“Flight. Youthful Dreams of imitation nature. Aerial dominance that gains territory and wins wars. The symbol of peace. The frantic escape from a geographic location with no particular destination save exit.” -OAMC
The brand is led by the former head designer of Supreme, Luke Meier, and former creative director of Carhartt Work in Progress, Arnaud Faeh. As their Fall/Winter 2016 collection intertwines the different connotations of flight; nature, military, and iconography, they pull inspiration and realize them within the clothes. Throughout the collection, you can see it in a literal sense, with graphics of birds, military jackets, and printed phrases like “Peacekeeper.” But the brand dives deeper. Different layering techniques found throughout mimic the structure of birds’ wings and feathers, as well as the utilization of real feathers in select pieces. Even the knit patterns are deliberately in the chevron shape, which birds utilize in flight.
Each collection the acronym, OAMC, stands for something different. This season it signifies Oscar Alpha Mike Charlie, which makes a nod towards the militaristic aspect of flight. But the mission statement for the newest season brings forth a haunting juxtaposition: Military advancement and development in flight have allowed fashion to utilizes some stylistic cues while having a darker side. Military flight has led to the death and destruction of millions of lives. In an attempt to combat that narrative, the brand has taken familiar characters and insignias used on warplanes and warheads and injected peace symbols into the designs.
OAMC is taking fashion deeper than clothes. There is meaning in each collection which people are meant to connect with beyond the feel of the fabric and the wearing of garments. It is a brand that stands for something; beyond the clothing, they also donate a portion of each season’s proceeds to a foundation. This season’s being “Destination Unknown” which helps protect “children on the move” You can learn more about the foundation here.
OAMC is available in store and online at RSVP Gallery. For more information or to place an order email please@rsvpgallery.com or call (773) 770-6666.770-6666.
We got a chance to see the opening show in Indianapolis, and the show has transformed a bit since its opening night. West did away with many of the lengthy instrumental interludes, and the concert was much more succinct, as songs flowed from one to another seamlessly. The heart of the spectacle stayed true, as Kanye drifted from end to end of the stadium, his disciples moshed below him. West was vigorously focused and energetic, and commanded his hometown crowd with ease.
RSVP enlisted two of Chicago’s premiere photographers, ‘Swopes’ and ‘Trashhand’ to capture photos of the spectacle, while we took care of the video. Check out a gallery of their photos below and the video above for a full recap, and in case you missed it, we took on Gucci Mane at UIC.
We sat down to talk with our own Lance Jackson, who is a buyer and store manager at RSVP Gallery. Jackson gives a look into some of his favorite pieces at the Gallery this season as well as some insight into how he decides what makes it into his personal wardrobe. Check out the photos above, the and interview below for the full scope of Lance’s favorite Fall/Winter 2016 items.
Question: We are always surrounded by new clothes, shoes, etc. all the time, you especially being someone on the buying end, how do you sift through all of it and decide what makes it into your closet? Lance: At this point in my life, I have most of my essentials down pact. Now I’m usually shopping for one of two reasons. Either to find a better more cohesive replacement for a piece I already own or to add a missing link to my wardrobe. But, unfortunately, I have a problem with finding something I like and wearing it into the ground until I find the next piece to obsess over. It doesn’t make for good shopping habits.
Question: Obviously, we all buy some hype pieces, pieces that have a short shelf life, what makes something timeless? Can you tell when you see it, and when you decide to make the purchase, or does that come later? Lance: I mean it all depends; Sometimes I see something, and I may choose to pass only to regret the decision later. Sometimes I buy pieces thinking I’ll wear them forever only to give them to my younger brother after a season. I try first to look at the style and silhouette. If it’s not dated and I know it’s a piece that can fit into my wardrobe on several levels (if I’m feeling sporty, if I want to dress it up a bit, or if I’m just running errands) then it usually makes the cut. Some examples are the Ready Made Jesse jacket and 3.1 Philip souvenir jacket. I know that neither of these jackets will go out of style. Even though souvenir jackets are very much in vogue right now, a good jacket is still a good jacket whether or not it’s the must-have piece of the season.
Question: A lot of the time you have to be able to buy “into the future” to a degree. How do you predict or get a sense of what is going to grab people’s attention?
Lance: For me, it’s not so much about catching people’s attention so much as it setting myself apart from everyone else. The main ways I like to separate myself are by buying pieces that are hard to find like this By Walid silk embroidered jacket I recently purchased. Or also by not being afraid to experiment with brands that may not be in at the moment. I remember doing some internet shopping fall of 2012 and coming across a brand by the name of Gosha Rubchinskiy. I had no idea what it was or the story behind it. What I did know was that I liked the design and knew nobody else in Chicago was wearing it, so I copped a hoodie. Fast forward four years, and it’s everywhere. Not saying I was the first person to wear Gosha. But having those older pieces can set you apart from the rest when nowadays the norm is for everyone to wear the same five brands. (Disclaimer: My girlfriend has yet to give me that Gosha hoodie back.)
Check out Lance’s picks below:
Just Don Shorts: I really like what Don did with these. It’s an actual Mitchell & Ness short, but he added some details: Metal on the strings, the zipper pockets in the back, and pockets on the side. It’s just really a quality basketball short. It’s really a luxury short, and it can fit into your wardrobe easily. I wore these pretty much all summer.
Readymade Jesse Jacket: I really like what this brand does. They re-use fabrics from US Military duffle bags, and they make something totally different and new. I like how every jacket is unique; it’s got its own patinas and different style. Insulation that you can take out if you want to, so it’s versatile. You can wear it in the fall, you can wear it in the winter, it’s just a really nice jacket to add to your wardrobe.
Off-White Moto Jacket: This season I really liked it because he [Virgil Abloh] did the actual sewn on stripes, rather than just having them painted. It gives it a little-added texture with the zip tags and the weathered leather. It’s really going to age well, and it’s really going to be a cool piece over the years, it’s timeless.
OAMC Logo Crewneck: I just like the brand a lot. I think this is simple, yet versatile. You can easily add this into a wardrobe. Navy blue and white, colors are neutral, and it just feels cool, and the shape is nice. I really like what they are doing now; they have a lot of cool stuff. And the brand actually stands for something. Every season they donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. I really believe that it’s clothing with a purpose. I definitely appreciate what they are bringing to fashion and streetwear.
Longjourney Champion Crewneck: Sort of like Readymade, they have this whole process of taking older things, and changing them and making it brand new. With this, they took a champion crewneck, some more fabrics, and made it into something totally new. Very cool, I like what they do; it’s just something different.
You can shop Lance’s picks in store and online at RSVP Gallery. For more information or to place an order email please@rsvpgallery.com or call (773) 770-6666.
Alex Carapetian and Alonso Ester, of LA-based brand Longjourney, share a passion for vintage garments. The duo sifts through vintage shops and flea markets in Los Angeles to obtain materials for their collections. According to an interview with Complex, 99.9% of the pieces incorporate some or all vintage. Their aesthetic pulls inspiration from military garments and athletic gear — such that one of their staple pieces from the newest season incorporates an old Champion sweatshirt, combined with velour.
“A respect for tradition and progressive outlook.” Longjourney’s website references this as what they achieve when creating. Final touches set in place by hand, which advances the narrative each piece tells. When repurposing vintage clothing, each article has its story, and Longjourney aims to make each piece modern and give it “new” life. The final product is a reincarnation of contemporary clothing with definite nods to equal parts vintage, modernity, military, and athletics.
Our team took the latest offering from Longjourney and notes from their aesthetic for our interpretation to the brand’s unique appearance. Take a look at the gallery above for a full look into what just landed. Longjourney is available in store and online at RSVP Gallery. To place an order or for more information, email please@rsvpgallery.com or call (773) 770-6666
Gucci Mane made his first trip to Chicago since being released from prison in June. Riding the momentum from a slew of releases with the likes of Kanye West, Drake, Rae Sremmurd, as well as his latest album, it appears Guwop has not missed a beat. Fans packed the sold out UIC Pavilion in Chicago to catch Gucci live, as he has only performed live a handful of times since his release. Gucci Mane dropped over an hours worth of tracks from his early singles to the Trap God mixtapes and his newest album. La Flare is a favorite at RSVP Gallery, so we made sure to be front row for the performance. Check out the video above and the photos below for a full recap.
Danny Brown has been silent. His last release, Old, came almost exactly three years ago. But unlike most artists who take time off, he has yet to miss a beat. Danny came back swinging with three brand new singles, one of which brings together the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt, and Ab-Soul. To promote his new album, he announced a massive tour; 41 shows in 52 days, with the Maxo Kream and Bruiser Brigade affiliate Zelooperz. His latest stop in Chicago brought out a packed crowd at the House of Blues. Brown performed a mix of classics from previous projects, as well as giving fans a chance to hear tracks before his album’s release on September 30th. The Neon and Nonsense team were in attendance to capture Danny. Check out the video above and the photos below for a full taste of the action.
Tim Coppens name is becoming increasingly unavoidable by the day. He just unveiled his first collection as creative director for Under Armour’s new UAS line. Coppens is synonymous with blending skilled craftsmanship and expert tailoring with keen athletic references. In each of his collections, you can see a motif of modern cuts, clean lines, and skillful blending of colors. His previous stints designing for activewear brands such as Ralph Lauren RLX and Adidas high-end line have honed his prowess for clothes with utilitarian sophistication.
To add to the notoriety he has gained from his work with other brands, Coppens has is highly decorated. In the past four years alone, he has received numerous awards, including the Ecoo Domani Award for “Best New Menswear Designer,” the Fashion Group International “Rising Star of the Year” Award, and the CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear, as well as a finalist for the LVMH Prize. In 2016, he has nominations for the CFDA “Menswear Designer of the Year” and the ANDAM Fashion Award.
In his latest season, he utilizes relaxed fitting pants, sweatshirts, and jackets, with modern cuts, to create a refined aesthetic. Mixed media and the use of silk-stitched graphics highlight the season, as Coppens continues to push his personal brand to new limits. Browse the gallery above for a full look at the newest season. Tim Coppens is available in store and online at RSVP Gallery. For more information or to place an order, email please@rsvpgallery.com or call (773) 770-6666.
