Tanne Vinter

Thanks to mydearthing (and American Apparel, to a much smaller extent), I've really been digging low armholes on tank tops and sleeveless dresses (the more extreme of which, as informed by OutsaPop, were known in the Middle Ages as 'hell's windows'). So the first moment I saw the above piece, introducing me to the work of Danish designer Tanne Vinter, I was hooked. Even moreso when I saw that Tanne was a finalist at Designers' Nest at this past Copenhagen Fashion Week (the website of which is like a candy shop to me), and about 100X more than that when I saw that she interned for Barbara Í Gongini as a design assistant in developing the bÍg S/S 11 collection. Might I add that this talented lady is only 23 and just graduated last year with a BA in fashion? As for her own work, Tanne brings that dropped/open side seam detail from the above dress into the rest of the collection, as well as a lovely juxtaposition of different textures of black, making me want to add every single piece to my wardrobe. In short, Tanne is my newest favorite designer and a definite one to watch.

After seeing various shots of this coat, I think it needs to go in My Top 3 Want List. So it shall. Is it unhealthy that all of My Top 3 are black coats/jackets?

(Runway photos via Copenhagen Fashion Week)

But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box.

Since the last time I saw so much wet snow fall in such a short time like today was in New York, I was looking through my photos from my February trip and happened upon three videos that I took. The videos themselves are nothing special, but I rather enjoyed the abrupt pixelated end frame for each video, especially as I can see completely non-NY related things in these coloured boxes. The first one, for instance, reminds me of what my city's river valley looks like in late spring/early summer. Which brings me to a story about Monday, when I took a celebratory walk home from the dentist in honour of having no cavities. It was rather wonderful, as I decided to go through a golf course and the river valley paths rather than the main streets. And it seemed like a mid-spring day warmth- and bird-chirping-wise, but there was still snow everywhere. I arrived at the river just in time to see this massive chunk of ice that was about 1/3 the width of the whole river float downstream super fast, then split into two and neatly fit into some clear spots when it hit the traffic jam of ice around the bridge, nearly scaring to death a few ducks that were in the way. Then on my way across the river, I came upon a Canadian goose (seemingly) guarding a mother goose roosting in the concrete rafters of the bridge, looking down at an egg that had rolled off the ledge and broken onto the walkway. It was rather tragic, and I'm glad I didn't have a camera on me, but it was rather interesting to experience nature in a concrete urban setting. This was followed by experiencing the depressing presence of unintelligent humans in nature, as many of the trees I past on the way out of the river valley were tagged with the unreadable spray paint characteristic of hooliganism. But I digress. Oh river valley in the summer, how I miss you.

The second pixelated photo reminds me of the very colourful residential street in Edward Scissorhands. Well, truth be told, the beginning of Trailer Park Boys sprang to mind first, but then I glanced at one of the various Jack Skellingtons in the apartment, and so now Edward Scissorhands-like it remains.

And the last one, which looks so dark and yet is taken at the exact same location as (and only a couple minutes prior to) the first photo/video, reminds me of that cover of Candy, something to do with Edgar Allan Poe, or Alexander McQueen's F/W 03 collection.

And, while we're on that topic, I dearly want this jacket and this dress. Though I could do without that snow. I have about half a foot of fresh stuff outside my door.

(Alexander McQueen photos via Style.com)

DRESSEDUNDRESSED

Because sometimes, you just need to simplify your life. Wear all black, have a clean silhouette, and get a mohawk. I also highly suggest dunking a few Oreos in a chai latte whilst (re-)visiting my previous post on this Japanese label, as it contains the best music video ever. Then, follow this up by drinking a Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout in memory of its fallen comrade. Goodbye, Wednesday.

Carlotta Actis Barone

There are so many separate details within this collection by Central St. Martins-educated Italian designer Carlotta Actis Barone that I like, that I feel I must say I like the collection as a whole, even though it would be quite unlikely that I would wear one of her pieces. For instance, the adding of one single layer to transform a unitard into...a bodysuit with some drapey ultra low pants. Or, the top/dress made from some very creative boy scout knots, which instantly draws attention away from even the most extreme case of bedhead. Or, the collared dress comprised solely of collars (you'd need a lot of lipstick to cover all of these). Or, the jacket that must've been inspired simultaneously by Mary Poppins and Office Space. Oh, and the fact that the colour palette is based on the various shades of human skin, and the body stockings (which Carlotta also used in her A/W 11/12 presentation at London Fashion Week) are printed with text advertising slavery (as the theme of the collection is a protest against racism). Actually, I think I would like to wear one of these pieces...

Cool Enough For You

My dearest Weekend, how I love you. Especially when paired with you, Perfect Cup of Coffee. And you, Spring-time Outfit (being my beloved OAK asymmetric cotton/cashmere cardigan, an overdyed tank from 1/2 Ration, and the ever so fun Kipling's Trousers by jenclaire (which are actually ankle-calf length)). And you, Five Iron Frenzy.

The world makes sense again...

Spring is here...

...so I want this Attila Design dress. Please. I assumed from first look that the belt and straps were leather, especially with those grommets, but Tiina has opted to use a heavy duty cotton instead. Love.

#7, with a bullet

While I've paid him attention in the past, I haven't written about Rad Hourani for over a year now, as I've left it to the rest of the blogging and fashion news world to give this no longer emerging designer his due. I do always take a peek at his newest collection and like seeing that he's stuck to the aesthetic that garnered him all the attention, while upping the ante just a little bit each season. With his A/W 11/12 collection, there seemed to be a lot of leather going down the runway, and so I didn't even take a second look when those photos were first posted. Today, however, I see that Rad has posted the lookbook photos for the collection ('#7') on NJAL, and I instantly found a couple of pieces to look at over and over. Take the jumper/apron/smock/vest/dress piece above, for instance. Now, I may be wrong, but I think that this is a convertible piece (which would make sense knowing Rad's past designs), as it seems to reappear in different configurations throughout the lookbook (click here to scroll through on Rad's site to see it with Rad's leather pieces), such as below left, as well as in a smaller version (below right).

Now I know that this piece wouldn't be for everyone, but it would definitely work for those of us who love to layer but hate to cover up the whole layered look with one big ol' winter coat, especially as you can style it over top of a coat. The idea of wearing an apron to protect you against the cold and the non-stylish ways of the winter is kinda poetic too. Or something.

Anyway, I also immensely enjoy these pieces (below), especially the reoccurring feature of the zipper in the back. Of course there's no way I can afford multiple Rad Hourani pieces to do the layered unzipped look, but I can dream. 

Anja Mlakar

You may not remember this designer's graduate collection (a.k.a. the 'Blue Tube' or 'Oops, I got trapped in those rings, maybe I shouldn't become a street performer, but good thing I can fit this dress over top' collection) from the Central Saint Martins presentation in February 2010 (because I didn't include her in my review)...

...but I have to say that Slovakian-born Anja Mlakar is becoming more memorable with her previous two collections (hence why they've both been on the runway at London Fashion Week). Sure, those rings are still prevalent, but at least Anja no longer feels the need to hide them or to include them in every single piece. Take this dress from the A/W 11/12 collection:

Makes me want to dance an Irish jig. I've always thought that the basket-weaving thing should be incorporated into more wardrobes (and I have an unfinished woven t-shirt project to prove it). Anyway, as the A/W 11/12 bi-directional weaving is an obvious evolution of her S/S 11 collection's uni-directional weaving (below), I can't wait to see Anja develop a tri-directional weaving technique. Though it better not be with those rings.