In Pursuit of 'The Uniform'

School's out. The first day of the academic calendar just arrived here in the Philippines. It seems there's a back - to - school theme nauseously thrown in the air everywhere I look. There's a nostalgic feeling about it. It reminds me of my formative years as a student. But more vividly perhaps I can recall a few college memories. I dread to remember my self regarding the way I looked during those 'careless' (style-wise) days. I didn't buy the idea of clothing as important. Sometimes I can still hear those gullible friendly foes at my back laughing at my shoes (while I'm manually washing the dishes). Basically, I was the amicable one but reserved in my introverted thoughts....sits around corners....not a care about the world. I didn't think those girls were right in a way, I didn't realize I was betraying my self with the way I looked. As an artistically - inclined individual I knew that I had an intrinsic affinity to fashion. Back to those college days I was particularly critical with my uniform. It was a pain in the butt having to wear them on week days (except on a Wednesday). Now I'm fantasizing about it. What if I go back to school? Specifically, I think the million-dollar question is...."what would I wear?" And the blinking cursor struck me hard. Now's the time to reclaim my self. In my subsequent posts I will be having fun with this project I call: the Scholastic Fantasies as I find for the perfect uniform(s), in honor of redeeming my ugly past.

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First Manic Monday

Tomorrow will be officially the first 'Manic Monday' of this semester. Let's call it the 'All Saints Day' after an already bygone summer for students who will be flocking back to their graveyard schools. Nothing's more gravely than sitting on a desk, engaging in hand torture as you scribble those notes and listening to your teacher's boring litany. Imagine waking up early and painstakingly look forward to exams, homeworks and demanding professors. While summer is just about to begin in the far side of the world, I almost thought it was unbelievable that the summer days had finally ended rather abruptly. It's the last day to make most out of the summer vacation. Now I can emphatically smell every school-goer's nerves. Poor boys and girls.

Lately, the weather has been great. Just a fair amount of sunshine with a comforting breeze. At least for studs, a good consolation.

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Dress to Impress

I am infinitely curious of course, about how the players will face the French (style-wise) if their spectators have to be the known proponents of 'Chic'. I'd say if you can't beat them odds then why not leave a fashionable first impression on the court?

So far, I have seen a few noteworthy players donning their considerably 'best' tennis uniforms while some may be a little unconventional and the rest are just plain casual self-presentation. The French Open is probably one of those grand slams where the players can dress democratically disregarding any dress code...or a color code like the Wimbledon. And that shouldn't stop them from getting flashy with their outfits.

Maria Sharapova's efforts to look exceptional on any occasion is certainly noticeable. She wears a deep cyan frock with monochromatic layers adding a visual breezy flapper style. I'm afraid the item looks a little whimsical ('tinker bell' on mind). The dress looks more ethereal than sophisticated for my taste but surely it's commendable for Miss Sharapova to always go forward with her style. Actually it reminds me of a number from Andersson's past collection for Chloe with those transparent airy chiffon patches and playfully blocked colors.


*photo from style.com*

On a consistent manner, Ana Ivanovic chooses more function than form. The blue frock labeled 'Adilibria Ana' comes with her signature rouching details and a less fitting pleated hemline. To my opinion, Anna looks better in her tennis outfits than offcourt. The understated simplicity reflects her character.

There's not a lot of surprise on the men's fence except for that smart tee worn by Roger Federer himself with the usual hue but this time I spotted that peeking orange piping on the collar. That's incredibly chic. And a daring Nadal in that shocking pink shirt which proves his growing confidence on the court.

So the question is...how the french do tennis wear?.

Well, let's see.....


*photo from style.com*

Chanel spring 08 tennis suit on Gemma Ward. Take a look at that beautiful racket.

Should the caption be: 'who's the best dressed?'....then the winner would be....

none other than...



Gemma Ward of course!

*Maria Sharapova photo by Reuters/Pascal Rossignol (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Reuters.com*

*Ana Ivanovic photo by REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Reuters.com*

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Another French Affair

After yesterday's Cannes, it's another affair with the French as Roland Garros starts this week. 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal is up for a fifth consecutive French Open title after winning last year's duel with the great Roger Federer.

I'm a tennis buff but not really in the sense that I like to do all the hustling and covering all the court - it's a lot of work. Tennis is a physically strenuous sport and my rail thin body just isn't fit enough. How I wish I can be as good as Rafa Nadal, my current tennis hero. Most people go for the esteemed Roger Federer (who's graceful skill I admire) but still my heart goes to Nadal. I've grown seeing Nadal's development on the court through the years. Sometimes, I look from the past and it seems unbelievable how this boy became a solid player at the top of his game.

The biggest upset, as far as the all time favorite Rafa vs Fed rivalry was concerned, happened last week when Roger beat Rafa in front of his own countrymen at the finals of Madrid Masters. I thought Roger must have had a great deal of redemption after getting 3 grand slam defeats since the french open '08 by the almost insurmountable Nadal. I feel confident that Nadal will win despite growing suspicions of a knee injury. Though, I feel it's right to say that Federer is at his element.

I can't wait.

What a brave thing for him (Nadal) to wear pink. In all history of tennis that's the glorious most fashionable tennis tee I have ever seen.

*Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images via YahooSports*

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Cannes: Bright Star

Bright Star is a movie by director Jane Champion and selected as one of the nominees for tonight's Cannes Film Festival. It's an English love story between a 23 year old poet named John Keats and Fanny Brawne, a fashion student. Unfortunately, the movie has a sad, possibly tear-jerky end to it which I accidentally found out when I asked Mr. know-it-all Google. Regardless of whatever, I still want to watch this movie.

And by the way, I just found out we actually have a contender in the name of "Kinatay" directed by Brilliante Mendoza. The cast includes Filipino indie actor Coco Martin. I'm not sure but I hope I can catch a live footage of the festival at TV5Monde.

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All About Flora

I was watching the morning news when I saw this commercial.

It's model Abbey Lee K. as the face of Gucci's new fragrance called Flora. To see Abbey is a breath of fresh air compared to the already prominent goddesses today like Natasha P, Lily D and co. The video was directed by Chris Cunningham. Sure it was nice that she bagged a commercial but more than that, I just can't resist to make a reference to the iconic Flora (Primavera).

My trendspotting eyes have been set on Gucci since they released their fall 2008 ad campaign last year. Included in the campaign were clearly reenacted scenes from the painting (Primavera). It was shot by Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde and features the fall collection inspired by russian art.




gucci ad campaign fall 08


the three graces of Primavera

It is obvious that Gucci extracted their inspirations from the primavera in both instances, with the perfume and the ad campaign. The photos above show the three girls eniko and abbey making the gesture which was similar to the three graces while Lily engages on the viewer. The three graces is a popular group of figures during the renaissance and also one of the characters included in the painting.

Contrary to the elegantly rendered transparency as well as the graceful seduction that the three graces seem to depict, the photo expresses literally an awkward campy spirit more like a brood of hippies plus the dismal background. I actually liked this collection because it was a daring one from Frida Giannini. But maybe not this particular rendition of the three graces. I suppose the fact that its a fall collection and 'la primavera' which is italian for Spring makes a satirical contrast to the pictures.


Flora of Primavera

Going back to Flora (not Abbey Lee but the figure above), she is also a character from the Primavera. The "La Primavera" was painted by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli and was suspectedly made as a wedding present. It is probably considered as one of the critically analyzed masterpieces not really because of the ambiguity of the figures rather the cohesive message that all of the figures express. I have to say my favorite character would be Flora and second would be Mercury. Why Flora? Because Flora is like the transformation from an ugly duckling turned swan. What I'm showing here is roughly a portion only of the painting, but if you view the entire painting, you will see next to Flora on the right is Chloris. Chloris is like the old Flora before she got raped by Zephy (the wind god). Together, the marriage between Zephyr and Chloris yields to a beautiful Flora.

At least, that's how it's interpreted by the scholars and I know the not-so-scholarly me is making such a narrow reasoning. I don't care. I love Flora. And Gucci likes her too, maybe that's why they created a saga from their ad campaign shoots and made a perfume named after my favorite art muse: Flora.

I wouldn't be surprised if they hire Gareth Neff , perhaps the only guy that can emasculate Michelangelo's beautiful David and make him Mercury to complete all the characters from the painting.

*Primavera photos from Wikipedia*

21st Century Flora



Just having fun with this caricature, Frida Giannini is the 21st Century Flora. She's Italian and I love her Frida pants!

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About Escapism

ESCAPISM,

the reason for being

Escapism may be defined as a term that pertains to the act of daydreaming, woolgathering, or simply put, a conscious effort to escape reality. Nowadays, escapism has become a term to signify entertainment through various forms of media such as music, gaming, movies, and the like.

It's an inherent trait of men to meddle with escapism as a form of self-gratification. In the early days, women escape the grueling realities of war by reading published women's journals which provide articles on househould affairs, stories and material acquisition - often depicted by Fashion illustrations.

*"Le Paravent Rouge"a fashion illustration of a dress designed by Charles Worth (1921)

published in a French fashion journal - Gazette de Bon Ton

*the definitive style of the 1920s shown in this fashion illustration
with women wearing tubular dresses.

Escapism has become an essential part in the historical development of magazines, particularly in women. Now, fashion magazines have long been established as a powerful reading material that influences how women live a more sophisticated sense of style, the way they dress, think, speak and lifestyle in general.

*a retrospective photo of fashion illustrations

during the second world war (photo taken from

a book: Illustrating Fashion)

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