SOS

early 20th century via kerry taylor auctions. mmmm handiwork.

for a drool-worthy book on smocking and more, i recommend the art of manipulating fabric.

images from street magazine special edition with martin margiela (from the public library)

image from Antwerp 6+ (from my library)
interview on hintmag with hussein chalayan (from the library called the internet)

It’s no secret I like clothes. But I’m not a fan of dry cleaning – even the “eco-friendly” kind uses wire hangers and plastic bags and increases the cost of the garment throughout its life cycle. Does that stop me from getting ‘dry clean only’ items? Absolutely not! The key (besides cold water and not putting things in the dryer) is the detergent. I highly recommend Kookabura Wool Wash. It does have tea tree oil in it so you have to be OK with the scent, but it makes my woolens so soft and silky! It’s perfectly fine to use it on other fibers as well; I just think it’s especially good on animal based fibers.

just realized eley kishimoto has their own webshop!!! their ‘flash’ pattern is a classic.

loving this lisa rennell shift dress in organic hemp/linen

one of my favorite bernhard willhelm pieces circa 00-01 via yahoo auctions

mociun by fox for spring 09
more photos from lena corwin

and just for fun, my favorite piece of this past season which alas, i did not get to pick up.

There is something about workwear that is so endearing. I don’t mean it in a disparaging way. Long lasting clothes have an intrinsic value. Add to that personalization by handiwork (for both original decoration and repair work) and you have pieces which are very special. You can see what I mean in these pieces I found in kimonoboy’s etsy shop.

chalayan (and viktor and rolf) via Vogue

Hussein Chalayan holds a special place in my heart as he is one of the first designers I enjoyed when discovering ’serious’ fashion. His exquisite tailoring, innovative pattern cutting, and thoughtful approach make him a strong contender as one of the most important designers of contemporary fashion.

I was pleased to read that he will have his first cumulative solo show in the UK at London’s Design Museum starting Jan 22. The exhibition will reflect on the past fifteen years of Chalayan’s oeuvre. He is no stranger to the art world – Chalayan has had numerous clothing and film installations throughout his career. His works have been displayed at the Venice Biennale (2005), the V&A’s Radical Fashion (1997), the Met’s Anglomania (2001), and more. While enthusiasts would perhaps like to see as many outfits as possible, Chalayan and co-curators Mark Wilson and Donna Loveday have whittled the presentation down to a ‘mere’ 37 looks. To assist viewers be enveloped into Chalayan’s world, each will be accompanied by details of his thought process and inspirations.

If you can’t make it to the exhibition itself, I highly recommend Chalayan’s website to fully explore the beauty of his clothes.