Forget turkey and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a bit of rock n' roll sparkle, shredded leather and rogue attitude. So in lieu of gathering round the table so as to give thanks for a year that has brought with it nothing less than the worst economic crisis the world has seen since the Great Depression effectively earning those of us unfortunate recent graduates hanging in an inexhaustible labor limbo the lovely title of the "Lost Generation," my friends, family and I gathered instead round the studded intricacies of Amal Guessous, the design force behind Los Angeles-born luxury fashion brand A&G Rock n' Roll Couture. On our way to the evening's main event (Pet a Porter at Harrods, of course!) we stopped off for a little Thanksgiving appetizer, let's call it the stuffing or caramelized potatoes, of the night's agenda. The launch party saw the small space on Walton Street packed full of the gothic, lace-clad, booty wielding fabus sipping away happily on Kir Royals. Naomi was rumored to make an appearance, but never showed. She must have been busy thanking her assistant by repeatedly assaulting her with a mobile phone. Music came courtesy of The Orange Dot DJs Sam Kilcoyne (Underage festival founder/Steptoe and Son) and Jack Thomas.
Fleur de lis, crucifix and dagger motifs in crystallized Swarovski decadence punctured the backs of soft cashmere pullovers, hoodies, leather bikers and more. But the crux of the evening--the wishbone inside the shop launch of a turkey--was the customization angle with which A&G seeks to make its Knightsbridge mark. To be fair, the blinging aesthetic of the rocker rebel is not exactly up the Sloaney's avenue, but customization is a gimmick none too easy to resist. Converse--stud them up. This tee-scrawl all over it. They even had this amazing men's YSL shearling which had been gothed up (breath, Stefano) and punked out with studs and a massive crucifix. If there's one thing this recession has taught shoppers to be thankful for, it's the nuance of the personal, the preciousness of having something that's personalized, that's yours and yours only. Even if it is simply a black cashmere sweater with a rose peeking out the skull with your initials tattooed in glitter on its forehead. It's still just yours.
But it went too far when the PR girl showed my Birkin-bearing friend Jason a picture of one just like it completely bedazzled and decked out in rhinestones. Fear flashed in his eyes and he tightened his grip on that orange wonder, just like a parent would do a child's hand when the neighborhood weirdo creeps past. After all, whilst at the end of the day, we can be thankful for the fun and the glitzy, it is really the Birkin unto which the most heartfelt of thanks are due.
A&G, 178 Walton Street, Knightsbridge
Photos by Marina Scukina
Photos by Marina Scukina
Customized YSL
mmm, what have we here?
Designer Amal Guessous and myself
Jason and his Birkin
Mother, my Dolce jacket and Bert
Joy looking amazing
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