There’s a chapter in Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour book where he’s in Morocco and he keeps getting promised ‘something special…’ by his Moroccan hosts and he time and time againe he keeps on getting the same old tagine dish, not to say they’re not nice but Bourdain was after something special (which resulted in a whole spit roasted lamb out in the desert… culminating in him eating sheep’s bollocks…nice…). Ok, food related comparison over because what I’m really trying to say is likewise, in fashion, ‘something special’ is hard to come by… something REALLY special, even more so.
I’m intrigued therefore by Valerj Pobega’s work and her backstory. Born in Alghero, Italy, her fashion creativity started at the age of three when she refused the colour inside the lines of a colouring book (I on the other hand, stuck to the lines resolutely… ergo, creativity was never going to be in my career path…). Then moving to Rome and then Milan, she became a model and also took up making clothes for herself. She then moved out to L.A. and decided to do something that was entirely her own, making a speciality in hand treating fabrics and revelling in really luxurious fabrics at the same time, the makings of ‘something special’ in itself.
Her SS09 collection takes the 1920s’ fascination with all things Grecian and the period’s surreal photography (Man Ray comes to mind…) and with that comes the expected curves but then they’re unexpectedly mixed with a ‘special’ treatment of fabrics with specially dyed/hand painted effects. Each piece is also named after a Grecian heroine which gives me a chance to reminisce about why I never did classic civilisation (or ‘CLASS CIV’ as it was known at Henrietta Barnett…yes, I love shouting out to my old school just en cas someone out there is also a fellow HBS-er…).
Aphrodite
Ariadne
Hera
Medea
Nausicaa
These pieces are very special, and dare I say it, could be considered “wearable art”.
I love those images.
I like that she names the pieces after the ladies.
The theme-obsessed 3rd grade teacher in me does love seeing something built around a construct like this. But probably more importantly, these are just beautiful pieces.
those are some very interesting pieces, and i like the way they are presented, in the move. indeed something special.
feel free to have a look at:
http://www.xanga.com/je_suis_moi_moi
Beautiful pieces in this collection – my favs being Hera and Medea. How can you say that creativity isn’t in your career path? This blog is a huge creative output for you, with your outfit combinations and fashion research all playing a part. You don’t give yourself the credit you deserve sometimes! Just ‘cos you may not be able to draw like Michelangelo, doesn’t mean your not a creative little bean 🙂
ah… what a lovley combination… i love the greek references too!
Hmm, I don’t know why but I find it really weird that you went to HBS!
ohhh those clothes are beautiful!
i was just thinking about my colouring (as a kid) recently and wondered if i’d be a different person if i coloured out of the lines… so to read that story was kinda spooky. and even though you stayed within the lines, i agree with carl… this blog is proof of your creativity!
Alghero rocks