Obsession(s) of the Day

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YSL Aviator Sunglasses ( was $300.00 Now : $250.00 )
YSL Brass Buckle Belt ($295.00)


I love the chocolate tortois avaitors! I could just imagine wearing that, the Leopard-printed calfskin belt with some white or dark blue ink jeans. And that's it - no shirt. Just kidding. Whatever shir that will show off the belt. The prints goes so well with each other. To buy them, just click on the name of the product underneath the pictures.

Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto con Giselle Bundchen

I've never seen that video before. I LOVE it. I love the feel from the music, the movement, the transitions. The love the obscurity and abrupt changes of frames. It really does exemplify the Yves Saint Laurent consumer. There's a certain strength that's exhude through the clip. Gosh, I love Yves Saint Laurent.

Yves Saint Laurent, 1962

HELENA RUBENSTEIN!
WOMEN SMOKING!
"PERFECT FOR A PHOTO!"
Princess Radzivill!
BRING IT BACK!
LOVE.

Quick Though: Stefano Pilati & Couture

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So congruent with my post previous to this one, I was praising Pilati and his work at Yves Saint Laurent (YSL). And I realized why won't they let him venture into couture? Isn't that a pleasant idea? He clearly has control of the fabrics with his minimalism structure pieces and sharp lines. If he wanted to, he could rival Nicolas Ghesquiere's Balenciaga pieces. (Which reminds me, I'll do a comparison between YSL and Balenciaga in a future post).

I think Stefano Pilati would be a great couture-r. I believe since he's still only been the director for a short period, the big bosses still wants to see if he's able to carry out more editor's top favorite seasons. If so, then they'll give him reign to do couture. Also, the world of couture is expensive and not as lucrative as pret-a-porters, but I think with recent collections, YSL's income should stabilize and give Pilati a chance. I imagine Valentino but more formal and futuristic. No? Valentino has that minimalistic decadence, but it's often feminine and soft, in both structure and color.

But if I was given the chance to decide whether Pilati should be in charge of that, hands down Pilati has my vote.

Source: Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2008 | Balenciaga Fall 2008

Case Study: Maison Martin Margiela VS YSL, & More

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One way to differentiate between the greats and the novice is through detailing. I love looking at the detailed pictures and seeing how the fabric is manipulated; where the lines are placed; and how these small things add to the ensemble as a whole. One of the thing I love about Stefano Pilati is his ability to make pictures quietly screaming minimalism. It's that deafening pitch where you can't hear it but it impacts you. Or at least for me, this is the case. From afar, his pieces are strung together with a fluidity of bareness, no elaborate flashes of juxtaposed fabric mediums that makes it uncomfortable to the eye. Everything just seems to fit, like it belong with a certain elegance. It's a woman of confidence that knows that in the world, you don't need much, and less is more. (Ironic, however, you need money for this minimalism. haha).

But in regards to this sleeve, I love the black lining of it and the sliver that exposes the arm almost to the shoulder. It's sort of poetic because the ensembles carry a serious tone, along with the mood that's given from the presentation of the models, but the sliver provides a playful tone to it - a certain vulnerability. In most conservative cultures, excess skin is not encouraged, but this creeping line accentuates the playfulness of femininity. I just love the complication of Pilati's pieces and the quiet decadence that's intertwined with the pieces.

This can also be seen in the sunglasses that went along with the collection. It reminded me of Maison Martin Margiela's blackmarker sunglasses from Spring 2008 collection, but it's a little more personal than Margiela's. Where Margiela's sunglasses are supposed to eradicate the personal by totally wiping out the eye (this is how most identity are removed, "black marker across the eye"), Pilati's YSL sunglasses adds character to the wearer. The nose is given more exposure and the eyes are given more individual shape than the (Margiela's) bare rectangle that crosses the face. While Margiela's woman are more defined by the clothes, YSL's sunglasses attribute to the personal of its wearer in conjunction with the clothes.

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(Maison Martin Margiela)


(Yves Saint Laurent)


Source: Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2008 | Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2008

Obsession of the day: YSL Leopard Print Scarf

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I normally am intimidated of prints because they're too loud for me, even though I do enjoy bright colors. But big pieces of prints are...something I'm not used to. I'll probably change my mind after my first fur coat. But until then, I'll settle for something more subtle. I like this print because the colors aren't so loud. It's a little milky. I like that the scarf has a vintage feel for it. Also, it's affordable since it's only 139.62 USD.

Buy Product: YSL Leopard Print Scarf (139.62USD)

Yves Saint Laurent Men Fall/Winter 2008

Yves Saint Laurent Men Fall/Winter 2008 info

Pilati decided to showcase YSL men fall/winter 2008 collection via film. I haven't seen it uploaded around the net yet, but once I find it, I'll post it. I just saw Pilati in Arena Homme and he looked really attractive. He sort of let himself go here? He's such a cute adorable man though and I'm excited to see the video.

Pilati is continueing his collaboration with art through installation. Miuccia and Marc Jacobs are known for integratting art with their words but through different means for Vuitton and Prada. Whether it is through logos or fabrics, or prints, the two brands are synonomous with their creative director and the collaboration with arts. Pilati, I believe, is one of the most overlooked designer for his skills. If it wasn't for YSL, I don't think most people would even give him the time of day. He's still fairely new to the house, relative to how designers come and go in houses nowadays. However, his cut, designs, and incorporation of technology and art in his works are unprecedented. His men's collection last year incorporated paint splattered in a modern post-Pollock style through saturated colors, which other artists are following suit now. His minimalism speaks volume, like the piece Freja wore for the Spring 2008 collection.

I'll speak more when the video is released. I'm excited to see this menswear collection. The pieces are already more than they are (through construction and design) through their presentation via video installation.