Upon receiving a plastic white bow-tie as the invitation for the Yohji Yamamoto show, one could expect a certain grandeur was afoot – whether as tacky as the fabric or as whimsical as the idea of this historical neckpiece. Under the glare of their showroom lights in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, Yohji proved the latter, delivering a period story of formalwear with all the pomp and ceremony of an Edwardian court.

Opening in heavy brocade tailcoats, powdered faces and tightly-pinned curls, Yohji’s men were European gentleman of the highest calibre.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

Returning to the early days of a fashion designer’s work is an interesting exercise that maps an intellectual and aesthetic journey, an evolution of means and commercial motives, and a general progression with the times. For A#2’s Yohji Yamamoto this has been a long road, as he began showing in Paris over two decades ago in 1981.

Crowned the master of black, Yohji was a revolutionary who interpreted classical European tailoring into a new and exciting silhouette, falling with a new exaggerated volume and asymmetric cut. With a loose androgyny, Yohji introduced a generation to a comfortable luxury built on draping and texture, crisp whites contrasting inky black and rare bursts of bold colour.

Through the years, Yohji has not wavered from his vision, despite the dramatic changes in mainstream style and within the work of other designers. As the images below illustrate, elements of his work can be seen following through many collections, from the earliest images we have from 1983, all the way through to his most recent show. From a polished lace-up shoe to a flowing white shirt, his signature is unmistakeable, and his legacy an inspiration to many as a benchmark of fine craftsmanship and a sensual approach to avant-garde fashion.

All images, rights reserved, Yohji Yamamoto.

Above: Yohji Yamamoto Spring Summer 1983

Above: Yohji Yamamoto Spring Summer 1985

Above: Yohji Yamamoto Spring Summer 1989

Above: Yohji Yamamoto Fall Winter 1988-99

Above: Yohji Yamamoto Spring Summer 1990

For the scenography of the exhibition, Fukai will work with Sou Fujimoto, one of a new generation of Japanese architects working closely with the natural world, white space and abstract forms.

Please follow for more updates of this exciting event!

Japanese Fashion 1981 – 2011
15 October 2010 – 6 February 2011
Barbican Art Gallery

Seasons Greetings sent from A#2’s curator Yohji Yamamoto. A striking blood red ink flower, a beautiful and oh-so-Japanese way t0 send in the New Year!

Photographer Donata Wenders – the wife of legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders – holds a fascination with Yohji Yamamoto, the magic of his shows, and his austere garments. Read more here.

Irene Silvagni tells the tale of a fateful day that brought her to Yohji’s world…

READ MORE HERE

It was a dark and rainy January day in Paris during the Mens Fashion show. I was invited to Comme des Garçons and decided to shadow my face by wearing a black velvet hat. I was sitting near to my dear friend ‘little big man’ Azzedine Alaïa and we started to laugh and chat while waiting for the show to begin. I sensed that someone was taking the seat to my left, it was Yohji Yamamoto!

He said very softly, bending towards me, almost under my hat, “What are you doing these days?” I said, “I am taking time for myself”. He said “You have a beautiful hat”. I said, “Thank you very much”.

The day after, I was invited for tea in the Marais. He said, “I have the feeling my language is not understood”. I said, “I understand you”. He said, “I wanted to ask you to be my translation.”. A few months after, I said “Yes”.

I preciously kept my black velvet hat.

READ MORE HERE

Yohji Yamamoto’s A#2 is online now.

Featuring Ron Arad, Olivier Saillard, Nick Knight, Charlotte Rampling, Zaha Hadid and more.

]]> http://amag.thepop.com/2009/11/08/yin-yang-yohji/feed/ 0 http://amag.thepop.com/2009/07/01/a-magazine-curated-by-jun-takahashi-undercover/ http://amag.thepop.com/2009/07/01/a-magazine-curated-by-jun-takahashi-undercover/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:42 +0000 danthescout http://amag.thepop.com/?p=3

Welcome to the world of A MAGAZINE curated by.

Each month we will release a past issue online FREE at www.AMAGAZINEcuratedby.com

June 2009 we released A#4 by Jun Takahashi, the street punk whiz behind cult Japanese label UNDERCOVER.

Above check out the magazine in video form, to see it page by page, click here

Our blog [A BLOG curated by] is running full steam ahead with exciting news, articles, images and videos from UNDERCOVER events, shows, and in-depth information into the people behind A#4. Check it out and subscribe in your reader! CLICK HERE

We release A MAGAZINE curated by HAIDER ACKERMANN online on July 15th, 2009. Stay tuned as we delve into his imagination, and the worlds of the intensely creative and beautiful people who surround Haider Ackermann, the Belgian womenswear designer.