YSL Manifesto - Hong Kong report

Have you got your copy?

Season three for YSL's Manifesto. After Gisele Bunchen and Kate Moss, they've got Naomi Campbell for FW08. I like Naomi, I like the collection, I like the campaign and of course I like Stefano; the only difference (in Hong Kong) this season is that instead of inserting the Manifesto at a magazine, they distribute on the street this time as it should be. What's more? they bagged the first 5,000 copies in a special cloth bag each city; which certainly would make more noise and stretches the promotional gesture.

The activity is bound to create chaos, four spots were selected in Central and remained confidential to the very last minute 12.00 noon. Around the time, the rain came, all along I was in Central; many assumed one of the spots was the store at Alexandra House and I saw about 20-30 people started to accumulated and queued up at the front door. The minute witnessed the awaiting scene in the rain, I, as a devoted client and loyal fan, instantly lost interest to that bagged version. After lunch and got my magazines, I passed by Alexandra House again, the rain had stopped and the crowd had gone, I went down to the street outside the store and got a copy (sans bag); and then I bumped into Gucci/ YSL's General Merchandising Manager, my former boss in fact. I greeted and we had a chat, in fact I deliberately carried an old YSL canvas bag with the old pink/orange logo was a Micky take to tease the crowd. She then introduced me to YSL's new regional CEO.

Reality check. First, I cannot be one of those awaiting people who are clearly the ones who cannot afford any YSL products, well, maybe a logo tee or two and that's it, they are not potential or ideal customers for YSL. Call me a snob or whatever, but I cannot be one of them. I mean it's okay to widen the entry prix point category but YSL is not a t shirt or handbag brand, and I'm no fashion police, but if ever toying that ideas with the most pretigeous house in France which was built with grace and style is certainly a crime to me. Second, even if I have the bag, I would/could never carry it around, 'cos that screams "I am one of those queue-ups". Third, I started to think the concept behind this bagged version might actually do more harm than good. No doubt, it certainly creates hypes, but I think hype is in fact the very last thing YSL needs. The cloth bag-act creates noise, but doesn't broaden its fan base or clientele, no! It's possible do more damage the brand image than otherwise. To me, YSL should never be a GUCCI or vice versa, they are different. I wish they'd ditch the bag idea next season.

[Interview] revamps with la Moss- Sept 2008

[Interview], now a Brant-owned property is ready to rock again. having had two warm-up issues with Marc Jacobs and Eva Mendes. The upcoming official revamp issue features la Moss. As creative director Fabien Baron said, they will be more fashion/art/cult oriented. With Baron's triumph record at Harper's Bazaar and VogueParis, and long resume in visual, magazine and fashion arena; plus teaming with Glenn O'Brian and the open-minded Peter Brandt; sounds like there will be blood in the U.S. press world from now on.

... On the other hand, Kate Moss has recently become the face for Yves Saint Laurent's new lip gloss Rouge Volupté. Is it not going to contradict her contract with Rimmel London though? Or is Rimmel's ad was strictly used in the U.K.? Who really can say no to the house of Saint Laurent though?

about Rouge Volupté

A lipstick should be comfortable. Present but not intrusive. Creamy, but not stifling. Silky, but not glossy. Matte, but a little brighter still. In short, everything and its opposite.

That is one that has everything to him. Carrossé in a case of gold rose slightly, the Rouge Volupté is expected to enter the pantheon of lipsticks. In addition to its packaging, very feminine, very Saint Laurent, cracks first for its appearance and texture. Its creamy touch liquefied in contact with the lips, making red flexible, but not baveux. It then flashes on its ten-eight shades of nude running the most purple-bodied, through a variety of roses, honey, brown and coral. The colors that dosent skillfully matt effect and "Glossy Film", a polymer having a mirror that reflects light. Latest information: a true scent of lipstick, UV filters, microspheres hyaluronic acid, an extract of his rice-eating… and a campaign carried out by Kate Moss. Fatale attraction.

YSL Edition 24 at Dover Street Market

Yves Saint Laurent opened a new considment in London.
Stefano Pilati (in a YSL S/S09 blue jacket ensemble) made a speical presence across the pond for the opening of the new venue- the ultimate showcase Dover Streeet Market. The YSL space locates on 3rd floor where will store the freshly released 'Edition 24' 2008 collection. F-W08 image girl Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Erin O'Connor among Katie Grand, Stephen Jones and other fashion souls and alike, all went to celebrate the launch on 3 Jul. When checking the Michael Howells (John Galliano's confidente) designed space, guests were all treated to cocktails and a goody bag containing a limited edition canvas YSL bag. The space features limited edition pieces (e.g. turquoise and red jackets), as well as customised garments by the creative director himself, the capsule collection which born last year is inspired by travel, functionality and versatility, as 'Edition 24' was meant to be.
All special items in the collection will be highly limited in number, carrying a signature Yves Saint Laurent/Dover Street Market woven label. No end date has been set for the shop, as according to a Dover Street Market spokesman, "it will remain an indefinite fixture." Naomi, Claudia and Erin all wore Saint Laurent. For a few special guests and good friends, an intimate dinner hosted by Stefano Pilati followed at exclusive London club Aspinals.
Related story: here, here, here, here, here

My fall plan

That's what happened. I was clothes-related mentally ill last weekend.
It's not quite the 'I have nothing to wear' symdrome, but rather the 'my wardrobe looks cheap' summer allergy that bugged me. Dunno if you've had this feeling before, whenever I wear high street stuffs for a while, I'd feel a bit low, showing signs of disgust 'n get bored with'em, next thing you know is that they're unwanted (by me, of cos). I had it 6-7 years ago when was still a shopper at izzue.com (local HK high street chain store).
My wardrobe life after Hedi Slimane's Dior Homme has been shuttling between low-high-low instead of just high-high. Occasional tees 'n skinnies from H&M or Uniqlo are fine for the summer as I tend not to buy major investment pieces in summer collection, but after feeling 'ill', that triggered me to consider buying items with design (and collectable) for the summer is actually not a bad idea 'n worth doing so, probably the only way to cure myself too, thus the two Raf by Raf Simons tees from Lane Crawford. As I tour around the store, there're nice casual items that's worth buying now when on sale for the local hot summer, however, I must control myself for the upcoming major buy in the F/W 08 collection.
Brands that attract me the most in the winter, needless to say is YSL Homme by Stefano Pilati, it was as if tailor-made for me (being vain), but since the prix has gone completely off the roof and these are pieces that I won't wear too often, I have to have wardrobe B alternatives to cover my day to day life. Since I'm getting to like Marc Jacobs' stuffs, I check'd on his web and unveil Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, they are rather desirable I must say. 'MJ' looks rather Prada-esque with urban functional clothes for men; when MiuMiu-esque 'MxMJ' shows youthful hipness and youthful charms. I've been looking for a biker, and I fall for the the black number as well as a cropped check-jacket(as shown below) in the collection. Adding a piece or two from Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester or Raf and I am done for the wardrobe (given the fact if I have sufficient financial support).

Marc by Marc Jacobs fall 08

Marc Jacobs F/W 08 menswear

YSL Fall 08 & Edition 24

Call me sentimental or bias or whatever. Like it or not, yes, it's on YSL again. I just like what Stefano Pilati is doing for the house of Saint Laurent at the moment. Everyone has been saying- 'Oh, he's got a big shoe to fit.' blah blah... but he just ignores those comments and keeps his head down and works. I guess he cherishes such opportunity given, at the same time, he knows the YSL DNA well enough to use his time on updating it. Well, updating YSL seems like an impossible task to many, but he's done so far a pretty good job. Like his mentor Miuccia Prada, Stefano doesn't do easy, from time to time, it's tough to understand at once, but people will get it after and certainly follow, by the time you're talking about one year after. Stefano Pilati is a trend setter, a pioneer of modern wardrobe of our time.

YSL fall 08
One can easily find archive-ish designs from Stefano Pilati's pre-collection for YSL, black leather coat, toned-down chubby, little bolero, leopard prints skirts, feather here 'n there, braiding details from Ballet Russes(look 40), endless gown 'n cocktail numbers... etc; he does a very good job on turn the old into new.

Edition 24 (2008)
24 hours a day, 7 day a week. Edition 24 was born last year tactically for YSL's modern global travellers. It includes 24 outfits for day-to-day multiple functions 'n occassions. No frills, no hassels. They're all stylishly practical and charmingly chic when covering day 'n night's urban needs of a women without looking like a catwalk victim. You find them in store without a hint of Saint Laurent-esque anonymously, yet still with the best quality; certainly some trustworthy designs that worth every penny.

Kate Moss' spring choice

Kate Moss has been travelling in the last weeks or so and been dolled up for special occasions:(from left:) Alexander McQueen minidress and Alaïa bellerina; Marc Jacobs crystals adorned dress with Christian Louboutin heels; vintage Saint Laurent-esque polka dots dress; Chanel couture silver satin derss paired with Yves Saint Laurent Tribute heels in champaign gold.

Object of Desire - YSL special