A.F. Vandevorst AW 07

I was looking through some of my collection folders to see some of the changes designers go through each year. AF Vandervorst being the first on my list, one of the most inspirational designers to me. This collection here which catches my attetion the most, the use of muted colours and simple yet effective silhouettes and cuts. Theres something about a girl wearing a clean white shirt that arouses me. Its such a bold statement but in a discreet way. With winter close by the green tight wrap around shoal would be ideal. The modern black dress untainted but accompanied with a touch of lace.

La Grande Dame

These sorts of events do not take place often in the fashion world.It is a reflection not only on Mme Rykiel's supreme talent as a designer but also of the esteem in which her colleagues hold her. It is hard to imagine why she has been called Coco Rykiel, for Sonia Rykiel is beyond fashion, beyond style and most certainly beyond trend. She possesses what the french describe as a certain "je ne sais quoi": an intangibility; an allure that is impossible to define. Sonial Rykiel is in a class all of her own. She remains an enigma.

At her Spring/Summer show, thirty of the world's top designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Alber Elbaz and Jean Paul Gaultier, presented the house of Rykiel with a special birthday suprise; their own take on the Sonia Rykiel look.

Below are three of my favorite ensembles that really capture that Sonia Rykiel look.
(from left to right = Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Martin Margiela & Jean-Charles de Castelbajac)

Morning Serenade

I woke up this morning to see that someone posted this video on a myspace bulletin. I think it just made my day. Being me Im pretty much a sucker for these kinds of things.

"Watashi Kirei?"

Kuchisake-onna ("Slit-Mouth Woman")
refers to both a story in Japanese mythology, as well as a modern version of the tale of a woman, mutilated by a jealous husband, and returned as a malicious spirit bent on committing the same acts done to her.The legend is said to originate with a young woman who lived hundreds of years ago (some versions of the legend state the Heian period) and was either the wife or concubine of a samurai. She is said to have been very beautiful but also very vain, and possibly cheating on her husband. The samurai, extremely jealous and feeling cuckolded, attacked her and slit her mouth from ear to ear, screaming "Who will think you're beautiful now?"

The urban legend picks up from this point, stating that a woman roams around at night (especially during foggy evenings), with her face covered by a surgical mask, which would not be especially unusual, as people with colds often wear masks for the sake of others in Japan. When she encounters someone (primarily children or college students), she will shyly ask, "Am I beautiful?" ("Watashi kirei?"). If the person answers yes, she will take off her mask and say, "Even like this?" At this point, if the victim answers "No," she will slay them (in many versions, her weapon is a pair of scissors). If the victim tells her she is pretty a second time, she follows the victim home and slays them at the doorway to their residence, due to the fact that "kirei" (きれい), Japanese for 'pretty,' is a near homophone of "kire" (切れ), the imperative form of "to cut". In other versions of the myth if you reply yes after she removes the mask she will give you a large blood soaked ruby and walk away.

During the seventies, the urban legend went that if the victim answers "You're average", they are saved. When the urban legend was revived around 2000, the answer that would save you was changed to "so-so," with the change that this answer causes the kuchisake-onna to think about what to do, and her victim can escape while she is in thought. Another way to escape while the Kuchisake-Onna is distracted is to throw candy or other sweets at her. One other way is to ask her if you are pretty. She will get confused and leave.

I get so engrossed with myths and folklores, especially Japanese ones. I'm sure its got something to do with watching all those Asian horrors alone.

Bibo No Azora

The Riddler = Rick Owens





Penguin = Albert Elbaz (Lavin)

Seal Jubilee

Tonight's a slow night, its raining outside & tomorrow is Monday. ugh. another predictable day. Class starts at 9am. Made myself a shirt bag ready to flaunt it into garment construction class. good night!