Rodarte @ Colette (Paris, France)

I just realized that this post is probably more in line with Halloween than my last, but for those who are still relishing all that is spooky and a little macabre, this should hopefully keep you happy until next year's festivities. And who better to host something a little different than Colette - one of those stores I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with. Like most designer concept stores, I've always found this one to be a little pretentious and while the displays are interesting enough, I've often perceived the in-store layout to be a bit messy and overly artsy in the way they try to display clothing. What Colette is good at though, is getting well established designers, artists, authors and anyone else remotely interesting or famous to collaborate with them, resulting in unique pop-up stores and/or exhibitions. In the past, I've featured their Barbie anniversary, as well as The Selby exhibition. This time around, they've decided to work with the Mulleavy sisters by celebrating their 10th collection, which involves an exhibit curated by the designers showcasing "artists who reveal the nostalgic qualities apparent in pop culture". In addition, the corner below the gallery features exclusive Rodarte items, their recent Opening Ceremony collaboration, a selection from the FW09 collection, as well as a whole range of other pieces designed by friends of Rodarte.

Overview of the pop-up store (left) and the exhibition (right).

The area reserved for Colette's monthly special guest can usually be found towards the back of the first floor. The annoying thing about a store that has the power to host various collaborations and other events, is that things tend to go a little overboard. Around the same time the Rodarte tribute was going on, Colette was also paying an homage to Natasha Poly, so snapshots of hers could be found strewn all over the same floor as well, along with special Natasha products, such as dolls and books. Meanwhile some of Rodarte's inspirational shots (prints from Autumn de Wilde and David Sherry) could already be found near the stairs and it took me a few minutes to realize this even belonged to the Rodarte collaboration.

From top left: Rodarte Living Dead Dolls, city postcards with eyes by Patrick Li, Rodarte limited edition doll, a paper party hat.

Some of Rodarte's favorite movies and CDs, as well as an inspiration wall.

Nevertheless, once you get to the two storey space dedicated to the California designers, there's no mistaking you've come to the right place to catch a glimpse of Rodarte's inspiration and creative process. The special shop features everything from DVDs of epic horror movies and favorite CDs or books to special edition postcards by Patrick Li or jewelry by Mark Walsh & Leslie Chin. Some of the more interesting items included the Rodarte doll or if you prefer something a little scarier, you can also pick out one of the special Living Dead Dolls on display.

Overview of one of the store walls covered in zombie-like prints (top, image: Colette). Pillowcases by Miranda July (left) and Opening Ceremony totes (right).

The Rodarte x Opening Ceremony pieces were worth looking at as well... this included lunchboxes, a Kurt Cobain t-shirt, notebooks and a whole range of eco-friendly bags. If you prefer something along the lines of shoes, there's always Kirkwood's thigh-high boot or for something a little more low key, Repetto has created a limited edition Rodarte ballerina.

Top: Overview of the area featuring the Rodarte FW09 collection. Repetto x Rodarte ballerinas (lower left) and a Rodarte FW09 cardigan (right).

Of course Rodarte's own FW09 range was heavily featured as well. From what I could tell, a few dresses, cardigans and skirts were piled up on a shelf and hung from a rack at the far end of the room. Because of the steep pricing, no one was really buying these, but it was still interesting to browse considering Rodarte isn't that easily available in Europe. For slightly more affordable items, the Mulleavys also created several special edition collections such as the 'I love/hate Rodarte' sweaters and tees or a range of quirky necklaces.

Some very cool jewelry by Mark Walsh & Leslie Chin (left) and necklaces by Rodarte (right).

The only thing more expensive than the FW09 pieces were the porcelain sets from KPM, some of which came with a porcelain gun to match the saucers and tea cups. If these had been cheaper, I'm sure they would have made a great gift for your conservative aunt or grandmother, but alas, I doubt most people have that kind of money to spend on a crazy gift item.

Overview of the book section (left). Fancy a gun with your tea? KSM porcelain set (right).

The walls of this section were covered in de Wilde and Sherry prints that partially inspired Rodarte's current season collections, but for more art, you need to head up the stairs to the gallery area. Alexandre de Betak created a mini installation that featured the Rodarte runway shows, while works from various other artists such as Karen Kilimnik, Ari Marcopoulos or Kim Gordon (of Sonic Youth fame) hung from the nearby walls.

Alexandre de Betak installation in a glass bubble (left). 'Love' neon sign by Alexandra Gant (top right) and a beautiful glittery piece by Karen Kilimnik (lower right).

Overview of part of the exhibition (top, image: Colette). Notebooks and photographs by Dave Armstrong (lower left). 'Mom as Medusa' by Helliott Hundley (right).

There were also two big piles of poster-sized typed letters on the floor. I have no idea what they were supposed to be, but reading through them, I had the impression they were written by an over-eager fan or borderline stalker (these letters weren't directed at the Mulleavys but a girl living in Paris). This might explain why a few feet away I sighted the somewhat dangerous looking 'Evil Bat' - the coolest self-defence weapon I've ever seen.

From top left: 'Zombie Arrow' by Autumn de Wilde, 'Bats' by Annakim Violette, strange stalker letters you could take with you as a souvenir, various prints by Dave Sherry, works by Kim Gordon and Ari Marcopoulos.

Left: 'No Title' by Raymond Pettibon. Right: The incredibly studded 'Evil Bat' by Marc Kroop.

I tend to skip some of Colette's collaborations, but this was definitely one of the better ones and a must if you're a fan or admirer of Rodarte. The designers are pretty open when it comes to sharing their inspirations (take a look at their homepage for more), but seeing their clothes hang side-by-side with zombie-like artworks and porcelain guns does put a different twist on things and also gives a little insight into their slightly quirky sense of humor. This exhibition is on until November 7, so if you're in town, I'd go and check it out. If you're not in Paris, don't despair: you can still buy all these special Rodarte items and some of the prints via Colette's online store.

A selection of more special Rodarte items from Colette's onilne store. From top left; Rodarte FW09 knit dress, Opening Ceremony lunchbox, Miranda July pillowcase, Rodarte x Colette buttons, Rodarte x Colette sweater, Rodarte necklace (individual images: Colette).

Address: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Colette Homepage & Online Shop

Colette - The Selby (Paris, France)

The wonderful thing about window shopping at Colette is that its retail environment changes constantly. When I last visited this store to see the Barbie anniversary special, everything was swathed in pink. Since March 30, Colette has been hosting 'The Selby in your Place by Todd Selby' exhibition, which means that once again, shoppers like myself can indulge in ogling special collaboration items related to the exhibit, as well as wander around looking at actual artwork.

To those unfamiliar with Todd Selby's work, here's a brief introduction: back in June 2008 Selby decided to explore the ways one's personal space reflects one's personality by documenting creative people in their creative environment. This mainly involved taking their photos, but also included sketches and a Q&A dedicated to his subjects. The list of people he photographed grew and soon he began posting all of this on his website, which became immensely popular. These days Selby has a pretty large fan base, though there are a fair amount of people who think his work is overrated. Safe to say if you started taking pictures of your buddies, who happen to be Alexander Wang or Erin Wasson, then posted these together with drawings and interviews on your blog, you'll most likely get a bit of attention.

Nevertheless I was curious to see the majority of his collection in person. Unlike most of the previous exhibits, this one took over the entire store, with photos, hand-written notes and illustrations occupying various walls in a montage layout. So you do end up browsing the entire shop area, but as Selby's pieces are grouped according to the person he's documenting, it's still clearly arranged.

Erin Wasson montage

In some cases looking at the pictures or reading something can be a bit tricky though. I found it awkward to stare at the things that were hanging behind the cash desk, so I quickly gave up. The water bar in the basement had a few pieces as well, but if you're not actually dining there, it seems pointless again. So I headed towards the first floor where I was greeted by a mosaic of images and Q&A's dedicated to (amongst others) Erin Wasson that was hanging by the stairs.

I didn't try to photograph everything I saw, as all of it (and more) is available on TheSelby.com, so I would recommend any readers to head there to browse in peace. The first floor gave easier access to Selby's work, which made admiring his documentation while browsing Colette's range of designer clothes more fun. Though I had previously seen a lot of this online, looking at the presentation in person gave it a more organic feel - especially as nothing was framed or laminated, creating the impression everything had just been randomly stuck to the walls.

As usual, the majority of the exhibit could be found towards the back, with the lower of the split levels once again housing the special collaboration shop. Most of these items were either created for the exhibit or are pieces that previously belonged to Selby's subjects.

A rack of clothing included blazers, jeans and tops designed by Abigail & Philip Smiley, tote bags by Olaf Breuning and t-shirts created by the man himself. Other notable finds were a handmade photo book by Cheryl Dunn, a very odd candleholder by Adam Wallacavage and a bronze music tape from Michael Stipe (retailing for 300 EUR - it better have something good on it).

The top floor gave easier access to the remainder of Selby's work, the more popular collages featuring Michael Stipe and Christian Louboutin. All photos can also be ordered as prints in various sizes and a Selby book containing his compositions was available for purchase.

above: Michael Stipe, below: Christian Louboutin

The exhibit definitely made for an interesting visit, so if you're in the area I'd definitely go. Colette is hosting this event until May 2. If you don't get a chance and are new to 'The Selby', you might want to check out his official homepage here. And don't forget: all Selby-related items can also be purchased via the Colette homepage.

(individual images: Colette)

Address: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Colette Homepage & Online Shop

Colette - Barbie's 50th Anniversary (Paris, France)

(image: Elle)

I'm a bit late with this one, but it's too fun to ignore. As some may know, everyone's favorite blond doll is celebrating her 50th anniversary this year and as the master of special collaborations, Colette has been hosting Barbie parties and exhibitions all month. I finally got around to checking out the actual floorspace dedicated to Barbie a few days ago, so I thought I'd share. For the whole of last week, Colette had their shop window decorated with life-sized Barbie mannequins, complete with giant Barbie packaging filled with items such as the 2880 EUR mini Goyard trunk and Stila cosmetics.

If that's not enough merchandising, the 1st floor is where you need to be. Towards the back, the split level area is dedicated to all limited edition Barbie products available, as well as the Karl Lagerfeld photo exhibition one floor up. Having seen all the photos before, I gravitated towards the colorful goodie section first. I loved all the giant pink poodles that were standing around, but apparently they were not for sale (damn). Nevertheless, I had a good time browsing the rack of Jeremy Scott trench coats and dresses; for less pricey apparel there was a nice selection of t-shirts and tank tops with various Barbie-related prints. The middle table had all the Stila items neatly laid out, although I kept getting distracted by the huge pink 4-tiered birthday cake (made to look like a dress with the doll's upper body perched on top) - no, it's not edible.

The most bizarre and therefore interesting product for me was the jewelry by Margaux Lange, which basically consisted of Barbie's body parts, such as the necklaces featuring her eyes or the bracelets made of multiple hands. Bless designed a somewhat crazy hairbrush, which has blond hair integrated where bristles used to be, while Alexis Mabille created something for the gents: a bowtie with Ken's head in the middle. If you're a traditionalist, there's a nice display of various (complete) Barbies and if you're not tired of all the Barbie-related Fashion Week themes yet, there's also the special edition dolls styled by Roksanda Illincic and Danielle Scutt. Hungry? Why not pick up some chocolates courtesy of Dylan's Candy Bar or head down to Colette's own water bar, where Ladurée have created Barbie-themed delicacies. If you're more into tech stuff, there's a Barbie mp3 player as well or for home decor, take a look at the Kartell Barbie chairs.

One more product of note: the Bruno Frisoni shoes stored in a glass case in a corner. I hope the image is descriptive enough, but so you know, there is an entire Barbie attached to the back of the shoe, with her legs serving as the high heel. Not sure if one could walk in those, but they're available for purchase.

After all this, I made my way up to the Lagerfeld exhibition. As mentioned, I was familiar with all the images, but it was still nice to see the shots in person. The clothes (designed by Mr. Karl of course - one outfit looked like it could have come straight out of his own wardrobe) are beautiful and even though it may seem odd that real model Baptiste Giabiconi (as Ken) is posing with a doll, it somehow works.

If you're in Paris at the moment, I'd urge you to check this out. The Barbie anniversary special is on until the end of the month, so it's not too late to pick up a souvenir! If you're not in town, no worries - most items are also available online.

(individual images: Colette)

Address: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Colette Homepage & Online Shop

Colette (Paris, France)

This cult store is the first stop for many visiting Paris, thanks to the incredible selection and display of everything that's hip, unique and hard to find. You can expect this boutique to be full of people most of the time, as was the case when I dropped by today for a quick browse. Colette currently has a Cacharel shop-in-shop with the latest Liberty-print line. Yes, it seems the Liberty print is everywhere! You'll also find it on items such as Nike sneakers or toy dolls.

(image: hypebeast)

The ground floor is great for anyone looking for streetwear & sneakers (Bape, Original Fake, Adidas etc.). An entire wall display prominently features the shoes in various styles while the nearby glass cube is where you'll find a good selection of t-shirts and jackets. The first thing you'll probably notice though are the various coffee table books and quirkier toys and gift items around the entrance of the store. Most people end up getting stuck here, browsing and flipping through various publications for what seems like hours. If you do manage to get away head on over towards the back where you'll discover a good assortment of gadgets, watches, CD's and techie items housed either in glass cases or on minimalist shelves - I sighted everything from Swarovski adorned Hello Kitty laptops to reggae CD's.

(image: hypebeast)

If you're wanting designer, the first floor is where you need to be. Dozens of mannequins are positioned throughout the area, each one immaculately dressed, accessorized and with the appropriate footwear. It's like walking around a contemporary fashion museum! All other clothing (from YSL to Viktor & Rolf) hangs on nearby racks for convenient browsing. I also spotted Proenza Schouler bags, which I have yet to see elsewhere in Paris. The selection isn't huge, but I'm not even sure people come here to buy ready-to-wear. Most of Colette's business seems to stem from the ground floor purchases. The numerous staff members on floor 1, while friendly, look more like they're there to prevent shoppers from knocking over the dummies, instead of selling the actual product.

(image: hypebeast)

Don't forget to check out the cosmetics section with beauty items ranging from Kiehl's to Bliss, as well as the jewelry displays or the men's designer section. The back area is split into to levels which is where Colette will host exhibitions or special collaboration events.

(image: hypebeast)

If you need a drink, go on down to the water bar (lower level), which boasts over 100 different kinds of water. While some might deem this store overrated or pretentious, I would definitely go at least once. The store design itself - lots of sleek white walls, glass and metal - is worth the visit alone.

(image: hypebeast)

(individual images: Colette homepage)

Address: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Colette Homepage & Online Shop