I spotted this crazy print on Band of Outsiders Instagram and thought I’d share it. It’s certainly an interesting take on the classic camo print, bringing a bit of life and fun to it. You can see what it looks like in action by clicking here, which might be a bit much, but I’m sure there are some of you who could totally pull this off. And if you’re interested in seeing the full menswear spring 2013 collection you can click here.
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March 25, 2013 - See more posts by Bobby
If you’re looking at the above photos wondering what this mishmash of Courtney Love circa Hole attire is all about, I ask you to read on. If, conversely, you don’t care and think these gals need a hug and a five dollar bill, I feel you. And if you’ve ever wished a fashion designer would give a giant middle finger to the fashion industry, the photos above prove that it actually happened at the Saint Laurent Paris runway show yesterday.
Designer Hedi Slimane recently took over The Fashion House Formerly Known as YSL and has set about transforming it from top to bottom ever since. Though this is only his second collection, he is hinting at something old, pushing against something new, and resurrecting the ghosts of rock and roll past for a reason (I think). He’s doing it all from Los Angeles, not from Paris or New York either. And this is all very important from a contemporary design perspective.
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March 5, 2013 - See more posts by Andi
Japanese fashion house, COSMIC WONDER Light Source, is as its name suggests, all about light. It might be difficult to decipher while bestowing their brilliantly tailored pieces, but the brand’s inspiration comes from studying light and weaving the idea of it into clothing. The resulting collections often resemble avant garde pieces of art that are flattering and wearable.
For the spring/summer 2013 collection, entitled “Diamond Equinox”, COSMIC WONDER looks to prism light, silver refraction, and “polyhedral spark”. I love the elegance of the double-breasted short suit and the simplicity of the zig zag black slip dress. The multi-pocketed grey men’s jacket is modern yet functional. Past collections have referenced everything from minerals to sun printing, and one collection even featured a series of shirts, dresses, and hats made to look like rocks. CMLS doesn’t just do clothing, either; they also produce art books as COSMIC WONDER Free Press and run an ecological project called The Solar Garden utilizing organic cotton and natural dyes.
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January 31, 2013 - See more posts by Andi
The idea of camouflage can be traced back to the notes of Charles Darwin who recognized the patterns of animals and insects served as a survival mechanism.
When we see leaf-eating insects green, and bark-feeders mottled-grey; the alpine ptarmigan white in winter, the red-grouse the colour of heather, and the black-grouse that of peaty earth, we must believe that these tints are of service to these birds and insects in preserving them from danger.
My first passionate encounter came in the form of a pair of camo trainers that were made by XLarge. I think I purchased them in 2002 in a strip mall in Downtown Sacramento. They still sit in a box underneath my bed and they’re one of my prized possessions. But before that I had no affinity to camo. If anything I had grown an aversion thanks to years of high school classmates in baggy camo cargo pants. Over time though I’ve certainly grown quite an affection for camo, which was certainly fueled by Hardy Blechman’s immense compendium DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material. In it he covers not only the history and variety of camouflage patterns but also their occurrences in pop culture. It’s the holy grail of camo.
So I thought I’d put together a collection of camo objects that I’ve been gathering over the last few weeks. Hopefully you find some that you like. Just remember to dress sparingly with your camo. Too much camo and you might end up looking like a crazy war vet.
• A.P.C. Camouflage Chinos
• Jack Spade Swedish M90 Cordura Dipped Coal Bag
• Camouflage Word Notebooks
• Camo Nike Air Force 1′s
• London Undercover City Gent British Woodland Camouflage Umbrella
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November 27, 2012 - See more posts by Bobby
While I was in New York a few months back I had the opportunity to meet up with a fellow named Matthew Orley. Along with his brother Alex Orley and his girlfriend Samantha Florence the three of them have started a knitwear line called Orley which is defying the genres usual standards. With Orley you have a line of knits that are infused with bright and bold colors, interesting and sometimes disarming patterns, all made with the highest of quality in mind.
The pieces above are from their Fall/Winter 2012 collection, I’m in love with the sweater at the top, but their Spring/Summer 2013 collection is looking fantastic as well. I was able to see the collection in person last night and while the palettes are more muted, definitely suitable for spring, there’s still plenty of bold patterns as well as interesting knitting techniques. The line has a certain asexuality to it which I feel like I’m seeing a lot these days and I’m really liking. They’ve really only just begun, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more from this daring trio in the near future.
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September 7, 2012 - See more posts by Bobby
