Prior to my trip to Mexico City, I had a wardrobe quandry, prompted by my travelling partner Mr Street Peeper who advised "Ummm... you're going to need to dress a bit more "normal" for Mexico City." This was sound advice of course based on the fact that I've been cursed with a victim face that seeks out would-be criminals (I've been mugged three times thus far in life... ) and Mexico City has somewhat of a sketchy safety rep. I did reply with indignance that I could definitely dress "normal" (whatever that means) but then I thought about a few of the choice items in my suitcase, coming back from my Australia/Asia trip and realised my line of defence was somewhat moot. I was thinking specifically of a black leather apron and no less than two items of clothing made of PVC. In addition to mining other people's cultures, I also seem to have a fixation on garment oddities that make squeaky noises whenever you move about.
First up, the leather apron, which was a random find from Kind, a used-clothing store in Shibuya, Tokyo. I'll say it once again - used designer shopping is the BEST in Tokyo. I can literally go hunting for Comme, Junya and all the Japanese faves for days on end in the city, with new items turning up at branches of Rag Tag and Grand Bazaar's at any given moment, making it a joyfully unpredictable type of shopping. This leather apron was a bargain and somehow made sense to me as something that I could wear over stuff all the time. I can't really answer why it is that I'll eschew a perfectly great fitting white shirt but then instantly beeline for a leather apron on a rack. I had to chortle when I ate at a new head-to-tails type restaurant called Smith's in Sukhumvith, Bangkok and saw that the waiters and waitresses were wearing similar leather aprons as part of their uniform. Oh well, one person's rustic restaurant uniform is another person's layering device.
(Leather apron worn with vintage t-shirt and Sacai skirt)
I've already got the Two Weeks clear skirt, so it made COMPLETE sense that the matching clear PVC bomber jacket should come home with me too. Elaine of The Olive Shoppe, who had a pop-up store in Shanghai, made sure that the skirt and jacket should be reuinted with one another. This jacket makes some serious nosie so I'm reconciled with the fact that it will be irksome to commuters when I'm on the tube shifting about. I do like the fact that it's roomy enough to be layered over a "proper" coat just as a verification that I do actually non-squeaky items of clothing.
(Two Weeks PVC jacket worn with Eudon Choi pink trenchcoat, Miu Miu knitted top, Tao knitted shorts, Christopher Kane bejewelled sandals)
The last of the PVC lot, is this Lover-ly raincape by Lover, which I bought in Sydney (feels like an AAAAAAGE ago). The smoke-grey plastic reminds me of a hideous 80s glass coffee table, which I used to clamber over when I was about three. Not entirely sure if that's a plus point or not but I do like the way the liquid-like PVC has been unexpectedly cut into a coquettish cape shape, which you'd normally see in navy or burgandy wool. The cape is also more swooshy rather than squeaky. Not the most eloquent way of describing the way a garment makes noises but that's what you get when you're into bulk buying PVC clothing.
(Lover "Zhora" raincape worn with vintage dress, Peter Jensen leopard print trousers, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes)
