The sort of backpacks that have been getting a lot of fash-y chit chat involve ones made out of fur that are at risk of engulfing the model (Kanye's fur backpack on Bambi at his show... that said, I still loves it...) and alligator ones that cost the equivalent of a mortgage downpayment yet still manage to incur waiting lists (The Row of course...). The sort of backpacks that I've personally been in physical contact with however are more modestly priced but no less interesting in my eyes. It feels redundant explaining the joys and plus points of a decent backpack. Only the peeps who regularly carry their laptops, a few books,Gucci Hobo Bag, magazines, maybe some groceries and then all the usual handbag-y stuff would understand the aesthetic and practical requirements of a rucksack. That's hopefully everyone who is reading this... ?!?
................................................................................................
I spoke of one of the joys of being back at home was that I can once again nick things from Steve. Turns out his incoming list of stealable things just keeps getting better. In addition to the no-brainer jumpers and jackets, French and English Confectioners, a small-ish London-based leather goods label have bestowed upon him this vegetable leather and patent rucksack. F&E are actually on Etsy now whilst they rebuild their website so you can get your hands on this particular rucksack specimen in addition to versions in grey and navy patent. The very reasonable price of £200 packs a lot of handmade craftsmanship into the rucksack. Both Steve and I have crammed a lot in and the straps show no sign of weakening and the double stitched seams ensure it's as sturdy as it is pretty.
................................................................................................
I must confess I haven't actually physically seen Haerfest's (pronounced Harvest) bags but I can be fairly sure that this relatively new New York-based leather goods label run by brothers Tim and Dan Joo are committed to design and craftsmanship. “Familiar yet unexpected,” underlies their designs and following the qualitative mantra of a lot of young and smart labels these days, Haerfest strive to use quality materials with great attention to detail. Opening Ceremony have them in two different skins at the moment but for S/S 12, a seep of colour in the form of carmine and navy will be entering the fold.
................................................................................................
I'll be talking up the rest of Ostwald Helgason's supremely textured and layered S/S 12 collection but this cork and patent backpack definitely deserves a shout out on its own. Yes, it's 100% real cork, a material the label sourced from Hong Kong and when reinforced with the black patent, it creates a hardwearing texture that looks unexpected as a backpack. Wait till you see the cork in action as jackets, tees and baseball caps though... looking like a CORKER won't be too difficult where Ostwald Helgason's S/S 12 collection is involved... uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh...
................................................................................................
When I went to go see Simona Citarella's debut shoe collection at her boutique Wok in Milan, where I also incidentally found a different side to the city's fashion beat, I came across Swiss designer Julian Zigerli whose debut menswear collection involves a lot of jacket backpack hybrids, some more noticeable as backpacks than others. Some of his printed pieces are now available on Far Fetch but the one I picked up was a frighteningly bright highlighter pink number with an inbuilt drawstring rucksack...
Steve can't quite fathom what man would opt for this shade of pink as this is supposedly a menswear piece but I've obviously got no problem with the shade. Some daring Milano fashion dude's loss is after all my gain and the fit of a sized small jacket is perfect for stuffing a few layers undernath as well as having a roomy rucksack to boot. I haven't got round to testing the weight resiliance of the piece yet but I reckon one copy of The Gentlewoman, a wallet, my keys and a jumper will fill it up quite nicely.
For those that wanted to see the results of my visit to Repetto L'Atelier, here they are. They've been slightly battered by the sand dusty of the Tuileries gardens but the trio of colours which I picked out for the trim, the lace and the shoe upper remains forcefully bright.
(Worn with Topshop x Michael van der Ham skirt, Peter Jensen lurex jumper, Repetto L'Atelier shoes, stuffing a Benah pistachio green iPad case in the jacket)
没有评论:
发表评论