In the wake of the so-five-years-ago “metrosexual” grooming craze for men, a new form of high(er) fashion is coming to the fore; it’s being labeled the manaissance, and it features men who favor the buttoned down, suited up, uber-masculine clothing of the 50s and 60s, seen so often and to such great affect in AMC’s Mad Men. A taste:
My sister adores them. I can see why:
There’s a very minor fashion trend going on at the moment that is perhaps appropriate to highlight as we get closer to prom season; condom couture.
Those dresses, made by designer Emma Kaywin, were inspired by her internship with an HIV awareness outreach group. She realized they were about to dispose of thousands of left-over condoms and decided to keep them useful. She’s worn these dresses in public, and reports they elicit, usually, shock and/or disgust. Part of the impetus for these kinds of projects is to erase that kind of bias. By putting these essential and often life-saving devices in the best (and most visible) possible light, Kaywin and others hope to end the stigma around them. Pretty cool. Our next designer, Adriana Bertini, has made something of a career (and a recycling/health outreach project) out of these dresses. Some highlights of her collection:
Few people have had made their personal appearance such an integral part of their craft, and few have changed so much in so little time. A review of Bowie album covers from 67 to 79, a turbulent time.
Ground control to Major Tom…
Of course, I would be extremely remiss if I didn’t direct you to the superb song from the Flight of the Conchords, Season 1: Bowie.
The best uniforms from yesterday and today’s action:
Saint Mary’s:
Kentucky:
And Texas:
Allow us to display our favorite shoes of all time, the red, low-cut, Chuck Taylor Converse All Stars.
Love the look, love the design, love the color. Love the associations with the bygone days of the NBA, neighborhoods with decorated telephone wires, and punk music. Gimme.
Yes, we shun the high tops when it comes to personal choice, but they, too, look rather fresh:
Of course, some of us are classicists.
Do you know what the trouble with a classicist is? We’ll let Lou Reed and John Cale fill ya’ll in on that one:
The trouble with a classicist, he looks at a tree;
That’s all he sees, he paints a tree.
The trouble with a classicist, he looks at the sky;
He doesn’t ask why, he just paints a sky.
Digression!
What we liked, and to hell with Joan Rivers:
Vera Farmiga - Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick - Up In The Air
Zoe Kravitz - Precious
More Oscar coverage from your friends at Basis Design!
Quick: Which female has won more Oscars than anyone in history? (No, it’s not the person who’s name sits atop the article.)
Okay, yes it is. Edith Head, ladies and gentlemen, Costume Designer extraordinaire!
Grace Kelly and Cary Grant - To Catch A Thief
Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday
Paul Newman and Robert Redford - The Sting
Grace Kelly, surely one of the more beautiful creatures ever to live, in Rear Window
Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter - The Ten Commandments
Just because I love her.
O at Reading.
O at tea.
O at Lollapalooza.
If you don’t know, Karen O is the charismatic lead singer for art-punk/disc0-junk noise band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, bringers of good tidings of great joy and primal screams of feminist ilk. They’re a handful, but you won’t mind.
The clothes are generally made by O friend/fan Christian Joy, whose work can be found here: http://www.christianjoy.us/.
And now, the video for Basis Design’s most-favored YYY jam:
Do you like shelving? Do you also love a good mp3 player? Odds are you’re German. Here’s the latest from the country that brought you Hegel, Kant, and Nietzsche (you’re welcome), the Hohrizontal 51:
It’s a shelf, it’s an mp3 player, it’s a hi-fi stereo system!
Seriously, this is pretty cool. An elegant, slim little stereo system, very high quality, that adapts to your mp3 player and doubles as a convenient, stylish shelf.
Fits in the bathroom!
Looks great in the living room!
What a product. I have a feeling it could try and take over the world someday.
(also, somewhat unfortunately, only plays Kraftwerk)