themandariin

Let them have cake!

Ironically as the French have just elected a new president, a socialist president, Dior and Chanel give us a royal treat, at Versailles. 

Dior walked down the Galerie des Glaces (and ironically called its video “Secret Garden”) while Chanel and Karl invaded the gardens. 

Secret Gardens - Versailles

Fashion owes so much to the French monarchy. Versailles and the King’s court invented French fashion and influenced much of today’s sartorial habits. Thanks Chanel and Dior for honoring this great heritage!

Chanel cruise collection was very interesting in the sense that it is inspired by nobles’ and kings’ outfits with a very modern and urban vibe to it. It almost looks like Japanese urban style. And yet it seems so classical French. 

Long live the King. 

Darth Balenciaga

Fun fun hats by Balenciaga. This picture is from the 60s but they were recently shown on the runway by Balenciaga (can’t remember what season and too lazy to look it up… sowie).

Fun hats, star wars looking for sure. I love it when different arts (here cinema and fashion) can inspire each other. Art forms are never separated from each other. It’s one single expression of a vision over reality through various forms. 

Menswear F/W 2012

Haven’t had the time/inspiration to fashion blog lately, been busy on other projects. And winter just isn’t as inspiring as brighter seasons. 

Burberry is amazing as usual. Their comeback from a grandpa-ish old school dusty house to a stylish, digital brand is mesmerizing. For this season I particularly like the arrangement of a short coat/jacket on a longer suit jacket. Kinda awkward when you think about it, but so cool on Burberry’srunway. Definitely my dig of this season. 

Second look is pretty cool too. Stylish, casual gentleman.

Finally Louis Vuitton has shown pretty good stuff too. I’m always amazed at how Louis Vuitton is always about bags, monogram prints and blingbling gear. Their clothes lines are just a promotion tool to sell even more leather goods. But it’s a damn good-looking promotion set. LVMH has never reported detailed figures for Louis Vuitton, but I’m growing very curious about how much they take home. 

By the way, LVMH 2011 numbers will be out Feb 2. Looking at what others have reported, it should be another blowout. And I own a few shares from these guys.

Till The World Ends

Rough times or what? Closing it off on a dark tone. 

Extreme, but ain’t nothing we haven’t seen before. 

What if you seek Amy? Up there, they got so much luckier. And they got the King of Apple back. Eve can rejoice. 

My family portrait. Cuz we’re Italian and all, we laugh, we cry, we shout. Oh and we’re sexy too. But love stands the distance, and I’m dying inside to see you walk that distance. Don’t you know we still believe? 

It’s been 10 years, and united we stand. Same boat for all, we almost drowned. But somehow the show has gone on.

The past is already swept away. Memories. We’re left with. So please. It’s up to you to rewrite them. We’ve been happy too. Your smile. Oh that smile. Beautiful.

Remember that white rose you got on an early morning, when the sun was shining? 

We know that after every winter comes spring. No matter how bad you’ve been, it’ll get warmer. Down here, up there, and in your soul. 

We dearly miss you. Time will heal. Stop freaking crying. 

2011 is gone. Welcome 2012. The page is white.