Designer Focus - Max Kibardin

It can be awfully hard to keep up with all of the great fashion talent from all over the world. Luckily the Internet makes it easier to create connections and bring focus to work that we may never see.

Max Kibardin has had a few years' worth of collections and has gained some great recognition but is just now getting more prominence outside of Europe. It seems that currently Saks has some level of exclusivity for selling pieces from his collection, although they are not comprehensive... but I'm sure that you could order more directly or track down a stocklist.

In looking at his site, I am loving a bunch of the pieces from his Autumn/Winter 2008 looks. The designs are retro but the metallic materials make them very modern.

One of my favorites is this two-tone mary jane -



But then you get this floral, asian pump. Wildly different. I get a 1920's Hong Kong feel from this.

This snakeskin pump has some great cutout elements.

The heels on these are so great. I love that they are skinny from the back which gives them a delicacy you don't expect.

These may possibly be a contender for the metallic oxfords I want. They don't look too "jazz shoes-ish".

But these are my favorites. I love the shape, the woven detail and especially the dusky teal color.

Not only is Max talented, but he's cute too. You have to check out Miss Imelda's coverage of his previous collections and see more images of his work as well as great information on his influences.

Wish Upon A Tsar

I've been falling more and more in love with Alexander McQueen's runway shows. Along with Lacroix and Galliano, he appeals to my excessive embellished soul. When I was looking at his Fall show I felt that he was channeling the rich looks of traditional Russian folk dress and the decadence of the court of the Tsars.

The tooled leather tall boots would be perfect under heavy wool ankle legth skirts.

The rich reds and golds of this Legend bag seem pulled from Ivanov's painting of the Tsar's procession.

There's no mistaking the Fabergé influence in McQueen's Empire clutch.

Not that I'm a big fan of fur but this leather, velvet, fur and ebroidery embellished Fable bag looks as if it was pulled from a portrait of Catherine the Great.

I love these heels drenched with soutache trimwork. They look like they were pulled straight from the headdresses and folk dress.

Most people experience love, without noticing that there is anything remarkable about it.

Doctor Zhivago

I will be the first to say that I am no expert in Russian history or cultural influences. These are solely my perceptions.

Would that even a fraction of these details make it into a pairing at Target.

A New Designer? Kira Plastinina

I may be totally out of the loop and horribly old fashioned, but not only had I never heard of Kira Plastinina but, now that I have, I'm kind of appalled.



It seems Miss Plastinina is a 15 year old Russian girl who has fashioned herself a "designer" and has somehow been able to create her own line and open almost 30 stores in Russian. She also has plans to open stores in the US this year.

Okay, I know how she was able to do this. And I don't think it's because she's some amazing talent or a fashion prodigy. It just so happens her father is worth something to the tune of $700 million.


Thanks, Daddy!

Her clothes are, obviously, targeted at the tween-teen-twenty-year-old, with lots of pink and purple, cutesy hearts and lots of bows and ruffles. What appalls me the most is not the fact that she really thinks she is a designer of the caliber of other trained designers, but that mainstream news and other fashion media are actually giving her coverage.



Here's your opportunity to check out all the pink shiny fabulosity. BTW, what is wrong with those models. They can't walk the runway at all. Dang.



Sadly, although obviously, the poor girl has decided that yet another useless celebutant is her fashion icon and has decided to design clothes that appeal to her tastes. Awesome. I really can't wait to see more younger girls embracing Paris-frickin'-Hilton as their muse.



And just like here in the US, it's not surprising that kids with more money than talent are able to play at designing. What's worse, is that there are those who embrace it, which will cheapen the entire industry.

Learn More:

Kira Plastina's site

Miss Couturable's take on privileged kids and the fashion industry