And we’re back.

Photo By: Antonio Aresco

Visual Stimulation

 

“Hedi Slimane is not even a real person. I’m saying that in the most positive way. Saying that he’s not even a human being. Hedi Slimane is truly a god. Bow in the presence of greatness.”

-Kanye West.

 

Now that i have your attention. Hedi Slimane is known as a huge influence in the fashion world. He began his career as an art director and collections director at YSL in ‘97. From there he continued on to design for the GUCCI Group and the PRADA Group eventually ending up in the lap of Dior and thus fueling the creation of Dior Homme. He is also Extremely well known for his photography. He is mixing a soft imperfect style of shooting, with the hard edge that is rampant in the closets of today’s fashion conscious. His site www.hedislimane.com is almost predominantly black and white, and is set up in a diary format making the sets have much more meaning. Definitely worth checking out.

By: Eric White- Fashion

Alexandre Bettler

I had the distinct pleasure of running across Alexandre Bettler’s website, which included a selection of editorial/book work. The design that struck me with great anxiousness (as I, along with the help of a few talented others, will be tackling Eleven Magazine’s layout in the coming months), was his “Ce qu’il nous reste.” Please take note at Bettler’s placement of page numbers. It’s a pleasant surprise and an attention to detail that even the artistically declined can appreciate.

By: Ryan Haigh- Design ◊

Devandra Banhart

Found this recently…… seems like an interesting guy.

By: Antonio Aresco

All From a Pile of Stuff.

After watching The Devil Wears Prada for probably the third time since its release, I took notice of a very poignant moment written into the script. A scene between the eternally unimpressed and fashion unconscious Andy Sachs played by Anne Hathaway and the severely brutal editrix Miranda Priestly played by Meryl Streep.

. . .

Miranda Priestly: [Miranda and some assistants are deciding between two similar belts for an outfit. Andy sniggers because she thinks they look exactly the same] something funny?

Andy Sachs: No, no, nothing. Y’know, it’s just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. Y’know, I’m still learning about all this stuff.

Miranda Priestly: This… ’stuff’? Oh… ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff.

. . .

The truth is, every single thing we wear is not necessarily hand chosen for us by the big wigs, but there are reasons that certain trends appear in every facet of the fashion world. That is what I found so captivating here. Regardless of how set some people are on claiming that they have no interest in fashion, or how little they spend on garments, if you wear clothes, you are, if nothing more, at least participating. So why not learn a little, and begin to take some pride in what we “put on out backs?”

Eric White

Men’s Ex

Men’s Ex is a Japanese magazine geared toward the suited fellows in Japan. I know that Japan is known for its tastes and for its flamboyant fashion choices, but, Men’s Ex is like American Men’s Vogue and GQ put together in one magazine.

Those who routinley go to The Sartorialist will recognize the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Kentaro Matsuo, who is a sartorial All-Star. What is really fun is his blog, which is just pages and pages of people of not style tips or suggestions, but just other people’s style. You don’t need to know Japanese to navigate through, but, I’m sure google can help you with the translation if need be.

What is awesome about Japanese style is that it is always quintessentially Japanese, regardless of how traditional the look, somehow, the Japanese character comes out. I think many try to look Italian, English, or whatever, but what I love about the Japanese is that even in their adoption of certain looks, they stay true to themselves and that’s something I truly admire.

By: Osama Eisa- Editor-In-Chief

He Sells Garbage.

NYC artist, Justin Gignac sells garbage.  Visit NYC Garbage to get a better understanding of the operation and be sure to check out Justin’s artistic portfolio as well.

By: Antonio Aresco

Music and Clothes

          I am going to confess something that I think many of my friends, roommates, and family have known for a long time. What music I’m in the mood for and/or listening to at the moment usually determines what I am going to be wearing that day.

          How much does music effect what you wear, whatever that may be to wherever? 

By: Osama Eisa- Editor-In-Chief

The True Fashion Aficionado Wears a Costume?

          Eric and I are preparing a massive piece on Fall/Winter 2008’s biggest trends. Since it is so large, its taking us some time to figure out exactly how we want to present it to you.

          In the mean time, I’d like to talk about costumes. In Elle’s September issue, Anne Slowey proclaims that one should avoid looking like one is playing dress up in favor of a more uniform personal style. This is not a new idea, and there is an unspoken rule of sorts that we all want to avoid looking costume-y. Although I understand why one might say this, I have to disagree and look to a personal icon of mine: Carrie Bradshaw. Carrie is the queen of the costume. One day she is a bohemian goddess or a rock princess, and the next day she is a congressman’s wife. Her ability to transform and be a true chameleon is absolutely enviable.

          Let’s look to another pop culture example where men’s fashion is concerned. Justin Timberlake is a pretty snazzy dresser. He prefers to look business-man-chic all of the time by favoring slim suits, a neutral palette, and minimal accessories. I would say he has pretty great style, but he’s kind of a one-note and his casual wear totally lacks imagination. You can almost anticipate what he will wear to any given event. On the other hand, think of Kanye West. He has fantastic personal style, but I wouldn’t say he favors one particular look. He’s done the business suit, but he’s also looked just as chic in a casual blazer, jeans, and just the right accessories. He can wear anything, but everything he puts on looks entirely him. Sure, having a signature style like Timberlake is cool, but why not try out a few others? We need not limit ourselves to one particular style, because it can get dry and boring (just trust me).

          Personal style doesn’t mean wearing the same thing everyday. I think it is more about mixing your taste with other styles that are already out there. Let’s face it, innovation in fashion is few and far between (although I would not assert for a second that it is non-existent). What is out there, what is being put out as “new” every season, has already been put out there or already been “done.” Being able to change it up but still keep it you, in my opinion, is much more fashionably skillful that keeping to the same thing everyday.

          Don’t put words in my mouth. I am not telling you to wear a pirate outfit to class (Seriously, DON’T). But what I am saying is, adding a little western feel via cowboy boots or torn jeans and rugged plaid is fun and acceptable. Dressing up like your grandfather with a cardigan (or mardigan, short for male cardigan, as Eric and I prefer) and tortoise shell glasses is great. Even a sailor-inspired cap or head-to-toe nautical-inspired pieces work.

          I am not denying that the way we dress says a lot about us, but fashion is meant to be fun. Don’t take yourself so seriously all of the time and play a little dress up. I am not suggesting you look like an extra out of 3:10 to Yuma, but throw on some boots with your all-time favorite outfit and ride ‘em, cowboy.

By: Meghan Leary- Style

Abercrombie: Taking over the World?

          I hate Abercrombie. I proudly have never owned and rarely handled any garment hailing from this store of ill repute. The disgusting thing is that Saville Row, the famous district in London which boasts the very best in quality suit-making in the traditional mold of tailored clothing that truly is an art form has been seriously undercut by Abercrombie’s relatively recent opening of a store in the storied street.
        
          I guess Abercrombie is trying why the NFL did, and is trying to take on the European market, and I guess they are having mild success as I saw a large store in London outside of Saville Row when visiting earlier this year. However, nothing prepared me for the shock of my sartorial life.
          
          Little back story first (did you actually think I would have a linear and concise blog post?). So in Egypt, the “cool kids” who go to America to wear Abercrombie as a sign that they went to America, because you can buy Lacoste (which was all the rage last year) in Egypt and this trend (of wearing Abercrombie) has grown since Lacoste peaked last year. So Abercrombie, while relatively inexpensive (in comparison to what these rich kids wear other times [think: Dolce]) is a sign of an ability to go to America, which of course requires either the person to have an American passport or the access to a Visa to travel there, both of tremendous difficulty to attain from Egypt.
          
          Fake Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton is a given in any country, and many kids buy t-shirts and the like proudly displaying these storied fashion houses. Yet, I never, in my entire life, thought that I would encounter what I did: a fake Abercrombie t-shirt.

          Yes, it seems that Abercrombie has now ascended to the levels, in the minds of less fortunate people, the level of Armani and the like. Is this a good sign for Abercrombie? I am not so sure, but I think it reflects something funny about fashion; its value is simply appreciated by one’s perception of what it is. For instance Nine West is triple the price that it is in the United States, and is the choice of many well-to-do women in Egypt or funnily enough Timberland is the sportswear of middle-aged men of means. Why? Because that’s what they perceive to be the top, and as far as they are concerned, it is.

          I wonder what we value that others laugh at?

By: Osama Eisa- Editor-In-Chief