THE MANIPULATOR magazine was born in 1984 into a world almost unimaginable today: no cell-phones, no internet, no Adobe Photoshop, no digital cameras. In those quondam times, it was the cordless phone, the fax machine, the colour-copier and the Apple IIc that defined the technologically savvy.
Johnno du Plessis

THE MANIPULATOR’s WEBSITE

My first DvN show. Obviously, I have a soft spot for the Skinhead reference, but more than that, this was the most convincing use of this peculiar style by a fashion designer! Also, congratulations for the most relevant use of tattooed boys I’ve seen so far. Dries, I love you. (Show took place on the 1st day, so same excuse as for Rick Owens, for the blurry pics… sorry).

words & images ©Maxime Büchi

On the day after the show, I took a little trip with JayJay and his husband Rich to the YSL showroom where we met up with the benevolent Guilhem, browsed through the beautiful collection and drank mimosa.

words & images ©Maxime Büchi

Thanx to those who commented and reminded me Nathan’s name. So, yes, the man with Hooper head piece is Nathan Kostechko. Very nice and friendly dude. We’re gonna hook up next time I’m in LA. He makes beautiful strange tattoos.

Fluro industrial workwear chaos at the Bernhard Willhelm presentation during Tranoi on Saturday. Foam roadworks followed by rainbow smoke flares, and a hyper-real mix of athletic club gear and ethnic-inspired sportswear. Can’t think of another designer that could pull this off. The fanboys were loving it. Photo by Volker Ketteniss.

The Boris show was beautiful, Jayjay’s casting was on point and the location was impressive, but since I stupidly forgot to buy an adapter for my camera’s charger, I had to shoot the actual show with a film camera. While I wait for the pictures to come back from the lab, here are a few ambiance images I managed to get before I powerlessly witnessed its temporary death. You will find here some close-ups of Boris’ latest experimentation on transparent leather. Somewhere between wow and yuk, you know? I also made a portrait of Boris and one of Jayjay.

words & images ©Maxime Büchi

The spectacular show offered a vision between Spring Summer Fall Winter And Spring, and Solaris. The impeccably tailored clothes defined silhouettes harmonizing the ample and the fitted, yet never looking stiff. It almost made me wish I worked in an office to fully enjoy the relaxed, airy style and smooth matters this collection offered.

words & images ©Maxime Büchi