MEMENTO MORI

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FIRST OF MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ELYSIUM EDITORIAL :

|məˈmenˌtō ˈmôrē|

noun ( pl. same)

an object serving as a warning or reminder of death, such as a skull.ORIGIN Latin, literally ‘remember (that you have) to die.’

"DEATH MUST BE SO BEAUTIFUL. TO LIE IN THE SOFT BROWN EARTH, WITH THE GRASSES WAVING ABOVE ONE'S HEAD, AND LISTEN TO SILENCE. TO HAVE NO YESTERDAY AND NO TO-MORROW. TO FORGET TIME, TO FORGET LIFE, TO BE AT PEACE." - OSCAR WILDE

Fashion is not as subversive an art form as it so infamously is made out to be. Refreshingly modern stylists and photographers have taken cues from antiquity by generating their own little reminders of death, using fashion as a medium, to create impactful and intoxicating imagery that subtly wreaks of decay. Hedi Slimane, Gary Armstrong, Baldovino Barani and Alison Scarpulla (just to name a few) are revitalizing and perpetuating the humbling artistic tradition of reminding of us of life's preciousness, that we are only human, and that all that we know today will be gone tomorrow.

SOFTER, SOFTEST

For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

An Excerpt from "The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot

A Blog Scripture brought to you by Nick of Sound The City.

THE LOST BOYS

EDUCATION.
RELIGION.
POP CULTURE.
SEX.


>>JAKE COOPER AND JAMES MYHILL PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAMON BAKER FOR THE FASHIONISTO + COMPLEMENTARY IMAGERY FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

NU NEW ROMANTIC

In my history of aesthetics class, we reached the late 18th century and the romantic era, which in short, was a subversive revolt against aristocratic social and political norms that praised folk art and vintage customs as something noble. Moving away from the irrational and more towards the ideal, the movement was based on emotions, most notably love, rather than science.

It got me to thinking about this concept Ive had brewing in my head that connects these aesthetic sensibilities to my own view of fashion and life in general. Its one not concrete in physical representation, but, instead its more of an idealized view of reality (something I'm particularly guilty of), lifestyle and dress. It pulls inspiration from everything, primarily past cultural phenomena and religious imagery and uses an ethnically diverse pallet. The Nu New Romantics mirror the classic Byronic hero: a misunderstood creative being following his own inspiration and imagination rather than the virtues of the social norm.

OCCULT LOGIC

Humans, thorough out history, have yearned to become connected with a higher power. To give over our minds, bodies, and spirit; to close our eyes and realize that theres more meaning and beauty in the world than we could have ever imagined. We join hands, light candles, meditate, and transcend. This OCCULT LOGIC is expressed aesthetically through imagery shrouded in mystery, fantasy, and abstraction. It haunts and captures us and allows a connection with something greater and more ancient than ourselves.