It’s summer and that means on Fridays everyone should be sneaking out of work a little bit early to go on a weekend jaunt or grab a drink on a sunny rooftop. The fashion industry, which works really hard, also knows how to cut loose and play hard. In our new weekly column, called Summer Read more →
2011 is coming to a close, and some of the most pressing fashion mysteries of the year have yet to be resolved. While we’re all looking forward to a year of new collections, It-girl obsessions, and strange sartorial choices, here are some questions from 2011 we’ll still want answered after the clock strikes midnight.
It’s fairly widespread knowledge at this point in time that reality television isn’t exactly what we’d consider “reality.” Stars of these cheap-to-produce shows generally keep mum on the subject until their contracts expire and their fame dwindles, at which point they release a tell-all about how staged their “realities” actually were. The latest example of this phenomenon comes to us via Janice Dickinson, the self-proclaimed “World’s First Supermodel” and former judge on America’s Next Top Model.
Ever since America’s Next Top Model began 17 ‘cycles’ ago, there’s been a “curse” attached to alums of the show: no one who had ever been on ANTM could book a real modeling job. But it seems like the curse is lifting. First Fatima Siad, a runner-up from Cycle 10, walked the runways for Dries Van Noten and Hermès this season, and told The Cut she’s booked Hervé Léger’s spring 2012 campaign.
And now last season’s winner, Brittani Kline, has landed a six page editorial in Vogue Mexico–a job totally unrelated to her ANTM prize spread in Beauty in Vogue for Vogue Italia, which was also just released.
Remember waaay back in 2004, when the first-ever designer was auf’d on Project Runway, and there was still a glimmer of hope that ANTM might actually find America’s next top model? We secretly practiced smizing in the mirror and cringed at the prospect of boring Nina. Well, things have gotten a lot more complex since those simple times–for better or worse (but mostly better!). While we still love our old faves, it’s always nice to mix it up a bit and keep the DVR busy–especially when it comes to fashion television.
This fall and beyond offers a slew of exciting (and at times, a little repetitive) new fashionably oriented reality shows: From competitions searching for even more amazing new talents, to docu-series following our already much-loved fash peeps (hello, Brad!), to a behind-the-counter look at one of our go-to shopping spots. These shows are like shoes–you can really never have too many. (Though you might stop wearing shoes all together. You don’t really need them for sitting on the couch, do you?)
So which ones are you watching? Ready, set, “Record Series!”
The latest rumors in the post-Galliano Dior saga say that LVMH is definitely interested in Alexander Wang, but, according to Vogue UK, for “other reasons”– i.e. not as the designer for Dior. {Vogue UK}
Karl Lagerfeld’s NY Apt on the Market: No one’s really sure whether Karl ever actually stayed in this 3-bedroom Gramercy Park pad, but for a cool (recently reduced!) $5.2 mil you can get a taste of what it’s like to live like the Kaiser. {Curbed NY}
Anna Wintour Invited Nicki Minaj to NYFW: Turns out those hilarious photo ops were more deliberate than we thought. Minaj told radio station Z100 that Wintour had personally invited her to the Carolina Herrera show, and later sent the rapper a framed photo of the odd pairing, inscribed “We match!” {NY Daily News}
Cathy Horyn Ruffles Feathers Again: Horyn published a “must-see” list of shows for NYFW, which included many young designers but left out several big name players like DVF and Oscar de la Renta. Some were indifferent, but more than a few felt slighted. {WWD}
Franca Sozzani Thinks Dior Should Hire John Galliano Back: The Italian Vogue editor says, “ I understand [Dior's] point of view…and they couldn’t just say, ‘Bad boy! We forgive you! Come back!’ But it’s really a pity. And I will never believe he believed what he said.” {The Daily Beast}
ANTM All-Stars Starts Wednesday, Tyra Still Crazy: If this commercial is any indication of what’s to come this season, we can expect it to be a totally engrossing shitshow. {Fashin}
If there’s one thing Fashion’s Night Out is good for, it’s seeing celebrities. As our Kardashian orJustin Bieber and
Peep Emma Watson’s Golden Spread in September i-D: Watson doesn’t cover the mag but looks uber cool in a photo spread, sporting slicked hair, red lips and nails and an enviable boxy gold-sequined jacket. {Styleite}
R.I.P. Hélène Rochas: The widow of Marcel Rochas and former brand CEO, Hélène Rochas passed away last week at age 84. The original Rochas muse married her husband at 18 and helped him turn the couture house into a household name. A Rochas spokesperson called it “the end of a myth, of an era… She was the muse of one of the great couturiers, the last to remain alive from that era.” {Grazia}
Christian Louboutin Appealing Case Against YSL: Having won last week’s hearing, YSL is now asking for a summary judgement, which could lead to the cancellation of Louboutin’s trademark (established in 2008). Louboutin’s lawyers are appealing the original case and fighting the summary judgement, with a hearing date set for August 19. {WWD}
Daphne Guinness Gets an Exhibit at The Museum at FIT: Opening on September 16 (when NYFW ends), the exhibit will showcase 100 selections from Guinness’ personal collection in a space designed to look like her Manhattan apartment. If anything could follow McQueen, this is it. Ends January 7. {Racked}
Beyoncé Is A Sexy Feminist On The Cover of Harper’s Bazaar UK: Bey proves that feminism can definitely be hot, although she admits the word itself isn’t and wants to create a new, more appealing label. Her suggestion: “bootylicious”. Yes. {Huffington Post}
Meet The ANTM All-Stars: Hell yeah, I see you Shannon form Cycle 1. Our fave modeling show is bringing back their (second) best of the best for another season later this fall. Practice your smize! {US Weekly}
Gucci Announces Nominees For First “Women In Cinema” Awards: In her second collaboration with the Venice Film Festival, Frida Giannini will award a prize to a woman for outstanding acheivement in film-making on September 2. Nominees come from every part of the film industry, including Tree of Life’s Jessica Chastain. {Telegraph}
Giorgio Gucci Gets His Bag Stolen: On an US Airways flight from Madrid to Philadelphia, Giorgio Gucci–heir to the House of Gucci throne–had his luggage stolen. Apparently, his bags contained $50,000 worth of goods including vintage Gucci bags, family pictures, and custom-made clothing. All of the goods inside were to be used for an upcoming documentary being made about his life. {Page Six}
Jil Sander Spring Summer 2011 Show: Jil Sander will be streaming their Spring Summer 2011 women’s show live from Milan Fashion Week on September 25. The live stream will give a “front row” view of the new women’s ready to wear, and shoes and bags collection. {Jil Sander}
Kate Moss Gives An Interview: T5M recently interviewed Kate Moss during London Fashion Week. They spoke about her new collaboration with Longchamp, divas, and how “good friends” keep her sane. {Jezebel}
Valerie Campbell Is A Proud Mom: Last night Naomi Campbell hosted a party commemorating her 25 years in the modeling industry. Her mother, Valerie, says she’s very proud of her daughter despite some mishaps she’s had along the way. {Vogue UK}
Bloomin’ Brilliant: StyleCaster debuts its high-texture, floral-centric editorial shoot, photographed by Frances Tulk-Hart. We’re dreaming of layers now…and just in time for a bit of a cold front. {StyleCaster}
Devious Designers: In a bizarre display of cunning, top-name fashion houses are sending free designer bags to Jersey Shore’s Snooki. But here’s the catch– they’re sending her the bags of competing designers. Why? Well, you try carrying around a Gucci purse after it’s become Snooki’s signature item and tell us how many compliments you get. {The New York Observer}
Tyra On Teeny: Tyra Banks responded to the “misconstrued” Top Model teaser trailer, in which ANTM judges swooned over a prospective contestant’s teeny waistline, in exactly the way we’d expect her to– by complaining that she couldn’t possibly oversee every aspect of the show’s publicity material, and by managing to sound like the victim in a society of waistline-worshiping media. Um, honey, you’re the host of a modeling reality show. You can only be so blameless. {The Huffington Post}
