Bubblegum crisis
MANILA, Philippines – Virtual reality meets the runway at Louis Vuitton as fashion gets a highly futuristic slant. For YStyle’s look of the week, we blast off into cyberspace with a manic manga opener from the label’s spring/summer 2016 collection.
It’s hard to miss the geeky influences in Nicolas Ghesquière’s stellar show. Counting Tron, anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and Minecraft as inspirations, the artistic director dressed his troupe of punky intergalactic heroines in spunky silhouettes — strapped leather kilts, monogrammed moto jackets, color-blocked Bermudas, and chain mail knits are grounded with steel toe-cap boots and armed to the teeth with mini studded carry-alls. Out of this world but highly wearable, the fantastical collection is the stuff of space age dreams. Sure, this YStyle woman may be the odd one out, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
ACCESSORY: Wendy Nichol leather choker
From sculptural gold necklaces at J.W. Anderson and bejeweled Baroque styles worn over neck scarves at Christian Dior to slick, space age versions at Louis Vuitton, the choker is making quite the fashion comeback this spring. Get in on the trend with a black textured-leather choker by Wendy Nichol. Secured with a 14-karat rose gold double-triangle clasp, this statement accent is sleek with a decidedly punk rock sensibility. Perfect.
BOOK: ‘Way Far’ by Ryan McGinley
We’re telling the naked truth: with over a decade of experience under his belt, American photographer Ryan McGinley’s trademark free-spirited nude portraits have shaped and continue to shape pop culture today. Imbued with a sense of romance and exuberance, the photographer continues to celebrate the human form with Way Far, a compilation of dream-like images featuring evocative nudes shot against pastoral American landscapes. The wait is almost over — the book is set for release this Oct. 20.
EYEWEAR: Acne Studios ‘Mustang’ sunglasses
See the world through rose-colored glasses… literally. Acne Studios’ offbeat rounded acetate frames (in our fave shade of blush, of course!) hit the sweet spot between quirky cute and retro cool, making it the YStyle woman’s sunnies of choice. Prepare to get seen-zoned — it’ll be hard for the others to look away.
SHOES: Alexander Wang ‘Davis’ sandals
Trust the always street-smart Alexander Wang to come up with spiffy steppers that’s right up our alley. The epitome of downtown cool, Wang’s “Davis” sandals — chunky black leather slingbacks with metallic twist-lock hardware — is just what we need to kick things up a notch. Bonus points: The cushioned footbed and thick rubber soles make ‘em so much easier to parade around town.
FILM: ‘2046’ by Wong Kar-wai
Louis Vuitton and Hong Kong Second Wave director Wong Kar-wai go way back. In 2007, the French fashion house agreed to lend runway pieces (among them a key chain, an LV-monogrammed bag, and a spring/summer 2005 cherry blossom-print frock) to the filmmaker for his Cannes entry, My Blueberry Nights — the label’s first-ever film collaboration. In 2010, they teamed up to launch the Louis Vuitton Journeys Awards, a short film competition created to showcase works of emerging talent. Third time’s the charm, it seems, as the two creative forces cross paths once again, albeit in a more indirect manner. For spring 2016, Nicolas Ghesquière cited Wong Kar-wai’s 2046 — a 2005 release that packed a punch with its mix of sci-fi, romance, fantasy, and time travel elements — as one of the inspirations for his virtual reality-inspired collection.
TECH: Marc Jacobs foil iPhone case
The perfect accent to the slew of textured holographic mini dresses that capped off Louis Vuitton’s spring 2016 show? An equally iridescent smartphone case, of course. We’re eyeing Marc Jacobs’ flashy iPhone case offering, crafted from a durable PC material with a high-shine foiled ombré finish. Hey, if you’re dressed to impress, might as well do the same to your phone pal too.
BEAUTY: Giambattista Valli s/s 2016
We’re seeing stars at Giambattista Valli, where the idea of individuality was expressed in the form of shining, shimmering glitter. While a majority of Giambattista’s girls left their faces bare for the show, we spotted 11 models with mischievous twinkles on their eyes — graphic streaks of brightly colored glitter in between the brows, to be exact. Pro tip: Dip a flat brush in MAC Mixing Medium Eyeliner before piling on the sparkle for a super-smooth application. Now that’s some serious eye candy.
HAIR: Manic Panic hair dye in ‘Cotton Candy Pink’
The moment teenage model Fernanda Ly made her international runway debut at Louis Vuitton’s fall 2015 show (as a worldwide exclusive, no less), we fell head over heels for her ultra-kawaii look and fairy floss-colored tresses. Interestingly, her now-signature pink strands were actually born out of good ol’ DIY experimentation: she simply Googled a how-to on hair bleaching at the age of 15 and went from red to blue to gray before settling on pale, pale pink. Cop the look by dyeing bleached locks with Manic Panic in “Cotton Candy Pink.” To maintain the faded pastel, Fernanda mixes a bit of the dye in her conditioner and washes her hair every three days. Get coloring!
CANDLE: Byredo ‘Ambre Japonais’ scented candle
From personal style to home scents, it’s only natural that this YStyle woman eschews the norm for more unique, distinctive choices. Which makes Stockholm-based brand Byredo’s luxe candles the perfect match, really. Handmade in France with mouth-blown glass vessels and cotton wicks, the black wax “Ambre Japonais” scent gives off a spicy fragrance from top notes of Coriander Seed and Black Pepper, nicely contrasted by raw, sweet hints of sandalwood, sesame, and bourbon vanilla.
BAG: Marques’Almeida fall/winter 2015
The design duo Marques’Almeida is known to elevate humble materials into high-fashion looks (the immense popularity of their frayed denim designs is proof) so their zingy take on the leather shoulder bag — a metallic calfskin flap front version whose minimalist ‘90s-inspired silhouette is offset by a bright wash of bubblegum pink — is a welcome addition to their cult offerings. Yum.
