Issey Miyake By: Irving Penn (1987)

Vintage Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal White Glove Bodice

Issei Suda

The figure of Melusine, at the 16th century sculpture garden of Bomarzo, Italy.

Vogue Italia, September 1997

“When I was a boy I’d skip school to sell roses on the street.  My parents gave up trying to educate me.  They said: ‘He’s lost his mind over the roses.’  I wanted to be around flowers all the time.  I sold so many that I opened my own kiosk across from a famous country club.  But I could never sell on Fridays.  The police would close our entire street so the governor could visit the club.  But once I ignored their instructions.  It was the day before Mother’s Day.  My biggest day of the year.  So I took a chance and remained open.  When the police found out, they confiscated all my flowers.  They even took my license.  It was a fatal blow.  All my money was in those flowers.  I had piles of them.  So I had to start from zero.  I’m a street vendor again.  For awhile I was ashamed, but I’m fine with it now.  It’s better than working for someone.  I buy the roses I want, and sell them to whoever I want.  Maybe I’ll have a shop again.  But as long as I’m around my roses, I’ll always feel peaceful.”   (Cairo, Egypt)

Ivan Aivazovsky, ‘Among Waves’ (Detail)

Kaat Tilley A/W 98-99

Yohji Yamamoto, 2000s ph. Ali Mahdavi

Helmut Lang S/S2020 photographed by Tanya and Zhenya Posternak

A darker, bluer and stormier version of this classic grey work seen popularly here in our collection of 1969 untitled grey works on paper. Not sure how dark the original is as the NGA scan is very light, but it’s also typical that the NGA scans are old and not always accurate. Loving this mood and it’s addition to our collective understanding.