not the same.

this month i have not one but two up close and personal shoots lined up with a couple of dear photographer friends of mine. i have had my portraits taken before but i have never really liked them all that much. i find it strange to be directed by someone who doesn't know you, and therefore they portray you far from your true being. the difference in these shoots will be that i am art directing them. it will be interesting to see how it pans out. so for now i am practising my game face as i cannot pose or smile on cue. alot of hair, that is all i'm suggesting.

science and progress.

people find it unfortunate that i still haven't found 'the one'. but why?
i find all the qualities i want in a guy in the men i keep in my life. my friend writes:

...i know you still think alot of ----. in my defence you know that i love you to the moon and back, like literally a sister.

i would cut my skin off for you if needed, and because of this i'm not his biggest fan. i feel like this is mostly because if i were a heterosexual male (god forbid, i'd only be half as chic) i would wrap you up in Yamamoto and never let you go, (i realise this statement makes me gayer than ever). your relationship was serious and your dedication to it was incredibly admirable, and is now something i try to emulate in my own stupid relationship. i just want you to be treated by a boy as well as the energy you put out in to the world. deep down i can be a stupid boy and boys are mostly shit.
i hope you can forgive me. Aaliyah.

i love that my friends include my most favourite things in apology notes. morbid gestures, Yohji and babygirl.

this message feels as sincere and humbling as the time a boy shouted out "hey girl in the camo, 

do you have a boyfriend? if you do i hope he treats you well!", after stepping out of a club in my Dickies.

oh the glory days. 

a wizard, a cat and an honorary English man. they're not here at the moment. and i miss them. that is all :)

suit versus.

WARNING: may cause headache and nausea. 

a scattered blueprint of what will come this 2013.

the making of...

we're now streaming on YouTube. keep updated through Facebook and Google+ for more of Maiden's concept ideas, progress and general state of mind...

AW 2013 New Season Launch.

[ me at 6am on Castlereagh St, Dion Lee, Bianca Spender, Josh Goot, blueprint sketch ]

so i'm close to reaching three years at good ole David Jones. this window run is extra special because not only is it the darkest i've ever seen these installations, but also, i finally got the opportunity to project manage this launch. if you happen to be passing by make sure to check out the whole run, from the exquisite beauty showcases, through the glamorous main bullnose windows, until you make it round to my girls. the team definitely brought their A-game this new collection. walked past Myer on the way home, you guys may stock Givenchy but i can proudly say... we got this!

this is why we hate you.

so there’s this fashion blog which has been the main subject of conversation at work for the past 2 weeks. just a quick rundown of what the blog is about: two Sydney ‘fashion bloggers’ who easily between the two have accumulated over 25k followers on their blog and instagram accounts. i, being one of them. but not anymore, and this is why…

not for the fact that either actually have style judging from the amount of #ootd #selfie pictures they take, nor is it because they claim to purchase and name drop designer labels making people think they live the oh so envious ‘fashionista’ life, but because of this… one of the ladies had just uploaded a shot of her new calling cards with the title ‘EDITOR’ under her infamous name. and if you know me personally, you’d know that i am not one to be easily annoyed or frustrated. but this post just took the piss out of what it means to be a creator of something worth a ‘like’. and so i commented with these words:

"ok, so i follow your blog and instagram as a fellow fashion enthusiast. but ‘editor’? of what? the real creative’s behind these pictures need to be credited. not just where you cut and paste jpegs from. please don’t reply with hate mail, i just feel very passionate about the art behind these pictures."
 and one minute later, the comment was deleted. not even a comeback? i would respect these girls if they actually made a story with the photos they post on their ‘daily delights’ or grabbed a proper camera to take shots of their outfits. in this day and age, it’s almost impossible to have ownership with what you upload online without watermarking all your work. this “editor” just printed a stack of business cards with a collage of editorials that she did not photograph, style or EDIT.  and she gave herself the title of editor, go figure. mind you they have been photographed for Vogue online and had been part of an SDS campaign where she recreated/designed customers denim shorts with buttons and shit. let’s throw designer and stylist on the qualifications too shall we.

but in general, fashion blogs are becoming a joke! flashing designer gear DOES NOT make you stylish nor does it make you some kind of fashion icon. you ARE NOT Moss, Slimane or Centenera!! (unless you really are and happen to be reading this). do your research on the history and aesthetics of these fashion houses you like sooo have to have for next season and upload on instagram, before you hashtag the shit out of your keyboards.

the end. like my post or i will defriend or block you.

p.s all you hipsters repping Tupac slogans, this shirt is for you. 

art, the life we chose.

i began 2012 with my annual trip back to Manila, where i met a couple of strange looking designers dressed in all black. then and there i knew the year would bring me to different corners of the world where i would keep crossing paths with such creative and interesting creatures. this is just a post to toast those who have played a huge part in my life, personally and creatively. i've always been considered the 'weird' one in my social groups, and now i have grown close to a handful of other dreamers i can be weird with! each of you should know who you are and know the impact you have had on me this past year. so this is my thank you for 2012. 

this year more than any year, i have felt the passing of time and social age gaps. so i’ve decided that the new year will welcome a shift in Maiden Threads. enter: ABSENCE OFCOLOUR: curated by Maiden. this new project is basically a continuation of the Friends of Maiden exhibition we held mid this year. where i collated things of interest to share with like minded individuals, enthusiasts, artists, designers and creative’s. it will be much like a visual diary of progression for the rebirth of a more refined label, not just of clothing but a lifestyle. through Maiden i was able to somewhat educate people about their unseen surroundings regarding the industry and art scene, and through AOC i want to showcase a collection of design elements, techniques and concepts that undermines the traditional way of perceiving objects.

i will still run the Maiden Threads blog, as it will just act as a personal blog. but i am looking to push this concept further than i did with Maiden, as i feel it is critical to go back to the roots of design and craftsmanship to broaden the understanding of art itself.

so Maidens, it is completely your decision whether you follow us into our next chapter with [ABSENCE OF COLOUR]. we will hopefully see you in the new year for exciting projects and events!
m a i e :)xx 

a year in reverse.

i'm finding that my style and vision for this label is becoming more and more irrelevant to today's haunting mass appeal. what i wear or don't wear is an expression of me, not what magazines or fashion bloggers feed me. black is a state of mind, not a fucking trend. the new year will see a shift in direction for Maiden. 

no hipsters allowed.

[photo credits: @timtamberlina @creative_binge @machickomotoi @jrmz]

atypical idea.

 a switch into interior design has been quietly fence sitting on my mind. 

that or, i should find myself a blank canvas to move into.

Wang joins a weird trip.

i woke up to updates yesterday with Alexander Wang's face photoshopped on Balenciaga's Join A Weird Trip print tee. and with that i thought to myself, the kid has made it big time! i wanted to post my initial reaction to this yesterday but thought, i 'm not those fashion bloggers who post themselves sporting the latest collections so who was i to blog about my opinion on this. but after someone who i had became friends with through my design work messaged me last night asking what i thought about this big industry move, i said, fuck it i'm gonna tell you what i think anyway...

i got hooked on the Balenciaga aesthetic ever since it's Fall 2007 collection which saw the popularism of the jodhpurs and sports jacket. and after learning a bit more of the fashion house's history on my visit to the Cristobal Balenciaga exhibition in Paris and watching a documentary on the rise of a star, Alexander Wang on the flight to Europe, i base my opinion on this. 
i love Alexander Wang, his style and work was one of those that got me intrigued about runway fashion. to have had only been in the industry for just over 5 years and now set to be the successor for Balenciaga is a testament to this designers talent. but a part of me feels that he needs a few more years under his belt to be 'running the show'. Cristobal Balenciaga was known for his intricate embroidery and atypical silhouettes by broadening the shoulders and losing the waist, fashion forward beyond his years. as Wang's aesthetic is young and very much sportswear with the 'just rolled out of bed' attitude. in saying that, under the reigns of Nicolas Ghesquirre the design house has acquired a biker edge with its recent collections.

only time will tell the outcome of this massive move. all eyes are definitely on this young designer's every step. and i for one anticipate the trappings of his success.

Maison Martin Margiela: above the creation of mankind.

i thought this post would be relevant for the eve of the launch of MMM for H&M. all hail the genius that is Maison Martin Margiela! it's the designers reinterpretation of everyday objects and manipulation of garments that create such a stir in the industry with this sense of an anti-fashion vision that is ever so addictive. i'm not quite sure if i can fully support these high end fashion house collaborations with fast fashion retail clothing companies such as H&M, as it defeats the purpose of the designer's exclusivity. but on the other hand, it gives the opportunity for non high rollers such as myself who can only dream of having a wardrobe of designer pieces at hand, with a reasonable price tag attached. aside from the fashion, MMM has a very avant-garde twist on the way they represent the label. it was on the top of my list to visit a Margiela boutique or two while on my world trip. and not once was i disappointed with what was presented in front of us. here are some of the sneaky snaps i took at the Tokyo boutique.

what would Jesus want.

it takes a certain kind of crazy to do VM as a job. like anything in fashion, there's a lot more to it than the 'glamour'. more often than not i think of running away from it all and work for another company or chase bigger dreams. but then again i think to myself, how many other jobs out there showcase your work for hundreds of by passers to see, and what other window styling job let's you choose and style a Christmas window full of stock you want for yourself! hah. i guess i could be doing worse things with myself.

but on another note, styling tips if you care to read on. this relates to both merchandising and styling for day to day. i always try to justify my aesthetic choice of black, because people often find it too dark and heavy (especially for summer). black is complementing, simple, classy and chic as fuck. need i say more?