Fall 2009: Louis Vuitton

I wanted to say I liked it, but in the end, I couldn't even be bothered to scroll through the 60-something looks to pick out some exits to illustrate my point. I mean, it's Paris, it's LV and if you show 60 looks there are bound to be a few dresses which are pretty, if not passably amusing. And what would be the point? I need to say that it's Lacroix, Ungaro, Mugler, Montana, Comme, Chanel, Geoffrey Beene speeded up but then you already know that. And it's not even that deep. It's a shallow person's take on fashion history and in the end, it's like a very dull conversation with someone not terribly cute. To say it's an improvement on his eponymous collection isn't saying much. Just be glad fashion week is over.

Kate and Karl

i-D's Prada Cover

It's an arresting cover for April. One can only hope that the content lives up to the image. It so seldom does.

Prince Charles

Prince Charles, 60, has been crowned the world's best-dressed man by Esquire magazine. He beat Barack Obama, 47, Andre 3000, 33, and Roger Federer, 27 to the title. Prince Charles facours clothes from Austin Reed, Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shappard and Frank Hall Tailoring of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Chanel Mattress Bag

Since you are sick of seeing all those 2.55s on all kinds of shoulders and elbows, why don't you get the new Chanel Mattress Bag to rest your weary head on? It looks like its been slept on by an army of homeless in the streets of Paris. Very appropriate don't you think? 

Fall 2009: Lanvin

It's what Wallis Simpson would wear in an Irving Penn shoot don't you think? This is cerebral womanly elegance as only Alber Elbaz can do. It's beautiful, but not exceptionally so by Mr Elbaz's standards, but he has set it incredibly high.  

Fall 2009: Martin Margiela

I like the idea of something vast and tricky and advanced, in this case the "cloud" shoulder, styled with the undone, and stripped away. Also aren't the plastic shoulder pads a touch of real genius? You could wear them with anything.

We Met At The End Of The Party

We met at the end of the party
when most of the drinks were dead
and all the glasses empty:
"Have this that's left," you said.

We walked through the last of summer,
when shadows reached long and blue
across days that were growing shorter:
you said: "There's autumn too."

Always for you what's finished
is nothing, and what survives
cancels the failed, the famished,
as if we had fresh lives
from that night on, and just living
could make me unaware
of June, and the guests arriving,
and I not there.
- Philip Larkin

Weekend Reading List

Last night, P, an old friend from NUS gave me a bag of How To Spend It magazines, the monthly stylezine that comes with the weekend edition of the Financial Times. I swooped on them and rifled through gleefully noting that none of them I've read before. This means it's been a while since I bought the Financial Times on Saturdays. It used to be such a ritual with me, but I think when it became $5, I stopped. I do miss the beige paper, its style and substance are excellent, I love their columnists, on food, the arts, gardening, wine. I think I'll start buying the paper again. Isn't sweet that friends think of your habits and likes and make the effort to give you stuff that suits you exactly. I think it's a type of tribute.
To take my mind off the stressful recession, I shall read the (uncharacteristically) thin Henry James novella The Aspern Papers; It's rivettinngly suspenseful, and shows the ugliness of greed. Very relevant for these times, no? This portrait of the master is by John Singer Sargent.

Fall 2009: Dolce & Gabbana

It's hardly ever that I like Dolce & Gabbana more than I do Burberry, but this season's Burberry was really rather tepid wasn't it, whereas Dolce was optimistic and fun and crazy in a way that made joyful sense (compare this to Marc Jacobs and I think you will see what I mean). This follows a strong Spring collection, and makes me want to pay more attention to this designer duo... at least for now. 

Arena Ends

The UK men's monthly magazine Arena is set to close after 22 years. Its final issue (April 2009)goes on sale next week, March 12. Arena had suffered years of decline and was only selling 17,071 purchased copies over the last six months of 2008. To think it was an iconic magazine when it hit the streets in 1986, and was designed by The Face designer, Neville Brody. The initial success of Arena, which at its height sold more than 93,000 copies an issue in the 1990s, prompted Condé Nast, a part owner of the title since 1988, to launch British GQ in 1989.

International editions of Arena are still published in Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark, Korea, Thailand and Singapore.
You, like me, will be pleased to know that Arena's semi-annual fashion magazine offshoot, Arena Homme Plus, will continue publishing, edited by Jo-Ann Furniss.

A Titian for Thursday

Venus of Urbino, 1538, Titian

Mid Week Self Pic

Carine's Coat

Strawberries

"...and Mrs. Elton, in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or talking—strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or spoken of.—"The best fruit in England—every body's favourite—always wholesome.—These the finest beds and finest sorts.—Delightful to gather for one's self—the only way of really enjoying them.—Morning decidedly the best time—never tired—every sort good—hautboy infinitely superior—no comparison—the others hardly eatable—hautboys very scarce—Chili preferred—white wood finest flavour of all—price of strawberries in London—abundance about Bristol—Maple Grove—cultivation-beds when to be renewed—gardeners thinking exactly different—no general rule—gardeners never to be put out of their way—delicious fruit—only too rich to be eaten much of—inferior to cherries—currants more refreshing—only objection to gathering strawberries the stooping—glaring sun—tired to death—could bear it no longer—must go and sit in the shade."

- Jane Austen, Emma

Fall 2009: Jil Sander

Sublime minimalism by Raf Simons. This collection is oddly comforting for reaffirming the Jil Sander brief, with just enough newness to engage interest. We've been down this road before but the twists and turns surprise and delight.

Fall 2009: Prada

I love the pared-down, rustic feel of it. But then I always liked tweed and all it represents, the sturdiness, the unpretentiousness, the masculinity. Miuccia Prada makes it all special of course with her inimitable touches, the shine, the unique sense of colour, the luxe fur, the revealing of pale pale skin, an intellectual womanliness. An elegant, lovely collection.

Merlion Madness

Last night, I was so wasted that at 2am, they put me in a cab. I remembered Label Loving Lorem saying "Mercedes cab some more"; not the sort of thing I noticed but at least the cab didn't smell funky. I was beyond noticing anything anyway, but taxi uncle started in to chat. I mean, he really hit it, and not only did he do a monologue, he demanded my response. Taxi uncle kept turning around to look at me for answers. Couldn't he tell I was way gone. I was only holding my head with both my hands , possibly drooling as well, and he wanted me to have a conversation? Why was he so chirpy at 2 in the morning?
"You know the Merlion was hit?
"Resession, someone pissed of throw beer bottle broke the Merlion head.
"You din know? Never hear news no one told you ah?
"Merlion head break got one hole not good luck.
"Very bad luck already bad luck this year resession
"No la, not someone throw beer bottle la I joke it was lightning strike the Merlion head (laughs).
"Very bad luck you know like this?"
My god.
Is champagne very fattening? I think I had a little bit to drink.

Our Gardenias

"Because our world has music, and we dance;
Because our world has colour, and they gaze;
Because our speech is tuned, and schooled our glance,
And we have roseleaf nights and roseleaf days,
And we have leisure, work to do and rest;
Because they see us laughing when we meet,
And hear our words and voices, see us dressed
With skill, and pass us and our flowers smell sweet -
They think that we know friendship, passion, love!
Our peacock, Pride, and Art our nightingale!
And Pleasure's hand upon our dogskin glove!
And if they see our faces burn or pale,
It is the sunlight, think they, or the gas.
- Our lives are wired like our gardenias."

-Marc-Andre Raffalovic

Danny Beauchamp (Born: 1985)