The Gucci Cruise 2010 collection shows off what Gucci does best--turn life into a James Bond film. That sporty seriousness is reflected in the scuba-like suiting, no-fuss minidresses and ultra-sexy evening wear. Although some compare Gucci creative director Frida Giannini's designs to Zara and Bebe, we think this offering takes a more sophisticated turn.
>> Frida Giannini is known for adding as many bells and whistles on the Gucci runway as possible, but for Cruise 2010, she kept it sleek — all black, navy, and white with body-conscious silhouettes. Perennial Gucci girl Abbey Lee Kershaw was one the lookbook girls — she debuts a new fringed haircut.
Meanwhile, Frida departed for a tour of Asia today, stopping in Tokyo to pick up the award for International Designer of the Year from the Fashion Editor's Club of Japan on June 1, then heading to Beijing to visit the Radiant Children's Eye Hospital, of which Gucci is a donor, and finishing off in Shanghai, where she'll celebrate the opening of Gucci's new flagship.
>> INSIDER WIRE —More rumors have hit that Anna Wintour is looking for a place in the Obama administration — possibly as ambassador to Britain — but a rep denies them, and we can likely chalk it up to the fact that she has contract negotiations coming up. But it sounds like the Anna situation isn't the only thing Si Newhouse is about to have on his plate: New York's Monday cover story — online Sunday night at 10 pm — is titled "Si Newhouse's Dream Factory" and the teaser reads: "Conde Nast's own stars compare their glossy empire to the MGM of Old Hollywood, but no one would wish it the same fate. What happens to a magazine empire built on glossy fantasies when harsher realities intrude?" [Page Six, FWD]
>> THE MODELIZER —Rumors circulated earlier this week about Gisele Bundchen expecting, but her husband Tom Brady categorically denied that she's pregnant yesterday: No. One is enough." Although keep in mind, the couple prefers to flat-out deny rumors that sometimes turn out to be true — that's how they handled their engagement. [AP, PopSugar]
>> When Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were docked in Cannes for the film festival last week, they invited a reporter from the Telegraph to lie with them on a leopard-skin throw on Gabbana's yacht, among a bevy of bronzed models in brief swimwear draped over the furniture. Gabbana did mini pirouettes while explaining that they first visited the festival seven years ago: “That first year, I remember partying so hard that I left a nightclub with a gigantic red bowl and walked home with it over my head.”
Gabbana may be the only designer in the world these days who isn't enamored with the Obamas; he shrugged at the suggestion that he and Dolce might like to dress them: “We don’t do politics.” Also not on their to-do list? A diffusion line for the likes of H&M — Gabbana pulls a face at the thought: "We don’t need to. That kind of exposure could be dangerous for us.”
On babies, retirement, and their first impressions of each other »
New York retailer, OAK, launched a concept store today called A.OK. The store occupies its own section of the OAK e-commerce site as well as spaces within the Bond Street and Williamsburg flagships. The concept is all about stylish pieces at high street prices and, to keep things interesting, inventory will be limited and constantly changing. Current items include Quay round sunglasses for $48, African print pants for $52 and the ssion mustache face tees for $42. We can't wait to hear what Cintra Wilson has to say.
>> THE MODELIZER —Are two models involved in a love triangle? Pictures have surfaced of Catherine McNeil — who was rumored to have broken off her highly-speculated-but-never-confirmed relationship with Freja Beha Erichsen — kissing openly gay MTV Australia VJ Ruby Rose Langenheim last Saturday at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. Curiously, Myf Shepherd, who just scored her first Vogue cover — for Australia's July 2009 issue — was also photographed kissing Ruby Rose at the Jimmy Liks restaurant in Sydney at the beginning of this month. Both Catherine and Myf are represented by Chic Management in Australia; Ruby Rose has been represented by the agency in the past. [ONTD_FF]
The Jimmy Choo Resort 2010 range just dropped and Givenchy fans should be quite pleased with the offering. Part of the collection involves a cowboy motif that calls up Givenchy's Spring 09 range quite literally. Embracing head-to-toe "gothic cowboy" in the middle of winter would be quite the fashion statement indeed.
>> New York Mayor Bloomberg declared yesterday "Burberry Day," in honor of the lighting of the brand's logo atop its new US headquarters — watch a video of it going down here — and the weather complied with rain, appropriate for a brand known for their trench coats. "I was worried about the drizzle before, but now I love it," said Christopher Bailey, in town to celebrate. "It's all very English."
Christopher arrived to the unveiling last night with Lily Donaldson on his arm, who grinned and gushed about being "a Burberry girl" and "part of the [Burberry] family." He went on to explain what an honor it it is to have the Burberry logo lit in the first place: "It's one of only six grandfathered buildings in New York where you can do that, so it's a big deal for us to be able to affect the iconic Manhattan skyline, which I love."
The excitement seems to have made him chatty — he covered a range of topics, from admitting that he dyed his hair blue once to discussing advertising fees — like Mario Testino's, which runs $140,000 a day: "You’re buying talent. And I think talent never goes away with the changing economy, and talent is something we all need to keep nurturing."
Models (Hilary Rhoda, Helena Christensen) mingled with editors (Kate Lanphear, who apparently has dyed her hair black underneath, Amy Astley, Cecilia Dean) and it girls (Byrdie Bell, Alexa Chung, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Harley Viera-Newton), and the mix left at least one girl confiding that she didn't recognize Blake Lively — Lily Donaldson, who admitted: "I don't watch Gossip Girl. But you can't blame me. I don't even own a TV at the moment!"
The celebration seemed a success, except for skimping in one area. An alcohol shortage kicked in around 9:30 pm, leaving one guest unhappy: "That's the driest party I've ever been to." Same goes for Harley, Leigh Lezark, and Derek Blasberg, The Cut tweeted: "The party has run out of glasses, and the trio is displeased."
Eye4Style reported that Ted Gibson, hair stylist to the stars, landed a gig on What Not To Wear.
Beautymix recommended readers try a facial wash from Elique's Organic Skin Food line.
Style It reviewed Avon's new selection of lip products poised to debut this summer.
The Criminally Chic created a poll asking readers if they liked the strong shoulder look.
