A Love Letter to Pop Culture
The swimming cap scan at left comes from a 1960s L’Officiel, which I got at 14th Street Antiques in Atlanta. I’m not sure what part of this image made a bigger impression–the cap, the model’s heroic expression while doning said cap, or the insane amount of makeup. Whatever it was, after seeing that picture, I wanted something similar.
Luckily, after some digging, I came across this petal swim cap (other colors available). I’m sure it will drive all the boys wild this summer.
I love the idea of wallpaper that invites you to color or otherwise customize it (again, returning to my functional walls obsession). Here are two favorites: On the left, from Fly, is an exhibition by happypets. The artists provide the line sketches and markers/crayons, and the viewers provide the color. On the right is actual, purchasable wallpaper ($40/double roll), from Graham & Brown (via Anh-minh, who always has cool finds). Designed by Taylor & Wood, “Frames” features whimsically drawn picture frames that you can fill with mini-paintings, photos, collages, 3-D collections (keys, shells, butterflies)–you name it.
A nice DIY idea from a recent House & Garden: Customize a basic blazer by replacing the regular lining with decorated scarves (or hire a tailor to do it for you).
Above: Constructivist works by Ivan Puni & Antoine Pevsner.
Russian Constructivism inspired many designers this fall. Like Art Deco (another major runway reference), Constructivism obsessively played with industry and technology (think of the creative use of synthetics/plastics this season), bold colors, & geometric forms.
At right, FW07 accessories, from top: Junya Watanabe, Marni, Pucci.
Unlike Art Deco, however, Constructivism was resolutely non-representational. Not merely decorative, it was art with a political purpose, specifically the construction of the ill-fated socialist state.
For more info on the movement, read the Constructivism Wikipedia article here; read more here and here. Constructivist Aleksander Rodchenko was particularly influential; read his Wikipedia article, go through his MOMA exhibit website, and see his worker jumpsuit (another big fall trend). For more visual inspiration, check out related art movements at Merrill C. Berman Collection (Modernism); Decopix: The Art Deco Resource; Pochoir Prints (Art Deco & Art Nouveau), and an excellent V&A Art Deco exhibit site (with Quicktime panoramas).
Examples from major FW07 shows (left to right, row by row): Carolina Herrera, Hussein Chalayan, Alberta Ferretti, Proenza Schouler, Hussein Chalayan, Alberta Ferretti, Etro, Chloe. Not shown: FW07 Marni, Vera Wang, Missoni, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs, Junya Watanabe; SS07 Miu Miu. See full images & collections at Style.com.
In Paris two years ago, I saw a Japanese film called Cha no Aji, or The Taste of Tea. I went with my boyfriend at the time, and as the final credits started, I eagerly turned to him for his opinion (really, to confirm mine). With a shell-shocked look, he said, “That was so weird.”
“But great, right?”
“Yeah, definitely great…but weird.”
Suffice to say, it and Howl’s Moving Castle were my favorite films that trip.
Out of context, the clips below make the film look bizarre, which it is, but it’s also touching and lyrical. Read reviews at the New York Times, The Village Voice, Midnight Eye, The Reeler, Slant Magazine, & NY Asian Film Festival for more about the movie.
1) In this clip, sound engineer Uncle Ayano (Tadanobu Asano) grudgingly helps the grandfather and another uncle with a pet project. Asano, also in Ichi the Killer, is sometimes called the Japanese Johnny Depp.
2) Just a funny vignette.