Balenciaga Questions XI

1. Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2008
2. Mary Katrantzou Fall/Winter 2012

And yes, also the visually opulent, the post-Baroque hourglass puppet dress has existed before. Dipped in metallic pastels and endowed with filigree, romantic details, the versions of Mary and Nicolas don't differ much.
/HORST

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Wanderlust

1. Gerhard Richter 'Mountains' 1968
2. Lanvin Fall/Winter 2010
3. Christopher Shannon Spring/Summer 2011
4. Gaetano Pesce 'Montanara' couch

I got lost in the monotone mountain world of Gerhard Richter. A wanderer in the mood for water-repellent Gore-Tex and neoprene. But it was just a quantum mirage. In reality, I got lost in crinkled white sheets.
/HORST

Perplexions

A false encyclopaedic guide to fashion history, presenting:
Alexander van Slobbe Spring/Summer 1999

1. Céline Fall/Winter 2011
2. Raf Simons Spring/Summer 2012
3. Darren Coffield 'Episodical' 2010

A boyish face. Sleek, wet hair groomed into a perfectly gentle, curly wave. A sleeveless vest. Bare arms uncovering the shadows of muscular anatomy. A photo-realistic print. This boy is carrying wood.
/HORST

L'Imitation

Trompe l'œil shoes Comme des Garçons
Snakeskin belt Comme des Garçons Homme Plus
Fake leather top Topman

Almost every piece of Comme des Garçons is a theoretical construct, an ironic construct and a deconstructed construct. The fake, the camp and the comical. For you, I'll paint my nails red.
/HORST

Desired #7

Trompe l'œil door wallpaper Maison Martin Margiela

If everything happens as planned, I would love to expand my home with further spacious, inexistent rooms. Surrounding myself with the secrets and possibilities of a newly created endless space.
/HORST

Paranormal Stroke Fight

Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2008 vs. Trompe l'œil installation

Floating strokes creating 3D illusions of a high-gloss surface. A visual hybrid of stiff plastic and reflective metal. Floating strokes haphazardly taking over the space while the result feels impossible.
/HORST

Late Adopter

Comme des Garçons Fall/Winter 2009

Quick cry for help. Where can I (still) get these utterly adorable toe-printed shoes? Better late than never. Any advice will be worshipped with an air kiss and endless thankfulness.
/HORST

Intrigue, das Ränkespiel

Jean-Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 1994 & Paolo Roversi

The beautiful thing about fashion is that you will never be satisfied. Each obsession will find its continuation in another obsession. Fashion is the eternal search for perfection in that exact moment. And therefore it is fundamentally needed.
/HORST

M + MMM

1. René Magritte In Memoriam Mack Sennett (1934)

2. Maison Martin Margiela Trompe l'œil dress



Look me in the eye and tell me I am fake.

/HORST

Monolythic III

1. Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2011

2. Oskar Zieta Plopp stool



The anti-fur, pro-vegan mash-up of Jeff Koons and Isa Genzken. Polished silver plates, crunched. Presumably non-disposable, non-recyclable. Foreverwear. The perfect addition to any private collection.

/HORST

Petrarca's Heir II

Artworks Keith Farqhar

Torso sculptures. Obviously carrying the traces of weather conditions. Seemingly being torso sculptures. In fact, they are flat cardboard cutouts. Mounted on cubic pedestals.
/HORST

Monolythic II

1. Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2011
2. Anne de Vries Cave 2 Cave

And what is the result of all the research? The desire to wear a pair of silver painted trousers. A fluorescent metallic T-shirt. Or an early 90s, shiny polyester shirt by Dolce & Gabbana.
/HORST

Horst Decoration, Issue 1

1. New Berlin Sofa Acne, Door Wallpaper Maison Martin Margiela
2. Bottle Dryer as chandelier Marcel Duchamps, Venus with Drawers Salvador Dalí
3. Quaderna Table Zanotta, Pineapple Glass Lamp La Maison

Welcome to my surrealist home. Strictly dominated by trompe l'œil furniture. A fake wallpaper door. An optically deformed sofa. A Venus sculpture with drawers. Main materials include concrete, tiles and marble à la Jil Sander FW08.
/HORST

Sympathisant

Wendy & Jim Spring/Summer 2001 - Fall/Winter 2007

What do I like about Wendy & Jim? The notion that its wearer has just escaped a mental hospital. Or is still drunk from the night before. It translates confusion. Can somebody now please help me with that strait jacket?!
/HORST

Image credits cfa

Wet Dreams

Ann-Sofie Back Atelje Spring/Summer 2011

Praise this woman. There is a masochistic sensuality to the pieces. Pierced throats. Wet look dresses. Trompe l'œil fantasies in 3D. If I had to name a head designer for my surreal womanswear line, it'll be her.
/HORST

Optical Reflection

Top René Magritte, La Reproduction Interdit (1937)
Bottom Rokeby Venus, René Magritte (1651)

Images of imaginary vanity. I am wondering: How is the phenomenon called depicting a mirror image that is seemingly endlessly multiplied in itself? Who knows the technical term and can name examples of its appearance in popular culture?
/HORST

Thin Line

Furniture Acne

After a disappointing 'no sale' shopping day I escaped into the mysterious and rather addictive voids of online shopping. The virtual shopping cart remained empty but I rediscovered another object of desire.
/HORST