ARTS & CULTURE
Originally published on Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Summer Really Bites
UJ’s hot office debates currently centre around whether Sookie Stackhouse is our generation’s next unlikely style icon (honey, enough with the whiter-than-white virginal wear – you got bit – it’s over), and who’s hotter; Vampire Bill or Broody Eric. And yes, perhaps we do need more male blood around.
It may be Summer, but our minds seem pre-occupied with the darker side of life (or lack thereof). And we’re not alone; cinema goers are swooning for the ashen cheeks of Twilight’s Edward to the extent of permanently inking their obsession into their skin whilst Cameron Diaz’s smoulderingly vampy V Magazine cover put a stake through her girl-next-door cutesiness with power-brows, drama-hair and a blood thirsty glare.
Even innocent window shopping reflects our fascination with the supernatural, courtesy of Harvey Nichols’ creepy woodland setting – perhaps not as controvertial as Barney’s blood splattered windows in New York, which were taken down due to public complaints.
There were even markers of the occult at The Shoreditch 1-2-3-4 Festival with black, leather and 90’s denim the order of the day. Pam Hogg stole our hearts with big shoulders and her dazzling yellow quiff.
Chrome Hoof’s shamanic floor-length silver gowns entranced the crowd and Ipso Facto’s pallid skin and jet black bobs made them look like pretty little vampettes. UJ loved Patrick Wolf’s otherworldly shimmering gold torso, revealed under a dark Union Jack jumpsuit unzipped to the navel. The best moment of the festival was probably him putting some beer-throwing idiot in his place – we only wish he’d bit him.
A glance ahead to AW09 sees dark and opulent feather and fur in the mix with architectural leather and exaggerated shoulders; we’re really into Rodarte’s creature-of-the-night look and Prada’s shadowy AW09 lookbook, which casts their beautiful mens’ suits in a new (moon)light.
Here’s our vamp fix to sink your teeth into; a Delfina Delettrez fang ring available at Dover Street Market or online here.
