Fong Leng Fashion & Art

Posted on 13/12/2013 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Entrance at the Amsterdam museum, Fong Leng and her muse Mathilde Willink in the 1970s, the photo is taken by Paul Huf

Overview of the first exhibition room at the Amsterdam Museum

vintage coat by Fong Leng

vintage coats by Fong Leng

vintage summer dress by Fong Leng

Vintage leather dress by Fong Leng

a corner of the first exhibition room at the Amsterdam Museum

Detail of wall covering in leather patchwork

“Painting with leather” Fong Leng

A corner of the second exhibition room at the Amsterdam Museum

The colorful summer ensemble on the rightside was used in MImi Berlin’s Fashion Fest #2 !!

Butterfly Two Piece (1978 – 1980) Portrayed in Mimi Berlin’s Fashion Fest #2 (recently purchased by the Amsterdam Museum)photo courtesy of Amsterdam Museum

We were told this lady has been working with Fong Leng for a long time.

“Painting with leather” Fong Leng

One of our favorite works

Overview of the first exhibition room at the Amsterdam Museum

Friends for a long time…on the left side Fong Leng

Yes, we know, this is very intimate but we couldn’t help ourselves: What a friend wrote for Fong Leng (remember our trip to London? Shiny coat! Gon)

Artist Aad Veldhoen signing the guest book

Mr Veldhoen’s message, again too intimate to photograph but we couldn’t help ourselves, Sorry.

Fashion Designer Bas Kosters having a Selfie moment with Fong Leng

Fong Leng Fashion & Art. The other day we attended the opening of the exhibition Fong Leng, Fashion & Art at The Amsterdam Museum. Continue reading →

Gummischtuck goes Tribal

Posted on 15/08/2013 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Gummischtuck goes Tribal
“A great way to wear the tribal or ethnic look is with accessories. Mention the word tribal accessories and the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind is big chunky necklace made of multiple rows of beads or a head dress with exotic feathers in it. All of us carry a couple of pieces of ethnic or tribal accessories in our wardrobe knowingly or unknowingly. It could be a chunky beaded necklace, silk thread bangles, a cowrie embellished belt, beaded footwear or a quirky tribal hair band. This season, the effort is to put wild pieces together with tame or boring clothing to create a statement making look.” (read more at afromeetseuro)

Fringes allsorts

Posted on 31/01/2013 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Advertising campaign for COMME des GARÇONS, SHIRT. Designed by Ronnie Cooke Newhouse, sculpture by Simen Johan

Left: (one of the) The African Queens, New York magazine, August 2012, photographed by Namsa Leuba. Right: Photographer unknown; probably taken from National Geographic Magazine (via)

EMBA CERULEAN Sapphire Mink, 1952

Left; Artist Pamela Sunday and her work (photo by Paul Sunday via OEN). Right: Collage by and via armbryterskan’s photostream.

Sapeurs

Posted on 26/04/2012 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Recapping an ongoing trend In a nutshell; Sapeurs.

The word “Sapeur” is derived from SAPE, an acronym for the movement itself, Société des Ambianceurs et Persons Élégants. The word sape also means “to dress with elegance and style” in French.

2009: The Sapeurs of Brazzaville, Congo were introduced to us Europeans in Gentlemen of Bacongo by Daniele Tamagni. (ISBN: 978-1-904563-83-9) The book has a preface written by Paul Smith.Read more> (on harlemworldmag: sapeurs)(The Beau Brummels of Brazzaville-by Tom Downey in WSJ, Europe, Sept, 2010)

Understandably this style was highly suitable for the fashion industry and proofed to be an inspiration.

2010: Paul Smith, Spring/Summer runway. (via)

2008: Exactitudes, Sapeurs in Paris by Ari Versluys and Ellie Uyttenbroek.

2009, The Contributing Editor editorial photographed by Laurence Ellis, Fashion by Chrisna de Bruy & Mavuso Mbtumba.

2011: Belgian/Congolese rapper Baloji. Photo by Jerome Bonnet(via)

2012, Resort collection: Burberry Prorsum, from this collection onwards, Christopher Bailey tends to get inspired by Africana (other than the out-of-africa approach) visible in stripes, dessins and accessoiries .(photo: Burberry Prorsum)

2012, top; winter collection, below; from the summer collection both by laurenceairline.

Kenzo and Vans (via)

Fall 2012 Runway; They are back! Sapeurs in full ornate, dressed very fashionably by Walter van Beirendonck.

(photo’s Style.com)
Go to Mimi Berlin’s Blog: Out of africa

Out of Africa

Posted on 18/04/2012 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

For the youngsters amongst us: It started in 1985 when Sydney Pollack decided to adapt Karen Blixen‘s book; Out of Africa, her account of living in Kenya, for a movie with the same name. Soon every fashion season had to have this colonial, out-of-africa theme.

The use of this old-trend with a beard has been going on for decades and still is going strong! We really do find this unbelievable! Is this what fashion is about, and are we just loosing it? Ha! don’t think so. We found some, recent, editorials for you on the net.

Vogue US June 2007, photo’s by Arthur Elgort Stylist; Grace Coddington(via)

From Peter Alexander’s catalogue autumn/winter 2008 (via)

Jackie magazine, April, 2011/Photographer: Petrovsky & Ramone/ Styling: Renu Kashyap

Vogue Australia, December 2011/Photographer: Max Doyle/Styling: Naomi Smith

Men’s Magazine, Australia, Winter 2011 (via)

Harpers Bazaar, Australia, March 2012. Photographer: WILL DAVIDSON/Styling: JILLIAN DAVIDSON (via)On the right Robert Redford washing Meryl Streep’s hair in the movie.