Archive for September 2011

UPDATE: Raf Simons Is Not Going to Yves Saint Laurent

In the wake of Raf Simons’ gorgeous spring collection for Jil Sander and subsequent review by Suzy Menkes, a veritable media frenzy erupted over the weekend thanks to a statement by the respected fashion journalist that

“if Raf Simons ultimately takes over the helm at Yves Saint Laurent—as those familiar with the situation in Paris suggest–the designer will have found a sweet spot for his meticulous modernism.”

Well, turns out that his sweet spot is still at the helm of Jil Sander, and Stefano Pilati is still secure in his position as creative designer at Yves Saint Laurent.

Per a release we just received this morning from Yves Saint Laurent:

Yves Saint Laurent disclaims and regards as unfounded the current rumors concerning the creative direction of the house. Stefano Pilati continues to dedicate his talent and energies to Yves Saint Laurent and the coming fashion show.

Jil Sander is also refuting the rumors. According to Elle UK, Raf Simons has apparently just signed a contract for another four seasons as Jil Sander’s creative director.

This is one of those rumors that originated on Twitter–which sometimes can be better than any “official” news source–but which also sometimes proves to be a liability.

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Magazines

Report: Anna Wintour Wants To Put Kate Middleton on the Cover of Vogue

Kate Middleton a Vogue covergirl? Anna Wintour reportedly wants to make it happen.

According to Page Six, Vogue‘s Editor in Chief has been campaigning to snag the Duchess of Cambridge as the magazine’s next cover star. Apparently, since the announcement of Middleton’s engagement to Prince William, magazines have been clamoring to get the “modern princess” on their cover–but landing the Duchess is trickier than it sounds, as, “the Palace must approve it, and they are very protective of Kate,” a source told Page Six.

That being said, if anyone can get the job done it’s Anna.

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Entertainment

Trend Alert: Celebrities Wearing Runway Looks Before They Hit the Runway

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, Sep 26, 2011 / 9:45 AM

From L-R: Gwyneth at the Emmys on September 18; the Pucci runway on September 24

If you are one of those encyclopedic fashion types who can look at a designer dress and identify the runway show from whence it came, you may have found yourself a little confused lately.

That sheer midriff-bearing Pucci dress that Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the Emmys on September 18? It turned up on Pucci’s spring 2012 runway on September 24. Obviously Gwyneth is a special lady who gets special favors–but she’s not the only celeb wearing fashion from the future.
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Kate Middleton

(Updated) Kate and Pippa Middleton Hit Another Wedding this Weekend, Major Papers Disagree About What They Were Wearing

Kate Middleton and sis Pippa got rather posh this weekend for a friend’s wedding in Wiltshire, England. While we like seeing them in their high street ensembles, we really love it when they look completely English in hats and color.

Kate broke out the Erdem again, this time a scarlet lace version. (The DailyMail reports that she wore Collette Dinnigan, though we’re more inclined to believe WWD which reported that it was Erdem.) The shoes are also a point of contention between the two papers–WWD reports LK Bennett, and the Daily Mail thinks they’re Prada. She topped it all off with a jaunty red hat, which is not the same one she wore with that famous red and white Canadian outfit.

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Reviews

Emilio Pucci Spring 2012: Peter Dundas Gets All 2001 Gypsy J-Lo “Ain’t It Funny” On Us

Remember that Jennifer Lopez video “Ain’t it funny”, when a sepia-toned J-Lo finds herself magically whisked into a gypsy-ish/flamenco-y fantasy?

This, is in a nutshell, was what Peter Dundas’ spring collection for Pucci felt like yesterday: cropped peasant tops, flowy skirts, six-packs, big messy hair, and rosaries as chokers. The only thing missing was the topless toreador.

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  • Alice Pfeiffer
  • Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 / 7:54 PM
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Fashion Is Fun

The Incredible Evolution of Daphne Guinness

By Hayley Phelan Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 / 4:30 PM


This week The New Yorker ran a piece on Daphne Guinness, and much like everything the style icon does (or wears), the revelations from Rebecca Mead’s fantastic profile are surprising, over-the-top, and kind of absurd.

Guinness would probably be the first to admit that she’s not exactly your average human. After all it was her own boyfriend, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, who said of her: “[she is] no longer a person, [she is] a concept.”

So what exactly is Daphne Guinness?

We have yet to fully figure it out but in light of the much-talked-about New Yorker interview, we explore the many facets of Daphne Guinness–from her style philosophy to her thoughts on Hitler–though we’re willing to bet the thing that will shock you most will be what the style icon looked like in the late ’80s. Go on, have a look.

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Reviews

Jil Sander Spring 2012: the Shirt Dress Reinvented, the 1950s Made Modern–Is Raf Simons Ready for YSL?

MILAN–We love Raf Simons’ work for Jil Sander–and after seeing yesterday’s show, we’re crushing on him even harder. And with today’s crazy revelation that the designer could be taking over for Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, all eyes are on Raf. As always, his spring 2012 collection for Jil Sander managed to simultaneously reference modernism, architecture, history, and art, whilst remaining understated and precise.

The show kicked off in an exploration of a Jil Sander staple–the plain white shirt dress. It looked almost nurse-like and came in cottons of contrasting thickness, as well as sheer versions.

Soon, the silhouettes veered towards the 1950s with their cinched waists and straight lines: high-necked looks in black with brooches pinned to the waist spoke to a reserved night-time elegance, complete with hats pinned to the head with veils, for a decisively retro look.

A lighter take on the monochrome palette were a series of white knitted jumpers with Picasso-esque faces embroidered into them.

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  • Alice Pfeiffer
  • Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 / 3:13 PM
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Breaking: Raf Simons Reportedly Taking Over at Yves Saint Laurent

The New York Times‘ Suzy Menkes review of Raf Simons’ spring 2012 show for Jil Sander opens with a startling piece of news: that the designer is set to take the reins at Yves Saint Laurent, replacing Stefano Pilati as head designer.

The news is doubly surprising since Pilati’s dismissal has not yet been announced, although the designer is reportedly hard to work with and rumors about his ousting have been swirling for quite some time now. In February we reported that Pilati was rumored to be out–and named Raf Simons as a front runner to replace him.

While nothing has been confirmed by either Simons or Yves Saint Laurent, the fact that this rumor is coming from Suzy Menkes, who has been covering the industry for the paper of record for years, means it’s likely true. At the very least, it would seem that the designer, who Menkes says, “certainly has earned an audition for that position,” is in talks with the brand.

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Reviews

Versace Spring 2012: Under the Sea

MILAN–As Versace is getting ready to launch its much awaited collaboration with H&M (it will reportedly be a compilation of the brand’s most iconic moments), the Italian label chooses to move away for a second from its trademark prints for spring 2012. Last night’s show was sexy (as always) but also soft at times, with a serious Little Mermaid vibe.

At first sight, the clothes just screamed sexy: skirts of questionable length paired with cropped tops or just a bra, plenty of belly on show, and Pisa-high heels complete with lucite platforms–a tongue-in-cheek nod to Show Girls perhaps.

Then studded or glitter starfish and seahorse motifs began popping up throughout the collection on a pastel palate well-suited for a newborn’s room.

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  • Alice Pfeiffer
  • Saturday, Sep 24, 2011 / 6:29 PM
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Fashion Is Fun

Gorgeous Website ‘The Glow’ Features Stylish Mommies (No, That’s Not an Oxymoron) and Their Kids

While style blogs featuring glammed-up fashion editors and adorable 20-somethings in short-shorts abound, it’s rare to find one that showcases that rarest of creatures: the stylish mom. Every time you see a commercial for toilet cleaner featuring a mom in “mom pants” smiling while spritzing her bathroom, it’s one more nail in the coffin of public perception that moms are/should be fashionable.

Enter Violet Gaynor and Kelly Stuart, two friends with a background in fashion who noticed that the moms they bumped into on the job were quite stylish. Yes, it’s true! (And it’s about time someone noticed.)

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Shopping

It’s Fall! Here Are the Most Lust-worthy Fall Pieces From Our Favorite High Street Stores

Happy Fall! Today is the official first day of the season. Even though fall clothes started rolling into stores months ago, it feels more appropriate now than ever to actually buy them. And since we already shared our dream fall shopping list, we decided to round up some stuff we can actually afford. Click through for our guide to the cutest coats, sweaters, shoes, dresses and more from our favorite high street retailers–all of which is available online (yay, Zara!).

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Fashion Is Fun

Back-to-School Fashion Reading List: The Karl Lagerfeld Illustrated Chanel Bio, a Definitive Diana Vreeland Photo Book and More

Some of you are just back to school and some of us are sadly done with school for good but we remember how fun it was to gather all your required back-to-school reading and dive in (okay, we were nerds). So in the spirit of the back-to-school reading list, we’ve put together a list of some awesome, essential, fashion reading. There are some really beautiful and important fashion books out recently and they are worth investing in. And that means actually going and buying the hardcover versions because these books are filled with Karl Lagerfeld illustrations, Diana Vreeland-styled editorials, and more really good stuff. Stuff not to be wasted on an e-reader.

Click through to see your required reading. Don’t skim! There will be a quiz!

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