This post was actually spawned from another blogger who for the life of me, I can’t place now, even after going through my Bloglines a dozen times (by the by, I like reading I do, so if you think I should be adding you to my Bloglines please do drop me an email!). But really, this all stems back to those Acne SS08 caged skirts that I was lusting after. I’m thinking I’ll be forced to take a cheapo Ryanair flight to Stockholm over the weekend to try and seek them out if they do exist (cue knowledgeable Swede to set the record straight). Surprisingly, a different kind of cage has caught my eye and is slightly more attainable (in terms of geography anyway...). It's a softer cage of lighter proportions and it's this Comme des Garcons dress from the SS08 collection which I have basically been ‘Umming’ and ‘Ahhing’ over numerous times, over at Dover Street Market (if I continue this persistent browsing/stalking there, I’m pretty sure DSM will actually ban me from getting touchy feely with their lovely wares....).
If I remember correctly, the dress which comes in bright purple, hot pink or yellow, shades of Rei Kawakubo’s vision of ‘random cacophony’ and are about £450, which in reality is not THAT silly an amount for a dress were it not for the blatant fact that it’s quite holey and quite lacking in the fabric department. I’m ashamed to say that I’m also quite blatantly going to recreate said dress with frilly wide ribbons and see how I fare....
Oh for shame, for shame....
(From Another Magazine, SS08 issue, from the Collections feature, photographed by Daniel Jackson, styled by Marie Chaix)
For 450 pounds, and considering the lack of fabric, this one screams out for DIY. I'll bet you are capable of doing a fabulous job of recreating something along similar lines.
Posted by: bronwyn | 18 March 2008 at 12:58
Very creative and fashion-forward indeed. Although I cannot imagine styling it in the exact same way the model (i think it's missy rayder?) wore it in this photo. I'd most probably style it in the Acne way, with pants and a much more covered-up top.
Posted by: Mej (Fashiolution.Com) | 18 March 2008 at 13:00
My friend and I passed the Comme des Garcons shop in Chelsea, and as neither of us know anything about French, we tried to suss out exactly how you pronounce it. How DO you say it?
Posted by: a. | 18 March 2008 at 13:05
a.: I think the easiest way and correct way to go would be...
Com - deh - ga - s'on (light on the n sound though...)
Posted by: susie_bubble | 18 March 2008 at 13:09
wooh, go to sweden! i live there.
Posted by: julia | 18 March 2008 at 13:22
This will look great. I designed and made something similar a few years ago on a fashion and dressmaking course I did . I was recently looking for it to put a picture on my blog but can't seem to find it anywear. I was a waistcoat and I used brown and pink satin ribbons stitched over net.
Posted by: Style Eyes | 18 March 2008 at 13:47
I can't believe I haven't thought of mentioning this to you before, but I just thought of this new "custom design" feature they just added to Etsy. It's called Alchemy, and you use it by putting together a "request" for an item you would like made for yourself and how much you would ideally like to pay, and then various sellers put in "bids" on it, and then you choose who you want to make the item for you from the bidders.
I think this would be perfect for you! You have so many fabulous ideas, but clearly not enough time to make them all. There are so many talented people on Etsy, I'm sure they could make your wildest fashion dreams come true.
Of course I would be first to bid on all your requests ;)
I'm currently working on 2 alchemy requests for 2 different people and I'm finding it SOOOOO much fun to do custom stuff again!
Anyhoo, thanks for the lovely cagey post, I expect to see a pic of you wearing your creation post-haste!
xo
Angie
Posted by: Angie Montreal | 18 March 2008 at 14:03
It is very much an underwear as outer wear style - I would very much like to see you DIY this and how you would wear it!
Posted by: Natty | 18 March 2008 at 14:11
Wow, interesting! I'd like to see what you come up with, both in creating it and styling it!
Posted by: Jeanne | 18 March 2008 at 15:46
It slightly reminds me of Milla Jovovich's bandages in Fifth Element! But fancier, as if LeeLoo was going to a tea party. Love the ruffles.
Posted by: Marie | 18 March 2008 at 16:18
I like the dress. I think its very creative
Posted by: The Stiletto Effect | 18 March 2008 at 16:21
This actually looks like a fairly do-able diy project. Its a gorgeous dress, I'd wear it layered over a fairly simple slip dress.
Posted by: missmilki | 18 March 2008 at 17:26
I've never seen anything like this! It's really cool.
Posted by: enc | 18 March 2008 at 22:21
Go for it, it seems totally do-able as DIY.
And if you really want to impress people with your French, you have to roll the 'R' in Garçons ;)
Posted by: kim | 19 March 2008 at 09:10
I actually like the cage dress, but 450 is a bit much...it'd make such a cool layering piece though..
Posted by: Drusilla | 19 March 2008 at 10:37
Wow, would love to see how you wear it if you do make it!
Posted by: mica | 22 March 2008 at 01:03
I adore this dress, and the Acne cage skirts and dresses too. So I researched some cage crinolines and on the other end of the spectrum from this frilly version I found this one on another blog, styled by a model named Manamu for a 2005 Absolut Vodka ad!
http://www.carmenyuen.com/blog/blogpics/080214_absolut1.jpg
Posted by: Diana B | 24 March 2008 at 00:17