Colección para Lúmina 2007

Fotografía: Tali Kimelman
Dirección de Arte: Matías Ferrando (Productora Montecristo) y Monica Zanocchi
Estilismo: Roberto Taje
Maquillaje: Florencia Cantón
Vestuário y Producción: Lucia Pereda y Stefania Reta
Assistente de Producción: Gonzalo Rodriguez
Modelos: Ana Paula Rondan, Dahiana Fernandez y Malu Carriquiri

Investigating Paul Poiret

Cat Power Fashionista

Credits:
Director, Art and Edition: Lechu and Productora Montecristo
Art: Maria Zanocchi
Dancer/Actress: Monica Zanocchi
Music: Cat Power (He War, Speak for Me y Free) - Edition: Pablo Bonilla.
Clothing: Monica Zanocchi, colección "Soy Fashionista"
Sneakerankleboots: Onitsuka Tiger para Zattopek
Thanks to: Pablo Zanocchi, Talli Kilmelman, Eloisa y Heber Vera.

(more)
This is the video used as the background of my runway show. It was done mainly by three people: Lechu, Maria and I. It looks amazing, well worth to see it. Enjoy!

"Soy Fashionista" Collection - Fall Winter 2007

This are the first good pictures I got from the collection. Obviously there are details I wish to change, I was the last one to show the collection that day and had little time to dress the models... For example: I made two big bags and one of them didn't go on the runway... With the craziness, it was forgotten! AAh! But that's okay, things happen and I'm getting more experienced each time. This is my third runway show.

"A" line pattern comfy dress

Silver vest with cranberry baloon short dress

Violet Minimal Wings Dress with gray patterned leggings with tones of violet, fuchsia and silver

This look didn't go on the runway exactly as I wanted. The bag should have been used across the body and the huge collar (which could also be used as a hood) came out looking pretty bad, it can look much better than that. Oversized patterned t-shirt dress, gray leggings, knit violet dress and silver big bag

T-shirt dress, violet leggings and silver parka

Short baloon dress with knots (dress no. 1 - it started here)

This look didn't come out good in the picture, but it is really cute in person! Apart from that, here is where the other big bag should have been used, but was forgotten. Gray minimal dress with godets, knit sweater with hood, gray patterned leggings and (supposedly) velvet big bag

Weird cranberry dress

Dragonfly violet dress with wing

The most important dress of the collection, the "vedet" dress with petals

Me in the end with one of my favorite models, Evelyn Novick

Models: Dahiana Fernandez, Carol Degenez, Romina di Bartolomeu, Valéria Stella, Mercedes Esclavo, Sol Sanchez, Juana Grueber, Miriam Paniagua, Catherine Gonzalvez y Evelyn Novick

I'm back to earth

So it’s been a long long time. I know not a lot of people are reading what I’m writing in this blog, but I insist in using it as a way of documenting what’s going on in my life… unfortunately I haven’t had time to write at all and you will know why in the following posts. I’m just getting back to earth after the odyssey I spent for the past three months…

This is what happened:

Phase 1 - After I got back from the São Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) in the end of January, three things happened:

1. I had to work a lot for my job after a month of vacation (spent in Punta del Este, Fortaleza, and São Paulo).
2. I decided to apply to a design competition and created a blog as my form of presentation. (www.cosmicdancers.blogspot.com)
3. I prepared a talk of SPFW’s lastest trends seen in the fall-winter 07 collections I saw in January. The talk was a way of thanking Shering, the company who sponsored the award I won in the end of last year (which the prize was a trip to the SPFW).
   

So, I was stressed with a lot of work. There were days I almost freaked out! I was suffering! But I was doing what I love, was learning lots (which is always positive) and was rewarded by being chosen as one of five finalist of the designed competition I applied for with the Cosmic Dancers’ blog.

Phase 2 - Lúmina – “La luz y el Diseño”/“The light and the design,” a Fashion Design Competiton

The Competition was called Lúmina and was sponsored mainly by a shopping mall called Punta Carretas Shopping and by 5 of its stores/brands. These brands are amongst the most important here in Uruguay and by being a finalist we automatically “won¨ a paid internship with them. But my favorite part of the competition I have to admit was the main prize: a trip to go see the fashion week in Madrid! What did we have to do to win that prize? A collection… We had a brief: The collection had to have commercial appeal and was directed to the Punta Carretas Shopping women 25 – 65 years old. wow. I was like: How do I do that? How do I get Uruguayan people to understand me? By saying this I have to explain that fashion in Uruguay is something that is not much of a culture yet. This could be discussed obviously, but it is true that fashion here is a subject that still has to be developed and has a loooooong way to catch up even with our closest neighbor Argentina (country with lots of nice surprises). Uruguay design has potential, there is lots of talent here, but there are lot of barriers and it’s complicated!

Anyway… We had less then two months, big challenge. 8 to 10 looks. I got nervous… I had to divide myself between work, the collection and getting ready to start teaching!!!! Yes, like if it wasn’t enough, I added teaching to my list of thing to do. I had to prepare the program for the whole semester, and prepare my first classes. I did everything running, stressed, asking for HELP!, It was crazy.

Anyway again, right after knowing the brief of the competition, I had two or three days where I was extremely inspired, the ideas where clear and flowing in my head: I thought “What can I do to connect with people?” Then I realized I already had reached that public with three dresses I designed and were worn in the same party, my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding. I wore a dress I made for a haute couture project in school and designed the bride’s and my mother-in-law’s dresses (I designed something for their styles). It was a total success. I’m talking about real Uruguayans, mostly women, from ages 15 – 70 coming up to me to tell me they loved the dresses. So the light went on, I thought: “Party dresses!” And then I thought: “But how can I mix that with my sportwear style?” (my fashion design graduation “thesis” was dancewear) and then I thought: “Dresses made out of sportlike textures, with sportive accents and sneakers!” “Perfect!” Then I started investigating and reminded I had seen a video with a girl, in a long red dress and nike trainers… The girl was Lilly Allen, who’s style was definitely a referent in the collection.

from whowhatweardaily.com

Lilly Allen more than anything made me realize I wasn’t inventing anything… I started reading about the sport-deluxe trend and was like “obviously!.¨ I realized that what was happening is that I was informed and updated in the fashion mood of 2007, I was being influenced by all the investigation I do on a normal basis, it felt uncoincious, but it was obvious, I don’t know if I can explain myself… I felt like I was in the right place, at the right moment. I felt like I perfectly fit the mood of fashion in 2007! Even Karl Laggerfed was inspired by Lilly Allen’s style and was “convinced her signature style — chav meets couture — is going to be THE look of 2007.” “It’s all about wearing really classy clothes in a different context.” So I knew I had found the perfect way of mixing my ideas of sports/dancewear with my “prêt a couture” side… I started the project with a good and clear idea. Woohoo!

The process proceeded with the picking out of the fabrics which were given to us by the brands that sponsored the competition… This made us adapt our ideas with what was available to us in that moment. The only information I had when I picked the fabrics was that I was looking for sportlike textures, specially jerseys with lycra which were going to be destined to make 10 pretty dresses. I love most fabrics with important percentages of lycra. I love its weight, how it hangs, and the comfort those types of fabric offer. I think lycra will always be a characteristic in my work.

I also knew which colors I was looking for: greys (the most important color of 2007), shades of violets (another trend and color I’m absolutely crazy about) and one color of accent (which originally was acidic yellow, but because I was not able to find anything close to that color, I went for a cranberry tone. I’ll leave the yellow idea for the spring summer collection).

Then the production of the collection started. Because the brief was to do a wearable commercial collection, I decided to work trends and investigated many referents. I was also, without a doubt, absolutely influenced by the things I had seen in Brazil in the SPFW in January; which was still fresh in my head… The main trends I worked were:

• Dresses: in shorter versions, with loose-fit and extreme comfort. Other than being my favorite type of garment and one I will specialize in; in my opinion is the most important garment for women in the moment.
• Loose-fitting Siluet: there is extra space between the garment and the body, which sometimes is controlled or exaggerated (oversized), but never less. A trend seen all over the place.
• Baloon Line and A Line: some of the most important shapes of the moment. Also, the balloon line here in Uruguay is widely accepted and I obviously took advantages of such things… I never forgot I was designing for Uruguayan women.
• Draping and knotting – Things I love to work with, which are very much my style, it’s very “art nouveau” and seen over and over again all over the place: it’s the time to do it.
• Grays and Violets: A personal choice influenced by color trends.
• Metallic Accent / Silver / Futurism – Metallic accents and silver other than being a trend in itself, are also a reference to the futurist trend seen in all over the fashion globe. So, silver to me is my futurist and fashionista accent.
• Big Bag – The silver big bag can’t be more of a trend… And it also refers to two silver big bags I saw of Marc Jacobs; one in SPFW and one here in Montevideo.
• SneakerAnkleBoots – Sneakers (or trainers) were more than important in my collection. But it couldn’t be any sneaker, it had to be sneakerboots, but not any sneakerboot, it had to be a sneakerankleboot. Ankle Boots are THE trend in shoes for this winter. This is a manifesto fashionista, specially the silver ones. Onitsuka Tiger’s Mid Runner model was the one and only, it was perfect for me (I’m a designer for Onitsuka Tiger here in Uruguay).
• Turbants – Refers to the prada turbant effect so discussed in fashion blogs. Some love it, some love it but want to hate it and some definitely hate it. I love it.
• Leggings: Not only is a trend widely accepted anywhere in the world right now, specially printed ones, is also an accent of my dancewear style.
• Synthetic and Impermeable Materials (Silver parka and vest)

Phase 3 – starts now

Spotted by Mr. Face Hunter

Posing outside of the São Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW)

Photo: Yvan Rodic (Mr. Face Hunter)
www.facehunter.blogspot.com

Yvan, Mr. Face Hunter, went style hunting in the SPFW and I had the opportunity to meet him... The cool thing about this encounter in my life and that no. 1, I LOVE HIS BLOG, no. 2, I remember creating the look you see on the pic and thinking "If Mr. Face Hunter sees me like this, he will most likely be interested."Well, it was a really good surprize to see him there... I saw this guy that caugth my attention with his simple but very stylish and updated look and then I have a feeling it is him because I see him looking around for people to take pictures of. He's got very good technique to take the photos. Well, I went to say hello... he wasn't very interested on my looks on day 1 or 2... but on day 3, I decided to wear "the" look and knew he was going to like it... He was like "huum, how colorful! Can I take a picture? Can we go outside where there is color?" :) He's got it so clear! Lots of talent with very special and unique personality.

Oh, and yes, I was having a bad hair day, aah. :) But seriously, I just didn't have time... I never had time to really work on my hair and makeup; I was running around...

Yvan (mr. Face Hunter) posing for me

Cosmic Dancers, the definition

Photo: Christian Rodriguez

Cosmic Dancers are clothes for moving, for special occasions and for extraordinary places. The collection is based in this tripod and the art of dancing as well as the need to generate for this medium an unusual aesthetic conformity. Monica’s motivations for creating Cosmic Dancers – that explores liberty of movement – were to research her artistic side and her relationship with dancing. The main material used is Lycra that presents itself in vibrant and cheerful multicolored ways. This is distinctive of her work, made for the young and active woman, fully complaisant with her way of life. “I belong to the 80’s – says Monica – where dance and liberty predominate, and that exists inside me. Furthermore, I do continuous research and I have observed that it is a present trend. I am proud of the possibility of dancing also be seen through this new visual aspect: design”. The collection is also inspired in Merce Cunningham’s modern dance technique at whose New York studios Monica had the opportunity of acquiring a new conscience of her body and of movement through random chance, a concept that is deeply-rooted in this live dance legend.

Cosmic Dancers, the editorial

The whole process of the production took us exactly 24 hours, with only 3 hours of sleep and 333 km of road. There are three models, three locations and three times of a day (sunset, sunrise and midday); going along my obsession with the number three.

The photos are in the order they were taken.














Credits
Colection: Cosmic Dancers, Summer 2007
Designer: Monica Zanocchi
Photographer: Christian Rodriguez
Models: (1) Augustina Brum, (2) Monica Zanocchi and (3) Stefania Tortorella
Production and Art Director: Monica Zanocchi
Production Assistant: Gastón Molnar (the best ever (and cute too))

Locations: Montevideo y Punta del Este, Uruguay in December, 2006

Cosmic Dancer, the runway show

Backstage

Just got back from being away for a month (including I went to the São Paulo Fashion Week), after the craziness of last year's end of year. Just now I'm being able to post this pictures, sorry how late they are. In today's age, this is already really old news... :) Time in the Internet goes too fast; I must catch up!!

Anyway, without wasting any more time, here you will see some of the best pics of my graduating runway show. Unfortunately, I don't think they came out that good and you will only be able to see half of the total 12 looks. This has nothing to do with the photographers, which are both excellent, it has to do with the lighting (it was a disaster), the disorganization backstage and how the clothes actually went out on the runway, and other variables (such as some complications with the models, etc). Backstage was a nightmare, but I remember feeling different when the models were going out, one by one, to show my clothes. I felt calm, happy, satisfied, full of energy... It felt really special.... I still haven't seen video footage of the show.

Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai

The cosmic thing started here

De Wikipedia:

"En el videoclip de esta canción se caracteriza por comenzar en el amanecer en el cabo de gata, donde la banda espera a un Ferrari f355 negro pasar frente a ellos, que en sendos Lamborghni Diablo se30 y Ferrari f40 lo siguen a maxima velocidad a través de las curvas que dibuja la ruta. Un dato interesante es que existen 3 versiones diferentes del videclip, cada una con angulos diferentes de la misma acción."

Cosmic Girl, Jamiroquai
Album - Travelling Without Moving
Lanzamiento - Agosto 1996
Grabaga - 1996
Género - Acid Jazz
Duración - 4:03
Escritor: Jay Kay

Cosmic Dancing

Integra Fashion Day

Integra Fashion Day - My graduation runway show

go to www.fotolog.com/integra_fashion for a preview of all the collections that will the showcased that day

Preview of Cosmic Dancers

Stefania, a Cosmic Dancer

Coleccion: "Cosmic Dancers" por Monica Zanocchi / fotografia: Cristhian Rodriguez / retoque digital: Flavio Giusti - piso8.com / modelo: Stefania Tortorella / Montevideo Models / maquillaje y peinados: Daniel Ortega para Fabian Sciutto / calzado: Melissa en Paulina Gross

Cosmic Dancers is the name of the collection I will be showcasing on Dec. 14th, 2006, in Montevideo, Uruguay. My thesis is clothing with total freedom of movement to go to a dance class, a special party, uber fashionable event, etc.

Tomorrow I will be videotaping my first dance video, will update later on all of this.

Start: My "Lookbook"

Colección Cosmic Dancers
Lookbook escrito

Look 1 Vestido Sexy Godet
Grupo 1 No. 1
Vestido, Sexy, Godet adentro de Godet - Misma parte de arriba de vestido en Look 2 + pollera plato + godets.
Colores: Verde Floresta (vivo Azul Cielo) + pollera verde floresta, azul cielo y tri-estampada + Medias azul cielo con vivo de estampa verde ácida.

Look 2 Vestido Sexy con Petalos
Grupo 2 No. 1
Vestido, Sexy con Pollera Petalos
Colores: Estampado verde acqua (vivo púrpura) + calza simples, color: púrpura

Look 3 Body + pollera petalos
Grupo 3 No. 1
Body, cortes en espiral - Colores: Verde Acqua (vivo Verde Floresta)
+ pollera petalos, Jogging gris

Look 4 Vestido Sexy Denim
Grupo 4 No. 1
Vestido, Sexy Glamour Demin

Look 5 Pollera Godet con Chaquetita Denim
Grupo 1 No. 2
Pollera Godet, tri estampa
Colores: tri-estampa y azul turquesa
+ Calza Simples, Coral oscuro
+ Top cruzado de manga larga (largo largo)
+ Chaquetita Glamour Denim

Look 6 Bikini con Chaquetita de jogging
Grupo 2 No. 2
Bikini, "Vintage"
Colores: estampa coral (vivo: azul turquesa)
+ Chaquetita Jogging Gris

Look 7 Sobretudo con Collant
Grupo 3 No. 2
Sobretudo "años 20", jogging gris
+ Sexy Collant, Coral oscuro (vivo: naranjo)

Look 8 Macaquinho
Grupo 4 No. 2
Macaquinho de jogging gris + Tank de jogging gris?
Color: All Grey?

Look 9 Remerita Godet, Calza Spiral
Grupo 1 No. 3
Remerita Godet, Manga Kimono, Lycra Tri-estampas
+ Body, Spiral
Colores: Azul Turquesa, Azul Cielo y Verde Acqua

Look 10 Calza Denim con body estampado
Grupo 2 No. 3
Look gatinha
Calza Glamour Denim, cintura altisima
+ Body Haulter, espalda nadadora, Estampado
Colores: Estampado verde acido (vivo: fucsia)

Look 11 Body liso con topsito de jogging
Grupo 3 No. 3
Modelo:
Telefono:
Body, Manga Larga, escote profundo
Color - predominante: púrpura, accento: amarelo esverdeado cítrico
+ Camperita oversized con puño, jogging gris

Look 12 Body multi color
Grupo 4 No. 3
Body, Multi color, cruzado, manga larga, cortes en espiral

Dreaming of Sustainable Dance Floors

Simply a beautiful and "full of hope" business idea. Imagine what a beautiful thing: Inteligently recicle the energy we release while dancing... That's a world I want to experience.

photo and full article found here

"Enviu, an environmental NGO for young people, is working together with architectural firm Döll to create a truly sustainable nightclub. The club they envision will feature energy-generating dance floors (excellent way to extract kilowatts from energetic clubbers), toilets that flush with rain water, walls that change colour as a reaction to temperature changes, a rooftop garden and other elements that combine to create a sustainable clubbing environment.

Working with the Technical University of Delft and the Development Board of Rotterdam, Enviu and Döll aim to build a club that will be fun and profitable, yet will have a low impact on the environment, while raising awareness for social and environmental issues." (www.springwise.com)

Updates

Hello! I haven't updated my blog in 10 days and if I start to write all the things that I'm thinking about right now I would be doing it forever. Unfortunately I don't have much time this moment.

Anyway, a quick update would be: I spent all of last week in São Paulo, buying the fabrics for my end of year show. It was a life changing experience... I even visited heaven!! Yes, heaven. My super friend Fabiana (thanks again!!) took me to a lycra (yes LYCRA not liquor) store and I haven't been the same since. You have NO idea of the lycra you can get in Brazil... damn… I remember being totally in awe... I actually couldn't think in there, it was overwhelming (yes, lycra is that important to me). And well, I went from heaven to hell when I had to decide which lycra to take. Oh my god, that was VERY stressful... I swear I couldn't think, seriously, there was too much to choose from... I'm starting to realize maybe I didn't buy the right type of lycra, I should have gotten other different textures, but well, I'll have to improvise (that's what I do best anyway). And here I am, back to Uruguay, with some colorful lycra and my life changed...

I have already started to improvise and produce the collection. In a few days we will be taking pictures of one look for a small magazine we will be printing to spread out the word about the runway show. We hope it will be packed with people. Once I have the pic, I'll see (yes, I’m not guaranteeing) if I post it here.

Also, I haven’t talked much about my boyfriend Gaston (merchant marine), but he is finally coming back soon! We haven’t seen each other for the past 6 months! He is somewhere in Africa and could be coming anytime now… We will only speak if he has the opportunity to call from the airport. I’m thinking he is probably going to surprise us... but really, I don’t know what to think anymore, I’m just getting really impatient, so if you talk to me in the wrong moment I may yell at you. Sorry.

Also, my brother is coming this week with my BEAUTIFUL nephew and sister in law. Obba!!

And in mid November I will be in Miami for John’s and Paula’s really important wedding with Gaston(cito)… My amazing friend Louise (from Fortaleza currently living in Texas with her husband, Ryan) is coming to see my other amazing friend Cecília (from Fortaleza, currently studying in Miami) and I. And I will be seeing all my beautiful Miami friends! AND I’m going to the beach!!!

So there are a lot of important things happening at once, it’s all really intense.

I’m ready to jump! Are you ready to jump?

Oh, one more thing, I bought the new Justin Timberlake cd in São Paulo, and I have to say: he is HOT! Well, I really want to put his "My Love" video here, take a look, it deserves your time, the dancing is AMAZING! If you want, just fast-forward the long 1:42 minute intro... then the song really starts and maybe you'll understand me.



Muah!

(Free) Pattern by Yohji Yamamoto

"Now you have the original pattern of a certain garment. It is hard to see what it is just looking at it. The fabric should be some kind of wool... Then, you have the photo that tells you a little bit more. Take a close look at the symbols that are inscribed on the pattern. They are important leads to construct the garment. Now, spread your imagination and good luck!" (Yohji Yamamoto, May 2002)

Acclaimed designer Yohji Yamamoto provides an enigmatic pattern for viewers to download and make up into an exclusive, mystery garment.

Go here to download full Yohji Yamamoto Pattern

psychoPEDIA

Indie Culture Network
Music, Film, Fashion, Arts, Toys & Madness
Go here

Check it out, it's interesting... It's like youtube but without all the crap.

Madonna - Jump

I'm really feeling conected to this song right now.

Please note that I go through moments and keep constantly changing... So what I'm feeling today or in this moment in my life, is not necesarily what I will feel in a few months... I'm costantly changing (like many things in the universe), moving and living life as if everyday is a special day, every moment is a special moment...

JUMP

[Written by Madonna, Joe Henry and Stuart Price]

There’s only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste

I haven’t got much time to waste, it’s time to make my way
I’m not afraid of what I’ll face, but I’m afraid to stay
I’m going down my own road and I can make it alone
I'll work and I'll fight, Till I find a place of my own

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don’t ever look back, oh baby,
Yes, I’m ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to jump

We learned our lesson from the start, my sisters and me
The only thing you can depend on is your family
And life’s gonna drop you down like the limbs of a tree
It sways and it swings and it bends until it makes you see

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don’t ever look back, oh baby
Yes, I’m ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to, are you ready?

(Spoken:)
There’s only so much you can learn in one place
The more that you wait, the more time that you waste

I'll work and I'll fight till I find a place of my own
It sways and it swings and it bends until you make it your own

I can make it alone(my sisters and me) (repeat 7x)

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don’t ever look back, oh baby
Yes, I’m ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to jump

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don’t ever look back, oh baby
Yes, I’m ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to, are you ready?

Viktor & Rolf

Viktor & Rolf are in the search (of how we'll dress in the future) and deserve close attention...

Dance is everywhere...

That's a real model: Raquel Zimmermann

Viktor & Rolf
Spring Summer 2007

Three Legged Chair

"3 is complete balance. Think about how if theres 3 legs on a chair it wont wobble, but if you have 4 it will." (John Fathom)

Embryo Chair, three-leg chair
Designed by Marc Newson
red dot award: product design 1999

Three Legged Shell Chair
Designed by Hans J Wegner

Irina Lazareanu

Model Irina Lazareanu, in Balenciaga.

Spotted by The Sartorialist for Style.com

An email to my real friends...

I don't want to feel limited, I need to feel liberated.

I desperately need a place where I have enough space for dancing and designing... A place I can do whatever I want whenever I want. The idea is to find a large old house and open a design and dance studio, something very “doable” in Uruguay. I hope to do it together with my love. I want to work freelance for companies and other than that, work on my own designs and other projects such as fashion productions, blogs (I’m really serious about this), and practice/share my dancing...

I have a project where I want to video tape my improvisation sessions and put them online in a blog or webpage… I want to add new material either daily, weekly or whenever I feel like (but first I need space). I've been talking to my NY dance friends and we are going to work together... So we are probably going to start a virtual dancing community soon... We'll use the Internet to share our art no matter the distance.

Back on July 8th of this year, 2006, I had the idea and wrote it to Cathy and Jelena, NY dance friends:

From: Monica / To: Cathy and Jelena / Date: Jul 8, 2006 1:41 AM / Subject: I had an idea!
“I had an idea! What about starting a website where people can upload and (maybe) download dance videos... exactly like youtube, but dance only. Maybe there is already something like that, but we could start a dance blog where people can put on the internet, their home made or professional videos of dance experimentation, which could be anything: Monica dancing in her living room, Cathy and Abi performing at the DUMBO festival, Jelena dancing and singing in a musical comedy, Mark taking a Cunningham dance class, a video dance by Hiske, maybe a performance by MCDC etc, etc, etc. That way we could exchange art very easily. Maybe we could also do a section on dance photography (what's more beautiful than photos taken of people moving, dancing?)...”

To start my virtual video dancing career (I have decided I will be a professional dancer my way) I have started talks with my cousin Maria who will be producing and directing my first video... which will be the background in my graduation runway show. So, in the show I will not only be kick starting my fashion career, I will also start my video dancing career. I have to say my dancing is getting even better (thank God!)... The Cunningham technique is still in my body and I'm surprised with the evolution of my movement... Cunningham was the best thing that could have happened to my dancing, so it will be around for a long time in my life and I'm trying to figure out when can I go take more classes...

For clothes the ideas are:
Perfect for dancing/moving and having fun. Freedom of movement. Body consciousness. Strong Personality. Adaptable. Practical. Artistic. Original. Sexy. Smart. I want lycra to be my prime material. I want the fabric to “hold you tight and show you off,” so you don’t have to worry about anything, you don’t need to wear a bra for example… The fabric naturally molds your body, it hides imperfections, it makes you feel beautiful, comfortable and confident. In the future I want to work with intelligent fabrics. Dancewear (for class and practicing sports) is one of the lines I'm starting this year. And of course dance costumes are in my future plans also.

So for now the idea (so many ideas) is that at least for next year I will be here still... There is still "juice" I can take out of Uruguay... Uruguay has its positives although is nothing compared to NY. I'm in a small town here!! But it's given me lots of things... Including the career that will pay my rent. I love fashion and Uruguay gave me that...

So in 2007 I will (all of this is subject to change):
-Continue working for ASICS, which is a great experience... I want to stay at least till the end of next year because by then I will have done three shoe collections and 2 apparel collections, and there is lots to learn from that!
-I also still need another year of serious drawing, sowing and pattern making studies... There is still a lot I need to learn, (but for that I need the space and time for personal experimentation, which I don't have in this moment). I need to be 100% independent and I'm not in the moment... I still need help with my patterns and definitely need guidance sowing.
-Kick start my careers in design, virtual dancing and blogging.

Then after all that I think I will be ready to go back to NY? (at least to stay for a few months and take some Cunningham classes) Maybe I'll go to São Paulo? Stay in Uruguay? Who knows what the future holds! Lets see… Please send me your positive energy.

What about you? What are your ideas? Muuuah!

Monqui / Moni / Moniquinha / Moniquita / Monquichi / Monica

1+1 = 3

I haven't asked John for his official permission to put part of his email in my blog, but that doens't matter, I'm sure he will be alright

Here it is: John explaining with his own words, the 3 theory. (It's really exciting by the way)

"now on to 1+1= 3 theory. To fully implement 3 theory into design here are some interesting facts to help. 3 is complete balance. think about how if theres 3 legs on a chair it wont wobble, but if you have 4 it will. Think how many primary colors there are, think holy trinity, think molecular structure. Think about my Frizzball toy. 3 balls connected at a center point, when thrown thru the air you have complete balance by centrifugal force. Then go back to 1+1=3 theory. You can actually google this and other people are writing 1+1=3 in other things. 1+1 is 3 simply theorizes that when you add one complete component to another completely different component you dont get two components like 1+1=2, you get a third. Think if you take pure black and pure white and mix them you get a new color. Grey, a 3rd new element. Consider this when you design, consider balance of three ofcourse as well. 3 is also Pi. # has all the answrs you need, which might also be why you work in multiples of 3. Enough said on that."

Thanks John!

PS: Johnsito by the way is an almost famous paintor (soon I will be showcasing his art)! :) He is one of the most talented people I've met and his soon to be wife, Paulita, is one of the most connected people I have ever met... Together we make a perfect 1+1 = 3. I don't know what I was of them in another life, but definitely something because I really really connect with them.

Yes, I do believe in past lives.

And everything in life has a reason... (this is confirmed in my life almost everyday - oba!)

Scissors Sisters

I've been thinking of what's in the air right now, then I remembered I had seen a video from the Scissor Sisters.

I should have been more curious about them way back, but I am a little disconnected with the new "trends" in music right now (which is bad and something I must work on). The problem is that I don't have MTV like I did when I was 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 years old even... I knew everything there was about music back then, MTV and my brother taught me about it...

But those were other times, we are getting old!! :)

Anyway, Scissor Sisters... If you pay attention, they are really, really amazing. It's sort of daring and surprising, but it makes sense... It's really appropriate for the moment.

I was in between the two videos and decided to put both. Both are very good!

Comfortably Numb

I don't feel like dancing

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

I've been reading about New Wave in wikipedia - great source!! There is even a page with a list of the most important new wave songs... Then you go straight to youtube and watch the classics (but you've got to do it quick, because there isn't enough time to do everything in one day).

New wave is in the air right now. I have a friend in school who is totally new wave.

La arquitectura de moda - Excelente texto de Flylosophy!

La relación entre la arquitectura más reciente y la moda, y la influencia de los arquitectos "superstar" en la evolución de nuestras ciudades, son algunas de las ideas que el arquitecto Jaime Sarmiento analiza para Flylosophy

En marzo de 2006, la revista EPS (suplemento dominical del diario El País), publicó el artículo "Los edificios son maniquíes" en el que se relacionaba la moda con la arquitectura. En este artículo se mencionaba a un grupo de jóvenes arquitectos que intentan “trasladar el mundo de seis diseñadores de moda españoles a la arquitectura y el interiorismo”. Este concepto fue llamado Arkimoda.

Al mes siguiente, en las páginas de opinión de la misma revista, un indignado arquitecto criticaba el reportaje: “Para presentar este engendro, bautizado como arkimoda, es imprescindible una apariencia de modernidad y estética vanguardista”. La crítica al artículo no sólo se debía a la frivolidad con que se entretejían ambas disciplinas, sino también a la repercusión que podría tener en el público general y al detrimento de la profesión del arquitecto.

Al margen de esta polémica, el atrevido empeño de estos jóvenes de transferir la moda a la arquitectura no hace más que confirmar algo que, desde hace algunos años, viene sucediendo: la arquitectura más reciente es una cuestión de modas.

La moda es, por naturaleza, un asunto pasajero; cambia cada temporada. La arquitectura reciente, al igual que ella, se diluye con el tiempo. Es evanescente. ¿Quién se acuerda ahora de los edificios de las últimas olimpiadas? ¿O de los pabellones de la última exposición universal? La arquitectura ha dejado ser un bien y se ha convertido en una mercancía. Está generada para el consumo.”


En principio, la arquitectura no tendría nada que ver con la moda, aunque si está muy relacionada con el vestido. De hecho, la primera forma de arquitectura consiste en vestirse.

La primera y principal finalidad de la arquitectura ha sido la protección y el cobijo, y así lo entendieron incluso los hombres de las cavernas. Con el paso de los tiempos, esa cubrición básica se ha venido cualificando, adaptándose a las épocas, hasta el punto en que no sólo se espera de ella la protección, sino que también produzca placer estético.

Algunos arquitectos de finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX, (Gottfried Semper o Adolf Loos, por ejemplo) habían establecido analogías entre el vestido y la arquitectura. En ese entonces, el revestimiento de los edificios se convirtió en uno de los elementos más expresivos de la arquitectura.

Hasta finales del siglo XX, la cubrición estaba estrechamente relacionada con la oquedad que generaba. La materia y el espacio se iban entrelazando, modelándose mutuamente. Lo lleno y lo vacío constituían el ente, en el cual estaba involucrado el hombre.

Actualmente, el hombre ha dejado de ser el protagonista de este diálogo para convertirse en un mero observador. De estar inmerso en el espacio, ha sido desplazado fuera de él. Ha dejado de ser un habitante y ha pasado a ser un espectador. La arquitectura vive un período contemplativo en el que hemos perdido nuestra capacidad de participación. “Lo único que se comparte es el espectáculo, ese juego en el que nadie juega y todos miran”- escribe John Berger.

Para leer todo el articulo, ver todas las fotos y tener accesso a todos los links click here

Archigram and Jay McCarroll

Jay McCarroll - spring 2007
to see entire collection go here

I learned something with Jay McCarroll (winner of the first season of Project Ruanway). I read his interview in the Fashion Wire Daily site where he explained his spring 2007 colecction recently shown in the Olympus NY Fashion Week.

“What's the inspiration/theme for this collection?
Archigram, an architectural movement in the late 60's/early 70's in England, air balloons, the B-52’s. I used to go to the library in college and procrastinate on my 15-page papers and read this amazing little book about Archigram. There is a lot of air balloon iconography in the Archigram work, and the B-52’s musically inspire the vibe I am going for.”

So I learned about Archigram and dedicated a few minutes to read more about it.

Archigram
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Archigram was an avant-garde architectural group formed in the 1960s - based at the Architectural Association, London - that was futurist, anti-heroic and pro-consumerist, drawing inspiration from technology in order to create a new reality that was solely expressed through hypothetical projects. The main members of the group were Peter Cook, Warren Chalk, Ron Herron, Dennis Crompton, Michael Webb and David Greene. The pamphlet Archigram I brought out in 1961 proclaimed their ideas. Committed to a 'high tech', light weight, infrastructural approach that was focused towards survival technology, the group experimented with clip-on technology, throwaway environment, space capsules and mass-consumer imagery. Their works offered a seductive vision of a glamorous future machine age; however, social and environmental issues were left unaddressed.

The works of Archigram had a Futurist slant being influenced by Antonio Sant'Elia's works. Buckminster Fuller was also an important source of inspiration. The works of Archigram served as a source of inspiration for later works such as the High tech 'Pompidou centre' [1971] by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, Gianfranco Franchini and Future Systems.

Some famous projects of Archigram are Ron Herron's "Walking Cities" and Peter Cook's "Plug-in-City", both of 1964.

Ron Herron's "Walking Cities," 1964

Peter Cook's "Plug-in-City," 1964

For more really good and detailed info, go to their page in the Design Museum website here.

12 looks, 2 hexagrams, 4 trigrams

I will try to organize the brainstorming session I had for my graduation runway show yesterday. Thankfully I was very inspired (maybe it was thanks to my friend Paulita who helped me that day)… it’s all documented in pages of hand written notes…. I still love to hand write notes.

I’m going to start with the whole “Three” thing again: I didn’t mention in the Three post that there are 6 of us graduating this year, in the year 2006… and that we are supposed to make 12 looks for the graduation runway show.

And after so much thinking of the number three, it was obvious I was going to use the number three to organize my thoughts. And it definitely helped.

Here we go (all of this information is subject to change):

I visualized my show like this:

12 looks
2 hexagrams (2 x 6)
4 trigrams (4 x 3)

Hexagram 1: Multi textured. Lycra, denim and "knitted stretch cotton" (don’t know how to call it in English. In spanish I would say something like: tejido de punto de algodón alycrado)
Hexagram 2: Mono textured. Lycra only.

Trigrams 1: Prêt-a-porter
Trigrams 2: Beachwear
Trigrams 3: Dancewear
Trigrams 4: Haute Couture

one two three (Hexagram 1, Trigram 1) (Multi textured, Prêt-a-porter)
one two three (Hexagram 2, Trigram 2) (Mono textured, Beachwear)
one two three (Hexagram 1, Trigram 3) (Multi textured, Dancewear)
one two three (Hexagram 2, Trigram 4) (Mono textured, Haute Couture)
Total = 12 looks, 2 hexagrams, 4 trigrams

I’m thinking of naming my brand “aïa” and the collection “one two three”

There is more infomation but I will write it little by little so it's more clear.

Frou Frou - Breath In

I've been listening a lot of this lately.