Websites have reached a pinnacle of being over-produced, hi-tech pieces of work nowadays. Fashion sites especially have become complete sensory overloads. Screens move, sound engulfs, movies beg to be watched. However, less is more, as in the case of these following sites who have embraced the seemingly mundane for a back to the future browsing experience.

Elusive Belgian designer Martin Margiela’s website has the look of a backend or index area of a site, complete with pop-ups, which remind me of my first Commodore 64’s prompts. Upon visiting, a dialog box reads cleverly, “This site is not under construction.” Many people have left the site, thinking just the opposite, only to return to realize the joke. Once inside the “index” area, it feels as though visitors are privy to files that they should not have access to: the secrets of Maison Margiela. The look is seemingly basic, yes, but the site does a brilliant job at elevating the everyday which is exactly what Margiela’s fashion is also known for: a twist on the ordinary (i.e. the bow wallet or the faux-money pumps). Even the video pop-up recites the names of the garments in English and then repeats them in French to mimic a language tape.

Creative studio Surface to Air’s website has the feel of a Windows desktop circa 1995: a cheeky calling card for a company who is responsible for the surrealist ad campaigns of fashion designer Tsumori Chisato as well as commercials for mega-brands like Louis Vuitton and Sony. As with Margiela’s site, the pedestrian transforms itself into a witty marketing tool. The retro look combines a slightly out of focus pixel resolution with ancient looking folders and fonts. However, most of this site has been disbanded for a more functional home. The old site still remains though, possibly as a sly reminder of simpler times.

Further reading:

Surface to Air’s Apple Profile

Tags: Commodore 64, Fashion, Louis Vuitton, Martin Margiela, Sony, Surface to Air, Tsumori Chisato, Websites, Windows.

This year’s Bowie Ball comes hot on the heels of enthusiastic fans packing the sold-out theater at the Museum of Modern Art this past Monday, to watch a selection of Bowie videos curated and introduced by Thurston Moore. (Rob Sheffield at Blender.com posted a very apt description of the evening, along with six of the videos screened.)

Here’s another one I really enjoyed that night, for the Sottsass/Memphis-like set and for Bowie hamming it up in a pink shirtdress, strangers kissing him in the street:

“I am a DJ, I am what I play, I’m a believer, believe in me…”

Bowie Ball will feature DJs, performers and a fashion show, and is headlined by some infamous NYC clubland personalities paying homage to a variety of Bowie’s inventive and creative endeavors, including Motherfucker’s Michael T, Zandra Rhodes, Keanan Duffty, Lady Starlight, and Richie Rich.

And if you haven’t had your fill of the Chameleon of Pop by the time this weekend’s over, you’ll be glad to know that MoMA will be rescreening the Bowie videos December 19th.

Bowie Ball @ Santos Party House

Saturday, December 6th

10pm-4am

Tags: Blender, Bowie Ball, clubs, David Bowie, DJ, Fashion, Keanan Duffty, Lady Starlight, Michael T, MoMA, music, New York, performance, Richie Rich, Santos Party House, Thurston Moore, videos, Zandra Rhodes.

There are ten days left to show off a little flair before we head into the voting booths and many design labels have taken this time to incite a little fashionable democracy. The message that is being delivered is not partial to one specific political party, but rather it is the opportunity to be fashionably vocal in a very important election.

Kate Spade’s spot of patriotism comes in a canvas tote decorated with buttons that read, “Speak your Mind,” “Have Courage,” and “Play Hooky.”

The buttons are reminiscent of vintage election flair from the 1950s-70s - however, both parties can wear the Vote Tote comfortably. The buttons were also used to create a poster as a part of the Wolfsonian’s “Thoughts on Democracy” exhibit in Miami on show now through December 7th, 2008.

Likewise, Gap’s Vote T, lets the wearer choose their own slogan. Fill in the blank (”Vote for…”) with a slew of non-political endings like: “beautiful art”, “rocking out,” or “the power of love,” to the more skewed: “cheap gas,” “change,” or “science,” to the plain nutty: “cupcakes,” kittens,” or “beer.”

Tags: Campaign, Election, Fashion, Gap, kate spade, Voting.