Because I took your pulse.

If you've missed the couple of references and mentions I've already made here and there, let me clearly state for the record that the best show ever to grace our television sets is BBC's Sherlock. Though the writing and directing, I'm sure, has much to do with it, the first thing you notice is that the casting choices are absolutely perfect, with Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (a.k.a. Bilbo Baggins) as Dr. John Watson. And though each 1 1/2 hour episode is brilliant, the best (i.e. the best 90 minutes of television you'll ever watch) and my favorite is the first of Season 2, featuring Lara Pulver as...well, you'll have to watch it. Anyway, in one scene, Lara's character is wearing only Sherlock's wool coat. Hence the connection my brain made to this editorial photo of a coat I've already posted about from Kristofer Kongshaug's A/W 13/14 collection. The connection is, of course, also encouraged by the fact that the model looks quite like Lara (well, particularly how she looks in a later scene in the episode), at least from this angle. The question is, which girl is luckier: the one that gets to wear something from one of the most talented designers around, or the one that gets to wear something that Sherlock touched. That, my friends, is a tough one...

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go mourn the death of some trees and decide whether I should read Neil Gaiman's newest masterpiece a second time in less than 24 hours.

Kristofer Kongshaug, A/W 13/14

Kristofer Kongshaug hasn't had a new collection for a while, so I was very much anticipating the posting of the A/W 13/14. Unfortunately, Kristofer didn't get the memo that I wanted to see a sans-leather collection (like his S/S 12), so I can only post a few of the looks here (like with his A/W 11/12). Luckily, that top at the top is worth a post alone. One day, long ago, I almost got a wool Junya Watanbe piece off of eBay that was a bodysuit with a snap crotch, my intention being to wear it as a normal top with the snaps undone. This top by Kristofer echoes that thought, whilst having some lovely detailing in the back. I want it. And though I've yet to wear a camel-coloured coat, that second look is pretty much perfect. In fact, it's getting the My New Favorite Outfit award.

Kristofer has this way with tailoring and tiny details that instantly make a standard wardrobe piece spectacular. And every collection tends to feature a piece or two where the detail used is suspension in one form or another (e.g. the leg-brace dress of S/S 12, or the precarious crotchster pants of A/W 11/12). This collection, the piece chosen to play around with was the mini skirt. First you think it's like any other tight mini skirt you'd never be able to wear, and then you see it styled without the jacket. A necklace/harness/one-strapped jumper? Yes, please!

Truth is, there are some more suspension techniques used by way of a belt that is incorporated all genius-like into the back and neck of the piece. If you have both a computer that doesn't tend to crash and about 15 minutes (i.e. these photos take a looooong time to load), do go to Kristofer's website to view the whole collection. Just swap out the leather in your mind with a nice waxed canvas, or that textured technical fabric he uses for a couple pieces (as in the mini skirt and jacket above). 

Anachronism

An anachronism — from the Greek ανά (ana: up, against, back, re-) and χρόνος (chronos: time) — (ism: act state and condition) is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other.*

I don't know what this mini-collection from Kristofer Kongshaug is about (found via NJAL), but it doesn't really matter, does it? And that might be the point, given their collective title. Perhaps each piece is a B-side of sorts from previous collections. Or perhaps the anachronism no longer exists because I slightly altered the order of the photos from how they're presented on NJAL. Hmm...At any rate, I really want to see the seam work for each of these pieces for some reason.

In other news, Inbar Spector's online shop is finally open! Beware, for she takes PayPal...

*Ah, good ol' Wikipedia. Scourge of professors (and/or students) everywhere.

Kristofer Kongshaug, S/S 12

Now that I've identified what I'm (tragically) allergic to and have (sadly) eliminated the offending culprit from my daily routine,* I can confidently say that my judgement is not impaired, and thus I can make the important decision of what the best collection of the S/S 12 season is. Without question, it is that of Kristofer Kongshaug. He's returned to that sharp and unexpected tailoring which first caught my eye nearly two years ago, whilst adding some additional surprising details.  The exaggerated shirt tail hems, slit cuffs on the jackets, and superimposed garter detailing give classic office wear the update it needs. And those floor length dresses are perfect for translating Sappho in. I'm not sure how wearable those dresses with leg braces would be, especially when sitting, and they definitely wouldn't work for someone who crosses their legs. But you should never ever ever cross your legs. And maybe that's exactly what Kristofer was getting at with this collection. I'd even propose that the leg brace KK dress should be a middle or high school uniform to train girls while they're young, so they don't end up having vein problems in their 20s. Just a thought.

Oh, this is my new favorite outfit. I couldn't see why I'd want to wear anything else if I had it.

(Photos via Kristofer Kongshaug Facebook)

*Soy chai lattes. If it weren't grape and rosemary focaccia season, I'm not sure what reason there would be to get up in the morning now.

Kristofer Kongshaug, A/W 11/12

Well, it seems that I'm late out of the starting gate here, as these photos of Kristofer Kongshaug's A/W 11/12 collection have been on the Internets since May. I have checked his website at least twice since then, but never thought to Google his name. Ah well.

So. I have to say that the collection as a whole doesn't make me 'ooo' and 'ahh' as much as when I first found out about KK. I do think that the incredible tailoring is still there, it's just that the sharp and surprising lines that I took as his signature aren't as prevalent in this collection, particularly in the non-coat pieces. Also, there's a lot more leather (and/or some weird fur or faux fur), so I can't even post all that much (and indeed, that last photo above on the left could be a more matte leather than used in the rest of the collection, I'm just going to pretend it's not; click here to see the rest of the pieces). What I would like to do here is discuss these pants:

What would you call them, and how would you propose to wear them? I was lucky enough to see Alexander McQueen's infamous bumster pants close up when I visited the Met exhibit (twice), and still am not quite sure how they would stay up, aside from some double-sided tape or a magical belt. These, however, (which I'm going to dub 'crotchster' pants) would have a harder time with the tape because of the hips being lower than the top of the fly. What I'm thinking is that they're hiked up with an elastic bungee looped around the waistband button, and another one or two in the back (or at least when they're being worn away from the camera), only because another (furry leather-infused) piece in the collection features such a detail, albeit for a much less perilous waistline. Hmm...

At any rate, I would love that double-lapeled/-layered trench above, though I imagine it would look much better over a non-voluminous dress. Goodness, maybe I'm just too critical today.

(Photos via Creative Door, via the Kristofer Kongshaug Facebook)

Kristofer Kongshaug, S/S 10

Two things that stand out when seeing a Kristofer Kongshaug piece are the immense amount of details, and the precision with which the piece is constructed. These are from his just posted S/S 10 collection, and I'm intrigued with every single piece. The way he transforms a could-be simple piece into something completely unique with some layered detailing here and an unexpected hem shape there somehow just puts me in a good mood instantly, even with though I'm experiencing more aches and pains today than I would've liked. The shoulder cut-outs in particular throughout this collection are simply phenomenal. And those warm earthy neutrals! Sigh.

Kristofer will have an online shop opening soon, so make sure you bookmark his site! Unless of course you don't like beautiful clothes.