one big mcq, hold the denim please November 8, 2005 12:39 pm >> Somebody stop him. Looks like Mr. Alexander McQueen is jumping on the proverbial designer denim bandwagon. His second ready-to-wear line, McQ, is a denim-based collection for both men and women -- a "younger and more renegade, but always signature McQueen" collection. It will include denim jeans, jackets, trenches, and miniskirts, as well as knitwear, woolen coats, tees, and trousers. The McQ line will be available at 600 stores in June, with prices ranging from $870 for selected knitwear to $105 for a t-shirt.
shrimp cocktail November 7, 2005 10:19 pm >> Remember when I went all psycho-babble-y about ze skinny jeans? Well, here's a moment of deja vu for you, because Ben Sherman has come out with some lovelies, and I have to gush. The dark wash is flattering for all you worried about wearing such figure-fitting jeans. And, they're named after the Shrimp. Yes, that's right, Miss Jean Shrimpton, the very lady who started the whole miniskirt craze, gets a pair of jeans named after her. What can you say, she did have lovely long legs.
as piglet would say, oh ddd-dear November 3, 2005 11:14 am >> When I said pauvre pauvre Monsieur Mouret, I didn't realize how right I was. Apparently the man is currently on sick leave, suffering from stress about his newfound joblessness. The Telegraph did a wonderful interview with monsieur, making me adore him even more. When asked about his method of draping a single piece of cloth across a woman's body, he replied, "It was like in the movies, when you would see a couple in bed after making love, and there would be the woman, with just a sheet wrapped around her." Pure sexiness.
And when asked why he entered into a business arrangement in which he did not own or even part-own the company, he said, "Because I wanted to exist. You know the story of Faust? You will trust anyone if you want something so much."
But my favorite quote from Monsieur Mouret -- when asked about his future, he said, "I'm Edith Piaf. Je ne regrette rien." The idea of M Mouret as the Little Sparrow makes me melt -- so cute. I miss you already, monsieur, and you haven't even left yet.
and the beat goes on November 2, 2005 8:28 pm >> What's black and white and striped all over? You might say the obvious answer is a zebra, but think again. Because, really, why would I be writing about zebras?
You see, lately I have been under the influence...of the beatnik culture, of course (you bad kid, what were you thinking?). And these beatniks, they are most def black, white and striped all over. In fact, if I was to write a recipe for a beatnik wardrobe, it would include:
1 pair black tights
1 pair black flats
1 pair big black sunnies (are we noticing a trend here?)
1 floppy hat
1 pair skinny jeans
1 white hairband
1 leopard-print fur jacket
1 black and white striped top
2 shift dresses, one black, one white
1 pair black leather knee-high boots
1 cropped jacket with big buttons
Mix them all up for different outfits, and you have it made in the shade. Just don't forget to snap when someone reads their poem out loud. Bongoes are your favorite instrument. Oh, and smoke a lot. Jack Kerouac is your God, and On the Road is your Bible. Okay, maybe if you're doing all this, you've taken it a bit too far -- it's not like you need to do method acting or anything. Just a little pinch of black tights and black flats here, a little dallop of a leopard-print fur jacket there, and you are looking snazzy.
I've put a nice little slideshow of inspirational looks together for you here. And Asos and Topshop each have their own little collection of beatnik-y stuff to peruse to your little heart's content.
Paul Smith
Tabitha