Worshipping at the House of Armani

This past fall we were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity of returning to our beloved Italy.

As some who’ve been,know very well,one,two or even three trips to this multi faceted and diverse country cannot begin to even scratch the surface.

We have had the pleasure of visiting all the major cities and then some of this vast and diverse country.

 The wonder and sheer madness of Roma. The beauty and intimacy of Firenze and the rugged and beautiful passion that is Napoli.

 We indeed have been blessed.

No,this year we chose that world famous capitol of all things design, Milano!

...hard to believe that these two design infatuated “BoBo” had not been before.

 So flights were soon booked!

Apartment rented and off we went to spend two design filled weeks in design Mecca.

Truth be known,upon arrival,our list of “must sees” was so long we actually had to make a day by day schedule,to accommodate all we wished to accomplish and see! 

We also needed to check what was in store weather wise since a trip to Lake Como and Isola Bella was also planned,so...but that’s another post.

...this post we concentrate on fashion and the high priest,some may even call him, 

the pope of fashion, 

Giorgio Armani and his Silos.

Mr. Armani chose to call it “Silos” not only because the building at one time did store food,which is essential to life, but also because, like food,clothes to Mr. Armani is very much essential to life.

Set in the lush neighbourhood of Zona Tortona on Via Bergognone and opened in April 2015,

stands the temple that is the house of Armani.

At 4,500 square meters of monolithic concrete and designed by self taught Japanese master

 Tadao Ando,the monument to all things simple and orderly rises before you .

As you walk towards the impressive double height doors,you are met by the requisite,extremely good looking, tall,perfectly groomed young men,all dressed in black Armani,who gladly and ever so efficiently guide you to the coat check and cashiers.

Upon entering the ground floor is an art gallery.

When we visited it was the ethereal works of Sarah Moon.Glorious!Wish we had had more time, but we had 4 fashion filled floors of Armani to discover! 

And we were not disappointed.

Each floor,did not disappoint.

Huge loft spaces each with “islands” of looks from a particular season and or year.

All with their own looks and feel. Nothing behind glass or partitions.

No stanchions keeping you at bay! 

One was allowed to get up close to every beautifully designed and intricately manufactured piece,

and we were allowed to take photographs!

It was the perfect match of interior design,architecture and fashion!

What more could we possibly have ever wanted from a glorious afternoon in divine Milano.

A true highlight among numerous highlights during our two week stay.

 More to come...

Yesterday, on our Tumblr

Bobofeed on Tumblr, Saturday August 17, 2013

Put on Some Clothes... and Go for a Ride!

Cycle Couture, our new favourite shop. Fab bikes, awesome accessories, and great cycling clothes that don't make you look like a road warrior! (Hipster, maybe) 926 College Street near Dovercourt.

Tumblr Tuesday

The snow is leaving, and it's exposing the earthy tones 

of early spring. We were feeling inspired.

Of course, lots caught our eyes throughout the day, 

but by evening we had mellowed into a woodsey groove.

Check out Bobo Feed's Monday Tumblr posts here!

Oscar de la Renta, NYFW, Fall Winter 2013-2014.

We have always admired Mr.Oscar de la Renta, he of the house most favoured by the "ladies who lunch" set.

So it was with great delight when we heard a while back that Mr. de la Renta had offered a 3 week "stage" to our favourite son and much missed design star John Galliano, to assist in the presentation of Mr. de la Renta's Fall/Winter 2013,2014 Runway show.

As the video below will attest, the venerable house that Oscar built has had a bit of a re-vamp and has, in our opinion, brought the house well into a new era, both for the house and perhaps, dare we say, for a younger client. We can only suspect that Mr. Galliano's style and influence may have had the most delightful of effects.

The off the shoulder draping, the exquisite cut and pleating on the most modern of suits, accompanied with those quirky "chapeaux", the volume, and again the draping on some of the dresses...and the shoes!

Even the make-up and hair were, to our eyes, reminiscent of those long ago and much cherished spectacles  that epitomized the times and the house of Dior.

True to the house, Mr. de la Renta offered superb and flattering red carpet ball gowns that the house is and will forever be so famous for, but it was to us the true "modernity" at the beginning of the show that will remain a stand out for us at NYFW 2013.

Brought perhaps by the genius that is Mr. Galliano? We shall never know, but we are grateful...

Judge for your self and gaze in wonder, as we did...

Kaiser Karl does it again!

Karl Lagerfeld, the indefatigable designer of legendary lines such as Chanel, Fendi and his own eponymous label, recently left the fashion cognoscenti speechless after an amazing presentation of Chanel's Métier D'art Collection Paris-Edinburg Fall/Winter 2013 pre-collection.

On a blustery Scottish evening, at Linlithgow Palace in Scotland, the former residence of the Stuarts and birth place of Mary Queen of Scots, the spectacle honoured the creativity and craftsmanship of the many subsidiary houses that have been part of Chanel since 1985.

The nine highly specialized Chanel "houses" that each handcraft a particular element in the creations of the house of Chanel were represented. Be it embroidery, lace, leather work, or feather detailing all were honoured in this amazing presentation.The legendary cashmere expert, Barrie Knitwear, recently welcomed as number ten in the coveted Chanel "houses", showcased their artistry, spanning over 140 years of their history.

The runway show was a tribute not only to the craftsmen of Scotland but also to the legendary Coco Chanel. It was the Duke of Westminster, her lover for many years, that introduced her to this beautiful part of the world, and it was its constant inspiration that produced some of Mlle. Chanel's most iconic looks, including her tweed creations, cardigans, and knitwear.

Below is the incredible presentation. It is, in our minds, true perfection! Not only with its nod to Scottish tradition, but also showing the firm grasp of modernity that Mr. Lagerfeld continues to bring to the legendary house of Chanel.

The Chanel Métiers d'Art Paris-Edinburgh show | Vogue English

all pictures courtesy of Chanel

Delftware...Who would have thought?

 Delftware,The New Cool? Recent examples might convince you.

Charles Krafft did some wonderfully subversive pieces,back in 2004,depicting,vases with bunnies clutching hand grenades and fire arms in the blue and white porcelain originally developed in the Netherlands in the 15th and 16th centuries,to much ironic effect.

 Rem Koolhaas,the iconic Dutch architect behind some of the most amazing retail spaces,namely his collaboration with Prada,recently used it to line the gallery walls within the Casa da Musica,in Porto,Portugal to amazing effect.

 The Victoria and Albert Museum recently had a exhibition called “The Power of Making” where Delftware featured predominantly,one of the featured pieces even landing on the front cover of the British bible of cool,I.D.

 Fashion,not one to be ever left behind of any emerging trend featured Canada’s own Coco Rochas strutting it,in the pages of Vogue Mexico,wearing an amazing Roberto Cavalli gown,with matching shoes(!)

Delftware is definitely having it’s moment.We would advise that it might be time to raid grandma’s curio cabinet,who knows what treasures we might find.

Behold the Master...

From Jeremy Dante and generously shared by our friend Miss M. and OWN,comes this amazing video of...

Tom Ford.

http://jeremydante.com/2012/05/10/own-visionaries-tom-ford/

We highly recommend it for anyone interested in the business of fashion, as well as a "the behind the scene" sneak peak, into the world that is Tom Ford "the brand". 

A must see!

Seen...Spadina Red Hot

I put that sh*t on everything!

HardCore Fashion

On a recent trip to our local version of the "Golden Mile"...

photo courtesy s.hajdu

...we could not go by without passing through one of our favourite stores there.

We will save the advertisement of said store to others, but suffice to say that along with a stunning variety of books they also carry a delicious variety of "object particulier" that does, at times, strike our fancy.

What we do love most of all though is their large and eclectic department solely devoted to magazines... a severe weak point for us at the best of times.

 On a recent visit we came across the 10th Anniversary issue of "French" revue de modes.

 Our collective jaws dropped at the shear page volume of  incredible fashion editorial and styling content, as only the french can do!!

 An audacious "Dog Day Afternoon" inspired, multi-page editorial featuring Sharon Stone (!) 

 was what initially drew us to pick up this issue in the first place and it did not disappoint.

 Also included is a great spread with Cindy Crawford, looking as "babe-alious" as ever...

co-starring a variety of monster Mack trucks all being hosed down..

Mon Dieu! (the trucks, not Mlle. Crawford!)

All of the above can also be accessed in video form, though we did prefer the printed version

Though some might find this to be  glorifying a "violent" subject matter and therefore not to their liking,

we chose to award it to artistic license...we are all big boys and girls, n'est pas chérie?

A little more tame is a cute editorial on the equally cute and very "IT" Alexa Chung.

 photos courtesy of  Thierry Le Gouès

This wonderful 10th Anniversary Issue of "French" revue des modes is well worth it for anyone interested in the latest of "la mode" according to our french brothers and sisters

...and as they say: "Chapeau!" to the editorial and styling teams involved.