26 Jan 2009

Spray It; Don't Say It

You say 'graffiti prints', I think Salt n Pepa, Primark bowling bags, and the 'I've Got Attitude' scrawl t-shirt I wore as a second skin when I was eleven. But this year, with Marc Jacob's blessing, graffiti prints are right back in style at Louis Vuitton.

In 2001, Marc Jacobs collaborated with American designer Stephen Sprouse to create a range of neon graffiti bags. Famous for his sixties, day-glow graffiti prints, Sprouse rocked the 80's with his loud styles, collaborations with artist Keith Haring, and famous one offs, designed especially for Debbie Harry and Duran Duran. Despite having created several solo collections, and a capsule collection for Bergdorf Goodman, successes were short lived and Sprouse's fashion contributions renamed largely forgotten through the 90's, until his Louis Vuitton collaboration. His range of bags an incredible success, the pieces sold out instantly, making them essential arm candy for new millennium. In 2004, Sprouse died of heart failure, and, in 2006, as a tribute to the designer, and homage to his as a close friend, Marc created another Stephen Sprouse collection, using the materials from Sprouse's 1987 graffiti collection to create a range of bags, shoes and scarves for Louis Vuitton. Once again, it was an instant success, and this year Marc has resurrected Sprouse's designs once more, with a new Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton collection. Released in time to coincide with the exhibition of Sprouse's work at New York's Deitch Gallery, this new range promises to be another hit for Louis Vuitton, prompting another Sprouse revivial.



I love the floral prints used in this collection, and the bright colours, especially the hot fuchsia, would look stunning on sunny days in the city. I'm defiantly a fan of the floral print, pink speedy, a feminine but funky take on the tried-and-testy version, but the graffiti print leggings and courts? I can't help but think they look like something you might stumble across in a discount "fashion" store in Benidorm or on the rails in MKOne. As for the graffiti speedy, while being a downtown twist on an uptown trend, this bag reminds me of the canvas versions, covered with acrylic scrawl found on dodgy market stalls world over; or I am being too harsh? What's your verdict: Stephen Sprouse at Louis V; fashion do or fashion don't?


15 comments:

Baybay Mama said...

Sprouse was a genius and Marc was even more genius because he knew that his grafitti would sell! There was a really great article about it in Vogue this month.

Kati said...

Marc Jacobs is the best!

What is Reality Anyway? said...

oh so cool x

Anonymous said...

Great! I love Marc.

Angela said...

i like the rose motif but not the graffiti prints.

Trish said...

YAY. Louis Vuitton is the shiiiz! :)

Vera said...

You know, I am simply NOT a fan of either of it, graffiti or flowers. But then again, Marc knows his audience better than I do :).

cherie said...

I'm always of the info you've got. I love MJ!

Nemerae said...

Hi1
Thansk for your comment :)
Honestyle, I don't like that LV collection at all... I like graffiti prints in som t-shirts but with not over the top colours, you know... And I absolutely prefer artistic print in the meaning of hand-painting flowers or oriental print, for example. I find them much more elegant and nicer!
Byee
xx

Jelena Bu said...

naked geaffited Marc - certainly DO, bags with graffiti - DO, what about leggins thats really not mine!!!

Unknown said...

i love the titel of your blog!!!
thanks for comment.
you have nice blog.

Fashion Moment said...

Thank you for your comment, darling.
I like new LV collection, and like some of photos from their ad campaign.

FM

Frankie said...

I love the idea of wearing it with floral - genius x

Annabel Wendt (LoveMore) said...

i want to have marcs children!

and slash your black skinnies and take some shots for us!
:)

xx LM

Unknown said...

i dunno...something is saying to me it's a don't. the graffiti thing is just tacky and not even in a good way. i like graffiti and louis vuitton but not mixed together.