The Swelle Life

Er, Is This the Best Way to Wear Comme des Garçons?

 
Photo: Emma Mattsson

I found these photos of a model wearing some outfits from the Comme des Garçons for H&M collection (see post below) on what I think is a Swedish website. Sweden happens to be the birthplace of the high street fashion retailer, but a model representing the stereotypical Swedish babe wearing the diffused avant-garde clobber doesn't seem quite right. It just doesn't ring true. The blonde, Baywatch-esque tousled hair, polite smile, girl-next-door make-up and the busting of Sears catalogue shapes is just wrong. She's lovely, no doubt, and certainly anyone should be able to wear what they want, how they want, without ridicule. But seeing as these are promo photos of some kind (not sure of the origin not being able to read Swedish and all), is this look really the best choice for presenting the collection (where was the stylist?), as say, Missy Rayder, who transformed brilliantly to bring the spirit of the Comme des Garçons brand to life:

The Madness Begins: Comme des Garcons for H&M Hits Harajuku

The most highly anticipated (and shockingly unexpected in the first place) designer/high street retailer collaboration EVER has finally arrived. Comme des Garçons for H&M was made available Saturday for a full-on fashion feeding frenzy at its debut location, the aptly chosen street-style capital of the world, Tokyo's Harajuku district. 

So, why the fuss? If you're not familiar with Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons, the videos above and below tell the story (though you may not hear what H&M's Creative Advisor is talking about - speak up, please!), so take a look if you want to see what it's all about.

The 30 piece collection hits selected locations Thursday, November 13. Now that we've seen what's on offer, it is by far the most exciting, high quality, and true-to-brand collaboration yet. Good luck to the next designer who steps up. For locations near you, look here, and click on the bottom left of the page. Big surprise, it isn't coming to Newcastle in the UK. Hope you have better luck where you live. (Sniff) Aw, hell. THAT'S CRAP!!

Noa Noa Autumn 2008: Vive la Revolution!

This is my post-birthday post and I was thinking about my favourite things, and of course Noa Noa came to mind. Their Autumn 2008 collection is here and it's true to the Noa Noa style: layers of soft fabrics in both loose and fitted looks with eye-catching details that are rare for a brand that is so accessible, price-wise.

French revolution chic is the theme and we have options to go more masculine or feminine, depending on our inclinations. Or, try a bit of both - the pieces are made for mixing to create fabulously unique outfits.

What is so refreshing about Noa Noa is that any age can wear the clothes and they will always look pretty and classic while allowing your personality to shine through. This is a good thing as a woman celebrates more and more birthdays and begins to wonder if she'll have to give up what she loves so as not to look like mutton dressed as lamb. Well, never mind! No need to worry about that here!

Looks from the Autumn 2008 catalogue (all images copyright and courtesy of Noa Noa):

Faves from the Noa Noa Lookbook (love the gloves with the pushed up sleeves, and notice what the fabulous tights do for the looks):

 

   
 
All images copyright and courtesy of Noa Noa

Project Catwalk's Jasper Garvida Launches Oli Fusion Line

 

Generally, Project Catwalk in the UK is like the little sister of the U.S. Project Runway - the designers are largely students dying to break into the fashion industry with their first line, whereas the series stateside showcases contestants who already run their own label or work for established and prominent designers. The difference in the quality of designs produced on the two shows is substantial, and for that reason I have to admit I enjoy Project Runway far more as everything about it is bigger and better, right down to the celebrity judges (Catwalk has featured Caprice and Victoria Silvstedt - more Maxim than Moschino).

But there was one exciting exception - on PC Series 3 - when a sweet and shy, Philipines-born, Canadian-raised and London trained, hugely talented 26 year-old named Jasper Garvida displayed his impressive couturier skills (he was chief designer for couture label Michiko Koshino) and wowed the judges (and secretly his peers, I'd hasten to guess). He won easily thanks to his exquisitely hand-detailed and absolutely stunning final collection (Zandra Rhodes admitted to being blown away) and has gone on to create a beautifully wearable high-end collection for A/W 2008 (see above).

Thanks to the enduring popularity of high street/designer collaborations, Jasper has teamed with online fashion retailer Oli.co.uk (love them!).  See Oli Fusion by Jasper Garvida - I especially love the dresses (and the price!):

   

 

It's Not Just A Collaboration, It's a Patricia Field M&S Collaboration

(For my outside-of-the-UK friends: the Marks & Spencer food commercial tagline is 'It's not just food, it's M&S food'...geddit?)

The latest news on high street/celeb/designer/whatever collaborations is that Marks & Spencer is teaming up with Sex and The City and Ugly Betty stylist Patricia Field to produce a one-off fashion collection for release this Autumn.

Women will be excited and (straight) men will say 'The chick who made Sarah Jessica Parker's character look like a rich girl playing dress-up with her gran's wardrobe in a dumpster?' My Other Half refers to her style as 'Poho' as he coined it - Posh Bohemian (not bad). He absolutely hates the Carrie character (as most men do) and thinks 'she tries too hard by taking high-end designer pieces and attempting to make them look hippy-ish and low-rent' (she's not real, eh?).

Depends which season I suppose, I can think of a few episodes where I was scratching my head (that yellow Hermes print scarf Carrie wore like a headband with the corner sticking up in the middle of her forehead like a triangle...How? Why? and Why? I was embarrassed for her as she walked down the street looking so silly. That's right, embarrassed for a fictional character on TV).

The Telegraph reports that according to Field she has "conceptualised the line as 'Destination Style New York' and it consists of iconic womenswear including matching accessories. I like to see it as expression of my philosophy of 'the democratisation of luxury'. Other Half would likely say to this, "So, trashy looks for everyone, then?"

I'll admit that I'm far more curious to see what Patricia Field will come up with for the M&S customer than I would be for an independent line. The thing I can appreciate, however, is the way she accessorises and puts pieces together in ways most of us would never consider. It's done bigger and bolder and therefore sometimes a bit ridiculously when it's for television and intended to create impact for a character (it sure put SJP on the fashion map - she's become one-in-the-same with Carrie Bradshaw in the minds of her adoring public) but surely there's something to learn from it all?

So if we think about it with an open mind we can modify Field's unconventional approach for our daily dressing, can't we? Instead of a silk triangle on our foreheads, maybe consider a scarf creatively placed around the neck for a complementary splash of colour to brighten the face? Baby steps. It's incredible what a little thing like that can do.

     

Oh, uh, um.............OH DEAR.

Hungry for Some McCouture?

The Guardian reports that McDonald's has just announced that their good ol' uniform has, at last, been given a major upgrade. British couturier Bruce Oldfield (second from right in photo) was asked by the fast-food chain giant to create a more upmarket image for their staff. (But if the person serving us looks good, how will we know we're doing something naughty? Oh, right, the food will remind us. If not then, it certainly will later.)

The front line female staff will trade their thick poly top and pants for a patterned blouse and skirt, accessorised with a logo scarf (great for hiding hickeys) and for the boys and men, a black and mocha (their word, sounds tastier than 'beige') shirt and black pants. The managers will wear black suits and have a choice of three ties. Can we assume then, they are all men?

Bruce Oldfield counts Sienna Miller and Jemima Khan as his clients, according to the McDonald's press release. I bet Sienna's thrilled with the new association. Maybe Oldfield will comp her a free scarf, she does have a thing for that mixy-mashy styling.

I was trying to think of what the old uniform looked like, I haven't set foot in McDonald's in ages  (okay, I use the drive-thru). Then I found this comparison photo:

Ya, it was time. Shud-der. Don't know about that scarf, the huge golden arches logo looks a bit silly. Upon taking in the whole ensemble in person I might confuse the restaurant for an airplane cabin and ask her to tell the person behind me to stop kicking my seat.

Comme des Garcons for H&M?!

There's BIG news in high street retailer/designer collaborations: Comme des Garcons is doing a line for H&M this autumn. Seriously. I thought Viktor & Rolf was a surprising choice in 2006 due to their conceptual designs and virtual anonymity with the general public, and at times gimmicky collections (Fall RTW 2008, for one). But this is just astonishing.

Then again there's a desire from the more 'out there' luxury brands such as the avant-garde Japanese label Comme des Garcons to bring their style to the masses, albeit a more stream-lined and watered-down version (avant-lite? avant-conformist?) It would seem that designer and creative director, Rei Kawakubo, (who described her Fall RTW 2008 collection as 'bad taste', as was her intention) wouldn't be willing to sacrifice the creative freedom that in effect challenges those who prefer a more mainstream approach to dressing.

However, Kawakubo told Elle UK magazine 'I have always been interested in the balance between creation and business'. That seems a bit vague but I'll take it as meaning nothing is out of the question. Obviously!