God Save McQueen

Nothing has shocked me lately as much as McQueen's death…

I remember when I saw his first collection on Fashion File. I remember like if it was yesterday. Seated on my mom's bed, watching E!, watching some nice, pretty normal runways… and suddenly Tim Blanks is on a weird warehouse with a glass box in front of him, everything was dark as people were taking their seats, suddenly the models start to appear in the middle of that box, dressed with amazing clothes, leather, chiffon, bodices, weird shoes, dead birds! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, it was not any fashion show, it was a show that left a mark in my life, in my mind and in fashion.

Since that day I became a McQueen follower, checking all of his collections, watching all of his shows, new or old. Checked his archives and started loving how extravagant, eccentric and tailored was each and every of his creations.

Every season he made a statement with his clothes, accessories, headpieces, locations, concepts. McQueen was a showman, an innovative designer, a great tailor… There’s a million adjectives that fit him. For me he was like a god, unique and one of his kind.

I know it might sound like drama queen for many, but I'm really sad. I was looking forward to somehow meet him, to see what his next big thing was going to be, to work for him, to see his creations for years to come…

McQueen's career has been amazing. Since his starts, he learn tailoring making it his own. There were always tailored pieces on his collections and every piece had its unique structure. Since his days in Central Saint Martin's, he found his own way to shine. His talent first got Isabella Blow's admiration, she was his first buyer, the one who bought all his graduation collection and the one who took her of him and made him famous.

Both were unique and I can talk a lot about McQueen's work and his legacy in the fashion world. But you can read that anywhere and you can find his biography. I just wanted to say how I feel about his dead and nothing that I say or write here would be enough to describe the amazing designer he was.

He will be an inspiration forever. His silhouettes, materials, shapes, draping, cuts, structure, every detail in every piece he made was his own. There will never be someone like Alexander McQueen! It's fashion biggest lost and many will remain in deep mourning, and I'm one of those.

This is my own way of making a tribute for him, writing something sincere, not talking about how he killed himself or why, because that's personal and he had his reasons. I'm just doing something very little so we can all remember him, not tragically but for what we knew/know him: his designs!

So thank you, McQueen! There will never be someone like you!

God Save McQueen.

R.I.P

R.I.P McQueen

Today is another sad day for fashion and for myself. Alexander McQueen commited suicide. The world lost one of its greatest creators.

R.I.P, McQueen. The greatest! Le enfant terrible! :'(

Share The Love

Armani Exchange launched a new ad campaign for Valentine's Day called "Share The Love" and it shows same-sex couples. Of course you can imagine the kind of controversy it has created in society, in conservative and old-fashioned people.

Gays, lesbians and bisexuals are a every day thing and it's normal and it has to be socially accepted. It's a matter of respect and tolerance. But the American Family Association is really upset with the ad because of the "filthy" content. They're always attacking television, but now they are mad because of this ad featured on Armani's website and stores, and they say they can't tolerate "fashion designers using scantily dressed models in advertisements who have recently put their focus on threesomes or same-sex couples."

Here's an email the association sent:

"Malls, where teens hang out, have retailers whose window displays poison our children with 10-foot posters that are nothing but soft p*rn. In particular, Armani Exchange has recently displayed Valentine's posters with partially dressed "couples" holding one another. These couples consist of two men, a man and woman, and two women. The women are scantily dressed while it is questionable if the men have any clothes on at all. Two of these models are used a couple of times to represent bis*xuals. If it could get any worse the text written is "SHARE THE LOVE." (An asterisk '*' is used to ensure our emails get through to those who have signed up for our alerts. Otherwise specific words referenced would be blocked by some Internet filters.)
Not every local mall has an Armani Exchange, but we need to take a stand since AX is one of the fashion leaders and this is becoming a popular trend. You may view these on their website at www.armaniexchange.com. WARNING! Pictures are offensive".

It's obvious that this campaign was going to be a slap in the face for many conservative people, but it's a great way to promote equality for same-sex couples. Gays/lesbians also buy clothes as every straight person in the world. They deserve their space and to be included in everything, not excluded. People should understand that the only difference between a gay guy and a straight guy is that one likes boys and the other likes girls. Sound simple, it's simple. It's a matter of respect, tolerance and diversity.

Respect diversity, religion, likes, dislikes... Everyone's different and everyone should be respected.

The Void

Besides fashion, architecture is one of the things that I feel passionate about. It's always cool to see what the great architects are doing, what they have on mind, their concepts, their creations and believe me, it's always amazing.

Integrating the architecture of the Guggenheim Museum, created by Frank Lloyd Wright, and an amazing and huge intervention by JDS Architects, the proposal invites everyone to experience the a net spiraling down the instituion's rotonda.

One of the great things about this art intervention/installation is that people actually can walk, play and rest IN it. The form is very dinamic and gives the same idea of movement that has the central part of the museum.

Love it!
♥

Los Abrazos Rotos

After a long wait, I went yesterday to the movies to watch Pedro Almodóvar's new movie: "Los Abrazos Rotos". I was so excited to watch Penélope Cruz and the cast and of course Almodóvar's new production.

It wasn't dissapointing at all. A great production, one of Almodóvar's finest. Everything was taken care of: locations, hair, make-up, lightning, cameras and of course clothes. Something I've noticed in all of his movies is how he uses red in many of the elements of the scenography. Critics said that this movie is the most expensive from the director and you can see it in its quality, editing and for me, in the costume design.

Penélope Cruz looked gorgeous in each and every scene. Her style was great. Dressed in tailor suits when she was a secretary, very propper with her pencil skirts, tailored suits, big blouses and shirts.

Macarena García, costume designer for the movie chose a style that was really appropiate for the decade (the 90's), dressing Penélope in great suits from Chanel, lots of gold chains, big hair and high heels. One of the most outstanding outfits (because of its tacky-ness) is one little black dress, full of chains, BIG chains and Chanel logos and the typical camelias all over.

I ADORE Penélope in spanish movies, I think she's a great actress as long as she's speaking in spanish. When she acts in U.S movies, she loses her strength, her power and also her charm. But watching her in "Los Abrazos Rotos" made me love her again.

If you watch the movie (and if you appreciate fashion), check all of her suits, her jewelry and the little black dress from Chanel and of course the amazing red tailored suit with embroidery in the front that I can almost assure that is from Christian Dior's Couture collection matched with the classic Chanel 2.55 bag.

Great movie! ♥

The Garden of Eden in cyberworld!?

So it's been a while since my last entry, but my thesis/collection is taking all of my free time and also I'm designing one mural in Sabanilla and another one in Limón. But it's necessary to post more about the Couture week in Paris, the one I always wait for and the one that makes me drool.

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in 1932 in Italy. He moved to Paris at the age of 17 and studied at L'Ecole des Beaux Arts and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne ♥. He worked for Balenciaga and for Guy Laroche. In 1959 he opened his fashion house.

He's now known for his beautiful gows, his beloved red, his tan... All of this has made him one of the favorites for red carpets and for celebrity occasions. There's a movie about him, "Valentino: The Last Emperor", a documentary which features the designer in various events and also his last show, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the brand. In 2007 he retired after presenting his last haute couture and ready-to-wear shows, where he was acclaimed and received an ovation for his brilliant career.

Now, the creative directors are Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who worked for their third collection for Valentino. Sarah Mower discribed it as "the Garden of Eden in cyberworld" and very influenced by Avatar.

Hmmm... I'm not loving it... I think the first looks were the most interesting to watch. The colors chosen for this spring collection were really really different as the ones Valentino himself used in his previous creations. I don't think is completely cohesive. The work and the skill of the team is more than obvious, seeing those draped jackets is amazing.

It's a nice and modern offer for the customers, but I don't know how the loyal-old ladies would take this. Neon is a color that is really in, speacilly for summer but it has some limitations. What bothers me a little is that they're not following a line, a style for the brand. If you saw Valentino's fall couture collection the nothing related, not even the style. I'm aware that fashion needs to change and evolve, but it has to keep the signature and the scense of the brand.

Here's a selection of looks that I liked.

My favorite! Love that neon + nude.

The pants ♥. Hate the jacket, the colors are a little cliché.

I think this look is too modern for a bow...

Great coat, great shoes!

Love the asymmetry of the top.

Balenciaga-ish!

WTF #2

Before doing my review from the Grammys, there's something else I need to post and I know it's gonna bother many people... but I say what I think (and you can also say it by making comments if you feel I'm wrong).

So I saw another WTF on Sunday's red carpet and of course it's Lady Gaga. I know everyone loves her and I know she's the trendiest person alive and blabla... But let's be real! There's a limit for everything, there's a fine line between being avant-garde and being a clown.

It's not that I hate her a lot but I think she's just trying to get all eyes on her and she's focusing on her fashion. And I think that's not bad, but like I said: there's a line. And she needs to know how to dress properly for each ocassion. Being on stage is one thing and being on the red carpet and in the crowd is another. With her absurd headpieces and pointy things she might have killed someone. And showing your crack and camel toe is not sexy and flattering at all.

For making a statement on fashion you don't have to be an alien or a clown dressed with glittery stuff. That's just the way I think and everyone has a valid point of view so I'm just sharing mine. I'm not attacking and I don't to be critized and attacked. But I just thing that there's a place for everything and you need to know that.

She has worn some amazing things like the Margielas or the McQueens. But this sci-fi thing she wore for the Grammys was a fail for me. Plus that bodysuit/wig/leggins/second skin... And the things on her eyes were TOO Bowie-ish.

Lady Gaga looking like a christmas tree from the Jetsons. Plus the christmas ornamentent stolen from Mall San Pedro.

AMAZING shoes!

WTF with that wig!? :S

Marilyn Manson!?


Ugh! I can barely see after this... blindness!

"Sitting near Lady Gaga has its ups and downs. If you're behind her, you won't see a damn thing. If you're next to her, she'll scratch you and make you bleed. However, all these unfortunate souls probably had terrific cell-phone reception to tweet the living daylights out of the good fortune they had of sitting next to her". Taken from The Cut.

"And then she turns around to reveal a the most glittery tush in all the world, while bringing new meaning to the word cheeky. But this was the perfect dress to end the night on — it gave all those people who awarded so many Grammys to Taylor Swift an opportunity to kiss Gaga in just the right spot". From The Cut.

WTF #1

I've been posting things I like and also interesting and stuff. We all know about the Alexander McQueen shoes from his Spring 2010 collection, the Armadillo shoes. I personally ADORE them and they're a piece of art and if I were a woman I'll be dying to have them.

We saw Lady Gaga wearing them on her "Bad Romance" video, also with a matching dress from McQueen. Then, Daphne Guinness wore them for a red carpet and she looked awesome as always.

And now we have another one: Kelis, wearing the Armadillo shoes. But... WTF!? Something went completely wrong with this "styling". Some artists can pull off the avant garde look and the absurd pieces, but... This pictures left me speechless. I can't even believe they're real. Seem like a joke.

#1 That spiky head band = FAIL!

#2 The frac (I mean, they're cool but it depends on how you wear them)

#3 That f**king latex jumpsuit + THE camel toe! This got to a point where is OFFENSIVE and vulgar! FAIL!

#4 The "pony tail" or braids looks like if she ripped off from a horse!

#5 Those faaaake and absurd eye lashes + the color = FAIL

#6 The chain that goes from both ears to the septum... I don't even know what to say.

Ok, so we have 6 or more things. Mix them. And put them all together on Kelis' body! (not that I don't like her). But you see this and all you can think is: WTF!

I know avant garde and "weird" and extreme calls press attention and also from fans (look at Lady Caca)... but respect yourself! Do NOT dress as a clown and I think this is a look that not everyone is able to pull off. It's a matter of attitude and also of knowing what looks good on you and what doesn't.

Just my thoughts...

You judge and comment!

Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2010

So it's time for a little couture update. All of the shows were last week in Paris and as far as I have seen, there were good, as most of the times, but unfortunately we miss one of the star from couture: Christian Lacroix. It was always thrilling to see what he would do for his next show and it's quite a shame that he's not around anymore. Hopefully he'll get things straight and get a buyer and start showing his amazing creations sometime...

Chanel presented on January 26th a collection different from what we are used to see. There were no black, no navy, no gold buttons. As Sarah Mower said "it was a mix of romanticism, space age, and incredible eye-tricking handwork—as hard to fix in one place as the mercury that seemed to be running through the seams. The clothes ranged from shorts suits to shifts, from frothy, cocooning bubbles to liquid to gas. In some places, the embroideries looked like smashed glass or molten metal (...)"

Karl Lagerfeld has given Chanel (in the past six seasons) a new look, experimenting with new color, leaving gold behind and admitting that silver's the new gold. Many people critized this, because they expect from Chanel something that "screams" CHANEL from everywhere you see it, the regular tweed suit and the classic 2.55.

But for me, this collection has a Chanel trademark, not the one that we're used to see, but it has it. It has the materials, the accesories, the rococo heels, the classic/modern look and of course the craftsmanship.

Lagerfeld was acclaimed by the fashion press because "with all the beads, bows and jewels in Paris at your disposal it takes a disciplined designer to use them judiciously".

Clasic Chanel suit but now paired with short and with metallic fabric.

Amazing draping and also the molten metal effect.

Chiffon cut so thin and in so many layers that looks like fur.


An amazing made out 13.000 flowers ♥

La marieé! The cape she's wearing was made with 200 meters of tulle and silk and took 1300 to be made.

Shoes ♥