Remember that episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucy and Ethel are desperate for dresses from a specific designer?
They’re heading to a horse race and insist upon these fancy dresses so Ricky and Fred cut head and arm holes in potato sacks and sew the designer label into the burlap and convince the girls the dresses came straight from his atelier. They end up at the racetrack with their heads held high, acting like snooty brats in their major outfits.
They might’ve preferred these. We’ve been lamenting the loss of ’08s tent dresses and welcome the sack with open arms. It does, of course, take a lot of work to make one look like Tomas Maier’s at Bottega Veneta as opposed to a sheet. Laces, like at Celine, help, as does a delicate sleeve (though we’d prefer one on both arm) from Calvin Klein. As for actual burlap at Charles Anastase? At least Fred and Ricky would approve.
Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that bloggers must disclose any sort of payment for any sort of product reviewed or discussed on their blog.
It’s something I’ve tried to do, though we’ve never had an official policy on Fashionista. We get a fair amount of free stuff over here, in fact we probably get a handful of packages each week, but we only really post product reviews once obsessed, like with my new James Twiggy jeans, or confused, like that Lancôme vibrating mascara primer. More often than not, products come after we write about something we’ve discovered and fallen for on our own, as a thank you.
The New York Timeswrote, “the move suggests that the government is intent on bringing to bear on the Internet the same sorts of regulations that have governed other forms of media, like television or print,” as if it’s a compliment; blogs are suddenly legitimate.
Which is great. Except that print publications, at least the ones we pay attention to, aren’t held to the same standards.
So you guys all know by now that I used to be a beauty editor and there’s a part of me that always will be. Two of my behavior quirks as a result of this are that I will forever over-analyze skin and that I’m a total ingredient whore.
There are always certain shows (like Calvin Klein) where the dewy freshness of the skin makes me literally, utterly joyful and also compulsive about finding the next great product to try in an effort to make my own look even half as youthful.
Enter the ingredient addiction. I’m drawn in by new things, but I have to see them in action before I can become a true believer. (Past fixations include: diamonds, gold chips, stem cells, and caviar.) There are currently two very disparate things that have caught my eye: Acai and Volcanic Ash.
Dree Hemingway, former Abercrombie model and it-girl of a pretty long moment, will walk Calvin Klein next month.
The model, and literary heir, surfaced onto New York’s fashion scene about a year ago and while she made the show and party rounds last season, she walked exclusively for Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy in Paris.
We expect she’ll be at least a US exclusive for Calvin Klein and pop up in Paris, if not London, too.
And in other model news, Alana Zimmer’s gone and chopped off all her hair.
Do you identify with Marky Mark? Do you insist on sagging your pants even though it’s 2009? Well, lucky you, Calvin Klein’s throwing a modeling competition and they’d like your abs please.
It’s called “9 Countries, 9 Men, 1 Winner” and coincides with the launch of their new Steel Product line that’s based on the flags of the following countries: England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and Sweden — the same countries in which they’re looking for a model.
The winner doesn’t just land a CK campaign either, but a whole year’s contract with Select, the same agency representing current CK face Jamie Dornan (and a trip to South Africa, where you can probably land yourself a really hot girlfriend to match your abs).
You can send pictures of yourself posing in your favorite CK skivvies here. Andrew Keegan we’re talking to you.
Certain brands—Calvin Klein, American Apparel and Emporio Armani—often bank on the appeal of skin for their notorious billboards. The CK jean-clad orgy (which has now been replaced by the slightly tamer scene of Doutzen Kroes in a red bikini) billboard was right by our offices.
There has been high public outrage and disgust over these billboards. But these companies are obviously not backing down anytime soon (Calvin Klein is a veteran in causing scandals with their ads—Brooke Shields and her jeans, anyone?), because they also know those other words of wisdom: bad press is better than no press. The Huffington Post has put together a slide-show of the most scandalous New York City billboards, in case you need proof.
Nudie Ladies: Finally, outtakes from Terry Richardson’s Pirelli Calendar shoot. WARNING: There are lots and lots and lots of naked boobies. {VanityFairIT}
Hallelujah: Is there anything wrong with the fact that only one photographer and one model have been booked for the August issue of French Vogue? Not when Inez & Vinoodh are shooting Daria. {WWD}
Are You Ready: It’s that time of year, when the fashion blogosphere holds its breath in anticipation of Fall ads. So far, Marc Jacobs throws Natasa V out the window and Calvin Klein casts Jourdan Dunn. {TheFashionSpot & Fashionologie}
Mellow Yellow: Have you seen this yellow Margiela clutch Sea of Shoes Mom has? It’s amazing. Also, Sea of Shoes Daughter is designing shoes for Urban Outfitters, but we’re not supposed to know that. {SeaOfShoes}
Who won big last night at the CFDAs? Here’s the full list:
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy Menswear Designer of the Year (tie): Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli and Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry International Award: Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Sui Eugenia Sheppard Award:Women’s Wear Daily editor-in-chief Ed Nardoza Eleanor Lambert Award:GQ’s Jim Moore Board of Director’s Special Tribute: First Lady Michelle Obama
Ever heard of Arnhem? It’s a perfect summer vacation destination for the fash-obsessed this year.
The Dutch city is hosting The Arnhem Mode Biennale. It’s their third one, but it’s bigger and better this year and from the photos we’re betting that it’s going to be very exciting, with big brands such as Viktor & Rolf (alumni of the city’s art academy), Balenciaga, Calvin Klein and others like Klavers van Engelen (his work is pictured) having donated pieces to the show.
Apparently, the whole city gets behind the production. And it’s always exciting to see places other than the big four of fashion getting in on the action.
It makes us wonder, what other cities—European, American, Asian or otherwise—are poised to work their way up to major global fashion recognition and love, and more importantly, what their staying power will be. Scott Schuman and Garance both made trips to Sydney and Melbourne last month. TMagazine did a beautiful shoot combining Spring looks and the city of Chicago for their Spring 09 Travel Issue. Mainland China’s on the move, and Hong Kong is already a powerful fashion capital.
Variety is what makes fashion, or any art, interesting and engaging. Every city has a unique personality, and we want to see more of them contributing and flowing into the beating heart of the fashion world.
Got Them: Strolling through Soho on the perfect spring day.
Stalked Them: Wouldn’t you? They’re dressed kind of perfectly and we worship anyone who still manages to layer and look comfy come New York heat.
Shot Them: Because Georgia’s striped dress and scarf are a prime example of mixing patterns. And Leah’s silk Calvin Klein top was to die for, especially underneath her loose boxy jacket.
They Said: “We usually shop at vintage and consignment stores, but mostly we like to wear the things we get for free from work.”
We Say: You must have the best dressed office ever.
“When I think about doing my own line, I think Lagerfeld. Not so successful with his own line, but super successful with Chanel.” —Francisco Costa answering inquiring minds at his FIT talk.
Remember those CK One commercials that made you fall in love with Kate in the first place?
They’re back! Kind of.
Coty Prestige is launching a new print/TV ad campaign, launching January 20th (President-Elect Obama’s inauguration day) to add extra resonance to their “We Are One” tag line.
The campaign centers around a song written by one of the campaign’s stars, Jamie Burke, who’ll appear with models of “all shapes, sizes and skin tones.”
(Some campaign images, including one of the bottle that comes with a base complete with a removable MP3 speaker, after the jump.)
..Is anyone else hoping Kate’ll make a cameo in the cast?
Walking on Houston the other day, I noticed a change on the perennial Calvin Klein billboard: men. Good bye naked Eva Mendes, hello guys and girls in jeans.
Then last night on Bleecker, I spied a sparkly jacket and jeans in the window of Cynthia Rowley, for men.
And, Scott Schuman’s recent editorial in Fantastic Man features Chanel menswear.
All of this, coupled with the fact that my best friend (a girl) keep stealing my clothes, the preponderance of boyfriend jeans, and Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, and Thom Browne showing up in Vogue on women and men have me thinking that we’re having a manly moment.
Am I nuts, or does it seem like menswear is the new womenswear?
We just got our invite to the Cool Vs. Cruel Awards.
And despite the fact that some think she’s “too everywhere,” we’re kind of thrilled to see both Agyness and Albert Hammond Jr.’s names under DJs. The model’s kind of dropped off the fashion radar since she got a rock star boyfriend and we’re excited to have her back in New York. Plus, they win our cutest (real-life-not-Chuck-&-Blair) couple award.
The ceremony, which recognizes animal friendly fashion design, take place at the Bowery Hotel next week. Calvin Klein, Marc Bouwer and Urban Outfitters will be honored for their “commitment to fur-free fashion.”
Urban should take that commitment one step further and sell a little bit less creepy faux-fur.
Anyway, the committee includes Charlotte Ronson, Maggie Rizer, Sue Stemp, Steven Klein and Nate Lowman. So of course we’re going, because despite that Oprah denial, MK is totes Nate’s gf.
(But, we just realized, MK wears fur. That might be awkward.)
Have you seen the posters for Zac and Miri Make a Porno?
They have little stick figures and say something like, “Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks made a movie so steamy/outrageous/titillating that this is all we can show you.”
You can see the original at left, and we’d hardly call it “titillating”. Especially not compared to the gigantic Calvin Klein ad featuring a naked, writhing Eva Mendes outside our office, or the pages of men wearing Dolce & Gabbana skivvies in every magazine, or even the pictures of Angelina Jolie in this month’s W.
What would’ve happened if, when Tom Ford’s toe-sucking fragrance ads got banned, he broke out a sharpie and drew a stick figure’s toe in another stick figure’s mouth?
Here’s some food for thought in light of the ongoing outrage over models’ ages -
Do you remember those Calvin Klein ads from the early 90’s? Yeah? Remember how there was something a little creepy about them, like if Dov Charney had a camcorder set up in his basement?
Well, check out these CK clips (which were eventually banned for being “too offensive”), including a slightly squeaky-voiced Bijou Phillips.
That rumor we spread about Mark Fast doing a line for Topshop? It's true. And it's in last week's Sunday Telegraph magazine which means it was true before we even said anything and we've had it in our lap since... Read More
Meet Blue Logan, if you haven't already. A couple of years ago a friend dragged the soft-spoken Brit to a show at London Fashion Week, Aquascutum he thinks, and he started to draw the models as they walked down the... Read More
Remember that episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucy and Ethel are desperate for dresses from a specific designer?
