Speaking of superheroic dressing methods, they are about to get the highest accolade possible: a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

The Metropolitan Museum will get a healthy dose of pop culture next spring when The Costume Institute opens its next exhibition, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” on May 7, 2008.
Met curator Andrew Bolton tells WWD, “Originally, it was based on clothing that provided wearers with superhuman powers and that quite literally extended the the natural abilities of the human body, but over the years, we became more interested in the superheroes as metaphors for sex, power and politics.”

Can you say MUST SEE? Mark your calendars.

Spartan Deluxe Adult. Also available: Spartan gal in long toga or an Immortal in a mask.

Wait, speaking of Paul Pope, the increasingly fashionable artist debuts some giant murals he created for the LA Diesel store this Thursday. The Diesel store on Melrose will be displaying 12 huge, 20 x 35 inch, silkscreened prints. Isn’t that cool how we linked all these items together?

We want this.

We want this, too. Kuromi is our kind of Sanrio character.

* Birthday: October 31 (Halloween).
* Personality: Although she looks cruel, she is actually very girly. She loves handsome guys.
* Hobby: She enjoys writing in her diary. These days, she’s into romance stories.
* Favorite colour: Black
* Favorite food: Pickled leeks.

Is the one thing missing from your fall wardrobe a t-shirt of zip-front oodie bedecked with Robert Crumb art? Look no further! Supreme has what you crave:

Robert Dennis Crumb is an American artist and illustrator recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical and subversive view of the American mainstream.

In 1968, R. Crumb self-published the first issue of Zap Comix and its success quickly established Crumb as the best-known artist of the underground comics movement.

Crumb’s artwork references details commonly found in early 20th-century cartoon styles. However, his stories are frequently satirical, sexual and politically outrageous.

In the pages of Zap, the East Village Other, OZ, Motor City, Yellow Dog and scores of other comics, Crumb created characters that soon became symbols of a subculture: Mr. Natural, Angelfood McSpade, Flakey Foont, and Crumb’s Fritz the Cat, have all become widely known cult icons. For over three decades, R. Crumb has shocked, entertained and challenged the imaginations (and the inhibitions) of comic fans all over the world.

Supreme produced a series of two t-shirts and a zip-up hoodie incorporating the artwork of R. Crumb.

This series will be available mid-October at Supreme stores.

Speaking of fashion, Viper has launched a new Sketch 86 apparel line of t-shirts. We like the sound of The Horrible pirates ourselves.

You’ve read the graphic novels and trades… Now it’s time to wear them! Viper Comics has recently launched Sketch 86, an apparel line featuring t-shirts based on Viper characters and books, as well as original designs created by comic book artists and the fans themselves.

“Sketch 86 has been in the works for some time now, but we finally felt it was time to go live with the company and to start literally handing people the shirts off our backs, so to speak,” states Viper Comics President and Sketch 86 co-founder Jessie Garza. “We anticipate updating the apparel line with new designs on a regular basis, so we urge everyone to visit the Web site often… not only to purchase merchandise, but to make suggestions on future designs.”

And with the fans in mind, Sketch 86 seeks to involve its customers in more ways than one. Once a month, the company will hold a shirt design contest where would-be Ralph Lauren’s can submit concepts for future Sketch 86 apparel. The top four entries will then be posted on the Web site where visitors can vote for the winner. Each month’s winner will receive $100.00 and two free t-shirts… as well as having their design featured on a Sketch 86 t-shirt.

(more…)

Designer Luella’s fashion show in London had a distinctly comical look. Looks like masks are IN for Spring!

Luella returned to London’s runway on Monday after a six year sojourn in New York and Milan bringing a catwalk collection for comic book addicts in floral prints and acid colours stamped with Batman insignia.

The designer, formerly known by her full name Luella Bartley, said her catwalk character was “a little bit of a geek but also very sexy”.

“She’s into her comic books but she’s also very feminine,” she told Reuters TV, referring to the character.

More images here and here.