Skull Culture

I was recently asked if skulls were still "in" by a major fashionista seeking out some print direction.  The truth of the matter is that skulls have been a part of design culture for longer than anybody can possibly remember.  They come and go with different brands who venture out once and a while to catch the eye of the consumer who appreciates the tattoo stylings of the "object d'macabre."

There are those who go out and get a tattoo and those who just want one as a fashion accessory in the color of the season.  
A couple years ago it was the thing to do after Ralph Lauren ran a skull print in his home furnishings line.  Once retailers saw that the king of the preppy guard went" street", it was a whirlwind race to see who could get the most creative version of the bare cranium design to market first.
It is a widely recognized symbol of cool and no one who knows anything about style would dare say they are "out" except the trend monsters who participate in the buying frenzies of anything that makes them seem hip.
Skulls are modern relics in pop culture that we love to hate and let's face it.....They aren't going anywhere, anytime soon.

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Reflections

The Spring 2009 Collection at Vuitton was a departure from the usual stoic French sensiblity of the house and methodically addressed the mass' interest in this luxury brand. The normal approach to achieiving this type of textured luster is to engineer a lurex woven and hope that the garment is always worn in optimal light for the desired luminous effect. Here, Marc Jacobs (Creative Director) prints right on the lame to create the right amount of radiance and sparkle for the fashionista looking for pieces that easily transition from day to night. The fabric is a genius display of technology and looks as though it is made from priceless vintaged coins as they would be worn by mythological dieties, or better yet, a fashion goddess. This is proof positive that gloss will be the new bling beautiful in the season to come.

Channeling Versace

A look ahead to Versace Fall 2008 is an inspirational push provided by dutch artist Tim Roeloffs. A photoreal monatage of Versace-esque textiles and references printed on a colorful backdrop evokes a strong mental image that is functional & flirty. The bonus is that this pattern is impeccably engineered to provide an intersting visual that is modern & sophisticated. This print is an homage to the great style and expert tailoring of Gianni Versace and can be re-worked to achieve several silhouettes for seasons to come.

"transculturalism"

The global surge to become "green" and raise environmental awarness is not only the hottest political topic, but also the mission statement of the world's foremost design houses.

Identifying with patterns and textures from the most remote regions of the planet will be deployed in Spring 2009. Abstract variations of familiar textiles and icons seen around the world will create distinct looks on the racks.

The color story for the season is one that honors the rainbow of cultures with hues of personality and will bring the natural simplicity of this season's fabric direction.