I have fallen into a deep hole of old fashion videos. I have watched at least 50 videos of old runway shows, features, and a few episodes of House of Style by MTV. Sparked by my curiosity with Paris Fashion Week, happening now. I have been lucky, enough to see some of the buzz and change in the city, as I walk to and from class. I am avoiding my responsibilities as a student, quite possibly running as far away as possible into the wonderland of the fashion world.
I just saw a feature on the Fendi Spring 2013 show. I loved it! So much so that I needed to take note of it. The construction of the clothes, shoes and bags were amazing! I love the colorfulness and the shapes in and on the clothes. Its fun, but in a wearable way. Perhaps, a summer dinner and movie in the city park sort of way.
(I collection reminds me of the world of Rolly Polly Olly. I used to watch that show as a kid. Ahh the good old days) The inspiration comes from a 60's Italian furniture company. (I can see that too.)
When the model walks, the color disappears and reappears.
The beading and Fabrics for this show are amazing!!
Mod TV:
I really liked the music too.
Watch the full show here:
https://vimeo.com/59358127
The photos:
http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2013-ready-to-wear/fendi
I am waiting at a bus stop, after getting lost and getting on the wrong bus. The Metro had stopped for the night and the streets existed devoid of people. A few partiers are finding their way home. Workers either from the night or for the morning wait along side me. Although the bus stop was rather large, it was quiet. A few teenagers laughed across the street and the bus conductors chatted by their posts, their voices carried across the empty streets.
I have been told, "think of your happy place", whenever I became overwhelmed by my current situation.
I am in Paris now. My daydreams are few and far between. I have let my school anxiety get the best of me. I am writing this instead of my papers.
My friend was concerned when I told her that my happy place was jumping off a cliff and running my hands along the pray wheels in the Hymalan Mountains.
I tried to explain the beauty of cliff diving to her, although I do not feel I fully convinced her.
About three years ago, I watched a travel video rented from my public library. It was the Alternative Routes special on Greece. The young backpackers jumped off a protruding rock into the warm, clear waters on one of Greece's many islands. I became fascinated by the beauty of it.
I watched all of their videos and have become in love with every place they went to.
My fascination would not return until two years ago, when I stumbled upon a well executed Go-Pro filmed cliff diving video. I have watched it a million times.
The video made it look so fun. During the dark times of that year, I would remember this video and smile. I would smile, not because I wanted to be them, but because I knew one day I would feel that. I envisioned myself standing at the edge. My heart would be at full speed and all I would have to was let go. The only thing that was holding me back was myself.
I became glued to this feeling and watched countless videos of cliff divers. I focused on the ones I considered realistic. (Not the insane heights that those competing in the Red Bull competitions did).
When I could feel my mind becoming overcrowded, I would envision myself alone on the rock looking into the clear, light blue water that was there to hold me. I would gracefully jump into the air. I had to let everything go. For those few moments I was in the air, I was floating. There would be nothing holding me back. It was a moment of calmness. In that moment, I should have been calm, an unnatural calm. By jumping and letting go, it was a sign that I was letting someone else take care of me. I was trusting the Universe, per say. Whatever would happen, was suppose to happen. This was a comforting thought, when I was being constantly told that I was unprepared or not thinking enough about my future.
I would put on Violet's in a Pool by Tamaryn and forget it all.
It was serenity for me.
*I have never been cliff diving, only in my mind. *
An interesting thing occurred this past weekend. This moment of serenity, I had always envisioned occurred, occurred in the most unusual way.
Serenity, in my eyes, is an overwhelming calm feeling. Its the feeling you get and you do not know why. You know you should not feel calm and yet there is something telling you so. You are of clear mind and serenity presents itself.
It is 4 AM in Paris on a previous Saturday night.
I should have been scared. I had gotten on the wrong bus, although I was not far from home. It had been a long day and I just wanted to get home.
I sat on the bench and I was at ease.
The crisp morning air was the perfect tempiture. The streets were so quiet that they were quieter than the noise that constantly surrounds my Chicago home. I could only hear the soft chatter of the kids across the street and the sound of my heart beating.
I got this overwhelming feeling of calmness when I knew I should not have felt this way.
It was serenity.
As the
coming months arrive, I can only brace myself for the arctic air to grace
Chicago with its presence. I cherish the
excitement of knowing Halloween is on its way. Halloween should be all year
round. But, I can’t help but romanticize
the snow, big fluffy coats, and red noses.
There
are brief moments in life that I hope to never forget. These images will forever be crystallized in my mind as beautiful works of art.
Similar to way Chanel’s inspirations are captured in the film, Coco
Before Chanel, these moments in time have stayed frozen in my mind as the years
pass.
The
first time begins on a Thursday evening, as I waited for the light to
change. I sit in my favorite 1999 black
Honda Civic. It was so cold that I could see faint signs of my breathing in the
small space of my car and my bare hands change to a reddish state. The winter was only in its beginning phases.
I turn to look over at the historic Pickwick Theater.
Under
the marquee an older gentleman stood changing the letters. His gray hair and
balding scalp were exposed to the cold.
He was wearing only a navy blue jumpsuit, the same as a car repair man
would be wearing. A cigarette hung from his lips as he held the stick to change
the lettering. With each breath, the
thick steam came from his mouth. I
watched him before the light turned. I
was enchanted by the beautiful image that laid before me.
Somethings
never change.
Another
time that was just as beautiful.
I was
a seasoned Amtrak rider at this point.
The train was packed primarily with students and some civilians from Milwaukee
to Chicago. I used to think of it as
the Hogwarts Express. I had become more
and more excited as the train approached my stop.
The flurries
of snow begin to fall as the train starts.
A thin layer of snow already covers the ground and trees creating a blur
of white as the train speeds by. The
evening sky was lite up by early Christmas decorations.
The
light snow fall created a dazzling haze.
The lights from inside the train flooded out onto the platform. I waited
my turn to step off the train. The cold air filled my lungs to a freeze, as I
took my first step. It felt good. The
train attendee stood on the platform as the passengers filed out of the
car. The glowing light from the train
hid his face. The outline of his body visible with a glowing hallow of around
it. His uniform shined bright beneath
the light and black sky. The silver
badge that lay on his chest sparkled in the soft light.
The video is, to me, is undeniably intriguing and some what inspiring.
I found the video similar to Levi's Go Forth, the laughing heart, advertisement, though they are not done by the same agency.
This could be my response and concern over this advertisement.
I will admit it, there was a time in my life where I was obsessed with H&M. But, ever since my AP Environmental Science class, I have realized the crucial role that reducing consumption plays in the three R's of recycling and to the environment. Reduce is number one, Recycle is in last place, but the world around me sees it as number one. There are many details of recycling that can be discussed.
Getting to the point, this advertisement is ignoring the issues of fast fashion and mass consumption.
The ad is misleading.
I recommend the documentary, The True Cost, for those who would like to explore this topic further. I thought I understood the effects of fashion on our culture and environment, until I saw this film.
