FASHION BY THE RULES – Alexander McQueen – Savage Beauty

From the very start of this book, you might think that this is another of those over the top, overly thought out and over intellectualized odes to a designer. The facts are very simple, this is as good as it gets when it comes to any book about a designer.
The author gives us his take on the wildly talented Alexander McQueen, which is as I have said, a bit too scholarly and pretentious for my liking but all is forgiven as the book becomes a visual monument to the talents of a designer who left us while still in his prime. The biggest assets of this magnificently photographed volume are the actual words of Mr. McQueen and an enlightening interview with Sarah Burton who succeeded him after his untimely demise.

“I think that couture has complete relevance today. Designer fashion shouldn’t be throwaway.”

“I think of myself as a plastic surgeon with a knife.”

“You’ve got to know the rules before you can break them. That’s why I am here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.”

There are so many inspiring and insightful quotes that define this master of 21st century design as well as little known facts about his past which are revealed in an almost fairy tale magic method of the telling of Mr. McQueen’s past of beginnings. This is a story that will inform, enlighten, entertain and leave you amazed from the spectacular photos which remind us of what we will miss in years to come.

The book which was published this month so that it releases the same time as the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Rarely does any written/visual work leave you saddened by knowing that the artist reduced his own genius to just a scant 2 decades. What a loss for all of us who remain.

FASHION BY THE RULES – Into Leather?

Anyone who reads my weekly postings will know that I consider fashion to be a form of art and not just a means of commerce. Whether it is the haute couture of Christian Dior or the collections of Hussein Chalayan, there are art worthy moments to be found in the work of so many designers.

Such is the case with a new designer, Stephanie MacDonald Walker (http://www.smwalker.co.uk/), who has turned her attention to the fashion and art of leather. She is already a member of the Society of Craftsmen and has already exhibited her works in several galleries in and around London. One cannot ignore the beauty, the design, the artistry of these pieces. She works in the manner of the great “leather craftsmen” of fashion, Mario Valentino and Bottega Veneta but still retains some of the fire of Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh. The path is clear; she will have a long and distinguished career in the fashion business, provided she gets the proper financing and guidance. This particular instance would be almost the same as receiving the patronage from some royal that so many renaissance artists received during that time and prospered with their help.
Please have a look at here website and let me know what you think, as always, I can be found at www.examiner.com, http://jeffybruce.blogspot.com/, or on Facebook.

FASHION BY THE RULES: Americans in Paris

 

Just as a wedding begins a union of two people, a wedding was also the reason that these two expats met and began a shoe business known as VOUELLE. Melissa Regan (de Vogele) and Michelle Boor teamed up in Paris after the former had a miserable experience with the selection and ultimate decision of wedding shoes. Besides the dress, well maybe and the groom, shoes remain an essential and integral part of one’s wedding day.

Well that was 2008 and within the two short years of being in business, these two have created the burgeoning brand (VOUELLE) which is already available at 66 in Paris, Galleries Lafayette, The Wynn in Las Vegas, and Harvey Nich’s as Edina from Absolutely Fabulous would say. The look of the shoes might echo better known brands such as Roger Vivier, Walter Steiger and even Jimmy Choo, but these are not “me too” styles, these are exclusively designed for and by VOUELLE. One can only draw the references when they are all shown together in a shoe salon. VOUELLE is in good company with these prestige brands and the handmade VOUELLE shoes are a welcomed addition to the couture shoe market as these existing brands shoes tend to be far more costly and seem to be on every foot as if they were from H & M.

Quality will always reign supreme, no matter what business one owns, when you cater to the top tier of international retailers. To assure the high standard, these ladies were fortunate enough to enlist the help of Alain Mancini, who is heir to shoe royalty, Rene Mancini. In shoe terms, he is “an old shoe dog” if there ever was one and I am not referring to age.

Please make sure that you visit the website www.vouelle.com as well as on Facebook and have a tease of the beauty and comfort that is available – without giving up one ounce of fashion glamour.

Don’t forget to look for me on Facebook as well as The Examiner.

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