I think I may have been allowing myself to fall into Ab Fab-esque fashion cliches these past few days in Istanbul because it's one of those cities which has no qualms about shuffling people to places where people quaff champagne, look at stunning riverside views under a gigantic suspension bridge and basically wave hands in the air like you just don't care 1995-style. For that I apologise and therefore need to ground you the reader and myself with something other than hazy memories of lights, sparklers, meze and wine. Oh, and it needs to be fashion related of course… doh.
Istanbul Modern to the rescue with not one but two exhibitions that cram a lot in visually. The first is the Dice Kayek exhibition that has just opened. The second is the Hussein Chalayan 1994-2010 retrospective which a) expands on the one that was in the Design Museum in London and b) is in a MUCH better space I'm sorry to say as a proud London-patriotic twat. I'll post the Chalayan exhibition later as Dice Kayek is of course much closer to Istanbul ground… founded by sisters Ece Ege and Ayse Ege who live in Istanbul. This particular exhibition 'Istanbul Contrast' got its first opening in Paris last year and has now been expanded upon for a homecoming fit and apt in a year where Istanbul has been spotlighted as Europe's city of culture in 2010. Essentially it is a collection based on the label's couture Black Label offering, but in essence is more of an artistic ode to the the designers' home city of Istanbul which provides inspiration for each of the 26 dresses…but not in the obvious way that might have resulted in a cacophony of colours, textures and general busy-ness. In fact, the Ege sisters have honed into the elements of Istanbul and extracted lines that run very rigidly in the dresses. So perfect is every crease, fold, drape and aspect of construction that you almost can't imagine them to be worn on a real person lest they ruin the silhouette.
The themes and spots of Istanbul are covered like a tourist check list but the way they manifest in the dresses are less than obvious… the Bosphorus river strait (shit at geography here…), the Topkapi palace, the Hagia Sophia museum, the Galata Bridge, the Dolmabahce palace and then more general themes such as flowers, Istanbul by night, the domes, the doves and even more general Turkey-related things such as Turkish delight and the caftan. All of these themes somehow get guided and transformed into dresses that have a regimented mode of shape shifting, indicative of Dice Kayek's aesthetic. In the Istanbul Modern's exhibition space, the dresses are placed in amongst jutting black background shapes that enhance the lines of these sculptural feats which of course makes them seem even more abstracted from any one who might possibly want to wear them. That probably is the point though given the symbolism behind the exhibition. Still, there were more than a few well-to-do Istanbulite ladies ticking dresses off in their heads like a shopping list. Kudos to anyone who gets to wear the Hagia Sophia dress… will leave you to guess which one that may be…
**EDIT** Writing in haste makes mistakes. Duly corrected now. Yes, the photos are shit. And yes, I'm a shit photographer.
They look like sculptures. Are there pictures with models wearing them?
ohhhh the gorgeousness. shoulders for days!
the pleating, and the draping and the constructions of these garments make them really a very beautiful works of art. just amazing!
http://thestyleparticle.blogspot.com
The first few dresses really took my breath away. They are very much like sculptures – like the fabric would never move. It is amazing how they trascend the realms of artwork to fashion piece and shows how it can be one and the same.
Your shoes are divine by the way!
Sarah Betty xx
http://www.sarahbetty.co.uk
these are breathtakingly beautiful! Like sculptures you can wear!
Great capture. Please nothe that the bosphorus is a part of the marmara sea not a river. It is a path that connects marmara and black see.
Suzie I love you to death but you really need to learn to use ur camera settings better. I’m sure ur pics don’t do the clothes justice..plz, plz, plz!
Okay, my heart has officially stopped beating (not really). These are too beautiful.
wow, this is amazing!!!!!!!!!!
Wow these are amazing! – like sculptures or suits of armour.
amazing, the detail is so lovely
http://lavie-amonavis.blogspot.com
Thats BEAUTIFUL !!!
http://valentineavoh.blogspot.com/
-diary of a fashion stylist-
ah beautiful. the detail!!
Been staring at this for far too long…
ivestiti.blogspot.com
That is just beautiful!
Nikole… apologies…I’m NOT a photographer and the camera in low light (and it was VERY VERY dark…) just doesn’t work that well… I’ve tried every single setting… sorry for that…
Auuuuh (this is supposed to be the noise for when you think WOW! I’m not sure why “wow” wouldn’t have done actually!) Imaculate folding and pleating, I want to sniff it it is so clean and sharp!!
Saw the pics of you with Rumi and Bryan on FashionToast – looks like loads of fun.
Charlotte xx
http://stylerail.blogspot.com
See my Vogue street style shortlist profile here -> http://www.vogue.co.uk/competitions/photo-blogger/shortlist.aspx?photographer=Charlotte+Gush
all the pieces are so structural, I love it!
http://lachicmenagerie.blogspot.com
–ü—Ä–µ–∫—Ä–∞—Å–Ω–æ))
The lighting of this shoot and the colours are just beautiful. I adore the draping and tones too.
Fashion Stereotype
wow what amazing structure! really beautiful designs
stylejunkiejournal.blogspot.com x
WOW!! I’m really speechless, these are amazing!
very inspirational http://ilgattoselvatico.blogspot.com
Breathtaking. These dresses are amazing, so beautiful. I love the draping, the lace, the details of every single item. I can’t stop looking at the pictures.
So gorgeous! true art!
I love them there are so preetty ! Gorgeous!
100% Beauty !
ege lives in paris (for many years now) and have designed the istanbul contrast collection while away and missing istanbul – read it on turkish fashion blog.
that is istanbul’s magic – you are forever under its spell.
here are some pictures from wallpaper http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/istanbul-contrast-exhibition-of-work-by-dice-kayek/4774
It is amazing how they trascend the realms of artwork to fashion piece and shows how it can be one and the same.
Auuuuh (this is supposed to be the noise for when you think WOW! I’m not sure why “wow” wouldn’t have done actually!) Imaculate folding and pleating, I want to sniff it it is so clean and sharp!!
Breathtaking. These dresses are amazing, so beautiful. I love the draping, the lace, the details of every single item. I can’t stop looking at the pictures.
The lighting of this shoot and the colors are just beautiful. I adore the draping and tones too.
They are very much like sculptures – like the fabric would never move. It is amazing how they trascend the realms of artwork to fashion piece and shows how it can be one and the same.
So perfect is every crease, fold, drape and aspect of construction that you almost can’t imagine them to be worn on a real person lest they ruin the silhouette.
Still, there were more than a few well-to-do Istanbulite ladies ticking dresses off in their heads like a shopping list. Kudos to anyone who gets to wear the Hagia Sophia dress… will leave you to guess which one that may be..
I love the draping, the lace, the details of every single item. I can’t stop looking at the pictures.
My heart has officially stopped beating (not really). These are too beautiful.
It is amazing how they trascend the realms of artwork to fashion piece and shows how it can be one and the same.
For that I apologise and therefore need to ground you the reader and myself with something other than hazy memories of lights, sparklers, meze and wine. Oh, and it needs to be fashion related of course.
For that I apologise and therefore need to ground you the reader and myself with something other than hazy memories of lights, sparklers, meze and wine. Oh, and it needs to be fashion related of course