She is the Queen

Making mom jeans look hot.
Cory Kennedy - who else?- for NYLON magazine.

The Great Wall in China Is Not Only Physical

For two years I worked hand by hand, or email by email to be precise, with Chinese factories when i worked as a fashion designer for Springfield.
For some reason I never talked personally with my far-coworkers, probably because we all were too immersed in our work to ever think about it. Nevertheless, I always had a little curiosity to know how the real world was out there, to know if they had access to all we had, internet etc, or if all those stories about sweatshops and the like were true or not.
More than two years have passed since that experience and I have forgotten the Chinese situation so far, except for some reminders from movies like China Blue or posts like CHINA HAS NO LOVE FOR STYLE BUBBLE.
Please read this great post, and read the comments as well because they are a great source to know what's really going on in a country that we know very little about.

** picture by dearest SeamSters

Toni Maticevski

Now that NYFW's ss08 collection's date is very close (Sept 5th-12th, 2007), it's time to look closely to the list of designers that will show in NY this season in order to start sending petitions to attend their shows.
Australian fashion designer Toni Maticevski is in my top list; the variety of silhouettes, fabrics and inspirational sources in his designs is awe-inspiring.




** Images from his AW 07-08 collection. source

Let's be Nice

.. with Pete Doherty.

If I should give three awards to the most interesting outfits in men's wear these days, probably the two first awards -gold and silver- would go to him; because he has charisma, he makes classic pieces of a men's wardrobe look interesting, and even when he's wasted, he looks extraordinary.

Samantha West: High Contrasting The Life

I met Samantha West last winter when she went to street artist MOMO' studio for an interview for Placed magazine.
Unfortunately the interview wasn't published but the experience brought together this beautiful woman and yours truly.
We did a photo-shoot with MOMO again for Neo2 magazine, for their June 07 issue, where she did an amazing portrait of the artist and i did what i could writing the text.
I love her pictures and I look forward to work with her again.

Lulusity

Cleaning my computer I came along with this picture, under the name of Lulusity.
I remember I downloaded it from myspace when i was obsessed with high waisted pants (I still am), but i don't remember from who myspace this picture is taken from... it was a magazine, is all i remember.
In any case, how kick ass this lady looks, and how fun at the same time? The fact that her shirt's pattern is reflected in the Elvis face, is quite neat.

A Very Fashionable Block

When i went to see the exhibition Luxury at the FIT Museum. I decided to take a walk before coming back home. I took 24th street, which i don't usually take, to get to the subway. I saw along the north side of the street shop windows filled with very interesting mannequins, dressed with white fabric, the same fabric that fashion design students use to make the models; toile. It took my attention the originality of some of the pleats and folds in the garments, and also the fact that the pins were still hanging on some of them.

I thought to myself, this can't be FIT because I lost it some couple of blocks ago, so, what is this?. Two windows farther away I got the answer: This, was the High School of Fashion Industries that is located, as i mentioned before, not too far from FIT, and those were the works of this year's graduates. It was a nice surprise to know that youngsters that age are doing such elaborate garments already. I can't wait to see their future creations.

Fresh Air for American ELLE

I've been always amazed to know that some of the big names, read Fashion Editors, Editors In Chief etc, behind American magazines are non Americans, and Europeans most of the time: Anna Wintour, British, Editor In Chief of American Vogue, Joe Zee, Canadian, ex-Fashion Director of W magazine and now Creative Director of American ELLE, or Gilles Bensimon, French and ex-Director of American ELLE.

It surprise me because I, shamefully, used to think that the American magazines' quality, creatively speaking, is low due to the obsession that American companies have in general for making money, not making Art; Finding out that THAT is not true at all, is a relief and also makes me wonder: why do Americans don't trust their own peers?

In the latest issue of W magazine, the one with the Becks on the cover, the Countess in her monthly column wondered "why homegrown designers don't give their own fashion heritage more respect"... [W magazine, August 2007. "Love American Style]. And I wonder the same.

American magazines really need a lift; they look demodé and it's hard to find any inspiration out of them. I always thought it was their fault, but, mon Dieu, it's not!

So I'm glad that things seem to start moving reels... The September issue of American ELLE will open a new era in the publication since the departure of Gilles Bensimon as Creative Director. The changes are starting to be gossip already, in spite of the fact that the publication hasn't been released yet, the insiders are talking of the 'new look'; “Energy! Sexy! Fun! Smart!”
Talking from what i have seen, the new look looks good; when i first saw a picture from photographer Matthias Vriens for one of the editorials [girl with red coat on top], i thought, N I C E ! Like i couldn't picture such an editorial in any American magazine other than W before.
So I really hope that this market in which I'm involved with starts to move engines for good.

More NYFW ... YAY !

I just got THE email ! ...

" Dear Patricia Yague,

CONGRATULATIONS!

We are happy to inform you that your application for press and industry accreditation for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2008 Collections, September 5th - 12th, 2007, has been approved. "

This email doesn't mean i will attend all the shows though, what it means is that they will give me a list of all the designers that will show in NYFW and their PRs, and i will be able to contact them and arrange my attending to their shows if applicable. Or so it happened last season. In any case, these are GREAT news :)
Here is the schedule for the shows.

Preen goes New Yorker

When I read this morning on Style Bubble that Preen was showing from this season on in New York instead of London, two feelings struck my soul: In one hand I was over happy to have the chance of going to see the show or at least, to wait outside the tents, or wherever this year the catwalks will be, and see the people, the models etc.
In the other hand, i couldn't agree more with Susie, seeing this step as something close to a bad movement for Preen; they, as many British designers, have a look and an aesthetic that, unfortunately or not, American market has not. The money is here, true, but it is a difficult place to sell due to its own taste; NYFW lays its foundation in simplicity, and i don't only mean minimalism, as it happens with designers like Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and the like , i mean also boring, many of the times, go to style.com and tell me if I'm wrong.

NYFW is so packed with shows that it is very difficult for stylists and fashion editor to attend them all, not difficult, i would say impossible. And besides, in NYFW the public has other tastes, for better or for worse, and they tend to attend what it's politically correct; they are not known for being the most supportive press when it comes to original designers.
I guess, anyway, that Preen knows all of this beforehand and has worked hard to avoid what happened to Boudicca with their departure from NYFW after only two seasons showing here.
So i wish I'm wrong and what Preen is doing is the right thing for their company, and hopefully a standing place in their show.

** photos source

How Beautiful

I'm a little obsessed with German fashion for some reason these days. It seems to me that every Berlin-based or German-born designer has something very interesting to say, more than any one around except the British, I think. For this reason I'm following Bored&Beautiful more than ever; Danielle gives me that German fashion window I'm craving for.
One of her latest discovers, the work of designer Sarah Heartbo, soon-to-be Bo Van Melskens, came together with this lovely and beautiful picture here on the left, from her spring-summer 08 collection. There's something in that picture that hooked me right away. I love love this picture, I just do.

I guess it reminds me a little the atmosphere of some of the works of the biggest fashion photographer of all times: Louis Dahl- Wolfe.

More Milkshake Flavors for the Summer

For the last month I've been busy finishing and giving the last touch to the final update of this Summer 07 issue of Milkshake Chocolate.
This morning I upload the content and from here I would like to give a BIG thanks to all the artists and people involved in this issue.

Special thanks to Desiree and Ines, the women behind Bless, who supported me with their nice words every day I contacted them with questions and requests.

Interviews in FASHION with Bless, NY-based fashion designer M. Carter, Austrian Claudia Rosa Lukas, and a great fashion editorial in Los Angeles called L.A. Playa, by Mexican photographer Napoleon Habeica and Metal magazine fashion editor and friend, Angela Esteban Librero.


In ART, featuring 35mm camera photographer Heidi Johansen, latest summer trends in accessories drawings by lovely Estella Mare, and beautiful collages by Matthew Siegfried.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as i did organizing it. We will be back for the fall 07 issue, up on September 21st 2007. Cheers! :)

Gabriel-Schwan

There is something very sweet about working in a magazine and being the fashion editor, and it's the chance of receiving press kits from new designers that you couldn't meet otherwise. You get to know a lot of people just for the sake of it.
Not long time ago two German designers, Gabriel and Schwan, sent me an email with pictures attached of their new collection of bags and accessories.

Their collection is made out of very playful and interesting items, like these 'triple' shawls and bags, perfects to give some extra coolness to your outfits.

The funniest thing was to know that they knew bobble-bee already, how sweet that was? :) when commenting them that i would love to feature their work in my personal blog, they said, of course, we know that blog already, it's in our links since some time ago... so not only they use their creativity for their fashion label, they also comment what others do in their own fashion blog; Trés Plus Cool.

African Corsets

Photographer Antoine Mouton is in town this week.
On Saturday we visited the Brooklyn Museum, that was surprisingly empty that day; we were the only ones around, a whole museum for us to enjoy!.
The Brooklyn Museum has a very interesting section of African Art. We spent almost our whole visit there.

Fashioning Africa was a book I read not long ago, and It amazed me the tight relation between art and fashion and politics in African cultures. Africans have an amazing sense of art and
fashion, they really know how to adorn their bodies, how to create symbols and make political statements with them, how to create gorgeous costumes out of anything.

One of the pieces featured at the Museum was this man's corset wore by the Sudanese tribe Dinka. Who said that corsets were a woman thing?

These corsets are gorgeous, made out of glass beads and sewn on tightly and worn until marriage. The height of the beaded wire at the back indicates weather the wearer comes from a family rich in cattle or not.

I've been trying to remember the name of that British designer famous for wearing really small corsets... but my memory failed...

NYFW Spring 2008

The registration for this upcoming Spring 08 NYFW [September 5th - 12th, 2007] is open already. Visit their site here. I wonder where the shows will be now that Bryant Park is out of sight for this purpose.
I registered already as a Fashion Editor of Milkshake Chocolate. Let's see what happens; 'registering' doesn't mean 'attending' ... After paying the fee, which they raised from $50 last season to $65, a Comittee will study your case and approve it or not.

Last season I was declined, although my information was put in a database that the designers themselves had an access to and those who wanted invited me to their show. That was very helpful and sweet, so even if you get declined, it worths a try to register in order of being in that database.
I hope this year i can attend more shows than last, and so the next. Let's keep fingers crossed.

Luxury

The Museum at the FIT is probably one of my faves in terms of fashion exhibitions as I mentioned before.
They are currently featuring a show about Luxury, a lovely excuse to show some of the most luxurious pieces among their more than 50,000 permanent collection's garments that couldn't see the light to the public otherwise.

I went this evening, and I am happy i did. The show is not very big as they placed it on the main floor instead of the basement, where the big ones and more important use to be. In any case, the pieces are gorgeous: Chanel, Balmain, Worth, Valentino, V&R ... If you happen to be in the city, go some lazy evening and take a look. It worths a visit.

Collect Colette

Rumor had it that Colette was launching an opening in NY... I heard so a month ago while visiting Screaming Mimi's. I was confused, a little surprised... Colette in NY??... well, anything can be possible in NY so why not?.
Some days ago I was taking a walk at night taking advantage that the air refreshed and there was a little breeze to enjoy. Just four blocks away from my house there is this art gallery called PS2, in order to make fun of the closest PS1. When I passed by I noticed the gallery had become a store... huh? I kept looking and the reason why it looked that way was the exhibition Collect Colette.

It was late so it was closed, but then i understood: Colette the artist was in town, not the store...
Yesterday I went by again and the show was being wrapped... i didn't quite understand as the date for closing it was August 31st... what was going on?... My curiosity grew so i started to snoop around, putting my face against the glass to see more.

There was a lady cleaning the space and she saw me. She opened the door and I asked her how come the show was being wrapped. I said to her that I would love to see it before it would be completely wrapped... She let me in, we talked a little while... This lady was Colette herself!
In our talking she explained to me all the problems she had had with this gallery and the reasons why she decided to close the show before the date. What a shame.

Collect Colette was about putting this artist's work affordable to everyone; She decided to sell her closet.
There was a funny paint in the wall saying out of the closet. She took her clothing out of her bedroom for everyone who wanted to buy it.
Unfortunately this show has seen its end earliest that agreed so I couldn't fully enjoy the experience. In any case, i happened to meet her, that was nice :) .

My Friend Derick featured in the New York magazine

My friend Derick has been scouted for New York magazine to feature his looks this week in their street-style section.
Congrats Derick! :)

"A lot of people ---bobble-bee included--- think I have some seventies porn thing going on."

Thanks Sartorialist for Featuring Thom Browne's Men

Thom Browne is nowadays my favourite men's wear suit designer.
His suits fit amazingly well the gentlemen and they look sexy than ever and elegant. It might sounds clowny when you mention ankle-length suit pants, but it actually fits awesome.
Why, again, men's wear clothing is far more interesting than women's ?? ...

* all pictures The Sartorialist

Abercrombie & Fitch, Back in the Days

If any of you payed attention to my Currently Reading section some time ago, might noticed during the last weeks that i was reading Water, Water, Everywhere, by Emily Kimbrough, a very funny lady who went to Greece with three friends during the 50's, and wrote this journey in a book that i highly recommend if you like Katherine Hepburn and Thelma and Louis.

This posting though is not only to speak about this lovely book, but also to speak about one of the fashion anecdotes that fill it...

During their visit to the little town of Pirgy, in Chios, the four ladies at one point showed to the inhabitants of the village their dresses...

" They were pleased, too, with Darn's [one of the ladies] skirt when she showed them it was divided, enabling her, should the occasion arise, to ride a donkey astride.

If visitors at Pyrghi next season find the women no longer wearing their native costumes, they can place the responsibility of this innovation, after nine hundred and more year of conforming, among Darn, Sophy, and Abercrombie & Fitch. "

* The drawing is by Romanian-born illustrator Mircea Vasiliu, who illustrated the book.