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KIMONO

Summer in London is still chilling. Many people still wears long sleeves, or bring a jacket or cardigan with them, and Kimono is one of the many things you can spot on the street. Many celebrities have been seen wearing them, such as Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, and Kourtney Kardashian. 

The kimono(きもの) is a Japanese traditional garment. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear”, has come to denote these full-length robes. Kimono are originally T-shaped, straight-lined robes worn so that the hem falls to the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves, but kimonos found on the streets are transformed Kimonos which have become more fashionable and comfortable for general activities . It has become shorter, and added frills or bids. Also, fabrics has been varied. There are now knit-kimono, chiffon-kimono, and many more. While the original Kimono are wrapped around the body, and generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zori or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi), theseday’s kimono are more worn with open collars and with any kind of shoes.

Fashion people’s love for Kimono has been going on for a while. Like, Alexander McQueen’s collection in 2005 was the one inspired by Japan, and Kimono were the main subject. Until now, many fashion brands and online shops are producing and selling this modernized Kimonos. For example, American Apparel recently started to sell Kimono-style-robe, and also ASOS.

Orientalism is becoming huge in fashion trend, and Kimono is definitely in the center of that. Grab one yourself, and join the club!

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Alexander McQueen Menswear SS16

“It was about the idea of being at sea and having sense of belonging there, of identifying yourself through the sea” - Sarah Burton 

McQueen’s this season’s theme was ‘The Sea’, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Models came out with wet, tangled hair as if fresh from the tide. They reminded of  adventurous sailors who are exploring the sea, and solitude, with tattoos all over their bodies as a symbol of their identity. Gulls calls and the lulling lapping  sounds of waves were played mixed with the music. 

Burton saw the sea as which acts as a powerful opposite to the land, and is a place where men can make themselves new. The collection has homed in on the image of sailors and wrestlers in order to create a strong sense of the naval adventure.

Trousers were cropped at the ankle, and shorts were triple pleated to give extra volume. As for outwears, there were oversized trench coats and bomber jackets. Plus, single or double breasted suit jackets, and pea coats, which were used as British navy’s coat back in the days. They had cropped sleeves to show shirts’ tattooed-cuffs. Knitwear had nautical stripes or asymmetric ruffles. Some of the trousers and jackets had oversized patch pockets. Buttons were used as a design feature through out the whole collection. Large sail eyelets were also spotted across a pea coat or belts.  

Cotton canvas, cotton gabardine, poplin, terry cloth, and salt-washed denims were used as fabrics. Especially, denims were made to look aged with an all-over mended stitching. Tattoo motifs such as anchors and mermaids were painted on the fabric or embroided across chest, cuffs, and collars. You could also find medal embroidery on suit jackets and coats’ chest. Colors of the sea were used overall - white, blue, black, and navy.  

For full video of the collection, 

http://live.alexandermcqueen.com

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J.CREW is jumping into fast-fashion market

 After J-CREW has been criticized for their quality, and heavy-handed promotions, they’ve decided to develop a new budget-friendly label. J-CREW is now targeting more cost-conscious customers by creating a lower-priced line that can compete in a fast-fashion market in the industry. The new label is called J-CREW Mercantile. According to the Wall Street Journal, the name was given to J-CREW in Spring, 2014. J-CREW Mercantile will feature the same products designed for and sold in J. Crew’s outlet locations. Even though, the price will be akin to what you can find in ZARA or Cos. 

 The new line is currently available at outlet stores and the Factory website exclusively, which is also called as "The Home of J.Crew Mercantile,". The first Mercantile store will open at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas, Texas in late July, before more stores launch across America. Margot Fooshee ,the spokesperson of J-CREW, said the location in shopping malls and retail centers will make Mercantile "even more accessible to customers". 

 Mickey Drexler, the CEO of J-CREW, is the one who created Old Navy when he was working as the president of GAP Inc. So, he’s no stranger to the discount business. Even though Old Navy has been performing well for the last decades, J-CREW’s expanded discount label is still something to be seen.

If you want to check out the new label, click below : https://factory.jcrew.com/help/mercantile.jsp

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Like Mother, Like Daughter 

Kaia Jordan Gerber, is known as Cindy Crawford’s daughter. But now, things are about to change! She recently landed modeling contract with IMG model agency, following her mother’s footstep.  IMG announced the news by posting Kaia’s photo on their official Instagram on July 8th. IMG is considered as one of the best modeling agencies. Kaia is starting her career with supermodels like Gisele Bundchen, and Kate Moss.

Cindy Crawford also instagrammed Kaia’s photo (above), and said 

“Guess I better watch my back...”

Kaia Gerber is now 13-year-old, and recently took her first editorial photo. Before this, she was featured in TeenVogue in Nov,2014, and she made her modeling debut at the age of 10 in the Young Versace Spring/Summer 2012 campaign. Compared to her own mother, who started modeling career at the age of 17 by winning the Elle’s modeling competition, Kaia seems to establishing herself early. 

She had already gathered fashion society’s attention even before her real modeling career starts. Her resemblance of her mother, and unbelievable proportion for such a young girl has been a hot issue. Looks like this young, beautiful Cindy mini-me’s future will be promising. 

[jjiwonning]

Viktor&Rolf transforms dresses into wearable arts

Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are fashion duo from Dutch. Once, the late Richard Martin, the curator of the costume institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said "Vitor&Rolf's presentation mingles statue and runway, letting us see both the living statue of a fine-arts identity and the animation of a couture showing." For Houte Couture Autumn/Winter 2015, this fashion duo reenacted these words exactly. They showed dresses which transforms into real artworks, and then back into dresses. Two designers stood on the stage as the show starts, took off dresses from models, and hung them on the wall. Models were wearing broken picture frames filled with fabric, which had splattered paintings all over. It started with white plain fabrics, and gradually turned into more heavily patterned with exaggerated silhouettes. Images on dresses were based on Dutch Golden Age paintings of the 17th century. Underneath, models wore simple denim dresses which reminded of actual artists' shirts. After the catwalk, Viktor&Rolf acquired an Houte Couture art piece, which will be donated to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. For the video of the show, clike the link below : http://www.viktor-rolf.com/news/viktorrolf-haute-couture-autumnwinter-2015-wearable-art/