Kastenflimmern

1. Hero Magazine editorial by Takay
2. Comme des Garçons Spring/Summer 2012
3. Comme des Garçons Spring/Summer 2001
4. Comme des Garçons Spring/Summer 1997

Since I remain indifferent towards the use of colour in my own wardrobe, a pattern approach might be the most logical, complex and visually appropriate equivalent. Preferably op-art in black and white. Comme please.
/HORST

Straps & Strings IV

1. Lonely Hearts Lookbook
2. Unknown

Not being able to wear a bra and reveal its construction may be a temporarily hurtful deficit for the male human - as long as its principle will not establish itself in latter's wardrobe.
/HORST

Straps & Strings

1. Unknown
2. 'Paris Playground' by Steeve Beckouet

This is a prequel. A retrospective series of contemporary strapping. The German word 'Strapse' might be worth being looked up and explored in depth. In the meanwhile, we are tie-lacing the torso in a non-sexual manner with sexual connotations.
/HORST

Balenciaga Questions XII

1. Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2009
2. Ports 1961 Fall/Winter 2012

Some collections appear as a congregation of Balenciaga stencils. Traced and re-assembled throughout various looks, the result is avoiding evident relation to its original source. The re-contextualization of Nicolas Ghesquière.
/HORST

View all parts of Balenciaga Questions

Vacant Manifestation

Furniture Rick Owens

Moving day is approaching and I realized 'I have nothing'. Therefore, I'll pursue the brutalist way and built a neverending temporary installation with clothes, books and magazines.
/HORST

Couples II

1. Anthony Vaccarello Spring/Summer 2012
2. Yiqing Yin Spring/Summer 2012

The 'cut and paste' dress. Two versions. One defined by sharp and severe lines, the other recurring in a haphazard gesture. Details that define a woman, pending between perfectionist glamour girl and goth amazon.
/HORST

Image credits Catwalking

When Did We Forget About Black Minimalism

1. Helmut Lang Spring/Summer 2004
2. Ecole Floating Staircase

When I look up, facing my vis-à-vis, and the person is dressed in black my eyes can rest. I can fully focus and concentrate on the spoken word. Black minimalism gives us comfort, easiness and freedom. We should do it more often.
/HORST

The Craft

1. Comme des Garçons Spring/Summer 2012
2. Issey Miyake Spring/Summer 2004
3. Arena Homme + No. 20 Autumn/Winter 2003
4. Raf Simons Spring/Summer 2008

From the forbidden love for tribal to the antithetic affection for graffiti. In particular its appearance aside concrete walls and public transport. And how long have we been waiting. Who is going to follow?
/HORST

A Short History Of Stripes In Popular Culture III

1. Véronique Branquinho Spring/Summer 2004
2. João Figueiredo Sensual Hollow
3. Frida Kahlo The Broken Column

The masochistic atripe: A darker and more vague addition to our series based on the idea of anatomic fragmentation. Here, the stripe becomes a subtle reference to self-abandonment.
/HORST

Post Paris IV

A false encyclopaedic guide to the prêt-à-porter collections for Spring/Summer 2012.
Fourth chapter: Balenciaga

1. Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2012
2. Mandarin Duck
3. Mark Rothko

Sharp, angular shapes detached from the female body. Yet their components create a technoid symbiosis built on natural references. I really enjoyed my latest visit to the zoo.
/HORST

A Short History Of Stripes In Popular Culture

fig 1. Macaulay Culkin
fig 2. Kim Thome Wardrobe in a Suitcase
fig 3. Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2011
fig 4. Oskar Schlemmer
fig 5. Yves Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane Fall/Winter 1999

The narrow black and white prison stripe: Although an iconic pattern, the regular, almost mathematic formation seems underrepresented and undocumented. Most probably due to its restrictions in optical reproduction. I'd like to propose it as eternal substitute for plaid.
/HORST

See also Stripes in the L&H Archive

Pastel Strip Fight

Lanvin Fall/Winter 2003 vs. Imi Knoebel

Zippers, belts and safety straps. Sticks, gaps and overlaps. It is rather hypnotizing to see minimalism grow in complexity. And following the functional in becoming decorative. As if there wasn't a contradiction by definition.
/HORST

Perforations

1. Unknown
2. Jürgen Teller for Vivienne Westwood

Men have recently become skin-revealing sex objects. Chest, shoulders, biceps. Tight layers. Strategically placed cutouts. Sheer fabrics, short hems. No complaints made. Or are there any reservations?
/HORST

Subjective Sentence

Damir Doma Spring/Summer 2012

To cut things short: This was my favourite collection. It summarized beautifully what I would love and love to wear. Elastic strapped waistcoat constructions. Sensual fashion priests.
/HORST