The Chicest New Addition: JPG

Here it is, newly added to our stock: Timeless, signature JEAN PAUL GAULTIER. Timeless is the key here, because it references everything and nothing. Pin-up, goth, super-villain, superhero. Whatever, this item has legs and, like anything JPG, ups your fashion ante.

Boudoir meets the street. Frenchy chic...

In essence, it is an over-sized panel with pooling kimono sleeves connected by a 10in strip across the back. Each sleeve has its own decorative black button - a hollowed out steel globe. One of the sleeves' tips has such a button whilst the other is an eye which makes it possible to conjoin the wings themselves.

Such a badass accessory...SOLD $138.

Booyah!

Accessory of the week: 10/13/07

What better addition to your collection than this cheeky early 90's homage to the genius quirkiness of Franco Moschino. This brooch is, quite literally, a statement maker.

90's MOSCHINO Rhinestone Question Mark Pin $198-Sold

Our Favorite Items of the Week 10/13/07

This Fall mark's the return of certain kind of subdued power dressing for us that's mixed with uptown-chic, subtle luxe details and hardcore sci-fi romanticism. While we may have hundreds of items up for grabs, these three highlights encompass our inner urban warrior without sacrificing a shred of luxury & polish!

1). 60's COURREGES Cheery Red Drop-Waist Coat $800
2). 90's VERSACE Studded Black Crepe Jacket $1,200
3). HERMES Gray Wool Riding Jodhpurs $325

Alaia Alaia Alaia

Carine Roitfeld in NYC'07

This outfit may shed some light on the rumors of her nasty demeanor, but who can resist ALAIA at his very best. Its fierced out urban warrior and badass all the way.
And who could resist that shape paired with patent leather?

Hussein Chalayan Spring '08

Nick Knight & Hussein Chalayan gave such a beautifully wearable collection an even more light hearted approach with this breezy video. The finale keeps us wanting more.



Take note of:
Goddess Dresses
Mod
Body-Con
70's Safari
Sci-Fi
Uptown
Origami

We want EVERYTHING...

Spring '08: Harlequin Nouvelle

Christian Dior couture fall 2007

Hints of Pierrot and the recently deceased Marcel Marceau on the Spring '08 runways:

*First to bat, John Galliano's 60th anniversary couture show for Dior and his Pierrot mixed with Picasso clowns-complete-with-eye-mask looks.

**For their Spring 2008 collections (Miuccia Prada) Miu Miu and Viktor & Rolf (below left) also played with the harlequin aesthetic, the latter too literally for our taste. Who's really gonna wear what amounts to a clown costume? Better in the long run to take V&R's looks apart. Mix that up-end tafetta with another texture...Cheap Monday jeans and Repetto lace-ups.

***Much more successful was Miuccia Prada who played with the iconic diamond print as pure pattern, a multi colored background set off by sexed up illustrations of art-noveau sultry lady faces (below right).

<- Our take on clown-chic on the cheap ->

In a universe of his own

Bernhard Wilhelm...One of our FAVORITE DESIGNERS

As always, fashion changes with the times, and generally, it seems as if the past decade has been a good one for us. The world may be falling apart, yet fashion is thriving at 360mph.

Hurling head first into a huge mess that is...

Just look at all of the Spring'08 shows, just way too commercial, out of ideas, freshness & steam. Everyone has done street, de-con, body-con, new rave, uptown, preppy & intellectual.

And the intellectual scene...well, it's crowded and some might say in need of dual injections of surprise and humour.


So we've decided to create a bi-monthly segment to highlight our favorite contemporary designers. In each segment we'll basically rave (and maybe rant) about those fashion dillitantes that help inspire our rag hunts and keep us excited by all things new.

A quick take on Bernhard Wilhelm's designs off the rack and you might grin at their sense of humour and tweaked out proportions and colors. Maybe you'll think to yourself "here we go again". Look again and in the context of the artful and always refreshingly new/odd ugly/pretty way he presents his clothing and you'll get a better sense. Nobody gives us humour, quirk and cool with as much brute force.

Whatever trip he chooses to take next, we're there along with him. Whether lsd crazed, sci-fi, Afro, neo-hippie, urban warrior or Atlantic-city cheese, we're going. Fashion has always emulated the street, but no one can morph, juxtapose, twist and de-contextualize street in the global/universal way Mr. W can. Check out #6. Here rasta, Stockholm street, mod, hippie, dandy, 80's futurism, and new rave combine for a presentation that packs a punch far greater than any one of those references alone. This excellent mix of urban tribes goes way beyond literal or retro.

Fresh prints, quirk, unexpected proportion and technique - stuff you'd never expect but when you see it in front of you it doesn't feel foreign or alien - these are his hallmarks. And judging by the recent shows, he doesn't have to worry about any competition.

Here are some of our own finds inspired by Bernhard Wilhelm...

GET THE TREND: CUT-OUTS

When Michael Kors wasn't so, um, uptown girly. 80's Michael Kors silk linen cut-out mini dress at Vagabondnyc.com.

Cut Outs/2

Early Alexander Mcqueen cut-out convertible bondage jacket at Vagabondnyc.com.

Cut Outs/3

80's Karl Lagerfeld blueberry silk/wool cut-out tunic length jacket.
(bonus peaked shoulders!)
Vagabondnyc.com