The RUNWAY ~ (Wo)Man Ray

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Fall-Winter 2011/2012 Ready-To-Wear collection takes varied inspirations: Disney's 101 Dalmatians, Dracula and Strangler in the night. Though the expertly fashioned garments, the results it's a lot of confusion and not a main clear theme collection. He should't have let the 101 Dalmatians out of the showroom!  

Castelbajac's show draws upon a surrealism undercurrent with citations of Elsa Schiaparelli eccentric hats, Dalì's mustache and Man Ray's masterpieces. A collection he dubbed "Woman Ray". Nevertheless it's another example that can be added to the long list of the use of art icons in fashion. Unfortunately not a good one. The positive thing is that using famous photographs by Man Ray on the dresses might be an efficient way to practise art history these days. There was no creative effort. Castelbajac creative phase culminated in the presentation of the moodboard. A mere copy and paste on the dress that is symptomatic of a lack of inspiration. Or to be precise, inspiration it's the only thing which he have thought. 'A propos, do you remember Victor and Rolf Fall 2008 collection? ...

The Runway ~ When Giambattista ♥ Red

The EVENT ~ The Masked Ball

The Vogue Paris 90th Anniversary Masquerade Ball. An explosion of fashion fantasy!! Feathers. Laces. Sheer dresses. Sleek black lingerie. Tiny lingerie. Transparency.

 

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Mr Newton in Paris

A few of Mr Newton snapshots from around town on day two of Paris Fashion Week…

The RUNWAY ~ Parnassius Apollo

The Apollo or Mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo), is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is found on mountains in Europe usually above 1,000 metres up to 2,000 m, preferring flowery meadows and mountain pastures. This species is of interest to entomologists due to the variety of subspecies, often only restricted to a specific valley in the Alps. One of the loveliest species of butterfly in the Alps, it is white with two red, black-edged "eye marks" on its wings. The caterpillar's favorite food plant is stonecrop (Sedum). Thanks to my daddy Paolo, he's very fond of butterflies. When I asked him which kind of butterflies were the ones on the gown, he immediately reconized them.

- Gown and shoes: Alexander McQueen SS 2011 -

The RUNWAY ~ Danaus Plexippus

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae), in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies.

The Monarch is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer in the Americas which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly. Thanks to my daddy Paolo, he's very fond of butterflies. When I asked him which kind of butterflies were the ones on the gown, he immediately reconized them.

- Gown and shoes: Alexander McQueen SS 2011 -

The RUNWAY ~ Diana

I know that usually Diane wore a very short tunic so she could hunt and run easily and is often portrayed holding a bow, and carrying a quiver on her shoulder, accompanied by a deer or hunting dog. But when I saw this Alexander McQueen gown I immediately associate it to the Diane myth.

Diane, or Artemide, was the goddess of the hunt, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and also of the moon in Roman mythology. In literature she was the equal of the Greek goddess Artemis, though in cult beliefs she was Italic, not Greek, in origin. Diana was worshiped in ancient Roman religion and is currently revered in Roman Neopaganism and Stregheria. 

The RUNWAY ~ Demetra

When I saw the show of Alexander McQueen SS 2011 yesterday, first thing came to my mind was the myth of Demetra. 

Demetra was the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, the seasons (personified by the Hours), and the harvest. One of her surnames is Sito (σίτος: wheat) as the giver of food or corn. Though Demetra is often described simply as the goddess of the harvest, she presided also over the sanctity of marriage, the sacred law, and the cycle of life and death. She and her daughter Persephone were the central figures of the Eleusinian Mysteries that also predated the Olympian pantheon. Her Roman cognate is Cerere.

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Parisian shoes by Tommy Ton

Tommy Ton - of Jak & Jil blog - shoots the Paris Off-Catwalk scene. Look at these shoes...

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Paris fashion week by Tommy Ton

One of my favourite photoblogger, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil blog, is back in action at Paris Fashion Week.

The OFF-CATWALK ~ Voguistas in Paris

Paris, SS 2011 the Off-Catwalk scene. Photos by Raffi Cherbedjian.

The BACKSTAGE ~ Orange/Poudre

Orange, brillant orange, poudre, nude, ivory, golden ivory, blush by day at S/S 2011.