Neon Day of the Dead fashion

Mexican print and skulls to make The Day of The Dead a danceable affair – from the Holland Resort 2012 Collection.

The Mexican Sombrero, one heavy thing

From Eleven Heavy Things, (sculpture and photo opportunity) 2009 by Miranda July

The exhibition, Eleven Heavy Things by artist, filmmaker, and writer Miranda July featuring a series of 11 sculptures that encourage viewer interaction is now in the Melrose Wave Park at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.  The work was first exhibited in a garden within Giardino delle Vergini for the 53rd International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2009, and at Union Square Park in New York in 2010.

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Pictures of other heavy things at this site:

• Eleven Heavy Things by Miranda July (design-milk.com)

Anne Menke, fashion photographer

Trunk magazine's 2011 debut issue

Trunk magazine's 2011 debut issue; photographs by Modotti (left) and Menke.

Anne Menke found inspiration for these photographs in another European photographer who made Mexico her home, Italian Tina Modotti.

Fashion magazines are rarely a part of my budget, but after spotting Anne Menke’s work, I might have to change my habits.

Mini-bio from Wikipedia:  Anne Menke was born in March 26, 1967 in Germany.  In 1987, she finished her apprenticeship in Germany and worked as an assistant in Dusseldorf for 2 years. She opened up her own studio, then moved to Paris in 1991 and worked on her own in fashion and advertising all around the world.  In 1995, she moved to New York City where she lived for several years before moving to Mexico.

She lives now between Mexico and NYC and travels the rest of the world for her shoots.

  

Photographs by Anne Menke, Myself magazine, France, May 2011 (source: http://mesfavoritethings.blogspot.com/search?q=mexic)

Slideshow of photographs (from 2011 Elle, Myself, Vogue, and Trunk magazines):

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Anne Menke is represented by Serlin Associates (everywhere but in Germany):  http://www.serlinassociates.com/#/annemenke

Trunk magazine’s website:  http://www.trunkmag.com/

Fashion treds in Mexico City

Valenzuela's moccasins in Mexico City

Angeleno Beatrice Valenzuela is making news as a shoe designer. Offering a comfortable alternative to the typical footwear worn by residents of her city, her shoe line is handmade with surgical-like precision in her hometown of Mexico City. Among the lineup of hand-stitched kicks, made of leather remnants and leftover rubber, are these—which, unlike mass-produced moccasins and sandals, are far too exquisite to ever wear to the ranch

Sizes and styles to fit both adults and children, contact her at http://www.beatricevalenzuela.com/ or e-mail her at: beatricevalenzuela@earthlink.net for more information about purchasing these in Mexico or the USA.

Coco Chanel and Mexico – What’s my point?

Fashion passes, style remains. – Coco Chanel

Informal Translation: “…Point of View;

Ode to Coco   Beyond her revolution in the world of fashion, her unforgettable creations, her empire and her choice of style, Coco Chanel made history by her vision…”

Approximately two weeks ago, one of Mexico city’s neighborhoods, Polanco, made international headlines. Many of you will know about this or saw the video, Las Ladies de Polanco.

Since I want to avoid posting or popularizing vulgarity, the “ladies” language prohibits me from posting the video, so readers/voyeurs take note: your curiosity won’t find any satisfaction here. (Nor, undoubtedly, will I boost my subscriptions or ratings by these kind of decisions). However, for those suffering from insatiable curiosity, I will recommend a link on my blogroll: Mostly Mexico City by David Lida. He discusses Las ladies in his August 29 post.

Besides giving some interesting background information on the ladies in the video, Mr. Lida writes about his concern that his books and articles have perhaps idealized the city, misleading readers. In addition, he ponders if videos, like this one, create a smokescreen while acts of violence by drug cartels, now being called acts of terrorism, grow in frequency.

Now, readers are probably wondering, “What does Coco Chanel have to do with all this? Well, my POINT OF VIEW is, to a degree, represented by my choice of her words, a cover of Mexico’s VOGUE, its text and the potential for multiple interpretations and word play (with Vogue’s manipulation of the word moda/oda or in English, FASHION/ODE, and I, with the word COCO). I hope I am allowing enough gap for readers’ imagination. Obviously, I’ve decided to take a different tack addressing certain issues. The Ladies of Polanco video went viral, and to a great degree I understand this kind of phenomenon. I understand why it might be preferable or more popular to watch two adult women swear like sailors (truck drivers, troopers, dwarfs, pirates…) than watch news coverage of buildings torched in the northern city of Monterrey or hear about the growing numbers of innocent people killed by drug cartels.

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Early on I decided I was not going to blog this VISION of Mexico, and now, not the latest version of the neighborhood Roma as portrayed in the aforementioned video either. I might not be following trends, but I will stick to my style.  As Coco said, “Fashion passes, style remains”.

Perhaps Coco, if she were living, would have preferred a post that focused on other features of Polanco. There you will find a multitude of elegant stores offering luxury clothing brands, including Chanel. (The store is on the Avenida Mazaryk in Polanco).

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Rirkrit Tiravanija is an artist at the forefront of modern conceptual art. In this video, Cool Hunting talks to the artist about his current project as part of Absolut’s 365 Days initiative in Mexico and the culture’s attitudes towards art.

365 Days » About.