Designist Dream

Pretentious Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, shows its how out of touch it is with contemporary cultural trends but introducing a new feature: an interview with a real-life person on the street about what he or she is wearing and why. Novel idea? Not really. And so poorly conducted in this article that the nature of the interview is boring, the fashion element is lackluster and the photograph – really the most interesting part as most street fashion fans would agree – is not even posted online!? Not sure what they’re thinking, only that they’re trying hard to capitalize on the phenomena of online street fashion photography sites, ranging from the high-end international fashion photoblog The Sartorialist to Israel’s own local hit ilook.

ilook has been gaining press and notoriety lately. Locally, Time Out Tel Aviv took notice and Israel’s local Village Voice-like newspaper, HaIr (the City), spent the day hanging out with 25-year-old Nimrod Avigal, experiencing the magic that is ilook. There’s something really lighthearted and good spirited about ilook that I really enjoy. The photographs are straight on, unedited and raw. The interviews are short and lighthearted and they don’t get caught up in each person’s self-promotion. And the fashion is pure genius - to laugh at, admire the spirit of, or wonder what happened in that person’s mirror.

Perhaps that’s why ilook has been representing Israel so successfully in the Street Clash international street fashion showdown. It’s down to the final four - Tel Aviv, Talinn, Minneapolis and Vilnius. The beautiful people start duking it out tomorrow so head on over and support street fashion the way it should be done – from the people and on the street - not from the vantage point of a cushy artsy wannabe newspaper!

Vote Israeli hipster fashion into the finals! This time, it’s gonna be pretty.