GARETH PUGH (pre-christmas crazed purchase)

SO, I went a little crazy before Christmas and I couldn't help myself at SEVEN's sale. I bought a Gareth Pugh dress. Its a rather simple silouhette, and rather simple concept- skin tight turtle neck sweater dress with an invisible zipper down the back and on the wrists, but it has a much deeper styling message. The complex black and white Aztec print parells back to Gareth's signature print as well as his overall theme of the constant battle between light and dark. And it especially reminds me of Gareth Pugh's SS09 collection, which is, in my opinion, his best collection to date. Styling this dress is quite fun as it takes control of any outfit. Excuse the boring backdrop; I was visiting my mother for Christmas.
I just put my two tone tight ,black Jeffrey Campbell platforms, and Bernard Wilhelm for Linda Farrow sunnies for a simple contrast.

I paired it with an old Urban Outfitters jacket, a blouse that I had to make for a final (in a really interesting pixelating print), my two tone tights ( the dress just looks soooo good with those tights), and my old cowboy boots

I paired it with a vintage darted puffer that my friend gave me, a Grai cardigan, more two tone tights, and Prada platforms

And this outfit consists of some cheesy fabric worn as an oversized scarf/ sash, an animal print skirt that I made, (do I even need to mention the tights?), and Irregular Choice platforms.

Crafty

I guess I really am just that cheap, put I've been making my jewelry lately or having it made for me. I just think that the jewelry has gotten so boring (minus PYT, Disci Mori, and some other lovelies) and I just have no motivation or will to spend large amounts of money on jewelry (I would much rather buy clothes). I know I know " a diamond is forever" but a diamond doesn't add too much to an outfit besides status and predicitibility.
The first necklace that has been on heavy heavy heavy rotation in my closet, is a triangle, plastic tube structure necklace that my boyfriend made,which he calls the Limon Tri's necklace. Its the first of its kind, and its more of a trial necklace than anything( he is now making metal versions, which I am still begging and pleading to get one). It brightens any outfit adding structure, its sort of like a supermodel- it could endure a burlap sack and still look fabulous. I normally just throw it over my H&M coat for an embellishment effect, and it looks wonderful layered into my chaotic messes of outfits. Here I put it with my tire track print Jeremy Scott shirt because it compliments the geometry and chaos. (Also with my Christmas present Fox headband, Banana Republic sweater, Richard Chai for Target Tank, and Mary Meyer drop crotch {deliciousness})


The second necklace is really a set of necklaces set a-turning my OBSESSION with ruffs. They were really just projects for fashion school. My crazy Textiles teacher thought it would be a great idea to make her students learn how to make felt ( a horribly tacky-tastic fabric that is made by taking raw wool and visciously agitating it with water, heat, soap, a plastic tube and some netting- its what people get upset about when they wash their precious wool jackets in the washer) After countless hours "getting at it" with the wool I made spent more countless hours making this ruff. It should be heavily noted that ruff making is not fun, and is a rather pedantic activity requiring concentration and a willingness to sacrifice fingers to needle stabs. The ruff is navy, creme, and black and is quite fun to wear. A ruff wearing beginner, I like to start simple with just my Gareth Pugh dress and Bernard Wilhelm for Linda Farrow sunglasses just to make sure its not costume central. Ruffs are quite lovely on and if high enough up, can frame the face nicely. The other ruff inspired piece is a scarf/breastpiece that was a LCD (light color and design) project. We had to choose a painting/sculpture and make a scarf out it. I chose a piece my Damien Hirst with a lamb suspended in formeldahyde- the clear fabric represents the glass, the leather and grosgrain white and black represent the lamb as well as the rawness and disturbing quality of the piece, and the white linen triangles represent the hard lines of the white container. It has such great volume that I just want it to be a stand out piece. My Jeremy Scott shirt does no wrong.



The final necklace is an antler that I picked up at Evolution of New York ( this is a really amazing nature store, it has a real intense taxidermy collection on the second floor, its just a little pricy). I just tied three nylon bonded thick thread (its thread that is used for leather, I recycled it from the ruff scarf above) around it. When I put it with my fox tail, it has a raw nature effect is quite nice. I paired it with my House of Holland color changing dress, Erik Hart vest, American Apparel stirrup tights, and Jeffrey Campbell Pumps.

Apathy Please.

I'm really into Visbol De Arce's SS09 collection. There's a certain air of non human- which I have been somewhat thinking about as the SS09 season approaches. The non-human sensibility is a really quite interesting thought. Its as if the clothes take away the empathetic qualities of the wearer from the viewer persepective, which is an exciting aesthetic to have. The passion/ theatrics/ drama is over in my book; I'm interested in apathy. The face masks play a large role in this, and hopefully the mask isn't simply a showpiece because it would add interesting depth to all outfits. It channels MMM's sci fi shade's idea but in a more intense and effective way of mystery. The sharp points of the collection (my favorites being the points in the shoulder and in pointed accents here and there, such as on the edge of a sleeve) also compliment the masks as well as the uneasy feeling. My absolute favorite thing is the puffed shoulder leotard. It would look fantastic alone with some tights and serious platforms, or it would look fantastic with hot shorts or some sort of dress that could ease around the shoulders. Its on my spring wish list. You can purchase some of their stuff, but not yet their SS09 collection yet at Styleserver.