SpongeBob Goes High Fashion!

SpongeBob,  the iconic cartoon character has been turned by Dutch illustrator Mike Frederiqo into some of fashions most familiar faces - the likes of  Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Coco Chanel, Terry Richardson, Pharrell Williams, and my PERSONAL FAVE from the bunch,Takashi Murakami have all seen themselves immortalised as a Sponge!

New Day Tees by Murakami

Apple Daily, one of the leading newpapers of Taipei, has teamed up with Japanese artist, Murakami, to come up with these ULTRA COOL & FUN Tees to benefit the victims of the recent Japanese Quake and Tsunami. Murakami used his famous, loved by many, characters: Kai Kai & Kiki. Same ones that have been used before for Louis Vuitton - and are distinctly, Murakami.The way it works is that, the newspaper URGES all to DONATE a minimum of NT$3500 (about $110US) - to the Japan Relief Fund they have set up - and they will be sent one of the tees. The Tees are, I believe Limited to 8,000 pcs only and are available in 4 colors, White, Pink, Green, & Blue.Taiwan's Super Idols: Jolin Tsai & Wu Chun Models the Fun Tees!!!

murakami @ this year's Macys' Parade!!!

Renowned artist & LV frequent collaborator, Takashi Murakami, made a bold appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade both in person and with one of his iconic characters. KAWS was on hand to capture the artist who appeared on the cover of THE NEW ORDER with him for issue 2.　I can only WISH to have been there to see him and his giant balloons in person.... now that would have been something else to be Thankful for!!!

Murakami In Rome

A favorite artist, Murakami in a favorite city, Rome, for his very first Solo Exhibition in the city filled with Art Treasures from throughout history. The venue is the Gagosian Gallery and it will run from the 13th of November, 2010 through January 15th, 2011.

A couple of new paintings are being made especially for the exhibition, and a lot of his works will be on hand, as well.... am sure, including some of the Superflats he has made for Louis Vuitton - like this one below.... Aaaaaah, if only I could fly there to see this exhibition.... Oh Well.... add that to my XMas Wish List.....LOL!

Murakami @ Gagosian Gallery
November 13, 2010 - January 15, 2011
Via Francesco Crispi 16
00187 Rome
T. 39.06.4208.6498 F. 39.06.4201.4765
Hours: Tue-Sat 10:30-7 & by appointment

PLS CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE EXHIBITION

Murakami Love!!!

Elle Magazine's August Edition for the Taiwan market boasts Taiwan's reigning POP DIVA, Jolin Tsai on the cover - accompanied by one of my fave, and world re-known artist, Takashi Murakami's signature character -- for their FUN ART Issue!!!

Inside is a 7 pages of GLOSSY COLOR Photos of the collaboration... with Jolin Tsai dressed in various Haute Couture fashions posed against some of Murakami's more well known works.... each and every page - just FABULOUSLY ARTSY if you ask me....

This is actually GREAT as my only complain during the Art Taipei
2010 Exhibition was that I only got to see 1 work by one of my all time fave artist Takashi Murakami. This almost makes up for the lack of his work in the Exhibition - though it would have been great to have seem all these featured in the magazine in person....

More Photos Here

The Only Takashi Murakami on display at the recent Art Taipei 2010 Exhibition. This is a popular print used for Louis Vuitton X Murakami line.

Murakami X LV: Cosmic Blossom Collection

Cosmic Blossom Collection is the newest line in produced by Louis Vuitton in collaboration with a fave Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami.

I happen upon the Louis Vuitton window at Taipei's Breeze Center, right after seeing Iron Man 2... at first I was not totally IMPRESSED, as the window looked to HOT PINK for my taste... but as I got closer, I realised a familiar art adorning the purses - yes, they are by Murakami... so far I have only seen the bandannas (in 4 different designs) , as well as, purses and wallets in purplelish blue & reddish pinks... Nice collection, but I long for something similar to the very first collection - signature brown with the added Murakami touches... and who do I talk to and convince to reissue the Murakami Toys - Puti Panda in particular....

Kirsten Dunst turns Japanese....

in a collaboration Music Video by Takashi Murakami & McG (famed director of Charlie's ANgels & Mission Impossible III)... Kirsten is dressed as a “Akihabara Majokko Princess” -- and she dances, prances, sings all over Tokyo's infamous ELECTRIC CITY, Akihabara. FUN VID and it is GREAT to see KIRSTEN again in something!!!

fun marc jacobs watches

I have loved mr marc jacobs since his Perry Ellis days - now of course, as the genius behind LV's resurgence... especially the collaboration with Japanese artist Murakami, those designs infuse the much needed hipness to the line and took LV to another brand new level....

his very own namesake clothing & accessory lines have been making waves worldwide the past few years, as well... just recently, he added a touch of cuteness and fun and called the line, miss marc - cartoon graphics on tees, bags, etc.... available for both men and women, too!!!

last nite, while running my errands, I happen upon his line of cool and fun watches... a specialty watch shop here in Taipei carries them... of course, I had to sneak some photo snapping!!! the premiere collection's prices ranges from about $125 to $500US (oh well, chuck it all to my XMAS WISHLIST!!!) - still reasonable compared to LV, Cartier, GUCCI or other designer brand watches.

ABOVE PHOTO: since none of the boy prints were available maybe I will go for this blue one.... besides it is on the lower end of the price spectrum... hahahahahahaha

LV X MURAKAMI

A New Book has just come out in the market, Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture, and the DELUXE LIMITED EDITION version boasts the Great LV art of Murakami... I WANT IT!!!!

Marc Jacobs is one SMART man (SEXY, too!) for having the sense to collaborate with Mr Murakami.
================
“Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture offers, for the first time in the luxury brand’s history, a critical selection of the creative exchanges forged between Louis Vuitton and a growing number of designers from the worlds of art, architecture, design, photography and fashion. This richly illustrated anthology is supplemented by critical essays that analyse and shed new light on Louis Vuitton’s commitment during one of the most fertile periods of contemporary creation. Written by international critics from the world of art, fashion and architecture, this work, stretching over 400 pages and illustrated with 400 colour documents, will be released in three languages – French, English and Italian – and will be available in bookshops, published respectively by de La Martinière, Rizzoli NY and Rizzoli Italia.

A deluxe edition exclusively designed for Louis Vuitton by Takashi Murakami will be for sale in Louis Vuitton stores and on www.louisvuitton.com from September 1st 2009"==================

-now why didn't I have the extra CASH FLOW when all of these LV X MURAKAMI collaboration goodies/toys came out.... am finding the whole collection just TOTAL FUN..... NOTE: If anyone knows of where and how I can get the Murakami Plush - DO LET ME KNOW PLS

A COUPLE OF MUST SEE LV/MURAKAMI/ANIMEs: