What A Break.

I've been round my ass a few times and back.
Since doing a long shift, everything got so messy and heady!
But this is beyond my nerves and I need to say something.

-

To most lj blogshops,

Please, PLEASE!
Stop destroying the market with bad quality things.
The market isn't that well to begin with, so don't make it worse!

We all deserve good shopping.
Thank you.

Go Brit and Go Very Punk!

It is said, Vivienne Westwood will have a biopic made and Kate Winslet will be playing the Queen of punk fashion! My heart jumped when I heard the news. Though I heard it relatively late, compared to when the news was leaked.

Her outrageous ideologies spread on to her 2 kids very well. Her first son, Ben Westwood, with Derek Westwood is an erotica photographer. Her second son, Joseph Corre, with Malcom Mclaren who is the manager of The Sex Pistols, is the founder of Agent Provocateur. WOW.

That's for earning the title of 'British Designer of the Year' t-h-r-e-e times!


**In another news flash, it is said that there will be 2 films made on Coco Chanel. But the former news tickles me more. Anyway, more visual goodies are goodies afterall!


Link

I Need to Announce This!

Since Foto_decadent, I was hoping more of such sites dedicated to fashion photography would spring up. But nothing much with as heavy dedication to above. BUT! Here we go with Flickrista! Dug out all from the beautifully growing Flickr, let's be visually inspired.

Here's some of my selections.


(from: Lenaah, Flickr)




(from: Zuan, Flickr)



(from: Simon Pais-Thomas, Flickr)

The Touch of Paper

That crisp feeling across your fingertips, while trying not to crease the freshly bought and well designed book or magazine. Now, 68 pages in perfect bind shipped all the way, ready to suddenly surprise you in your mailbox!

LINES & SHAPES







I love the cover of Volume 5. Wooo, the touch of crisp paper! Now, the bummer. It's USD$29! With the new low currency rates, it should be approximately SGD$43.50. Which, if readily available at our local Kinokuniya or Borders on a feeling-so-rich day, I'd nab.

Speaking of the currency rates and stock market, I can't believe that Pounds are £1 to SGD$2.57 just the other day! Man, I wish I was on the way to London for some Primark loving. I had a £1 to SGD$3.12 conversion when i was in London last December. GEEZ!

Also. I read somewhere that through an open survey in States, everyone in the design industry have been recieving higher pay over the years. Except, fashion designers. Just had to be right!?

Ok, on to happy blog hoppings :]

You Really Should Come..!

Not just because I'm organizing this event, but also 'cos I've scored so many awesome things from here! All those vintage items on Swirl Girl's I own, were slowly accumulated from 2 years of awesome saturday afternoon flea-ing.

Oh, I'm determined to clear out my wardrobe. Even more exciting stuff that I've not shown on Fashion Diary!!! Ahem, hint. Yellow&White Patterned Vintage Shift Dress.

Oh oh! Check these links for more info too :]
Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun on LiveJournal
Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun on Facebook

Many, Many, MANY Things!

Wow. You know when everything is just running at a speed beyond you, and you just keep stretching forth to hit it at the apt speed but still can't quite catch? Too many things, one tiny brain. And I found this post which I feel everyone should take a look at. Whether you're in the creative field or not, it just feels like something you should do for yourself.

10 Ways to Re-Charge Yourself

Fashion and Music, That's The Way.

PUNK.
Even the sound of the word is strong descriptive.
I've always been pulled to this genre for its sheer energy.
Plus, its ruthless to truth along with that oomph.



I paced back and forth to this image.
Always thinking of it just as an image, but.
Some googling made me one bit smarter today!





She's behind that image, with many girls looking up to her.
That lady is BRODY DALLE. Formerly married to
Tim Armstrong of Rancid and now happily married to
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age with one baby.
Wow. Brody Dalle's own band was once compared to Hole
which is fronted by Courtney Love!

And guess what else I saw about her. THIS!



I think she's quite an icon, music and fashion.


PS: Yes, I do realise that I forgot the 'Olympic Roll' delivery.
You'll be laughing when you see it, in some way!

On A Mission.

Thou shall go forth and have a wicked shower.
Then settle in to nab some fresh sportswear threads!

I'm on a olympic fire roll.

I Was Missing!

Man, we got a medal?!
SINGAPORE got a medal from OLYMohmygawdPICS?!
HELL YEAH!!!
MAJULAH SINGAPURA!!!

in yer face, world!
big up!

Project Runway 5

It's time to glue yourself to the screen for another exciting whirl of Project Runway. Onto Season 5, it is still not short of drama and squeals. For me, I just managed to watch Episode 1. I can't find the episode where they show the selection process, which I enjoy quite abit. You get the so-called queer and weird, but I think you get to see another side/genre/taste.

Anyway. Don't read the following if you wanna contain the excitement. But here are my little tidbits on the first challenge, which goes back full circle and brings you to the grocery store.

I have to say that when they were introducing the contestants as the get into the apartment, I was a little lost. The group of contestants are highly diverse in artistic taste and flair, which is directed into they're garment output. I somehow gathered that they had a feel of independent designers which are flocking the internet with their individualism and sense of, "Look at me! I'm rocking my threads here!". Somewhat full of confidence and pride.

Nothing bad about it, but sometimes I just get worm-ed away by all these "competition". Cos I didn't slog through years of fashion school to be beaten out my people in their garage. Of cos I do give props that some of such designers really have the touch and that, of cos, fashion is for anyone to enjoy. But still.

In the first challenge, I just want to complain about how much fabric-like materials were used! It was rather disappointing cos there was so much buzz from the initial run of the grocery store challenge. Yet it was table cloth, shower curtain, table cloth...

Fine, some of them did make the table cloth transform into very interesting forms or impeccable pieces. But some of them, I just felt that it was so flat and mundane.


First one to catch my eye was of cos someone who picked wayward materials. So here's Daniel with his electro blue, superhero, sculpture piece. For a moment, I was reminded of Hussein Chalayan and his iconic sculpture dress! Nice one.



Then there was Jerry, whom I don't feel should've been booted. I can't say that it was a brilliant job. But it really caught my fancy while he was still in production stage. But somehow maybe it was camera angles or what, it didn't look that awesome on the runway. I like the white dreaminess from the shower curtain and it hit me cos I've been feeling for a light raincoat for layering in this sweltering heat. I just felt that the outfit had a chance of giving the dreamy, floaty feel, but with a slicker hair and maybe rolled up sleeves or something. I can't find the garment's detailed image so, maybe I was just mis-interpreting?




I felt that there was a little fight for the top spot. But Kelli kicked butt with her experimental process of her materials. She dyed and bleached vaccuum bags and burned coffee filters. Admist the table cloths, of cos she stood out. I don't really fancy her silhouette but that's just a personal preference thing. Props for the experimentation which goes to show the expansion of thoughts. But I don't get where she got those rivets from, they're rivets/studs right?




One thing though, since it was a re-challenge, then why were the judges also looking towards the same ol' non-fabric-like materials direction and why weren't the contestants who took fabric-like materials pushing things harder with volume?

The TV Is Chanting

Well, there's this kids' cartoon and I like the animation.
But right now, they're chanting stupid things.

I was bestowed a book...

(image borrowed from here)

I might sink into my new bed and read it all up.
Though I wish I was at the beach with it.
Nonetheless, it IS Jimi Hendrix.
Very very exciting for me!

In any case, here's a list of books I wanna cop.


(image from here)

The Fashion Book
I think it's always good to keep strong or historical images near. Then you can easily go back to them and re-discover things when you get new sparks. Keep the ideas flowing!



(image from here)

Sex and the City: Movie Book
Needless to say, the movie blew alot of women off their lacy knickers. And unknowingly, I bawled my eyes out like a useless thing. I can't begin to describe how Patricia Field sharply put the entire wardrobe together with so much details and looking so effortless. It is such a poignant take on all the clothes available through high-end designers or thrift shopping.


(image from here)

The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
A very talented American music, who by the way is a legend and is still alive. He is one of those people that make me wish I could have the power of mind-reading. His advocates are so beyond me that they also make me stop and go, "WHOA." If reading is too heavy, please do yourself a favour and watch "I'm Not There". It attempts to show the some what multiple personalities of him, which his all just his mental frame. (I just tried to put that whole movie in a sentence and it does no justice to it, by the way.)



(image from here)

Touching From A Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division
Vocalist and Lyricist from Joy Division, Ian Curtis was a young man who committed suicide at the age of 23. Torn between his two loves, his wife and music, the man behind the song, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" left the world before being able to enjoy the fruits of his success. I've deep respect for him and his desire to embrace his loves. For me, it's how do you get that engulfed by your passion.


Just to make things a little fashion-y,
here are the ways of Jimi Hendrix and his get ups.
Notice how his influences travel beyond music, into fashion and graphics!


(image from here)


(image from here)
Watch 'em fierce fiercely layered jackets.


(image from here)
Many elements, pick one to jazz up your outfit for tomorrow!
1. Have a printed scarf round your arm.
2. Heavy ruffles can be paired with any basics. Special and not too heavy.
3. Chunky rings put small but effective details to an outfit!


'nuff for now.

I A M L A Z Y

...yes you know that!

1. I need to get a new phone.
I'm eyeing the Nokia 6220 Classic.
Been missing those random photos.


2. I want to visit Ibiza. I need to.

(from: ST33VO on flickr)


3. It's been very weird keeping business minded.
You don't use the pencil in large strokes.


4. I found my 60+ year old uncle's tailored pants.
Definitely older than me, possibly 30+ years old.
It has a tag saying, "Mike's Tailor Singapore".
It has impeccable fabric and sewing details.
I wish it were a little smaller.
BUT. I can't wait to rock it.

I shall not be a gossip monger

How's the weekend?

Mine might have fallen short of entertaining. But still!
I was browsing the very entertaining gossip blogs.
Here's something I spotted!


KEIRA KNIGHTLY:


(JustJared)

I've always liked Keira Knightly.
She has a quaint beauty. But what struck me was
her strong jawline, delicate lip shape and firm shoulder.
As seen in a rich purple by Erdem, which really flatters
her lovely pale skin tone. But she seems starkingly thin!

Anyway, the dress. I like how the pleats were played to
give a balance in proportion! The bust area sees varying
pleats fanning out. Then the bodice area has layered
vertical pleats! It's very spot-on for me, cos it's a
well-thought placement. Notice how the bodice's layers
are only towards the end? And with them ending at
different layers help give an extra poof at that area?

Needless to say, the bust pleats were used to enhancce the
bust line. But credit should be given that there were some
pleats which were less dense. The poof at the end would
give an A-line structure and thus giving more techincal
thought to the proportion of the wearer. Nice one!

-

Then there are so many blogs dedicated to fashion out
there. Of many genres and bountiful information.
A quick look at Hypebeast.com and I was oohwow-ing!


TOPSHOP MEN'S BLACK TROUSER PROJECT:



For Fall'08, Topshop will be working with American designers
to re-invent the basic black trousers for men. It seems like
another Gap x Whirt Shirt thing. But hey, let's give the boys
some excitement. Let's share the thrill of shopping, yes?
Plus, they've just stepped into the American market,
maybe they'll have an interesting response which could
result to great things! Well, at least it's looking very delicious
so far!


MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA AT 798:








Firstly. Hell Yeah! Go CHINA! 798 is a cultural district
that slowly gaining alot of recognition and attention.
For HongKong's IT, which I adore for their prices and
freshness, they've celebrated their 20th anniversary
by working with MMM. If you're in the vicinity of
Beijing, I strongly encourage you to visit 798. Not just
for the above MMM's exhibition of the latest collection,
but to also bask in the new generation of artists.

-

That's it for now.
Hopefully more and soon!

SWEAT!

Today marks yet another terrifyingly excruciatingly h-o-t day. I am out of my wits trying to find the most weather befitting outfit for the past week. Yesterday, while I took out a 5 year old green mini skirt (which other than its length, is a great piece to me) for a lovely summer barbeque, I was brought down by the crazy humping dog named Randolf. Like how Suzanne of Swirl says, "He's declaring his undying love for you!". rrrright. You can check out what the other Swirl girls wore to the summer / aircon-ed bbq here!

Then, I came back to find a house flooded with japanese love! My lovely other half's family went to the land of the rising sun. Needless to say, shopping took up alot of their time. It IS Japan! How can anyone not go ballistic?! Just off the top of my head, there's Uniqlo, Muji, Neighbourhood, Undercover, Merci Beaucoup, Tsumori Chisato, Porter, X-Girl and not to be forgotten - crazy 100yen shops with amazing knacks. Everytime I spot a japanese product, many a times non-fashion, I look at it and go, "Only the Japanese could've thought of it!".

I found two fashion magazines on the coffee table. 'Mini' and 'Spring'. Both of which I will not even give a glance when I'm at Kinokuniya (another jap place!). I usually go straight to my regular reads of 'High Fashion'. But I picked it up and flipped through. It wasn't long before I went to the room to grab my sketch book! From those magazines, I figured what I'm gonna make to beat the dreaded heat! Yes, very excited am I.

I don't get how the Japanese could layer so many loose fitting or volumed pieces in one look and still look fine. Does anyone get what I mean? They have a loose slip under a loose summery dress, followed by a loose cutting jeans and a loose jacket over it all, plus a loosely draped scarf nicely falling from their very fair necks. I'm puzzled and impressed! Or is it the choice of material and the fact that it isn't thaaat cold in Japan? Cos I clearly have the image of a chinese giant dumpling (ah-hem, me.) roaming the streets of Europe. Quite a sight huh?

Anyway, just to let you see my point. Well, not exactly the examples like what I saw in those magazines, but I hope you get what I'm trying to say. These were taken from style-arena.jp, quite loving that site right now. 'Cept that it reminds me of how hot it is here, compared to them being able to layer. Looking forward to August when it's sweltering in Japan! That'll be inspiring!

On top of that, I wandered on, as usual, to find some more things! I found a Japanese designer, with a label named 'Limi Feu'. I was thinking it should be Jap. Then, I saw it on Style.com! Then I googled for the website. The website's really something and so are the designs. Upon more reading, the designer's a She and.. She's YOHJI YAMAMOTO's DAUGHTER! Hang on, I'm very biased. I give more props to those that come out on their own spines, compared to those with a mountain behind them. But Limi Yamamoto's really got something there.

Or, visit her website here! I think her website is very well done. Takes a while to figure it out, but it's a rather smart and interactive interface. You get what you need. A full glance of a full on zoom.

Oh right right. So I completely deviated from me and my summer wardrobe issues. But I chanced upon a whole load of inspiration from Style.com, when they went to Coachella! I mean, it is the epitome of summer dressing. With me loving the entire music festival experience and now combining it with another of my loves - fashion? That's a killer, I say!

I think this is quite the 'classic' right now. Everyone's wearing this, everyone thinks it's great. Not that I think it sucks. But let's get a little more fresh.

The way the outfit is put together, in terms of cutting, is very normal. But the double belts and prints? That's lovely! She is using 2 belts right?

On Style.com, it was written that this lady was en-route to catch Prince! And by golly is her outfit waaaay wi'keed!!!

Right, so of cos she's at Coachella. And of cos, she'll be spotted. I think Agyness did good with keeping cool in a summer music festival and keeping things simple with the given environment, but still having things zesty with her pairings. Now, one thing just flashed in my mind. How long till Agyness comes out with her own label or a collaboration?

STOP!!! This is just lovely!!! One-piece swimsuit and DM Boots! Oh, I'm melting! I think the recent emergence and re-design on one piece swim wear is ace. I would love to own one and bring it to the pool! I've also been contemplating how to use my bikini under sheer clothes to keep cool. But this is really a smart combo! Dressing up is not just about looking good. After everything you put to gether, you gotta bring it together in a smart way. Am I making sense?

I'll either be buying a jumpsuit or making one. ASAP! Singlet + Jumpsuit should be quite cooling, I think.

I think this is one of the simplest outfits but yet the most comfy and fun ones. Cos you can bring together very different elements and create a seemingly normal outfit. seemingly!

Ok, I really ADORE the swimsuit thing going on. I want to have an outfit like this too! I'm seeing a one-piece swimsuit with a siren red high waisted skirt and hi-cuit DMs or Converse or slippers. Depending on my journey for the imaginery day. AHHHH!!! Oh, wait, how do you pee in that? Hmmm!

I'm gonna make another maxi dress. Despite the fact that someone on the train thought I was pregnant and insisted to have me take his seat. And despite that I have no overlocking machine and the last dress turned into shreds, thanks to the washing machine.

Rounding things up. Things I want to make/buy for summer. Jumpsuits, One-piece swimsuit, High-waisted Skirt (Iknw everyone has it, but mine will be special. Hur.), Maxi Dress, Simple Light Summer Dress. Ah-hem, DIE.