old vs. new

The new issue of Glamcult has a wonderful supplement from the Zeeuws Museum, and is so distinctly Dutch! You might have figured my obsession with Dutch design out, but it’s not only about objects. So if you have a chance to flip through this skinny newsprint publication, pay upmost attention to the tiny still-life details on each picture – subdued symbolism and surreal still-life’s are the key elements of the Dutch sobriety in interior design, yet these images venture further into the representation of fashion that balances on a thin line between the old and the new. The poses borrowed from the classic art create a soft frame for the modern styling yet looping back from the contrast into the unity as each outfit bares the both extremities of the fashion timeline, combining the antique clothes with the latest creations of young Dutch designers.


There’s something of Fabrics Interseason in the styling, or may be something of Swash… anyhow, the entire photographic series has enough inspiration for the remaining months of spring, strangely coinciding with the whole lot of A.F. Vandevorst coverage lately (Glamcult too has a feature article). Call me a victim, but I found myself very much drawn to their basic aesthetic values – the practical beauty of the old-fashioned hospital furniture (hence the red cross logo), the underwear and its strong but rather uncomfortable symbolism of femininity as it is often reworked into the corrective, functional and almost medical details. A.F. Vandevorst are one of not many creatives who follow the very distinct red thread throughout their entire oeuvre.
I’m not sure whether I can live the entire style, but my fascination with branded red cross garments is somewhat curiosity and somewhat a search for something new. In comes the headline from the aforementioned Zeeuws Museum publication – “old vs. new”…or in better words – the best new is the well forgotten old.


One more point for the mass fashion phenomenon: as ASOS tells me to buy
a) Maxi dress
b) Clogs
c) Spring tailoring
d) Printed trousers
..and denim

…the OC clogs and the Acne printed trews were sitting happily on top of my spring shopping list already, but since I’m not a fan of tailoring I wouldn’t have naturally come up with such idea. Thanks to my adored shop Labels Inc. for acquainting me with this tailoring masterpiece. This powder rose blazer has got the most boring textured tweed fabric…but then the sleeves are sewed in backwards, the collar is dropping slightly at the back and the hidden zipper on one side of the bodice makes for a voluntary slit – a healthy dose of deconstrucivism for one blazer

...and a good way to keep the ASOS analysts happy.