Friday, November 13, 2009

A busdriver without a bus


Last night I saw one of the best pieces of theatre I've seen all year, if not the best. The Walworth Farce is a production of the Druid Dublin company based in Galway, written by Enda Walsh. It is difficult for me to put the awesomeness of this production into words, and in a way I don't think I should. For one thing, it was a total experience -- not in a site-specific or audience participation kind of way, but it inundated me at once with the symbolism of world of the play, and also immediately to my own, modern circumstances.

I read the play in part as an allegory for religion, or any tradition or ritual, floundering in the modern world, though many readings and nuances could be gleaned from it. Its most dramatic edge revealed it as a naturalistic family saga, in spite or more likely because of the farce -- I for one definitely thought of Josef Fritzl and the immense range of human experiences. The play is hilarious (think specificity of physical gesture) and yet deeply tragic -- the actors' expressiveness and intricacy of emotion are well well above par (these pictures demonstrate the farcical aspect more than the tragic, but I think the extremity of the actors' expressions illuminates the tragic aspects [especially Tadhg Murphy as Sean])

It was the kind of performance that was fully satisfying and still made me crave theatre, Brecht, Brook, Shakespeare, everything immediate

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

S/S10 part 2

So as far as the more dramatic collections from S/S10 these were my favs. You may notice that Chanel is not among them. Ok. I have no problem with Chanel. I enjoyed the sense of play KL conveyed, but of the collections that went out there boldly and surreal-ly, I found it particularly onanistic and therefore kinda creepy. Thus in no particular order:

Firstly, I got a real kick out of Jean Paul Gualtier. It was so unapologetically urban and raw, and somehow wearable? This collection was all about the styling, the pieces on their own (*perhaps* not the satin bustier overalls...) are all super class. Plus I am about the side braid ghetto hoops and garter belts

I know Tavi is the blogosphere's resident Rei Kawakubo stalker, but we can share can't we? Kawakubo has her finger on a particularly honest, serious, playful pulse. I LOVED this CdG collection -- the proportions of the silhouettes (up to the candyfloss hair) are *perfect* I hate polkadots and now I MUST HAVE polkadots, not to mention figure out some way to fashion attachable leather shoulder pads


John Galliano made huge moves. As far as I'm concerned, he took Dior's Hollywood lady and introduced her to opium and dostoyevsky. The collection is at once a complete throwback and still totally futuristic and doomy (without going down the Rick Owens route -- which there is nothing wrong with, but it's his)


I adored Louis Vuitton. First thing that needs to be said is I want a foxtail. What I loved most about this collection (as has been the trend of this post) is its fulfillment of perspective. MJ decided on a view and went for it. I really feel the whole futuristic traveler thing from this. Not that I'm about to go get a fro/perm, but his fusion of contrasting elements allowed that traveler to live



And at last we come to THE COLLECTION of this season, namely Alexander McQueen CBE. I can't say a lot about this collection that hasn't already been said, including the fact that along the lines of my professed purpose for this blog, this collection was way far and away (in my opinion) the most 'performative' -- the cameras and online transmission, the story evolution represented in lights and video. The world is kinda lucky

Monday, November 2, 2009

S/S10

Ok, so I know I'm a few weeks (month?) late on this, but I actually found a lot to be excited about from next season's collections. I haven't checked out ev er y thing but here's some of what I liked -- we'll do this one in two takes: first, what I found to be 'practical' and wearable and second the more conceptual and inspiring collections.

Marni rocked my socks-and-sandals. The sophisticated pirate look, the colors and the contrasts and patterns and (mostly) flat texture combined to make this one of my favorite spring/summer collections


On kind of another end of the spectrum, I really dug the hoods and unabashed toughness of Balenciaga. I can picture myself wearing these outfits (allbeit not in head to toe leather) I really liked the trousers and the colors and graphic dresses, total urban warrior

I for one am not over Balmain's 'end of the world cavegirl' thing. The leather, the loincloths, the rips, the sparkle. I would be smitten if this is how the end of days looked

Derek Lam and Rochas both gave us some shim to smile about. Both of these collections had pieces mad me think sexy tomboy at the beach in 1920... or something. The colours, the proportions, I could actually picture myself rocking some of these (with matching sox and all!)


DRIES VAN NOTEN CHANGED MY LIFE This may have been one of my favorite collections of the year. I'm going to add all small pics because there are so so many elements that I loved and need to share. First of all, the colour palette is just perfect (must locate purple silk pants and winter green cashmere trench); the silhouettes speak old-school hollywood class, which, you must understand, I am alllll about; and the graphics were just...

Stella McCartney's contrasting elements (lace with angles, shiny amazing blue (or pink!) with reliable khaki, long jackets with short shorts) were all AOK bye me! her clothes are all so welcoming

Celine threw some really cool shapes which I liked. While I'm not dying about the industry's current leather obsession, I do think Celine's use of that element was really interesting and, of course, sophisticated

AND THEN THERE WAS DIOR If DVN defined 21st century retro hollywood class, this is what that girl would wear out (or in!). While it is certainly conceptual, to an end, I would seriously wear some of these pieces (if I became a bajillionaire)

I liked Miumiu A LOT it was fun and serious and feminine and somehow very very honest (notice the backs of those dresses -- prim and seductive)