Yiqing Yin, F/W 13/14

Without any new (real) Alexander McQueen to look forward to and Inbar Spector being on a bit of break enjoying being a new mother, I thought my sources for haute couture had been depleted. But thankfully I was wrong, as Yiqing Yin has unknowingly volunteered herself for the role with her F/W 13/14 couture collection, just shown in Paris. Phewf. Interestingly, though I immediately gravitate to pieces that belong on Björk (i.e. the first one), I'm particularly drawn to the last one. And I think my man knows why more than I do myself. For, though agreeing with me on the Björk-ness of the first dress and the Oscar-ness of the third, he said that the last one looked like a Japanese cherry blossom tree painting. So much better than my description ('it looks like bandages'). Anyone interested in a 'Mr. Buffy Leigh's Fashion Impressions' feature?

(Photos via Yiqing Yin's Facebook)

Yiqing Yin, S/S 13

As I'm sitting here, putting off making the dreaded cup o' instant coffee (I'm desperate!), I was scrolling through some old posts and noticed that my wee post on Paris-based designer Yiqing Yin is one of the most viewed posts on kOs. And, since my brain is not yet working this morning/has already flown to Europe, I couldn't remember anything other than the name, so I added one more view to the post. Which led me to Yiqing's website and her S/S 13 collection. I will definitely be dreaming of that teal dress (the colour and drape of which reminds me of the sadly now defunct Verlaine, R.I.P.), and probably of that multi-lapelled/draped-shoulder jacket too. So, thanks to my unfortunate coffee situation, let's raise our mugs to the good things that can come from someone forgetting to tell you we're out of coffee beans. Even when those good things are frightening and impressive at the same time, like this piece...

...and these pieces. I'm not sure what is going on, but I like them. They also remind me of Stacey Grant's brilliant MA collection.

Remember kids, friends don't let friends drink instant coffee!

(Photos by Shoji Fujii, via Yiqing's website)

Yiqing Yin

Over a year ago, May 7th to be exact, I started writing a post on Paris-based designer Yiqing Yin. But then I got scared away by the 'Prohibited to reproduce for any other website' message that accompanied the only photos I could find of this designer's work, and so I left the post as a sad little draft, sans photos. And, I have to admit, after a few days of wistfully wishing I could share those photos, I did eventually forget about Yiqing altogether. Then today another post on Yiqing appeared on ASVOF, covering her haute couture A/W 11 collection presentation in Paris. And, lo and behold, Yiqing now has a website, with photos. The world makes sense again. 

Anyway, I love all the pleating and gathering and draping that is seen in all of Yiqing's pieces, but this dress in particular jumps out at me. Some of my favorite pieces in the Alexander McQueen Met exhibit were these two black dresses (the runway versions are pictured below) that featured extensive pleating in the neckline/yoke area and the sleeves (both from one of my favorite McQueen collections, being A/W 2006). The thing that really impressed me up close though which you can't see in the runway photos (and here's where my lack of formal education in sewing and design shows through) was that the pleated parts weren't separately sewn pieces, but rather all that pleated up fabric was allowed to open up past the designated areas to create lovely voluminous skirts, puffed sleeves, and Victorian style cuffs (and ruffs). That's what this dress by Yiqing reminds me of, as she achieves a similar end through smocking. And, yes, I know that it seems I'm just posting stuff that reminds me of McQueen, but I'm okay with that. Particularly as I've been wishing all morning that I were spending this dreary day at the Met. Sigh.

(McQueen photos via Style.com)