care-tags.org

The SAs at Black Comme Des Garcons in Chelsea were nice enough to give me a copy of the Spring Summer 2014 lookbook, and I'm sharing alike. For those not familiar with Black CDG, it's Rei's response to the economic downturn -- a diffusion line taking the shapes and philosophies of CDg and applying it to a more affordable collection. As the name suggests, the collection makes heavy use of black, but also some patterns, polka dots and stripes. Think of Black as CDG but with the saturation turned all the way down. Its CDG but in mourning, perhaps for a now-lost time of prosperity or indulgence. Enjoy.

u posted in the wrong section bick.

this isn't about black specifically or this collection but I don't think we have a CDG thread so here goes

comme's menswear and to some extent the women's is so diffuse that I have a heard time talking about the brand as a singular entity.

a huge amounts of their men's gear is all black, almost lives in yohjis world except it tends to be a little less traditional and a little pervier, a little more feminine, and less flowy. the boiled poly and wool blazers are a good example of this.

a huge amount of their men's gear is really effusively colorful with floral patterns, hand painted blazers, structured or unstructured things of varying lengths meant to be layered, etc.

then there's a lot of random shit in the middle that doesn't fit either group, for instance my comme blazer is straight out of a Wes Anderson film, it's the height of the American professor tweed look. 3 buttons, conservative cut, slightly large, patches everywhere.

it's not a knock on the brand or the design, if anything it's great that they'll explore anything interesting to them-- but it's weird to me when people talk about the brand like it should mean anything to me, or say that so and so was wearing full comme and expect me to understand. the only common thread is really that it's quite Japanese and quite eccentric.

discuss

I don't know much about cdg but to me the core idea and direction is pretty clear and has remained so from the beginning. Creating pieces that warp and transform the space around the body and new and interesting ways. Or to challenge how something is worn or by whom. Rei was called a deconstructionist back when that was hot and it has a certain validity. Homme, homme plus, homme deux, tricot, black etc water down this core ethic to make something more approachable (or profitable).

Looks cool. Does anywhere in Europe stock it? I guess DSM but online?