reVOLVER Ibiza

reVOLVER's style guide to the Ibiza Opening Parties

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:18:00 GMT

It's hard to believe, but Ibiza's famous Opening Parties are nearly upon us once again! Although there have already been lots of restaurant and beach club openings to date, the unofficial start of "the season" has always been the Space Opening Party in the last weekend of May.

Space used to be the only thing to do that weekend, and practically the whole island would be there. Nowadays it's still just as crowded, but there are more opening parties than you can shake a stick at!

Ibiza's clubs might seem a bit daunting if you've never been before, so if you're not sure about what to wear, where, here is reVOLVER's style guide for the 2012 opening parties...

ZOO PROJECT (Saturday 26th May)

It's held in a deserted zoo, although you'd be forgiven for thinking the zoo was still open, the way the crowd gets into the animal theme. Wild animals especially are the favourites. Some people get totally dressed up as their animal of choice, but it's a bit difficult these days to travel with a full zebra costume in your luggage, so here are some ideas that are more compatible with Easyjet's baggage policy...

For the female species...

For the male species...

USHUAIA (Saturday 26th May)

If you're lucky enough to be staying at Ibiza's self professed Party Hotel (or unlucky, if you've got a hangover and just want to lie in bed) this is basically a Miami-style pool party. In the residents VIP area it's fine to dance away in a bikini (providing it's a knockout one) - noone will bat an eyelid. However if you're merely visiting Ushuaia, and are tempted to just wear what you had on to the Playa d'en Bossa beach that day, then think again. It's a stylish hotel, so make a bit of an effort. For a change, it's OK to get here earlier rather than later, so the dress code does tend to be slightly more casual than a club (shorts are acceptable, it's as close to an open air club as there is in Ibiza these days!) - until it gets dark. It almost goes without saying that killer sunglasses are a must. Here are some other suggestions:

For the gals...

For the guys...

PACHA (Defected Saturday 26th May, Cadenza Vagabundos Sunday 27th May)

Pacha's open all year around, so strictly speaking it's not the opening party for the club, but for two of their biggest nights, Defected and Cadenza. Each night will draw a different crowd - for Defected you can expect the crowd to be all Dressed Up for a Saturday night - for girls, that means getting glammed up to the nines, and for guys a shirt, and shoes rather than trainers.

For the ladies...

For the gentlemen...

On the Sunday night, the Vagabundos crowd is a more gypsy-rock look. Think black pants, a waistcoat and trilby hat or flat cap, and you've got the idea. Add smudged eyeliner (that goes for the boys too) and you're properly there.

For the gypsy queens...

For the gypsy kings...

SPACE (Sunday 27th May)

The Big One. In fact it's so big these days they open up the back carpark, so chances are you'll be outside, dancing on concrete - something to keep in mind when considering your shoes. There are always some fabulous outfits at the Space Fiesta, including crazy costumes, and a statement outfit never goes astray. Our tip is to wear a bright colour - you are bound to lose your friends and something colourful makes you a lot easier to find in a crowd (and possibly served at the bar faster!).

Here are some ideas for Space next weekend:

For the space cadets...

For the space rangers...

P.S. There is no cloakroom, so leave the jacket at home.

DC-10 (Monday 28th May)

DC-10 might be an underground club, but it's also a hot, dusty ex-aircraft hanger. It's no place to air your most directional Japanese-designer clothes! We recommend things you'll stay as cool as possible in, thereby looking as cool as possible too.

For the Circo Locas...

For the Circo Locos...

Whatever you wear, where, our advice is to wear it well, with confidence and with panache. If you have no intention of following this style guide, then good for you - Ibiza embraces those who don't conform to the norm BUT... only if it's a deliberate statement.

And just one final word of advice - if you change your mind about what you're wearing half way through the night you can always do what I did legendary night at Space... swap clothes with someone else!!

The Original McQueen

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:12:00 GMT

We think Steve McQueen is just about the coolest guy who ever lived. The anti-hero actor and King of Cool was almost as famous for his Italian shades as his film roles. Steve favoured two models - the Persol 649 and the 714. Both are a classic aviator shape with bridge detail, the 714 was actually a folding version of the 649.

The original Persol 649S model.

The re-released 714s.

The 649 model was developed in the 1950s to protect tram drivers from dust. Having admired the eyewear of the Italian bus, train and tram drivers in the past, I can report they definitely have the most stylish shades of any transport workers in the world!

McQueen's favourite shades were 714s in a tortoiseshell frame, and the ones that he wore in The Thomas Crown Affair were in a light tortoiseshell called "Light Havana", with blue lenses. They sold for a very cool 70,000 US dollars at auction a few years back. Persol still manufacture them (and they cost considerably less than the auction price!!) however brown lenses are now standard.

McQueen in his $70,000 blue-lensed 714s.

We think Steve would have liked these alternatives. If you like Steve's sunglasses style you should check them out!

Linda Farrow Luxe 24 carat gold snakeskin aviators

Raf Simons aviators

Dries Van Noten tortoiseshell aviators

John Varvatos tortoiseshell aviators

And - there's even a model for the girls who are Steve fans.

Alexander Wang metal inset sunglasses

Steve McQueen is a reVOLVER Sunglasses Idol.

Zip-e-dee-doohdah

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:05:00 GMT

Google conveniently reminded us this morning that today would have been zipper inventor Gideon Sundback's 132nd birthday. It's safe to say I'd otherwise have forgotten (unless he was on Facebook?).

It's lots of people's favourite "Google doodle" to date - including mine!

I did think the timing was a bit odd... 132 is not a particularly significant number... but I may have underestimated just how in tune with fashion the Google page designers are. Zips are all over the collections this season, and not just doing up the trousers.

Here are my top 5 zip-tastic pieces at reVOLVER:

1. Superfine London - Vroom black biker style jeans with gold zips across the knees (instore, online soon)

2. Also from Superfine - Tease grey skinny jeans with zips across the entire front legs

2. McQ Alexander McQueen - Neon Lights Zip Sleeve Dress.

4. LNA red zipper leggings with gold zips on the hip and ankles. Team with the double zip tee also from LNA.

5. Alexander Wang zipper frame sunglasses. A favourite of fashion editors, and reVOLVER!

Kylie looking Superfine

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:21:00 GMT

reVOLVER hearts Kylie Minogue big time - check out Maya Claughtons's blog for Vogue.co.uk if you don't know why!

Here is our favourite pop princess looking fabulous in Superfine - the jeans are classic Superfine, and we're pretty sure the top is from the SS12 collection too. It's called the Hitch - a luxurious cashmere blend layer top that is one of my favourites at the moment as well.

Check out Kylie's laid-back yet super-cool look here

Belgian brewers

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:03:00 GMT

Couture house Dior finally announced a replacement creative director yesterday, following John Galliano's departure almost exactly a year ago. It's Raf Simons, who was previously at Jil Sander, and was once labeled by the New York Times as "the most influential menswear designer of the last decade". High praise indeed - especially as Simons didn't even study fashion design (his training was in industrial design).

That makes it a Belgian double at Dior - with Kris Van Assche in charge at Dior Homme!

The designers will be busy - they have their own highly acclaimed clothing lines as well as the respective top jobs at Dior. They also have cracking sunglasses collaborations with Linda Farrow. Kris Van Assche's collection is brand new, and has just arrived at reVOLVER.

We love the KVA1C4 silver metal aviators with clear acetate arms. In store now, in limited numbers.

Also available is KVA1C2 in black metal.

Raf Simons' glasses are not new, but the designs are as modern as when they first came out. These orange framed aviators were from his first collection with Linda Farrow, we sold out very shortly after they were launched.

These white ones, look relatively normal (for Simons!) but the devil's in the detail. They have a double silver bridge, and spring loaded metal rod arms and are also available in black.

reVOLVER's favourite Raf Simons' model is RAF23C1 - a flat top wrap-around style, with glass panels at the sides.

Minimalist, and very cool - we'd expect nothing less from the new Belgian king.

Looking forward to seeing what's in store for us next!

Psychedelic Drew

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:46:00 GMT

Drew Barrymore wore this stunning psychedelic print dress from McQ to an Emmy's after party. Arguably, neon and patterns don't go together, but these sure do!! The colours might be out there, but it's still a classic McQueen style.

The best part is, it can be yours! Click here to view.

Now where's that party invitation...?

Superfine Andrej

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:25:00 GMT

This time last year a hot blonde model walked out in the coveted wedding dress at the Jean-Paul Gaultier couture show, and the fashion world went mad. Not for the dress mind you - although Rhianna subsequently wore it to the Grammy awards - but for the 6'1" long limbed model with smooth skin and cheekbones to die for. For this was not your average leggy blonde... Andrej Pejic is actually a MAN. You could easily be fooled, and you wouldn't be the first... men's magazine FHM included Pejic on its 2011 list of the World's 100 Sexiest Women before they realised and issued an apology!

Easy mistake to make...

I wrote about the trend for androgynous models back in 2010 in my blog for White Ibiza, but couldn't have predicted how big Pejic was to become... in the space of a year, he has conquered what is definitely a woman's world. Born in Bosnia Herzigova, Pejic and his family fled the war-torn region and settled in Australia - in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows. Having spent the first 25 years of my life in Melbourne, the "Broady Boys" as they were known, had a hell-raising reputation, but were not terribly into fashion (unless you counted check flannel shirts and acid wash Faberge jeans). Andrej Pejic in his Gaultier couture, is as far away from a Broady Boy as you could get...

Whilst it's arguably not so hard to put a man in a dress, Pejic has gotten more daring as his career in women's modelling has progressed. He showed off his knees in shorts for Marc by Marc Jacobs' Spring 2011 campaign, subsequently modelled for a Dutch push-up bra company, went topless on the cover of Dossier magazine (the issue was banned in some American bookstores!) and he is currently topless again, heading the campaign for Superfine London. Superfine is famous for some VERY skinny denim, so that can't be easy for a man to model! Pejic once said that he'd consider a sex change for a Victoria's Secret contract - there's not much room to hide in one of their creations - but given the way his career is going I don't think he'll need to resort to that.

Only the size 13 shoes look unusual...

Banned in US bookstores, including Barnes and Noble...

Back to the Superfine campaign - it might just be my favourite label at reVOLVER, and I always love their provocative black and white photography. The designer, former stylist Lucy Pinter obviously has a thing for photography too - her former Superfine partner Flora Evans is a photographer as is Pinter's real life partner Jan Welters, who shoots all the label's campaigns. Here are some shots of Pejic from the current campaign:

The Lick black waistcoat

With his bleached blonde locks, contrasting thick dark eyebrows and legs that go on forever, Pejic is perfect!

Last week Andrej was again signed up by Gautier, to front its Kokorico (male) fragrance campaign. It's an interesting move, considering he is to replace Spanish supermodel Jon Kortajarena, who isn't exactly a dud!

I'm sure Gaultier knows what he's doing though, and I can't wait to see the new photos!

McQ - Turning Heads

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:26:00 GMT

So - everyone's talking about the McQ runway show at London Fashion Week. It even featured on the Spanish TV news! It's the first time McQ (as opposed to the mainline Alexander McQueen collection) has held a show, and it was up there on the Must See list, attracting industry heavyweights such as Anna Wintour, Samantha Cameron, the British PM's wife (who is an ambassador for the British Council of Fashion) and actress Salma Hayek.

The word on the street is that the collection was as "mainline" as a diffusion line gets! It was certainly much more high fashion than McQ's 'normal' more street style. The setting was an enchanted forest, with real trees, and the models (including Kristen McMenamy) crunched down the catwalk on real gold and red leaves. The designs featured plenty of luxurious velvet embroidery, tulle, long leather gloves and boots, and cinched prom-like waists. Beautiful.

The magical forest, with real trees!

Leaves embroidered on the dresses, and scattered on the runway...

Classic Alexander McQueen tailoring, with long leather gloves and boots

And then there was the hair.... WOW. Sculpted into (magic) mushroom shapes, these do's were an alternative to the current hat trend! I don't even want to think about how long it took them to get ready (but it's not surprising it was an evening show).

Designer Sarah Burton said of the collection: "I didn’t want it to feel like a second line. “Just because it’s a cheaper price point doesn’t mean you can’t have a special coat or a beautifully cut jacket. You buy clothes because you love them and you want have them."

With this lady in charge, McQ may well live forever!

Great Hattitude

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:34:00 GMT

Check out Señora Sanchez's latest blog for White Ibiza on the hat trend this season...

Hats are back! Not just because of the Big Freeze going on in Europe at the moment (the rumours are true – it’s actually been snowing here in Ibiza for the first time in decades!) and not just because we’re all getting out of bed a bit later now it’s winter and haven’t got time to wash our hair every day! Read more...

Men's fashion, Milan style

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:29:00 GMT

Milan unfairly has a reputation for being a bit 'industrial'. I happen to like the industrial look (as in East London, Berlin etc), but when people say it of Milan they just mean there are lots of factories. Sure it's not as pretty as Florence or Rome, but I love Milan. Especially during Fashion Week!

I love it even though it's a nightmare to get to from Ibiza at the moment (don't get me started on Ryanair canceling the direct flights this winter) and even though it's cold, and even though it's Men's Fashion Week not Womens... there's something about it that just rocks.

It might be the way everyone oozes style, from the bus drivers to the waitresses, in the way that only the birthplace of Prada could. Those designer bags are real here! It might be that every bar you go to gives you a plate of gorgeous Italian food to nibble on (absolutely free). It might be that you see things in the shop windows you just don't see anywhere else. Whatever it is, this city has style.

Milan... where the Louis Vuitton luggage is real.

We had a couple of appointments this weekend, to see McQ Alexander McQueen and Y-3, and also to check out the White Trade Show. On arriving at Centrale Station we got caught up in the middle of a Milanese taxi strike! Fortunately it was just ending, as the Y-3 showroom is not near any train stations but it was just a little bit chaotic. Brilliant!

Loads of taxis, just noone to drive them.

At Y-3 there were some great collection pieces (leopard print shorts, anyone?) but it's the shoes that we love the most. In fact while we were there the design team gave us a sneak preview of some fabulous women's shoes they've been developing... ooh I'm sworn to secrecy but they are great!

The White tradeshow was more for a look than anything else. The entrance was via a white carpet (naturally), and there were several different areas, all of which working the industrial angle the right way. It was actually quite quiet, as all the Italian stores come on the Sunday (they are open on Saturdays!) but with lots of interesting stuff.

The bike theme in the main hall was a bit of a mystery...

Up and coming labels in Room 2...

Not just clothes - the most comfortable cactus you'll ever sit on - by Cerruti Baleri

We were keen to check out the Basement, and it was like entering a cool club, with a spiral staircase downstairs to a series of concrete rooms, music throbbing from within and an unsmiling blonde model-type on the door. It reminded me of the legendary Nom de Guerre store in Bleecker St used to be (minus the staff skateboarding down the corridor!).

Here were labels such as Silent by Damir Domar, PRPS and some really cool labels I'd never heard of, some of them (very unfortunately) way too directional for laid-back Ibiza, but I wish them well... some of them you will hopefully be seeing soon at reVOLVER!

Our McQ appointment on Sunday was a bit early... those Milanese wine bars I mentioned earlier didn't help! Fortunately the photos prove there were some very strong pieces, and the shoes... well they were an unexpected highlight.

On the way back to the airport is started snowing, so it was a good time to leave. Fortunately not for long - the Women's version is just over a month away!

DC-10 New Year's Day

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:28:00 GMT

It was nice to see so many familiar faces on the dancefloor at DC-10 on New Year's Day - not to mention lots of reVOLVER outfits! Everyone looked great and it was a fantastic night. We also spotted lots of Emergency Sunglasses - not just from Summer 2011, but the previous year too! There were plenty more people who possibly should have had them too :)

Sorry there are no photos for this blog post... but you must understand that what happens at DC-10 stays at DC-10...

Say No To Christmas Knits!

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:31:00 GMT

Christmas jumpers. Discuss.

Click here to read Señora Sanchez's blog for White Ibiza about novelty knits...

Down Under

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:27:00 GMT

We're currently in sunny Australia taking a mini holiday (as you do just before Christmas when you have a shop) and it's lovely and hot. Not that Ibiza is particularly cold at the moment, but it's nice to regain a bit of the tan we had over summer in the Northern Hemisphere! It's always interesting to check out the fashions Down Under - they are often quite quirky and very different to the European labels, and we've always got an eye out for something new for reVOLVER's rails.

There's a new Ksubi store where we are in Melbourne, and as Ksubi make some of our favourite eyewear, we thought we'd check it out. It's a bit like landing on the moon really, with a big flag in the middle of the shop and a giant moon beanbag at the back... and the staff gave us full permission to jump on if we felt like it!

The clothes were cool as ever (we rather fancied the rails themselves too!) but the highlight was the album cover collection. Celebrities such as Orlando Bloom and Courtney Love have drawn glasses on the faces gracing some old rock album covers - so Freddie Mercury has dark love heart glasses, Olivia Newton-John a Batman style mask, and Billy Idol lightning bolts coming out of his odd shaped glasses. We Like. Nearly as much as the glasses on the stand next to them.

Not sure if these will be the inspiration for the next eyewear collection, but if so we can't wait to see it!

Fashion and Art at W7B12 Gallery

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:06:00 GMT

Last night reVOLVER hosted a little soiree in conjunction with the artist Willie Marquez, at his gallery W7B12. It's an amazing warehouse space, the kind you'd expect to find in East London rather than Ibiza - as soon as we stepped inside we knew if was ideal for us to do something there!

We were perfectly happy to give Willie two rails of fabulous clothes to install as artwork, and he did an excellent job.

Fashion suspended from the ultra high ceilings at W8B12. The candles are from the Virgin Mary processions in Seville - it was cancelled this year due to rain so presumably they had lots left over!

There were quite a few kids there early on and gallery manager Francisco kept a nervous watch on them fearing art accidents...

Our very own J-P was in top form.

This man didn't seem bothered that the women in the red dress was missing a head. It's Ibiza, after all.

Despite the early start, half of Ibiza turned out to check out the venue (and for a drink!).

reVOLVER's Txema and his BSF.

Catherine with Sarah Kiff, Alberto and his wife Maite (who was wearing the impossibly high studded McQ heels all the girls were lusting over).

The man himself Willie Marquez, and friend.

Many thanks to organiser extraordinaire Mitch Clarke, Totem Wines and of course Willie. We think there will be quite a few good parties at W7B12 in 2012, and if you'd like to host yours there then it's possible - the gallery is available for private functions, including the pimp 'suite' out the back which is actually Willie's apartment. We don't have photos, but in our opinion it's every bit as good as the penthouse suite at the Pacha Hotel!

In fact Pacha head Ricardo Urgell was the last to leave...

Off the scale

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:32:00 GMT

Snakeskin is big this Autumn / Winter!

Click here to read Señora Sanchez's article for White Ibiza about turning our cold blooded friends into clothing and accessories...