Words: Carly Rogers
Photos: Style.com

While Milan Fashion Week isn’t the classiest and most avant-garde of Fashion Month (bar a few); there are a number collections that are eye-catching to say the least.  DSquared2 is one of those collections.  Style.com; who in general tend to give positive or at least indifferent reviews, called the collection “icky” and out of step.  While “icky” may not be the most eloquent word, it’s fairly fitting.  The designers sent models down the runway in bright red latex leggings coupled with giant fur coats, and in some instances what look like PVC underwear.

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Words: Carly Rogers
Photo: Style.com

After almost two weeks of seeing repetition among designers’ visions for next fall (fur coats, chunky knits, velvet and dark lipstick), Christopher Kane has once again managed to throw something fresh into the mixture.  His collection, far removed from what we saw in last season’s pretty plaids, was this time inspired by a teenage delinquent.  There was colourful floral embroidery atop leather dresses, short pleat skirts and black lace which seemed to ever so slightly resemble Prada’s iconic fall collection from just a few seasons ago.  Add to this some inspiration from Celine’s recent leather t-shirts, combine it with a number of new details and there you have Christopher Kane’s fall line. read more »

Words: Ella Cole
Photo: FirstView via Vogue.com.au

At the risk of sounding overtly cynical, Sass and Bide is no longer a label I save up to purchase, or even pay much attention to at fashion week. In fact, if it weren’t for one very distinguishing feature I might have reconsidered writing a review for the collection at all. A quick glance at the show stills had me wondering why designers Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke are yet to stray from their skimpy bodycon dresses, cutouts and top-heavy embellishment, and also why the Antipodean label wouldn’t choose Australian models to walk at London Fashion Week. My judgement proved wrong by look twelve however, after I noticed Australian male model Andrej Pejic, walking with his female contemporaries. Good on him for getting more work in women’s fashion than men’s.

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Words: Carly Rogers
Quotes: NY Times
Photos: Various works taken from “Remembering Dash Snow” By Ryan McGinley

Granted, Dash Snow was not one of the most notable or classic artists of his time, nor was he the classiest.  Or perhaps classy at all for that matter.  Once referred to as “the Paris Hilton” of photography, Snow was controversial; his work included semen atop newspapers (on numerous occasions), and he was reportedly high more often than not. He was self-destructive, hyperactive and wild.  It was this lifestyle that eventually led to his demise last year; when he was found dead in a hotel room after an overdose.  It is easy to dismiss his work as being as vapid and shallow as the socialite to which he was compared, but Snow has produced a number of pieces that provide a raw and honest social commentary on today’s culture.  There is a reason why he possessed as many friends and admirers as he did, despite his troubled mind. read more »

Words: Carly Rogers

Kids falls into the category of the movie that you know will be disturbing; but secretly want to watch anyway.  Released in 1995, Kids depicts a raw, honest, and perhaps slightly over-exaggerated view of what life is like for teenagers who indulge in sex, drugs and violence.  Add the underlying theme of HIV into the mixture and there you have a film which will undoubtedly disturb you in parts and leave you feeling hollow by its conclusion.  The characters for the most part are amoral and unlikeable, making the film even more depressing for viewers, while still providing a strong level of intrigue. Director Larry Clark has done well to depict “real” teenagers, rather than characters that are easy to detach yourself from once the movie is over. It’s hard for anyone that has lived through their teenage years to deny that people like this do indeed exist.

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