Revival

Myself before my Harper's Bazaar interview

Shirt by Rick Owens DRKSHDW

It's been a busy two months for me, but now it's time for me to get back into blogging and writing! A lot has happened in the fashion world since I've been away from the blogosphere - Nicolas Ghesquire leaving Balenciaga, Alexander Wang becoming the new Creative Director of Balenciaga, Yoko Ono releasing a line in collaboration with Opening Ceremony, Christopher Kane leaving Versus, The Little Black Jacket exhibition (here in Sydney too), the release of the Maison Martin Margiela x H&M line, the new campaign for Chanel No. 5 featuring Brad Pitt was released, Saskia De Braw cast as the face of menswear for Saint Laurent Paris, Gaspard Ulliel cast as Yves Saint Laurent in an upcoming biopic and Nicola Formichetti announcing that the upcoming issue of Vogue Hommes Japan will be the last... just to name a few haha!

Whilst I've been busy at college, I visited the Little Black Jacket exhibition, which I will blog about later, and finally, I had an interview for a journalism internship for Harper's Bazaar Australia! Unfortunately, I didn't get the internship but Clare (Fashion Features Editor) mentioned that I was one of the last two, which is an incredible achievement. I wish the other candidate all the best! I won't give up :)

Vogue Hommes Japan #9 - Preview Day 4

Nicola's cutout collar shirts for Mugler have set a new trend for men

 Nicola has done very well releasing all the previews for the latest issue of Vogue Hommes Japan, and he leaves us with one last look at the issue, on a happy note for the coming Spring/Summer 2013 season! What a better way to show and celebrate the bright and innovative menswear for Spring/Summer 2013 than with fashgifs adding a little spark to the typical editorial!

I think it is safe to say that this issue of Vogue Hommes Japan will rival the September issue, and I cannot emphasise how much the previews will have reached a new customer base. Kudos to Nicola!

 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PREVIEW

All images courtesy of Models.com

Vogue Hommes Japan #9 Preview - Day 3

Thom Browne's creature like shoulders complement the fierce growl at the viewer

Fashion is always moving forward, or in this case moving back and forth, with the first of the Digital Covers for Vogue Hommes Japan # 9! The best of the men's Autumn/Winter 2012 collections are given life through a stop motion editorial, allowing men to see the garments from different angles and perspectives as opposed to still photography and the speedy movement of runway models, before they are released in boutiques worldwide!

Dries Van Noten's playful and artistic suits come alive

Burberry Prorsum's metallic jackets become more lustrous 

Riccardo Tisci's signature androgynous designs are swept up in a Marilyn Monroe-esque breeze

Louis Vuitton's poncho pin knits can be viewed in different angles

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PREVIEW OF DAY 3

All images courtesy of Models.com

Vogue Hommes Japan #9 - Preview Day 2

The preview of the cover for Day 2

Day 2 of the Vogue Hommes Japan previews for Models.com featured the cover and editorial, "One Impression of Francis Bacon", shot by Tim Richardson, known for his amazing motion photography, and styled by the Creative Director himself, Nicola Formichetti. I was immediately impressed by the cover, effectively conveying the dark, brooding and haunting masculine atmosphere of the magazine to its audience.

The editorial explores the distortion of one's sense of reality, the juggle between what is true and what is false in our existence, represented by the figures captured in motion. These figures, being constantly in motion, force us to question their motive and role when placed next to the intimidating characters who are the embodiment of a man's obscurity and inner darkness, heightened by their piercing stares at the viewer, bringing one's claustrophobic fear to the surface. This editorial is both a conceptual and fashionable masterpiece, not seen in many fashion magazines nowadays.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL PREVIEW (EDITORIAL AND FILM)

Vogue Hommes Japan #9 - Preview Day 1

The preview of the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan on Day 1

Nicola Formichetti, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Hommes Japan, former stylist of Lady Gaga, Creative Director for  Mugler and Head Designer for Nicopanda, is set to release the most anticipated issue of Vogue Hommes Japan this September. The issue features photography by Hedi Slimane, the Creative Director of Saint Laurent Paris and eerily beautiful artworks by the alternative "it" girl at the moment, Grimes, but most of all the issue is a chance for men worldwide to see the Fall/Winter menswear collections in a variety of editorials complementing the garment and the dark punk atmosphere that Nicola has injected into the usually glamorous Vogue magazine.

As it is the eventful month of fashion of September, Nicola began a series of previews of the issue in collaboration with Models.com - with the covers, digital covers, fashion films, and stop motion versions of the editorial images for everyone to see. I selected a few images to share, as I could not help but do so as the previews of the magazine so far have signaled to me that this issue will probably be my most prized in my collection, if I manage to buy it!

First of all, the covers were released according to what was being previewed on the day. On Day 1, the cover (above) was previewed, along with the editorial that complemented the cover featuring Gryphon O'Shea, shot by Hedi Slimane, with Grimes' artworks - "Bleached".

One of the artworks by Grimes

There is no doubt that Gryphon would've been the perfect man for this editorial - a beautification of the dark subcultures of Goth and Punk, particularly London's punk scene, whilst drawing from elements of maximalism. Hedi Slimane has shot this editorial emphasizing the mysteriousness of many men within these subcultures, and has captured how this aesthetic is now praised within the fashion industry rather than isolated from high fashion. Grimes has added to the atmosphere with her abstract morbid artworks, a style she is best known for.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL PREVIEW FOR DAY 1

All images courtesy of Models.com