Archive for November 2010

Karl Wants Haider Ackermann to Replace Him at Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld is still denying that he’s retiring in 2012, and that Alber Elbaz is going to replace him. In fact, he says if he gets to choose who steps in, he’d like it to be Antwerp star Haider Ackermann. “I have a contract for life so it all depends on who I would like to hand it to. At the moment I’d say Haider Ackermann,” the Kaiser told Numero.

Clearly, Ackermann is flattered. But we have a feeling Lagerfeld won’t have as much to do with the decision as he believes. Unless that’s in his contract, too. (Remember what happened at Valentino?)

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Entertainment

Before I Was a Supermodel: Erin Heatherton

By Lauren Sherman Wednesday, Nov 17, 2010 / 6:30 PM

In this video series, exclusive to Fashionista, Victoria’s Secret models reveal what their lives were like pre-Angeldom. Here’s Erin Heatherton:

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs Tuesday, November 30 at 10pm EST on CBS.

Parties

Last Night’s Party Equations: Esquivel x Zero + Maria Cornejo and Kanon Vodka x The Fat Radish + Downtown Scenesters

Cobbler extraordinaire George Esquivel was on hand at Maria Cornejo‘s Bleecker St. store last night to celebrate the launch of his fall/winter shoe collaboration with Cornejo.

Esquivel, who handcrafts exquisite leather shoes in his Orange County workshop (he employs only 8-12 craftsmen), only produces a few shoes a year so he’s game to collaborate. He says it allows him to explore other design concepts. But only if the shoe fits (I couldn’t resist).

“The collaborations that I do have to be seamless and grow organically,” Esquivel told us. “Maria read about me at the Vogue Fashion Fund last year, called me up and we hit it off.”

It’s the first year Esquivel and Cornejo have teamed up, and this is Esquivel’s first fall/winter line for Cornejo.

“[Cornejo's] collection is structured and architectural so we tried to create lines in the shoes and give them some texture and shapes that are just a little different,” Esquivel said. “They’re just a little off-center.”

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Retail

11 Questions for Of a Kind Founders Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo

We are super excited about Of a Kind, a new fashion site that launched today, which seamlessly blends retail and editorial content in a way that we’ve never seen before. What we think makes Of a Kind really amazing is that the product is comprised solely of limited-edition one-offs exclusive to the site (Very limited edition–like 30 units). And, they make a point of featuring emerging designers, allowing accompanying exclusive editorial content to introduce shoppers to new brands. They’re also the first shopping site on Tumblr.

For their initial sale, Mandy Coon created a special version of her adorable bunny bag.

We’ll let the site’s founders Claire and Erica tell you more. Thankfully, despite launch day nerves and sleep deprivation, they answered all of our questions.

Fashionista: What is the main idea behind Of a Kind and why is it unique?

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Anna Dello Russo Is Afraid Head Pieces Will Die If She Doesn’t Wear Them

By Leah Chernikoff Wednesday, Nov 17, 2010 / 5:07 PM

“My last passion is HEAD-PIECES…to collect them and to preserve them is a problem because they going to die if they are not worn. Then I’ve started the collection of HEADS matching with the WIGS to be able to visualize better the look of the HATS.”

- Who else could it be? She wore watermelons and cherries on her head during fashion week. Anna Dello Russo blogging on her love for head pieces. Rather, HEAD-PIECES. And yes, she is also collecting mannequin heads complete with wigs to mount her head pieces on. Look.

Giveaways

Win Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style Fragrance Set!

If you’re like us and love all things cute and precious and Japanese-inspired, this is the giveaway for you.

One lucky reader will win Gwen Stefani’s entire new Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style fragrance line: Love, Lil’ Angel, G, Music, and Baby. The bottles, adorable Harajuku girls decked in bright kooky outfits with colorful “flocked” hair, are almost more awesome than the fragrances inside. They even have names–Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Visual Kei, Kawaii and the Omotesandō Girl.

Click here to enter to win. You have until November 23 at midnight. Good luck!

A little more about each fragrance after the jump.

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Robin’s Style is Dirty (But Expensive)

Name: Robin

Age: 18

Occupation: Student

How would you describe your style? Dirty

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Rachel Zoe Confirms Pregnancy Via Twitter

Rachel Zoe is preggers, for real. This weekend’s bump shots made it obvious, but now the superstar stylist is admitting as much, via Twitter:

Hey everyone! I want to officially confirm to my loyal friends and followers that I am pregnant!…I feel great, Rodger and I are beyond excited and so thankful for all of your love and support. xoRZ & RB

Congrats to Rachel, Rodger, and the entire Rosenzweig-Berman clan.

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Sales

Refinery29 Launches Reserve, A Weekly Shopping “Club”

Today is the day of ecommerce site launches. Earlier, we told you about Google’s Boutiques.com and later we’ll be telling you about new retail/editorial shopping site Of a Kind, both of which launched today.

But now, let’s discuss Reserve, which just launched on Refinery29 a couple of hours ago. Refinery29, known primarily as an editorial site, has had a retail component nearly since the beginning of its inception. They’re currently partnering up with Lucky Shops. And today, they’ve launched they’re very own weekly sales site, which works more like Gilt City and Groupon than Gilt or Rue La La. Today’s debut sale with Steven Alan is definitely unlike any online deal in the fashion-only space, mostly because there is no online clothing shopping involved.

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Who Will Design Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress? Meet the Designers On the Short List

Now that Prince Wills has popped the question to his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton (and we’ve seen the ring), the question on everyone’s mind is: what will she wear?

We came up with some fantastical suggestions for Kate–from Erdem to Marchesa to J. Crew–but Middleton will more than likely go with a British bridal designer who reflects her personal style which is clean, simple and safe. Which means, sadly, McQueen and Westwood are probably out of the running. Since news broke yesterday of the royal engagement, a few designer names have been singled out by the British press (including British Vogue and Hilary Alexander at the Telegraph) as front runners: Amanda Wakeley, Daniella “Issa” Helayel and Bruce Oldfield. Other names thrown into the mix are Stewart Parvin, who has a royal warrant, Jenny Packham, and Phillipa Lepley, whom Alexander describes as “Sloaney” (American translation: WASPy, preppy, girly, Upper East Side-y).

Hilariously, online betting site Paddy Power has even set up “Royal Wedding Dress Designer Betting,” creating odds on which designer has the best shot of getting the coveted job. According to the site, Amanda Wakeley and Daniella Halayel are the favorites to design Kate’s wedding dress at 9/2. They’ve also placed Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s dress with her former husband David, at 5/1 odds, and Vivienne Westwood at 6/1 odds so maybe there is hope for Dame Westwood.

A little bit more about the front runners and their designs.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Tron x Opening Ceremony, Rag & Bone’s Graffiti Contest Has a Winner and Kelly Osbourne is Skinny on the Cover of Shape

Fashion Hearts Tron: Looks like there will be even more Tron merchandise that we actually like. Disney Consumer Product’s latest fashion licensee is Opening Ceremony. A range of Tron-inspired clothes and accessories will retail for $230-$575 and are available at OC, Colette and Lane Crawford today. {WWD}

Lucky Karl: Karl Lagerfeld almost lost a diamond-encrusted brooch at Monday’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards, where he was the keynote speaker. It fell off his tie during the party and a very honest photographer found it and gave it to security. He told Page Six, “I saw Karl looking for it. He asked to personally thank me, and said, ‘Not many people would be so honest.’ Anna Wintour also thanked me.” She must have been very concerned. {Page Six}

Rag & Bone Nolita Has a Winner: Rag & Bone has chosen the winner of their contest to find a suitable replacement for the unwanted graffiti that has plagued their newish Houston & Elizabeth street store since it opened. After reviewing submissions and leaving the judging up to their Facebook followers, Rag & Bone has (hopefully) found a solution in Josh Villatoro. His design features a girl (in R&B?) coming out of an egg, surrounded by several more large eggs. It looks cooler than it sounds. {Racked}

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Retail

Boutiques.com is Up and Running, Featuring Stores Created By Susie Bubble, Olivia Palermo…No SJP Yet

Boutiques.com, Google’s new fashion venture, launched in beta today.

And it’s pretty much what was expected: A listing of several boutiques with pieces pulled from Like.com‘s vast retail network, which includes Topshop, Anthropologie, and Neiman Marcus.

Some boutiques were created by the blogger/designer/celebrity they represent. For instance, Nicole Richie, Susie Bubble, and Olivia Palermo have each designed their own boutiques. As have brands like DvF and Rag & Bone. Conversely, Carey Mulligan and the Olsen Twins seem to have nothing to do with the creation of their respective boutiques. And Sarah Jessica Parker, who was rumored to be building a boutique for the launch, is nowhere to be found.

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