Ashish And His Sequins

Ashish Gupta is a genius. Or a madman. Or likely both. I think to an extent madness and genius are directly proportional. Whatever Ashish is, it's awesome and I love it and he should never stop being that thing. I happened upon his eponymous brand around a year ago and felt like crying and doing a little jig when I saw his Spring/Summer 2012 collection. It was a perfect combination of flowers and cowgirls and braids and sequins. And when one combines those four items gracefully--nay, MAGNIFICENTLY--said person clearly has a great deal of talent and should be showered with rose petals and chocolate chip muffins every morning. 

There isn't a whole lot of info on the designer himself on the Infinite Internet, but I did find a short interview he did with the people at London Fashion Week. He began his line in 2005, interweaving pop culture references and product placement between his messily glamourous clothing right from the get-go. Ashish has been quoted saying that his signature design focal points are, "Sequins, glamour, sportswear, and more sequins."Basically, SEQUINS. He sometimes uses them subtly as small accents, he sometimes dunks the models in bowls of sequins and sends them on the runway, he sometimes loads Nerf guns with sequins and goes on midnight panty raids thus armed. (Disclaimer: nothing I just said is true at all.) 

Ashish gathers inspiration from the cinematic world and pop culture, as well as Tumblr. He thinks Tumblr is fascinating because of how it gathers inspiration and information from millions of people worldwide. He calls it an "ever-evolving giant scrapbook of ideas." That's one way of putting it. 

The thing I love about Ashish is how endlessly funky and fearless it is. Whoever's wearing his clothes obviously does not give a flying fuq about what other people think of them, which I think is highly admirable. Good for them, and good for Ashish for promoting such intense awesomeness. 

You should check out all his collections on his website, I promise promise promise you will not regret it. 

[Photos via Style.com.]

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

FALL/WINTER 2012

FALL/WINTER 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

FALL/WINTER 2013

FALL/WINTER 2013

Now I want to destroy all my old pairs of jeans and create a patchwork jumpsuit. Actually, I think I'm going to go do that. Like, right now. 

P.S. Alina and I are going to Governor's Ball this Saturday (along with a bunch of other Can I Have Your Closet veterans, like Octavia and Olive) so I'm definitely going to post about that once I've recovered from the psychedelic experience. We're seeing Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (aka the one band in the entire world that I would follow around the world if I had the funds/means), Animal Collective, and Dirty Projectors, among others. My excitement is ova-flowin'. 

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Gala-vanting

I didn't mention it at the time, but I was fairly disappointed with the outfits at last year's Met Gala. Therefore, my hopes weren't very high when I began scrolling through photos of celebrities' outfits from this year's event on Harper's Bazaar. The exhibit is called "Punk: Chaos to Couture," and celebrates--you guessed it--punk fashion. That made me a little bit nervous. Punk can either be really good, or really god-awful. I was worried people would take it too seriously and show up with mohawks and septum rings. 

As it turns out, there were a ton of fine-lookin' people at the Met the other night, way more than I expected. I'm not really sure why this happened; maybe everyone was more inspired by punk than Prada? Who knows. The only thing that's certain is that the Olsen twins are freakin' awesome. 

[Photos via Harper's Bazaar.]

Ashley Olsen in Dior Couture

You see what I mean? Tangerine fairy. Done.

Florence Welch in Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci

Cowboy dominatrix with the voice of a vibrating angel. 

Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana 

Despite the controversy over Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2013 collection, Giovanna Battaglia looks like an Italian queen.

Anne Hathaway in Valentino

Anne goes blonde???? I don't know what to do. I don't know how to respond. I guess my first response is "yes.....???"

Kirsten Dunst in Louis Vuitton

I don't really understand her dress, but it's so intriguing that I couldn't not include it.

Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana

There's something so classically beautiful about this dress that makes me long for days when wearing gowns every day was acceptable. I'm not really sure what time period I'm referring to but I'm sure it existed. 

Mary-Kate Olsen in Chanel Couture, vintage Balmain, and Louis Vuitton

Yes. Yes. Yes. You are a queen, Mary-Kate. 

Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs

I can't say I enjoy Miley Cyrus very much (although I do have a CD signed by her in my room...oh, fourth grade, what a crazy time you were), nor do I dig her hair very much, but her dress was ultra-punk in only a way that Marc Jacobs could make it. 

Rooney Mara in Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci (with the designer)

I always feel like Rooney Mara is silent. Like she never opens her mouth to speak, she just stands there looking awesome and sealing her lips with dark lipstick.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles, with Phillip Treacy hat

Funky.

Constance Jablonski in Wes Gordon (with the designer)

I enjoy dog collar dresses as much as the next girl.

Dakota Fanning in Rodarte

Dakota, Dakota, how I adore your wardrobe.

Alexa Chung in Erdem

I don't think I even need to reiterate my feelings towards Alexa Chung.

Allison Williams in Altuzarra

Girls will be girls. (See what I did there?)

Hanneli Mustaparta in Calvin Klein

Hanneli does it again. Peep the arm band. It's like a choker for your...arm.

And that's a wrap. I just dropped my computer on the floor because I am a spazhands (VERY different from jazz hands) and now I must pray bi-daily (is there another word for this?) that my dear Sherica doesn't do something bad.

Two days. You can do it! ~Si se puede~ (I don't speak Spanish)

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Birkenstocking

I made a bag in seventh grade that says "I LOVE SHOES" on it. I don't think I actually loved shoes at the time (that was still in my shlumpy elastic-waistband-jeans-and-the-same-sweatshirt-everyday phase), but now I can wear that bag un-ironically. I really do love me some good shoes. I'm not a footwear-hoarder (ie Leandra Medine), but I definitely have my fair share of foot coverings. I'm the sort of person that gets a good pair of shoes and wears them every day for weeks, months, or years. I like to spread the love around, but honestly, not all shoes are created equal. Some are infinitely better than others. That's how we end up with holes in the heels of our boots, thus resulting in wet socks and that weird squishy feeling that ants have set up camp between your toes and have started blasting TNT except their TNT is just made of mushy water. Because they're ants. 

In other non-insect-related news, Birkenstocks. Yes, that's all I was gonna say. Have a good night. 

No, come back, I was kidding! The truth of the matter is, Birkenstocks are becoming--wait for it--HIGH FASHION. Yes, yes, yes, it's really truly happening. The infamous middle aged man's footwear of choice has officially graced the runways of the world. If your mind has not been blown by now, you should read that sentence again and hope for a better reaction. 

Here's my theory (but what does my theory really matter? Like, I'm just some chick sitting on her couch, taking a break from studying for an AP history exam (which I'm studying for by watching episode after episode of Crash Course, you should try it, John Green is fantastic) by blogging, a task which she has neglected for far too long and is quickly realizing how much she loves and misses the simplicity and enjoyment of casually-formally ranting about absolutely anything and having random people read it. Does my opinion actually mean anything? Does anything actually mean anything? Is anything real? Do I exist? What is happening? My mom thinks I should stop reading Kerouac for a while because doing so causes things like this to happen.). I think that we've spent so much time--us, the collective ~human race~ over the course of history--forcing ourselves to do things we simply don't want to do, and have only done them because everyone else was doing it (vicious cycle ensues), ie wearing really uncomfortable shoes, that we've finally realized that life is too short to walk around in stilettos all the time just so your legs supposedly look longer. The best people in the world don't really care about the length of your legs, but rather the substance of your mind. So you should be able to wear frickin' Birkenstocks if you like. I would like to take this moment to reiterate what is perhaps the thesis of this blog, if there is such a thing: fashion is not about clothing, or trends, or materialism, or capitalism, or anything like that. It's about self-expression and what you think is rad, and how you like to tell people what you think is rad. End scene. 

Some of the examples of Birkenstock-like sandals on the runways were in menswear collections, so  a few names might be unfamiliar. I had to go deep, deep down into the underwater trenches of the abyss-like Internetz to find some of these references, so don't complain about their obscurity. That's what the Internet was made for, to expose the vast obscurity of everything. (Okay, maybe my mom is right.)

Photos via the vast and obscure Interwebz. 

Dries van Noten Menswear S/S 2013

You really can't get any tackier than camouflage pants and mandals with python and camo accents, as well as traction soles. 

Givenchy Menswear S/S 2013

Sometimes your feet just need to be free and fancy at the same time.

Agi & Sam Menswear S/S 2013

He is, in fact, a runway model. He looks like an eccentric Middle Eastern prison-inmate-cum-beachside-smoothie-vendor, but I really really like it. 

Miu Miu S/S 2013

Miuccia Prada made flat shoes??? What is happening to everything???

Marni S/S 2013

Very simple, yet so elegant. It's like not wearing shoes, except without looking like you're wearing futuristic toe-socks. 

Céline S/S 2013

The famous fluffy (I keep typing "fluffly," can that just become the official spelling?) Céline sandals. What more can I say that they have not already said themselves?

Robert Piqueras S/S 2013

Those are actually glitterfied Reebok sandals. I kid you not. 

Rochambeau S/S 2013

Desert wanderer enters Los Angeles by accident, stumbles into a mall first thing, and emerges looking like an amalgamation of a cowboy, a high strung intern at a fashion magazine, and MC Hammer.

Araks S/S 2013

Another simple version of the sandal, this time taking a bit of an Addams family tone. 

What is the verdict, dear readers? Are you ready to embrace your inner tackiness and show the world the true meaning of comfort, or are you unable to wrap your head around the concept that your dad was doing it right all along? Or something in between? Tellme. One word.

That's all, my eyes are half asleep (yes, just the eyes, the rest of me is quite awake), I am leaving, good night.

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Interviewing Famous People: Erin Barr

I went to Erin Barr's Spring 2013 presentation in September of this past year, and that was my first encounter with the designer's work. I had never heard of her, but I loved what I saw. I could tell that she was going places. Surely enough, Fall 2013 saw her transitioning to the runway, and she debuted her most recent collection at Chelsea Piers. That's like, a really big deal. The designer was kind enough to respond to a few questions of mine through email, so that's what you'll find below. 

Erin Barr is from Wisconsin, and originally studied to work in hair and makeup, graduating from the Aveda Institute. After working for a few years in the beauty business (quite successfully), she realized that fashion was her calling and moved to London for a year to attend Central Saint Martin's (the alma mater of Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Zac Posen, Phoebe Philo, and a bajillion more extremely well-known fashion designers), and then came back to New York City to finish up her schooling at Parson's New School for Design. She then went on to intern at Alexander Wang and Cushnie et Ochs, and finally in the fall of 2011, she opened her own eponymous line and produced her first collection for Spring 2012. 

[Photos courtesy of MAO PR, from the designer's Fall 2012 collection.]

How did growing up in Wisconsin as opposed to a major city (like New York City) mold your ideas and conceptions of beauty and fashion? 

I think it's really all relative to where you are when it comes to fashion. I know when I go home, I probably dress a bit more practical. For example, there are times in the winter there when warmth trumps style! But you can still make it look cool and chic. In New York, I think fashion is for one much more accessible, and you can get a little more creative, a little crazier maybe!

What inspired you to initially pursue a career in hair and make-up? 

Fashion design as a career wasn't in my vocabulary growing up. For me doing hair and makeup was a step toward finding what I really wanted to do in life. I'm so happy that I have that background now, because it really helps to imagine and communicate an entire look or feel.

Did you always have a passion for clothing, or was it sparked by your high-profile work in New York City in salons and on photo shoots? 

I definitely always had a passion for clothing and design. I used to go to the Border's bookstore when I was in High School and just stock up on magazines. I would tear out everything I was inspired by, and I would keep the tear sheets in a binder. That was my thing.
 

Would you say that the decision to go to Central Saint Martins was life-changing? Did the experience reshape your future, or do you think you would have ended up designing even if you hadn't moved to London? 

For me, moving to London and attending CSM was the best experience and choice I've made. It's such a great school, and it really opened my mind up to the creative possibilities. The fact that there should be no limits, yet you should be able to have restraint as well. If I hadn't gone to London I like to think that I would still have ended up designing. I know I would definitely be making art, though. I have to, it's in my blood.

What was it like to intern at some of the most cutting edge and of-the-moment design houses? 

Really inspiring! I learned so much from working with Alexander Wang and at Cushnie et Ochs.

How did you start your own brand? Was it a huge leap from working for other people? 

I had been thinking about starting my own brand for some time, and then the timing just felt right. It was a challenge in the beginning, but it was the challenge that was exciting.

How would you describe your vision for your line? 

Tomboy-Sexy with a Minimalist twist.

Are there any other careers you would like to explore in the future? 

Motherhood. Artistic Collaborations. 

What would you say are the pros and cons of being a fashion designer? 

It's great being able to work in a creative environment. But you do a lot of running around from factory to office, to fabric/trim stores, to meetings, and then back again. It's never a sit still at your desk kind of day. 

Do you have any advice for someone looking to work in the fashion or beauty industries? 

I think it's very important to get experience in any way. Don't limit yourself to only the big brands, either. There is so much to learn working with a smaller company.
 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

Well...1. Follow your dreams. and 2. Thank you for the great interview!

***

I strongly suggest checking out the rest of her collections (two of which I've got right here on my blog) and perusing her website. This lady is a rising star, so we must keep our eyes wide open lest we miss the moment when she becomes one of the revered designers on that list of alumni. 

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Numberwang

That's Numberwang! 

You're probably wondering what is Numberwang, in addition to what Numberwang is. I wish I could tell you. Maybe if you watch this video you'll understand. And then this one. And then this one. 

Not only is Numberwang hilarious, but it also has Alexander Wang's last name in it, which is terribly convenient considering the topic of this post. Wang's eponymous brand has come to epitomize cool girl, effortless chic. He's known for his gratuitous use of black, his phenomenal construction skills, and his inspiration drawn from the French and grunge cultures. Every girl wants to be a Wang girl. I want to be a Wang girl. 

The designer was born in San Francisco in 1983 and grew up in California. He moved to New York City when he was 18 to attend Parsons New School for Design, but ended up dropping out in his sophomore year to launch his women's wear line in 2007. Being the complete boss that he is, he was an instant success. Alexander won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2008 and was granted $200,000 to expand his business. He won the Swarovski Designer of the Year Award in 2009 and 2010 (the 2010 award was for his accessory design skills). It was recently announced in late November of this past year (weird!) that Alexander will become the creative director of Balenciaga since Nicholas Ghesquière left. Basically, A-Wang is completely owning the fashion scene, everyone loves his work, and he's supposedly a crazy dancer. One major, major con is that he's been accused of having a sweatshop in New York where laborers are forced to work 25 hours straight without a break, which is not only really really illegal, but also just ridiculously unethical. It actually makes me feel quite immoral myself to praise him, but his clothes are awesome. I'm vacillating. 

On that note, let's see his stuff, shall we? 

[Photos via style.com.]

FALL/WINTER 2011

FALL/WINTER 2011

RESORT 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

T BY ALEXANDER WANG PRE-FALL 2012

PRE-FALL 2012

FALL/WINTER 2012

FALL/WINTER 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

And that's Numberwang! 

P.S. Happy New Year! 2013 is such a pretty number, isn't it? 

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The Good Kind of Acne

There are certain brands that I always wish I could wear. I relish every look from every collection (for the most part), and click-and-drag three quarters of the photographs off of Style.com to store in my archives. Despite the fact that I look at nearly every designer whose pictures go up on Style.com, there are a select few that I am genuinely excited to look at, and sometimes refer back to for inspiration. I decided to organize my favorite looks from those designers and present them to you all in an orderly manner. I'm going in alphabetical order, so we'll begin with Acne. 

Acne is technically called Acne Studios, a part of a creative collective called Acne which stands for Ambition to Create Novel Expression. How snazztastic is that. The original Acne was founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden. The next year, co-founder Jonny Johansson made hundreds of pairs of jeans with red stitching on them and gave them away to his friends and family, and thus Acne Studios was born. Since then, they've been making bangin' clothing for the most avant-garde badass chicks (and guys, too) on the face of the Earth. You can't go wrong with Acne. It's physically impossible. 

[Photos via style.com.]

FALL/WINTER 2012

PRE-FALL 2012

PRE-FALL 2012

RESORT 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

And since it's Sunday, and because Morrissey is eternal, here you go.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and happy second day of Hanukah! 

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