Wednesday 13 October 2010

Note to self: Il faut être patiente Madame!






Is there anything more soothing for a creative soul -forever questing and striving, yet more often than not undefined, ownerless and torn- than seeing things coming together in the end? I believe not.

Most frightening moments of 'what on earth am I actually doing here' are beautifully juxtaposed by episodes of revelations 'of course..yes, of course'.

things take time,

trust in it
and breath.

# 1: l'inspiration

Hedi Slimane, this is insane,

as in beautiful. x

http://www.hedislimane.com/

Friday 1 October 2010

'Kate, I know it's not just your fault, but can I say though I am still annoyed' OR 'the death of old clothes as new trend'


OMG! Are you eagerly awaiting the next and (final???) Kate Moss for Topshop collection, which is about to hit the stores UK-wide this month? Go on...
NO..?
Erm no, actually me neither.

But is it true, is the 14th collection really supposed to be last one? What a number is that to finish on anyway? Some sources seem to have found an answer already: 'replaced by a younger model' (Mail online August 30th 2010), as 19 year-old Chloe Green, daughter of Topshop boss SIR Philip Green, is rumoured to take over some of Mrs Moss' design duties. Lovely story I must admit, but let's be honest, it was never going to last anyway, was it. I am sorry Kate.
Where shall we start..
It was spring 2007 when Kate's first collection arrived in stores and yes, people were going mad for it. Whereas one camp was prepared to risk serious injury in the battle of the racks , another could be overheard sighing 'oh not another celebrity-design-collaboration-thing' or indeed 'I am not paying that much for this shit!'. But something was different this time..
We could all work out that the celeb's role in such a collaboration in terms of actual involvement in the design process is never a significant one and that the real selling bonus is image endorsement rather than creative talent. However what is momentous in Kate's case is the fact that this was never even made a secret of. Kate was not 'co-working' on design ideas and concepts for one coherent collection (Whereas a collection by definition is not more than 'a group of objects or works to be seen, studied, or kept together', in a fashion context it usually implies at least a shared concept of inspiration in order to achieve aesthetic consistency.) Instead randomly picked pieces of her own private wardrobe made up the entire 'collection'. So what we came out with were not clothes inspired by Kate Moss' style, but clothes that seem to materialise Kate Moss herself. Unfortunately though a mass-produced and cheap-looking version.
The idea is brilliant yet doomed at the same time. On the one hand 'becoming her' is desirable and has never been made easier for the customer (many pieces are copies of very exclusive Vintage and designer pieces she had famously worn out to events, been photographed in and are hence associated with her.) On the other hand no matter how rich a source Kate's wardrobe may be, sooner or later it will be exhausted. And this, it appears, is just about to happened now.
Now Kate, I appreciate you had enough bad press, you may as well quietly finish after your 14th collection...
but yes, I am still annoyed- A. because such talentless collaborations are naturally disturbing to everybody who could call design their trade (a bit like Katie Price's novel topping UK's bestseller list. SAD) and B. because it really made Vintage into a high street trend. Yes that's a contradiction in itself and yes it pretty much killed it. Thanks.