The Fashion Escapist

Vlada's Rickety Heels

2009-07-17T20:54:00.012+08:00

*photo Style.com

I’ve finally been able to take pleasure in watching videos of the recent Paris Haute Couture shows. A delight to see our long leggers in action….rather in motion literally. One footage, the dior show which I’ve seen a couple of days ago, gave me this intrigued observation in favor of little miss Vlada Rosylyakova – the Russian beauty. The pre-rafaelite - bestowed darling face did a great job on that runway, but it was noticeable that she walked palpably shaky with those high stiletto heels. She was wearing a short jacket with Safari-worth of prints and a black flappy visor covered in tulle. In the video, between timeframe 5.58 and 6.02, she was too ecstatic perhaps in her attempt to make alluring poses that she makes a lousy criss-cross leg maneuver and you can see her heel slightly twitch.

Vlada Rosylyakova's near mishap

John Galliano – oh, the connoisseur of fashion escapism but so unforgiving to our frail models. And the shoes are the deadly weapon. I’ve inspected the shoes closely and no wonder….whose gluteal muscles wouldn’t quiver with those heels? It was a loose fit too on Vlada’s feet. The shoes are always a part of every models 30 second endeavor on the catwalk and constantly beset with difficulties. Love Vlada – hate the shoes!

Part 1 : Christian Dior Haute Couture Show

Part 2

Dior Girls - Staircase Challenge

2009-07-16T11:35:00.001+08:00

The model line up for Christian Dior was surprisingly young. If we’re to talk about Haute Couture, at Christian Dior it has often been the theatrics – where models portray protagonists….or can fall for the antagonist’s role if wits cannot deliver the challenge. Thus, Christian dior haute couture shows have always been the shining cockpit for the girls to show off their creativity and outshine each others walks.

This season’s show however, was cropped to a short story instead of a long novel, judging by the set where the couture collection was presented – in a lounge atmosphere of a decent house with white interiors. And the collection itself wasn’t far-off the distant imagination, in fact, I think it was not imagined. The bar suits looked exactly how Christian dior himself would’ve made it. Except that the suits were undone, rather in undies. A lot of which were 50’s underthings and a peeking chemise lace at the hemline of a skirt.

The passage route for the girls wasn’t easy. Starting from one-way down the stairs; okay some of their supermodel predecessors had gone through kooky prancing on the runway (like Aggy did in John galliano), or catwalking on that pool (if you remember Maria carla before), or a balancing act of skyrocketing heels and saucer plate hats, but this time would be a rampage down a flight of staircase! Whew.

Thanks to our brave hybrid of girls who cunningly displayed their talents by acing down that staircase under such perilous circumstances. I was impressed with our young girls for keeping an intact composure and daring to project the invoked feeling of the clothes without fear. I was particularly impressed, with Vlada’s performance, though her skinny ankle made a slight twitch but bravely projected her self. Kasia too did a good job and flawless all through out. Natasha, barely looking down as she stepped down the stairs, unfazed by the amount of tiered tulle of her ball dress and made a safe but still graceful pass afterward. Anabela too, looked very stunning in red. They’ve proved that they’re good walkers once and for all….and yes! – they made it through.

*all photos by AFP/Getty Images/Reuters via the Daily Telegraph

Absentee List

2009-07-15T23:28:00.001+08:00

I've done a rollcall to check who's present last Paris haute couture castings in order to reveal those who didn't make it voluntarily of course, taken from the list of today's hottest soon - to - be supermodels.

MARKED ABSENT:

eagle - eyed Lily Donaldson

*photo Style.com

flamenco dancer Coco Rocha
*photo ForeverMark ad campaign

field-player Ali Stephens

*photo French Revue des Modes

Eniko Mihalik

*photo style.com

brit-girl Jourdan Dunn

*photo Style.com

balenciaga ad campaigner Amanda Laine

* photo V magazine

psychedelic beuty Natalia Chabanenko

*photo Vogue Nippon

We miss them all and can't wait to these girls back in action.

First Faces at Paris Haute Couture Fall 2009

2009-07-14T01:04:00.005+08:00

We've surely missed our catwalking girls who we only get to see once in a fashion week's fleeting course. After a while, these girls have certainly hibernated well since their last sightings at Resort collections and now their just as bound-to-be traipsing the runways. And for these girls, what a better way to start the season by opening the show.

Here are the first faces of this season's Haute Couture presentations at Paris.

Sasha Pivovarova - Chanel

Lara Stone - Jean Paul Gaultier

Anna Selezneva - Elie Saab

Antonella Graef - Givenchy

Hanne Gaby Odiele - Christian Lacroix

Hanna Rundlof - Alexis Mabille

Siri Tolerod - Armani Prive

brazilian Thana Kuhnen has truly embodied to a couture model at Dior

*all photos from Style.com

*photo from Catwalking.com

And an anonymous girl at Maison Martin Margiela - a designer who's an anarchist to image modelling with his legion of masked models, btw....beautiful dress shirt. And really we might not know who's the first face.

Guess who....

2009-06-19T11:35:00.005+08:00

Guess who this topmodel is. She's soon to become one of my paper dollies.

Silent waves

2009-06-17T10:11:00.008+08:00

I recently got this pretty black shirt with a beautiful bib detail.
It's not only pleasingly poetic but also leaves much to tactile sensation every time I touch these tiered layers of soft cashmere.

Not to detest it's beauty but I feel it's too snug fitting on the chest and warm when worn.

Some laborious stitching at the back....talk about the heavy hands of Couture.

Shirt in its entirety.

Scholastic Fantasy #2: The French Exchange Student

2009-06-16T12:16:00.003+08:00

Illustration:
Coco R. wears Lanvin.Acne denim dress and Miu miu cardigan. Tie Hermes Twilly. Bag Chanel.

There's a newcomer. No she's not the stubborn orphan from that French cartoon show Madeline, wearing her 'un-orphanly' pretentious yellow uniform with a matching hat. She's more refined and enunciates the Standard English language with a raucous sounding 'zzz'. She doesn't wear pants but skirts. Humanities is her favorite subject in class. Maybe she's a newcomer in school, but not in style.

She's the French exchange student, donning a look that evokes quiet modesty and chic sensibility. Her style is untrained, not overtly restrained but elegant. Starting with a sleeveless denim dress (at least not denim pants) with an elastic waistband and a beautiful zipped hardware at the back. Probably the most durable dress, a product by Lanvin and Acne among many others, which I found at Acne's website and also sold at barney's. Next is an oversized Miu miu cardigan with draped sleeves from Netaporter worn like a smock. A pussycat bow knotted out of an Hermes 'twilly' scarf (I dare do!). And the bag of course, the object that betrays the discreteness of this look, Chanel Rue Cambon shopping tote. The french exchange student in the image of Canadian beauty, Coco R. (my paper dolly for this one) in an ebony hair-do borrowed from Snow White.

In contrast, this look is a mock to the Postmodern Uniform that broke out some time in the middle half of the previous decade. Now the all-abiding school girl breaks the dress code and adds more softness. A girl who can say "bon Chic!" with conviction.

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Why I love the Japs

2009-06-16T00:39:00.004+08:00

Tiffany Godoy

The web is a pool of information and a ginormous community of individuals that all of us can conveniently access in just a slight twitch of a muscle. It seems most of the fashion content and other related resources nowadays are concentrated on the internet. Most of us scour the web for interesting content while our butts are glued in front of that monitor without ever leaving. I'm getting the feeling that the days of the 'Couch Potato' are numbered, at least in our virtual worlds and therefore, getting extinct. But wait, don't despair my friends because I have a growing obsession to share with you. I don't remember when I first started watching this show but since then, I got hooked.

I'm talking about Tokyo Fashion Express which is a news feature on both International and local Japanese Fashion aired weekly in NHK World, a Japanese News program. The show is hosted by Tiffany Godoy, a fashion journalist and style consultant. I like their comprehensive take on Internationational fashion and how its influenced by Japanese fashion and vice versa. It also talks about notable Japanese based designers as well as those who've already made it to the mainstream. Well it's not likely for news channels and television in general to broadcast 'Real' fashion....that is the things we see on the runway and its significance. These days, television has labeled fashion with an image of celebrities...repackaged it and call 'Style'...that's 90% celebrity oriented instead of pure fashion. Thanks to the japanese who never cease to showcase their culture and fashion as a relevant part of it. That's why I love the japs. I'm dying to go to Tokyo.

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Picasso Sketchbook Missing

2009-06-11T10:17:00.014+08:00

A shameful report coming from the Picasso Museum in Paris says that a valuable Sketchbook of 33 drawings by the Cubist artist is missing. The alleged thieving took place without signs of forced entry. At this time and age, we imagine museums are heavily barred with security alarms and we expect it to be infallible, yet something like this happens. To have the sketchbook in your possession is like perusing through a summary of his early works...his ideas...his collage. How lucky for that person to have such a priceless and tangible piece of art in his/her own private delectation. I'm Jealous.

Source

Scholastic Fantasy #1: Proenza SCHOOLer

2009-06-10T22:16:00.028+08:00

Illustration:
Vlada wears proenza schouler trench coat and dress. Bag proenza schouler.

It was not a long time ago when the duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough featured uniform dressing which stamped the brand Proenza Schouler possibly for posterity. I think their design philosophy isn't actually that complicated nor ambitious - just the young girl outfitted in utilitarian cool (not the price though). Since then, they explored different grounds with that thematic fantasy until lately they reverted back to the uniform. More than ever, I'm lusting for their Pre-fall collection.

*Photos from Style.com

These cool looks would certainly be a vitamin supplement for my queer eyes and basically for every pixel-hungry window shopper. That blue bag is obviously very similar to their cute PS1 bags although the size still looks frugal. An odd item is that draped teal dress with an asymmetrical trim running on the bodice which is a bit disoriented to fit in the collection. It looks somewhat unusual for the brand's aesthetic. But we know sometimes how the odd things can turn to a novelty.

So absurd that I have to visually illustrate my fantasy about school-dressing and going back to studying since I'm a college drop-out (probably fixated). Blogging is free, to begin with so why can't I keep a visual diary of my out of this world fantasies? Included on my illustration is a Proenza Schouler jacket I found at Netaporter with an edgy tailoring. At first impression I thought it looked Belstaff-y but it's so much more than just a trench given its quirky details like the relapsing collar with buckle fasteners (also on the cuffs) and the paneled back. The teal dress from the pre-fall collection I incorporated as well on pre-rafaelite beauty Vlada, who's my prototype paper dolly for this look while sporting that sundae twirled hair.

To put my self in these stern looking sleeves at academic premises perhaps won't make me smarter in Math, rather to benefit from its uncompromising don't mess with me attitude.

In Pursuit of 'The Uniform'

2009-06-01T22:34:00.011+08:00

School's out. The first day of the academic calendar just arrived here in the Philippines. It seems there's a back - to - school theme nauseously thrown in the air everywhere I look. There's a nostalgic feeling about it. It reminds me of my formative years as a student. But more vividly perhaps I can recall a few college memories. I dread to remember my self regarding the way I looked during those 'careless' (style-wise) days. I didn't buy the idea of clothing as important. Sometimes I can still hear those gullible friendly foes at my back laughing at my shoes (while I'm manually washing the dishes). Basically, I was the amicable one but reserved in my introverted thoughts....sits around corners....not a care about the world. I didn't think those girls were right in a way, I didn't realize I was betraying my self with the way I looked. As an artistically - inclined individual I knew that I had an intrinsic affinity to fashion. Back to those college days I was particularly critical with my uniform. It was a pain in the butt having to wear them on week days (except on a Wednesday). Now I'm fantasizing about it. What if I go back to school? Specifically, I think the million-dollar question is...."what would I wear?" And the blinking cursor struck me hard. Now's the time to reclaim my self. In my subsequent posts I will be having fun with this project I call: the Scholastic Fantasies as I find for the perfect uniform(s), in honor of redeeming my ugly past.

First Manic Monday

2009-05-31T14:15:00.006+08:00

Tomorrow will be officially the first 'Manic Monday' of this semester. Let's call it the 'All Saints Day' after an already bygone summer for students who will be flocking back to their graveyard schools. Nothing's more gravely than sitting on a desk, engaging in hand torture as you scribble those notes and listening to your teacher's boring litany. Imagine waking up early and painstakingly look forward to exams, homeworks and demanding professors. While summer is just about to begin in the far side of the world, I almost thought it was unbelievable that the summer days had finally ended rather abruptly. It's the last day to make most out of the summer vacation. Now I can emphatically smell every school-goer's nerves. Poor boys and girls.

Lately, the weather has been great. Just a fair amount of sunshine with a comforting breeze. At least for studs, a good consolation.

Dress to Impress

2009-05-26T17:00:00.022+08:00

I am infinitely curious of course, about how the players will face the French (style-wise) if their spectators have to be the known proponents of 'Chic'. I'd say if you can't beat them odds then why not leave a fashionable first impression on the court?

So far, I have seen a few noteworthy players donning their considerably 'best' tennis uniforms while some may be a little unconventional and the rest are just plain casual self-presentation. The French Open is probably one of those grand slams where the players can dress democratically disregarding any dress code...or a color code like the Wimbledon. And that shouldn't stop them from getting flashy with their outfits.

Maria Sharapova's efforts to look exceptional on any occasion is certainly noticeable. She wears a deep cyan frock with monochromatic layers adding a visual breezy flapper style. I'm afraid the item looks a little whimsical ('tinker bell' on mind). The dress looks more ethereal than sophisticated for my taste but surely it's commendable for Miss Sharapova to always go forward with her style. Actually it reminds me of a number from Andersson's past collection for Chloe with those transparent airy chiffon patches and playfully blocked colors.

*photo from style.com*

On a consistent manner, Ana Ivanovic chooses more function than form. The blue frock labeled 'Adilibria Ana' comes with her signature rouching details and a less fitting pleated hemline. To my opinion, Anna looks better in her tennis outfits than offcourt. The understated simplicity reflects her character.

There's not a lot of surprise on the men's fence except for that smart tee worn by Roger Federer himself with the usual hue but this time I spotted that peeking orange piping on the collar. That's incredibly chic. And a daring Nadal in that shocking pink shirt which proves his growing confidence on the court.

So the question is...how the french do tennis wear?.

Well, let's see.....

*photo from style.com*

Chanel spring 08 tennis suit on Gemma Ward. Take a look at that beautiful racket.

Should the caption be: 'who's the best dressed?'....then the winner would be....

none other than...

Gemma Ward of course!

*Maria Sharapova photo by Reuters/Pascal Rossignol (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Reuters.com*

*Ana Ivanovic photo by REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Reuters.com*

Another French Affair

2009-05-25T21:46:00.003+08:00

After yesterday's Cannes, it's another affair with the French as Roland Garros starts this week. 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal is up for a fifth consecutive French Open title after winning last year's duel with the great Roger Federer.

I'm a tennis buff but not really in the sense that I like to do all the hustling and covering all the court - it's a lot of work. Tennis is a physically strenuous sport and my rail thin body just isn't fit enough. How I wish I can be as good as Rafa Nadal, my current tennis hero. Most people go for the esteemed Roger Federer (who's graceful skill I admire) but still my heart goes to Nadal. I've grown seeing Nadal's development on the court through the years. Sometimes, I look from the past and it seems unbelievable how this boy became a solid player at the top of his game.

The biggest upset, as far as the all time favorite Rafa vs Fed rivalry was concerned, happened last week when Roger beat Rafa in front of his own countrymen at the finals of Madrid Masters. I thought Roger must have had a great deal of redemption after getting 3 grand slam defeats since the french open '08 by the almost insurmountable Nadal. I feel confident that Nadal will win despite growing suspicions of a knee injury. Though, I feel it's right to say that Federer is at his element.

I can't wait.

What a brave thing for him (Nadal) to wear pink. In all history of tennis that's the glorious most fashionable tennis tee I have ever seen.

*Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images via YahooSports*

Cannes: Bright Star

2009-05-24T21:53:00.001+08:00

Bright Star is a movie by director Jane Champion and selected as one of the nominees for tonight's Cannes Film Festival. It's an English love story between a 23 year old poet named John Keats and Fanny Brawne, a fashion student. Unfortunately, the movie has a sad, possibly tear-jerky end to it which I accidentally found out when I asked Mr. know-it-all Google. Regardless of whatever, I still want to watch this movie.

And by the way, I just found out we actually have a contender in the name of "Kinatay" directed by Brilliante Mendoza. The cast includes Filipino indie actor Coco Martin. I'm not sure but I hope I can catch a live footage of the festival at TV5Monde.

All About Flora

2009-05-22T23:11:00.004+08:00

I was watching the morning news when I saw this commercial.

It's model Abbey Lee K. as the face of Gucci's new fragrance called Flora. To see Abbey is a breath of fresh air compared to the already prominent goddesses today like Natasha P, Lily D and co. The video was directed by Chris Cunningham. Sure it was nice that she bagged a commercial but more than that, I just can't resist to make a reference to the iconic Flora (Primavera).

My trendspotting eyes have been set on Gucci since they released their fall 2008 ad campaign last year. Included in the campaign were clearly reenacted scenes from the painting (Primavera). It was shot by Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde and features the fall collection inspired by russian art.

gucci ad campaign fall 08

the three graces of Primavera

It is obvious that Gucci extracted their inspirations from the primavera in both instances, with the perfume and the ad campaign. The photos above show the three girls eniko and abbey making the gesture which was similar to the three graces while Lily engages on the viewer. The three graces is a popular group of figures during the renaissance and also one of the characters included in the painting.

Contrary to the elegantly rendered transparency as well as the graceful seduction that the three graces seem to depict, the photo expresses literally an awkward campy spirit more like a brood of hippies plus the dismal background. I actually liked this collection because it was a daring one from Frida Giannini. But maybe not this particular rendition of the three graces. I suppose the fact that its a fall collection and 'la primavera' which is italian for Spring makes a satirical contrast to the pictures.

Flora of Primavera

Going back to Flora (not Abbey Lee but the figure above), she is also a character from the Primavera. The "La Primavera" was painted by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli and was suspectedly made as a wedding present. It is probably considered as one of the critically analyzed masterpieces not really because of the ambiguity of the figures rather the cohesive message that all of the figures express. I have to say my favorite character would be Flora and second would be Mercury. Why Flora? Because Flora is like the transformation from an ugly duckling turned swan. What I'm showing here is roughly a portion only of the painting, but if you view the entire painting, you will see next to Flora on the right is Chloris. Chloris is like the old Flora before she got raped by Zephy (the wind god). Together, the marriage between Zephyr and Chloris yields to a beautiful Flora.

At least, that's how it's interpreted by the scholars and I know the not-so-scholarly me is making such a narrow reasoning. I don't care. I love Flora. And Gucci likes her too, maybe that's why they created a saga from their ad campaign shoots and made a perfume named after my favorite art muse: Flora.

I wouldn't be surprised if they hire Gareth Neff , perhaps the only guy that can emasculate Michelangelo's beautiful David and make him Mercury to complete all the characters from the painting.

*Primavera photos from Wikipedia*

21st Century Flora

Just having fun with this caricature, Frida Giannini is the 21st Century Flora. She's Italian and I love her Frida pants!

Contact

2009-05-12T22:24:00.000+08:00

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frivolous fabulous xoxo :)

About Escapism

2009-05-12T16:40:00.057+08:00

ESCAPISM,

the reason for being

Escapism may be defined as a term that pertains to the act of daydreaming, woolgathering, or simply put, a conscious effort to escape reality. Nowadays, escapism has become a term to signify entertainment through various forms of media such as music, gaming, movies, and the like.

It's an inherent trait of men to meddle with escapism as a form of self-gratification. In the early days, women escape the grueling realities of war by reading published women's journals which provide articles on househould affairs, stories and material acquisition - often depicted by Fashion illustrations.

*"Le Paravent Rouge"a fashion illustration of a dress designed by Charles Worth (1921)

published in a French fashion journal - Gazette de Bon Ton

*the definitive style of the 1920s shown in this fashion illustration
with women wearing tubular dresses.

Escapism has become an essential part in the historical development of magazines, particularly in women. Now, fashion magazines have long been established as a powerful reading material that influences how women live a more sophisticated sense of style, the way they dress, think, speak and lifestyle in general.

*a retrospective photo of fashion illustrations

during the second world war (photo taken from

a book: Illustrating Fashion)