What an amazing image. Sorry, I don’t have the photographer credit (please leave it in comments if you know), but the model is Sasha Pivovarova.
Emerging FW07 Trends: Constructivism
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.
Tsumori Chisato Ads
Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato and Paris design shop Surface to Air have produced an amazing series of ads the past few seasons. Beautiful clothes and fabrics mixed with excellent art direction = joy & bliss. Above and below examples are from Chisato’s A/W ’06 & A/W ’05 campaigns.
Printemps, Can You Feel It?
I developed a strong attachment to French department store ads while in Paris–the ads are in every Metro station, and since staring at other passengers is not an option (two words: creepy men), I always stared at the ads.
One of my favorites (left) was by Printemps. Great colors, and I love that Alek Wek looks so vibrant and happy. So many fashion ads have miserable-looking models (or else they look like plastic dolls or mannequins, like Lindsay Lohan in her new Miu Miu ads). I don’t understand it at all. If you can afford a live model, why not make her look, you know, alive?
On-line Vintage Clothing Directory, By Price
After reviewing hundreds of stores, I made an edited list of on-line vintage shops. By vintage, I mean both vintage and secondhand/thrift pieces, with a focus on women’s clothing (I may do a housewares version one day–we’ll see!).
I chose stores with interesting stock, acceptable mark-ups, (usually) pleasant websites, and good reputations. I try to update the list every few months, so it stays relevant. However, it’s not an end-all, be-all list: great new sellers pop up every day, and there’s no way I can list them all. Conversely, placement on the list doesn’t guarantee anything, so shop carefully.
The directory is ordered alphabetically and by price range (below). Happy shopping!
| PRICE KEY (avg price per item)$ $0-$30$$ $30-$75
$$$ $75-$150 $$$$ $150-250 $$$$$ $250+ THRIFT-STORE CHIC Stunning prices, varied collections. Extremely fun to hunt through.
ETSY ($-$$$$) Spurred by rising fees, more and more vintage sellers have migrated from self-hosted sites and eBay to Etsy. What’s good for sellers is also good for buyers: Etsy stores combine easy to use, reliable interfaces with low prices (plus, no insanity-inducing auctions). Check out the Etsy Vintage Directory for an edited list of sellers. CHEAP & TRENDY Slightly pricier than the thrift-store items (often due to auctions), but still easy on your pocketbook.
OTHER VINTAGE & SECONDHAND RESOURCES
UNAVAILABLE These collections were down for maintenance. We’ve heard good things about them, though, so we’ll review them ASAP.
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FASHIONISTA FINDSHigher prices than Cheap & Trendy stores, but still with affordable finds across the board.
SPOILED BY SUCCESS
BRIDGE LINES
POSH & LOVELY Too expensive for most of us, but some truly stunning selections. Prices typically start at $500 (although some only start around $250).
FOR COLLECTORS, COSTUMERS, & HISTORIANS These stores focus on collector’s items rather than wearables. Prices frequently range between $650-$2000+. Extremely fun to look through.
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