Alexander McQueen

(2010-02-11)(1969-Happy birthday to a legend. (17 March 1969)

Styles From Beyond

"Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
- Coco Chanel

I'm an avid fan of fashion for many reasons, but one is because the industry evolves over night. Denim jackets are in one day and then it's all about bulky sweaters. It's a world where the sky changes colors throughout the day and humans would evolve in weeks. Same thing goes for the demand of fashion models. The ones selling the garments are the ones who must be attractive. That is why I'd like to applaud the fashion industry for choosing more ethnic models in recent times because it shows that society is expanding it's mind about what is attractive. No longer will we have to see lanky white girl after lanky white girl on runways. It would seem the world of fashion is less racist than humans are in reality, or at least more open minded.

Ethnic fashion models are undoubtedly in demand these days because of the exotic factor they bring that sells garments so well. Liu Wen (above) and Du juan are good examples of ethnic models in demand. These models are representing a broader range of consumers which is hope that garments will one day be tailored for diverse body types instead of the average American. Liu Wen also became the first East Asian woman to walk the runway of Victoria's Secret fashion show in 2009 and 2010. That is something worth noting because again we can see the growth in the fashion industry which directly affects our perception of what is attractive. Fashion is expanding quickly into new realms, but this just a hill compared to the mountains we await to climb.

Oh Christmas Tree...

"Individually the beauty of an everyday object may become invisible, but in quantity you can't miss it" - Anthony Schmitt

During my finals week I noticed the Bay Area was on the news a lot for RANDOM reasons such as "wild turkeys invading alameda county". I had a feeling it's because the SF Giants won the world series therefore the Bay Area got a little extra attention this year. Anyways one of the news stories was about this fantastic Christmas tree created by world-renown installation artist: Anthony Schmitt. The magnificent annual installation is composed of 86 shopping carts with undertones of incredible meanings. Schmitt states that the tree symbolizes "generosity and abundance as well as those less fortunate whose lives fit into one shopping cart." A perfect message for the holiday season because we just don't help enough, we don't give enough, and we certainly aren't thankful enough.

I had no idea this was installed in Emeryville Baystreet until I saw it with my own eyes when I went to see Narnia!! I was blindsided with this Christmas tree in my blind side!! I had to take a picture of it because it's such an honor for Anthony Schmitt to choose the Bay Area this year for his "Shopping Cart Tree". Please make a visit to Baystreet this December to see this one of a kind Christmas tree. For more information about Anthony Schmitt click here.

Polycephaly

Lucy McRae

"Gold thumbtacks have never been more fashionable."

Lucy McRae is a magnificent fashion designer, innovator, and body expert. She was trained as a classical ballerina and architect; making her the perfect candidate to reconstruct the world of fashion. She plays with the idea of technological textiles and what ought to be wearable fashion. I love the clustering/collage effects of her pieces, although I guess textiles are collages in general. She makes you reconsider what fashion is and what we should put on our bodies. How we should wear clothing and what materials we ought to make clothes from.

I discovered Lucy MaRae from Robyn's new music video "Indestructible", which is a bomb song btw. McRae's costume for Robyn immediately caught my eye because the woven water tubes allowed for movement which is unusual for fashion and definitely eye catching. Movement within our clothing is so provocative and odd. The clothing would seem like a separate entity from our bodies. The clothes might wear our bodies in turn and maybe then fashion will again be respected as a form of art... Honestly I would be honored to model for Lucy McRae. McRae's work is truly inspiring and I hope to see her work in exhibits and magazines everywhere in the near future.