Well Shod, Well Imformed

LET YOUR IMAGINARIUM RUN WILD

The rumour of Jerome C. Rousseau’s involvement in Terry Gilliam’s "The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus" was first bought to the Despotic Queen’s attention in July 2008.

When I questioned the Canadian born designer (July 08) he told Imelda, “Yes, it's still a bit of a secret and should not be officially out, but the collection will be featured in the next Terry Gilliam film, in a fantastic scene where the Fall 08 collection will be blown into 30ft set pieces!”

Rousseau went on tell the Despotic Queen he was a ‘huge fan’ of Gilliam and ‘cannot wait for it to be completed’. Rousseau also admitted that he was aware there were ‘leaks’ but that he couldn’t make an official announcement.

Despite the ‘rumours’ being considered fair game (because they were in the public domain), Imelda demonstrated remarkable restraint and chose not to report (or even allude to) Rousseau’s news…but this afternoon, while Imelda was flexing her pelvic floor muscles, she received electronic correspondence from Mr Rousseau.

Attached was Rousseau’s long awaited ‘confirmation’ of his (and by his I mean his shoes) involvement in "The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus". Rousseau was also kind enough to send Imelda screen grabs (above) of Johnny Depp and Lily Coleman floating around the aforementioned 30ft shoes.

Rousseau appears imperious to The Despotic one’s wily charms when it comes to my repeated questioning about the origin of this EXTRAORDINARY collaboration. But trickin’ or no trickin’, Mama Imelda’s bay-bay HAS ARRIVED…to seen Rousseau's collection CLICK HERE

SPRING'S LOOKING SKETCHY!

Spring 2010 isn't as far off as one would imagine or so FN would like us to believe. Yesterday the Fairchild property published a series of preview sketches from some of Imelda's favorite designers. Although Imelda's (still) pugging through my A/W 09/10 previews, I wouldn't deny my Imeldette's a sneaky.

Top to bottom - Raphael Young, Pollini, Omelle, Nicole Brundage, Jerome C Rousseau, Max Kirbardin, Casadei, Giuseppe Zanotti, Bruno Frisoni, Sergio Rossi, Rupert Sanderson, Dsquared.

SWEPT AWAY

The giant tsunami that was the A/W 09/10 collections engulfed the Despotic Queen and everyone in its path. While I was busy tasering the likes of Lagerfeld and Galliano, my good friend Jerome C. Rousseau was getting up close and personal with the trotters of Katie Holmes, Charlize Theron and Blacktown’s favourite ABBA fan Ms Toni Colette.

Whatever your thoughts are of Katie Holmes there is no disputing she is one of the most photographed women in the world and as an independent designer, attaching yourself to such high wattage exposure can pay massive dividends. Entering that rarefied celebrity vacuum is most difficult so Imelda tips her taser heels to the stylist who services these women. Presenting an independent designer instead of the power players like the Red (soled) Baron or Manolo Blah-nik, demonstrates there are fashion forward Stylists working in Hollywood. 

Imelda always walks away from a celebrity post feeling like I’ve been touched up in the confessional box, but no matter how hard we fight the good fight there is no escaping the commercial reality that a celebrity brings. So in these, our darkest days, I wouldn’t care if independent designers like Rousseau, (Skovgaard, Young etal) dug up Anna Nicole Smith’s rotting corpse for a photo opportunity. HECK, if it helped them sell a pair of shoes, I’d pass them a shovel.

Dutch design student Maurice Van De Stouwe has been on Imelda’s ‘Ones to Watch’ list since last year. Like Jelske Peterson and Yuima Nakazato, Van De Stouwe is part of the vanguard of Scandinavian designers currently getting ready to face off with the UK’s power players - Kirkwood, Morris, Sanderson and Skovgaard.

After viewing his current collection I continue to be overwhelmed by Van De Stouwe’s potential. Talking with Imelda, Van De Stouwe revealed the inspiration behind the collection was “more of a research question”. He went to say that for his graduation collection (which is still in progress) he was “looking at which techniques, other than ‘classic shoemaking’ are suitable for making shoes. I was focused on what does it take to make soles and heels to keep them attached to your feet”.

“I was inspired by the photographic work of Hedi Slimane and combined those images with traditional Japanese footwear design like geta, waraji and zori”. Van De Stouwe also explained the hand crafted components and knotted strapping had been “inspired from a series of woodworking joint diagrams”.

Still studying, Van De Stouwe is blessed with the luxury that time brings, and while he’s busy perfecting his form and line, the Despotic Queen will be busy clearing the path before him, because Maurice Van De Stouwe is destined for greatness and I want to be seated ringside.

 

BLANK PAGE

Let me apologise for my extended absence, but who could have predicted that lounging on my zebra covered chaise in a jewelled Halston mu-mu watching illegally downloaded movies and television shows could be so darn exhausting – not me!

Anyhoo, I’ve fixed up my new blogging lair and once the Maiden of Nuremberg has been delivered, I’ll share a few pictures.

I feel it’s best for all involved that Imelda eases into the New Year with an image heavy post and postpone the trash talk to later in the week.

Before Christmas I was all up in Jerome C. Rousseau’s trunk, trying to hunt down additional images of his SS09 collection. Finally, after threatening to dispatch The Order of Imelda’s most feared foot solider ‘Sister Wolf’ did Rousseau come good, and by golly am I glad he did.

One of the many reasons (and trust me there are many) Imelda loves the ‘Cutie from Quebec’ is that of ALL the up and coming designers, Jerome is the only one with an Australian distributor (Belinda).  As the luxury market tightens and local Buyers take less risks (which means more Louboutin, Blahnik et al) I’m predicting it will be some time before we see the likes of Kirkwood, Skovgaard, Young and Morris entering the Australian market. But enough doom and gloom, let’s just ogle the pretty shoes.

As I mentioned in part one of my preview, Jerome was inspired by the work of UK artist Ettore Sottsass and his colour palette by Verena Jabs. You can read the full review HERE or you can read this profile piece published in this months Australian Vogue

AND THE MONEY KEEPS ROLLING IN

Yesterday I discovered a village of moths had taken up residence in my wardrobe, I promptly issued them with an order to vacate before polybaging my Bob Mackie’s. Then this morning I woke to discover a plague of tiny sub tropic insects had moved into the Place of Despotism. Added to the problem of a leaky shower, broken dryer and no telephone I’m expecting the angel of death to drop by for a mince pie and a nip of brandy.

In happier news, if you look to right and down a little you’ll see that Imelda has a new sponsor. After threatening his extended (Filipino based) family with internment in one of my crystal myth labs, my favourite South East Asian homie, Alvin (Saint Augustine’s Academy) has caved and bought a block of ad space. I’ve trashed talked SAA before and despite Imelda’s best attempts to rig the votes (it has been over 20 years since I fixed an election so I’m bound to be a little rusty) Shandor Gancs (of Leopold) took home the 2threads Menswear Designer of the Year award

With all the drama swirling around, nominations for Imelda’s Designer of the Year award have been extended until this Sunday. If you haven’t nominated then do so HERE.

Attempting to corrupt the electoral process some sneaky designers (Jerome C Rousseau) have started wooing Yum Yum. Will you take a gander at what my security camera’s caught last night…

Yes, those are Yum Yum’s pins and if you thought, “aren’t they Imelda’s gold liturgical dance leggings?” you’d have guessed right. Naturally, after my security detail bought this to my attention I confiscated the delicious booties, my leggings and set the dogs on her. Since the new palace is smaller, blocking out her pleas for mercy was difficult – but she needed to be reminded that only the rich can subvert democracy.