Fashion Above All

This man is a character in the most amazing book on fashion ever written. Not really but he should be. I'd love to spend a day with Patrick McDonald and see what it's like. Even more so I would like to observe him navigating the beautiful fashion explosion that is his studio apartment. In this New York Magazine piece we get a glimpse into the man but more so into his home. 

His kitchen is not the kind that you prepare family dinners in, it's more reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw's "I keep sweaters in my stove" fashion junkie reasoning. I love cooking too much to do the same but the idea holds great appeal. Maybe sacrificing a few cupboards...

“If I can’t wear it, I don’t want it.” 

- Patrick McDonald 

Click here for the full slideshow.

Yours,

A.

Old Men & Hats

Truly enjoy seeing older men wearing their hats. I wonder how long he's had this one?

Yours,

A.

Attending New York Fashion Week

Yes I know, not as much fun as actually being there and seeing Anna Dello Russo in her fabulous outfits and trying to decipher the inscrutable face that is Anna Wintour BUT, so worth it. You get to sit glued to your laptop and feel like you're right there in the thick of it in NYC with your favourite designers. Even if you aren't into fashion in a huge way, a fashion show is always a thrill. This morning I set out to find the schedule for shows and live streams but mashable had already done it (which is great because I'm still in zombie mode at 10am). Yay mashable! Here's the quick list.

BCBGMAXAZRIA
Thursday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. ET

Richard Chai
Thursday, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. ET

Rebecca Taylor
Friday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. ET

Rebecca Minkoff
Friday, Feb. 10, 3 p.m. ET

Charlotte Ronson
Friday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. ET

Lacoste
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. ET

Jill Stuart
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. ET

Herve Léger by Max Azria
Saturday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m. ET

Tibi
Saturday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. ET

Monique Lhuillier
Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. ET

Tracy Reese
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. ET

Custo Barcelona
Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. ET

Diane von Furstenberg
Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. ET

Carolina Herrera
Monday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. ET

Carlos Miele
Monday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. ET

Bibhu Mohapatra
Monday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m. ET

Betsey Johnson
Monday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. ET

Badgley Mischka
Tuesday, Feb.14, 10 a.m. ET

Vera Wang
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. ET

Dennis Basso
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m. ET

Narciso Rodriguez
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. ET

Michael Kors
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 10 a.m. ET

J. Mendel
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. ET

Milly by Michelle Smith
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 3 p.m. ET

Anna Sui
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. ET

Vivienne Tam
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. ET

These will all be shown on YouTube's Live From The Runway Channel but if you can't get to YouTube (because it's blocked on your computer at work. smh.) then I'll be all over it on twitter so you can follow for behind the scenes pics, live shots, trend spotting and whatever else pops up (or goes down, you know these models be trippin!). Saw the Nicholas K show not long ago and it was awesome feeling like I was right there.

Tommy Hilfiger's shows will be live streamed from his Facebook page:

Tommy Hilfiger Men’s
Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m. ET

Tommy Hilfiger Women’s
Sunday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. ET

*Update: The Jason Wu show will be streamed live via Nordstrom today at 1pm E.

You can catch Thakoon's Fall 2012 RTW show on his website at 6pm E on Sunday.

Marc Jacobs will also be streaming live from his website on Monday at 7pm E and on Tuesday at 4pm E for his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. 

P.S.: You know you're going to get a post on Anna Dello Russo's outfits at the end of all this right?

Yours,

A.

Lupe Fiasco, Yasiin Bey And The House Of Vans

One of my favourite hip hop artistes Lupe Fiasco, who I don't so much classify as a "rapper" but more so a great poet, has been a supporter of Vans for some time now and in the video below he talks with Highsnobiety about how how naturally the collaboration for the Spring 2012 OTW line came about. He also talks about his book club, favourite authors, daily musical inspiration, and what rives him to continue making great music.

"I don't like to just sit down and listen to somebody tell me how much dope they sold or how many times they shot somebody... I like to feed myself nutritious kind of things and for me through the ears the most nutritious things that you can listen to are either songs with no words like jazz, or words that actually have power and meaning behind them which would be reggae and punk."

Lupe Fiasco Interview from Highsnobiety on Vimeo.

I really enjoy seeing Lupe do interviews, he always expresses himself well and doesn't come across as full of shit or insipid as some other artistes I've heard. He's just extraordinary overall.

Check out pics of Lupe and Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) at the Vans OTW launch in Berlin last month. (Two of my favs together! *moment of silence to appreciate this*)

Yours,

A.

Upside Down, Left To Right: A Letterpress Film

Found this short film by Danny Cooke (@dannycooke) about the letterpress - its history, use, and value in today's print industry - and was thoroughly impressed by it. I watched it twice. The painstaking and detailed process of its operation and the oh so worthwhile end result is amazing. I wanted to actually be able to hold the paper and feel the letters. It was filmed so beautifully. I wish I had one/had the prowess to use it/isn't it funny how I'm mesmerized by this machine that is NOT new in any way?!

Take a look for yourself and tell me if you share similar sentiments.

P.S.: Lucky students at Plymoth U!

Yours, 

A.