This looks right handy - a raincoat that turns into a bag/a bag that turns into a jacket. Part of Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s A/W 2010 collection.
If you pick up a spot shopping on your way home the garment can be folded and zipped into a holdall, alternatively, it can be unzipped revealing a water-resistant hooded anorak. Hopefully it isn’t pouring with rain when you need the bag, OR too full when it starts to rain.
Great all the same.
£300 at Harrods.
Last night Jean Charles de Castelbajac hosted a soiree for a select crowd inside Selfridges Wonder Room in London to celebrate the current window displays and also to launch a limited editino JC de Castelbajac for Humanade t-shirt (Humanade is the charity set up in commemoration of Malcolm McLaren’s life). JC himself was there looking tres smart and spent the entire evening talking freely with the crowd. Music played and cocktails were snapped up by the eager mid-week crowd - although we were not ready for the vodka jellies which seemed to be very alcoholic. The window displays will continue to stun passers-by on Oxford Street for the next few weeks, and all profits from the sale of the Humande t-shirts will go direct to the human rights charity.
He may be currently delighting the windows of Selfridges on Oxford street, but Jean Charles de Castelbajac is also bringing his magic to sports brand Gola with Gola X JC/CD. Both men’s and women’s shoes are available with a wide range of bright colours, bold hi-tops, plimsolls and future inspired designs. Prices range from £70 to £120, but footwear fans will have to wait until autumn for them to go on sale.
On Friday, Jean Charles de Castelbajac will be taking over Selfridges in London. The designer famous for dressing some of the World’s most glamorous personalities (de Castelbajac’s designs featured in the recent Telephone video from Lady GaGa) is turning his attentions to the window’s of the world famous department store for a sci-fi infused visual extravaganza. We Q&A the French designer about the project.
WONDERLAND: Describe your style in three words
Jean Charles de Castelbajac: Post-Pop Archéologia.
How did this collaboration with Selfridges happen?
I just love Selfridges, it’s the only store in the UK that is curated like a contemporary art museum. And it happened that they loved my work too! Sebastian Manes called me, proposing a free reign, and of course I accepted.
What has been the inspiration behind the project?
UFOs, Aliens, and the fear we have of strangers turned into a love affair for me, which I named ‘Encounter of the 5th Kind’. The project is dedicated to my dear friend Malcolm McLaren, who was an alien like me; someone different, with a unique voice. The spectacular display has a retro-futuristic yet childlike feel; Malcolm was always like a child!
How long have you been working on the project?
I’ve been working with the fantastic team at Selfridges for 8 months. It was a long process, but I have never before had the opportunity to invade London with my designs! I had my ‘Popaganda’ exhibition at the V&A, but with this project I am able to showcase my collections as well.
What influences you when you create your designs?
Chaos, accidents, monsters, the absurd, reinvention, monochrome, genius, disasters, rainbows, women, ghosts, cartoons, Africa, beauty, losers, UFOs, Karl Lagerfeld, and intelligent spirits like my late friend Malcolm. Of course, I am inspired by Art, especially when I am disturbed by what I see.
Who would you most like to dress in the world?
I would like to dress the cities themselves, with electro-chromatic dresses!
And who have you enjoyed dressing so far?
Catherine Hepburn, Farrah Fawcett, Dizzee Rascal, Lauren Bacall, Lady Gaga, M.I.A, Santigold, Ebony Bones, Beth Ditto, Tina Weymouth, Marguerite Duras, Tempa T, Andy Warhol…and the Pope!
Which is the most fashionable destination in Europe?
From April 30th, it will be the windows of Selfridges, of course!
How do you relax?
Drinking cocktails with my friends
What would you be doing if you weren’t a fashion designer?
Maybe the King of Cartoons…
Jean Charles de Castelbajac is the newest designer to take over the Wonder Room in Selfridges, for his line JC de Castelbajac.
Five of the store’s famous windows will also be inhabited for his time in the rooms, which runs between April 30th and June 30th.
A typically over-stated science fiction-inspired display will tell the story of an alien invasion into the heart of the city, told in six episodes.
Terrifying.
Is it a dress, is it a T-shirt or is it, in fact, a T-shirt dress? Um, it is actually all three.
How sweet is it that designers are continuing to do their little bit for the global economy!?
It does cost £524, mind. But it is actually really nice - which ever way it is worn. Clever.
Jean Charles de Castelbajac store at 50-51 Conduit Street. Tel 0207 287 6406.
It was still light at 4.30pm last night, which means spring is on its way. You don’t realise how oppressive winter is until those first rays of sunlight fall through the trees - like the did yesterday.
With a bounce in my step and gin and tonic in hand, I came across these images from zany designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s second, more affordable, line: JC/DC.
I week ago I’d have thought ‘no way!’ Now I am thinking ‘maybe.’
