Posts for January 20th 2009

The September Issue Premieres, Plus a Q&A with Anna Wintour
Vogue

The September Issue Premieres, Plus a Q&A with Anna Wintour

>> Vogue documentary The September Issue debuted over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival to an oversold audience, with Anna Wintour in attendance, "channeling mountain casual" in a fur-collared leather jacket, turtleneck and jeans — "It is actually my first time wearing jeans to work."  The 89-minute film was well-received, and has already been picked up by A&E to air this year on a to be determined date.The film shows the Vogue staff panicking with Anna's every move, with a montage of "Anna doesn’t want this, Anna doesn’t want that, I’m going to get fired, I’m going to kill myself."  Mario Testino comes off "like [a] total poltroon," and Andre Leon Talley like a "comic figure," who plays tennis with a Louis Vuitton monogrammed towel around his shoulders, "an LV monogrammed tennis racket cover, an LV monogrammed water bottle holder and an LV monogrammed case."  Bee Shaffer wants to go to law school and proclaims the fashion world "an odd business."  And there's plenty of frigid Anna, who apparently "comes across as vulnerable, a little insecure and uncertain about how to function in non-Vogue situations."  But the real star, which Anna acknowledged herself in a Q&A after the screening below, is Grace Coddington, who told Anna she would quit Vogue if they did the film.
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>> Vogue documentary The September Issue debuted over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival to an oversold audience, with Anna Wintour in attendance, "channeling mountain casual" in a fur-collared leather jacket, turtleneck and jeans — "It is actually my first time wearing jeans to work."  The 89-minute film was well-received, and has already been picked up by A&E to air this year on a to be determined date.

The film shows the Vogue staff panicking with Anna's every move, with a montage of "Anna doesn’t want this, Anna doesn’t want that, I’m going to get fired, I’m going to kill myself."  Mario Testino comes off "like [a] total poltroon," and Andre Leon Talley like a "comic figure," who plays tennis with a Louis Vuitton monogrammed towel around his shoulders, "an LV monogrammed tennis racket cover, an LV monogrammed water bottle holder and an LV monogrammed case."  Bee Shaffer wants to go to law school and proclaims the fashion world "an odd business."  And there's plenty of frigid Anna, who apparently "comes across as vulnerable, a little insecure and uncertain about how to function in non-Vogue situations."  But the real star, which Anna acknowledged herself in a Q&A after the screening below, is Grace Coddington, who told Anna she would quit Vogue if they did the film.

"He showed us the film a little while ago and we made a few suggestions, all of which he ignored." »

The Outnet

>> IN PRODUCTION —Natalie Massenet is pulling a Topshop on us and pushing back the launch of her designer discount site, The Outnet, from February to April.  Instead of discounting pieces that didn't sell on sister site Net-a-Porter, Outnet will "snap up ready-to-wear clothes that have been ordered — and then cancelled — by department stores as the recession bites.  Brands will be placed on special offer on different days, and surplus stock will be sold at up to 80% off."
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>> IN PRODUCTION —Natalie Massenet is pulling a Topshop on us and pushing back the launch of her designer discount site, The Outnet, from February to April.  Instead of discounting pieces that didn't sell on sister site Net-a-Porter, Outnet will "snap up ready-to-wear clothes that have been ordered — and then cancelled — by department stores as the recession bites.  Brands will be placed on special offer on different days, and surplus stock will be sold at up to 80% off." [Times UK]

Michelle Obama Picks Isabel Toledo for Inauguration
Jimmy Choo

Michelle Obama Picks Isabel Toledo for Inauguration

>> This morning, Isabel Toledo received an unexpected big boost in the national eye — Michelle Obama wore the yellow coat and matching dress Toledo specifically designed for her to the inauguration, paired with green Jimmy Choo Glacier pumps.Toledo didn't know for sure that Obama would pick her designs — which thirteen people in her studio worked on over the Christmas holidays — until this morning, when she turned on the television.  "We had no idea.
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>> This morning, Isabel Toledo received an unexpected big boost in the national eye — Michelle Obama wore the yellow coat and matching dress Toledo specifically designed for her to the inauguration, paired with green Jimmy Choo Glacier pumps.

Toledo didn't know for sure that Obama would pick her designs — which thirteen people in her studio worked on over the Christmas holidays — until this morning, when she turned on the television.  "We had no idea. We hoped she would wear something because she has bought Isabel's clothes before. We never know what's going to happen," her husband Ruben Toledo said.  "It's just another shock, but a great shock."

The dress and coat are made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk.  As for the choice of color?  "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” Isabel Toledo said. “I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody."

While she's long been critically well-received, Toledo has long flown under the radar, particularly since she was pulled from her acclaimed run at Anne Klein two years ago.  She said this morning that she didn't even have a PR person to help bring her designs to Mrs. Obama's attention, so perhaps this turn of events will provide the bump she needs.
*image: source

Fall 2009 Men's Trend Report: Dressed-Up Sweats
Layout

Fall 2009 Men's Trend Report: Dressed-Up Sweats

Call them leggings, call them sweats--it looks like the cotton pull-on pants trend is finally hitting home with the gents.
by coutorture

Call them leggings, call them sweats--it looks like the cotton pull-on pants trend is finally hitting home with the gents. We've seen glimpses of this trend from everyone from Marc Jacobs to J. Lindeberg in the past, and the options are becoming increasingly plentiful. Wear them baggy with combat boots and a boxy coat like Moschino or with sneakers and a leather bomber jacket like Roberto Cavalli. Both look masculine and fashionable to us!

Michelle Obama In Isabel Toledo
isabel toledo

Michelle Obama In Isabel Toledo

Sure, the most important thing happening this morning is the inauguration of our new president but a nod to fashion is warranted!
by coutorture
Michelle Obama In Isabel Toledo

Sure, the most important thing happening this morning is the inauguration of our new president but a nod to fashion is warranted! After months of speculation, Michelle Obama wears an outfit by Cuban designer Isabel Toledo. Could the choice of an all-yellow ensemble signal caution? And what about those green pumps? A little wink to prosperity perhaps? Check the first pictures of the new first lady, below. 

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Capsule Trade Show: April 77 Fall 2009
Menswear

Capsule Trade Show: April 77 Fall 2009

Yesterday, when we attended the Capsule trade show, we stopped by the April 77 stall thanks to their eye-catching Southwestern knits and Japanese salvaged denim.
by coutorture
Capsule Trade Show: April 77 Fall 2009

Yesterday, when we attended the Capsule trade show, we stopped by the April 77 stall thanks to their eye-catching Southwestern knits and Japanese salvaged denim. The French line puts out a capsule collection every season, stocked with these higher-end statement pieces, and then bases their ready to wear range on those looks. Thankfully, the ready to wear range (which, this season, included some amazing cobalt denim) is much lower in price than you would expect--think denim for under one hundred dollars. Check out our pictures from the Fall 2009 April 77 collection below. 

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