THE SPRING ISSUE
Style
Fashion Comes to the de Young
Photography by Gregory Bertolini Sheathed in dappled and perforated copper material, the de Young Museum poses in Golden Gate Park like a finely tailored fashion icon. The re-opening of the avant-garde building, which was designed by the Swiss team of Herzog & de Meuron, and local architects Fong & Chan, marked a new unification of […]
Ørgreen
Scandinavia is an unlikely birthplace for a sunglasses brand: with its generally cold climate, dark winters and rainy summers, one could hardly find the time to wear shades. It comes as a bit of a surprise, then, that one of the most successful sunglasses brands to emerge in the last few years was born in […]
Sneakers: Obsession’s for Fall
Sneakers are an ever-evolving style. Each year fashion designers from around the globe design and create sneakers to fit into a particular seasons trends and statements. It is no surprise that sneakers and their versatility allow for a creative and innovative voice, one that is outside of the strict roles of fashion design. Tacky fabrics, […]
Sandra Backlund
Following the thread, quite literally, of the career of Swedish-born knitwear virtuoso Sandra Backlund will take one through interwoven cylinders of yarn that seamlessly connect the fields of design, art and fashion. Her nonconformist aesthetic, applauded by luminaries such as Franca Sozzani of Vogue Italia, Louis Vuitton and Anna Wintour, shares as much with sculpture […]
Bondage: Seductive Decoration
Bondage mania seems to have invaded all fields of design recently: lamps, vases and accessories are taking cues from Japanese bondage, with intricate laces tying up porcelain and glass, knots and strings becoming design elements. And the transition from sexual practice to curious aesthetic feature appears strangely natural. Danish artist Steen Ipsen has become one […]
Robert Molnar
What has been your proudest moment? I’m very fortunate to have had many…when I made “paper-like” clothing and my mother requested to be buried in “paper” panties that I was making at the time of her death. What has been your most embarrassing moment? My mother being buried in “paper” panties. The joke encapsulates both […]
Jay Bell
At Barneys New York, Jay Bell oversees the coolest selection of menswear around. His formal title is a mouthful: VP and Division Merchandise Manager (DMM) of Designer Collections and Contemporary Sportswear. His job is to scour the world of fashion, buying collections from the industry’s most famous talents, while also discovering next season’s must-have, rising […]
Hussein Chalayan
Photo Chris Moore Abundantly oversized yet tailored suits, capes and slinky black hooded dresses flew effortlessly down Hussein Chalayan’s AW 2010 Mirage runway show. The collection was an amalgamation of rich camel, grey and black, with hints of purple, blue and red adding splashes of freshness to the classic color palette. Though the 40-year-old designer […]
Gucci Westman
“Luxury and mass market combined.” That’s how celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman describes her collaboration with Revlon. In 2008, when the drugstore cosmetics giant realized it desperately needed an infusion of fashion credibility, the solution was clear: hire Westman as Global Artistic Director. It was an inspired choice. Not only has the talented makeup artist […]
About Town
Handbag Chanel Candle Comme des Garcons Handbag Derek Lam Coat Eudon Choi Umbrella Marc Jacobs Handbag Hermes Photography Louis Park Stylist Marie-louise von Haselberg at Clicks and Contacts Photo Assistant Daniel Jon Production Ann Kim at The School House
Siki Im
Conveying a design language of structure meets deconstruction, fashion designer Siki Im proposes a complex and layered style. While his principally black and charcoal palette offers a dark and romantic silhouette, Im insists his vision remains optimistic, claiming, “I’m not a dark person. Some people think I’m dark. The reason why I approached these themes […]
Gustavo Lins
It’s no surprise that water, something so basic and essential, so fluid and pervasive, is Gustavo Lins’ element. Every look fuses the classic, relatable basic with its haute couture, draped, shape-shifting counterpart. His clothes seem to diffuse into the imagination, as you envision yourself wearing a variety of his pieces in every manner of situation. […]
Fashion Scents
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their menswear division in style, Dolce & Gabbana have created The One Gentleman. Focusing on elegance and simplicity, the fragrance completes The One range (already including The One fragrances for both men and women), with an oriental scent that includes pepper, lavender, fennel and vanilla.
Rumi Neely
Forever 21, Balenciaga and hand-me-downs. You don’t often hear these words together, ever, but Rumi Neely manages to put together the grunge and glamour of high-end, com- mercial and vintage pieces with ease. A self-styled, San Diego native, 26-year-old Rumi was just a regular, young fashionista looking for some outlet of self-expression a la mode […]
A Fashionable Hunt
The excitement of fashion is always fueled by the creativity of youth. But for every Ralph or Donna, there are millions of “best dressed” recipients; for every Rudi Gingrich or Walter Van Beirendonck, there are innumerable style heroes at the club. In the end, talent be damned, the one who sells the most garments, wins. […]
A little Reflection for Summer
top: “Chester” by Orgreen middle:”Low Rider” by Orgreen bottom: “FRANZ 24k” by MYKITA & Bernhard Willhelm If, like me, your eyes are sensitive enough that walking around midsummer without sunglasses is tantamount to headache and disorientation, then you probably know a thing or two about frames. As all we visually impaired people know, frames are […]
Hiroshi Kawai
An anonymous author once observed that “the world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos.” It truly is sad when such a shallow remark manifests generations of misconstrued concepts to come, concerning a truly reputable art form, is it not? The truth […]
Rock Star Hair
Hair is to rock stars as fabric is to a couturier. Their signature hairstyles are not only an extension of their identity and music genre, but serve as an imprint in which pop culture and history are defined. Their locks will inspire hair trends amongst the millions of fans they touch. While some looks are […]
Shoes that Rock
To take a blank canvas and cover it with paint is how one can achieve greatness. To take a blank pair of Chuck Taylor All Stars and collaborate with some of the most groundbreaking musicians from the 21st century is to make an iconic product even greater. It’s no secret that Converse has graced the […]
Let’s Get Digital
Bold, bright and slightly surreal—what spring is looking like, with a marasma of amazing prints to cheer up with after the winter gloom. The new season has found its calling, and it’s all about the scientific imagery of fascinating natural phenomena. Designers’ new infatuation with digital printing has resulted in a few incredible collections that […]
Sourcing Southern Style
Australia may well be renowned internationally for its coastlines and multicultural cuisine, but for style-starters, it’s the ultimate destination for unforgettable and inspirational fashion. SOMA presents an insider’s guide to the very best in Aussie boutiques. One of A Kind > Catering to the Australian male who craves truly unique apparel and handpicked vintage houseware […]
Blogger Backlash
14-year-old Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie) is only one of many fashion bloggers who has recently come under fire after the industry’s initial fascination with not only this particularly pint-sized, sartorially adventurous Wunderkind, but with other teen bloggers as well. At the start of their meteoric rise, bloggers’ “hipness quotient” led to invitations to couture shows, […]
Floragasm
With summer just around the corner, many designers are tapping their perfume departments to deliver the perfect floral concoction. Coffee beans on-hand, SOMA sits down to take a whiff of some of these new aromas. Flora by Gucci Eau de Parfum There are few iconic names in fashion that are instantly recognizable as the epitome of […]
The Its Class of 2010
Trieste is a small town nested on an eponymous gulf in northeastern Italy. Of Austro-Hungarian splendor, it is today a quiet, cultural pole of students and senior citizens. But once a year, the fashion pack descends on the quiet town in search of new talent. They are here for ITS, a competition that has single-handedly […]
