Posts for May 2009

Gap

>> IN PRODUCTION —It turns out Alexander Wang isn't the only one doing khaki jackets and chinos for this year's CFDA-Gap collaboration after all: Vena Cava also pitched in a couple of dresses and variations on chinos — Racked got the first looks.  No word (although it's likely) on whether more designers are involved.

>> IN PRODUCTION —It turns out Alexander Wang isn't the only one doing khaki jackets and chinos for this year's CFDA-Gap collaboration after all: Vena Cava also pitched in a couple of dresses and variations on chinos — Racked got the first looks.  No word (although it's likely) on whether more designers are involved. [Racked]

UPDATE: The Alexander Wang-Gap photos have turned up — including one the motorcycle jacket — as well as pictures of a set of hats, which are likely done by milliner Albertus Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus (Wang was the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Award winner, Vena Cava and Albertus Quartus the runners-up). [Racked]

The 2009 Costume Institute Gala Will Be Lagerfeld-Less; Plus More New Attendees

>> We had a good list or two going for earlier in the week for Monday's Costume Institute Gala attendees, but as final fittings are taking place and diamonds are being chosen, more pairs are being revealed — and even more major designers are bowing out.  Take Karl Lagerfeld, close friend to Anna Wintour — he won't be attending due to a busy travel schedule that includes Venice, Moscow and London.  Also declining to show: Matthew Williamson, Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who haven't confirmed any guests — they're still "in fittings" — perennial Dior face Charlize Theron, Carolyn Murphy, LVMH brass (who are sponsoring) Bernard Arnault, Delphine Arnault, Antoine Arnault, and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

>> We had a good list or two going for earlier in the week for Monday's Costume Institute Gala attendees, but as final fittings are taking place and diamonds are being chosen, more pairs are being revealed — and even more major designers are bowing out. 

Take Karl Lagerfeld, close friend to Anna Wintour — he won't be attending due to a busy travel schedule that includes Venice, Moscow and London.  Also declining to show: Matthew Williamson, Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who haven't confirmed any guests — they're still "in fittings" — perennial Dior face Charlize Theron, Carolyn Murphy, LVMH brass (who are sponsoring) Bernard Arnault, Delphine Arnault, Antoine Arnault, and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

But there are a few new additions to the roster: Vena Cava's Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, Blake Lively, and although there are no clues to what she's wearing, rumors are going around that Naomi Campbell plans to "outshimmer and outshine every mannequin in sight that night."

The new additions and what they're wearing »

Lily Cole

>> THE MODELIZER —Lily Cole has laid low this year except for those Rimmel commercials — and to make an appearance at Francois-Henri Pinault's wedding last weekend — to focus on her Cambridge studies, but she'll be taking a break midway through this month for a trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where her first major movie, Terry Gilliam's fantasy film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, is set to debut.  Lily plays Valentina, the blonde-haired daughter (above left) of Dr. Parnassus, who has to be rescued after her father's deal with the Devil goes awry.

>> THE MODELIZERLily Cole has laid low this year except for those Rimmel commercials — and to make an appearance at Francois-Henri Pinault's wedding last weekend — to focus on her Cambridge studies, but she'll be taking a break midway through this month for a trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where her first major movie, Terry Gilliam's fantasy film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, is set to debut.  Lily plays Valentina, the blonde-haired daughter (above left) of Dr. Parnassus, who has to be rescued after her father's deal with the Devil goes awry. [Grazia, Nylon]

Hilary Rhoda

WSJ. Magazine Names Hilary Rhoda Contributor, Takes New Direction

>> Now that the Wall Street Journal has closed their fashion bureau and fashion blog to put more energy into their luxury magazine WSJ., it sounds like they're trying to up the ante on the magazine's fashion spreads, which have been mocked in the past.

>> Now that the Wall Street Journal has closed their fashion bureau and fashion blog to put more energy into their luxury magazine WSJ., it sounds like they're trying to up the ante on the magazine's fashion spreads, which have been mocked in the past.

For this Sunday's edition, they named Hilary Rhoda a contributor for just this issue — she has a swimsuit spread, shot in Miami (behind the scenes video) that looks like it could be a Mert and Marcus-lensed Louis Vuitton or Eres campaign — to recognize that "the work models put into photo shoots is so much more than just looking pretty and posing for a camera," according to a spokeswoman, who promises via email: "[Hilary's] role is a sign of the new direction WSJ. magazine is taking!  Expect to see creative and new contributors like this in the future."
*image: source

Nina Ricci

>> INSIDER WIRE —The attention-grabbing platform shoes that were part of Olivier Theyskens's Fall 2009 Nina Ricci sendoff weren't put into production, but at the birthday party she threw for Steven Klein last night, Daphne Guinness showed up wearing a pair along with a gown from the same collection.  Before the party was supposed to start, she already admitted to falling once.

>> INSIDER WIRE —The attention-grabbing platform shoes that were part of Olivier Theyskens's Fall 2009 Nina Ricci sendoff weren't put into production, but at the birthday party she threw for Steven Klein last night, Daphne Guinness showed up wearing a pair along with a gown from the same collection.  Before the party was supposed to start, she already admitted to falling once. [Style File]
*image: source

Michelle Obama

Tom Binns Is Looking to Expand, Maybe Do Target Collaboration

>> Tom Binns has long been fashion cult favorite with an enfant terrible streak — his Venice Beach studio is all white walls except for two paintings, one which reads "Vague, Vogue, Vomit," and the other pictures a Chanel logo next to the McDonald's Golden Arches and a swastika.  He left the New York fashion scene after 9/11, doesn't own a car — instead begging rides to Whole Foods — and doesn't even go to Paris to sell his collection to buyers, leaving that to his staff.

>> Tom Binns has long been fashion cult favorite with an enfant terrible streak — his Venice Beach studio is all white walls except for two paintings, one which reads "Vague, Vogue, Vomit," and the other pictures a Chanel logo next to the McDonald's Golden Arches and a swastika.  He left the New York fashion scene after 9/11, doesn't own a car — instead begging rides to Whole Foods — and doesn't even go to Paris to sell his collection to buyers, leaving that to his staff. "I don't want to go, I don't want to dress up, I don't want to have people . . . checking me out, saying, 'Why are you wearing those shoes — they're not really happening,'" he told the Los Angeles Times.

But he's not being shy about business »

Oscar De La Renta

>> INSIDER WIRE —Is the Obama camp holding a grudge against Oscar de la Renta after his disparaging comments toward Michelle Obama a few weeks ago?  During White House social secretary Desiree Rogers's cover shoot for this Sunday's WSJ.

>> INSIDER WIRE —Is the Obama camp holding a grudge against Oscar de la Renta after his disparaging comments toward Michelle Obama a few weeks ago?  During White House social secretary Desiree Rogers's cover shoot for this Sunday's WSJ. magazine, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs vetoed a shot of Rogers in an Oscar de la Renta ballgown in the First Lady’s garden.  But doesn't seem to be a matter of branding sensitivity — the rest of the shoot features Rogers in the likes of Jil Sander, Viktor & Rolf, Prada, and Calvin Klein. [WWD, WSJ.]
*image: source

dean caten

DSquared2 Wants Your Attention On Paper, Radio, and TV

>> Dan and Dean Caten are in serious self-promotion mode, and seem to be following the Isaac Mizrahi model of radio-TV show one-two punch.  They're following up their supermodel-heavy catfight-themed Spring 2009 ads with a Fall 2009 set, just shot in London, featuring Lara Stone and themselves — “We’re all about self-promotion now; we’re celebrities in our own right,” Dean semi-joked.The duo just wrapped taping on a new show for Bravo, Launch My Line, a fashion competition series for which they perform hosting and judging duties.  The premise follows 10 fashion designers paired with pop-culture notables who all want to launch their own clothing line.  They told Teen Vogue: Dan and Dean are getting real in America!

>> Dan and Dean Caten are in serious self-promotion mode, and seem to be following the Isaac Mizrahi model of radio-TV show one-two punch.  They're following up their supermodel-heavy catfight-themed Spring 2009 ads with a Fall 2009 set, just shot in London, featuring Lara Stone and themselves — “We’re all about self-promotion now; we’re celebrities in our own right,” Dean semi-joked.

The duo just wrapped taping on a new show for Bravo, Launch My Line, a fashion competition series for which they perform hosting and judging duties.  The premise follows 10 fashion designers paired with pop-culture notables who all want to launch their own clothing line.  They told Teen Vogue:

Dan and Dean are getting real in America! We think it's a way for the American market to learn who we are as designers — now, for the first time, they'll be able to see us and hear us. Most people here think DSquared2 is all about jeans and T-shirts. Yes, that's our bread and butter . . . but we can cut a beautiful jacket, too!

They have a new radio show, too »