The Art of Recycling at Maison Martin Margiela Fall 2012

Maison Martin Margiela is well known for their ability to transform antique or vintage scavenger hunt treasures into beautifully modern pieces by incorporating them into their collections. This year, was groundbreaking for Margiela as the Fall 2012 Couture show was their debut on the Couture scene. The Artisanal Collection includes pieces made from items such as vintage baseball gloves or a windsurfing sail. 

The raw cotton sleeveless jacket, pictured above, replicates a tailcoat from 1905. A remarkable detail that adds the perfect amount of vintage without overdoing it is the closure of the jacket. It's said to be an antique doorknob found in New York City. 

The designers in the house of Margiela focused on the upper part of the body rather than the bottom half. To succeed in doing so, lace from all over France was used by making straight legged pants that revealed just enough skin to make the pieces even sexier. 

Margiela is a house with a fondness of a free, revolutionary spirit which is evident from the crystal embroidered masks the models sport to conceal their faces. 

 

Amazingly beautiful coat made from, wait for it, a windsurfing sail. 

The infamous vest made from vintage baseball gloves. 

Shall We Use a Chain Saw? Viktor & Rolf Splice Away...

 

Let's revisit the seminal Spring 2010 collection of Viktor & Rolf. Over the years, the Dutch duo has been pushing the limits of fashion with breakthrough pieces that one can not seem to forget.

 

At the height of the economic crisis, when designers were tightening their budgets for extravagant pieces, Viktor & Rolf took it upon themselves to steer away from skimping with layers upon layers of beautifully chainsaw-cut tulle. 

 

Two years later, we are still mesmerized with the intensity and creativity that seeps through the meticulously cut holes adorning the pieces in the collection.   

RIP: Vidal Sassoon

RIP to a true legend and a man who has had as huge an influence upon fashion as any of the great designers out there. We love this image of him styling Mary Quant, another inspiring legend.

Inspiration: The Richards Sisters

Newer Vagabondnyc fans you may not know that these two lovelies shot an ad campaign for us a while back. Here is one of our favorite shots from that session:

Alexandra and Theodora Richards
Photography: Toto Cullen



 

Inspiration: Hedi Slimane Photography

Shibori Gone Maxi

You can meet all kinds of interesting people anywhere, and just the thing happened last week as I was waiting in line at the post office. The girl in front of me was wearing this eye catching dip dyed maxi-dress and I just had to ask who had designed it. 
 

She informed me that it was one of her own and that she owned Upstate. As I have learned, Upstate uses dip dye and Japanese shibori to create silk dresses, wraps, sarongs and even headpieces. 
 

Shibori is a dying technique that uses elements of binding, folding and compressing to create patterns and textures, as you can see above.

Sweater Dressing

 

Call it the ultimate in cozy comfort, our past collection oversized mega knit...

Focus On: Nanna Van Blaaderen

Dutch designer Nanna van Blaaderen designs that posses an aesthetic that attributes as much importance to art as it does to fashion.
 

Her two collections, 'More or Less' and ' Species: a Tribute', boast pieces that are visually striking. Van Blaaderen keeps a focus on the environment and offers these designs as an alternative to fur. 
 

Her achievements have not gone unnoticed, with a collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela and exhibitions at numerous museums, under her belt. 
 

Her 'Species: a Tribute' collection is a result of experimenting with knitting and braiding techniques. The result is one that takes requires an adjective that far surpasses the likes of 'enthralling' and 'amazing'. 

 

Inspiration: 60's Maquillage

Put a Cap On It: John Galliano Buffalo Boy Chain Necklace

Peep this necklace from the controversy courting designer, John Galliano. This necklace is adorned with bottle caps bearing the designer's name. Red and blue bungee cords serve as the chain with a large 'G' in the font associated with the brand adorns the closure at the front.

Ciao, Stefano Pilatti. Hello, Daisy.

With Mr. Pilati's move to Agnonanow confirmed, what better way to honor his mark on Yves Saint Laurent than by snapping up this darling YSL Trench Coat from early on in the designer's stint at the Parisian house. This silk trench has a digital daisy print throughout with an elongated wide sash tie. Oh so chic and perfect for sunny spring days.

Blue Monday: Yves Saint Laurent 70's Smock Dress

Monday is never anyone's favorite day of the week, but this stunning azure smock shirt dress from Yves Saint Laurent is sure to brighten even the darkest one. From the 70's, this oversized number complete with grandfather collar detail is a highly collectible piece from the Parisian couturier.

Hanae Mori Spotting

Check out this adorable Hanae Mori dress we just uploaded to the site. White on black polka dot with a ruffle collar, this piece from the contemporary Japanese designer. The dress is flouncy and ultra girly so we toughened it up with some combat boots. Paradoxical styling at its finest.

Inspiration: Chanel Bon-Mot

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only; fashion is something in the air. It's the wind that blows in the new fashion; you feel it coming, you smell it. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

Vnyc on Fashion Gone Rogue

 

Sudanese model Grace Bol shot by Toto Cullen, styled by Vagabondnyc.

Masterpiece Runway at Carven, Dries and Dolce



Dolce and Gabanna

The Fall/Winter shows are coming to a close and, like Ms. Jolie with a multi-cultural newborn, we have been frothing at the mouth with desire at some of the displays from the masters. 

We are hawk-eyed when it comes to fashion and so were quick to spot a very interesting trend; the painting. 

Ultra baroque in design, Dolce and Gabanna spearheaded this look in Milan. Ornate flowers and blushing cherubs adorned full skirted dresses and sweaters, whilst Carven heralded the Renaissance painters with the most beautiful a-line mini skirt. Dries Van Noten tackled the look in a different way by referencing Japanese iconography. 

This is one trend we can get on board with, paintings are boring on a wall; bring them to life on your body.

Dolce and Gabanna

Carven

Carven

Dries Van Noten

 

Pull an Angelina in Vintage Gianni Versace Nonetheless

Only an uber toned limb belonging to that of one Angelina Jolie could cause such a stir amongst internet users! La belle Jolie stunned last Sunday night in a split to the thigh Atelier Versace gown that allowed the former blood-drinker-turned-humanitarian to show off her second best asset (there's no beating those lips) Fancy emulating her pose? Check out our own Atelier Versace Gown with split thigh detail. Boasting a bias cut  and washed silk, it's time to get out those gams.

Shop Vnyc at The Manhattan Vintage SHow

This Friday and Saturday we are hitting up the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show. We are very excited and would love to see you at the Metropolitan Pavillion. We will have all of our latest pieces on display - from our stunning futuristic Thierry Mugler suits to some recent YSL finds. There will be plenty more, of course and we are desperately trying to edit our best key pieces to highlight them at the fair. Stop by, say hi and maybe bring us a coffee or two. It is going to be a long but interesting weekend.

Week. End. Inspiration

 

Pretty crazy week here at VagaBondnyc. Loads of new arrivals and even more just in so keep those pretty eyes peeled...

Just-In: Thierry Mugler Suiting

We recently scored some jaw-dropping Thierry Mugler pieces that you would sell your granny for... All sharp angles and lavishly exaggerated silhouettes synonymous with Mugler, the pieces possess an otherworldly aesthetic. Take a peek at a few of the pieces. Modeled by the lovely Sarah and snapped by Toto Cullen.