Creature Couture

The ways in which big fashion names draw influence from the natural world are diverse and relentless. On Trend de la Creme the curator has made numerous keen eyed comparisons between a seasonal catwalk collection with certain branches of Kingdom Animalia. I selected some of the more striking or unusual similarities below but there are many more on the previously mentioned blog.

Alexander McQueen - Moth

Alexis Mabille - Parchment Worm

André Lima - Origami Penguin

Ding Yong - Cocoon

Jean Paul Gaultier - Cicada

Nicole Firetto - Bird

Oscar de la Renta - Octopus

Rodarte - Fighting Fish

Valentino - Jellyfish

Zac Posen - Moth

Highstreet Animalia

It's been a while since I've bought any new clothes so I'm very excited about my leopard print River Island T-shirt. It was £16 which is maybe twice if not thrice the price of what I'd normally pay for just a T-shirt but thankfully I didn't have to pay for it, my Dad came to visit and it's exactly what I've been wanting so I'm particularly appreciative. To go with this, a couple days later I found some what I'd say is classy animal print underwear, not only that but the Topman jewellery sale had a few little gems on offer. 

 

Some feather experimentation with Camilla and my feather trim. Now that my millinery cotton wire is on the way I'll finally be able to start up with the hairband production! 

Images by KLV

Hairbands: Verdant, Fuchsia, Citrine & Argent

These first two hairbands are based around the favourite colours of their respective owners and though normally I wouldn't use such bright colours, the magentas and greens were certainly appropriate this time around. Below 'Verdant' and 'Fuchsia' are two other hairbands I've recently made, the first 'Citrine' was a birthday present for my flatmate and 'Argent' a commission. 

Verdant

Fuchsia

 Citrine

Argent

Hairbands and images by KLV

Hairbands: Ignite, Allure, Mesozoica

Ignite

Allure

Mesozoica

Ignite: A commission

Allure: A present

Mesozoica: Just because I wanted to include plastic dinosaurs

Below are a couple of gifts I recently received. Firstly a wallet (interior and exterior photographed) from my mum via her Japanese friend, some silks from a friend and below that is the very beginnings of a hat with the working title of Avis.

Images by KLV

DIPTIQUE Part 4

Another Africa and K.L.V. have collaborated on a series of diptychs that compare an intensely rich source of inspiration born in Africa with the realms of the worldwide arts and fashion. On view, the ingenuity of African masqueraders, gleaning mother nature's closet to create visually arresting disguises.  Juxtaposed with contemporary art and fashion images, the pairings highlight the qualities that connect, complement and contrast, but ultimately celebrate creative ingenuity. This is the final part of the DIPTIQUE series.

 

 (L) Yaie Masquerade, Burkina Faso. Photographer unknown. Source | artismyhustle

(R) Guido Palau, 'Mohawk V2' for the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” exhibition. Photographs by Graeme Montgomery. Courtesy of the New York Times, T Magazine.

(L)  Phyllis Galembo, Minor Ekpe Masquerade with Mango Leaves, Calabar South, Nigeria, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) BLESS, N°43 Know Howowow, 14.03.2011, Hélène.

(L)  Phyllis Galembo,  Agot Dance Group, Etikpe Village, Cross River, Nigeria, 2004 Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) Issey Miyake. Photo | Irving Penn.

(L)  Phyllis Galembo,  Burkina Faso, 2006. Image courtesy of the artist and LN-CC.

(R) Henrik Vibskov, The Fringe Project #10.

(L)  Phyllis Galembo, Gwarama Masquerade, Yegueresso Village, Burkina Faso, 2006. Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) Iris Van Herpen, Mummification A| W 2009 collection.

 

 (L) The Beri - Nyâna, or men's devil of Western Liberia (The Bundu of Sierra Leone), circa 1906. Source: NYPL Digital Gallery.

(R) Nick Cave, Soundsuit 2011. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

  

(L)  Phyllis Galembo, Sierra Leone, 2008-2009. Image courtesy of the artist. 

 (R) Killian Loddo, Fantastic Goodbuy - Entity.

 

(L) Phyllis Galembo, Baby Dance of Etikpe, Cross River, Nigeria, 2004. Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) Lucas Simões, Desretratos series. 

(L) Phyllis Galembo, Akata Dance Masqueraders, Ogoja, Nigeria, 2004. Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) Rozalb de Mura S|S 2010 Collection.

 

(L) Phyllis Galembo, Abora Traditional Masquerade, Cross River, Nigeria, 2004. Image courtesy of the artist and Tang Museum.

(R) Michael Lau S|S 2010. Photo | Getty.

ANOTHER AFRICA

Another Africa is an online platform and magazine that showcases contemporary Africana through arts, culture, design, fashion, music , literature and film. Another Africa as its namesake, proclaims that another dimension to Africa exists.

The Body Adorned - Horniman Museum

Whilst visiting London/Horley recently, the Churchills and I visited the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill before our own exhibition in Bermondsey. I had previously visited the museum back in June 2010 with Katie but the particular draws this time were the current temporary exhibition 'The Body Adorned: Dressing London' and the fact it was Katie's birthday! As the title of the exhibition suggests both body adornment and body modification were the focus, with a wide range of each on display and all of it captivated me especially the headwear but also the full outfits and garments, such as the seal gut parka. What was (unsurprisingly) immediately noticeable to me was the abundance of animal based adornment and by that I mean both the actual use of animal parts for decoration or just as an influence on patterns etc. This was no end of inspiration and again reaffirms the importance of nature in anthropology as all the cultures of all continents can be historically united through flora and fauna. The traditional half to the exhibition is intended as a window into London's evolution of body adornment and how Londoners originally learnt of and viewed the vast range of peoples dressing the body around the world, though as contemporary viewers we can now identify much of this as politically incorrect or racist. However, past the horn bill headdresses, kimono and puffer fish/coconut attire, we are presented with contemporary London and the dressing habits therein. You can also find one large screen in front of four smaller ones, each playing a looped video of a static people on various London streets and most of which are accompanied by a vox pop on their outlook of the way they dress. I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and found it very insightful, especially through its intention of encouraging visitors to really think about clothing and all the other aspects of how we present and define our own image. 

'Ultimately we invite you to look at how you dress your body and why.'

Images by KLV

'The exhibtion features a specially commissioned film by the innovative, internationally renowned filmmakers and designers The Light Surgeons.'