200 (and one) posts. 200 ideas. Some good, some terrible. Some well thought out, some thrown together with a very sore head. Nearly two years of my life documented by the random various things that catch my eye. I honestly never expected this blog to last this long, nor that I would care about it, or that I would consider myself a blogger, much less that others would consider me one.
I guess I just like the idea of sharing things I like, even if I just reach one person then that’s cool. It was never meant to be big or clever – just as well, says you!
I’m not going to go on and thank the Academy, and god and my dog’s ma’s sisters hampster’s personal trainer, but I would like to say that I have met some really cool, interesting people from doing this and I am happy that there is a community of people who are engaging with fashion in a thoughtful way and that us nerds can all unite together!
And without further ado, here is what I wish I was wearing today, instead of an old, ragged hoodie and sweatpants.
Fashion week seems like a very very long time ago – even though the last two months have flown in. I like that fashion week was the first thing I did when I moved here. It’s always going to be my moving anniversary, or something. There is a poignant thought in there somewhere but let’s save the vom-inducing saccharine bleugh and look at some well dressed people, shall we?
x
even the babies are blogworthy in Somerset House….
I stopped by the Karla Otto SS12 press day last week for a perve on some amazing collections.
My primary reason for attending was to check out Cos, who had very kindly invited me to the Dublin day, and then even more kindly extended the invitation across the water. And as per usual, I was not disappointed with their offering. Interesting shapes, great fabrics, simple yet exciting. I would happily dress head to toe Cos every day of the year. My favourite piece was the quilted neoprene, collarless jacket, but I was just as taken with their off the shoulder neoprene top. I am a massive fan of neoprene, especially when it is used like this. Also, the off the shoulder neckline is very ’90′s and I think I’m having a bit of a moment for it…watch this space.
Cos SS12
I was pleasantly surprised by Bally. Their collection was strong, true to the brand, but with an edge I was not expecting. The way they integrated fabrics was fresh, and had a very modern feel, without selling out their heritage and refined nature, and their colour palette was just right.
Bally SS12
I am having a huge menswear crush at the moment, so it’s no surprise that a lot of my favourite pieces were on the mens rails. Some of it I want to wear – Givenchy sweaters step forward please. But while a bit of androgyny is great, I think mostly I just really appreciate the nuances of menswear design. It is just so…practical. But still FASHUN. It’s just such a whole other thing to womenswear.
There were a few names that I was new to, Neil Barrett for example, whose collection was considered and beautiful – and his shoes were amazing. Kris Van Assche, a Paris based menswear label also really impressed me. His website is also pretty cool.
Neil Barrett SS12
And if that wasn’t enough, there was Edun. And GIVENCHY. And Margiela. And Bally, and Marni and a whole host of others. I did my usual press day trick of getting really hot and bothered and nervous and a bit stupid. So I took about 4 pictures, and left in a bit of a flap, unsure of what to say to anyone. Good work Jane. I wouldn’t even mind, but I didn’t even have a coffee beforehand. And I STILL got caught in the door on the way in…..
So, to recap, I will be buying as much Cos as I can afford over the next while, and will be dreaming of Givenchy. Quelle suprise.
It is far easier to say you are going to stay in and have a quiet weekend than it actually is to do so. It is thus with a level of smugness and a tinge of FOMO* that I report to have managed a full weekend of quiet civility. Ish. These are some of the things that have been entertaining me this weekend (and week).
1) Postmodernism: Style & Subversion 1970-1990
Love love love the V&A. Love love love late night Friday museum banter. No queues. No tourists. Booze. Awesome. There were costumes worn by Leigh Bowery & Mr. Pearl, Dave Byrne’s giant suit from Stop Making Sense, images by Cindy Sherman & Richard Prince, typography and graphic design from the likes of Peter Saville (Factory Records) and The Face….There was lots of art and product design that I felt was quite dated, but then lots of graphic design that was still really fresh and modern.
What really struck me about the exhibition was how far product design and fine art has come in terms of aesthetic, but how I still feel like we live in a postmodern society. It’s a bit brain melty but very very interesting about where art, and society, is right now.
It also reminded me that I need to watch Blade Runner. And listen to Joy Division more.
Peter Saville's sleeve for New Order "Power, Corruption"
2) Dazed & Confused 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Somerset House
If I’m totally honest, I don’t really read Dazed that much anymore. But anything that promises lots of Rankin & Juergen Teller & Nick Knight photos and I’m there. It’s a small but interestingly curated exhibition, well worth a gander. And Somerset House is one of my favourite places. And they have their ice rink & Christmas tree all ready to go….EXCITING!!!! As an exhibition, I was struck by how much of it was really recent, and perhaps a little disappointed that they didn’t have more archival sort of images. I am more interested in the start of Dazed, when it was still a bit more edgy and outsider-y, but that’s just me being a dickhead.
Juergen Teller
Nick Knight
Rankin
3) Coats
There is definitely something wrong with me. But I am fine with it. Here’s one I customised earlier.
**PICS TO FOLLOW I’M TOO TIRED TO DO AN OUTFIT POST**
4) Patrick Swayze.
Dirty Dancing. POINT BREAK. I wish I could merengue. And surf. And jump out of planes. Well, actually, it was Darrick Doerner who surfed that massive wave at the end. And the whole thing re-ignited my passion for surfing, and I have made a made a pinky swear with my roommate to go on a surf holiday to Cornwall in January!
Here’s Darrick and other big wave surfing legend Laird Hamilton doing they thang at Jaws, one of the best breaks in the world.
5) Modeselektor – Monkeytown
Just what I’m in the mood to listen to. I think you will be too.
6) Breakfast
The only meal worth having. For reals. I also happen to be an EPIC breakfast chef. Which is handy, given my love for them. I mean, who doesnt love eggs?
Things that are better than Ryan Gosling – please note this list is in no way exhaustive and is designed to be indicative only.
1) Civets
Civet!
Small Indian Civet
Banded Civet
LOOK AT THEM! LOOK HOW ADORABLE THEY ARE! They have spots AND stripes! Is Ryan Gosling this adorable? I don’t THINK SO.
2) Tidying my room
yea right, I live in none of these. all bedroom pics via pinterest.com
All of these rooms are warm, inviting, look like the place you wanna go to feel safe. Can Ryan Gosling make you feel like that? NO, NO HE CAN’T.
tidy…what…huh? Oh, I see. You thought this was gonna be pro-Gozzzz. It’s not. Ladies – I.Just.Don’t.Get.It
Well, like I get it, in the sense that a guy with good shoulders is pretty much a hottie. But I mean come ON. He’s a MOVIE STAR. REALLY? I feel that he is indicative of society, as with the rest of life, where we keep accepting less and less as our standard. We NEED to have aspirations, stanadards, things to strive for – even if we never attain them. Movie stars, nay, celebrities in general, should be perfect. Just proper, out of this world, inspirationally perfect. Think Dakota Fanning stunning, Johnny Depp gorgeous. People who, admittedly may make us hate ourselves a little, but I would rather set the bar high. Who wants to live in a “ah sure it’s fine” society. Ah sure it’s fine never invented anything, never moved forward, and probably squandered, withered and died in its own filth and antipathy.
So Ryan, I am sure you are a very nice young man, and in real life I would probably either swoon or punch someone to have a shot with you. But you do not represent real life, you are famous, and when it comes to being really really famous, you = not so much.
*ps no of course i don’t have pics of the gozz. A) He’s everywhere on the internet and i am not going to propagate his mug even further and B) This is a fashion/music/opinion/cute animal blog, not a cheap celebrity gossip site. I have standards, jeeeez.
I am not a Versace Woman, nor would I stop to look at a Versace Woman in the street. But I love the sheer FASHUN of the runway shows and the editorials they put out. The craftsmanship is undeniable, the attention to detail immaculate.
Versace AW11
And who are we kidding, much of what young blogging types and grungy trendy heads are wearing today is, in a trickle down-bubble up inspired way, thanks to Versace. It was the leather and luxe look that Gianni was so amazing at in the early ’90′s. And make no mistake, there are oodles of Versace Women who spend the kind of cash that makes you blush. On Versace, to be clear.
Versace AW11
I have been thinking a lot about the H&M Collection recently. I saw the first preview in Stylist magazine, and I checked it out online a bit too. But as much as I fawn over the main lines, I think I am not that bothered about the H&M collection. For one big reason. Versace is, like, REALLY tacky. That’s why it’s awesome. Even a simple black coat will always have massive hardware or some detail designed to make the world know that the wearer is really really really ridiculously wealthy.
Versace AW11
It’s like the kind of tacky all other tacky aspires to be. The kind of tacky that only works when it is made of the finest of everything, when the studs are expensive and heavy and firmly secured. The kind of tacky that cannot ever be reproduced on the highstreet. Even with Donatella at the helm (and trust me, I have a massive amount of faith in her – she looks like a tiny bullet of awesome).
So, what you get is more like a parody of Versace. Don’t get me wrong, I am technically all for diffusion lines and bringing design to the masses. Just not Versace. Keep tacky rich. Although that said, I do quite like this skirt…
I’ll almost definitely regret not getting my hands on that skirt. But I can live with myself, I think. After all, I’m not a Versace Woman, even when it’s on the high street. *Bonus ss12 images below…I love how all the Versace models are basically Donatella fembots! Babes!*
Beleaguered with my lack of blogging recently, I have been driven to that state of mind…Much like when you forget a friend’s birthday and you want to make up by getting them a really good present, but the longer you leave it because nothing is quite right you have left it so long that it’s just embarrassing either way, and you should just have got that first thing you thought of….yea, so that’s this post.
So instead of making it up to you with something amazing, you are getting me. Wearing clothes. They aren’t even exciting clothes, if the truth be told. BUT, I am nothing if not honest, and this is basically me. I am working a lot, and I have also realised that I brought two giant suitcases with me to London, and have somehow managed to end up with no clothes to wear. Seriously, my new wardrobe is the size of a school locker, and it’s still not even full. This isn’t hyperbole. I am the worst packer in history. I watched a little video the other night by Diane Von Furstenberg about how if you can pack properly, you have your life in order (thank you Racked.com). I clearly do not.
Shirt, Jumper, Jeans, Socks: American Apparel, Shoes: Primark
So. Recently I told you about my quest for the perfect parka. I showed you a picture of a parka that I was thinking of buying. I did buy it. The website lied to me. It is MASSIVE. Medium my bum. But it is basically a duvet, and this makes me happy, because I dislike being cold. So while I look like a green Yeti in the thing, I am a very content, not-cold-at-all Yeti. The very best kind of Yeti.
Yeti coat: Army Surplus Store
That should really be the end of the story. But I have a small and well documented coat problem. So when I came across an immaculate wax jacket for £10 in a charity shop around the corner from work, it was in a bag on my arm before I knew what was going on. So now I sort of own the same coat twice. Oops. But look it’s fine, OK, because one is massive and for keeping warm, and the other is more fitted and for keeping dry. OK?
Deadly wax jacket: Charity shop round the corner
I possibly need to form a help group or charity organisation of some form – the Jane Alexandra Centre for Girls Who Can’t Stop Buying Outerwear…
