The barren and dark landscape is associated by the geographical locality of Eastern Europe. And why is it that most who travel there such as Transylvania in Romania converse by saying it has a romanticised dark beauty? The Parisians have a term ‘Belle Laid’ meaning ‘Beautiful Ugly’ and the run-down, derelict and demoralised and rummaged surroundings concur with the result of a war-torn history. New York based designer Robert Geller has stormed through the financial dark times and although this was not his initial conceptual cue his new collection for Spring/Summer 2009 embodies more of a personal celebration, that of his marriage.

His personal trip to Eastern Europe translated into a grey and monochromatic palette of linens, wool and leather. A breath of finely sharp masculine tailoring of dark washed denim pants, a black single breasted jacket and a linen striped jacket with cropped pants and unbuttoned cardigan provided an elongated yet slim silhouette. His cleverly cut wool cardigans, dark tactile waist coats in grey were slightly rebellious but still enhanced by a perfected and meticulous dinner blazer jacket. The grey and cream white t-shirting gave an inner loose structure with a symmetrical exterior texture, shown through his bold use of vertical. stripes. The gradient shading on the narrow slim pants in plum and charcoal grey were a focal point as to his blue leather jacket and black striped shoulder jacket.

Perhaps some of the smaller detailed motifs such as the flowers and top hats could perhaps be a subtle remark as with Ann Demeulemeester’s direction for her Winter 2008 collection but nevertheless, Robert has certainly grown into a well-developed designer of his own accord. Some of the dark and fine washes is as a reminiscence of his German background which could also refer to the military film, ‘The Great Escape’. Robert has ultilised his visual eye of urban patterning which provided him with the natural sources of spatial spaces, abandonment buildings, shapes, surfaces and layers of history embedded by a war-torn historical locality and which has traced back to his designed collection. This glowering dark perception is as sharply tailored and aesthetically good. We look forward to the release of the collection and to his new line of jewelery and sunglasses range.

The Spring/Summer 2009 collection looks were photographed by Will Davidson and courteously provided by Our Spot.

Robert Geller

Patrick Wolf (pictured: left)
Battles EP: Mirrored (pictured: right)

Matt Tong, Kele Okereke, Gordon Moaks, Russell Lissack - Bloc Party

As eye-catching as many music commerical, art-directed videos there maybe in our contemporary where we are seduced by mind-numbing theatrics, a certain level of balance can allow us to take more attention into musician photography.

Timothy has been recognised since the early days of Michael C. Place’s work (Design By Build) and his collection of photographs were captured and placed within a bespoke folder, which can still be bought from Blanka (website). Although the melodramatic scenes of New York can be sensed in the way his directs and captures his imagery, it isn’t produced with been over the top or overstated. He has done an incredible collection of work comprising in the past DJ Sasha, Röyksopp, TV on the Radio and most recently, Animal Collective, Patrick Wolf, Bloc Party and most notably, the Battles album cover and video.

Whilst it may be noted that of course, the nature of these record artists are of and striving commercial music success, Timothy tries to direct each individual of their own merits. Whilst using sometimes multi-facet colours and props, the facial expressions bring a “down to earth” state and a feeling of truth and reality.

Timothy is a music, film art director and photographer working in New York.

Timothy Saccenti

‘Change’, Issue 2

The Launderette is focused on exploring people, stories and written prose of artists, photographers and those in the creative arts within the metropolis and vibrant city of New York. It has now transformed from an online article/editorial content website to an online magazine. Its originality is through its writing where it does not tend to entirely focus on fashion like in large published magazines, rather well-articulated texts about creative artists.

The Launderette