Hat by Madeleine Thompson, Sweater by Raf by Raf Simons, Denim shorts by Ksubi, Thermals by Nice Collective, Plaid shirt by Nicholas K, T-shirt by Obesity & Speed, Boots by Bess Outer denim jacket by Gilded Age, Inner denim jacket by ELC, T-shirt by Obesity & Speed Top by Raf by Raf Simons, Vest by […]
Black lace blouse and Black neopreen skirt by Stella McCartney Lace boater hat by Ellen Christine Millinery, Ribbon by Mokuba, Gridlock chiffon bra by VPL, Para panty show piece by VPL, Tights by Wolford Black natte wool dress and Burgundy natte wool bra with silk crepe de chine straps by Miu Miu, Ribbon by Mokuba, […]
Black and white nylon and silk leopard dress by Dolce & Gabbana, Black knit mohair glove and scarf (worn as belt) by Wunderkind, necklaces by Iosselliani Asymmetrical one-sleeve dress by Maison Martin Margiela, Fur Jacket by Etro, Black headband bow by Dolce & Gabbana Silk chiffon dress, striped Tights and suede striped heels by Wunderkind, […]
Robert Geller sat next to his older sister on a flight from Germany, en route to London Fashion Week. It was 1989. He was 13-years-old, The Cure was in his Walkman, and he had no idea what he was about to experience. During the trip he saw a few runway shows and visited Yohji Yamamoto […]
Beauty in the details Tucked away on Via San Raefelle, mere steps from Milan’s breathtakingly ornate duomo, the Hotel Straf offers a mélange of fashion, art, and hospitality that is truly one of a kind. Vincenzo de Cotiis, the pioneering architect and multi-disciplinary sensation behind the exclusive Brescia-based fashion house HAUTE, has transformed a 19th […]
Nixon Bar makes an alluring proposition to nightlife vultures Nixon Bar is perfect for the discerning Greek population in Athens as well as, vociferous nightlife critics and tourists on the prowl for something that belies sameness. Named after the disgraced president, the bar/restaurant/cinema is referred to as “Watergate” by the locals. But to be fair, […]
Nostalgia-infused libations The Edison isn’t so much a replica of the Roaring Twenties as it is a re-imagining of a bygone era forever etched in history for its social, artistic and cultural upheaval. The bar and lounge encapsulates an Old World style and a refined sense of romance that once dominated the vibrant metropolis of […]
The noble experiment Long after Prohibition ended in 1933, the influence of the Capone Era still lingers in the historical Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Bourbon & Branch is a window into the 1920s, when the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned across the U.S. Hit the buzzer on its unmarked wall today and […]
José Andrés’ molecular gastronomy Inside the extravagant SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, the collaboration between celebrity chef José Andrés, world-renowned designer Philippe Starck, and retailers Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell is a eclectic undertaking, to put it mildly. Arguably, the four pillars that comprise this lavish undertaking are: Rojo y Blanca, a play on the […]
Where over hyped bands sweep in grandly then quickly fade in a sea of indie obscurity, Marc Bianchi has been quietly reinventing himself through his cerebral brand of bittersweet synth-pop for 15 years. As front man and jack-of-all-trades for his band Her Space Holiday, Bianchi’s sweet and shy demeanor is offset by his natural ability […]
From a studio on 23rd street in Baltimore, rap’s new “it” girl, Rye Rye, told SOMA what she would wear to: ( 1 ) Kurtis Blow’s Harlem Hip Hop Church: “An old school hip hop look… like a lot of gold bangles, bamboo earrings; but I would wear some appropriate slacks, like dressy-type wit street shirt.” ( 2 ) […]
You know their faces. The boy-girl duo staring blankly from behind eyeliner-clad eyes, leaning into your gaze like something out of a Vice magazine page or assorted web photo. You assume you know their music through these images. Maybe you assume they’re a punk band from their harsh look or maybe you assume they’re a […]
Something is happening in music studios all across Los Angeles. A new scene of adventurous musicians, perhaps weary from the nonstop attention directed at certain East Coast boroughs pushing the musical envelope, is wooing avant-garde music lovers, demonstrating that experimental pop need not conjure thoughts of cold weather, brownstones, and the Brooklyn Bridge. LA bands […]
Director Anne Fontaine gives us a glimpse of Coco Avant Chanel Those unfamiliar with the enigmatic prowess of Coco Chanel will surely have a fashion history lesson upon viewing Anne Fontaine’s newest cinematic exploration, Coco Avant Chanel. The film tells the story of how the iconic designer created an empire from humble beginnings and surpassed […]
Editing the trends with Anna Wintour To outsiders, the fashion industry may seem no less chaotic and perplexing than a three-ring circus, what with its overproduced runway shows, and power players often known for their outré visions. In this world of costumed eccentrics and unabashed excess, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour plays ringleader, her whip being […]
Illuminating Fashion From a Shaded View Diane Pernet carries a dark and mysterious elegance that can often intimidate. Intentionally fading into the black uniform of her signature dress, she is quite a beauty if one is lucky to see her even partially unveiled. Diane’s voice is a soft whisper; yet her words ring true to […]
Marilyn Minter’s Pleasure Principle It is difficult to tell if Marilyn Minter’s subjects are meant to make viewers uncomfortable—or turn them on. A self-proclaimed “still life art photographer,” Minter’s pornography-inspired portraits of women seemingly possessed by the voyeuristic lens all appear to be objects of her wildest hallucinations. Yet, upon closer inspection, the images reveal […]
No one could accuse Miuccia Prada of having pedestrian taste in art, but even by her own standards, the mind-stretching art exhibition at the Prada Foundation space in Seoul will strike many as a brave choice. Under the ice-white roof of the Transformer, visitors will enter the felt-lined dreamscape installation “Turn Into Me,” conceived […]
London is widely regarded as one of the world’s style capitals. Just a fortnight before another London Fashion Week begins, SOMA took to the streets of East London to find out where the style starters source their inspiration. SOMA asked 1. Where do you get your sense of style? 2. Who is your favorite designer? 3. […]
Behind the scenes at YSL’s first show It’s Paris 1962, Yves Saint Laurent has just started his own business, only five years after taking the reins from Christian Dior at age 21. It’s easy to identify this as the last great period of haute couture, spurring the subsequent rise of prêt-a-porte. It’s a time idolized […]
Culptural Structures, Shapes and the Future of Fashion London-based artist and polymath Petra Storrs defies all artistic genres by assimilating set and prop design, stage costume design, illustration and myriad quirky works of the imagination. Her singular vision led to the unforgettable spectacle of singer Paloma Faith at a London show, whose umbrella-shaped mirror […]
A.A. Collection finds Beauty in The Basics Antonio Azzuolo’s a.a. collection achieves something in menswear much loftier than a trend. With trousers and blazers marked with scrutiny and care over every inch, a.a. achieves an understated essence, yet retains an uncompromised maximum of potential. From his tiny, but incredibly well-organized home studio in downtown Manhattan, […]
When a man goes into battle, he dons his battle dress. Well, not exactly a dress—a suit. Such was the case when, poised to begin a book tour, I found that my collection of suits was pretty tired and not what was needed to adequately represent a book about the evolution of men’s retail. In […]
Long before the proliferation of the Internet, limited edition sneaker collaborations were only available to the inner circles of “flight clubs”—a sort of underground secret street society. For days, these die-hard fans would line up and sleep outside of streetwear stores like Supreme in Manhattan to get their hands on these highly-coveted kicks only to […]