fashionologie

Oscar de la Renta's Comments on Michelle Obama Ruffle Feathers

fashionologie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:54:26 PDT

>> Last week, Oscar de la Renta drew a lot of heat for his frustrated comments on Michelle Obama's decision to champion small fashion houses, wearing Thakoon and Jason Wu over Donna Karan or Ralph Lauren:

American fashion right now is struggling. I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don’t think that is the right message at this particular point . . . I don’t object to the fact that Mrs. Obama is wearing J.Crew to whatever because the diversity of America is what makes this country great. But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think it’s wrong to go in one direction only.

He got particularly pointed about Obama's choice of an Alaia cardigan to meet Queen Elizabeth: “You don’t go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater.”

Needless to say, fashion community feathers were ruffled - Paper's Mickey Boardman blogged a piece requesting de la Renta to "hush": "It's beneath de la Renta's dignity as an elder statesman of American Fashion to consistently complain and criticize a First Lady who has done so much for American fashion."

But Oscar's sticking to his guns »

Scott Schuman Speaks His Mind in New GQ Profile

Justin Fenner — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:47:24 PDT

Scott Schuman doesn't pull any punches in a new GQ profile that examines his rarefied place in the fashion industry.

"It shocks me when young kids still say, 'I want to do a magazine,'" Schuman, who started the blog The Sartorialist in 2005, says in the piece. "Really? Do you want to do a magazine because you want to be an editor - what you think that life is, that romance - or do you want to communicate? Because if you want to communicate, why the f*ck would you put all those obstacles in your path and have to print pages, as opposed to going right on the Internet and actually communicating?"

Alex Pappademas, who wrote the profile, describes Schuman as being able to travel "nimbly between fashion-world insider and outsider" - which could explain his license to say what he feels and his ability to sit front row at high-profile fashion shows. Read on for more of his quotes from the profile.

On meeting Ron Frasch, president and chief merchandising office at Saks: "He's looking right over my head," Schuman says, "and I remember thinking, I'm gonna make this f*cking blog so he looks at me when I'm talking to him."

On sitting Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2009 show: "They got a humongous amount of press," Schuman says. "Look, we brought the bloggers in and gave them the front row. Look at the dancing-monkey bloggers! I could barely bring myself to sit down . . . Like, 'Ugh, I don't want everyone looking at us.' Like, Oh, look at the cute bloggers! Isn't that cute! Are they playing Angry Birds? When you've got Ron Frasch behind you going, 'I spent two f*cking million dollars on D&G's last collection, and I'm sitting here? For these little schmucks?'" (Schuman later clarified that Frasch didn't say anything to this effect.)

Kanye West on Schuman: "Scott gave me my first opportunity to be photographed in a different light than the normal rap way. So anytime Scott does anything, I don’t care where I am in the world. I'll be there."

Vogue's Olympic Cover, H&M's Apology, and Lara Stone's Love Story

Justin Fenner — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:17:56 PDT

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

America's Olympians have taken over the June issue of Vogue, with a cover featuring soccer player Hope Solo, swimmer Ryan Lochte, and tennis star Serena Williams. Lochte is the fourth man to be included on the cover of Vogue (the other three are Richard Gere, George Clooney, and LeBron James). Inside the magazine, Karlie Kloss poses alongside other athletes, like gymnast Jonathan Horton and basketball player Dwyane Wade. [Vogue]
H&M has apologized for using an image of a tan-skinned Isabeli Fontana to advertise its Summer swimsuits after a Swedish anticancer group accused the brand of promoting "a beauty ideal that is deadly." H&M said in a statement that "It was not our intention to show off a specific ideal or to encourage dangerous behaviour, but was instead to show off our latest summer collection." [The New York Daily News]
Lara Stone revealed how her husband, David Walliams, managed to woo her in the new issue of Vogue Netherlands: "He stalked me," she joked. Asked whether she thought their romance was sparked by love at first sight, Stone said, "To him it was!" [Vogue UK]
Manolo Blahnik has signed a deal to expand his footprint in London. Shoe retailer Kurt Geiger will open a Manolo Blahnik shop-in-store at Harrods in time to sell the accessories brand's Fall 2012 collection. Kurt Geiger opened a similar space for Blahnik at Liberty London this February. [Vogue UK]
The May issue of L'Uomo Vogue is dedicated to "Rebranding Africa." Editor Franca Sozzani said she wanted to portray African nations in a favorable light. "Presenting a positive image of the continent means focusing world attention on an area that has been hitherto excluded," she said. [Fashion Etc.]
Meanwhile, Sozzani's other magazine Vogue Italia recently shot a spread featuring reality star Kim Kardashian. [@KimKardashian]
Model Lily Kwong has big plans for after she graduates from Columbia University. Kwong, who is Joseph Altuzarra's cousin, says she will travel on behalf of her new charity Nuvana, which helps empower the youth in poor communities. [Lifestyle Mirror]

Photo courtesy of Vogue.

InstaGlam: Our Favorite Snaps From the Met Gala Red Carpet

Christina Perez — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:48:31 PDT

>> The annual Costume Institute Gala's red carpet is an infamous frenzy of fashion and flashbulbs - and we were right there to capture it all. From Anna to Miuccia, Calvin to Valentino, the grand steps of the Met were jam-packed with some of the industry's most favorite faces - not to mention some of Hollywood's favorite stars. "It's always a fun night, you know? Everyone is dressed up and looks beautiful," explained Caroline Trentini, who was dressed in a denim gown designed by date Olivier Theyskens. Ginnifer Goodwin, who wore a custom Monique Lhuillier gown, shared the sentiment: "I'm excited to see so many old friends. I know that I've got a lot of buddies inside. That's what I'm most excited about," the actress said.

"It's hugely special! What could be more important than the Costume Institute Gala? It feels like the Oscars," a Schiaparelli-pink-haired Chris Benz explained before whisking date Julie Macklowe - also sporting fuchsia locks - through the doors of the museum.

"I think it's more fun than the Oscars!" director Baz Luhrmann - who made a series of films for the exhibit - disagreed. "Just because there are no awards. There's no stress. All I have to do is eat a little something, drink a little something, and watch Bruno Mars rock the house. That can't be too hard, you know."

More red-carpet chats - and our Instagram snaps - right here, in the gallery.

View Slideshow ›

Exclusive: Shopbop's Australia Fashion Week Photo Diary

Christina Perez — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:37:50 PDT

To capture all the inside fun at Australia Fashion Week, we've enlisted our good friends at Shopbop to be our eyes and ears on the ground. From behind the scenes at the Zimmermann studio to front row at the Spring 2012 Ellery show, they've been busy as bees capturing all the sights and bright lights of one of the most exciting Fashion Weeks around. Click through to see where they went and what they saw - with more to come as the shows wind to a close - right here in the exclusive photo diary.

At left: a harbor view of Sydney's iconic Opera House.

View Slideshow ›

Met Gala Red Carpet to Be Live Streamed For the First Time

Justin Fenner — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:26:59 PDT

>> The Metropolitan Museum will broadcast the red-carpet arrivals for its Costume Institute Gala for the first time ever this year, and viewers can choose among three websites to watch it on.

Vogue.com, MetMuseum.org, and Amazon.com - which is sponsoring this year's exhibit, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations - will all live stream the celebrities and designers walking into the museum from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 7. Fashion journalist and longtime Vogue contributor William Norwich and model Elettra Wiedemann will man the red carpet, interviewing notable attendees like Anna Wintour, Miuccia Prada, and Carey Mulligan.

Viewers can submit questions for Norwich and Wiedemann to ask celebrities on Twitter with the hashtag #metquestions. The live stream will also include pretaped segments about the Costume Institute's history and this year's exhibit.

While the live streams won't differ across the three sites, the Met's website will feature additional content and information about the exhibit, including interviews with its curators Andrew Bolton and Harold Koda. Vogue's site, meanwhile, will focus on giving readers an inside look at the gala and a video of this year's unknown musical guest.

See last year's standout red carpet looks.

Photo: Renée Zellweger arrives at the 2011 Costume Institute Gala.

Inside Mulberry's Coachella Kickoff Party

Christina Perez — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:58:22 PDT

>>Cara Delevingne, Lily Collins, and Kate Bosworth were among the superchic who gathered to fete the start of Summer's most fashionable music festival at Mulberry's Coachella Fire Pit kickoff party Friday night. Held in a private garden at the Parker Palm Springs Hotel, the soiree featured a DJ set by British band The Vaccines, as well as an acoustic set by Kasabian. Guests - including Sky Ferreira, Emma Hill, Atlanta de Cadenet, and Teen Vogue's Andrew Bevan - munched on minisliders and sipped spiked lemonade while lounging in the garden, which, in reference to Mulberry's Fall 2012 collection, was decorated with a Where the Wild Things Are theme. An inside look at the exclusive event, right here in the slideshow.
Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

View Slideshow ›

Watch: Gareth Pugh Explains His Fall 2012 Collection, Shares Good Advice From Rick Owens

fashionologie — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:42:33 PDT

>> Gareth Pugh's original, sculptural designs are fashion fantasy brought to life - but Pugh says he's inspired by growing up in a town with an identity crisis.

"Fashion is very much about building a world around you that doesn't necessarily exist in the real world," Pugh said during a recent studio visit with Crane TV. "I think that want for escape or fantasy is something that comes from the area in which I grew up. Sunderland doesn't really know its identity, I don't think. It doesn't really have a great sense of industry. I think it's a reaction to my surroundings that made me want to pursue something creative."

Watch the video below for a glimpse inside Pugh's Fall 2012 collection and his recent project with London's Royal Opera House - plus, hear the best piece of advice he's ever gotten, given to him by none other than fellow designer Rick Owens.

Revealed - The 2012 CFDA Award Nominees & Honorees

Christina Perez — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:18:38 PDT

>> With a list of nominees that includes The Row's Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen and Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez - not to mention a list of honorees that includes Rei Kawakubo and Johnny Depp - this year's CFDA Awards promise to be extra-exciting. At Wednesday evening's announcement event - held at Diane von Furstenberg's studio and attended by Phillip Lim, Joe Zee, and Rachel Roy - the anticipation was nearly palpable.

"Winning a CFDA Fashion Award is the highest and one of the most coveted honors one can receive in our industry," CEO Steven Kolb said as he announced the nominees and honorees. For a complete list of those who just may receive that great honor - as well as a list of those who definitely will, via the Council's prestigious achievement awards - see below. Then, click through for an inside peek at tonight's announcement event.

Womenswear Designer of the Year Nominees
Marc Jacobs
Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Menswear Designer of the Year Nominees
Patrik Ervell
Billy Reid
Simon Spurr

Accessory Designer of the Year Nominees
Alexander Wang
Reed Krakoff
Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Womenswear Nominees
Joseph Altuzarra
Chris Peters & Shane Gabier for Creatures of the Wind
Max Osterweis & Erin Beatty for Suno

Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Menswear Nominees
Antonio Azzuolo
Todd Snyder
Phillip Lim

Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Accessory Design
Tabitha Simmons
Pamela Love
Irene Neuwirth

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Tommy Hilfiger

International Award Winner
Rei Kawakubo

Eleanor Lambert Founders Award Winner
Andrew Rosen

Eugenia Sheppard Media Award Winners
Scott Schuman & Garance Doré

Fashion Icon Award Winner
Johnny Depp

View Slideshow ›

Christophe Decarnin Was Absent from the Balmain Show on Doctor's Orders, Has Since Been Spotted Out

fashionologie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:31:07 PST

>> An update on Christophe Decarnin's absence from today's Balmain show - although it was rumored earlier today that the designer was in a "mental hospital" and had no say in the Fall 2011 collection, WWD reports: "The designer was absent under doctor’s orders, after having recently been released from the hospital, where he was said to have been treated for depression. A Balmain spokesman said Decarnin was involved in the design." [WWD]

UPDATE: Decarnin was also spotted out and about this evening; one Twitterer dispatched: "Sitting at a table next to Christophe Decarnin." [@MinnieMuse]