coutorture --

Day One: Japan Fashion Week Recap

coutorture — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:16:38 -0700

As it began in 2005, Japan Fashion Week is still not as clearly visible as those of Paris and New York. To that end, here is our recap of the designers who showed their Fall 2008 collections on the runway yesterday, many of whom are newcomers to the West. Now, soak up these summaries and casually drop this info like Japan Fashion Week is 'yesterday's news'. You'll be photographed by Cobrasnake, hit up on Myspace, and be asked to start your own Viva Radio show in no time.

Hidenobu Yasui: A Central St Martin's grad who's been designing for nearly ten years (though the St Martins bit came right in the middle of this). Yasui speaks of his designs by saying, "I hope that my collection makes a woman feel nostalgic, as well as protected with a soft touch that characterizes the [the] willowy, feminine side of her." This Fall 08 saw long, lean blazers and an ivory and black palate that was quite chic and soft, though not 'girly'.

MODE ÀCŌTÉ: Minoru Adachi's line was one of the first to appear in Japan Fashion Week back in 2005. His collections are distributed internationally. This Fall 08 collection, coined as 'noir', experimented with texture and tailoring. Thigh high patent leather boots anchored the more feminine frocks and blouses in the collection.

Kamishima Chinami:Kamishima Chinami launched her own line in 1998, after nearly ten years working in the industry. This season, Chinami succeeded in using tule and down in the most tailored way imaginable (two elements that are known for just the opposite) resulting in a collection that was full off contrasts in texture and shape.

Zechia: Zechia is designed by Masahiro Nakagawa and Lica, both former designers for brand 20471120. This fashion week they focused on ethical textiles and called upon retro inspired silhouettes from the 1950's and 60's to inspire their 'woman' themed collection. Select garments from the collection are also being auctioned off for charity. This is Zechia's first season in Japan Fashion Week, and their second collection to date.

Motonari Ono: Motonari Ono's Fall 2008 collection was his first to appear in Japan Fashion Week. The young designer worked as chief pattern maker for Bora Aksu in London before returning to Japan to launch his own collection. As to be expected Ono's aesthetic speaks to a younger consumer, as his designs are quarky and sexy; that special brand of twenty-something pizzaz. Perhaps it's Ono's other occupation as an illustrator that contributes to this lively, youthful aesthetic.

Mint Designs: Hokuto Katsui and Nao Yagi are the designers behind Mint Designs. Both finished their training at Central St. Martins, where they met. Since the label's launch in 2001, Mint Designs has participated in Uniqlo's Designers Invitation Project and won the New Face Designer Award providing them with international recognition. This Fall 08's theme "Trash, Slash, and Flash" was all about bright colors (orange in particular) and wild, imaginative designs.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

Late Night For Fall 2008 With Isaac Mizrahi

coutorture — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:08:44 -0700

Cocktail dresses, opera coats and enveloping golden shirt dresses mean Fall for a certain kind of woman. That woman is Isaac Mizrahi's woman. Quintessentially urban in its expectations of the autumnal wardrobe, Isaac Mizrahi's Fall 2008 collection speaks to the needs of a city liver. As Isaac reminded us in our video interview at his Fall 2008 show, this collection "its a classic thing." And indeed his "everyday life, everyone's everyday life, the way I observe things" hint at a kind of classicism unique to New York.

"The millions of inspirations that go in the top" as Isaac quoted to us, come out evoking a world of sophisticated parties, soul searching late nights, and a twinge of hard knowledge that comes from staying out late in the city that never sleeps. And even while day looks from the collection have cheery moments of whimsy with fall motifs of leaves and pears, the reminiscing about crisp mornings to us has more to do with awaking to them after long cold nights. And while one can easily say that Isaac's girl is enjoying Wagner at night and Central Park in the morning, we think she is a bit more knowing about her pleasures. Our exclusive original photo editorial with Isaac's Fall 2008 looks suggest at evenings of nuance, inspiration, longing, and maybe even pain. Because everyday life doesn't just happen during the day.

Chanel Fall 2008 Runway Video and Karl Lagerfeld Interview

coutorture — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:00:19 -0800

Karl Lagerfeld meant it when he said in our video interview that he had a new proportion for Chanel RTW. The attitude and the mood of that proportion is "we are longer and leaner than anyone else."We suppose that is why the models looked so tiny against the giant 2.55 purses. And as he said it was not overcharged with details. And while Karl, ever the marketing genius, had a few new "it" items like the little beret and the two colored stocking, the collection itself was not overcharged. The message was loud, clear, and slim.

Oscar de la Renta Fall 08 Collection on Coutorture

coutorture — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:24:50 -0800

Oscar De La Renta loves a strong woman. Each season he reiterates his appreciation for women that know what they want and know how to get it. His sincere devotion to a certain ideal of womanhood gives him an almost uncanny ability to hit the high points of an emerging cultural moment with his garments. Thus his Fall 2008 collection contains nearly every major trend for the fall season including opulent detailing, lean tailoring, layered textures, and color-of-the moment plum. And while the rest of the world is focused on another cultural moment we find ourselves completely mesmerized by Oscar's world. Oscar's laughing, confident, penetrating and, dare we say it, strong woman exemplifies our hope for a world in which substance matches style. And while we here at Coutorture feel quite privileged to be tackling these challenges a little early with the Fall 2008 garments featured in our editorial we expect the rest of fashion will have caught up by September. But by then Oscar De La Renta will have prepared yet another vision of womanhood for us. Proving that to be be truly strong one must always be a little bit ahead of the pack.

Graydn Strikes a Chord

coutorture — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:37:39 -0700

Todd Magill, the designer behind Wyeth, has launched a new line called Graydn for Fall 2008. We admired Wyeth for its elegant yet youthful and modern aesthetic, and are happy to see that those elements are alive and well with Graydn. Magill has a knack for creating feminine pieces for the girl who loves to wear dresses, but is repelled by anything frilly. By combining softer elements with menswear tailoring, the simple lines cut in decadent silks and fine woolens allow us to embrace our girly side without gagging.

Graydn strikes a perfect balance between romance and reality, offering a wardrobe of flexible options for the woman who rejects fly-by-night trends in favor of sophisticated pieces that she can rework, season after season. We also love that he includes a space for his inspiration on his website, where visitors can scroll through images of the textures, colors, and shapes he drew upon to create the collection. We often find ourselves wishing we could glimpse the inspiration boards of some of our favorite designers, as it helps to lend a meaning to their work that isn't immediately obvious and allows us to appreciate it more.

LookOnline Shoutout: Over "It"

coutorture — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:58:51 -0700

Being bored to death with fashion is almost as trendy as being obsessed with fashion. Or at least that is the impression we get from LookOnline's Marilyn Kirschner's report on Fashion Group Internationale's Fall/Winter 2008 Audio Visual Trend Overview.. FGI’s Fashion Director Marylou Luther narrated the presentation and afterwards the "best eyes in the business" weighed in on the report including Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President, Bergdorf Goodman; Michael Fink, Vice President – Women’s Fashion Apparel, Saks Fifth Avenue; Ana Maria Pimentel, Senior Accessories Director, Harper’s Bazaar; and Jane Larkworthy, Beauty Director, W. The Special Guest Moderator was Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director, InStyle.

The general consensus formed around the frustration with the fall season. Not only were the looks lacking in cohesion or direction but the focus on "it" procuts from bags to shoes had everyone sighing. Hal Rubinstein asked “What are we watching?” “What are we looking at? “What are we selling”?

Thankfully Marilyn helped us focus in on what might work best for fall , she tells us that you can start stocking up on black and purple garments, prints (particularly winter florals), coats (a category which is now very much focused on statement pieces), jackets (structured, cutaway, swallowtail, peplumed, boyfriend) pants (wider in New York, narrower in Europe), blouses (often bow tied at the neckline and worn with a skirt or tailored pants): skirts (there is literally a “hemline for every age”): knits (particularly the knitted coat); evening (cocktail lengths outnumber full-blown gowns); embellishment (everything from safety pins and staples, to sequins, holograms, feathers); fur (from savage to super-chic); accessories (the “fundamental ornamental for fall is the necklace”); shoulder bags (slung diagonally across the body).

Awareness and Consciousness

coutorture — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:31:00 -0700

Community member Fashion Indie turned us onto Awareness and Consciousness today. As much as we find jersey to be somewhat played as a fabric choice, we admit to being intrigued by the line. According to Fashion Indie, Christiane Gruber studied fashion under Raf Simons, Victor & Rolf and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac at the Viennese University of Applied Arts. Having won the fashion award of the BKA, she acquired international experiences working for Haider Ackermann and A.F. Vandevorst. A&C also stands for Acccessories and Clothing which we think is rather clever. The line doesn't feel as if it has its own unique identity yet but give her a few more seasons and we can see it evolving into a flowing collection just perfect for a certain kind of fashion woman that likes her clothing body conscious yet discrete.

Day Five/Six: Japan Fashion Week Recap

coutorture — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:00:54 -0700

There we have it. Japan Fashion Week has commenced and if you haven't been catching up on fashion happenings all weekend, here is our recap from the best of Friday and Saturday's shows. What we like about Tokyo's Fashion Week is that it gives us the chance to look at truly stunning collections without having preconceived notions about what to expect, as we're not nearly as familiar with these designers as with their New York-based counterparts. When armed with only a bit of information and the context of Fashion Weeks gone by, these collections feel fresh and exciting. In case you missed them, click to catch up on our recaps from day one, two, three, and four.

Somarta: Designer Tamae Hirokawa started her own multi-faceted design company, Soma Design, in 2006. The company covers such fields as graphic design, fashion design, sound and visual direction. Expect then, Somarta's collections to never be described as 'classic' or 'conservative'. A true artiste in every sense of the word, Hirokawa showed a Fall 08 collection with other-worldy details and some truly intricate knits. To see the Fall 08 collection likened to costume, check out our network partner, Trendinista, for some uncanny comparisons. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Ritsuko Shirahama: Ritsuko Shirahama has been designing since the late 1980's and can now boast international retail accounts like no other. What were we doing in the 1980's? Hanging out with our parents and watching cartoons. We respect a designer who was out giving us things to write about before we even knew how to write. This Fall 08 Shirahama showed a collection that referenced the plum madness (not to mention layering texture) for Fall 08, it was a bit brighter and wilder so should suit the young folk who haven't quite hit their Oscar de la Renta stage. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Theatre Products: Akira Takeuchi, one part of the design duo, worked as a pattern maker for Commes des Garcon for years, while the other part, Tayuka Nakanishi, worked for Vivienne Tam. The two started Theatre Products in 2001, and now comes up with that wild, young aesthetic on their own watch. This Fall 08 saw Betsey Johnson-like prints and styling, unforgettable were the toupee-like wigs. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

G.V.G.V.: This Fall 08 collection by G.V.G.V. touched on many of the Fall 08 trends as seen in New York Fashion Week. That includes hats, jewel/rich color, fur, leather gloves, and colored tights. The overall feel was a bit of 1970's glamour with a film noir feel that kept it classy, rather than disco-y.

Calcium:Designer Kunio Uehara first came to America in 1993. His experiences and collaborations are far-reaching and include such globally popular companies and Muji. This Fall 08, Calcium was focused on layering print and texture. The collection was youthful and vibrant, one of our favorite pieces was a poppy colored trench with grey fur collar.

Day Four: Japan Fashion Week Recap

coutorture — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:53:15 -0700

The beautiful thing about being in New York during Japan Fashion Week is the time difference. During New York Fashion Week, we're riding the train deep into the bowels of Brooklyn, passing tapes to our editor, telling him that if we don't get those videos up within the hour, we'll have missed our chance. During Tokyo on the other hand, suddenly, in our gmail come the next batch of shows. We check our watches, remember the time difference (again), think to ourselves, if only we could train ourselves to be twelve hours ahead of schedule, or, if only we could train ourselves to be twelve hours behind schedule. And then we sit and really get meta about how this would work and which is better; we drink too much coffee. You know, hey, anyway, day four. Recapping it for you. Consider yourself earning cool points by the second.

Ele Tra: The designer, Ritsuko Kato, gained design experience working for Kate Spade and Old England. This is the first solo collection for Ritsuko Kato, who claims to be aiming for the luxury market. We see these things in Fall 08. We see the luxury (fur), we see the Kate Spade (ear muffs and printed skirts), we also see, ahem, a teddy bear in the arms of a model. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Tiny Dinosaur: Yes, the name is sheer brilliance. Yes, we want to live in a world where major companies name themselves adjective+'dinosaur'. The Fall 08 collection was also quite good. It was balanced in the sense that where the volume was outrageous, the palette was not, where the print or color was loud, the shape was a little more modest. A collection we're sure Opening Ceremony would love. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Garconshinois:For Fall 08 they're bringing forth the men's cape, enough said. Okay, also the designer, Shin, worked exclusively as a hair and makeup artist until launching the label in 2006. The aesthetic of his collection is quite urban and reflects his experience in the fashion industry from a, ahem, style perspective. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Yukiko Hanai: Yukiko Hanai established Atelier Hanai in 1964. The company now covers a broad range of lifestyle notions, including womenswear. This Fall 08 season revealed a collection to rival the wardrobe for Dynasty. Bright separates, voluminous sleeves, and broad shoulders made for an aesthetic that embodies the 'working woman' circa 1984. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Junya Tashiro:Launched in 2004, this brand veers towards natrual fabrics such as linen in earthy tones. Fall 08 called out the earth mother in all of us with 1990's knit lace details in ivories and plums. Our favorite look from the collection, part of the opening act, was a trim tailored suit worn with a top hat. If you're going to go for that LCD hippie freak out thing, you might as well be the circus leader. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Takumi Hatakeyama: You can find Takumi Hatakeyama's designs at New York's Coterie, a sure sign that if you don't already know the brand you will, at some point, come across it. Our favorite look in the Fall 08 collection was a raspberry tule skirt and sweater combination that, with short black leather gloves, would make one killer outfit. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Royal Chie: Chie Imai began her career by designing for a line called Royal Fur in 1978. In the decades that passed the designer took over another fur company and relaunched the label as Royal Chie some years later. In 2002, she was recognized as one of the top 40 entrepreneurial women in the world, and in 2007 she opened a Royal Chie store on Madison Avenue. This Fall 08, a convenient time to show fur, revealed bomber style minks and dyed furs that will surely impress the new market of under-40's who are becoming increasingly interested in wearing fur. Lucky for us, there's a New York shop to indulge in. Click here to see images of the Fall 08 collection.

Day Three: Japan Fashion Week Recap

coutorture — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:34:10 -0700

Feel like you're getting the full Japan Fashion Week experience? Well, good. Day three has come and gone and we've got the recap (plus some nifty images) of what went down. Wednesday's Fall 08 collections were those by Everlasting Sprout, Hisui, and Fumio, among others. Doesn't ring a bell? Don't worry, we've got your back. If these shows don't strike your fancy, or you just feel like taking a trip down memory lane, don't forget that we've covered all of the Fall 08 Fashion Week collections, including those from New York, Paris, and London.

Everlasting Sprout: Keiichi Muramatsu and Noriko Seki make up this design team. Both work as costume and knitwear designers in addition to running their line, Everlasting Sprout. As a result, they really pull out all the stops with their knitwear. This Fall 08 season saw bohemian knits with a grandma-made-me-this appeal. That means rolled hems on cozy separates like cardigans and knee length skirts. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Fumio: If your keen on Coterie, you might have noticed Fumio, represented by Niccolo showroom, in New York. In addition to designing the line, Fumio Akiyama runs the women's coat division of Sanyo Shokai Co. Ltd. Fumio is the kind of line you imagine would be represented in America as it can be characterized as feminine book wormy office wear. Fall 08 makes us think of grande chai lattes and romantic comedies. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Corazon del Alma: Nobuhide Koi was a designer for Prada and Versace before starting his own line, Corazon del Alma, which he launched in 2007. The brand is often characterized by references to nature, particularly with prints. This Fall 08 saw this attribute manifest in the form of underwater and animal motifs. These are the perfect summer frocks for the over-fifty's with somewhere to go on a Saturday night in the Hamptons. Looks like all that Prada and Versace served Koi well. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Hisui: Designer Hiroko Ito graduated from F.I.T. in 1990 and worked with Commes des Garcon for four years thereafter. This becomes clear by way of Hiroko Ito's avant garde pajama party aesthetic. This Fall 08 struck a weird nerve, though, where it reminded us of when our little brother's went through that hippie stage and stopped showering and wore extra long, tattered corduroys and Bill Cosby sweaters. But hey. Maybe your little brothers were straight edge and you won't get the creepy Phish fan vibe. Click to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Raphus cucu: A designer who references birds as an intregal part of their brand identity, makes us think, automatically, that we're heading for an overdose of femininity. Yep. Although, the hair for Eriko Isoya's Fall 08 collection, like nests, was pretty awesome. Big hair is back afterall! Fall 08 gave us that 'dark angel' brand of girlishness that is marketable and palatable. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Day Two: Japan Fashion Week Recap

coutorture — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:58:05 -0700

Tokyo's got it goin' on. We're on the third day of Japan Fashion Week, and if you aren't live blogging the festivities, or perhaps missed yesterday's happenings, here's our recap of what went down. With only a few official years under their belt, Tokyo's Fashion Week is proving to be a place where talent simmers and fashionistas tune in. Much less stressful that our cities own tent shows, we love the opportunity to watch Fall 08 from the comfort of our favorite NYC coffee shop.

Mikio Sakabe: This duo design team met in Belgium and returned to Japan to launch Mikio Sakabe, though the companies namesake started the line in Fall 07, with a collection shown in Paris. This Fall 08 the collection included some fantastical prints that referenced those seen in the previous resort collection. As has been consistent, masculine tailoring and extras like ties, make for wild but smart silhouettes. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Support Surface: Norio Surikabe's line, Support Surface, was launched in the crazy year of 1999. Prior to the lines conception Surikabe gained experience designing for Alberto Biani. This Fall 08 stayed true to the Support Surface aesthetic, which is typically conservative, and classic in its reliance on knitwear, basic trousers, and feminine blouses. This Fall 08 saw typical Fall colors like burnt orange, vanilla, and rusty brown. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Under Castle: Hmmm, we're picking up on the visual. This men's underwear line 'Under Castle' is run by Shinichiro Shimojo. Shimojo devotes himself, in addition to fashion, to graphic design and writing. Like many designers, these extra-fashion pursuits influence the designs we see on the runway. For Fall 08, the womenswear pieces were relatively subdued with graphic prints for matching sets. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Ato:The collection was borne over ten years ago and since then has maintained its own manufacturing facilities, flagship store, and various international accounts. As for America, you can only find the line in Los Angeles (much to our surprise) or via e-commerce, that is, if you prefer to just nestle in your East Coast lounge chair.

Jotaro Saito: At 27 Jotaro Saito became a kimono artist, making him one of the youngest designers to devote himself to this craft. Today the line thrives as one that maintains the traditional uniform yet speaks to a modern lifestyle and younger consumer. Saito's line has also expanded to include a vast selection of interior notions (from furniture to custom screens) and has even broadened his scope to include rolling suitcases. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Ne-net: The brand Ne-net is one of many to reside under the A-net, Inc. umbrella. This Fall 08 season revealed wild animal masks in compliment to garments layered with dynamic textures. The overall feelings was of a child's subconscious where innocent play lends itself to darker truths. Designer Kazuaki Takashima had his debut collection featured in Japan Fashion Week the same year that line was conceived, it has been thriving as an avant garde line ever since. Click here to see images from the Fall 08 collection.

Matohu: Both Hiroyuki Horihata and Makiko Sekiguchi worked as pattern makers for five years before launching their line, Matohu, in 2005. The pair met while working for Bora Aksu, and returned to Japan thereafter to start the line. Given their technical skills and back end knowledge of the business it's no wonder that Fall 08 included oversized knits and jerseys that were not lost on the rail-thin models. Oversized is not always as simple as it looks. One dreamy Autumn skied overcoat, for instance, tucked in just the right places. Click to the see images from the Fall 08 collection.

John Galliano Gave Us The Crazy Eye

coutorture — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:51:33 -0800

Whoa buddy. John Galliano's Fall 2008 collection was mimicked by it's makeup. That is, painted eyes reflected the palate of the collection and put power behind typically whimsical colors. When you think of salmon and periwinkle, you think of sherbet and slip dresses. When you see the John Galliano crazy eye, you think of a Davie Bowie circus warrior. Just how exactly, does this makeup translate to real life? We're betting on modest colored lids and fake eyelashes, maybe a nude lip to balance things out. Take John Galliano, turn down the volume and kick out the freeloaders, and you've got yourself something chic and optimistic happening for Fall. Thank god, another plum dress (no offense, darling) and we would have thrown in the Fall 08 towel.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

Photo: Don Ashby and Olivier Claisse for Style.com

Lorick Fall 2008 Collection

coutorture — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:54:23 -0800

That high waisted polka dot number in Girl Porn has that quintessential pin up (but not too slutty) look. Lorick is all about that kind of girl. The label, started by a Floridian turned Parisian (by sheer will, it seems), is one of the lines represented by New York showroom Archetype. The aesthetic is that American brand of ladylike that suits young girls with a copy of 'French Women Don't Get Fat' stashed under their mattress. Just take cues from the model featured in Fall 2008's look book. Often, this is where the secret aspirations of a designer (and their respective customer) are held. She is well fed (but not fat), she is rosy cheeked and goofy, strikes a pose when the time is right. These are the girls that drink champagne cocktails like there's no tomorrow, listen to Carla Bruni on their ipods, and occasionally have one night stands with rocker boys from Bushwick (and have no idea how to get home the next morning). We like this kind of girl, you know, there are worse things. For Fall 2008 there's a foresty Autumn theme happening which provides the 'Lorick girl' with a ton of navy and brown, something her wardrobe is probably not lacking. Prints of the forest and thin canary blue belts make the classic pieces more interesting. A pair of high waisted trousers, short gloves, and long shorts never hurt anyone. Then there's a pair of leather pants with zippers at the ankle and this is why we like a Lorick girl, on her bad days she a pain in the ass, and on her good, she's a total bitch.

Elie Saab Fall 2008 Fashion Show Video and Designer Interview

coutorture — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:24:59 -0800

Elie Saab is feeling "new" this season with an exploration of new volume and fabrics.

Color was his key takeaway with greens, blues, and reds holding the attention. And it being fall that naturally lent itself to dramatic emotions all around.

Lanvin Fall 2008 Fashion Show Video and Alber Elbaz Interview

coutorture — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:15:35 -0800

Alber Elbaz had nothing less than the definition of modernity in mind his Fall 2008 RTW collection at Lanvin. Grosgrain and ribbons were in full force alongside many bits and bobbins. And yet curiously Elbaz said in our video that he believes a modern woman is aerodynamic. We imagine he meant the emphasis on slimmer shapes over the cluttered trimming. Either way it was a very busy collection.

McQueen's Lamps

coutorture — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:35:52 -0800

Alexander McQueen created an elaborate inspiration story based on a girl in a tree emerging to become queen. Trendinista has discovered similarities between several of McQueen's Fall 2008 creations and a trip to the lighting store.

Paris Fall 2008 Fashion Week Round Up

coutorture — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:08:08 -0800

The long weary road has come to an end. The fashion flock has flown from New York to London, London to Milan, and finally to Paris. And the weary birds have now finished their migration. We have Fashion Week photo snap shots from Balenciaga, Balmain, John Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Hermes, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Giambattista Valli. And don't forget our videos of Christian Dior and Christian Lacroix.

Chris Han Spring 08 In Haunted By Wayne Liu

coutorture — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:03:13 -0800

Maybe it's taken you a while to catch on, and hey, np. Coutorture, aside from the writing, the photo galleries, the videos, and the network, is producing it's own photo shoots, refreshed a few times each week, to give you our say on fashion (without you know, too much of the pedantic say). That's right we're shooting and shooting, and barely breaking for lunch (although Dumont burgers have been known to be ordered), and in the midst of this madness, we've enlisted some of our friends and heros to shoot for us as well. This week, we're featuring a Coutorture exclusive by Wayne Liu, a photographer whose subjects do not catwalk nor pose. Hell, that's one of the main reasons why we wanted to work with him. For a fashion website, we kind of like that sort of thing.

The shoot took place on one sunny Saturday in a former public school house (now studio space for artists), in the Lower East Side. Liu brought his ICP (no, that's not the Insane Clown Posse) friends/colleagues/assistants (who can tell these days) and we all drank a couple of pots of coffee and ran around the place. There were photographers, models, photographers who were models, artists who were wondering why these strange faces were drinking coffee in their doorways. Liu was not drinking coffee, but shooting in the crooks of the place. We swear, we only saw an elbow, bootlace, and wisp of hair from him all day (we caught up later).

For the shoot, we've dressed the models in some pieces from the Chris Han Spring/Summer 2008 collection. Han's ethereal inspiration, her ability to make clothes that are wearable but still beautiful, coincided nicely with Liu's ability to bring out a haunted rawness in his subjects.

Links:
Haunted by Wayne Liu
Chris Han Spring 2008 Collection
Chris Han Pre-Fashion Week Studio Visit
Chris Han Fall 2008 Collection & backstage interview
Chris Han Spring 2008 In Brace Yourself