Lee Alexander McQueen that is...
No this isn't a post about his death or how amazing he was (you already knew this...I hope) this is about the new creative director of the McQueen label, Sarah Burton. When I first heard Lee had passed I, of course, was shocked and saddened, but more nervous. What would happen to Alexander McQueen and McQ!? The thought of never seeing one of Lee's breath taking shows in person was bad enough, but would the fashion house...close!? All my fears were set aside when Vogue reported that Sarah Burton, the head of womens wear, would be taking the helm of the McQueen label. Sarah had began working for McQueen while in her final year at CSM, and was appointed head of womens wear in 2000. Who better for role than Sarah?
After loving the pre Spring/Summer collection I waited with baited breath for the McQueen show, and after seeing the runway photo's I had a couple of points to make on the collection, first the show itself lacked the essence of a McQueen show, there wasn't a build up of drama, just a dreary barn like runway to match the floral prints. Second something Lee had mastered was print, he could make dresses completely covered in print and balance it with a remarkable silhouette, this collection however didn't do that. I felt that some of the looks were far too busy and heavy on the eye. 
I felt like I was just nit picking because no matter how amazing the show could have been it wasn't from the mind of Lee. So, giving it another chance I watched the runway video on the McQueen Site, watching the fabrics dance so elegantly as the models walked up and down the runway had won me over. Of course, the prints do need some work. Now I would love to rave about how the future of McQueen has been saved by this amazing woman...but...big but...the kinda but your heart sinks at, you know the one...I got the McQueen email informing me that the RTW lookbook was up on the site, so like a giddy Japanese school girl I dropped everything I was doing to get a quick glance (and yes by quick glance I do mean spending an hour studying every look) My inner school girl quickly died, where were my dancing fabrics? The intricate details, the drama I had come to find in the collection. It was all gone, not just filtered down from show pieces to wearable for every day. GONE! While there are looks that still have that McQueen essence, it looked like an entirely different collection, the kind of collection done for H&M, spruced up with shoes and accessories stolen from the runway. Needless to say I won't be skipping down Old Bond street to see these clothes in person, I can only hope Sarah steps up for A/W.
My months of hoping payed off and yesterday I took that walk down Conduit Street to Vivienne Westwood MAN and picked up my beloved awe inducing Pirate boots!
I went with the only person who understood my obsession with chunks of leather sewn together to make something beautiful, the one and only Hiba..."H" to the likes of mere Matalan and River Island shoppers. After braving the continuous rain in a pair of wedges and All Saint boots, that were know where near as uncomfortable as our runway worthy strides were letting on, we took a nice little walk to Old Bond street. We arrived to each store with every (imaginary) intention of buying what ever we were allowed to touch, ofcourse my obese tweed Westwood wallet was just recovering from the lipo and tummy tuck...so touching was all we did, admiring everything in Alexander McQueen like the works of art they were. With each new shop my mental "To Buy" list was growing, a new McQueen scarf teamed with the Faithful De-Manta Tote were second and third on that very list...what was first? The Louis Vuitton Bisten 55 suitcase.
Now I'm not the biggest fan of pretty much any bag of the LV Monogram veriety, blame the Speedy's for being everywhere thanks to the girls and gays who think they're above us because they can aquire the smallest versions and the biggest fakes, but the Bisten suitcase display grabbed me by the ankle and threw me into the store, each one screaming "CHIC CHIC CHIC" and I couldn't help but notice they'd match the Brown Pirate Boots effortlessly...sadly the £2,850 (that's including the boots) would just be so painful to spend...but save I must for this staple travel companion (carry on ofcourse!)
Ergh... Seriously!? The twins that aroused Louis Walsh and plagued our ears on the last X Factor have finally realized their musical "talent" is clearly too mature for the world right now, so they've set their sights on designing...my god why does every untalented fool think they can design!? Jedward have said
"Fashion is our big passion and our collection will look hot on the catwalk. We think everybody will love to wear stuff like that. Our clothes will have lots of bold colour and cool patterns."
Clearly the X Factor was just a stunt to get their Jeremy Scott wearing feet in the door...explains that sound they tried passing off as singing.
Christian Louboutin...Men's S/S 10 Line...
The Freddy Flats...
Need Them...
Nuff Said.
So most of the people I'm around for more than a day will discover I have an ever fueled obsession with the Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots that's lasted around 2 years now, and while its been a rocky road, my feet are still without the amazingly untreated leather strapped boots. Why the obsession you ask? well, while being somewhat statement shoes, they have the perfect, effortlessly coolness about them. They're in that Grey space between shoes and trainers, and have the ability to make any outfit (in my wardrobe) pop!
I can't even begin to Imagine what Kings Road must have been like in the days of exclusive boutiques and the fashion forward, but it was walking along that very road (after getting lost in South Kensington) that I happened upon Worlds End, with my first full time worker pay burning screaming at me from my wallet and a need for clothes not found in Topman, The Squiggle print tops and Rocking Horse shoes in the window, told me this was an amazing find...and that my wallet would soon feel as hungry as a model during fashion week.
After going a little spend crazy on a Wallet, a Squiggle Shirt, a Scarf and the much loved Political Badge set (racking up a bill of around £400...ouch but worth it) I couldn't justify spending another £345 on the boots, seeing as I needed travel and living cough*clubbing*cough expenses for the month...a decision I've regretted ever since. It was this visit that brought a new found admiration for Dame Westwood, and while I type this I'm clinging onto hope that my mum is planning on buying me a pair for my fastly approaching 21st birthday.
My name is Korey by birth, Korence when I'm feeling pretentious and don't want people to know the North London native that I sometimes am...
I'm a boy, I'm currently at Westminster Kingsway college studying Fashion, and I'm fully aware that I'm disgustingly late for jumping on the blogging bandwagon...but I never saw the point of telling the world my views on fashion, that was until my friend asked me to go into cahoots with her on a blog, and while that's still a work in progress I decided I'd use the account I opened over a year ago to post my humble (?) ramblings and obsessions. I'm also a bus oogler, in the sense that, while I sit on my long bus journeys around London, I watch (and silently judge) what people are wearing.
Finally I have a great dislike for celebrity "designers" this includes the much loved Victoria Beckham...that's right I don't approve of Vicky B and all of her fellow celebs calling themselves designers, especially since most have stylists.
That's all from my introduction I guess...Korey...Boy...Fashion...yeah, that's pretty much it for now.
I felt like I was just nit picking because no matter how amazing the show could have been it wasn't from the mind of Lee. So, giving it another chance I watched the runway video on the McQueen Site, watching the fabrics dance so elegantly as the models walked up and down the runway had won me over. Of course, the prints do need some work. Now I would love to rave about how the future of McQueen has been saved by this amazing woman...but...big but...the kinda but your heart sinks at, you know the one...I got the McQueen email informing me that the RTW lookbook was up on the site, so like a giddy Japanese school girl I dropped everything I was doing to get a quick glance (and yes by quick glance I do mean spending an hour studying every look) My inner school girl quickly died, where were my dancing fabrics? The intricate details, the drama I had come to find in the collection. It was all gone, not just filtered down from show pieces to wearable for every day. GONE! While there are looks that still have that McQueen essence, it looked like an entirely different collection, the kind of collection done for H&M, spruced up with shoes and accessories stolen from the runway. Needless to say I won't be skipping down Old Bond street to see these clothes in person, I can only hope Sarah steps up for A/W.
