Seriously why?

Back story (Or as Sam McCoy likes to call it: Informative):

It has become news to me that the famous French fashion house of the name Yves Saint Laurent will soon be changing their name to Saint Laurent Paris. Yves Saint Laurent was founded in 1962 by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. It has been revealed that the drop of 'Yves' and addition of 'Paris' is a part of new creative director, Hedi Slimane's, fashion house makeover.


*Begin rant


Why? Why would you rebrand such an iconic household named fashion house? I know that the new name will not be that different from its original... but what is the point? The house has been named Yves Saint Laurent for 50 years now. The letters YSL are more than just letters; they represent years of immaculate design and concepts, ingenious construction, and delicious fabrics. I am not sure whether to be irritated or just confused. I almost feel that it is like a slap in the face to the creators. For someone to change the name just because they can...? what is the reason?


I am not sure what rebranding the house will really do for the label at all. Changing it to Saint Laurent Paris only draws the attention to the fact that the company is French. I understand the idea of making the label smaller. Such as Saint Laurent or just Laurent. That might be easier to write in labels and reproduce. However, the companies name will still be three words. SLP. There is just no way that can follow YSL.


When people see the letters YSL they know. They know the background and the richness of the clothes. There is such a following of the name and history. Its not that people will not continue to follow the label's new name. It is that YSL is a symbol for high end and luxurious clothes. Why would you change such an influential logo?


It is like someone changing the double C's of Coco Chanel; it just doesn't make sense.


Please feel free to leave a comment with your input. I would really love an explanation.


Rachel

Yves Saint Laurent Fall rtw 2012

Son of a beach

I am really loving the 2013 Alexander McQueen resort collection. 

I was impressed with the hard lines and structures of the jackets, pants, and dresses. They really amplify the beauty of the human figure--turning the body into a stick figure. Just lines. The designs look very architectural and strong. The fabrics that they chose fascinate me. This fabric makes the garments look not only strong but also soft and light; heavily structured like metal but light as breeze. 

I really love the belts. They remind me of something that would be in an old Sci Fi movie. The industrial do-it-all utility belt that the spacemen wore. Or maybe it is just a really great heavy weight champion belt? The flared pants are also fantastic. They make everyone's legs look miles and miles long. Straight. Clean. Nice.

Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen has never truly done wrong. She always continues to wow me with prints, shapes, and structures that I would have never thought of. She keeps the label full of whimsical and alien like figures that somehow are also extremely beautiful. I look forward to seeing what turns the corner during fashion week this fall. 

(Click the photos to enlarge)

Photos courtesy of Style.com

Rachel

Boxes

Today I watched to of my very good friends leave to go back to their home country. Thomas and Clemens were both foreign exchange students at my high school. . . and they were scheduled to leave (Thomas to Belgium and Clemens to Austria) this morning.

All of the boy's closest friends and their host family drove together to the AFS meeting spot and said the goodbyes. Today made me realize how hard it is going to be to leave Wichita. It hit me that I am leaving a bunch of my best friends... scary

However, it also felt like we all knew we would meet each other again. There is no way that distance will ever tear up our friendship. I look forward to the next time I see Clemens and Thomas; whether it be in their home country or mine.

We won't be separated for long; I am determined to keep it that way.

Crushing Cans

I can not get over how ridiculously fantastic Selena Gomez looks in this July's issue of ELLE Magazine.

Every photograph is plain flawless. She was impeccably styled for this shoot.

When the issue came in the mail all I could think was WOAH. Amazing.

The Balmain dress she is wearing above came from one of my favorite collections of theirs.

I was floored when I saw her wearing it. It was the perfect dress for her.

I love the second cover. I enjoyed how they played up the "bombshell" look. She was revealing, but also conservative. She definitely showed us exactly what our local radio station, Channel 96.3, meant by 

"Sexy Summer."

I ... just can't even.

Selena, you blew my mind.

Rachel Manning

The People of the Wichita River Festival