Was it a weird coincidence that the week before I went to Hong Kong, the lovely Kat from Style Lines got herself some lifesize cut-outs done in a Sportsgirl store and then I hop over to HK and got myself...
...yes... some 1:1 life size cutouts too... actually in some cases, it's 1:1.5... that's a GIANT me, hulking over you with fringe, frills, colours and my top knotted hair that is threatening to topple over...
Let's backtrack...
I mentioned that I was going to Hong Kong and whilst I was there covered the still mind-searingly spectacular Maggie Cheung x Rodarte event and the Versace event hosted by Joyce (I know I keep saying Joyce like it's something everyone should know it... let's see... it's the Browns/Maria Luisa or HK...). I was also there to basically have a super elevated version of what I used to do in Topshop back when I was 16. That is, try on a load of clothes. Only this time, the clothes involve labels like Gareth Pugh, Rick Owens, Alexander Wang, Toga, Marios Schwab, Tao, Ohne Titel etc etc... the list goes on. Plus I have my own clothes and accessories at my disposal to mix it up. I'm also being photographed as opposed to emerging from the changing room to give my best friend a twirl to get a yay/nay. Oh, and the photos get blown life size and larger in some cases to be put into the window. Ok, so it's QUITE different from what I did back when I was 16.
That Joyce asked me to do this, thinking that it was something of a hardship, was also quite funny because clearly ransacking their rails at their Pacific Place store, choosing things that I could only dream of owning (well collectively anyway...) and mixing it all up with my own stuff was of course insufferable! In all seriousness though, I am most grateful to Joyce for this weird yet wonderful opportunity and I'm just hoping passers-by are not too freaked out by a 2 metre cut-out in towering Acne shoes. I also got my Mannequin moment when I freeze framed in amongst the cut-outs, standing very still and then freaked a passer-by out by suddenly moving my arm. If that wasn't a moment of pure awesomeness, I don't know what is.
Ok...so bewarned, there are a LOTTA images here and because Steve had to take them in a mall where there's no natural light, I did have to colour correct them a little, something I never normally do so apologies for that...
I've also bunged in some of the images Joyce took as a behind the scenes thingamajig...
1) House of Holland x Levis jacket, Richard Nicoll skirt, my own vintage hat, Topshop velvet body and Luella shoes - It's funny how I go all the way to HK to see Brit designers that I rarely come across in London. Plenty of things to play with courtesy of the straps on the jacket, which I'm contemplating buying and ....yesssh.... grosgrain and fringe on the skirt!
2) Marios Schwab Swarovski gem jacket, Rick Owens grey skirt, Rick Owens grey cardigan Alexander Wang grey suede sandals, my own long sheer vintage dress, American Apparel vest and Sou Brette necklace - Magpie me instantly honed in on this Marios Schwab jacket. I love how the crystals are encased within the organza of the jacket so they're not so blingy. Note to self: Must save up for Rick Owens knitwear that felt really good to stretch over the arms.
3) Manish Arora embroidered neoprene vest, House of Holland pink and orange shirt dress, my own Bebaroque tights and Acne shoes - It's pretty easy to limit the layers when you have things like this jutty-outty neoprene structure throwing some wild shapes over your body. American Quarterback shoulders with a bit of bling bling, no?
Steve and I very SERIOUSLY pondering the meaning of these Alexander Wang long johns...
4) Alexander Wang grey jersey waistcoat, Anthony Vaccarello ruched cut-out minidress, Marselle black and white lace-up flats, my own Marc Jacobs tee, vintage lace trousers and zipper chains - This was the point when I started feeling like I had to pick up the pace a little... with more than ten outfits to go so I think this is a slightly cheesed off face at the camera as the lighting kept on going bezerk. I wish I had shot the detail of the amazing cut-out dress.
5) Rick Owens grey leather jacket, Sacai dotty dress, Alexander Wang grey suede sandals, my own COS white t-shirt, H&M cycling shorts, I Heart Norwegian Wood cage dress - I started delving into the Japanese label rails and Sacai has always been a fave of mine. I especially loved the rubberized texture of the dots on this dress which you can't see in pics.
6) Toga jacket, Mary Katrantzou printed dress, Markus Lupfer lace-up leggings, my own Fred Butler necklace and Acne shoes - Mary K's dresses have grown up in the past few seasons, so I in turn had to make it less so with the necklace.
This is the 'checking size of bum' shot..
7) Dress33 velvet sequinned one-shouldered dress, my own vintage floral jumpsuit, Topshop headband and Irregular Choice shoes - I had to grab this dress even if on me, it does sort of look like a lost toga. Damn that furry shimmery blue texture for reminding me of Little Mermaid tails.
8) Undercover dress with underslip, Manish Arora sequin leggings, Alexander Wang leopard print wedges, my own Michelle Jank necklace - Apologies for the very moody over the shoulder shot. I just had to show the back with these equestrian-inspired tan straps that hold this dress altogether.
9) Ohne Titel wrapover cropped knit, Ohne Titel draped front knitted dress, Alexander Wang leopard print wedges my own Cooperative Designs legwarmers - I had to work these legwarmers in somewhere and though I'd pit American knits against Brit knits. I love the simplicity of the Ohne Titel pieces.
10) Mastermind Japan blazer, JC de Castelbajac red and blue knit jacket, Margiela yellow trousers, my own Tim Ryan scarf and Luella shoes - Couldn't resist the primary plus nautical combo when I saw both jackets by Mastermind Japan and JCDC.
Another serious couple shot of us err... 'hard' at work...
11) Anthony Vaccarello jacket, House of Holland nude and black lace shorts and black lace tee, Ann Demeulemeester strappy wedges, my own grey tee, Bebaroque tights - I'm sure you're familiar with these statement jackets and of course with Joyce being one of Anthony's first stockists, I definitely had to get my mitts on these.
A fair amount of straps to do up on the Ann D sandals...
12) Tao fluro pink and safety pin knit, House of Holland pink lace dress underneath, my own vintage frilly bed jacket, lilac tights and Irregular Choice shoes - It was the colour of the Tao knit that hooked me in really and with all its stringy goodness, it's a fidgeting fashion lover's haven...
13) Markus Lupfer scribble print top and matching leggings, Richard Nicoll navy silk trousers, Ann Demeulemeester strappy wedges, my own vintage floral blazer - Seeing as I normally have a fear of trousers, it seemed weird that were so many viable options at Joyce.
14) Manish Arora sculpted blazer, Alexander Wang stripy draped shorts, Alexander Wang leopard print wedges, my own Acne dress and Prada socks - Yes, it seems the Wang's S/S 10 collection had me with all its easy-to-wear pieces. I thanked my lucky stars that I had the Prada socks with me as I think bare legs might have killed the outfit somewhat.
15) Yuima Nakazato chain shrug, Marios Schwab gem-print dress, Ann Demeulemeester strappy wedges, my own Michael Angel leggings and Jennifer Loiselle headband - And the final one! The last hurrah as it were... I really wanted to have a go at Yuima Nakazato's changeable sandals that zipped into a gazillion different combos but as we were running out of time, we bunged on the chain piece instead.
And... c'est fini...
