SOS

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.

Patricia Muller recently posted about the Institut Francais de la Mode’s book 20 years of the Fashion System. Despite being released in October of last year, I still have not seen the publication offered in the US.  With a forward by Pierre Berge, interviews with Dries Van Noten and Didier Grumbach, and a look at the ever-changing culture of dress by IFM’s renowned faculty, I think it is worth the hunt.