Totokaelo and the Object as Art Aesthetic for Lookbook Friday

A couple of weeks ago I spoke about fashion as art. Wether fashion is actually art, or should it even be art. Is it art? Or is it a product? Or both? I would venture to say it straddles the fence between both worlds. Ultimately it is a product, or it is an industry that creates products to be consumed, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have value beyond clothing the human body. And the store Totokaelo in Seattle not only understand this, but also seeks to bridge these opposing forces. In today’s Lookbook Friday we will be looking at some of the recently curated garments that Totokaelo is currently “exhibiting”. [blockquote]Ultimately it is a product or it is an industry that creates products to be consumed, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have value beyond clothing the human body. Allie of ALLIENYC [/blockquote]The Totokaelo aesthetic is definitively minimalist with an decidedly Asian influence. With simple constructed lines, generous draping and an unfettered approach to details the overall effect is one of modern utilitarian organicism. With a neutral based palette with copious offerings of black and white and dusty, muted pastels the garments quietly make a statement in a naturalistic yet still vaguely industrial stance. It is a statement of fierce independence and an embracement of the human body as a natural object. Relaxed fit, roomy pieces are balanced by more stream-lined fitted pieces, and the more avant-garde looks are reined in by more traditional pieces. No you won’t find a lot of “sexy” cocktail, date night looks here. But there so many beautifully crafted items in this “collection”  that I am sure one could invest in a piece the way one would invest in a beautiful object for the home. And in fact that is the true essence behind this unique store which also sells objects in addition to apparel. And I for one think that number of the mid thigh skimming draped cut dresses would look super chic and sexy with a pair of ankle booties or strappy metallic sandals. Granted the pieces offered by this curator are not cheap. But neither is good art.