Thursday 10 December 2009

Catfunt: art n culture east style


The catfunt website is great if you're interested in art and culture in Hackney and East London: Made in China '69 -art in East London. For fans, there's a post about Viggo Mortensen on Made in China '69.

It's tweed. All tweed.

We love the 60's edge to this tweed jumpsuit from autumn '95. Feels perfect for next winter. Let's see if something like it shows up on the autumn/winter catwalks in February

photo: Satoshi

Not the first denim debacle.


     Nothing comes between Brooke and her Calvins. Not even Kim Jong-il

Swedish department store bans North Korea's first designer denim


Kara slim fit                                             Oke loose fit

PUB, a long-established department store in Stokholm has removed Noko jeans from its shelves  one day after launching the North Korean designer denim following widespread media coverage over the brand. Is this the first time a jeans brand has become a political hot potato? In Korea it would be ironically, as jeans are banned as a symbol of American imperialism.  That's why Noko (NOrthKOrea) are only available in black and not indigo.

Photos Erik Wahlstrom

Wednesday 9 December 2009

M.A.O. womenswear designs A/W10/11


A model artist






Christina Kruse in Anna Molinari brocade micro minidress. Photo: Mark Borthwick  
Italian Vogue November 1996. 

Still a Passion For Audrey and Givenchy






A Givenchy haute couture black chantilly lace cocktail gown, worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1966 film ‘How to Steal a Million' achieved £60,000 at the Kerry Taylor Passion For Fashion Auction in London yesterday, far surpassing its guide price of £20,000. The gown with wrap-over back, high neck and full skirt edged in a horsehair stiffened flounce is finished with a narrow black patent belt and matching crop jacket. Givenchy created a very similar cocktail gown as part of the house’s haute couture collection for A/W 1966. Even in recession there is clearly still a huge appetite in the market for clothing worn by iconic stars of style and screen such as Audrey Hepburn. A couture garment worn by a bona fide star might appear to be the epitome of designer and celebrity collaboration if market value is any indicator. 


photos Kerry Taylor Auctions

Tuesday 8 December 2009



Fashion is a verb:to form; to give shape or figure to; to mold.
Fashion is also a noun: the prevailing mode or style, custom or conventional usage. 
By definition this dress has been fashioned, but is it fashionable?
Do Commes des Garcons fashion collections, anti-fashion collections, or make fashion?
It has been constructed.  
But is also de-constructed.  
It is a dress
But also a coat. 
It is black and white. 
And a litttle grey.

Monday 7 December 2009

Audrey Hepburn Collection: Every dress tells a story




An ivory wedding gown, made for Hepburn by the Rome-based Fontana sisters, is expected to fetch £10,000 to £15,000 — though Audrey Hepburn didn't wear it down the aisle herself. After her scheduled marriage to James Hanson in 1952 was called off, Hepburn asked that the Fontana sisters give it "to someone who could never afford a dress like mine, the most beautiful, poor Italian girl you can find," the catalogue quotes Hepburn as saying. It was given to Amabile Altobella who went on to have a happy and long marriage. A poignant moment of celebrity, generosity and romance embedded in a stunning 1950s gown of elegant understatement. The little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's, designed by Givenchy, sold at Christie’s auction on 5 December 2006, for £467,200, almost seven times its £70,000 pre-sale estimate. This is the highest price paid for a dress from a film. Half the proceeds from the current sale will go to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund and UNICEF.


photos:Kerry Taylor auctions

Audrey Hepburn Collection: Kerry Taylor Auctions, 8th December, La Galleria London










Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe was typified by simplicity and seemingly effortless elegance. Working with the couturier Hubert de Givenchy she became the personification of elegance in the 1950s and 60s. Givenchy said of her “All the responsibility for the way Audrey looked is hers. She made the selections.” Audrey Hepburn had her own personal style,preferring to wear pastel colours, black and ivory with the occasional hot-pink statement. If she liked a particular gown she would often order it in both black and white. This auction includes evening-wear and a range of little black dresses by Valentino, Elizabeth Arden and of course her favourite designer of all – Hubert de Givenchy. He created a black cloquĂ© silk gown for Audrey to wear for the film “Paris When it Sizzles” in 1962, a stunning Chantilly lace cocktail gown which she wore in the film "How To Steal a Million” in 1966 and several stylish little day dresses and suits.










photos: Kerry Taylor Auctions