Archive for June 2011

People We Like

Seven Questions For Delfina Delettrez

Delfina Delettrez creates jewelry that is not for the shy of heart. Her dramatic baubles take the form of eyes, arachnids, skeletons, and frogs, mixing the surreal with the luxurious.

These aren’t basic jewels for trophy wives: these are amazing artistic creations meant for the bold. It makes sense that Delfina designs for strong women, as her life is filled with them. (Her mother, Silvia Venturini, is the creative director for accessories at Fendi).

We love Delettrez’s designs so much, we included them in our fantasy holiday wish list . So we were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview the young designer about her line.

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Beauty

Are Paralympians the New Black in Beauty?

The beauty and fashion industries have often been accused of being racist, ageist, size-ist and elitist. Then all of a sudden you’ll hear about how a slew of designers used plus-sized models in their shows. Or that cosmetics companies are portraying a wide range of ethnicities in their advertisements. Which is all great, even if it’s being done in baby steps or for publicity purposes. But there’s one group that hasn’t received a lot of love in the ad pages that’s about to get its day: paralympians.

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Versace for H&M To Hit Stores this Fall, Plus a Peek at the Collection

Versace has signed on to do H&M’s latest designer collaboration.

“For me this is an opportunity to show to a very very big audience what Versace has been and what Versace is now,” designer Donatella Versace said in a video announcing the collaboration.

According to H&M creative advisor Margareta Van Den Bosch, the collection, which is comprised of 40 pieces for women and 20 for men as well as accessories, will look back at iconic pieces from the brand dating back to the ’80s.

“As a designer I look at the future–I never look at the past, but being the sister of Gianni, the DNA is Versace and I’m going to use iconic Versace pieces of iconic Versace moments which are not exactly always the past but also the present,” Donatella said.

The video pans sketches of the H&M collection, and zooms in on a black leather mini embroidered with gold studs, which Donatella revealed she wore to close her mens’ show yesterday in Milan. If it’s any indication of the rest of the collection–there’s a lot to look forward to.

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Entertainment

Watch: Sneak Peek of Season Four of The (Bradless, Taylorless) Rachel Zoe Project

By Dhani Mau Monday, Jun 20, 2011 / 6:33 PM

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Fashion Week

The Top 10 Most Outrageous Looks from Sao Paulo Fashion Week

I just got back from Sao Paulo fashion week. I saw a lot of great clothes come down the runway. I also saw a lot of wacky out there clothes come down the runway. Sometimes the crazier the clothes and the styling, the more fun they are to watch. So here are the top 10 most out there looks from Sao Paulo fashion week.

**All photos: © Agência Fotosite/Zé Takahashi via FFW.com.br

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Broke and the City

Broke and the City: A Guide To Affordable Wardrobe Staples

I’m a huge advocate of staples. Most of my wardrobe is dedicated to button downs, blazers and black tights, which I jazz up with semi-insane accessories (including a collection of fedoras, men’s denim biker vest with an eagle on the back, leopard fur coat). I’m of the opinion that a solid white tee and crisp, cuffed jean shorts can make the best outfit when styled right. But not all staples are created equal, and it can be difficult to navigate one’s way through a sea of solids. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the basics at several accessible retail giants.

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Beyoncé Started Wearing Heels on Stage at 13

By Mickie Meinhardt Monday, Jun 20, 2011 / 5:00 PM

“As a child I trained myself to dance in very high heels. At 13, in Destiny’s Child, we were told to wear heels, but at first we couldn’t walk in them. We couldn’t keep our knees straight. But we learned, and that became the image of Destiny’s Child: so young and so glamorous. Now I have a rule that my dancers have to wear their heels when I’m wearing my heels. They say, ‘Please take your shoes off, Beyoncé.’ At home, I’m always barefoot.”

–Beyoncé Knowles in W, via Styleite.

Fashion Shows

Best of Men’s Fashion Week in Milan

Fashion Week obviously never ends. Last week was Sao Paulo, soon it’s Paris men’s and couture, and just this past weekend was Milan men’s, which wrapped up today.

Click through to see our favorites from Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring 2012. And look out for reviews from Paris Men’s soon.

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Fashion Shows

Rachel Comey’s Resort 2012 Look Book is Freaking Me Out a Little

As big Rachel Comey fans, we were super excited to see what she had in store for resort. We ended up getting more than we bargained for with this gem of a look book.

Unfortunately, the clothes were a little difficult to pay attention to at first given all the other weird things going on in each photograph, such as:

-Little sleeping masks made of red and blue doilies
-Smurf-esque bright orange cartoon hair with seafoam green eyeshadow and what looks like a sunflower beard
-An inexplicable fringe face mask
-A model brushing her face with a very large feather
-A model sitting in a chair and staring into a bowling ball
-A model gently holding a prosthetic hand for no apparent reason
-Several models just making creepy poses with their backs to the camera

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Ranking the Fall Ads, Part 1

Just as summer temperatures are rising, the fashion world is bracing for the fall with ad campaigns being released by the minute.

So far we’ve seen Prada’s girlish campaign of new models, Helena Bonham Carter making faces for Marc Jacobs, and lap dogs and handcuffs at Louis Vuitton.

It sure seems like the trend in fall advertising is to present a forceful image that reeks of brand identity, meaning: all the ads you’re about to see are amazingly great. Even though they’re ranked from 1 to 14, they’re mostly in the A+ range.

Click through our slide show of fall’s campaigns and let us know which is your favorite!

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Virva Speaks Six Languages and Can Spot a Fake Handbag From Miles Away

Name: Virva

Age: 34

Occupation: Bag Designer

How would you describe your style? Today, I just woke up and walked out…but in general, it’s more chic.

What in your opinion makes a good quality handbag? The make. You should be able to keep it for ten years or more.

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Sales

Racked Dealfeed: Project No.8, Eva Gentry, and Case Study (L.A.) Have Rick Owens, Margiela and More

Lilla P
Deal: Up to 70% off tops, dresses, light sweaters, and other spring/summer merchandise, with prices ranging from $10 to $50
When/Where: Monday, June 20 through Wednesday, June 22. Daily 8am—7pm. 420 W. 14th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (212-242-7490)
Link: www.lillap.com
Ends: Wednesday, 22 Jun 2011

Project No. 8
Deal: Up to 35% off spring/summer merchandise from avant-garde labels like Margiela, A Détacher, and Henrik Vibskov
When/Where: Ongoing. Tues—Sun noon—7pm, Mon closed. Men’s: 38 Orchard St at Hester St (212-925-5599.) Women’s: 138 Division St between Orchard and Ludlow Sts (212-925-4271)
Link: www.projectno8.com
Ends: Monday, 27 Jun 2011

Eva Gentry
Deal: 50% to 90% off labels like Rick Owens, Ann Demuelemeester, and Martin Margiela
When/Where: Through Thursday, June 30. Mon—Sat noon—7pm, Sun noon—6pm. 389 Atlantic Ave between Bond and Hoyt Sts, Boerum Hill (718-260-9033)
Link: www.evagentry.com
Ends: Thursday, 30 Jun 2011

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