More than a decade after Karl Lagerfeld’s collection debuted at H&M, high-low partnerships are still a formidable marketing strategy for fashion designers and retailers. But what does a designer collaboration need to accomplish to be considered successful?
Isaac Mizrahi has had a colorful career, to say the least. You’d be hard pressed to find someone else whose resume could run a gamut from designer, to Project Runway: All Stars judge, to cabaret performer, to musician, to film actor, to director. Impressive as that list of occupations is, Mizrahi wants to do more.
The New York Times put out a lengthy profile on Isaac Mizrahi--another of fashion's most quotable designers--today, and it yields some pretty entertaining insight into his long and atypical career.
Earlier this week we caught up with the Isaac Mizrahi at the launch of his newest (and arguably oddest) collaboration with Tweezerman, the brow care brand that pretty much every single makeup artist and brow pro swears by. It's especially odd since Mizrahi admitted that he doesn't even have brows. Here's what else he had to say about his lack of eyebrows, the next season of Project Runway All Stars, and launching a makeup line.
Who's the host of Project Runway All Stars season 3? Why, that would be none other than extremely qualified fashion industry vet, Alyssa Milano!
It's been a season of second, third, and even fourth chances. After stints at Perry Ellis, Paco Rabanne, and Gap, designer Patrick Robinson is once again staging a comeback--this time, as creative director of Armani Exchange. Currently waiting in the wings is former Dior designer John Galliano, who has been assisting in Oscar de la Renta's atelier and is purportedly in talks to teach at Parsons. We can't say for sure whether either of these comebacks will take, but we can tell you about the returns other designers have staged in the past. Here are fashion's greatest comeback stories:
1. Why has Anthony Ryan hidden this glorious string headband from us until the (actual) last episode? 2. Hold up--why did Joshua come back if he was unwilling to help Anthony Ryan? Is that even allowed? 3. So, does Casanova regularly take vacations from sex, too? 4. "Miss Joanna"? Is Joanna Coles secretly Anthony Ryan's tap/jazz teacher?
1. Wait, so... is this the finale? Or... 2. Why does Project Runway always make the designers repeat exactly what we just heard too? Like, yes, Emilio, we know you're being sent to Paris to learn couture techniques and get a tour of Valentino. Ugh. 3. Did Joanna Coles actually take a separate flight to Paris? 4. Don't you get the sneaking suspicion that none of the designers even remember what the prizes are that they're competing for?
1. Did I or did I not predict this final four from the first episode of the season? 2. Can Joshua please create a coordinating outfit for his client's service dog? Please?? 3. If Emilio dresses regular women "all the time," why exactly is he doing Project Runway All Stars? 4. Anthony Ryan, what are you thinking?! 5. Who died and made Katie Holmes "one of America's most talented actresses?"
1. Does Ivy know something about Casanova the rest of us don't? Has he crossed over to the other side? 2. Has Anthony Ryan always had the same hairdo as Kid? 3. Did women only attend three types of events in the 1920s? 4. Could Anthony Ryan and Ivy have gotten any more lucky and screwed (in that order) with their pairing?
1. Why are the designers always 'walking up' to meet Carolyn somewhere? Can't they afford a car service--or at least public transportation? 2. Is it bad that I didn't remember Anthony Ryan's "infamous" bird seed dress? 3. What neighborhood is Emilio from where people are often burgled by fat white men coming through chimneys?
In a little gem from New York mag's "Party Lines" this week, Isaac Mizrahi responded thusly when asked if he ever drunk texts: My problem is Ambien e-mailing. I once cc'ed Anna Wintour and Peggy Siegal after taking Ambien. I forget what I said but they responded asking, "Are you all right?" That was about five years ago. So no more Ambien emailing for me. Mizrahi's habit of Ambien emailing fashion editors also made it into his cabaret act.
When H&M announced its latest designer collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela, we'll admit we were a little surprised. Margiela is so avant-garde, so cult-y, and with little name recognition (OK, more than a little thanks to Kanye) we'd have figured them the last brand to do a collaboration with a mass retailer. But then again, H&M got Karl Lagerfeld to do a line for it in 2004, and then, somehow, the retailer convinced the most reclusive and enigmatic of designers, Rei Kawakubo, to do a Comme des Garcons collaboration in 2008. So maybe it's not so surprising that Maison Martin Margiela is doing a mass collab--maybe it's even obvious. It seems like every major designer has done a lower-priced collaboration with any number of mass retailers recently.
People love pets-- and designers are no exception. With all the constant crazy talk happening in the fashion world, who wouldn't want a verbally challenged companion? It's easy to understand what makes pets so appealing to the fash pack: No amount of cross-breeding could produce a canine or kitten with the ability to question, "What's going on with John Galliano? Is Kim the new Gwyneth? And those wigs at Chanel... why??" They may shed fur all over your best black suit, but they’ll also still love you regardless of what Anna Wintour thinks of your F/W collection. The late Alexander McQueen famously left his three beloved dogs the extremely generous (though probably under-appreciated) postmortem gift of £50,000. And while it's safe to say that not all designers would go so far as to supply their pets with a year's salary, it's clear that their animal friends hold a dear place in their hearts.
1. How did all of the designers magically end up in Union Square after they were told to search for inspiration in Central Park? 2. Wait, isn’t this challenge the most genius way to pick up guys? 3. Why is Mondo wearing a shirt with his face on it? 4. Did you see how silly Joanna was this week, popping up from behind a dress form and whatnot? 5. I’m sorry but does Jerell have eyes? He really thought that look worked.
Dolce and Gabbana Deny Discrimination Charges: After being accused of discriminatory practices barring Hong Kong residents from snapping photos outside their Tsim Sha Tsui store, Dolce and Gabbana has released a statement assuring the population that they are indeed not prejudiced. "Controversial statements reported in the Hong Kong press have not been made by Dolce & Gabbana nor its staff, and we strongly reject any racist or derogatory comments...we wish to underline that our company has not taken part in any action aimed at offending the Hong Kong public.” {WWD (subscription required)} Isaac Mizrahi to Launch Clothing Line for Babies: Taking cues from Lanvin and Versace, Isaac Mizrahi is expanding his brand and designing for mini fashionistas! The 25-piece collection, fit for only the chicest of drooling, pulverized-carrot-throwing babies, will debut this fall in department stores. {WWD (Subscription required)} Kate Moss for Rimmel London Comes to America: The supermodel chose five random colors designed a five piece collection of lipsticks for Rimmel London, set to drop stateside this week. {ELLE}
Jourdan Dunn and Saskia de Brauw Cover i-D's Winter Issue: Joining the ranks of Hailey Clausen and Anja Rubik, Miss Dunn and de Braw's shots account for two of the six covers from the magazine's "Winter Warm Up" issue. Jourdan's makeup is giving us vitamins A-E right now! We love it! {Models} Rihanna Wears a Onesie, Goes On Vacation: Take a look at some behind-the-scenes shots of Riri on her Loud tour. The best pics include her chillin' in the studio in a onesie and a full face of makeup. There are also some lovely personal photos of her on vacation in Italy with her friends (she wears a lot of swimsuits, shops for pottery, and generally acts naughty). {Rihanna Facebook} Nicole Richie Named "Influencer of the Year": 'Tis a rare thing to see a celebrity accessories line truly produce anything worthy of note, but Nicole Richie's House of Harlow 1960 is certainly an exception. The Accessories Council has honored her with the "Influencer of the Year" award, for consistently producing unique pieces we actually want to wear. {The Fashion Spot}
W's Fake Ads by Steven Meisel: In the mags latest issue, Style Director Edward Enninful created a series of fake ads starring Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson, Joan Rivers, ADR and even Toddlers & Tiaras' Eden Wood modeling various fake clothing and beauty lines. All the edginess, none of the advertising censorship. It's so good. {W} Taylor Tomasi-Hill Models for Block Magazine: The flame-haired Marie Claire editor finally gets a chance to shine somewhere other than street style blogs, showing off the best of the fall collections in a really gorgeous (and lengthy!) spread. {Fashion Gone Rogue} A Gold Sculpture of Kate Moss Doing Yoga Sold For $910,496: I mean, who wouldn't shell out nearly a million for an 18 karat gold Kate Moss looking like a pretzel? {Vogue UK} Watch: Behind-The-Scenes At Lanvin's Spring 2012 Show: Listen to Alber discuss his love of women and watch Karlie Kloss prep herself for the walk down the runway. Plus, up close looks at the ahmazing accessories. {FabSugar}
Isaac Mizrahi is about to make a serious chunk of change. According to WWD (subscription required), Mizrahi sold his company, IM Ready-Made LLC, to Xcel Brands--And is set to receive a whopping $31.5 million at closing. The designer has also inked a lucrative earn-out arrangement, which calls for an additional amount up to $32.7 million in cash or stock to be doled out over a four-year period, if Mizrahi meets certain minimums in royalties. What's more, WWD estimates that Mizrahi will earn roughly a cool $10 mill each year. Now that's certainly nothing to sneeze at.
Summer is just around the corner, which means two things in our minds: an exorbitant amount of weddings/markdowns on spring collections. Luckily, those on the hunt for the perfect white gown and those on the hunt for dynamite deals will both be satiated this morning. First up is The Aisle, which debuts Isaac Mizrahi's bridal collection today at 11am. The iconic New York designer created a capsule for the specialized flash sales site. The full-blown-amazing part is that each dress can be custom made, which means you can plug in your measurements for the perfect fit. We're obsessed with the peplum style. (The dresses are priced between $2,200 to $4,500.)
"I never really liked sort of what [Galliano] did so much. I liked better what McQueen did. I liked better what Vivienne Westwood did. So now I don’t