FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE MUSEUM...

The Brooklyn Museum was built in 1985. The Beaux-Arts building, is a steel frame structure build to the standars of classical masonry, designed by the famous architectural firm of KcKim, Mead, and White a prominent American architectural firm which thrived at the turn of the twentieth century, and built by the Carlin construction Company.

Located on the 200 Eastern Parkway,  the Brooklyn Museum, which opened in 1987 , is the New York City's second largest in physical size and  is well know for its expensive collections of Egyptian and African art, in addition to 17th-18th, and 20th- century paintings, sculture and decorative arts throughout a wide range of schools, with roughly 1.5 million works.

Since its launch in Montreal in 2011, "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk," curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot, has traveled the world. And now it is at the Brooklyn Museum, where you have the opportunity to see the exhibition, which includes a new section devoted to Jean Paul Gaultier's muses scenes. 

• Paolo Roversi (Italian, b. 1947). Tanel Bedrossiantz, 1992. Digital print, 15 x 12 in. (38.3 x 30.8 cm). Jean Paul Gaultier’s “Barbès” women’s ready-to-wear fall-winter collection of 1984–85. © Paolo Roversi

If you are in New York, do not miss the opportunity to see the amazing exhibition with digital mannequins, and where the creativity and the irreverent style of this French designer is the protagonist. The exhibition will be until through February 23, 2014.  

PEEPING ON THE WINTER EYES...

• "Every person should know what colors are becoming to it; these will always be its subjective colors and their complements"..., Johannes Itten

Photo by Joe Marino

Last fall I posted an article named, "peeping inside the eyes", that was the first of a series of four articles where I write about how people's tones, specifically looking through their eyes, are related to the four seasons of the year. But today I want to invite you, to peep into the winter's eyes, for you to discover if you, like me, belong to this group.

Magic is the right word to describe this winter season of the year; I love to see the snow fall, and walk under it, the sensation at this moment, to me, it's like I am getting blessings from heaven.  I also love seeing the color hues on the sky and over the snow, produced by the sunlight and reflections of the moon, and then after several days of snow and melting, seeing the light effects on the crystallized ice, feeling that the temperature of the colors is deep, clear, and cool, and I feel that I am part of them.

Photo by Anders R. Naesset

Everyone is born with an inclination toward certain colors. In my particular case, I have always been attracted to cool colors, all tones ranging from pure white, through all shades of gray to black, but at the same time I have had a weakness for 'tints', I mean whites with a drop of color, as well as to strong tones, with a blue undertone.

So if you feel attracted to winter colors, exactly for those clear, vivid, and icy tones from the winter season, like in the picture above, with blue undertones, it is much more likely that you, like me, belong to the group of  persons who are classified as winters.

Photo by Unknown

• Nature is the most brilliant designer of all, and the secret is on the season. Each season presents a distinct array of color, and your coloring is in harmony with one of this palletes.

The genes that determine your skin tone, hair, and eye color also determine what colors look best on you. The winter person's eyes are often a deep color. They may be red-brown, black-brown, Hazel, gray-blue, gray-green, or dark blue. Observe the photos below to see if, like me, your eyes are part of this select group.

Photo by Leif Westling

Dark blue eyes.

Photo by Peter Bower

Dark blue eyes with gray rim.



Photo by Zed Andrews

Blue eyes with white flecks in iris (may have gray rim).



Photo by Teter Unterweger

Gray-blue eyes with hazy appearance in the iris

Gray - blue eyes.

Photo by Unknown

Grey - green eyes.

Photo by Adrienn Józan

Green with white flecks in the iris (may have gray rim).

Photo by *Gjoa

Hazel eyes (gray-brown plus green or blue).

Photo by Janina Kulcsar

Black - brown eyes.

Photo by Unknow

Dark red - brown eyes

This seasonal color theory was inspired by the studies of Swiss-born artist, art educator and colorist, Johannes Itten (1888-1967) of the famous Bauhaus school in Germany. He discovered the power of physical coloring in directing a student’s choice of color in his paintings.  He noted that a student’s personal colors were consistently those complementary to his skin tone, hair and eyes, in both tone and intensity. 

After years of observation and documentation, he emphatically states in his book, The elements of color, that: "Every person should know what colors are becoming to it; these will always be its subjective colors and their complements". 

Itten proposed a natural correspondence between the four seasons of the year. He stated, "I have never yet found anyone who failed to identify each or any season correctly. This demonstrates that above individual taste, there is a higher judgment in man, which, once appealed to, sustains what has general validity and overrules mere sentimental prejudice."

So Itten concluded that our personal palette, the one to which we are drawn naturally, consists of the very colors that look best on us. 

• You can wear almost any color; it's the shade and intensity that count. Winter's colors are clear, vivid, or icy with blue undertones.

ROCKING AROUND...

• Happy holidays, and a happy new year, full of prosperity and health for everyone, from John Miranda.

MY MARE PUNK...

"There are no differences in the look, in the silhouettes, color and textures, between adults and children, in this collection. The message is clear and sharp: I want to dress like my mom or, like my daddy"...

MIRANDA MARE... PUNK CHIC 
                                        &

                               PUNK ROCK... COLLECTION.

Miranda "Mare" ("Sea" in Italian), it is my signature of swimming wear brand, for men and women, which focuses on the creations of relaxing garments to "dress up" on the beach, where in mostly of cases the customer can create his own and singular look, because each garment can be purchased separately, mixing references and sizes, and this collection is not the exception.  But definitely the most important aspect is the fact that, because of the basic silhouettes and neutral colors present in therein, the collection, is completely timeless, because was, it is and perfectly will be in force in the near future.

And I love when a fashion collection, talk by itself alone, because of the silhouettes, the color, textures, and finishes, but besides that, like in this case, the issue of collection is printed, like a visual texture or graffiti that yells, as well as, a rock singer on a live concert does; underlining the name of this collection: "Punk Chic & Punk Rock".

But definitely this is what I call an "CCC"  collection: classical, classy, and chic. 

• It is classical, formal, refined, and it is continuously in fashion because of its simple and basic style in the silhouettes, characterized by simplicity, balance, regularity, and purity of form. The basic bikini, two -piece, triangular shaped is the piece queen of this collection for ladies and girls, and  the swimsuit brief, low waist, it is the king, to  gentlemen and boys.  There are no differences in the look, in the silhouettes, color and textures, between adults and children, in this collection. The message is clear and sharp: I want to dress like my mom or like my daddy.

• It is classy because is glamorous, without being flashy.

• And It is chic because of smart elegance and sophistication.

• My accessories on this collection are unisex, and handmade it by myself, in leather, metallic beads, and metal pins, using the macramé technique.

• I was the first designer that introduced, in Colombia, the swimsuit brief, with low-waist, for men in different styles, from the boxers to the G- string style. And here Luis Guillermo (the boy) and Esteban Lopez, are wearing the low waist swim suit brief, with mimicking leather finished, and they look like real protagonists of the MIB 3 movie "the Men in Black".

• I love my stretch fabric, mimicking leather texture, it is handmade, piece on piece, and it is very very punk.

• Laura, striking a pose, for the photographer. 

• I love the pictures, and in this one, in particular where the models seem to be thinking about: "I am like my mom", thinks Laura. And Mónica thinks: "My daughter is smart like me".

Models: Laura Figueroa, Monica Londono, Luis Guillermo Miranda and Esteban Lopez.

Photographer: Tavo Lopez.

Designer: John Miranda.

DISCOVERING THE SKIN...

"Each design of John Miranda whether underwear, swimwear dresses, blouses or dresses cocktail, takes a unique touch of irreverence which surprises and captivates"...

Photograph: Julian Restrepo A.

If John Miranda returns the time, to remember what awaked on him the curiosity about of  fashion design, memory  brings the memories of his sister Laura  that always  asked to him for the consent of how to dressing up when she had to go to a party. Since then the words began to be accompanied by strokes , which gradually became in creations.

Then , while he was doing the thesis, he taught drawing and design, and over, and over, and a thousand times more returned to thinking about fashion design in Italy, particularly in Milan, and was at  the Institute Secoli that  he found the school of its successes and errors, he deepened more on the technique area, in where it had gaps, than in the creative area, that he had because of his architecture studies and was when started dressing the skin, of colors, textures and shapes.

Returning to Medellin followed in the Proyectual Design School, like principal of Fashion Design and for 10 years he devoted much of his time teaching, and a few hours to his workshop,where he made clothes on measures, and large collections for companies as Dupont, Coltejer Protela, Vicuna and Fabricato among others.

Thinking that the time had come to create, John was launched with a clear line of swimwear, the Miranda Mare, that continues to draw your attention by its beginning in contrary way, like years ago, because of knowledge:

•  "In my training ,I had never studied the technical part of the swimsuit, my area was pure outerwear, all that is haute couture, tailoring both male and feminine, and basically I started with what I was not  study, but I did it, advised by an excellent patronista ".

But beyond the reached success, that generated to him, a little some discomfort the tendency of people to pigeonhole it  on the creation of these clothes, and then decided, as multifaceted designer, dress and undress the skin on other lines.

• "I'm going from underwear to evening gowns, masculine or female. I Work on lines like the Pret, blouses; the V.I.P., of cocktail dresses, and the Body, of underwear. And this year I start accessories crystal, using materials such as acerinas, Murano and swarovski, among others."

The latest proposal from John Miranda responds to the work of three themes: The 50's, combined with the 20's and the punk.

• "The three trends are really different and, I play with that. Regarding the silhouette, the waist did not exist in the 20's and in the 50's was very marked, the two epochs were very feminine  and I have put them in contrast. The punk element, highlights; it is more current  and reflects what people like today."

In swimsuits, he works  shiny  and matte lycra; in underwear, transparent elastic tulle, in cocktail dresses, lycra, elastic tissue but combined with chiffons, plastic silks, acetates type,  organza and lace. Combines accessories with belts and leather chokers with studs, collars dog style. In his designs dominated three colors: white, black and nude, skin tone that in underwear goes well with transparencies and is very versatile.

John defines his style thereby : 

• "I have a strong tendency to minimalism, understood as the taste for things that cause a great impact using the minimum of elements. I am tend much to eclecticism, as we are a mixture of different races and cultures, we received influence of many parts and that enriches us. I really like the Kitsch , gives me a singular character as a designer,  that responds to thinking of staging: for me, the question is much more theatrical and we must leave a message, the inspiration of the designer, that it is on the essence of the model, in music, the lighting, in cadence ".

This article was taken from the Buen Vivir magazine.

MY PUNK ROCK ACCENT...

I am a discreet person, but when I am designing, I am bold, and I love doing it for a daring lady, for a woman without complex, but at the same time extremely chic.

Not in vain I got a reputation for being a bold designer, and it is true, because anytime that I am doing a new fashion project, I like to take risks, with silhouettes, and fabrics, but at the same time I try to be faithful to my eclectic style, the same that I’ve kept it since the first time I designed my first evening gown.

• This is one of my favorite dresses, very 20's, made in chiffon without lining.

• MY NUDE PUNK.

• I love my punk leather spiked accessories, on nude tone. They are my favorites to complement my two pieces, blouse and skirt with petticoat in chiffon, giving these, a dramatic punk accent that contrast with the fragility of this romantic outfit.

• There is nothing more romantic that see a woman wearing a petticoat, and Laura Jimenez looks stunning in my two pieces petticoat outfit.

• Transparent fabrics, like chiffon, organza and elastic tulle, are a constant in my designs. I love  to see a woman wearing it, with or without bra, garment to which I consider an accessory more.

• MY CLASSIC PUNK.

• In all my collections, you can find clothes that seem a little "kinky", I mean that there is a little sexually provocative on them, but at the same time I have conservative clothes, timeless and very wearable for everyone like this beautiful and classic wool trouser and Laura Willes look stunning with them.

• My leather punk belt in this set, is the transition between the romantic and fragile organza blouse and the austere wool trousers.

• Susana is wearing a boat neckline blouse, in organza and pencil skirt in wool, with a punk leather spiked belt.

• I love the contrast between the delicate romanticism of the blouse and the strong aggressivity of the belt,  as champion boxer style , made it in leather spiked.

• MY AVANT-GARD PUNK.

• There are no limits or frontiers between my outerwear and my underwear.  Be bold and unique, use it as you like.

• The same T-shirt that in the previous picture was outer garment, here takes a different connotation, more casual, it is an undergarment.  To me there is nothing sexier that to see a woman wearing a masculine underwear style and with this set, Laura Willes seems ready to debut like the perfect "sagger" woman.

• I love this body, made in elastic tulle, printed in plastisol with my name, tone on tone, black on black and Evano's Goddess, Rosa looks stunning on it.

Models:  Laura Jimenez, Laura Willes, Rosa Cordoba, Susana Olmos.

Photographer: Tavo Lopez

Accessories: John Miranda

Designer: John Miranda