David Sims: Grunge

Illustration by clareandthebear.

Inspired by a photograph in the Grunge style section of Luella's Guide To English Style book, taken by her photographer partner David Sims in the 1980s. I love the grunge era, the rawness of it. The simplicity of the nude makeup and scrawny limp hair with the "thrown together without a care in the world" style. Its very in again this season. Inspiring celebrities from Kirsten Stewart to Pixie Geldolf.

Desperately Seeking Susan Fashion Tribute

Back again with my film/fashion tribute this time with another of my all time favourite films DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. This 80s cult classic starring Madonna is truely inspirational to me and my love of 80s music and fashion. Although these days my style favours more ethereal and gothic tones, the 80s and its trashy, rainbow coloured, sequins and glitter, multitude of accessories with entourage of back combing and hair spray, will always remain close to my heart.

  (all images above are from google.com)

This decade is the most fun and playful of all the styles I love. With bright colours and playful prints and combination of feminine sexy dresses and underwear as outer wear paired with boxy oversized men's blazers and tee's. This style screams playful attitude. Denim resides throughout for it's casual, laid back essence. Stealing your boyfriends clothes is a necessity for achieving this look, whether its their tee's that you've rolled the sleeves up and tied a knot in the waist, or their blazer jacket. Head scarves and bows achieve that vital Madonna esque vibe this style epitomizes. Clothes are a 'mish/mash and trash' style with a thrown together, yet making an effort in a can't be bothered fashion.

(all images below are from style.com) 

 
A Vivienne Westwood Fall 2006 B Vivienne Westwood Spring 2007 C Miu Miu Spring 2006 DAshish Spring 2010 E same as D F same as D

The Virgin Suicides Fashion Tribute

Continuing on from my previous post 'The Lost Boys', where I spoke about film inspiration to fashion and style, this time though focusing on another of my favourite films; The Virgin Suicides. An amazing book translated into a nostalgic, ethereal yet beautifully gloomy visual. This film emphasizes the angst of adolescent puberty and also natural gentle femininity and troubles that coinside with being both at the same time.

My favourite character is Cecila Lisbon, the youngest of the sisters, and the first to commit suicide. Cecilia's character is a romantic lost soul, and hopelessly love lorn for the dying animals and world that surrounds her and the delicate sadness of her desire of death. I found this chararcter completely fascinating and admirable, as her poetic and sensitive essence and sweet melancholy bound far beyond her years.

(all imagaes found on google.com)

 

Focusing on the delicate innocence of the Libson sisters and combined with awkward essences, I've collected imagery of numerous designers that I feel reflect the double entendre of innocence and grit, youth and death, beauty and depression. 
Florals and block nude colours consist throughout the style theme. School girl features such as collared shirts/blouses paired with pleated or ruffled skirts occur but with a less cute and sexy approach and more grit and grungey attitude. Oversized jumpers worn over dainty fabrics desexualise the girlyness. There's a uniform element to the clothes which are grudgingly worn in a solem way. Also trying to capture adolenscent awkwardness within the style where either the clothes are the too big, older sister 'hand me downs' or ones that the she is 'out growing' and appear small/cropped.

(all images found on style.com)

 (left - right: 3.1 Philip Lim Fall 2010, Spring 2009 and Spring 2010)

  (three images on left: Marc jacobs Fall 2010, image on right: Marc Jacobs Spring 2010)

 A Acne Spring 2010 B Alexander McQueen Spring 2009 C John Galliano Spring 2008 D Louise Goldin Spring 2010 E Vivienne Westwood Spring 2011

(left - right: Anne Valerie Hash Couture Fall 2004 x3, Anne valerie Hash Spring 2010 and Fall 2009)

 

The Lost Boys Fashion Tribute

Have you ever watched a film and felt over whelmingly inspired by the fashion stylings and awesome character portrayals? I often do! Everytime I watch The Lost Boys my mind starts racing; imagining female designs for a collection based on the Lost Boys. Half way through the film I kinda just wanna run upstairs and start pairing clothes from my wardrobe, and rumage through jewellery boxes to create a vampire grungy Lost Boys look. 
Ohhh you do gotta love a good gothic style!
I just love the structured jackets paired with torn vests and skinny dirty jeans with biker boots (which is actually quite a today fashion trend) Its the 80s vibe I love, the slight new romantic yet hair metal rock star status attitude. Oh and the big hair! But lets not forget that they are blood sucking vampire fiends that wanna kill you, not like Buffy or Twilight sexy moody vampires, no no, these are Quentin Tarantino blood spraying esque beasts, yet you can't help feel that this dangerous element is a super style turn on!

All four images found on google

As you can see from the pictures above, its the men that get to dress up and look dark gothic and well...dead. So I've flicked through designers collections past and present to find clothes which I would style in The Lost Boys theme.

Obviously 'black' is gonna be a recurring element to this style theme, although tones of grey and random splashes of colour soften the harshness of the black. Structured and tailored jackets play key to skinny or hareem trousers. Pairing structual elements with soft drapey items soften the masculine essence. Though masculine vibes are throughout this style is sexy and sexual. These clothes armour the female so she is always ready to pounce on her victim. Feminine elements are dressed with harsh tones of leather, chains, trousers and oversized jackets. There's a mixture of formal and casual yet both have a dirty torn essence. Stylish accessories add to the theme with chunky wedge heels, blackest BLACK sunglasses, gloves, chains, large brimmed hats (obviously to protect from sun rays) Elements of futuristism coinsides within the fabric, cut, make-up and accessories.

(All images are from style.com)

 

Topshop Unique Fall 2010

(two images on left Acne S2011, two images on right Acne resort 2011) 

(two images on left Vivienne Westwood Fall 2006, middle image Spring 2006, two images on right Spring 2009)

A Alexander McQueen Fall 2005 B Anne Valerie Hash Fall Couture 2003 C Anne Valerie Hash Fall 2010 D Chanel Fall Couture 2009 E Christian Lacroix Fall 2009

 (two images on left Comme des Garcons Fall 2008, three images on right Comme des Garcons Fall 2004)

(image on left Comme des Garcons Fall 2008, three images on right Comme des Garcons Spring 2010)

(images from top row left-right: Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Spring 2010. images from bottom row left-right: Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2011, and resort 2011)

 Jeremy Scott Fall 2010

 (image on far right V&R Fall 2003, all other images Fall 2010)

A John Galliano Fall 2005 B Louise Goldin Spring 2010 C Stolen Girlfriends Club Fall 2011 D Valentino Spring Couture 2010 E Valentino Spring Couture 2010

 (two images on left Fall 2009, middle image Fall 2007, two images on right Fall 2010)

 (images from left-right: Fall 2010, Spring 2008, last two images on Spring 2010)