ralph thieves sydney hoodlum chic
by markdivision2
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Oscar Wilde might’ve said, “talent borrows, genius steals, and fashion designers do both” and the three images above are a good example of exactly that. While there are certainly few original ideas left when it comes to fashion, the news that Ralph Lauren has found inspiration in a book called City of Shadows (i) that features a series of mug shots taken in 1920s Sydney will come as some surprise to Jim Thompson of local label Three Over One, who used the same photos as an influence for his Spring/Summer 2010 range and subsequent photo shoot (ii). The thugs of yesteryear certainly seemed to know the value of looking sharp, and were decidedly better dressed than today’s motley bunch of track-suited reprobates slouching about in hip hop toddler wear and garish trainers. In any case, Ralph was so enamoured of the images that he purchased over 20 to use as displays in his New York and London boutiques as well as forming the basis for his latest international ad campaign (iii). It may come as some surprise to both Ralph and Jim that British menswear designer Carolyn Massey also took inspiration from the same book for her current capsule range at Asos saying that “finding a modern spin on the gents’ clothing – most were criminals – was important”.
I’d say finding a new book to nick ideas from might be even more important.
