Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2011 Men’s Collection

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2011 Men’s Fashion Show Video

Thursday June 24th, 2010 – 104 Paris

Louis Vuitton has gone on a head trip for Spring 2011. “It’s a rhaspody of three virtual scenarios for a digital bohemian, a man who travels the world from behind his computer screen” says Louis Vuitton Men’s Studio Director Paul Helbers under the artistic direction of Marc Jacobs.

“The codes have changed. There’s an eclecticism in the way men dress today from Scandinavia to China and Brazil. It’s a culture clash” says Helbers.

Amazon skydiving inspires the collection’s army issue parachute constructions and lightweight silks. Layered leopard prints provide jungle camouflage, and from China there’s quilting, classic patterns and animal signs from the Chinese zodiac (interpreted by New York superstar tattoo artist Scott Campbell) come to embellish the ensemble.

The collection mixes technical nylons, elegant silks, soft, washed see island cottons and linens lightly coated or chintzed to wrinkle just slightly. Technical nylon is roughed up in weathered prints for sun-distressed parkas, textured in a silk blend taffeta weave for an ultra-light trench, or dressed up in the LV digitalized monogram floral for a jacket that’s still unfussy.

Exotic and earthy colors cross the rain forest to Shanghai from lava to smoke pearl, chartreuse, amber, parakeet green and chocolate chip.

Accessories are electic and elegant including Chinese symbol LV medallions on leather cords to wrap around the wrist, a lifesaver medallion in unpolished tiger’s eye and windshield sunglasses. Sandblasted crocodile monk’s sandals and Chelsea boots alternate with Blunstone type trainers with perforated detailing.

Both lightweight and functional, the bags inspired by active sport are the perfect match with the clothes. Featuring ingenuous details such as numerous straps and handles, zips and convenient pockets, the super light nylon styles showcase the iconic Damier check printed either in black, electric blue and amazonian green. Totally foldable and packable within their inside pocket, refinement lies in the teinted calf and sophisticated suede trimmings. Washed olive or Khaki denim tote styles, printed with either LV monogram large scale or “Louis Vuitton Articles de Voyages” archive signature bring a military feel to the collection.

Complementing the rich nylon and denim models, the iconic Keepall Waterproof comes this season in a Damier printed translucide PVC version while the Utha leather and Damier Graphite Canvas are personalized by Tattoo artist Scott Campbell.

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First Look: Louis Vuitton Monogram Empreinte Collection

Thursday March 7th, 2010 – Louis Vuitton Headquarter – Paris

Louis Vuitton introduced the Louis Vuitton Monogram Empreinte Collection to the press in Paris yesterday. The new permanent line will be launched alongside the Fall 2010 collection. ‘Luxury with an edge’ defines this amazing new line of bags and accessories. The Louis Vuitton Monogram is reinvented, this time embossed on grained leather which has never been made before. It’s the successor to the Monogram Mat, Glace and Embossed lines. The rich grained leather is paired with a shiny gold hardware, featuring a string of leather. The line offers a hobo, very practical tote bags with additional shoulder straps, handbags, wallets and some very appealing clutches . The Louis Vuitton Empreinte line will be available in five colors: Blue, Taupe, Bordeaux, Navy Blue (false black) and Off-White.

Prices:

Tote GM 1700 euro, Tote PM 1350 euro, Artsy MM 1450 euro, Bowling 1100 euro, Clutch 800 euro, Portefeuille Long 500 euro, Portefeuille compact 430 euro.

Prices are subject to change.

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Louis Vuitton Monogram Empreinte Handbags Collection Video

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Louis Vuitton Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Wednesday March 10th, 2010 – Cour Carree du Louvre

For Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 collection, Marc Jacobs decided to take 2 steps back to leap 10 forward, both figuratively and literally. Starting with the tent, Louis Vuitton decided to move it over a couple of feet, just enough so that the often shunned water fountain of the Cour Carré du Louvre was now the runway centerpiece. Opening to the
bold statement “and God created a Woman”, the models walked around the fountain, counter clockwise, taking us back into time to the 60’s “Brigitte Bardot symbolizes the femininity, the sensuality… I just wanted to show beautiful women of all ages” said Jacobs backstage. Laetitia Casta, (who’s been compared to Bardot many times) opened the show, followed by Coco Rocha, Karolina Kurkova, Catherine McNeil, Israeli model Bar Rafaeli, Adriana Lima and (most unexpectedly) Elle Macpherson.  Nearly every look featured a corset either in wool, leather, shetland or pinstripe to accent the curves, sans accessories save for a few gloves, allowing for unfettered femininity to be the central focus. While we saw a tweed jacket, sequined cable-knit sweater, and a boiled wool pea jacket, the real star of the show was the iconic Louis Vuitton bag: the Speedy.

The Speedy has been reinterpreted for the Autumn-Winter 2010-2011. A new flap has been added and top handle. Reincarnated as a doctor’s bag, the monogram has been flocked and sequined, woven in metallic thread, remade in cloque, and in guipure lace over Duchess satin. The Damier patern has been recreated in fox, shaved goat and handpainted crocodile. And in its simplest form, the Speedy has been rendered in waxed calf and reconfigured as a doctor’s bag in grainy, supple calfskin.

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Louis Vuitton Fall Winter 2010 Fashion Show Final Video

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Chloe Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Tuesday March 9th, 2010 – Espace Ephemere – Jardins des Tuileries

Chloe Fall Winter 2010 Fashion Show Final Video

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Yohji Yamamoto Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Friday March 5th, 2010 – Lycee Carnot – Paris 17e

The saying ‘sometimes you need to take a step back to take two forward’ seems like sound advice, but for Yohji, he decided that one needs to go as far back as elementary school to be fashion forward. Even the backdrops for the show signaled that ‘Principal Yamamoto’ was about to give a powerful lesson in demure construction – invitations printed on school paper & a schoolyard would serve as a catwalk. Solemn school girls opened the show in a declination of navy school uniforms, coats and suits with knife-pleated skirts. As the show progressed, so too did the looks, maturing one look to the next, almost as if the school girls were graduating from their simple beginnings into adulthood.

Solemnity evolved into femininity, and the graduated school girl began wearing bustier dresses made of coarse, coat materials. Then came a mens shirt, worn as a peacoat dress followed by a navy blue knitwear jumpsuit worn with removable gloves.  Nearly every look was paired with flat black cavalier boots and some looks even sported sunglasses;  a teaser of new Yohji accessories to come. One black coat near the end had an interesting cookie-cutter-like crease sewn from the upper  shoulder down to the waistline that revealed itself to be a woman’s profile.

By the end, Yohji’s schoolgirl was no more, stepping into the next chapter of life as a bride. The stitched profile was incorporated into the bride’s black dress coat; her hair covered by a thin red filet veil topped by a miniature regal crown. At first, we were left wondering who would marry this dark princess, but a small smile at the end let us know that her groom could only be Mr. Optimism.

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Tommy Hilfiger Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Thursday February 18th, 2010 – Bryant Park – The Tent

The Tommy Hilfiger Fall Winter 2010 Fashion Show was the last collection shown at the Tents, graciously closing the Bryant Park legacy once and for all. The look for Hilfiger’s latest collection was “Preppy with a Pop”. While each piece is intrinsic to Hilfiger’s brand, they all seemed to have been altered just enough to excite us with something fresh and chic. It was as if the Tommy Boy/Girl left their Ivy League dorms and moved into a Prince Street loft. Tommy’s collection flirts between American glamour and sportswear luxe while redefining classic textures and silhouettes. The Tommy girl of tomorrow wears a modern sleeveless trenchcoat with removable double collar, an oversized wool collar sweater and a romantic puffed tulle skirt.

For its menswear, Hilfiger’s preppy boy look was given a more modern and up-to-date makeover, as we saw with a green cashmere cardigan, navy cashmere blazer and fitted pants. This collection reminded us all that true American luxury still exists and reaffirmed that only Tommy Hilfiger can do it justice.
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G-Star Raw Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Tuesday February 16th, 2010 – Hammerstein Ballroom

G-Star Raw surprised the audience at their Fall Winter 2010 New York City Fashion Show. Not only G-Star Raw offered a vibrant and colorful collection but put on a real show featuring 30 models, a three way platform Electro-graphic LED screens and a musical mash up.
G-Star’s designer Pierre Morisset showed his reinterpretation of the denim by mixing and adding bright colors, leather straps and even cashmere to it.

The main inspiration for the collection came from the service uniform worn by 19th century coach drivers. We also saw references to the fisherman’ s clothes with the large yellow over-sized hooded raincoat. Each pieces were surprising by either their shapes or their bright colors without loosing this luxury G-Star Raw denim signature.

G-Star introduces for the Fall 2010 new Metallic denims, a copper and midnight blue tone.  Some of the women-swear skirts and menswear pants were featuring an extra large back pocket, the word at the show was that this pocket has been made for the Apple iPad.

The front row included actress Liv Tyler, model for G-Star’s upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 campaign, Adam Lambert, Adrienne Bailon, Agyness Deyn, Estelle, John Legend, Kelly Osbourne, Keri Hilson, Liv Tyler, Mena Suvari, Miss J. Alexander, Natasha Bedingfield, Nate Parker, Peaches Geldof, Poppy Delevigne, Robert Buckley, Sean Garrett, Shanyna Shaik, Shaun Sipos, Steven Jackson, Terrell Owens, Toby Kebbell, Tyson Beckford, VV Brown and others…

Visit G-Star Raw to see the full Fall Winter 2010 Fashion Show

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Duckie Brown Fall Winter 2010 Collection

Thursday February 11, 2010 – Bryant Park – The Salon

For Fall Winter 2010 designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver have chosen bold colors, plaid and even brought up tweed with a 2010 vibe. The pants are cropped and worn with dress high top shoes. Like last season, the Duckie Brown man intents to stay warm with some oversized alpaca turtleneck and matching alpaca gloves. The key piece of the collection was a red overcoat, neon color-block duffels but also this black japanese felted black bomber. Everyhting to bright up our men next Fall Winter.

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André Drawings at Colette

Thursday February 4, 2010 – Colette

On the street André is known by his graffiti-artist alter ego, Mr. A, and for his “Love Graffiti” concept. André moved from the street to galleries with much hesitation. After proactively changing the nightlife of cities such as Paris, New York, and Tokyo, and giving new life to his characters through multiple collaborations, he is now ready to share his quieter moments, which he draws on scraps of paper or in notebooks, constantly filling them, but rarely sharing them with others.

This is a more personal and intimate activity, far from the commercialism of art. This selection were influenced by the psychedelic love imagery of the 60s and 70s, along with his visual memories of the comic books he read as a kid.

In André’s world, drawings have a special currency, like billets-doux for sharing love. For him, the only way to escape the smothering blanket of capitalism, inside or outside of the art world, is in things you can’t buy: love and generosity.

Buy André’s work here: http://www.colette.fr

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Louis Vuitton Fall Winter 2010 Men’s Collection

Thursday January 21, 2010 – 104

Vienna’s Wiener Werkstätte in the early 20th century attracted a community of artists including Franz Kafka and Egon Schiele with their own creative way of mixing business and leisure style. For Louis Vuitton’s Fall-Winter 2010-2011 collection, Men’s Studio Director Paul Helbers, under the Artistic Direction of Marc Jacobs, is inspired by this “Bleisure” lifestyle, a mix of formality and comfort inspired by Vienna’s “artist wardrobe”.

“Kafka and Schiele favored very tailored, waisted clothes with short jackets and long coats,” says Helbers. “This collection is built on layering, but it is a precise interlocking. Each piece belongs to the whole and you can add or subtract to be more casual or representational. Fabrics are bonded to do without linings and coats unzip at the yoke to layer under other pieces. This suits travel and that is always a focus at Louis Vuitton, but also today’s laptop workplace which has blurred the boundaries between tailoring and casual pieces.”

The artistic life and architecture of Vienna inspire a palette of graphite, brown, raven blue, clay, forest, stone, praline, horn and nude accented by neon green.

The waist is underlined in mixed blacks for double-faced wool jackets with waterproof leather insets. The 3/4 coat is revisited in shearling and cashmere knit with silk satin sleeves. Collars contain slip-out hoods that unfold from the middle so that the leather and zip detailing remains a constructivist design element. Leather is waterproofed and constructed with taped seams for the high performance Techno Anorak, or sprayed rather than dyed so that cubist seaming stands out with a contrasting white edge. Waterproof, brushed and twisted tweeds have a snowy or paint-splattered look and give a sense of volume in very light weights. Luxury is inherent in cashmere blended with chinchilla, or mink, for jackets that are soft, and slightly hairy with a padded look. Shirts are tapered, or loose in a play of stripes: mismatched, geometric or in complex engineered prints. As a tribute to the prestigious equestrian Ecole Espagnole de Vienne, soft double-breasted blazer complement straight leg pants accessorized with zipped riding boots.

Vienna artistic life and equestrian tradition also inspire a new Louis Vuitton rich and extra soft premium calfskin. The leather is fully nourished by craftsmen with oils and natural wax to allow the bags to embellish with age. Either constructed entirely of leather or paired with a water-resistant taupe or charcoal canvas, the bags are inspired by military and utilitary vintage styles with a contemporary twist. The tote is the primary source of inspiration this season with leather handles and hardware from the iconic Louis Vuitton Steamer bag. German painter Christian Schoeler has hand painted three bags with landscapes, forests and clouds, an ode to Viennese art students who roam the streets with their customized bags.

Accessories for the “Bleisure” lifestyle combine a certain rusticity with techno details and elegant design. Army boot clogs are strapped, layered and studded while sleek patent laceups feature a new metallic wedge sole. Tangled leaves and painterly brush strokes are a romantic touch on devoré velvet scarves, and ties are structured in mock moiré or striped in bias welt weaves, or wet look metallics. Eyewear combines spectacle styling with state of the art construction with narrow branches to twist around the ear and clear plastic resin over the bridge.

Viennese artist Blinky Palermo whose work in the 60s centered on architectural illusions inspired the multiple wall set. And the soundtrack mixes techno, waltz, and opera from Holger Hiller to Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Simple Minds with citations from Kafka.

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