Fake Sartorialist

Be the Death of Her

2011-11-15T13:53:00.001-08:00

Like a horseshoe crab coming to shore to find its mate, Anita felt the need to trawl the shore of Venice Beach every 6 months. She would leave a planned dinner, walk out of an art-house film, jump out of a moving vehicle, whenever she felt the calling to get her heels covered in the salty-fresh spray in the Pacific Ocean.

Today, Anita had attended the opening party for the new Vogue Los Angeles magazine. Mingling with all the usual suspects, Karl, Anna, Anna, Giorgio, Lady and the sorts, when the tingle in her heels began again. She brushed the feeling away as she smiled at Gandy's come-on: "your face looks absolutely radiant today...". She smiled and nodded staggering to the bar asking for a Martini with extra salt edging. Her Prada pumps were driving her crazy, she knew buying a size smaller would be the death of her.

The pulsing electro-hip-hop beats were driving her crazy, it all sounded like noise to her. She wondered the dance-floor in a daze, party blacked out, spinning around dizzily, the tabloids marked her as the soul of the party as her layered tissue-dress fluttered about the room.

Thirty minutes later, without any recollection of how she had gotten there, she was wondering wading in the sea shore with her wet Pradas, feeling the refreshingly cool water on her burning heels. She wondered about, dazed, until the burning sensation and primal instinct faded away. On her way back to find a taxi, she took a shortcut through the skate-park, that due to recession cutbacks hadn't had its lighting repaired since January 2010.

Her bright red pump got caught in a grind-rail, she lurched, the sharp red stiletto heel snapped violently, she lost her balance, her perfectly manicured hands swung out, the tissue-dress fluttered beautifully (just as the shopping assistant had said), the dress fluttered beautifully to the concrete floor... billowing lightly around her recently... alive... body.

Images by Sonny Vandevelde - Autumn/Winter 2011

Left to right, top to bottom [Martin Grant, Foaming Waters of the Errol Dam by the US National Archives, Victor & Rolf, Victor & Rolf, Moonlight by the State Library of New South Wales)

Foxtale

2011-09-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

Ivanov Asen is a Bulgarian dandy. He is known for his refined language and love of leisurely hobbies. His favorite hobby, fox hunting, had ket him interested for many years, that is until he caught the-big-one. Around four years ago on a casual fox hunt, between sartorial blog surfing, Ivanov came across the biggest fox he had ever seen. Its was a majestic thing, larger than a wolf, with a tail that must have taken considerable shampooing and conditioning to keep its lustrous sheen. He cocked his gun, aimed with precision, shot, and brought it down.

Ivanov commissioned a collaboration between the the town's best hat maker and taxidermist. The result (as pictured) is a hat/sculpture that defies gravity. Talk of this hat soon spread through the town, not for its towering majesty, or gleaming sheen, but rather for the occult affect on its owner. Ivanov could be found walking about at the most ungodly hours. That autumn Ivanov set many trends: blood splattered tote bags, live rodent charm bracelets (customizable), teeth-torn boxer-briefs, piglet espadrilles. In the end he took the trend search too far. Chanel dazzling red lipgloss was no longer red enough for him, so he went to his closest cosmetic store and bit of the proprietors head in order to get the perfect glossy red lip that only fresh blood can achieve.

Images by Sonny Vandevelde - Autumn/Winter 2011

Left to right [Cerruti, A street in Torshavn - Cornell University Library, Galliano,

Galliano, Kris Van Assche]

Image close-up

Part of the Fake Sartorialist-Sonny Vandevelde collaboration

Westwood - Backstage with S.Vandevelde

2011-06-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to meet up with backstage photographer Sonny Vandevelde last Sunday in Milan. He had an extra backstage pass to the Vivienne Westwood show, could I say no? OF COURSE NOT!

The show was fantastic from backstage, I practically got to touch each piece and see the incredible detail in each one, something that is sorely missing in a catwalk flash walk-by. Plus standing right next to Queen V was just ... yes well.

It's no wonder Sonny gets such dynamic photos out of the models. He has a really good connection with them and seems to put them at ease or into manic excitement with a mere expression.

Preen

The most fascinating thing about the whole backstage experience was the very 'hands-on' treatment of all the models. They truly become walking-talking-living dolls that are dressed, made up, repositioned, re-applied, tucked in, zipped up, patted down, fluffed up.

4 Images, 1 Hour - Leg Brace

2011-05-23T04:18:00.000-07:00

I have been taking a lot of time creating highly detailed images of late. I really miss those early days of the Fake Sartorialist and the speed creation, on the fly, decisions that I made in images. So in an attempt to stimulate the same kind of response I've created a small challenge for myself.

I give over my library of images that Sonny Vandevelde took during the A/W 2011 shows to a friend. They can then select any four images from the 33646 available. I am then tasked with spending an hour to create a final image.

So I have created the first of the edition. You might need to do a bit of hunting with the source images below to see where I've inserted everything. The video shows the entire 1hr process in 1min.

Images by Sonny Vandevelde - Autumn/Winter 2011

Left to right [Lanvin, Proenza, Isabel Marant, Isabel Marant]

On Future Projects

2011-04-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

Updates have been rather slow over the last couple of months. So I've finally set down some time to clarify what I'll be doing over the next few months, and what you can expect from my work.

Firstly, I have received a UNESCO Grant to work on a project (Space Shift) at the Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistolleto so I'll be flying off to Italy mid-June. It's a pretty intense 4 months, so posts will likely stop completely from June-October. But there is something else to look forward to:

Secondly, I have teamed up with the uber-talented backstage fashion photographer Sonny Vandervelde to create work for a possible exhibition later this year. For the next month I will be working exclusively with Sonny's 300Gb of Autumn/Winter 2011 photos. Thanks to Sonny's incredible images, these collages are very high-resolution, incredibly detailed and exploding with colour. So these images really will have to be seen in person to get the full effect.

(Click image for larger view)

Images by Sonny Vandevelde - Autumn/Winter 2011

Left to right [Thierry Mugler, Ermenegildo Zenga, Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Wooyoungmi Location Shot, McQueen Location Shot, Dries Van Noten Location Shot]

Close-up

Afterfashion

2011-03-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Antonio had wandered the cemetery's paths for years after he was assassinated by (the then un-and-coming male model) John Castings. He was strangled backstage right after the Thierry Mugler 2011 A/W show had been completed. It was hailed as his best performance to date, the best male catwalk ever performed.

Antonio never heard the praise. Two weeks later, his soul awoke to a grayscale world bound by a rusty fence. There were lots of others around him, mostly old and badly dressed. Cardigans seemed to be the most popular piece of attire. Antonio was teased by all the other spirits. His pink puff socks, permed hair apron and purple drawstring pants were never meant for the afterlife. So he wandered about mostly alone, giving himself pedicures, manicures and cleaning the cobwebs out of the plastic bag that had lead to his death.

1. Soulland A/W 2011 (Coute Que Coute), 2. Dinu Bodiciu MA Collection (Style Bubble), 3. Springfield Cemetery (New England Oddities), 4. Smoke (Henrik W. Jensen) 5. Thierry Mugler A/W 2011 (Jak & Jil), 6. A Tough of Pink (Jak & Jil)

Rearden Style

2011-01-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

Walking away from the first production run of Rearden Metal, Rearden knows that industry will never be the same again. These metal foundries will soon all be replaced with Rearden Metal. Once cooled and tempered it is almost indestructible, non-corroding and has a green-blue sheen.
Rearden never was one to walk around the factory floor worrying about what he wore. As a molten metal droplet fell on his leather pants, he simply brushed it off, welcoming the singed leather that was left behind. The truth was that almost all of his clothes were covered in grease, eaten by acid, worn by years of use. People never noticed that, his intense presence completely overwhelmed the visual reality that surrounded him. It was as if a cloud of fog and style enshrouded him wherever he went.

1. Versace A/W 2011 (Vogue), 2. Electric phosphate smelting furnace (The Library of Congress), 3. Versace A/W 2011 (Vogue), 4. Versace A/W 2011 (Vogue), 5. Red Dress (Jak and Jil)

Yamamoto Escape

2011-01-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

Kevin had just finished the most daring act of cyber-fashion-hacking of the century. Everyone knew that the Yamamoto collection would be a glowing blue for Q3/4 2245(seasons had not existed for over four decades at that point). The whole of New San Francisco had even changed its entire glow for the collection.
Kevin, once an employee at Yamamoto Inc. had been betrayed by its lead designer. Having invented the light suite, Kevin wanted the worldwide recognition that he deserved, for 12 seasons they were all the rage, and the trend only seemed to be intensifying. As its creator, it didn't take much for kevin to program in four colours that are guaranteed to destroy any collection: conjunctivitis-pink, varicose-aqua, gangrene-green and jaundice-yellow.

1. San Francisco (Wikimedia), 2. Jesse Carter by Sopie Kinachtchouk for Fantastics Mag (Fantastics Mag), 3. Tron (Disney), 4. Sky (Fake Sartorialist)

Thus Spoke Hot Air

2011-01-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

Paris isn't known for dry winds, but as Ignatia got off her air-shuttle bus she was assaulted by a dry, cedar-wood scented, breeze. She had arrived at the Brazil House in the Cite Internationale, ready to start her philosophy masters degree. She was carrying a case full of books: Kant, Nietzsche, Hegel, Locke, Rousseau, Heidegger, Husserl. Her heart was heavy, and the breeze felt to her like she was being burnt from the inside by a cedar-wood blaze. She glowed red, splintered and cracked, then dimmed, cooled and flaked away. She emerged new, fresh, ready for her studies.

1. Ranya Mordanova shot by Aingeru Zorita for Metal Magazine No.22 (Paper Mode), 2. Brazil House, Paris (Fake Sart), 3. Ranya Mordanova shot by Aingeru Zorita for Metal Magazine No.22 (Paper Mode), 4. Dree Hemingway shot by Inez van Lamsweerde for Purple Magazine (The Photography Link), 5. Stefania Bosio - Ornamental MTO Jewelry (Style Bubble)

Looking Back at 2010 Part 2

2011-01-03T16:53:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon, Press and Worldwide Viewership:

Coming soon a shoot by Steve Marais for Aware

2010 Was a good year for press, from the New York times to Brazil's Catarina magazine,

see some press posts here>>>

Fake Sart is viewed from Australia to Zambia

Top 5: USA, South Africa, UK, Canada and Australia

Top 10 and Top 25

Viewer Statistics:

Looking Back at 2010 Part 1

2011-01-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

2010 was a busy year for the Fake Sartorialist. With the almost 200 posts there is a lot to see, but posts are often lost through the cracks. So I decided to create a hi-lights of 2010 post. Looking at the website stats, I often get surprised at what the most popular posts end up being.

Sometimes my favorite posts get a bit neglected, so I've hi-lighted them here too.

Most Viewed:

1. Rudolphia - Making Of,

2. The Wasteland Continued,

3. Anna delo Russo (actually Carine Roitfeld),

4. The Beginning, Goodbye Scott Schuman

My Favourites:

1. Home Gym,

2. Chanel Fashion Comic,

3. Catarina Magazine,

4. Designer Essence

To An Exciting Year Ahead

2011-01-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here's to an exciting year!

One filled with fantastical experiences

With outlandish tales

and new pursuits.

This I wish, for this blog, and to all of you for the next 365 days

1. Nowhere Boy by Rodorigo Carmuega (The Ones2Watch), 2. Val by Rachel de Joode for Blonde (The Photography Link), 3. Fireworks (Fake Sart), 4. Silhouet (Jak and Jil), 5. Walking hooded (Face Hunter) 6. Yuli Lev by Yifat Verchik (The Photography Link)

Day 16 - Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

Every year Danna would donate some of her time to the local orphanage. She didn't believe in donations, but she did believe in spectacles, so each year she had $10 000 worth of confetti rigged up in the main dining hall. Needless to say that the caretaker takes about a year to clean up the Christmas explosion, and just as he is finished, the contractors come in and start setting up the next year's fluttery burst of colour.

1. Woman in street (Face Hunter), 2. Children decorating tree, Melbourne (Australian War Memorial Collection), 3. Susie in snow (Style Bubble), 4. James Smith by Thomas Lohr for Sleek (The Fashonisto), 5. Christmas stocking (Sand Scripts), 6. Confetti explosion (Talk To Me Blog), 7. Red hat (Jack and Jil), 8. Blue earrings (Jack and Jil)

Day 15 - Instamatic

2010-12-22T16:49:00.000-08:00

Donatella worked for years in the competitive world of fashion. She once bit off part of Vivienne Westwoods ears for a photo-shoot. Her life was full of drugs and electro-pop beats. After her third visit to the Betty Ford Center Donatella knew that sneaking some coke in the children's visiting room was the lowest she could ever go. So she left early, got half her deposit back and bought a large farm with a city view.
Here she lived in a cave and communed with nature. She didn't smoke dope anymore, now she pounded the fibers into papers and fabrics. She spoke to animals and harvested her own soy beans. She hand sewed everything she wore. But there was just one problem in Donatella's life. She was just out of range of a cell tower for wireless data connection for her mobile, so she couldn't send any vintage Hipstamatic photographs of her alternative lifestyle to any of her friends. So she got a cab back to civilisation, bought some hard drugs and forgot the wonderful life she had made for herself.

1. Manuella Coatigan (Style Bubble), 2. Cliffs (Field Museum Library), 3. To Be Adored S/S 2011 (Style Bubble), 4. Shoot by Tom Marshak (The Photography Link), 5. Sophie by Hanneke van Leeuwen (The Ones2Watch), 6. Crow in flight (Richard Heeks), 7. Skyline (J. Barry)

Day 14 - Day 13

2010-12-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

There once was a satirical fashion illustrator that though it would be an interesting challenge to create 24 images in 24 days. He was happy while he was making that decision and planning for it. He was happy on the first day, and on the second, even all the way up to the 5th. On the 12th day the sleep deprivation began to hit him, that was when his true love said to him: take a break. So he decided to make a making-of video of his 13th days work.

See Day 13 - Tentacled Conspiracy

Day 13 - Tentacled Conspiracy

2010-12-15T17:29:00.000-08:00

It was just his normal way back home, he had taken the shortcut many a time before. Today, though, was not a normal day. Each step Chris took sank him deeper into a paper puddle. The sun was shining and birds were flying about and Chris was sinking ever deeper into a puddle that didn't even get his sweatpants wet. For a second he was afraid that someone was trying to mug him for his man-purse. That was until Paul, the world cup predicting octopus, fell at terminal velocity onto his head. Out of sheer luck the Sartorialist, Face Hunter and Jak and Jil were all there to take this synchronous shot. Coincidence, I think not.

1. Chris Brown by James Demitri (The Fashonisto), 2. Leni by me in Sydney (Face Hunter), 3. Ilona by Filippo Del Vita for H Mag (The Photography Link), 4. Octopus (Suntimes), 5. Birthday Blues (Style Bubble), 6. YSL Stalion Pump (Jak and Jil)

Day 12 - Looking for Bears

2010-12-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Amanda was trained in the art of the woods from as early as she could remember. One of her very first memories was of husking out a raccoons fur to make a hat with. Over the years she had collected fox-tails from her uncles, cousins and other close family, creating her prized possession: A Fox-tail Fan. It was so luxurious and thick that many a stranger had tried to buy it off her.
Even though she was so spectacularly beautiful and resourceful, Amanda was still a lonely woman. After years of hunting in the wild for her man, she was going to her last resort, online dating. So she asked a friend of hers to take a profile photo for her. She planned the shot to the last detail: A velvet dress with and scorched natural scenes, the neoprene inner from a hitchhiker that died in an avalanche, a gold threaded necklace that the made herself in a furnace, her fox-tail fan and her best friends in the world Mike and Tina (well Tina was taking the photo, Mike and Tina are married and they are both bears).
Her profile description read:
Alone and looking for a SWM bear

1. Bryanboy wearing Martin Margiela (Bryanboy), 2. American Black Bear (Field Museum), 3. Suburbia by Patric Lindblom (The Ones2Watch), 4. Liu Wen by Greg Kadel for Vogue Germany Nov 2010 (Paper Mode), 5. Wood by Olivia Frolich (The Ones2Watch)

Day 11 - Cosmic Encounter

2010-12-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

He plummeted towards earth, reaching terminal velocity. His kevlar space suit began to peel of his body, vaporizing into the atmosphere. His hair vanished in a burst of flames. Like a comet he colided with the earth, landing bruised, naked and hairless, newborn into the world.

1. Will Lewis for Bailey (The Fashonisto), 2. Thome Browne Mens SS 2011 (Vogue), 3. em>48 Cowboy look (The Fashonisto), 4. Maison Martin Margiela F/W 2010 (Lynn & Horst), 5. Abbey Lee for ID by David Bailey (Paper Mode), 6. Planetary Nebulas (Smithsonian) , 7. Cat's Eye Nebula (Smithsonian), 8. Eric Ramos by Steven Chu (The Fashonisto), 9. Ink in water (Flickr-Sam Leivers)

Day 10 - Quarry Style-Off

2010-12-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

Dorian had always been ahead of the trend curve in the quarry down town. He was the first to wear braces, the first to bring back espadrilles, he even took the bold step from boxers to boxer briefs. He liked being the one that everyone looked to for fashion guidance. Unfortunately one day, Bob down in the stone polishing section, started coming to the quarry wearing his snake leather red stilettos.

Dorian went home that night in a rage. He tore through his wardrobe, yanking Chanel boleros off their hangers, rummaging through his sheer underwear drawer. He needed to come wearing something revolutionary, something completely ahead of its time. He spent the whole night preparing, matching colours and fabrics.

The next morning he arrived with the Vangelis Conquest of Paradise theme song blasting out of his jawbone jambox. He was wearing a pair of Diesel distressed jeans, unbuttoned and left loose around his thighs, 2xist no show white mini briefs, a purple silk package support system and lastly 10 meters of the finest, lightest, most luxurious indian slik wrap around top. Even though the gusty wind in the quarry meant that he was fighting with his own top half of the time, Dorian left home happy that day knowing that tomorrow all his coworkers would be trying their best to keep up with him.

1. Tobias Sorensen by Agata Pospieszynska (The Fashionisto), 2. Quarry scene (Galt Museum), 3. Liu Wen by Greg Kadel for Vogue Germany Nov 2010 (Paper Mode), 4. Shoulder jacket (Style Bubble), 5. Red pumps (Jack and Jil), 6. Coco tea cup (Style Bubble)

Day 09 - Spotting

2010-12-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

Like an endangered bird, Antonio weaves through the sequined club. Earlier in the day he picked up a dead pigeon in a square, took its feathers off and created a mask with them.
As the clubs lights pulsed through the space he moved around, avoiding the social predators with ease. At one point Perez Hilton was heading straight for him, no one escapes Perez once he fixes his bee-line, but in the flash of some sequins and the changing of the beat from electro-pop-jazz-funk to hip-rave-acappella, Antonio was nowhere to be seen.

1. James, Los Felix (FaceHunter), 2. Proenza Schouler S/S 2010 (Jack & Jill), 3. Anna del Russo dressing for Vouge Ball (Jack & Jill), 4. Proenza Schouler S/S 2010 (Jack & Jill), 5. Cotton Candy Hair (Jack & Jill)

Day 08 - Samurai Model

2010-12-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

The Japanese have trained a rare breed of model. Half samurai / half fashion model. They are called 'utsukushii mono' (the beautiful ones). They assume poses that anyone else would find impossible to achieve. Their muscles are so stretched and strong that they can remain in a position for hours at a time. Their ligaments are so flexible that they can reverse natural postures, dislocate limbs, rearrange their bodies at will. Their concentration is so practiced that they wouldn't flinch if a photographer blasted their flash right into their eyes. Yet like their ancient samurai peers, they are a rare breed, they haven't been spotted in decades. This photo documents the last utsukushii mono seen in public, taken in 1930 in an unknown street in Tokyo, she appeared for only a moment before vanishing into the morning fog.

1. Jean Paul Gaultier (Sonny Photos), 2. Tokyo Street Sweepers 1930 (Flickr), 3. Back turn (The Sartorialist), 4. Headwear (StyleBubble), 5. Neckwear (StyleBubble), 6. Raphael Young Footwear (StyleBubble)

Day 07 - Shower Run

2010-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

She got caught by the storm, the worst she had ever seen. Drops as big as tennis balls were hitting her face, dislodging her top, baring her breasts. Thank god she had brought her extendible Muji umbrella. She took it out of her tiny purse and pressed the tittle button to expand the umbrella. It sprang out, forming a translucent web around her. Only a few drops were now hitting her smooth legs and grey-leopard print pumps. She was now inside the storm, she had a front row seat, the sound was deafening. She stood there her eyes wide, wanting to get as close to the rain as possible without getting wet.

1. Abbey Lee for ID Mag by David Bailey (Paper Mode), 2. Vivienne Westwood Gold Label SS 2011 (Sonny Photos), 3. Lily (FaceHunter), 4. Nicolette (FaceHunter), 5. Water Drops (Photoeverywhere), 6. Girl in Rain (Desktop Beauty)

Day 06 - Incredible Collision

2010-12-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

A black sun was rising in the Thar desert. Jane and Janei (pronounced J-ah-neigh) were practicing their world famous gogo-dancing routine. It was a strenuous routine of back flips, tap dancing duets, and death defying amateur acrobatics.

The twins had made a name for themselves with their signature move: EAGLE - The Eagle Arrow Groin Lock Explosion. The move is always performed as their encore, for they have never had a performance where the audience didn't go mad with desire. So after waiting for the rapturous applause to die down just enough, Jane walks onto stage and takes a seat on her chair, takes out her cigarett and lighter, and makes herself comfortable. Everyone knows whats coming, the air is thick with anticipation. The Jane sisters have been known to make audiences wait up to a quarter hour for the explosive conclusion to their show. When everyone least expects it, Janei sprints out from the wing of the theather, pounding her diamante heels onto the wooden floor. Not a single sound other than the explosive CLACK of the heels can be heard.

CLACK - CLACK - CLACK - CLACK - ... a pause

As time itself stops, Janei flips into the air and assumes her position, Jane follows suit, lifting her leg. Those few seconds while Janei flies through the air, become tens of seconds.... and as the connection is made, and explosive cannon of confetti hidden between Jane's legs explodes covering the entire audience it fluttering metallic confetti.

Image Credits: Paris Vogue, April 3003. 1. Incredible India, 2. La Poupee (Glen Luchford), 3. Buccellati Jewelry, 4. Quand la Ville Dort (Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin)

Day 05 - Coral Daydream

2010-12-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

Image Credits: 1. Coral Reef (Wikimedia), 2. Yoshiko Reclining (The Selby), 3&4. Dresses (Style Bubble), 5. Air bubbles (Likclick), 6. Holly Garber (Jak and Jil)

Day 04 - Special Delivery

2010-12-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Dooreen was delivering her usual package in the back streets of Amsterdam in the early hours of the morning. Miniature model trafficking had become a huge industry in the last year. After all the designers had gotten sick of the old, overweight, underweight, underage, ginger, blond, boyish, girlish, hunk, bombshell models, they needed something to keep the media interested.

It was at about this time that the research of a Swedish cloning experiment went public. For the last 10 years they had been creating miniature sized models by splicing the DNA of the worlds best models. The DNA was collected in Paris an undercover fashion show hair stylist.

Needless to say that the entire operation was highly illegal, but this only added to its allure for the elite designers. The first show to have a fully miniature modeling cast was Victor and Rolf, for once they would not need to upscale their doll-sized fashion creations. Next Dolce & Gabbana paraded groups of mini-men with tiny rippling abs. Most notably McQueen had his miniature models playing with robots: riding aibo dogs, driving model cars and flying model helicopters.

Image Credits: 1. Cyclist (The Sartorialist), 2. Abbey Lee by Emma Summer for I.D. April 2010 (Paper Mode), 3. Candice Swanepoel by Mario Testino for VMAN (Paper Mode), 4. Neon (Images of Elements), 5. Brick Wall (Wikimedia), 6. Smoke (Link)