Thursday, February 26, 2009

Zac Posen + Pamela Love

One of the latest jewelry-fashion designer collaborations for NYFW Fall '09 is between Zac Posen and Pamela Love.

Zac Posen's 40's style drama was heightened by its romantic-meets-punk accessories: everything from belts to jewelry to headbands are decked with flowers, leaves, spikes and studs. The concept is gothic, fresh and brilliant. It's like growing rose perfume in a dungeon...taking shabby-chic to an entirely new level. So even if you can't wear the beautifully draped dresses and skirts out on the street, you can at least invest in these pretty hairbands and belts (that also double as weapons!) to add Victorian glamour to your boring sweater-leggings combo outfit from last season.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Like Liquid Shale - Zac Posen Fall RTW 09


Zac Posen's dresses are glamorous and tailored to the "T". This one in particular, from his recent fall show, looks fit for a stone queen such as myself, but its movement brings life and romance to even the most pragmatic, modern-day women out there. Even if I can't get a marriage proposal out of this dress, I should at least get a Greek statue erected in my honour for wearing something this unearthly.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Everett Tetz

I am not a close friend to Everett. At all, really.

Actually, I barely know him.

But I feel like I do whenever I see his artwork. I first saw this collection of sketches/mixed media during the final critique of our one art class together. Everyone in class did, maybe, one portrait, or two at most. Then Everett comes in and takes up half the wall in the crit room to line up a series of single portraits to make one, big meta-portrait. We all went green over the brilliancy of his concept, but you can't really get mad at Everett because he is so modest. Just like his artwork.

Everett is a tough-looking guy whose got tattoo sleeves, wears black Chuck Taylors, and is confident enough to have Britney's "I'm a Slave 4 U" on his iPod playlist. You'd never guess that this is the guy who has the much needed sensitivity to wield his charcoal in such delicate treatment. This series of sketches and dribbled paint and newspaper cutouts and random red paper fragments is capturing without being ostentatious. The light mood of the sketches generates a level of vulnerability for each nude subject --- note, the portrait of his father (who happens to look like a carbon copy of Everett). Fluid connectedness is a feeling carried on through each individual portrait, like the red IV tube of blood coming from his father's arm in a picture that is so moving, the moment captured feels locked and still.

Even after two years, I am still fascinated.



Anyways, I never asked his permission to post any of these, but seeing as how I stole them from Facebook, I'm only giving him greater publicity, is all. Besides, it's a pity to hide such original, understated artwork.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Narciso Rodriguez Fall '09 RTW

Now, I am a HUGE fan of Narciso. There's nothing more difficult for a designer than to make clothes that create huge impact with a minimalist aesthetic. Take for example, Francisco Costa, and Ghesquiere (on certain days). However, in these "economic times" (I hate those words), you're fighting all the fashion competition out there, so it's just downright embarrassing when you recycle designs that aren't even ten years apart. Heck, these two dresses don't even use different colours:

(Left: Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2007 RTW, Right: Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2009 RTW)
(Photos taken from Style.com, Marcio Madeira)

And isn't it just contradictory for Narciso to use that same dress for both Spring and Fall, two entirely different seasons? And isn't it horrible to think that the dress on the right was the final garment for his Fall show? Tragic.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Edmonton Fashion Week Spring '09


Edmonton Fashion Week for Spring is almost here! Thank God. Nothing is more uplifting than a week dedicated to the independent creativity of local designers.

There will be more updates to come, but for now, we need models! There will be a model go-see on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at Planet Ze Design Center, 10050-80 Avenue from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

The official scheduled date for EFW Spring '09 is April 2-9, 2009. Visit www.edmontonfashionweek.com for more details and all the upcoming events.

[by me.]

a not-so-candid moment
My latest work, completed January 18, 2009. My paintings usually advocate cultural women and their experiences. Also, as you probably know by now, I am a huge fan of fantastic jewelry.