APOLOGIES

Hey, everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates; I've been battling some kind of nasty cold/flu virus that seems to be leaving my body after three hellish days spent in bed. I'm also without a fast internet connection until Thursday, when I will have my service restored at my new apartment! Until then, I'm gonna keep sipping on this Day-Quil and watching every DVD I own until I'm feeling 100% again ...

XO

Justin, RM

PETA'S WORST NIGHTMARE

Today is the last day of London Fashion Week and, aside from the widely-covered Burberry Prorsum and Christopher Kane shows, it seems few British designers are making any headlines this season. I just came across this collection from Todd Lynn, however, and his fur-heavy creations are definitely speaking my language (as well as that of Vogue's online counterpart Style.com, which gave the designer a distinctly positive review):

I'm loving the leather detailing on this jacket!

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD FOR RODARTE 2010

I have a profound appreciation for the genius that is Nicholas Kirkwood. Behold his footwear designs for the latest Rodarte collection:

I'm glad the "crazy shoe" (like these by Alexander McQueen, or these from Prada) hasn't fallen out of vogue.

HEDI TALKS TO STYLE.COM

My imaginary BFF Hedi Slimane has been interviewed by Style.com as part of their "Future of Fashion" series. The exchange, his first on record in three years, can be read here.

Also visit hedislimane.com.

MCQUEEN'S UNSEEN COLLECTIONS

McQ 2010

The passing of Alexander McQueen is still incomprehensible, a wound too fresh to revisit anytime soon. In the wake of his suicide, however, lie two unseen collections, one of which will be shown at Paris Fashion Week and the other for his McQ diffusion label, which can be viewed on ENVY. 

JE T'AIME: JULIEN MACDONALD

Julien Macdonald is a name that doesn't get tossed around too often in the fashion arena, but I've been a fan for a long time. Loving these looks from his latest collection:

LOL: AN OPEN LETTER TO RICHIE RICH

via Fashionindie

I couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks Rebecca Alexander!

Dear Richie,

Please STOP! Just STOP! You have no talent, your look is soo dated, and your overall attempt at a fashion show was the worst thing I’ve seen since Perez Hilton tried to design wearable garments. Your front row was a joke, making people wait an hour for you to arrive is just plain rude, and then to showcase what you call ‘clothes’ on those you consider ‘models’ on what you consider a ‘runway’ was more painful then it was fun to watch. Not only did I feel dirty and had to go home right away to change my contact lenses, I also got a weave thrown at me by one of your male models, the fear of getting lice made me scream! Eww!

Using Pamela Anderson as a way to get people to attend your ‘event’ is a cheap trick, since she is just as much a has been as you! Her strut down the runway made me want to puke, then I realized you were right behind her on rollerskates which gave way for more uncontrollable bodily functions as I puked a bit in my mouth. You are NOT a designer, or a celebrity at that, you are NOT important, and if you fell off the face of the planet today (as you should do from embarrassment of what you presented to the public last night) you will NOT be missed! And if you choose to continue doing what it is that you do, please take us of your list, as we never want to even hear about your events in the future.

As Daniel Tweeted last night: ‘The real reason McQueen committed suicide, for fear of accidentally catching a glimpse of this show.’

I was out one night in Dallas for an "event" that was being "hosted" by Richie Rich and Erykah Badu for a charity, and while Badu looked beyond awesome in a 5-ft afro and silver latex bodsuit, Rich looked like a frumpy crackhead. Literally.

JEREMY SCOTT CHANNELS '90'S GAULTIER

Maybe it's just me, but Jeremy Scott's "comeback" collection looks slightly less ridiculous off the runway. He apparently created his latest designs as an ode to '90's era Gaultier and the iconic costumes he created for Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour.

J. Scott's clothes are for party girls, and they certainly look more fun in these candids.

Find more photos at Fashionista.

JON KORTAJARENA LOVE!

This man is too beautiful! Head over to ONTD for more photos!

MUSIC VIDEO

SHOUT OUT!

I just want to thank all of my readers for keeping Rêves Mecaniques alive!

I want this blog to continue as a resource for all of your fashion/music/culture-related queries, and don't be afraid to leave comments, submit questions or suggestions, or add me on Facebook or Twitter!

Also ...

 a BIG shout out to all of my international readers!

Merci!

Danke!

Grazie!

Bedankt!

Σε ευχαριστώ!

ありがとうございました!

THANK YOU!

XO

Justin Vance

Rêves Mecaniques

RIHANNA RIPS OFF M.I.A.

Did Rihanna Rip-off M.I.A. and Major Lazer?

Rihanna just came out with her "Rude Boy" music video and people are calling her out for basically copying (the much more impressive and creative artist) M.I.A.'s signature style, which can be evidenced in this highly informative article.

The drama unfolded when M.I.A.'s ex-boyfriend and collaborator Diplo posted this to his Twitter account:

 

Either way, M.I.A. clearly comes out of this controversy on top. The "Boyz" video came out like 4 years ago. The part I don't understand is when did Major Lazer happen? Major Lazer is a collaboration between Diplo and Switch (who both co-produced M.I.A.'s first and second albums, respectively), which is awesome.
I do have to admit that the Rihanna track is pretty dope, I can't stop listening to it actually!.

RANDOM NYFW

JEREMY SCOTT

I really dig this sweater!

ANNA SUI

 

  

 PROENZA SCHOULER

 

Loving the color in this collection!

MADONNA AND JESUS BACK ON?

The Daily Mirror caught Madonna and her daughter Lourdes taking in Carnival in Rio de Janeiro with M's ex-boyfriend, model Jesus Luz. Madonna's been linked to hottie Jon Kortajarena since her split with Luz two weeks ago. Guess she likes to keep 'em handy!

ITALIAN VANITY FAIR PAYS HOMAGE TO ANNA NICOLE

 

Photographer Ruven Afanador shot the ever-voluptuous Crystal Renn for a spread in the latest issue of Italian Vanity Fair. The concept is an homage to the late, great Anna Nicole Smith. Is this in bad-taste or trashtastic?

HALSTON 2010/11

It will be interesting to see what happens next at the beleaguered house of Halston, since Sarah Jessica Parker's recent appointment as creative director for the brand follows a troubled history of several failed attempts at a revival of the legendary American designer's disco-luxe legacy. Rachel Zoe and Randolph Duke have both been attached to the Halston experiment in the past ...

RODARTE F/W 2010-11

QUOTE

“I'm interested in designing for posterity. People who buy McQueen are going to hand the clothes down to their children, and that's very rare today.”

- Alexander McQueen, Harper's Bazaar

MCQUEEN'S DEATH DIDN'T KILL THE BRAND

The New York Times' fashion blog the Cut is squashing rumors that Alexander McQueen's suicide will force Gucci Group to close the late-designer's label. McQueen fanatics like myself can breathe a sigh of relief since McQueen pretty much completed his F/W 2010 collection before his death (the collection will be shown in Paris, March 11). My boyfriend and I just splurged on a beautiful black and yellow McQueen scarf in a panic; since the awful news broke last week, sales have skyrocketed. The AP ran a similar story on this exciting news, and the Sartorialist is also asking "So ... now what?"

RANDOM NYFW

ACNE

MARC BY MARC JACOBS

THREE AS FOUR

NYFW: RAD HOURANI F/W 2010

One of the most compelling "new" faces in fashion Rad Hourani presented his F/W unisex collection Monday, and he successfully expanded on his goth-futurist aesthetic without losing the attention of the press. While most designers prefer to show their men and women's collections separately, Hourani highlights the argument that the cultural divide between genders is quickly vanishing:

So happy to see him receive some well-deserved attention from the mainstream fashion media, and I obviously LOVE his work (I just wish I could afford it).

Here's a collection-preview video; you can get a better look at some of the garments in mid-production, close up:

THE FUTURE OF FASHION

Erin Fetherston Fall 2010

Style.com's editor in chief Dirk Standen talks to the New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn about the "future of fashion" and the rapidly evolving role of the reviewer in this article (wherein Horyn describes leggings as the "enemy of innovation" and explains her mixed emotions on Riccardo Tisci's talent: "... I think he could do better"). Thoughts?