Reading magazines is truly a guilty pleasure for me.  Every month, when Vogue, Marie Claire, or any other magazine I fancy comes out, I race to buy it.  In the first moments when I quickly scan through the pages, I get so excited that my heart is always pounding!! Lately, I’ve been branching out into Asian magazines and have found some very meaty publications.  Considering the rise of fashion in Asia, I would recommend these to any serious Fashionista.

My favourite of recent publications has been the April 2010 issue of Style magazine (Singapore).  Not only does the issue raise a lot of eyebrows with their fashion related questions, I also had a series of “aha” moments as I read on.  I was blown away.  Now that’s what I call a good read!

In one article, “Curiouser & Curiouser,” writer May Yip questions whether some over the top designer looks are meant strictly for the runway.  If it works on a magazine cover, does it really work for an ordinary day? The piece is centered around an experiment where Yip took a Louis Vuitton ensemble straight off the runway (from the brand’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection) and wore it on the streets of Singapore.  The reactions? Well, what else can you expect when you pair metallic shorts with bicycle tights underneath and a smart blazer.

The truth is, most designers send some looks down the runway strictly for editorial purposes.  They are simply not meant for mere mortals, unless they want to be mistaken for an OTT fashion faux-pas! Is that wrong? Producing garments that are essentially not meant to be sold or worn? Absolutely not! Designers use this to create a name for themselves, to build a reputation for their design house, to lure viewers to buy their goods, to get their featured in magazines (and perhaps their covers), the list goes on.  Like Betty Suarez declared in an epiphany she once had, it is art.  It goes beyond the concept and design…the workmanship that is put into some of these garments is extremely detailed and intricate.  Through these show pieces and their collections in general, designers convey their views on society or even the world, which we decode to form trends.  It is with these trends that we ultimately get a taste of what was once upon a time, showcased on the runway.

So…would I wear that Louis Vuitton ensemble? Maybe as separates (if it works) but definitely not as an entire look.  I’d rather stare at the art than wear the art.

Image Source: Scanned from Style magazine (April 2010)