Check that Out

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Going to Amsterdam provided me the perfect opportunity to go and stalk Jan Taminiau, one of the earliest Dutch designers that I had heard about other than the obvious names.  I like that he says he is resolutely Dutch whilst still being able to present his couture collections in Paris.  So the HTNK agency in Amsterdam very helpfully set me up with a stalking opp by allowing us to venture into his studio in the red light district where Taminiau and his busy-bees were working away on custom orders for his clients.  First we were confronted with a dress from his Check Check Mate collection which I've been meaning to post about but somehow in the back of my mind, I had predicted this predatory stalking opp so I've waited until now to talk it up.  Tis' a good thing that I did wait because from the images, I didn't realise these silver embellishments were poppers and that they functioned to make the garments shaped differently dependong on how you snap them together.  Basically what looks like a simple shift dress could ensue in hours of joy by just the snap of a button… and the noise is of course a joy in itself…   

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I did some snooping around his moodboard too… I have an unhealthy obsession with designers' moodboards and was pleased to find an array of visual references… the Elizabethan paintings of course  directly led to Taminiau's huge checked ruffs…

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Taminiau and his team were also working on these fabric experimentations with cut-out silk petals…

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He also created a fragrance specifically for this 'Check Check Mate' collection… took a wee sniff… quite a heavily sweet scent…

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This collection was actually presented online through a 360 degree-view video which is the perfect medium for looking at these giant dress/ruff structures.  Now I can actually spot the snap buttons, which leaves me with an unhealthy urge to snap the ruffs into different shapes…

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27 comments

  1. As much as I love to use buttons as decoration on clothing, purses, etc, I don’t think I’d ever think to use button snaps–I didn’t even realize what they were at first. How brilliant.

  2. wow the sculptural pieces are stunning! and i definitely see the Elizabethan inspiration.
    and the snap dress is really something extraordinary and so unique

  3. What a concept. I would have never thought to put snaps on clothing in this manner or to this degree. I can only imagine the fun I’d have with just one of those pieces…or a dress and a ruff. Endless possibilities.

  4. This is one of my favorite “inside scoops” ever. I find that first dress to be fascinating. The ones with the giant ruffs, however, remind me of those weird dinosaurs that spit from the movie Jurassic Park.

  5. I simply am speechless! The buttons and tiny jewels are so mesmerising! I love pieces that you can transform too I will be keeping my eye on this designer for sure, thanks for sharing!
    x

  8. That’s bloody brilliant. Too many of my upper-body clothes don’t fit me properly.. but they will soon. And look the better for it, on and off!
    The ruffs and headdresses are fierce, too, and *darn* those silver nobbly flares. *_*

  10. Love, love, love that first dress, such a cool idea. I would have hours of fun with this.

  11. This man is a genius IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY. I know where I’ll be going on my trip to the Netherlands in August.

  12. Holy frijoles…. those are freaking amaaaazziing!! I’m planning on darting around Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia for my honeymoon…. luckily my sweets is mad into design too so we can plan a whole trip around it. 😉

  18. those are freaking amaaaazziing!! I’m planning on darting around Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia for my honeymoon….
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  24. wonderful – not sure if this is photoshop embelishments – which in real life would be fantastically confronting/striking. Like Wow! – Samx

  25. They look a little Danilo Donati even.Have you ever seen this clip of his Papal Fashion show?Im sure you would reaaaaally feel inspired by this…Its one of my favorites.

  26. These are clownish, amazing. Seeing the royal wedding, anyone?

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