I dress, therefore I am..
NYFW SS14 has me firmly in it’s silken claw as I follow the extremely confident, the almost normal and the not in the least excessive…
(Mira Duma, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr Newton)
But as well as indulging in the theatre of the runways I desperately want to turn the camera and see what the exclusive, lucky audience is also wearing.
(Zanna Roberts-Rossi, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr.Newton)
A moment of voyerism to catch them doing exactly what nature dictates a human in that position should do..eye-up everyone else..whilst pretending they’re far too cool to do anything as possibly crass.
(Leandra Medine, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr Newton)
I’m enjoying the intrigue of the public versus the publicity..since the inner circle of secrecy of the Collections was broken by the unrepentant and immediate exposure on the internet, all attendees are touched by magic dust too and have become ‘models’ in their own right, their pictures just as sought after..
(Caroline Issa, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
And what’s more important? Looking at what the people are wearing today, this moment..or concentrating on something you won’t be able to see or hold for another 6 months?
(Carine Roitfeld, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
The internet, digital cameras, streaming..the Collections are out there before you can blink and dancing in cyberspace. But they’re out of date. Even if it’s a future date.
(Maria Duenas, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
The 6 month time delay seems to only work for printed media, giving them time to plan articles and editorials…but how relevant are the mags now?
(Anna Dello Russo and Giovanna Battaglia, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
And the time certainly gives the High Street a heads up to replicate ideas and bleed the genuine talent dry.
(Leandra Medine, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
Is it a case of upbringing and this is the way it is always done?
(Leandra Medine, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
Who knows..but it seems strange for creatives renown for rebels, fallen angels and pushing boundaires to be part of a ‘pack’ mentality themselves.
(Susie Bubble, Harper’s Bazaar, photo by Mr. Newton)
So who will fight for creative freedom? Do they want it?
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
Maria Duenas look is so vibrant & fun x
I love that she went for loose and colour..those shorts are amazing..
This is a hot topic at the moment. Good piece in The Times yesterday about pressure on designers to come up with inspiration for up to 10 collections a year now. We are possibly losing that cutting edge?!! Since the loss of Galliano and McQueen I find myself slightly bored with the shows….which is something I always looked forward to…..and I don’t care who is on the front row either!!!……Well that got that off my chest! Xx
I’m with you..Looking at the collections in the cold light of day on my computer screen, away from the hype, out of the bubble and ignoring name and brand, I thought many of the collections could’ve walked off the high street..the need to appeal to mass market is diluting individuality, Gone is the spectacle and the drama of yester-year and I too miss it xxx
This is why vintage has become such a vast movement I think. It’s the only way left to let clothes reflect our personality.
It is the joy of vintage..if you are wearing something everyone else is wearing..are you fashion or are you a sheep? xxx
My point exactly…..just to give you heads up…I have been invited to take my Vintage Attitude to the ClassicCar Boot Sale on Oct 12th….it’s on the South Bank so if you can pop over……would be fab!!
How fabulous! I will def come..I do have Bella’s 7th b’day party in the afternoon..but it’ll be an all day event? I can come in the morn? xxx
That would be great to finally meet in the flesh! Event runs from 10 until 6. Will keep you posted xx
thank you! x
Love Mira Duma! Such a cool outfit and loove the bag!
http://www.littleprettymess.com
I never thought I’d see a double breasted suit look so cool..and that bag..sigh
😊👍
Who will fight for creative freedom? The young designers. Those with fresh ideas, daring enough to make them reality. You. Do they want it? Yes WE do! xxx
Do a SS14 show and turn up with…AW13 that’s available and ready to sell NOW!..I do feel this industry needs to embrace the modern world we are in.. xxx
I love that idea, wouldn’t want to be the production manager who has be ready to produce 10,000 items (or not) depending on the reaction to the show…
It would mean a whole change in gearing..but why not? As a brand we are meant to be up to AW14, which meant on launch we needed 3 collections up our sleeves which is virtually impossible. Again there is a yin and a yan – to have everything so far in advance means there’s a lot of planning and preparation..but where’s the spontaneity? It runs the risk that what is done isn’t relevant..it genuinely feels a dated model xxx
I love the street style fashion! It is such a source of amazing inspiration! That’s is something that I will love to do, just go out there and photograph these beautiful girls and their gorgeous style!
And drink up the frenzied atmosphere.. xxx
Seeing Carine Roitfeld wearing trousers is so rare ! As much as I love fashion shows, it’s always so exciting to see streetstyle pictures (the ones taken at NYFW are always my favorites !). What a great entertaining and intelligent post ! XXX
It’s a real conundrum..because away from the hype of the shows and looking at the photos on my computer..the street style get my vote every time – maybe because it’s like houses..I’ve always liked interiors with a mix of modern and old..maybe the runway is just too much a concentration of one style? Maybe we should have shared catwalks? – imagine the creative fights over that! xxx
Suzy Menkes’ article for the NYT is a must read on this subject;
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/sign-of-the-times-the-new-speed-of-fashion/?ref=womens-fashion-issue
THANK YOU! A brilliant link – loved reading it – clever woman – and the comments that followed..very, very interesting.. xxx
ahhhhh…. I am in love with the simple look of Carine Roitfeld because of the blouse. Great inspiration for me: a silk lover, who is allways looking for new pattern/Ideas for silk blouses. My fabric storeroom ist full of silk fabrics waiting to emerge in something special.
I think I would love to see inside your fabric storeroom! xxx
One day soon I might make a few pics of my treausers, some of them new some of them older from all over the world….I simply shop for fabric when on the way just like that with out to know exactly what I am going to do with it….the fabrics are just so tempting I have to have them for the ”future”.:-)
I think that is a MUST! I would love to see it..and drool! xxx
Hmmm, it seems to me that all those women are dressed in the latest style as dictated by the runways. I don’t see the innovation you are all talking about. To me, street style can be found in universities, bars, concerts and behind the counter of your local espresso shop. It is found on regular people, not on the habitués of fashion week. I, personally, LOVE fashion week. I love seeing the pretty things I will never ever wear. Ever. Money, sure. It’s an issue. But more of an issue is the fact that they still use furs and skins, they still encourage conspicuous consumption and the models and designers still only design for the thin, young and beautiful. None of which I encourage. As taught and embraced by my generation. But I love to look…Gawd. Does that make me a hypocrite?
Street style..I confess the term was used in it’s looses sense..I do agree – the best ‘street style’ is those that have style with nothing, just because they have ‘it’. But I think what appeals about these people in a ‘street style’ sense is the pressure they are under to be ‘it’ and whether they can they rise to the occasion, particularly given their freedom/availability to pick and choose. I also find it distinctly odd that the optimum of design is for the thin and young..are rich people all thin? Are they all young? Why do we insist on buying into this myth time and time again..do we still want to buy into a fantasy that much? I would love to know the demographic of the women who can afford to buy designer…I’m sure they are not all teenagers.. xxx
Teenagers are a big new market… look at Abercrombie & Fitch… I could not believe that their store is next to Prada in New York!
It’s a slippery slope..
Meaning?
Encouraging the young to buy into brand..I love the ideal that designer clothes represent: True artistry, integrity, craftsmanship and talent..but there is a flip side: brand for brands sake, and that is a danger xxx
A few months ago my husband visited a Gucci factory in Italy (with his school). They admitted that all the items: bags, belts, key chains that you see with the Gucci logo is just for the mass, for those who could not really afford Gucci, “the common people” and the real craftsmanship only goes in to the items that “Gucci fans” could never pay for.
I like the idea of aspiration..yearning for the impossible..as long as it’s worth it – lucky husband! x
Ah, the freedom of expression and experiment!! Makes me think of being a young girl playing “dress up” in just whatever I could find, before I could read or understand labels. I just loved the swoosh of a swingy skirt as I twirled or the impossible dip of a fine feathered hat. Those were the most magical of times because imagination ran gloriously wild and judgment, pressure, and comparisons never entered my mind or heart. Isn’t that what we are forever yearning for . . . again?! Thank you for a provocative post! xo
There is nothing better than that feeling of knowing you are looking good..
If over-sized will be the trend than I am in trouble…
Judging by winter coats here, it is already! but I think over sized only in relation to your size.. x
HAHA Well yes…and I am ego-centric…
Street style…So much creativity! As much as photographers go to FW for the designers, street style is an enchanting phenomenon.*sigh* It must be a great feeling to be engulfed in it all… 🙂 I love this piece.
Thank you..to be there in the wafts and currents..would be amazing x
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Looking forward to reading this! x