A Future Within Reach

>>Narciso Rodriguez Fall/Winter 2010. I'm a definite fan of his work. I thought it was a great collection. The clothes were of course modern and forward thinking, but of course not fantasy. These clothes are the type of modern that is within reach. A woman wearing these clothes would not be seen as a fashion victim or one who is trying too hard. The clothes had a unpretentious ease. Even the hair and makeup carried that unpretentious ease—the hair laid flat with no fuss and the makeup left "natural".  

>>The dresses had a strong focus on asymmetry—a trend that has dominated the recent era of fashion. I loved the color blocked looks with black, gray, red, or orange. I adored the dresses with the sequins pieces, which seemed to evoke chain mail armor, laid over flowing satin. Another modern trend in this collection was the high collar coat and jacket. The baggy coat with the two tones of gray was my favorite.

Five Free Associations: soft, not intimidating, approachable, ease, metal

Photo(s): Style.com

Closet Case: Indu Homme Biker Jacket

>>From my closet, here is a modern take on the biker jacket from Hong Kong label Indu Homme. The nylon material, oversized stuffed puffy collar, and shiny zippers make it unlike the biker jackets of the past.

Five Free Associations: James Dean, chrome, bling, neck brase, stuffed

Photo(s): Odvar Daley

Fierce Inspiration

Balenciaga

Rick Owens

>>You might be wondering about or it may be obvious the inspiration for my illustration for the Too Future for You title banner. If you've seen some of the runway shows for Fall/Winter 2010 you'll know that I was inspired by the Balenciaga collection and the Rick Owens collection's hair and makeup runway looks. 

>>The Balenciaga looks fits exactly what this blog is about and the creativity and element of the unusual that I'm drawn to. I mean, if I were a woman, that's some of the clothes I'd wear! The looks aren't over the top futuristic, but the focal point of the look is something we haven't seen before. The looks have the right clever touch of modernity. The looks are pant suits, but their fresh takes on the pant suit.

>>I'm also drawn to fierce strong looks. So, I chose to draw from the Rick Owens runway makeup look—tough fantasy, fierce, and edgy.

Five Free Associations: onesie, graphic, crisp, Mad Max, warrior

Photo(s): Style.com

Back to the Future: Steam Pumps

>>For Spring/Summer 2010, Alexander McQueen does platform heals à la steampunk. I'm a fan of the steampunk style and I loved how it's referenced in these pumps!

Five Free Associations: the Titanic, Steamboy, rusty, earthy, gangrenous

Photo(s): Style.com

Too Future for You. A Fashion & Style Blog

>>Hi y'all and welcome to the first post of Too Future for You, a fashion and style blog. This blog will be comprised of brief commentaries on fashion and style that has a clear fashion forward or futuristic look—be it the fabric technology, the cut and construction, or the juxtapositions of ideas and materials. Designers and brands that fit comfortably with theToo Future for You theme include Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Akris, Hussein Chalayan, and Rick Owens among others. I'll make comments about men's and women's runway collections, ad campaigns, celebrity style, and beauty. I'll comment on the idea of design that uses clear inspiration from the past to produce looks of the future—I call this Back to the Future. I'll also show and comment on photos of fashion forward people on the street that give us a look that's new or unexpected—I'll call this On the AveNew. I'll comment on pieces from my closet too—Closet Case. There will be some instances where I digress from the main topic to show insight into my world or things that strike me at particular moments.

>>Some brief info about me: the name's Odvar Daley. I'm Jamaican by birth; raised in and still residing in New York City; lived in Shanghai China for a while; educated as a graphic designer & illustrator and was employed at Condé Nast Media Group for quite some time; lover of fashion and design from an early age; lover of Naomi Campbell's runway walk; lover of Thai food; well travelled; and I'm drawn to the unusual and unexpected.

>>Hope you'll enjoy it. Here goes...

Five Free Associations: about, welcome, future, new, finally

Photo(s): Balenciaga print ad, W Magazine, Akris print ad, W Magazine, FirstView.com, Style.com