Ghost Stories with Kendall Jenner & Olivia Oblanc

January 14, 2019

2018 might not have been the best year when it came to politics, culture, film or even fashion—but it was a really great year for fashionable collabs. Helmut Lang teamed up with Parley, JW Anderson with Gilbert & George, Richardson with PornHub... there really is nothing better than two brands coming together, especially when one of which is a legendary label, the other an exciting newcomer. That's why, of all the partnerships 2018 gave us, it was adidas Originals by Olivia Oblanc that stole our hearts—and our wallets.

And when it comes to duos, well, name a better one than New York designer Olivia Oblanc and Kendall Jenner. We'll wait.

Photos by Maxime Imbert
Styling & Inteview by Caitlan Hickey
Hair by James Oxley @ Bryant Artists
Makeup by Bea Sweet @ Bryant Artists
Model: Sam Swan @ The Hive

Launched as the second iteration of adidas Originals ongoing collaboration with emerging designers, the adidas Originals by Olivia Oblanc collection is equal parts classic and contemporary. Using archival adidas Originals looks for inspiration, Oblanc reimagined the legendary sportswear brand through her own gender fluid workwear lens, and with the help of Jenner, created 15 agender pieces they presented in London in November.

Of course, the collection is now completely sold out—but what else do you expect from Jenner and Oblanc?

The duo sat down with office to tell us more about the collection, and share some of their favorite real life ghost stories. Read the interview, and peep some exclusive photos of the collection, below.

Have you ever seen a ghost?

Kendall Jenner: Yes, I have a ghost stories. My mom’s house that she’s lived in forever—the main one on the show with the checkered floors—night one we were watching TV and heard the front door open and shut. So, we [went] over, and no one was there. When we went back to the TV room, the door did it again. So, my Nanny got a knife and went over to check, but still, no one was there. The security from our community came and searched the property, looked everywhere, but nothing. So, we finally go back to watching TV and it happened again! Through the next couple of years we lived there, different things would happen, like Kylie’s shower would turn on, or I’d wake up in the middle of the night thinking I saw a figure at the end of my bed—that type of crazy shit. The house was definitely haunted. But I don’t think they were bad spirits—they were just nosey.

Olivia Oblanc: I definitely believe in ghosts, but I’ve never seen one.

How did you begin the process for designing this collection?

Olivia Oblanc: The collection is a blend of vintage adidas sportswear mixed with the Oblanc aesthetic of reinterpreting workwear and graphic branding. I wanted to incorporate things like hardware, webbings, straps and clips to emphasize the Oblanc aesthetic—putting that together with the vintage sportswear was really interesting.

I always come up with inspiration before I start any collection. The minute I got off the phone with adidas I started finding images and started sketching. When I went to meet with them in Germany, they thought I was going to start designing, but I was like, ‘Oh I’m finished.’ I was really prepared, because I was so excited—I knew the color palette I wanted, even the trims.

How did you pick the colors?

Olivia Oblanc: There’s a thing that adidas works with called Adicolor, and when I came to Germany with the colors I had selected, they were basically identical to the Adicolor palette. I really focused on yellows, blues, reds, black and white—colors that could add a pop. I hate using that word—pop—but I wanted to bring more vibrant colors into the workwear aesthetic. High visibility! Let’s use that instead.

What’s your favorite piece from the capsule?

Kendall Jenner: We both love the puffer!

Olivia Oblanc: I think it looks good on any body type—you can wear it fitted or oversized.

Do you have any tips for styling the pieces?

Kendall Jenner: Just whatever floats your boat. When I was looking through all the stuff it was so easy to style anything together. I was like, ‘I could literally wear all of this.’ It’s just so sick!

How do you think the internet is a part of your design vocabulary?

Olivia Oblanc: I definitely get inspiration from muses, like Kendall, and honestly, Instagram is such a huge platform for inspiration—I don’t even find myself reading magazines as much as I used to, with as much as I go online.

Kendall Jenner: Do you ever go on Tumblr?

Olivia Oblanc: No, but I used to love it.

Kendall Jenner: I used to be obsessed with Tumblr, too.

Olivia Oblanc: Now, I’ll go on Pintrest if I’m really desperate. There’s also Tumblr vibe Instagrams, and then there’s a PhotoShop app I use when I’m on the subway, just making collages for my own profile.

Kendall, how do you think the internet has shaped your style?

Kendall Jenner: It’s a huge inspiration. Look at a lot of those Tumblr style pages! I screenshot and save all of them—I have different folders in my phone of different things I like, and even if I don’t directly take something from those photos, I think it subconsciously sticks in my brain. Then, all of a sudden, when I’m trying to put an outfit together it just clicks.

Is there any one piece of clothing you refuse to wear?

Olivia Oblanc: Heels.

Kendall Jenner: Really?

Olivia Oblanc: Yes! Well, I’m wearing platforms right now, and I like stilettos, but I just think I would look ridiculous in them. I don’t know, I’ve just never tried it.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh?

Olivia Oblanc: Animal videos on Instagram.

Kendall Jenner: Yes! There’s one I have to show you—it’s this cat getting a brain freeze. It’s amazing.

Keep an eye out for the next adidas Originals by Olivia Oblanc drop.

Special thanks to Ace Hotel London.

Fashion

I am the makeup on your eyes

PRINCESS GOLLUM wears HAT by HELENA EISENHART, SHIRT by CD1974, EARRINGS by KARTHUR all c/o RETAIL PHARMACY, and BRACELET by MARTINE ALI

PRINCESS GOLLUM wears NECKLACE by CHRIS HABANA, SCARF by ALEXANDER WANG, EARRINGS by MARTINE ALI

PRINCESS GOLLUM wears JACKET by ALEXANDER WANG, SHIRT by BLONDITA SHOP, SKIRT by GOOD MANNERS, BOOTS by FERRAGAMO, JEWELRY by MARTINE ALI

PRINCESS GOLLUM wears DRESS and BODYSUIT by RUI, BELT by HOLLYWOOD LOWBROW c/o RETAIL PHARMACY, BOOTS by FERRAGAMO

Fashion

Go-See Situation

Agnès is wearing a top from Peng Tai, a skirt from IRO Paris and boots from GmbH

Moli is wearing a top from Mengche Chiang, a dress from r . l . e with with tights from Wolford, ring from Julia Bartsch and shoes from empty behavior

Chloe is wearing a top from Acne Studios, pants from MM6 with a belt from Julia Bartsch, sunglasses from Uvex and shoes from Proenza Schouler

Glory is wearing a shirt from IRO Paris, pants from peng tai and shoes from Yume Yume

Timothée is wearing a shirt from Paloma Wool, pants from helios Emil and shoes from Yume Yume

Youssef is wearing a shirt from Dries Van Noten, pants, boots and underwear from GmbH, and a vintage hat

Fashion

The People of Lang

April 05, 2024

“The person gives meaning and value to the clothes and not the other way around,” said Peter Do of Helmut Lang SS24, his debut collection for the brand, which has finally hit the shelves.

It is an interesting, if not provocative choice — not only to ont put the garments primary, but to focus not on the “people,” as in a collective, but the “person,” as singular. It's a nod to what the brand has set out to establish since Do’s arrival, framing dressing as a system. It's a democratic formula which feeds off individuality and personal expression, relying upon character as opposed to custom. It’s a manifestation of personality, a farewell to performance. And it leaves us with one question, who is person enough to embody such a humble request?

By Vilda Krog
Photography by Huy Luoung
Styling by Jason Rider

The person in motion, the person of passion, the people passing by on the street who don’t care where you’re going, because they’re on a mission of their own. As Do crafts his garments, likewise do these individuals carve out their paths for themselves. No rules, no guidelines, and if there were — aren’t those meant to be broken? Suggestively, Do broke several rules once he interrogated assumptions around everyday dress back in September last year. Criticism came from more than one place at once. However, by staying true to his vision, he’s already beginning to see the fruits of his labor: his system of dressing, crystallized. It's subtly arrogant, yet widely accessible, dynamic, and utilitarian: it's a blazer, those striped trousers, that turtleneck top, and the traditional flattering denims. In other words, it's your carte blanche, thus let their personality be the color.

Who are they? The campaign, photographed by Huy Luoung and styled by Jason Rider, stars An-My Le, Armina Howanda Mussa, Ash Owens, Connor Sen Warnick, Devin B. Johnson, Eli Ping, Frederique Thiollet, John Yuyi, Kai Avent-Deleon, Linda Rodin, Michael Abel, Mindy Seu, Minjae Kim, Oscar Yi Hou, Sam Stewart, Sophia Roe, Steph Shiu, Yahdon Israel.

Usually, I’d hesitate to spell out more than four names, but in this case, perhaps we should consider them adjectives. Not at the expense of individuality. But rather, the definition of it.