true blood

Pardon the hiatus, I’m working hard to resume posting on a regular basis..

Vampires have been an integral part of our cultural landscape for a while now, whether through film, TV or literature, and lately I’ve noticed how certain components of their mythos have been popping up in fashion.

While Ann-Sofie Back’s fall 2009 collection was not specifically inspired by vampires, it took direction from the campy dregs of Americana found in B horror movies (Stephen King’s Carrie in particular).

I’m glad that someone attempted create a collection encapsulating teen ennui, without resorting once again to misappropriating youth subculture.

Young, innocence waiting to be corrupted: collegiate jackets, poufy white dresses

Adolescent rage (the most powerful kind): the shredded and slashed offerings

Dreamlike mysticism: dangling dreamcatchers

The violence of the garments are tempered by the tongue in cheek attitude of pieces like the intarsia knit sweaters, and those amazing sunglasses.

It’s the ghastly visages, bruised lips and sunken, startling pale and bloodshot eyes that immediately bring to mind the creatures of the night

Complementary accessories:

Antti Asplund’s hilarious blood bag and perspex cross necklaces, which I discovered via SixSixSick.

Delfina Delettrez’s stunning mouth…piece (?) crafted out of precious gems.

To top it all off, how about some of Karen Walker’s protective eyewear?

Ann-Sofie Back’s aviators shaped like dripping blood are killing me in the best way possible:

I’ve always been entranced by the image of the vampire- if I were milky pale, lithe and somber enough, you can be sure I would be accentuating those those features.

In the mean time, us mortals can achieve the look on the exterior. But that last thing we want is a literal interpretation, a costume. Aim for subtly unsettling accents that will make the person standing next to you blink and take a second glance instead of roll their eyes.