Amidala grabbed my attention because of her amazingly avant-garde outfit. It's a hard look to pull off but she does it with pure aplomb. Plus, I applaud fashion risk-taking. The accentuation of the hips is fabulous and those lace tights rock. Keep it coming, girl.
Skirt: River Island
Congrats to Amidala!
Everyone else, submit your looks and I might feature you on FabSugar!
Looking at Trang Chau's designs makes me want to fast forward to the future. Her label, dubbed Le Sang des Betes, is filled with experimental pieces that remind me of sci-fi superheroes. With her debut collection, Aborigine, Chau draws inspiration from sculpture, film, architecture, and costume design, creating an intriguing collection of Gothic-meets-modern marvels.
Not only are her insect-like cuts refreshing and innovative, but they're also sustainable. This conscious designer sources all of her materials from LA. Clap, clap!
To see more from Le Sang des Betes, read more
Just when the designers on Project Runway thought their limits had been pushed, they were asked to go that extra inch. Last night, Tim Gunn challenged them to create two outfits in two days: one avant-garde and one every day. Paired off into teams and inspired by their model's crazy braided, mohawked, and crimped hairdos, the designers set off in all different directions. Team Jillian and Victorya went punk glam, Team Fierce (Chris and Christian) used 45 yards of fabric on one gown, Team Kit and Ricky were inspired by Little Bo Peep, and Team Rami and Sweet P were all about the (personal) drama. But when it comes down to it, which did you prefer — the avant-garde looks or the every day?
For a full run down of the "On Garde" episode, be sure to check out what Buzz has to say.
Photos courtesy of Bravo
Fashion has reached a pinnacle point of experimentalism. This Spring season wasn't just the usual experimenters like Hussein Chalayan and Christian Lacroix. Mainstream designers like Marc Jacobs and Dolce & Gabbana (left) took a stab at risky thinking, albeit polarizing. Whether inspired by artists, geometric shapes, nature, or nurses, the avant-garde and the funky bunch provided unique fashion fare. Can you dig it?
To see more kooky stuff, read more
As you've seen before, London stylist Jerome Hillion can do magic with hair. Now, I'm not talking about coming up with perfect highlights or a lovely layered cut, although he can do that, too. What Jerome does is high-fashion, high-concept work that shows up in editorials and on fashion runways. I think it's fantastically imaginative. Check out some photos of his new collection below, and come back soonfor a Q&A with Jerome!
The next time you're in London, head to Spitalfields for a unique hair experience. Hair&Jerome is a salon unlike any I've ever seen: The decor is that of eccentric Victorian, but the hairstyles that come out of this studio are wholly modern. In fact, stylist Jerome Hillion's vision earned him the distinction of British Avant Garde Hairdresser in 2005. He has just released this year's avant-garde styles, and I'm fascinated by the shapes and textures he's managed to create. Here's his explanation of what motivated him:
"The inspiration behind this collection came from analysing all aspects of theatre and dance through different eras. I also wanted to put forward the elegance, sophistication and femininity within the theme. The final product is held in an imaginary world which triggers a question: which era does the collection belong to?"
Of course, these styles won't work for everyday—but they're not meant to! I love the fantasy and artistry in these styles, and the photography is beautiful, too. Hillion's cuts are £60 (around $120), which isn't cheap but is surprisingly reasonable for London! Check out the gallery below and let me know what you think!
Avant-Garde
n. A fashion forward or individualistic "look."
Refer to Junya Watanabe's Fall 2007 collection for more examples of avant-garde fashion.
