In contrast to high summer and the Paris girls in skimmy dresses, Karl Lagerfeld’s embroidered couture tweeds could not help but seem as heavy as six dusty volumes of Thomas Mann brought down from a forgotten library shelf. Plop! Here you are, fashionable people. Digest this!
”—Cathy Horyn, of the latest Chanel couture collection, in her rundown of the week
>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —When it pours, it really pours. Another first look among the deluge of Fall 2008 ads popping up today: Isabeli Fontana for Versace, sans her campaign partner Natalia Vodianova. This first shot is very Testino-blah indeed, and interestingly, still flashing those suspiciously Louboutin-like red soles just like last season. [Women Management Blog]
»Cathy Horyn thought this couture season was "a little weak" [On the Runway]
»Emmanuelle Alt sighting at Givenchy! [FWD]
»Freja Beha Erichsen went to Stockholm Fashion Week rather than couture, Agyness Deyn stayed in New York [Fashionista, PopSugar UK]
»Georgina Stojiljkovic had a little trouble navigating the dress she closed Christian Dior couture in [BryanBoy]
»Morgane Dubled was surprised, and embarrassed, by a birthday cake at the Lacoste party last night [Style File]
»Contrary to previous reports, the July Vogue Italia won't be out until Friday in Italy, next week elsewhere [Fashionista]
»Rag & Bone, in sync: Marcus Wainwright and David Neville had sons just a week apart from one another [The Fashion Informer]
»Another shot of Linda Evangelista for Prada [DNA Models]
»First looks at Iselin Steiro and Natasa Vojnovic for Mulberry, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Agnete Hegelund for Calvin Klein Jeans, Raquel Zimmermann for Fendi, and Kim Noorda for Bottega Veneta [TFS, TFS, DNA Models, DNA Models]
»Christian Lacroix couture video [Telegraph UK]
>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —It's not my favorite, but here it is: your first look at Daria Werbowy for Christian Dior Fall 2008, shot by Craig McDean, all hair, bag, and rouge. [Models.com]
Visionaire and Lacoste Boat Party; Paris, July 1.
*image: source
>> Alessandra Facchinetti's first couture collection at Valentino represents a nerve-racking, generational hand-off, but Giorgio Armani was there in the front row to lend support and represent the old guard.
The collection had the palpable feel of a different designer, as it should — more structure and pared-down tailoring, with most of the detail left to the back of the garments, and more subdued colors than the pastels Valentino had been playing with. However, Alessandra did stay true to the three most guiding parts of the Valentino aesthetic: femininity, ruffles, and of course, Valentino red. In fact, that same Valentino red painted the final look of the collection — a stunning chiffon number.
*image: source
>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL — In a time when everyone seems to be focused on black and white, let's take a moment for Lakshmi Menon. The Bangalorean model appeared in the beautiful Spring 2008 Hermes ads, opened the Givenchy couture show yesterday, and is appearing in the Fall 2008 Givenchy campaign along with Kirsten Owen, Natasha Poly, and Givenchy faves Lara Stone and Mariacarla Boscono. [Vogue UK, Models.com]
>> Paris is sizzling . . . and not necessarily in a good way. The city is experiencing a heat wave right in time for couture, and the weather is messing with everyone's cool and collected fronts.
Reports first came yesterday that the sun beating down through the glass-ceilinged Grand Palais, venue to Chanel, had attendees "sweating so uncontrollably that they downed the petit bottles of Evian waiting on every seat within minutes of entering." And indeed, watching the video of the show, the number of programs being used as fans is so great, it almost distracts from the clothes passing by.
Givenchy hosted the same problem — programs doubling as fans for the entire front row, models had to be fanned backstage — it even got to Riccardo Tisci, who wiped his face off as he was posing for photos and told his publicist, "We have to do something. I am melting."
*image: source
>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —For at least five seasons now, Kate Moss has been Longchamp's go-to girl for upping their luxury status. The Fall 2008 season is no exception, but this time around, she's joined by French actor Gaspard Ulliel. [Models.com]
