GOLD SEQUINS. BLACK LEATHER.: January 2013

The Arnhem Mode Biennale

“What is fashion? […] The Moment You Have it, it is Gone Again.”

-Joff Creative Director of Arnhem Mode Biennale

What the hell is the Arnhem Mode Biennale and why have I never heard of this before? The event descends every two years from the fashion heavens to a small city in Eastern Holland for a month long celebration of fashion, art, and designs and these torrid lover’s hybrids.

Can we really be surprised American Vogue continues to disappoint (somebody lost their mind in a Balenciaga bag, check out this totes inappropriate photo story)? Idontknow, maybe there was a 10 page article dedicated to this amazing feat, but I honestly stopped reading in 2000. Thankfully, Vogue Italia has the situation on lock down and had a pretty awesome blog post about the last biennale in 2011. If only I had a extra couple hundred thousand dollars, I could attend this year’s event (I would require a new wardrobe), but I sleep easier at night knowing that even though I cannot experience this otherworldy smorgous board of fashion, art, and design in the flesh, it exists. For real. The creative Director, Joff says there is more to fashion than just clothes, and I agree. Actually, I feel that is a given, one of those hard realities you have to keep saying over and over again. Thank god there are these people over there doing it. Now if only we could get one over here.

A-Merican Vouge really wants you to know that all of your appropriate, feel good brands like Prada, Nicholas Kirkwood and Jil Sander have participated, (so you know they’re legit) and they are great, really, but the biennale also features designer/artists such as Amie Dicke, architects like Peter Eisenman and an array creative-garment related people you have never heard of before. Please, when you have a moment, watch the videos. It could just be the super ethereal music, but I would argue that actually, you’ve stumbled upon amazingness.