From the vaults: Helmut Lang for Louis Vuitton
I wanted this Helmut Lang for Louis Vuitton record box SO much!
I wanted this Helmut Lang for Louis Vuitton record box SO much!
Exciting news just in this week that my blog buddy Sophy Robson is doing the nails for Jeremy Scott at LFW. There is definitely a nail thing going on in London right now, and no event is complete without its nail artists in situ. Last week I was tempted down to the Diesel Flash for Fun launch (its glow in the dark collection that lands next month), not by free jeans and tees but by a free day-glo manicure courtesy of WAH Nails.
Not only were the nail artists sweet and super-creative (no French manicures here) but something about the whole shebang with the little toy-like plastic fans on the tables (to dry the nails) and general hubub made the event far friendlier than your average hifalutin fash bash. Well, that and the fact it was held at the Dalston Superstore.
In the basement you could see the clothes in action, glow-in-the-dark stitched jeans reminding me of Helmut Lang’s 1990s reflective dresses and trousers – *looks off wistfully into the middle distance* – anyone else remember these? But truly, the most fun was had upstairs where you couldn’t move for fash-bloggers – Isabelle O’Carroll, Fred Butler, Jaiden James and Rasharn Rva included. Honestly, the only fash-blogger missing was Miss Sophynails herself!
[Nails pics: WAH Nails]
As Jen at Mahalo fashion bemoans, every drop of interest has been squeezed out of the ’70s so what’s next on the retro rehash front? I hate to say it but the fact cannot be ignored, it’s time for the nineties revival proper. It’s had a couple of false starts, the latest being nu-rave, but I think we can start looking at the 90s revival from a grown-up point of view. As Fashionista reports that 1990s finest alterna-models Kirsten Owen and Stella Tennant are rumoured to be the faces of Marc Jacobs’ fall campaign, I’m thinking the following will start looking fresh now:
Skinny black suit trousers and pointy black ankle boots -very Helmut Lang/Jil Sander, very Alison Mosshart
Spiky kitten heels – Remember when Dolce & Gabbana did these? I can totally see Vicky Beckham working a kitten heel and sheath dress combo
Non-trashy silver: Who can forget Jean Colonna’s silver jeans, silver leather jackets, silver-sprayed Cons?
McQueen’s ‘ugly’ aesthetic – think edgy tailoring, angry walks, intricate details, elaborate shows
Tom Ford for Gucci’s smoky eye and liquid jersey dresses with punky patent boots (wow, was that really 10 years ago?)
Isaac Mizrahi’s AW04 ballskirt and tee combo – legendary!
Joseph – when did it all go wrong with Joseph? I used to lust after those big black slouchy knits like a junior fashionista possessed, not to mention the boyish trouser suits, luxe hoodies and flat-front trousers with trademark stripe up the side
Patrick Cox loafers – I’m still regretting that I could never afford the gold ones. With news that Patrick Cox has been bought by Eddie Davenport, may I suggest they revive these pretty sharpish?
Camel: AW 94/95 = Camel suits at Calvin Klein (complete with chignons and 60s eyeliner), camel Crombie-style coats at Helmut Lang, camel dresses at MaxMara and Ann Demeulemeester (with aforementioned black ankleboots)
1990s models – Supermodels aside, who doesn’t miss the golden greats: Emma Balfour, Bridget Hall, Lorraine Pascale, Kiara, Veronica Webb, Kirsty Hume, Cecelia Chancellor …
1990s photographers: Ellen von Unwerth, David Sims, Juergen Teller, Corinne Day
CK Jeans: That iconic ad is imprinted on my brain!
Agnes B garconne look – admittedly I never stopped rocking this look but I reckon it’s time for it to resurface. Agnes B has been under-the-radar for most of this decade so let’s hear it for the stripy tee, Black picot-edge cardi and beatnik sunnies. PS, old Agnes is opening up shop in Spitalfields Market soon too.
Pics:
CK One
CK One
Emma Balfour in iD
Juergen Teller for Katharine Hamnett Denim
iD cover with Lorraine Pascale
Milla Jovovich wears Alberto Biani in iD photographed by Bob Richardson
Elle