Obsessions: Rodarte's Kate And Laura Mulleavy

September 1, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Despite what modern psychology tells us, obsession can be a good thing. Remember—it was the whipsmart Susan Sontag who said, "Never worry about being obsessive. I like obsessive people. Obsessive people make great art." For this very reason, in our new series, we ask our friends what they currently can't live, breathe, or go another second without.

First up: Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte. The sisters, based in Pasadena, California, have plied a singular space in the fashion industry with their intricately beautiful clothing. Seemingly plucked from an obscure dreamland, their visionary creations, bolstered by everyone from Grace Coddington to George Lucas to Kirsten Dunst, often teeter on fine art (in fact, their gowns are featured in the permanent collections at LACMA and The Met).

Below, nine of the girls' current obsessions. We're curious to see if any of these will come to play in their Spring/Summer runway show next week—shots of small-batch tequila, anyone?—but until then, take a peek inside their world. (P.S. Laura, happy belated birthday!) 
 

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Our Current Obsessions:

To know: Sylvia Sleigh, a feminist artist known for her realist paintings of nude men posed in positions women typically held in historic art 

To eat: Musso and Frank’s spumoni cake

To drink: Casa Dragones tequila 

To play: Records on repeat 

To hear: Body/Head, Kim Gordon and Bill Nace's experimental electric guitar group 

To read: James Joyce

To wear: Our Fall/Winter 2014 butterfly jewelry made with Swarovski crystals

To watch: Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977), starring Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Janice Rule 

To love: Dogs! 

Shop all Rodarte here

Rodarte designers Laura (left) and Kate (right) Mulleavy. Photo courtesy of Autumn de Wilde Sylvia Sleigh is a feminist artist known for her realist paintings of nude men. Photos courtesy of Rodarte 

A slice of heaven, also known as Musso and Frank's spumoni cake 

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, four...

The Mulleavy sisters like their vinyl 

The secret to a killer collection? Late nights in the studio and lots of Body/Head 

Even i

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In The Studio With Max Lamb

September 1, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Home is where you make it. No one knows this better than British designer Max Lamb, the mastermind behind the design of the OC Shoreditch pop-up store. And now that he's wrapped up his first retail space, we caught up with the designer at his live-in work studio in North London.

A large-scale refurbishment close to Turnpike Lane tube station, the former industrial space is an ongoing project in and of itself, but for Lamb and his wife, Gemma, it's home. Among the speckled granite kitchen, Icelandic sheepskins, and polyurethane-coated polystyrene foam, Lamb talks about inspirations, his creative process, and how he came to a live in an unusual pocket of London.

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SHAWANA GROSVENOR: Opening Ceremony Shoreditch at the Ace Hotel looks amazing. Can you tell me about your inspiration behind the design of the store?
MAX LAMB: The inspiration came from a variety of different sources, but I think, first and foremost, it came from the brief that Opening Ceremony sent me. It really was [about] trying to find the right use of space before I was able to identify how to realize it, like which materials to use—that came later. 

I read that you're originally from Cornwall; how did growing up in this part of the UK influence your work?
I’m very passionate about Cornwall. It’s a place where I think I was forced into being creative—it’s an isolated county. You’re forced to make your own entertainment... I investigated the landscape in a very physical, immediate way and became in tune with the materials of nature. Not that I specialize solely in using natural materials in my work now, but definitely, a lot of those materials that I was exposed to as a young boy feed into my work now.

Where do you seek inspiration?
It varies. I think if I look back at my work, say six years ago or maybe even eight years ago, it was a time when I wasn’t really designing and making objects for anybody in particular. I was just exploring my own abilities and creativity, and the way that I did that was by investigating industry. Many of the quarries these days are still operated by hand; they’re still very physical, human processes of extracting material from the ground. And yet it is an industry that is being industrialized. But just understanding how I as a designer, as a person, can engage and interact with it, and sort of add something to the process that perhaps is adding a value to the material or to the process. So, it’s a marriage between industry and hand, to create functional objects that have a value beyond their raw material.

Your live/work space seems like an exciting project. Can you tell me how you came to be based here?
We explained [to the real estate agent that] we were looking for an old industrial building and something that might be possible to get planning permission to live in. He said, "That’s funny; my boss is friends with a mosque who is trying to sell because it's growing. It's this funny building; it might not be suitable, but do you want to have a look?" So we came and we put an offer in straight away and here we are! We were intimately involved from the outset, physically and, I suppose, intellectually. A lot of the work that we put into it is both Gemma and I. Using materials that we have either wanted to use, been excited to use, and haven’t had a reason to use them previously or they are materials that we have been working with in our respective practices. 

Do you have any favorite

Simon Says: 'Do It With Passion'

September 1, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Here at OC, we are struck by how often we end up in everyday conundrums. The ones that land you in the thick of semi (or full-blown) awkwardness, or maybe, the doghouse. 

So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to wax poetic on subway etiquette and relationships in old age.

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Q: What's the polite order of giving up one's seat on a subway? Is this a dying art?

A: Far from being a dying art, it is in fact something you should actively seek to do on a daily basis. Once I’m on the train, my eyes continually scan for a carriage sighting. When I spot a likely recipient, I stand fully and indicate the seat is free for them. Simply asking if they want the seat doesn’t work as few want to feel obligated to a stranger. Rarely does the gesture go unnoticed, and while of course that isn’t the point, it is a good way to remind people that the age of chivalry is not entirely lost.

Practice Random Acts of Chivalry to complete strangers; it’s a wonderful tonic for our otherwise entirely selfish existence.


Q: How necessary is passion versus companionship?

Without passion what are we, really? I’m passionate about how much I hate Fox "News." I’m passionate about how much I love good espresso. I’m passionate about universal healthcare. The point is that if you’re going to feel anything, do anything, including being a companion, then do it with passion. What’s the point of being passive? If that’s all you feel then why bother in the first place? I’m passionate about being passionate. I see couples in their 80s walking down the street holding hands and it makes me so happy. Sure they’re companions, but I bet they’re passionate about it. The couple that recently died within hours of each other after being together for 62 years––imagine the passion there.

Simon Collins

NYFW Survival Cards: Pack Snacks

September 1, 2014, 9:00 pm

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It used to be, if you were getting drafted for the military or headed into the wilderness, you would leave with a stack of survival cards. These cards, often coated in durable plastic, would illustrate trap and snare diagrams and come with instructions on how to purify drinking water or survive an avalanche—all very necessary if you're weathering harsh conditions. 

OK, so—by no means are we comparing New York Fashion Week (which starts tomorrow) to a longish camping expedition, but it can get pretty funky out there. Even for that second-row editor who is on her umpteenth "kiss kiss" and nimbly maneuvers Lincoln Center down to Milk like she's working her own private grid and incessantly posts to Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, and doesn't stop for a bite of food, just a few sharp inhales of calorie-free air—the next nine days will be a bit of a bender. 

To the rescue: Opening Ceremony's NYFW Survival Cards. Designed by the French-born, London-based graphic designer Jean Jullien, this is our take on keeping calm despite the elements. The first on deck—"Pack Snacks"—features OC's checkered Izzy bag and a big ol' pizza, a not-so-subtle reminder to snub out that cigarette and stash something to eat between shows. This writer likes Haribo Ginger-Lemon gummies and raw cashews, in (sometimes) equal measure. 

Print these cards out, save 'em on your iPhone, and see you in playland (hopefully not in Standing). 
Pizza to go. Illustration by Jean Jullien 

Opening Ceremony Checkered Suede Izzy Handbag in white multi

Beach Boys: Acne Fall/Winter 2014

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

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This season, Acne Studios founder and creative director Jonny Johansson steered the Acne men's collection away from typical fall inspiration territory and into the frigid depths of the Scandinavian waters. Johansson's latest collection for the Swedish brand examines transitional beach weather while digging deep into the winter pastels and billowing shapes that mimic the waves. Talk about a body of water. 

Subliminal messages come into play with buzz words such as "Spectacular Sensation" and "You First" printed onto sweatshirts, while functional green parkas and sandy wool crewnecks give the collection a washed-up-on-the-shore feel. Hues, meanwhile, are as lush, rich, and bubbly as your favorite brand of Champagne. And let's face it—what's more celebration-worthy than a parka that features a detachable down lining? Say cheers to winter walks and enough bubbly to keep you warm in the beach house this fall season.

Shop all Acne Studios men's here Selo Bomber Jacket in dusty pink Chet Zip Cardigan in grey melangeMax Satin Trousers in dusty pink  College Photo Sweatshirt in off white Clifton O Chunky Sweater in beige College Slogan Sweatshirt in black Sam T Moleskin Trousers in white Montreal Parka Jacket in dark green

Tension & Release: The Two Faces Of January

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

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To watch The Two Faces of January is like plunging into a swimming pool. Spartan and luxurious, it fazes you with its clear chill and faintly blue glow. Set in the early 1960s, the movie centers on the sudden relationship of three Americans in Greece: the MacFarlands, spouses from mismatched generations (Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst), and Rydal, a young American tour guide (Oscar Isaac).

Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, director Hossein Amini’s screen adaptation crystallizes the perverse attraction to dangerous strangers (a revisited theme for Amini, who wrote the screenplay for Nicolas Winding Refn's neo-noir crime film Drive). While Chester and Collette MacFarland attempt to outrun a Ponzi-type scheme that Chester orchestrated in the states, Chester violently confronts a private detective hired by angry shareholders, and Rydal volunteers to aid their escape from Athens.

Here, the characters find themselves bound to one another, inextricable from the moment of acquaintance. And much like this untrustworthy trio, the film moves with subtle sleights of hand. The tone shifts seamlessly but completely—in the span of just a few minutes, Collette and Rydal are dancing on a patio dewed in a happy sheen, while Chester lounges with a nightcap. Suddenly, their carefree Horos-like stepping seems hubristic, and a dangerous shadow sets over them. The twinkling of the night sky fades as they desperately heave their luggage to the river, all locked in mistrusting step with one another.

Much of the movie takes place during the day, under the heat of the Mediterranean sun. The brightness does better work than shadowy alleyways to reveal the dark flaws marking these characters. There's a low-grade anxiety that comes through, like the stressful glow of sweat breaking out over their foreheads and cheeks. The movie builds to this whirring, absorbing buzz, cracking through their unflappable con-artist veneers.

Dunst as Collete is particularly stunning, her face shifting from flirtatious, fearsome, forgiving, and fierce. Her best moments come while she negotiates between the two men. After leaving Athens, she flips her hair and lightly chastises them for acting surly when she is “finally in a good mood.” Collete is playing down that her pleasure comes from her fortuitous seat in the love triangle as she leans back and arches her smile. The costumes for Collete are just as precise; she’s clothed in glamorous, Elizabeth Taylor-esque sheaths. The movie opens with her and Mortensen by the Parthenon, in a light summer suit and a pillar of a yellowish pale dress, both as elongated and deceptive as the curved columns.

And Isaac, with his five o’clock shadow creeping in like a threat to his composure, is similarly fascinating as the sneaky, steady Rydel. He’s a man ambivalent about his alienation, who picks the wrong battles to fight his loneliness. He almost lets himself believe that by conning Colette and Chester, he will entrance the pair of them even more. On one leg of their travels on an over-heated bus, Rydel suggests that the spouses not attract notice from the authorities and sit apart. He possesses a coiled thrill while waiting to see who claims his company, like an unpopular child, whose pleasure that he will get a seatmate outweighs the embarrassment of using trickery to acquire one.

The Two Faces of January captures a consummate relationship triangle. These characters are like three ill-matched legs of a stool; the seat will balance but its off-kilter and unsettled. It’s the sudden reliance upon a third person that is the most intriguing part of this contemporary version of Highsmith's story. The dependence on a stranger in a strange land seems like an unlikely necessity in today's context, when a wealthy couple could be aided by the guidance of ever-presen

Obsessions: Adam Selman

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Straight Trippin: Coperni In The South Of France

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Despite what modern psychology tells us, obsession can be a good thing. Remember—it was the whipsmart Susan Sontag who said, "Never worry about being obsessive. I like obsessive people. Obsessive people make great art." For this very reason, in our new series, we ask our friends what they currently can't live, breathe, or go another second without.

Below, designer Adam Selman's picks of the moment, including the 1986 TV-movie Beverly Hills Madam (think pearls and opulent fur coats), Maui Babe browning lotion, and dishwear by Amy Sedaris. In other words, the kind of retro glamour we can't wait to see more of at the designer's Spring/Summer 2015 show. Check this space for updates, and for Adam's Fall/Winter 2014 collection arriving soon!

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My Current Obsessions:

To watch: Beverly Hills Madam with Faye Dunaway 
To wear: Converse classic Chucks
To use: Maui Babe Browning Lotion, La Roche Posay Active C Wrinkle Treatment, Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum, GlamGlow, Epicuren Toner, Clarisonic
To eat: Using BFF Amy Sedaris' dining set for Fishs Eddy
To read: Good summer books or Japanese illustrator Harumi Yamaguchi's Gals






Photos courtesy of Adam Selman

 

Straight Trippin: Coperni In The South Of France

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: When Crimea, Youth Culture, And Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy Collide...

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In Straight Trippin', OC friends and family share tidbits from their latest travels. This time, Sebastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant of Paris-based womenswear brand Coperni share snaps from their recent trip through the South of France.

Names: Sebastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant of Coperni
Occupation: Designers
Travel destination: Southern France (Saint-Tropez, Marseille, Sanary)
Carry-on necessities: Friends
Weirdest thing in your suitcase: Women's clothes... for our girlfriends
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: "Brigitte Bardot" the La Madrague MRCO remix, "Say You'll Be There" by Mo, "Detian" by Weval, "Latch (Acoustic)" by Sam Smith, and "The Weight of Love" by The Black Keys
Favorite outfit to travel in: Shirts and shorts
Highlight of your trip: Being with friends on top of La Cité Radieuse, Le Corbusier in Marseille, having fun at Lolita in Saint-Tropez, being with family at home in Sanary-Sur-Mer, and visiting the incredible Villa Savoye from architect Le Corbusier in Poissy
Souvenirs you brought back: GigglesSébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant during their trip through le sud de la FranceClimbing the stairs at the Vallon Des Auffes, a fishing village in Marseille
Rooftop views and lots of boats
Is there anywhere you'd rather be than boating in Saint-Tropez?
OK, maybe hanging out poolside in Saint-Tropez.Cheers! Making friends with the cougars of Saint-Tropez
With friends (and a great J.W. Anderson sweater) at the end of the nightSpotted: flowers that are even lovelier at nightSébastien and Arnaud's view of the Villa Savoye, a Le Corbusier house in Poissy
SébastienArnaud strikes a serious pose
Arnaud

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When Crimea, Youth Culture, And Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy Collide...

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

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It was an international affair to say the least. Moscow-born designer Gosha Rubchinskiy recently sat down with Marfa Journal founder, Alexandra Gordienko, at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, to discuss the creative's new short film, Transfiguration. Filmed two years ago in a derelict, remote area of St. Petersburg city called New Holland, the work equates to a year's worth of menswear design; instead of fashion, Rubchinskiy focused entirely on photography and film.

Transfiguration features the city's close-knit skate community and follows the journey of young skaters. Amongst the experimental soundtrack, we gain insight into Russia's past though scores by Igor Stravinsky as well as striking close-ups and visuals of the area. It is a thought-evoking documentary, which reveals the close friendships in the skate community prior to the political crisis. At the same time, it reveals part of the vision behind the Gosha Rubchinskiy brand.

To get the full scope, we sat down with the designer and talked all things Crimea, skate culture, and the future of fashion. 

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SHAWANA GROSVENOR: Let's start by talking about your new photozine Crimea / Kids; can you tell me how this project came about?
GOSHA RUBCHINSKIY: Last year I visited Crimea, as my friends live there. I did some shooting whilst I was there and archived the pictures. Then ICA invited me to do a talk, and we planned to do something special for this—maybe a zine—and it seemed like a good idea to show this archive because of the situation with Crimea and Ukraine. I wanted to show the normal life of the kids growing up there, to show the beauty. 

Your work transcends the label; it encompasses design, music, and photography, which collectively reflect your vision. Did fashion always seem like a natural outlet for your creativity?
It's all different parts of one project, but fashion can help to show more of my ideas. It’s all the same thing for me—photography, music, design—they all feed into one another and explore the brand. 

How do you see your aesthetic evolving over time?
It's about my friends—all of them are skateboarders, but my ideas are more than skating. It’s about how I translate my ideas from hanging out with these guys. At the moment we are working on a new video project, but it takes time! I’m concentrating more on my fashion brand, to grow it because we had our first show in Paris this year, and I’m working on the next show in January. 

Your F/W '14 collection entitled "Epic Aces" references the current skate community in Moscow as well at 1980s downtown culture in New York; can you tell me about your specific inspirations within these movements? 
You can see what other people are doing in different parts of the world, say New York, Paris, Moscow, or Shanghai by looking on Instagram. It's easier now to see how young kids dress and what looks good in their mind. It's easier to feel the mood of today. So, this collection Epic Aces, it's all about what kids think today in New York and Moscow. There are the same moods of the late '80s, early '90s, inspired by artists such as Keith Haring, Basquiat, this crazy fake fur, club kids, and the early Supreme era. That’s why we use "it's fucking awesome" as the slogan in Russian. I see what is happening in New York as an extension of the same idea, and we have the Epic Aces skate team in Moscow, so I did this print letting in Russian but it looks like "it’s fucking awesome" to connect two cities, to connect two parties. This coll

Institutions: New York's Omen

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Diners ladle sesame seeds onto noodles and sip sake that overflows from square wooden cups. Delicate rice paper lanterns, emitting soft light, sway to jazz piping from speakers. Framed calligraphy hangs from aged red brick walls.            

This scene has changed little inside Omen, since opening in SoHo in 1981. Despite unassuming appearances, the Japanese restaurant is a beloved haunt for members of the art and fashion world. Patti Smith, Karl Lagerfeld, Terry Richardson, Stefano Tonchi, and Franca Sozzani all frequent this calming space, with rarely a gawking diner in sight. The creative director Doug Lloyd once referred to it as an “industry canteen.” And yet, the restaurant has escaped much pretension. Reservations are not hard to secure—we wager that you can call up and get a table for two tonight, with no arm-twisting. 

Precisely why Omen became an institution is hard to pinpoint, but some of it probably has to do with the restaurant’s owner, Mikio Shinagawa, a serene man whose presence and signature silver hair lends to Omen’s atmosphere as much as anything. The one time when things can get a little more heated in the kitchen? During New York Fashion Week, which kicked off earlier today. With that in mind, Opening Ceremony sat down with Shinagawa, 59, about what it's like to run his unique establishment.

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ALEX VADUKUL: How did Omen come to be?
MIKIO SHINAGAWA: Before I became a Buddhist, I was living in New York as a painter. My parents came to the city for the first time to visit me in the late '70s. I had shaved my head. They saw me wearing a black monk costume. After two weeks, they felt this community, this society, was so unhealthy. They felt American culture needed better food. So, after returning to Japan, they asked me if I’d like to run a restaurant here. [Editor's note: Shinagawa’s parents were restaurateurs in Tokyo] It was a dynamite question. I didn’t know. I was practicing Buddhism. But I eventually decided that everything we do in this life, even running a restaurant, can be practice in making life richer, brighter. 

Regulars appreciate Omen’s almost Zen-like atmosphere. Is there a philosophy behind the restaurant? 
My parents had two ideas which the restaurant was built on. One was to make this society healthier. And two, they wanted to introduce the idea of East meets West. They felt America had helped Japan after 1945. They wanted to return the favor in a way. They felt: “We learn so many things from the West. Maybe they can learn from the East.” 

Despite its discreet atmosphere, some of Omen’s longtime regulars are influential members of the art and fashion community. Creative people seem drawn to your restaurant. What do you make of your customers?
The people that come here make this place alive. We are just the glass for them to get together. We do our best to make the best food we can. We have lots of love, and those wanting the love come here. What they experience here, it is all of us just communicating to each other. We learn and understand from each other. I appreciate people with beautiful minds. There is one thing I don’t like: ego. I respect egoless people. We hope to teach young people what is real. What is egoless. 

You believe food can teach that?
We’re hoping so. What is real is what’s real. That’s the message in our statement. Fake is like makeup; it doesn’t last. True things, they grow heading up to the sky.

Part of your job involves frequently travelling to Japan.

NYFW Survival Cards: No Lost Moments

September 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

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It used to be, if you were getting drafted for the military or headed into the wilderness, you would leave with a stack of survival cards—all very necessary if you're weathering harsh, elemental conditions. By no means are we comparing New York Fashion Week to a longish camping expedition, but it can get pretty funky out there. To the rescue: Opening Ceremony's NYFW Survival Cards. 

The second in our series is "No Lost Moments." When someone says to you, "take a picture, it'll last longer," the remark is usually tied to some snide connotation, like "stop gawking at me, you creeper." But this week, we're all exempt. Capture those moments to tape on your 'fridge or save as a desktop screensaver. Today we saw a little boy with a nimbus of gorgeous black curls wearing dinosaur-print pajamas, carrying a bubble gun down Canal—pretty damn cute, though not your industry standard catwalk. 

Featured here is the Wi-Fi ready Leica C, which the Opening Ceremony blog team is currently using to document our favorite looks off the runway. Love that lemony, Lynchian Kenzo textured-crepe coat as much as the lensman? You don't have to sit on your hands to nab that one—it's available on our site, right now. 


We're rolling out a new card every day this week. Check them all out, here! 


I see you baby. Illustration by Jean Jullien  Kenzo Textured Crepe Double Face Coat in lemon Leica C Camera in light gold Leica C Twist Case in light gold 

Four Seasons Strong: DKNY For Opening Ceremony Fall/Winter 2014

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: On View: KARA's OC-Exclusive Backpacks

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With all of the metallic silvers and extra-baggy silhouettes present in the Fall/Winter DKNY for Opening Ceremony collection, you wonder if the line’s curator, revered downtown stylist Jay Massacret, had any assistance from music video legend Hype Williams. The collection recalls the popular fashions during the golden era of hip-hop with a newly-imagined urban twist. Think: comfy sweats featuring varying DKNY logos, extra-long tees, and silver unisex puffer jackets—which are perfectly accessorized with a retro Nextel flip phone, of course.

For the past four seasons, Massacret has been working with OC co-founder Humberto Leon on selecting pieces from DKNY's archive to recreate with a modern touch. This season, aluminum foil-tinted puffer jackets and beanies emblazoned with the DKNY logo combine to perfect a look straight from Sincere's closet in Belly. With all of the downtown vibes and nostalgic cuts in the collection, we think Missy Elliott and Puff would approve. 

Shop all DKNY for Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s
L to R: DKNY Athletic Tag & Logo Tee in white, DK '91 Logo Sweatpants in heather grey, DKNY Logo Long-Sleeve Tee in heather grey, DKNY Athletic Tag & Logo Tee in black, DK '91 Logo Sweatpants in black, DKNY Logo Long-Sleeve Tee in black
DKNY Athletic Tag & Logo Hooded Dress in heather grey DKNY Athletic Tag & Logo Long-Sleeve Tee in pale heather grey and DK '91 Logo Sweatpants in black 
DKNY Athletic Tag & Logo Puffer Jacket in silver

On View: KARA's OC-Exclusive Backpacks

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Despite the absurd heat wave wreaking havoc on New York City, it's all eyes on autumn—and a consummate wardrobe change. We're finally ready to swap out our breezy pieces and pastels for darker tones and luxe accessories. Thankfully, KARA’s new lineup does just that.

Introducing suede into her collection, designer Sarah Law added to her signature sturdy pebbled leather backpacks and Stowaway bags with panels of navy and forest, perfectly contrasting in both texture and color. 

 

For her OC-exclusive pieces, the designer pulled inspiration from Russian painter Kazimir Malevich, whose stark, geometric paintings prompted the simple shapes patched onto the bag's front. “He led the way in geometric abstract art and founded the Suprematism movement," Law explained to us. "From a design perspective, I love this sentiment. With KARA, I constantly look for the simplest way to express my ideas.” 

Law also teamed up with photographer Sergiy Barchuk to shoot the bags in an idyllic environment. "The concept behind the shoot was my childhood memories in Eastern Europe. I wanted to incorporate very commonplace household objects that I encountered at my grandmother's dacha," Barchuk told us. Fine china, doilies, and bold wallpapers juxtapose perfectly against the crispness of the unvarnished сумка (Russian for bag).

 

Take a look at the slideshow images, shot especially for Opening Ceremony by Barchuk, and shop the entire KARA collection here.

Small Round Foil Stamp Suede Backpack in cream/black. Photos bySergiy Barchuk

Small Round Foil Stamp Suede Backpack in cream/black

Small Round Foil Stamp Suede Backpack in cream/black

Small Round Foil Stamp Suede Backpack in cream/black

Small Square Foil Stamp Suede Backpack in cream/black

Most Wanted: Kenzo Wool Bomber Jacket

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

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"Most Wanted" presents our favorite and most coveted items available at OC.

Nothing screams hot like having the word "Fire" needlepunch-stitched onto the back of your wool bomber. This season, Kenzo took a walk on the Lynchian side with a collection inspired by the cult-TV show Twin Peaks. In the show, the phrase "fire walk with me" appears on a scrap of paper left at a crime scene, while on the Kenzo Tartan Blur Felt Wool Bomber Jacket, the emblem is surrounded by a multi-colored grid of black, deep purple, and silver-white wool. As soon as you zip up this bomber, you'll be looking as sexy as a young Sherilyn Fenn and ready for the brisk Twin Peaks weather ahead. 

Shop all Kenzo hereKenzo Tartan Blur Felt Wool Bomber Jacket worn with Kenzo Lurex Squares Jacquard Pleated Skirt

OC Tearsheet & Backstage Pass: Tigran Avetisyan S/S 2015

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to NYFW S/S 2015. This season, we're doing things a little differently — with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Check out last night's Tigran Avetisyan Spring/Summer 2015 show and make sure to check out the up-and-coming Russian designer's Fall/Winter 2014 collection in OC stores now and online soon! 

Want more from New York Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on S/S 2015, right here. 









Photos by Matthew Kelly Backstage access! Ruth Gruca and Heron PrestonLadyfagNicola Formichetti (center) Kayrizz (left) and friend 

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OC Tearsheet and Backstage Pass: D.TT.K Spring/Summer 2015

August 31, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Antiheroes: Artist Laurina Paperina Pokes Fun At Celebrity

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Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to NYFW S/S 2015. This season, we're doing things a little differently — with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Check out last night's D.TT.K Spring/Summer 2015 show and make sure to check out the Tokyo-based designer's Fall/Winter 2014 collection online and in OC stores!

Want more from this year's New York Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on S/S 2015, right here.
Photos by Matthew KellyLea DeLaria from Orange is the New Black Anna Trevelyan (right) and friendMiyako Bellizzi (left) and friendEric Schlosberg (left) and Elizabeth Ammerman (far right) D.TT.K designer Detto Kazuma 

Antiheroes: Artist Laurina Paperina Pokes Fun At Celebrity

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: NYFW Survival Cards: Charge Up

≪ Previous: OC Tearsheet and Backstage Pass: D.TT.K Spring/Summer 2015

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If you ask folks what defines a "hero," you may get everything from a resounding choir of empowered adjectives to descriptions of caped crusaders saving Gotham, one crying child at a time. But if you ask Italian artist Laura Scottini, who goes by the moniker Laurina Paperina, you'll get gut-busting interpretations of pop culture’s most influential figures being bludgeoned, eaten, stabbed, or suffocated. Sounds...fun? 

The artist's sardonic cultural commentary elicits more than just a good giggle about the modern zeitgeist—it serves as a reminder that celebrity doesn't exist on some higher, untouchable plane. Take the cartoon-like pieces in Paperina’s upcoming solo show Proud To Be A Hero, hosted at San Francisco gallery Fouladi Projects (which recently hosted HBO Girls actress and sometimes-painter, Jemima Kirke). Opening tomorrow evening, the show is a playful intersection between paying homage and poking fun. “The world is bad enough to make sad art,” Paperina explained to Opening Ceremony. “I want to have fun and make people smile—even entertain them.” And, entertain she does, as we see a nude Miley Cyrus’ imminent death on a blood-drenched ball and chain (giving a very literal meaning to her hit "Wrecking Ball") or a Takashi Murakami beheaded by his own floral creations.

Morbid? Nah, it’s just the artist's approach to tapping both ends of the spectrum, “Everybody could be a hero but at the same time everybody could be a villain.” Take a look through the slideshow for a sneak preview and the artist's quotes. 

Proud To Be A Hero runs September 5 through October 18 

Fouladi Projects
1803 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
MAP "I've created artwork that presents an ironic commentary in response to current events related to the art, music, and film world." —Laurina Paperina. Pharrell Williams, 12"x12", mixed media on paper. All photos courtesy of Fouladi Projects
"Usually, the victims of my works are contemporary heroes that are famous, rich, and cool artists and celebrities. So, it's like saying, 'I love you, but I'll kill you.'" Takashi Murakami, 12" x 12", mixed media on paper  
"'Proud to be a hero' is an ironic phrase. With this exhibition, I'd like to show the human side of contemporary heroes." Miley Cyrus, 12"x12", mixed media on paper "I find inspiration from when I hear music, talk with people, watch television, play video games- as well as from real life, food, magazines, films, music, duck males, the internet, pizz

NYFW Survival Cards: Charge Up

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Introducing MICA, Where Jewelry Meets Wearable Tech

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It used to be, if you were getting drafted for the military or headed into the wilderness, you would leave with a stack of survival cards—all very necessary if you're weathering harsh, elemental conditions. By no means are we comparing New York Fashion Week to a longish camping expedition, but it can get pretty funky out there. To the rescue: Opening Ceremony's NYFW Survival Cards.

There's nothing worse than trying to connect to the world with a dead phone. (Sure, you could probably just talk to whoever you're with, no distractions, but who wants that?) The third in our special-to-OC, Jean Jullien series reminds showgoers to "Charge Up." Juicing—and no, not the Josh Kline, $11 dollar bottle kind of juicing—is easy enough from our duvet covers or hard-wired desks, but when lost in the crowd, hand to iPad to iPhone to BlackBerry, you're bound to hit empty before the night is over. 

Luckily, there are chargers to-go. We're partial to the super kawaii ones by Cheero—the compact Japanese-import is a stand-out in our OC Tech Shop, and let's you charge your iPhone fully, up to five times, before having to plug Cheero back into an outlet. As for that solemn little face? Say "hi" to Danboard—apparently he's big in Japan and comes in new, yummy colors like matcha, vanilla, strawberry, and mint. 

 

We're rolling out a new card every day this week. Check them all out, here!

Entanglement. Illustration by Jean Jullien  The Cheero Danboard Power Plus in mint 

Introducing MICA, Where Jewelry Meets Wearable Tech

September 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Super Kawaii: Niels Peeraer Fall/Winter 2014

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Seen the reviews from Fast Company and the New York Times? The news is true: this winter, Opening Ceremony and Intel will debut MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory), the first bracelet to fuse luxury jewelry with wearable tech. Featuring semi-precious stones as well as a 1.6-inch sapphire touch screen, the eye-catching yet subtle piece is a world away bulky, athletic-inspired wearables. "With MICA, there's no compromise on technology or aesthetics," OC creative director Humberto Leon told us. "It's as intelligent as it is well-designed." Check out Collier Schorr's photos of MICA above, in black snakeskin with pearls and lapis and white snakeskin with tiger's eye and obsidian. And watch this space for more details on exactly what you'll be able to do with your MICA... 

MICA, designed by Opening Cermeony and engineered by Intel. Photos by Collier Schorr

MICA in white snakeskin with tiger's eye and obsidian

MICA in black snakeskin with pearls and lapis

Shop MICA in Opening Ceremony stores this holiday season.
 

Super Kawaii: Niels Peeraer Fall/Winter 2014

September 4, 2014, 9:00 pm

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If Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku army were still around today, we’re sure they would covet Niels Peeraer’s latest collection. Featuring a perfect mix of gothic Lolita meets fashion culture, the Belgian designer crafts beautifully designed leather accessories that appeal to even those with the most minimal of style. 

With the mantra "There is no limit to cuteness,” it’s no wonder the brand has a cult following. The Niels Peeraer girl is a master in mixing and matching these luxe bags and cuffs with everything from lacy, black gowns and knee-high socks to platform sneakers. It's an elevated take on schoolgirl-chic. And despite the cutesy appeal, Peeraer’s sculptural visors and necklaces almost resemble pieces of art.

Furthermore, the designer has a serious background in leather working. For his 2011 Master’s collection at The Royal Fashion Academy in Antwerp, he collaborated with Delavaux, the oldest leather house in the world, founded in Belgium in 1820. From there, he started what we now know as his own label, worldwide.

Peeraer’s pieces show the recurring theme of contrast between feminine and masculine identity. The stiff, rough leather work looks striking when shaped into winding, blooming bows. With all that girlishness, there’s an uncomfortable sense of innocence buried in these luxury pieces—and we love that.

Shop all Niels Peeraer hereNiels Peeraer Bow Buckle Bag Baby
Niels Peeraer Seasonal Bag M
Niels Peeraer Double Bow Buckle Shoulder Bag
Niels Peeraer Double Bow Buckle Backpack Tote M
Niels Peeraer Double Bow Buckle Tote Backpack L
Niels Peeraer Wander N7 Tote L