Posts for November 10th 2010

Victoria's Secret

The 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Unveiled — Karolina Kurkova, Jessica Stam, and Lily Donaldson Work It

>> Anne Vyalitsyna peeked out in a pink robe and waved at the crowd gathering at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York, where the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was taped this evening in front of an audience that included Carine Roitfeld, Giovanna Battaglia, Alexander Wang, Zac Posen and his boyfriend Christopher Niquet, Kate Lanphear, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld. Then, an announcer came on, asking that cell phones be stowed: "Frankly, if you need to use those devices at a show like this, you've got other problems."

>> Anne Vyalitsyna peeked out in a pink robe and waved at the crowd gathering at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York, where the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was taped this evening in front of an audience that included Carine Roitfeld, Giovanna Battaglia, Alexander Wang, Zac Posen and his boyfriend Christopher Niquet, Kate Lanphear, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld. Then, an announcer came on, asking that cell phones be stowed: "Frankly, if you need to use those devices at a show like this, you've got other problems."

Lais Ribeiro, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Lily Donaldson, and Heloise Guerin all walked for Victoria's Secret for the first time today, but it was Angel Adriana Lima who opened the show, riding a twirling carousel to make her debut in the first, "Tough Love"-themed segment (She and Karolina Kurkova both made their return after skipping last year's show while pregnant.). It was the first of many minor obstacles the 33 models had to maneuver through during the show, all while smiling and waving to the crowd. In the sporty "Game On" segment, while twirling her ribbon stick, Izabel Goulart, got the ribbon stuck around her neck and had to untangle herself; Candice Swanepoel estimated her "Heavenly Bodies" wings weighed half of her body weight — "It’s like driving a car because they’re so far away from my body. I have to turn them before I turn my body. It’s an honor to get them. I told my trainer, ‘You better prepare me for this! We’ve been doing some extra push ups!’”; Anja Rubik, too, had expansive wings in the "Heavenly Bodies" — turning at the end of the runway with all those streamers deserved applause in itself; and in the final, "Pink Planet" segment, mylar balloon rained the runway from above, causing Maryna Linchuk and Jacquelyn Jablonski to have to kick them out of the way to get down the runway.

But there was plenty of fun to be had — Isabeli Fontana, who closed out the "Game On" segment, hammed it up for the cameras with her dumbbell prop, and Lily Aldridge had the support of her fiance Caleb Followill and the rest of Kings of Leon, front row. In the next section over, Anne V's boyfriend Adam Levine and the rest of Maroon 5 gave her a standing ovation as she made her first runway appearance — which Anne rewarded with a blown kiss.

Akon and Katy Perry both performed — him appropriately singing "Angel," and her singing "Teenage Dream" for the younger, Victoria's Secret Pink-themed segment. And Chanel Iman closed the show in bubble wings with a bubble-squirting gun. The final cut airs Nov. 30 on CBS.

Shopping

Four New Ways to Wear Leather Up Top

Leather tops have become a hot ticket item this season thanks to Phoebe Philo at Celine, Jenni Kayne, Derek Lam, and Jason Wu.

Leather tops have become a hot ticket item this season thanks to Phoebe Philo at Celine, Jenni Kayne, Derek Lam, and Jason Wu. Try the look out with neutral hues and bold accessories for a minimal vibe, or take it up a notch with leather leggings and moto boots. Either way, our slick picks — ranging from a faux leather wrap vest to a simple caramel-hued tee — from Maje, MM Couture, and Urban Outfitters — will help you get there.




Left to right: MM Couture by Miss Me Faux Leather Vest ($83), Maje Ampoule Leather Top ($485), Urban Outfitters Line & Dot Leather Crop Tank ($90), Maje Wool and Leather Cardigan ($500)

katie grand

Dasha Zhukova Has Resigned as Editor of POP Magazine

>> Dasha Zhukova, who joined POP as editor-in-chief in February 2009, has resigned from the position, reports Hilary Alexander.

>> Dasha Zhukova, who joined POP as editor-in-chief in February 2009, has resigned from the position, reports Hilary Alexander. No further details have been released. [@HilaryAlexander]

UPDATE: A POP spokesman says Zhukova is leaving to focus on digital publishing projects in the arts, and the magazine will now fall under POP editorial director Ashley Heath. “My time at POP has been a transformative experience that I am extremely proud of,” Zhukova said. “It has afforded me the chance to collaborate with some of the greatest creative minds in the world and I’m thankful to Ashley Heath and Bauer Media for the opportunity. I’m now excited to move on and build something from the ground up.” The spokesman added that Zhukova’s final issue had twice as many advertisers and nearly three times the ad pages as when founder Katie Grand was editing the magazine. [WWD]

Hermes

Hermes Family Exploring Further Defensive Measures Against Bernard Arnault and LVMH

>> Now that Bernard Arnault has publicly told Hermes that he won't be withdrawing, the family behind the brand is looking into further defensive measures.

>> Now that Bernard Arnault has publicly told Hermes that he won't be withdrawing, the family behind the brand is looking into further defensive measures.

Bertrand Puech, who represents the Hermes family, described Arnault and LVMH's presence as thus: "It's like a mosquito buzzing around, and it's annoying. But it's very difficult to get a mosquito out."

So the Hermes family is considering funneling its shares into an unlisted holding company, which would prevent individual family members from selling their shares to outsiders. This would be an extra defense: Puech heads Emile Hermes, the limited partnership that controls the fashion house and is open only to direct descendants of the founders, which is the current defense in place. The limited partnership's by-laws give the Hermes family decision-making power, even if only one family member remains a shareholder — which means it would be difficult for an outsider to control the company without the entire family's approval.

"The limited partnership is our best defense," Hermes Chief Executive Patrick Thomas said yesterday. "We put it in place for an event like today."

Monique Pean

Maria Cornejo, Costella Tagliapietra, Monique Pean Named Inaugural CFDA/Lexus Eco Fashion Challenge Honorees

>> Last night, Maria Cornejo, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra, and Monique Pean were named the inaugural winners of the CFDA & Lexus Hybrid Living Eco Fashion Challenge.

>> Last night, Maria Cornejo, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra, and Monique Pean were named the inaugural winners of the CFDA & Lexus Hybrid Living Eco Fashion Challenge.

Each had to demonstrate a commitment to ecologically responsible design, with a minimum of 25 percent of their collection produced in an environmentally-friendly manner: Pean uses recycled gold and sustainable buffalo horn; Costello Tagliapietra creates fabric dyes in an eco-friendly way; and Cornejo employs sustainable manufacturing practices and uses fabric like cupro, which is typically discarded during the production of cotton. In turn, each was awarded $25,000 from Lexus to use toward their Fall 2011 presentation in February.

The other 2010 finalists included Alabama Chanin, Behnaz Sarafpour, Libertine by Johnson Hartig, Marcia Patmos, Organic by John Patrick, Slow and Steady Wins the Race by Mary Ping, and Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta.

Holiday

A Black-Tie Affair — 4 New Ways to Go Fancy

>> This holiday season, we're dreaming of a black-tie affair, complete with gorgeous dresses, decadent baubles, and overflowing champagne.
Shopping: What to Wear to a Holiday 2010 Black Tie Party

>> This holiday season, we're dreaming of a black-tie affair, complete with gorgeous dresses, decadent baubles, and overflowing champagne. Care to join the party? Then check out the slideshow for four new renditions — think minimal with a twist to sequins, and even a sweet short look thrown in — on black-tie dressing.

Oscar De La Renta

Karlie Kloss Wore Oscar de la Renta to Her Homecoming Dance, Wants to Go to Medical School

>> Jason Wu may be making Lindsey Wixson's prom dress, but Karlie Kloss wore Oscar de la Renta to her homecoming dance in St. Louis over the weekend.

>> Jason Wu may be making Lindsey Wixson's prom dress, but Karlie Kloss wore Oscar de la Renta to her homecoming dance in St. Louis over the weekend. She Tweeted of the occasion: "high school homecoming dance tonight with the girls! :) decked out in my gorg odlr gown..so excited!" But Kloss revealed in an interview with E! News last week that she has career plans other than wearing designer dresses: "Going to medical school . . . some day, I'll get there." [@karlie_kloss, YouTube]

met gala

The 2011 Costume Institute Gala and Exhibit to Focus on Alexander McQueen

>> Next year's Costume Institute Gala — on May 2, 2011 — has its theme: "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty."

>> Next year's Costume Institute Gala — on May 2, 2011 — has its theme: "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty." Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney, and Colin Firth are set to co-chair the event, with Francois-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek as honorary chairs.

The accompanying exhibit will run at the museum May 4-July 31, 2011, and will cover McQueen's work from his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection in 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place weeks after his death in February 2010. A hundred pieces from his 19-year career will be on view, drawn from the McQueen London archives, the Givenchy archive in Paris, and private collections, including Isabella Blow's wardrobe, which Daphne Guinness owns in its entirety.

Curator Andrew Bolton, who is spearheading the project, stressed that he doesn't want the exhibit to feel like a retrospective, so the focus is thematic rather than chronological, reflecting McQueen's fascination with the 19th-century Romantic movement. Among the themed galleries planned: “The Savage Mind,” “Romantic Gothic,” “Romantic Nationalism,” “Romantic Exoticism,” and “Romantic Primitivism.” There will also be a “Cabinet of Curiosities” gallery featuring McQueen's collaborations with Philip Treacy and Shaun Leane, and a separate screening room to display videos of McQueen's theatrical runway presentations.

Sam Gainsbury and Joseph Bennett, who helped produce those dramatic shows, are serving as creative consultants to the exhibit, and the Alexander McQueen company is underwriting the whole thing with support from American Express and Conde Nast. “We felt it would be a great opportunity to show Lee’s work and his incredible contribution to the world of fashion and art,” Jonathan Akeroyd, president and CEO of Alexander McQueen, told WWD. “It felt like the right thing to do. Lee loved the museum. It will give us a great opportunity to show Lee’s work and the Alexander McQueen brand to a much broader community. It’s the greatest tribute and important for his legacy, but it’s also an exciting new chapter in the history of the brand.”