Archive for February 2011

Textbook

Textbook for Fashionista: Linda Fargo!

By John Jannuzzi Wednesday, Feb 23, 2011 / 12:10 PM


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Rumor: What Will Carine Roitfeld Do Next? Launch Harper’s Bazaar in France? Or Head To YSL?

Some interesting gossip has emerged out of the Stefano Pilati-YSL rumor mill.

According to Hint mag, Stefano Pilati is indeed being ousted at YSL and will be replaced by Hedi Slimane (apparently Raf Simons and Olivier Theyskens were considered, as we have suggested before, but were reportedly put off by Pierre Berge’s “control-freakish ways”).

But more interestingly, Hint is reporting that Carine Roitfeld will consult for YSL with Slimane at the helm, if (and this is a big if) she doesn’t launch Harper’s Bazaar in France. Say wha!? It’s kind of surprising to hear Roitfeld’s name linked to another magazine so quickly following her departure from Vogue Paris. After news broke that Roitfeld was leaving the mag, she told Cathy Horyn at the Times that after 10 years as EIC at Vogue Paris she wanted to “do something different.” Staying in the glossy fashion world to launch a rival mag to Vogue Paris doesn’t seem so “different” but could it be true?

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Campaigns

American Apparel is At It Again, Reveals Topless Ads for Swimwear

Oh, American Apparel. You are such a tease. One minute your models are bearing all, the next they’re covered up. You give us a topless model on horseback, or a girl with her pubes showing through lace panties, and then a photo of founder Dov Charney’s childhood darkroom and a story about his struggle with dyslexia. Aw. You keep us on our toes! And we like that.

But what most folks seem to love (or love to hate) are American Apparel’s more provocative, more gratuitously naked ads, like this one. It fits nicely into the brand’s canon of provocative ads, which dates back to 1995.

Another important question: how does one wear this bathing suit without flashing everyone?

Check out the full ad, out today. Apparently there are many topless poses one can assume in this bathing suit.

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Reviews

Roksanda Ilincic Fall 2011: Niche Glamour

LONDON–Roksanda Ilincic‘s Fall 2011 collection was interesting. Part of it–the dark lips, the silver satin–reminded me of Gwyneth Paltrow circa 1996. Another part–the loose waves, the column dresses in odd colors like tangerine and royal blue–reminded me of 1940s Hollywood. Despite its glossy facade, I was a bit befuddled by it all. And not necessarily in a bad way. Ilincic is quite obviously designing for herself, not around what people expect from her. Is that the makings of a great designer? I think…maybe.

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Reviews

Marios Schwab Fall 2011: A Return to Form

LONDON–Last season, the fashion industry was pleased with Marios Schwab’s Halston collection in New York, disappointed by his eponymous showing in London. As Long Nguyen said on Fashionista, “He needs to bring back a bit of fearlessness and risk.”

This season, things were different. While Halston proved a bit flat, London ready-to-wear was on key, featuring a set of dresses and separates that were sexy, cool, and sophisticated: Ideal for his hip London customer, but also good for his wealthy Halston-obsessed lady.

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Entertainment

Lauren Conrad On Her New Line, Her Canceled MTV Reality Show, and that Rumor that Whitney Port Blamed Her For The Demise of The City

When I stopped by the Coterie yesterday to interview Lauren Conrad and check our her debut contemporary line, Paper Crown, I expected a crush of cameras, reporters and publicists. I expected that an overly protective publicist would monitor my interview to make sure I didn’t ask certain questions and that I wrapped it up after 10 minutes. So it was a pleasant surprise when I located Paper Crown’s modest booth at Pier 94 to find Conrad and her two business partners (also her two best friends–not Hills alums), just hanging out, listening to Billy Joel on an iPad, and not a paparazzo or crazed publicist in sight.

Of course, if MTV hadn’t dropped the reality show they were filming about Conrad’s new line, there would have been a 15-person camera crew crowding the space. “I was a little disappointed at first but I’m very much OK with it now,” said Conrad of her show being canceled. “[The show] was very different from The Hills–it was filmed like a documentary–it was a very different experience.” Now, she even seemed relieved there wasn’t a camera crew around to make everything crowded and chaotic. “Can you imagine if there were cameras here?” she said, looking around at Paper Crown’s small booth.

Sadly, the absence of camera crews means that there’s little hope Conrad’s show will make it to air on any network–because MTV stopped filming halfway through the design process. “It’s an incomplete story now,” Conrad said.

But back to the clothes.

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Hope Likes to Mix the 1920s with the ’80s

Name: Hope

Age: 18

Occupation: Fashion Blogger for Chictopia

How would you describe your style? A mix of different decades–I love the 1920s, ’50s and ’80s. I like to combine them all.

What is currently on your iPod? Ozzy Osbourne.

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Shopping

Target Re-releases 34 Looks from Past Collaborations With Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon and More

Over the past five years, Target’s GO International designer collections have really enhanced our wardrobes without depleting our bank accounts. But the most coveted pieces from each collection have always flown off the shelves, and there are some dresses that we just couldn’t manage to get our hands on.

Luckily, Target has introduced the GO International Designer Collective, where they’ve given us a second chance to pick up dresses from past collaborations with Proenza Schouler, Zac Posen, Rodarte, Thakoon, and many more.

A few months ago we predicted which designs we hoped would make the cut. Sadly only a couple of our selections (the Rodarte slip dress and the Thakoon tie-waist frock) are among the collection of 34 reissued dresses (all priced under $50!), but there are still plenty of cute pieces to go around including Jovovich-Hawk mini dresses and floral print shifts from Tucker and Tracy Feith.

So here’s your second chance–the collection will be available on March 13th at Target.com and in store until April 10th or, as we’ve learned the hard way, until supplies last.

Click through to browse the complete re-released collection.

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Reviews

Mary Katrantzou Fall 2011: Fabergé Beauty

LONDON–Every season, Mary Katrantzou‘s unforgettable prints depict a certain thing or idea. For the season that put her on the map, it was perfume bottles. Last season, it was scenes from hotel rooms. For Fall 2011, it was Faberge eggs.

These prints are spellbinding, and the shape of her molded skirts and dresses is bewildering to see close up. We were blown away by a Swarovski encrusted skirt, made to look like a garden of green jewels dotted with pink flowers made of gems.

The beauty of these garments is unmistakable. But are they wearable? Yes, some. And this season more than usual, given her extensive use of stretchy knits.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Bieber Gets a Haircut, More Royal Wedding Dress Details, and Brad Goreski Designs a Toothbrush

CK One Goes Digital for its Spring Ads: This epic ad campaign for the newly anointed life style brand was directed by Steven Meisel, and features Abbey Lee Kershaw, Pixie Geldolf, and Lara Stone among a slew of other big names. The group is shown using social media and dancing around in minimal amounts of clothing. The campaign is the largest digital initiative in CK’s history and launches March 1st. {WWD, subscription required}

Joe Zee Hits the Bunny Slopes (In Dolce & Gabbana, Of Course): Can this man get any more fabulous and adorable? We vote no, especially after watching this hilarious video of the Elle Creative Director learning to ski with a bunch of kiddies. {Elle}

Brad Goreski Makes Brushing Your Teeth More Fashion: Brushing ones teeth is not the most glamorous of activities, but Brad Goreski is trying change that. The stylist has designed a toothbrush for Reach along with interior designers Tom Delavan and Celerie Kimble. {StyleCaster}

Anna Wintour Gives Her Stamp of Approval to Christopher’s Kane J Brand Line: The editor also gushes that she is a “huge fan” of the British designer. We can already tell that this collaboration is going to be good. {Telegraph}

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CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg Let a 15-Year-Old Model Walk In Her Show

About a week before New York Fashion Week, the CFDA, helmed by Diane von Furstenberg, re-released a set of health initiative guidelines issued in 2007 to address concerns over the health of models. Regarding the age of models, the guidelines stipulate that designers should, “support the well-being of younger individuals by not hiring models under the age of sixteen for runway shows; not allowing models under the age of eighteen to work past midnight at fittings or shoots; and providing regular breaks and rest. (Consult the applicable labor laws found at www.labor.state.ny.us when working with models under sixteen.)”

Only at her show last week, von Furstenberg didn’t practice what she preaches. It seems that 15-year-old Hailey Clauson (we’re pretty sure she’s the 15-year-old in question) walked in the designer’s fall 2011 show.

A source just forwarded an email from DVF to “colleagues and designers,” in which she admitted, “it is to my horror, that I discovered last Friday that in spite of me repeating that to my production and casting people, one girl slipped through the cracks. One girl who will be 16 in March walked my show last week!”

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Reviews

Giles Fall 2011: Fierce Lady

LONDON–Giles is always a confident collection. Mr. Deacon is cocky–in the best possible sense of the word–which make his clothes sing, no matter what idea he’s tackling.

But last night was different. Set in the second highest court house in the country–we had to go through metal detectors to enter–it was more mature without losing that distinctive Giles feel. Comprised mostly of black and white, the designer showed plenty of takes on the traditional white blouse and the little black dress, tying it all up with a prim bow in each girl’s hair.

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