired by their artist collaborations, I took some acrylic to the canvas material and in less time than it takes to ride the subway to Steven Alan, I had my very own customized kicks. On a larger scale, TOMs even offers Style Your Sole events, where a whole community can participate in the creativity. Even designers

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i wear my sunglasses at night\/\/super

June 8, 2010
By
i wear my sunglasses at night\/\/super

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” said Jack Nicholson to a reporter who requested he remove his sunglasses for a photo. “With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and seventy.” Street style can get pretty stale when everyone from Milan to New York is cursing the winter of their discontent. The fashion capitals of the world spent the last season buried under the puffy jackets and voluminous scarves needed to get through the months of endlessly falling snow. While the recent inclement weather made for some great innovations in the footwear and active apparel markets, fashionistas far and wide were anxiously awaiting a change in scenery. What better than the rising mercury to inspire new trends? Summer is always the perfect season to revamp your look: the sun is bright, the days are long, and spring is finally ready to shed its layers. Nonetheless, the current economic climate can make seasonal wardrobe overhauls difficult, if not impossible. Luckily, investing in statement accessories is an affordable alternative to a full closet makeover. Sunglasses are the perfect summer accessory. Instantly chic, the right pair of shades can take an entire look from commonly banal to alluringly elusive. From the uneven cobblestones of the

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pink hearts mcqueen

February 18, 2010
By
pink hearts mcqueen

a small tribute, to a talent larger than life. there is a pink spot inside each and every one of us… especially those with rusted hearts. “Hope there’s someone Who’ll take care of me When I die, will I go Hope there’s someone Who’ll set my heart free Nice to hold when I’m tired” -Antony R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

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rode hard & put up wet

January 7, 2010
By
rode hard & put up wet

oh, papa…won’t ya’ help me outta my towel…oh, honey won’t ya’ rub mama’s back…sugah’ love…won’t ya’…. brush my hair, oh, you know….make it wet, ride it hard.

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