Hiya, world. It's Thursday and chilly in New York and I so wish I was back in bed with lil K under my arm. It's sleepy outside and there's a duvet and an open window with a cool breeze out there just waiting for me home in Brooklyn. Sigh.
So it's Thursday which is technically a throwback day, so thought I'd share some photos that inspired my style growing up and continue to inspire me to this very day.
I was reading about the Gap last night (as I do) and the article mentioned that the Gap had lost sense of itself as a brand, of its individualism, of its effortless cool joie de vivre. The Adweek piece of course pointed to the iconic tv spots they used to do, incorporating khakis and dancing and all sorts of reverence to classic American cool. I miss those days too.
But besides the Gap, Rei Kawakubo and Comme Des Garcons contribution to my lifelong obsession with minimalism, photography, and black and white sensibilities are very much instrumental to my dedicated following of fashion. Looking at these old ads, I'm struck by how amazing and brilliant they still look- simple photography, simple hair and makeup (for the most part), and amazing silhouettes that are vintage and futuristic enough to be so present to this day.
And that logo- so good. Simple and fabulous. I'll never forget looking at these pictures and dreaming about an art filled life in New York City, even as I was stuck in the suburbs of Philadelphia with nobody to really understand how much I wanted to be elsewhere, wearing black.
This mid 80s story shot by Steven Meisel featuring a young Christy Turlington in all Comme Des is brilliant. The shapes, the avant garde posturing, the brilliance of a wardrobe that is so terrifically chic. So global, so urban, so creative. Love love love.
A dear friend of mine and I met many moons ago at my first job in advertising. We were both assistants- he was in creative and I was in production. We were obsessed with a female broadcast producer who bore a strong resemblance to Rei Kawakubo (but prettier) and wore the most sensational Japanese inspired clothes. We'd joke that one day she would leave the ad world and open up "The Minimalist Theme Park", where noiseless rides and silent chambers and black muslin would serve as a backdrop for the minimal masses who craved anything but a great adventure. Expressionless, cool, and spare. Just how we liked it. I'm still waiting for the minimalist theme park to open. I was never much for Six Flags...
But seriously- Rei Kawakubo's genius is transcendent and regardless of cultural shifts and changes in tastes and pop culture, Rei has always stayed true to her amazing brand. I bought my first piece of Comme des in high school (a chartreuse pleated heavy silk scarf) and my black elastic waisted wide leg wool trousers did not come off my body last winter. I'm also a huge fan of the fragrances- the collab Comme des did with Monocle resulted in the beautiful Hinoki fragrance, which makes me feel like I'm back in Japan. It's beyond delicious.
And Rei's influence on my love of the oversized silhouette prevails to present life. Just yesterday I was wearing a dress from Meg (a lovely local dress shop here in NYC) called, quite simply, the Parachute. It's a voluminous number with a v neck and short sleeves that pretty much leaves everything to the imagination. And though I wear plenty of tailored pieces, I love volume and getting lost in a piece of clothing. Done well, it's just so chic.
So let's throw back Thursday by raising a glass to Rei and Comme des Garcons for always keeping it real and staying true. I wouldn't love what I love without her, and them. Cause that's what's up this black and white Thursday in the minimalist Mad Max city of New York. Yours, in austere volume and pretty pictures. XO