H&M: Menswear Trendsetting

I love forward thinking fashion. In my group of friends I'm the "Crazy One" who wears something new and different. I like trying out new trends and having fun with them. It's part of my personality; I like adventure.

I also love H&M. I've only been to one once and that was while walking the streets of Boston with my BFF, Justin. I was in love with the designs and options available for men. I have since joined their Facebook fanpage which updates regularly. What I've been enjoying is the direction they are trying to take with menswear.

It started with this kilt idea (Think Marc Jacobs). I was all about it but it drew SHARP criticism from people. Most people called it everything from "Gay" to "Disgusting."

Next came a sequined blazer that I want in my closet.

And most recently was this t-shirt with design emphasis on the shoulders and upper chest. I looove it. I feel like men lack options when it comes to shirts.

I love all the pieces and I want them to wear. I feel like menswear is on the brink of changing. We need more options than what is currently available. It was frustrating to see many people fretting over things like "We're going to lose all our masculine men!" or "That's so gay!"

My favorite comments would have to be from girls either saying, "That's for girls ONLY" (As if everything is supposedly exclusive to little Princesses) or "My boyfriend wouldn't be caught DEAD in that outfit."

Psycho Girlfriend translation of "My boyfriend wouldn't be caught DEAD in that outfit":

1.) I would personally end him for "Embarrassing" me in my close-minded community.

2.) He prefers to be boring while I get to be all pretty. How dare he try to steal the limelight.

3.) It's too gay for his eyes. I don't even let my gay friends take him shopping for fear of them converting him to their lifestyle... I mean personal choice... I mean.. Ugh.

4.) Men should be men and wear things like a pair of jeans, an old t-shirt, and a hoodie only.

I laugh because I personally believe clothing does not denote masculinity. It can emphasize it, but it does not grant or remove it. I feel like people are so closed minded at a time when we should be more open minded. It's amazing to see "Dark Age" mindsets still in existence.

It just all relates back to how we market sex and sexuality. We offer girls the chance to wear "Boyfriend Jeans" so they can feel closer to the male sex. It's pretty much disgusting that we still market this way. If I was a girl, I would feel it's demeaning for them to market things like "Boyfriend Jeans," "Boyfriend Cardigans/Sweaters," or even "Boyshorts." What if you are single? (-Insert ice cream, crying, chick flicks, and wrist slicing here-).

When are they going to market things like "Girlfriend panties" and "Girlfriend Shrugs" for guys? Not like I would wear them but still...

 

And ladies.. Would you really wear your boyfriend's boxers? I mean, have you see the inside of them? It looks like their truck after mud bogging. I'm just saying.

At least there are some who applaud change and want it.

Kudos to whoever else is out there.

~Jason

Project Discoveries

While working on a project for my Design Analysis project, I ran into two pictures that I looove. So I felt like sharing:

Kristen Stewart at the "Adventureland" premiere (Wearing Herve Leger)

-> I love the color and the pattern, it's working for me.

Alexander McQueen (A past show)

-> I love the texture of the dress and the overall fantasy, it's gorgeous

And a funny story involving shoes from McQueen's recent runway show (Which is amazing if you haven't seen it yet): Python Platforms??

Florence + The Machine

 I just thought I would share that I have an intense <3 <3 for the band, Florence + The Machine. She's definitely a muse for me. I love the video she did for "Drumming Song."

The album has fueled a lot of ideas lately for me.

Check it out sometime.
~Jason

Threads 09/10 Theme: Autobiography

So I am part of a group on campus that holds a student-run fashion show in the spring called, "Threads." I've decided that this will be the year I show some work in the show and I've struggled a bit with the theme of the show, which is "Autobiography."

Basically.. There are 5 million ways I could take this theme and make it my own. One theme I thought was to incorporate my love of nature, religious side, and how I've grown as a person through a sort of "Seed to full bloom" story.

Another way I'm mulling over is show how I love fantasy and that is what I grew up on... From reading books, drawing, and playing RPGs. I loved books that took me to worlds that could never exist and games that drew out my imagination. At one point I could of seen myself designing video games.

One video game series in particular has had an influence on me: Final Fantasy (II and III to be exact). I remember getting the game as a kid and just looking at the manual over and over again. I loved the sketches that were inside. Actually, I was mesmerized by them. I think I enjoyed looking at the sketches more than playing the game (Maybe).

I loved the box. It was just so enticing and still is for me.

 

Two other games that has inspired me would have to be  Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger. Squaresoft (Who makes Final Fantasy) has this amazing way of transporting you through music, art, and story.

So it's this that has inspired me to possibly create a story that shows how my childhood passions have shaped me as a designer. I could create a story through my garments.

Just some ideas to think over.
~Jason

It gets better with every heartbeat (Fashion Icons).

The European singer Robyn

Robyn - With Every Heartbeat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vfLvZCdT9g

Actress Tilda Swinton (I'm more a fan when she has her red hair, haha)

Singer and American Idol Runner-Up Adam Lambert

Lady GaGa

Singer Kylie Minogue

American Designer Marc Jacobs

French Designer Gaultier

Men's Designer Carolyn Massey

Asian designs (They tend to be more liberal with men's wear)

Fashion is a brave 'lil test tube.

Bonjour!

My name is Jason Phill!p. I suppose I should tell you a little about myself and what the purpose of this blog entails...

Let's start with an introduction:

I grew up in Michigan. It's the state that looks like an oncoming b!tch slap. We're surrounded on all sides with water and once battled Ohio for some land back in the day (We ended up with the beautiful Upper Peninsula so we won anyways; See "Toledo War"). We were once the capital of the Auto Industry but now we're kind of the armpit of the United States (And not in the fun Molly Shannon kind of way).

I was raised by an amazing Aries mother who is absolutely gorgeous. She's strong, independent, and taught me mostly everything I know. She sacrificed a lot to raise my brother and I. I guess I realized I loved fashion when I would watch my Mother get around for work or when she was going out. She handles a curling iron like a warrior honed in battle, and her blonde hair always looks perfect. She's the kind of person who always has to be put together before going in public. I adopted this mentality. She instilled in me a drive to earn a better living than our family has experienced through several generations, to develop my talents, to think outside of the box, and be myself.

I was also raised by my Grandmother, Shirley Jean. She was a hairstylist way back then and was quite good at it. She was particularly popular when women were coming to get their hair "Set" for the week, platinum Dolly Parton color, and frosting. She inspired me and I loved her so much.  Losing her to cancer was a very profound moment in my life. I wanted so much for her to see me graduate from a University (A first for our family). While she was going through chemo, we both buzzed our hair off. I did it to support her and I have yet to go back to having hair. It's also low maintenance which is handy.

I eventually went to Cosmetology school (Like she had) when I was floating and directionless. It was the best decision I ever made - I found myself finally. I excelled in Cosmetology and competed in a National Competition for students of trade schools called "Skills USA." I never made it to nationals but I was VERY close. I received 3rd at the State level and that was enough to be proud of since I beat hundreds of others at districts, regionals, et cetera. The training and competition itself fueled a new sense of ambition that I had lacked for years.

I worked for a Salon for about a year and realized that I still wanted more. I wanted a degree. First attempt? Teaching. I love kids but hated the job after doing observations. I wanted to be an artist on some level because the first few memories I have as a kid is drawing on scratch paper. My Grandmother kept all of my sketches and crayon coloring books. I realized one day that I loved drawing outfits on my characters. 

 On a whim, I signed up for classes at School in its Apparel Design program. My introduction to sewing was a fantastic trip and I met a lot of friends. Turns out that the sewing gene in my family didn't skip me. Half-way through my beginning design classes, I declared a major in Apparel Design and Merchandising.

Then I got nervous about the future and almost abandoned it. I don't know what happened. I semi-choked I suppose. Then on a trip to Massachusetts to help a dear friend move there, I had a tarot reading that reinstalled my dreams. An elder Witch from Salem told me without knowing my background that I would pursue my dreams in clothing design. I almost felt like she was viewing my Facebook while she was telling me this information. She told me to incorporate a star and to have fabrics with drape. She also told me I would be living on the East coast and working happily.

I guess we'll see huh?


Now, the purpose of this blog is simple:
1.) I'm going to observe fashion/culture/music and make comments on things that interest/repulse me.
2.) I'm going to show my growth as a designer, and the progress I'm making towards establishing my design aesthetic. I'll show my triumphs, mistakes, and everything in-between.
3.) I'm going to share my personal journey.

Fashion is a brave 'lil test tube. It's a laboratory of ideas that I'm ready to play with.


Thanks for starting this journey with me, I appreciate it.
~Jason