alexander mcqueen | AW2012

I’ve always loved looking at fashion “movies” on YouTube, my favourite being Rodarte’s “The Curve of Forgotten Things” featuring Elle Fanning. We often see fashion depicted in the form of video clips of runway shows, writteninterviews with designers and photographsof their latest collection, but the dynamic medium of movie-making is one that is both wildly effective and vastly underused. Movies are a delicious infusion of the three most common forms of “digital fashion” that I listed above; it combines elements of animated visual stimulus with various audio supplements, and can be embellished with a multitude of special effects to create an artistic explosion which illustrates a concept more effectively than any individual method. Movies add new dimensions to fashion: context being one of them. Instead of browsing through a series of runway pictures, seeing an animated display of fashion sort of places it in context within the greater scheme of things.

I recently came across AlexanderMcQueen’s A/W 2012 campaign movie, and at first I didn’t know what to think of it. Fashionista.com described it as a “trippy fashion rave,” which sounds pretty accurate to me. Directed by David Sims and featuring Suvi Koponen, this psychedelic thrill-ride of electric hues and stop-motion style filming is certainly dizzying, to say the least. It’s unlike any other campaign Alexander McQueen has ever produced, and for a while I was tied between thinking:

1.     “Woah, look at this groundbreaking campaign! McQueen has never been so daring and extraordinary before – this is so awesome!”

2.     “I love the ideas behind this, and it’s definitely an authentic concept, but the video doesn’t really hit the spot.”

3.     “This is crap.”

I’ve attached some screen-grabs of the video, and the link to it is here, so I’ll let you judge this campaign video for yourself.

If you’re curious to know, I finally settled on an opinion regarding this video: It was utterly crap. I hate to say this because I’ll forever hold McQueen close to my heart as one of the best designers of all time, but that video really did suck. Admittedly, I haven’t had the chance to leaf through the collection itself, but as for the video, it was just disappointing – nothing more than a repeated clip of Suvi putting on and taking off a pair of metal goggles against a background of a fluorescent kaleidoscope. Kudos to Team McQueen for being adventurous and trying something new, but that video was laughably monotonous and terribly off-topic. But I still love you, Team McQueen – we all have bad days collections!

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topshop.

 Words cannot describe how much I adore Topshop, so I've created this polyvore set in hopes of illustrating my affection for this humble brand through a hastily compiled visual aid. Topshop's timeless, rich aesthetic contorts and re-molds itself as each season breezes in and out, thus achieving harmonious synchronization with the trends that come hand in hand with the seasonal changes on the thermostat. The skilled designers of this brand effortlessly churn out pristine, artisanal works of art multiple times a year, and time and time again, they are awarded with nothing less than a sold out collection, a standing ovation, and a worldwide army of supporters.

Topshop's "unique" (pardon the pun, for those who understand it) aesthetic has become ridiculously appealing to thousands around the world. With saturated, explosive color schemes for every season, a rich variety of fabrics and textures perpetually reside in any Topshop store you visit. The brand embraces a plethora of preferences, styles and personalities; only in Topshop would you find a lace slip dress, a pair of leather combat boots, a shearling coat and a pair of rugged chinos all assembled in dangerous vicinity, yet surprising harmony.

The philosophy of the brand is evident through all their esteemed creations; there is always room for experimenting and testing the boundaries of "acceptable street-style fashion." I've always compiled my outfits with an emphasis on diversity of color, print and texture, and no other brand encourages that as much as Topshop does. Topshop won't provide notoriously theatrical costume ensembles a la Alexander McQueen, nor will it ever sell you something you could find in Gap Basics or Forever 21. If you walk in to a Topshop store in search of denim shorts, you'll find an acid washed, high waisted, studded pair of denim hotpants. If you enter in search of a sweater, you'll walk out with a cropped, raglan button-down knit. Topshop emulates the diversity of our vibrant generation : it sells typical clothing- with a wild, signature twist. 

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a little mcqueen for thought.

“Alexander’s vision of fashion relentlessly questioned the requisites of clothing.”

Alexander McQueen couldn’t be a better representative of how I feel towards fashion. He designs with favor to his highly developed visual palette, he doesn’t design for practicality. He doesn’t design to appeal to the mediocre, he designs to fuel the extraordinary. He doesn’t design for money, he designs to satisfy his immense craving for beauty. He is a perfect example of someone who truly can grasp and fulfill the meaning and purpose of fashion, a craft itself that many never hone.

Razor Clam Shell dress by Alexander McQueen – Voss, S/S 2001.

Take this beautiful, contoured dress for instance. It’s created using real razor clam shells found on a beach. How much simpler does it get than that? Lee didn’t use miles of rare, expensive fabrics. He utilized the beauty and gifts of Mother Nature, who was one of the many sources of inspiration for him, and who should be a huge inspiration to any designer. He created pieces that became legendary based on his miraculous artistic abilities, not on the material he used; and that is something that's truly commendable.

"I have always loved the mechanics of nature and to a greater or lesser extent my work is always informed by that."

Another thing that's so beautiful about McQueen's stunning work aesthetic is that he has such an open, free mind that draws inspiration from everything he sees. His perpetually wandering mind is what leads him to the production of his extraordinary creations, and that is evident through each and every season. This quote (above) really inspired me because I always assumed that designers only drew inspiration from significant occurrences such as wars, time periods, stereotypes and weather, to name a few. To know that one of Alexander McQueen's sources of inspiration is sitting on a telephone pole outside my window, basking in the morning Dublin sun is a confirmation that there are so many little fragments of beauty scattered around us which we don't notice; but all it takes is for us to slow down our lives a little and tilt our heads in the direction of the stars.

 One of my favorite parts of the exhibition was the section that featured pieces from “Highland Rape,” a Fall collection from 2006. (Also categorized as “Romantic Nationalism.”) I was captivated by this entire section, and the as the haunting tune of “God Save The Queen” whistled in my ears, I could almost feel the biting Scottish wind snaking down my spine. I loved the recurring, patriotic appearance of red plaid; I think it placed each outfit into context. Because the outfits were so vastly different from each other, the print was one of the only elements that anchored each ensemble to a clear, common ground and a shared identity.

I remember standing in the doorway to the gift shop at the end of the exhibition, refusing to step out of Savage Beauty in fear of never returning. I spent lots of time in the exhibition taking misspelt notes on my iPod Touch, trying to condense everything in those magical rooms into words. I took a few sneaky pictures and in turn, developed an unwritten suspicion with the security guards who patrolled the vast rooms. Even after all that, I didn’t know how I could relive that hour I spent in there. As soon as I laid eyes on the Savage Beauty book, I knew I was willing to spend $45 on something that would help me relive my very own Alexander McQueen experience, over and over again. My perpetual concern of an overweight luggage kicked in, and I coolly brushed it off. This is Alexander McQueen we’re talking about, guys.

All Quotes taken from the Savage Beauty exhibition and the Savage Beauty book.

Images from the MetMuseum Blog, Google images, Style.com, and my own camera.

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scarves.

The transition from sunny summer months to freezing fall days is definitely a tricky one, as the change in temperature is so drastic for such a short amount of time. The two seasons are sandwiched together, so maintaining a trendy timeless look tailored for each season without completely restocking your wardrobe can be tough, but it isn’t impossible.

I've tried to narrow this post down, so here I've attempted to consolidate scarves into three basic categories: Proper, Actual scarves that do what they're supposed to: Keep people warm, Printed scarfs that are light and are perfect for summer, and Solid Scarves which tend to be heavier.

You’ve probably heard this a thousand times on numerous blogs and websites, simply because it’s completely true: Scarves are the perfect fall accessory. They’re an affordable, versatile and fun-sized addition to any wardrobe. There’s no need to shop at Saks for them either; any decent scarf can look a million bucks with skinny jeans, suede boots and an oversized tote.

Scarves are the simplest accessories. People doubt the power of a length of fabric draped casually across one’s shoulders; but scarves are able to achieve an immense caliber of chic. Knits are super cute and are the best in terms of insulation, and what better opportunity for a weekend DIY project? Cashmere is my all time favourite type of fabric; my Grandma is the queen of beautiful cashmere cardigans; their luscious texture and silky feel have me in love. Statement scarves are an absolutely stunning addition to any ensemble when used carefully. Throw on a bright printed scarf to liven up a simple outfit, and add an earth-toned one to neutralize bold clothing choices.

“But how can I pull off such an impeccably stylish accessory without it flapping around in my face or looking twice my age adorned with granny knits?” I hear you meekly cry. Well, fear not. Scarves can be worked with in three thousand different ways; they’re just a length of cloth. 

A classic casual swing is a perfect way to keep warm on a chilly day, and it brings a killer outfit down to earth too. Throw it around your shoulders if the sun’s coming out for an effortless, layered look (avoid layering scarves over industrial-strength raincoats so you don’t end up working the “overdressed snowball” look). If you’ve got a large scarf that fits over your shoulders, use it as a pashmina/shawl (bandana wrap); it’s an elegant look for a nice dinner date and will prevent your arms from sporting oh-so-gorgeous goose-bumps. And if there’s nowhere else to put your scarf (this symptom is highly unlikely, there’s always room for a scarf), loop it around your bag for an instant update. What better accessory could you ask for?

Sources: Here,here,here,here,here,here,

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