Diamonds are a boy's best friend?

I’ve always liked costume jewelry. It’s accessible and yet implies the inaccessible, with little pieces of glass imitating sapphires, emeralds, rubies or diamonds. I’ve always liked costume jewelry because, when it gets down to it, costume jewelry is just as valuable as the thing it imitates. I know, I know, that sounds preposterous and I’m completely aware of the price differences, but I’m talking about value. Value is measured by the demand for something. Gold or precious gems don’t have any real use, you can’t “use” them for anything, the only reason they’re expensive is because people want them. The only reason people want them is to add something special to their appearance, and doesn’t costume jewelry do exactly that?

In a sense, the same can be said about clothing. I don’t mean to say there’s no difference between Primark and Versace, because there is, but is there a difference between a gold mesh dress hand sewn by your local seamstress, or a gold mesh dress made by Donatella? If we don’t take into account the creative aspect, there isn’t. The price difference is because thousands of people want the Versace dress, whereas only you want the other one. It’s basic economics. 

But, things aren’t that black and white. Although we pay ridiculous prices for high fashion, there is a reason. The reason is that we don’t just pay for the material, or the hours put in by the person who put together the garment, we pay for the mind of the person who is behind the design. We pay to be a part of somebody’s creative process, because we want to live in that little imaginary world they’ve thought up. When you wear a Versace dress, you become a Versace person, and that is the greatest thing about fashion. It’s why fashion is considered an art, because it allows the wearer to have an emotional experience. That’s why, although critics will say there’s no real difference, we’ll continue to buy high fashion, because it may not have any real value, but it’s worth as much as you want it to be.

Sweater: River Island

Jeans: Primark

Shoes: Dr Martens

Necklace: Ebay

Sunglasses: H&M

Photography by Alice Malyon

MFW

Milan is one of my favorite cities. I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting a couple of times, but Milan feels like Paris, but cosier. Where Paris is flamboyant and OTT, Milan is calmer and has a warmth about it. Milan is also more concerned about fun than romance. So it goes to show that Milan fashion week would have all the wow moments of Paris, but with a bit more, let’s say, childlike fun to it. As always, I’m only presenting my favorite shows.

Fendi (alongside many, many other brands), is undergoing a huge rebrand. The focus is no longer on the affluent 30/40 year old as the main consumer of luxury, but the 20-something and her need for edgy, modern garments. Among the first whiffs of this were the (now renowned) Monster bags and key chains. This tongue in cheek play with accessories continued in the S/S 2015 show with mini Lagerfeld’s swinging from the bags. The orchid has also been introduced as a symbol of budding youth. Shockhorrosgasp THERE WAS EVEN DENIM. Karl’s done it again, with young, cool pieces with movement sent down the runway, with just the right amount of edginess. Definitely one of my favorite collections this season. 

Puglisi is something between Gianni Versace and hardcore punk. He went in many different directions with this collection, but somehow it all managed to tie in together. He’s a master of the geometric print and the best pieces were mostly those with monochrome high contrast printing clashing all over. The oversize leather jackets were stunning, and will definitely be getting a few street style lenses snapping. Although I loved the collection, the gladiator sandals were a bit hit and miss personally, I feel like they’ve been so overdone through the years that it’s time to just move on. Overall though, congratulations Fausto on another devilishly good collection. 

Last but not least, let’s talk about the MOST talked about collection this season, Moschino. Last season we got fast food, and this season we got Barbie. Now, I’m not usually a fan of the overly gimmicky side of fashion, but if you’re going to do it, this is how you do it.  The collection was absolutely bloody amazing. I’ve been a Barbie stan ever since kindergarten (WHO ISN’T) and this collection took me back a good 16 years, to a time where there were no worries and everything was just fun. And that’s exactly what Jeremy Scott is at his core, he’s fun! He’s like a young Betsy Johnson, and he gives fashion the humor it’s been lacking for years. Not to say of course that’s all he is, the clothes were made perfectly, with attention being given to every little detail from the blow up pool bags to the “plastic” neon chains. The collection is so much of a hit that people are already getting photographed in the clothes. In his celebration of consumerism, Scott has created the ultimate need-to-have product. 

P.S: don't worry, weekly outfit post coming tomorrow! (thought I'd switch it up a bit)

Grenica

  I know this post isn’t strictly about fashion, but today is my Grandmother’s birthday, and she is without a doubt, the strongest, most interesting and amazing woman I have, or ever will know.

She is someone who has been through absolutely everything in life and has always persevered and come out on top. She is the woman who made me what I am today, the person I should thank for all the values I have and all the accomplishments I’ve made. At over 70, she runs her own construction company, and goes to work every single day. She works so hard that I have to force her to take time off! She has always been my strongest support system, my biggest fan, and my closest ally. She has taken me by the hand and walked me down the path of childhood, not once letting me stray off course. Even now, she reads my blog every week, and calls me to tell me all her comments. The only tattoo I have is of her signature, because I used to see it all the time at her office, and I like to think it’s like an artist signing their work. Even when I was small I could never call her just “Grandma”, because she means so much more to me than just that. She is my Mother and my Father; My Grenica (pronounced Gran-itza, a combination of Granny and the Serbian word of the same meaning, Bakica). Wherever I go, I know she is always right next to me, no matter how far away we live from each other, and the same applies vice-versa. She will forever be the person I aspire to be, and she will forever be in my heart. I know you’re reading this, and I love you. 

Happy Birthday.

-Alex

New Header

Hey beautiful people! Exciting news, the blog is getting a new header! One that’s not been shoddily done by me in Photoshop but actually drawn by somebody with actual drawing talent!!!

Check it out below (or above, I guess):

The artist is my amazing fellow Serb, Alex Acid. His design work is a must see and you HAVE to check it out on:

alexacidillustrations.blogspot.co.uk

Milan Fashion Week review coming soon!

-Alex

Illusion of Excess

 Fashion is obsessed with the rich, and I don’t just mean the people. It’s all about rich textures, rich designs, rich colors, rich minds (yes, that rhymed). It is obsessed with the culture of living lavish, of living a purely hedonistic lifestyle filled with new experiences and empty of trouble. Richness commands attention, and clothing yourself, is in a sense all about attention. What you wear draws attention to different parts of your personality, of your taste, of who you want to be. And we all want to seem like better versions of ourselves, so we wear the clothing of who we aspire to be.

It’s most noticeable in the new satirical t-shirt trend. Everybody is wearing slogan t-shirts with slightly changed varieties of Céline or Givenchy or Balenciaga boldly emblazoned across their chests.  At first glance they appear like just another designer t-shirt, giving the illusion of expense, but at second glance they’re something completely different. In actuality they’re both allowing the people who wear them to put on the appearance of the rich, while expressing their sense of humor as well. It’s a double whammy. 

Anna Dello Russo chanted at us in gold and turquoise from her song for H&M that “nothing succeed like excess”, and she’s right. Because excess shows that someone has the option of excess. And having the option of excess means you’ve succeeded, no? Boldly saying LOOK AT THIS with your clothing shows that you’re not afraid to be looked at, that you’re confident. And at the end of the day, nothing is more important than confidence. You are who you believe you are, and the more successful you believe you are, the more successful you will be. 

Top: Custom printed H&M

Trousers: Topman

Shoes: New Balance

Backpack: Asos

Sunglasses: Camden Market

photography by: 

Adam James from thestreetstyleking.tumblr.com

LFW

Where New York brought us monochrome and minimalism, London brought explosions of color and fluid lines. Not bad, seeing as we’re known as the city where it always rains. The shows exuded Brit cool, with styles ranging from the eclectic Kensington globetrotter to the Shoreditch street style eye candy. Personal favorites were as follows:

Let’s start with my fellow Serb (REPRESENT), Roksanda Ilincic. The Belgrade born Londoner continued on point and turned out a show inspired by another female artist. This time around it was Julia Dault, an artist known for painting on out of the ordinary surfaces such as pleather or spandex, and sculptures of plexiglass and Vinyl. It’s obvious how easily this can translate onto the runway, and Roksanda showcased trimmed down silhouettes in electric color combinations, and geometric prints paired with almost industrial metallic belts. Congratulations, Roksanda you’ve made the Balkan’s proud once again. 

Moving on to the quintessentially British, there’s Burberry. His move into the position of Burberry CEO (not just a pretty face, eh) has given him unlimited creative license, and he’s taken us to a British field full of flowers for summer. Bursting with color, the models sauntered down the runway in flowing dresses often tied with sheer fabric, like one would tie a bouquet. Personally, the standout piece was a lilac coat tied with a teal belt that was as soft as the echoing of James Bay’s voice in the show’s background. 

 Another iconic UK brand, Pringle, continues to take strides into the future for S/S 2015. With over 200 years of history, you’d think Pringle would have lost it’s contemporary edge by now. But Nicosia boldly took the collection forward, continuing to play with 3D printing and new-wave fabrics. Inspired by water, the fabrics were translucent and effervescent, but tailored to a minimalistic design. Although the clothes wouldn’t be out of place in a movie about a future Eden-like society, it stayed true to Pringle’s heritage in undergarments with a few lingerie-inspired on top.

One of my favorite shows this LFW was Mother of Pearl. Another designer known to collaborate with artists (expectedly, really, she is a close friend, and the ex-partner of Damien Hirst), Maia Norman really came into her own this season. She kept the sporty edge MOP has become known for but added ladylike embellished accents and showcased prints not only drawn from artist Chris Moon, but also of her own creation. You know that girl you sort of know who always seems so unrealistically cool and perfect? This is what she’ll be wearing for the season. 

Mary Katrantzou became known for her eccentric prints, so it was quite a surprise to see such a subdued color palette in her new show. However, what Mary’s lost print-wise she’s gained in structure. The collection is the work of a designer come into her own. Inspired by the earth’s tectonic plates, the clothing was edgy, fresh and crisp (all the things I like). We’ve always known Mary was a creative genius, with unrivalled sources of inspiration, and S/S 2015 has just gone to show she can be versatile as well. The collection may have been muted, but there’s a bright future ahead of this lady. 

So, can we talk about Erdem?! I don’t even know where to start. This collection was so me that I don’t understand how I didn’t think of it first. It was dark, it was riche, it was sexy and yet it was graceful. Inspired by biologist Marianne North, emerald greens sprouted from almost every piece and evoked a British aristocrat exploring the Amazonian Jungle. There was a Victorian note in some of the pieces, mixing the wild with the proper, taming the chaotic feathered pieces and chiffon appliqués. Erdem Moralioglu, I bow to you. You’ve made one blogger very, very happy. 

Overall, a perfectly British LFW. Cool and airy with the occasional pop of color. Next week, the recap of Milan (can't you just wait to see what I say about Moschino) 

Coven

  I've spent all my free time for the past two weeks watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. My best friend is Netflix and I’m dating a jar of Nutella. There’s something about that period of time between summer and autumn that’s always made me lazy. And fantastical themes have always been an obsession. At 11 I was waiting for my Hogwarts letter (Ravenclaw all the way) and at 21 I’m waiting to become the next Supreme on AHS:Coven. Although I really shouldn't at this stage, part of me will always believe in magic, the supernatural. The notion that there’s a whole different world out there just hiding behind the corner does something special to the imagination. 

That’s why black flows through everything I wear, the mystery is irresistible.

 I've been heavily inspired by the “Amish trend” that’s been making the rounds for the past year. A big black hat and hair lock (no it’s not real, yes it’s a bit weird) necklace add to the strangeness of the outfit. And I took photos at Regent Crescent because it’s where I’d be living in my magical world with my black cat and stack of dusty books. I know I’ll never have a wand or be able to read people’s minds, but when you think about it, everything is magic in a way. Why don’t trees talk? How do animals have instincts? Why are humans self aware? All unexplainable questions whose answers lie at the edge of our consciousness. And isn't that magic in the most literal sense, something we know is there, but is just out of reach. 

photography by: Kim Martyn - kimmistyleme.blogspot.co.uk

Shirt: Topman

Jeans: Primark

Shoes: Dr Martens

Hat: River Island

Necklace: Maison Martin Margiela X H&M

NYFW

Fashion season has officially begun. New York Fashion Week has begun the presentation of everything that will be cool for Spring/Summer 2015. And it's been written clearly in black & white, we'll be wearing a lot of monochrome next season. Instead of showing you a comprehensive list of all the shows, and all the looks (which you can find on style.com) I'll be focusing on what I believe have been the stand outs of the week. 

First, let's begin with everybody's favorite show in NY. Delpozo set the blogosphere ablaze and had Manrepeller reaching for her credit card. Who could blame her? Josep Font, the line's designer, sent breathtakingly structural pieces down the runway, with white, black and navy being punctuated by strong punches of jeweled tones, the line had an aesthetic about it that would be the envy of a Mondrian painting. Crisp tailoring was refreshed with almost couture-like proportions. This is what the most photographed people next year will be wearing.  

Wang has returned to his roots. Sexy, edgy street wear has always been where Wang excelled, and he definitely pulled out all the stops this year. The line was inspired by sneaker's, and although it could have taken a turn for the cliche, the clothes will definitely have people running to there nearest store next year. Straight lines and pops of blood red and electric blue took the runway into the future, and mixed the Tisci with the Tron. 

Vera Wang is a legend in the bridal scene. So, naturally, her show would be mostly black with a strong focus on menswear inspired pieces. Wait, what? That doesn't make sense. However, Vera's bridal background showed in the small ruffling and fur details adding a feminine flare to the tailored menswear.  In any case, the line was cohesive, modern and sexy.

Wainwright and Neville, earned their spot in Marc's slot (not like that, ya nasty). A relatively subdued collection with a focus on natural fibres and a utilitarian edge may sound boring to some, but it follows the fashion world's slow gravitation away from the opulent in your face clothing we've been seeing a lot of in the past few years, and more towards a subdued, classic look. Basically, less Dello Ruso and more Roitfield.  Standouts included monochrome mules and minimalist jewelry, both of which will be out of stock almost as soon as they hit the shelves. 

Last, but not least, there's the Margiela show. Excuse my language, but yas bitches mother-fucking work slay the lives out of everything. The platform shoes were the wet dream of any minimalist, while the tailoring was crisp yet easy. I'm a huge fanboy of contrasting inspirations, and adored their Resort collection, so the continued meeting of Americana and the Middle East for Spring is right down my alley. Silk kimonos paired with light denim belts stole the show, and the fringed black coat will be in my thoughts for months to come. 

All in all, a great fashion week. Black and white minimalism everywhere means a happy Underdog. Next weekend, the recap from London.

Alex in Wonderland

  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was my favorite book as a kid. The notion you could fall down a hole in the garden and enter a completely new fantastical universe fascinated me. I don’t know if it was the colorful characters or the curious situations, but something really resonated with me in that book. I think the constant changes Alice undergoes throughout her journey, both in size as well as mindset, were something that has mirrored my own life in a way.

  

  Even fashion-wise, I’ve always been drawn to items that are slightly peculiar, and I think the most amazing designers are those who push the envelope in Ready-to-Wear, such as McQueen or Mugler. Although I probably wouldn’t wear runway McQueen in broad daylight, I try to incorporate something curious every day in my wardrobe. For instance, even though they’ve been a trend for a while now, leather shorts make absolutely no sense. Taking a winter fabric, that doesn’t breathe well, and making a summer silhouette out of it? Nonsense. However, the high street world has become enamored with “different” fabrics, and everything is now either leather or neoprene.  

  I decided to take these pictures in the English Garden at Battersea Park. Rarely busy, this secluded area has a Secret Garden aura to it, and makes you feel like you’re the first person to go in since the 1800’s.  It also reminds me of the Queen’s Garden in Alice in Wonderland gone wrong, with unkempt white and red wild flowers sprouting out of the cracked pathways everywhere. And although I know there aren’t going to be any talking cards walking around or disappearing cats, a boy can put on some headgear and dream right?

Top: American Apparel

Shorts: American Apparel

Shoes: New Balance

Sunglasses: Camden Market

Mickey Ears: Ebay