>> A LITTLE TURN ON THE CATWALK —By now, it's well established that the Spring 2009 Prada shoes created runway carnage yesterday — Yulia Kharlapanova flat-out fell, Jessica Stam stumbled, Katie Fogarty fell and then carried her shoes for the rest of the runway, one model — who looks to be Sigrid Agren — started out in the finale, then turned and went backstage — defeated. It's all being blamed on the slippery socks the girls had to wear with their shoes, but at least the models weren't the only ones in pain at Prada — apparently the audience had to sit on wooden blocks, providing some awkward undergarment-baring situations. [The Cut, Chic Report]
Claudia Schiffer Kicks Up Her German Heels
>> She may be the Fall 2008 face of Chanel, but yesterday, Claudia Schiffer traded in her fashion frocks for something a little more . . . traditional. She broke out a dirndl, gathered up some friends, and got back to her German roots at Oktoberfest in Munich. The new garb is only temporary, though — she's expected at Dolce & Gabbana in Milan on Thursday.
*image: source
Miuccia Prada Goes Fishing for Crumpled Clothes
>> A fish pattern on the runway, models slipping in their snakeskin platform shoes . . . Spring 2009 Prada is here. Ymre Stiekema and Katie Fogarty nabbed the show exclusives, and Anouck Lepere even suited up for the occasion. Elvis Presley music provided the soundtrack to the crumpled, rumpled half-skirts and crop tops Miuccia Prada sent down the runway, symbolic of the "primitive" theme she had in mind. But in the end, Miuccia went for the gold — literally — five brightly gilded dresses ended the show.
>> THE MODELIZER —Is Ymre Stiekema the new Sasha Pivovarova over at Prada? The 16-year-old Dutch model was chosen to be the face of Prada's Fall 2008 Linea Rossa campaign, and this evening in Milan, she scored an ace in the hole: the coveted Prada Spring 2009 runway exclusive. Ymre opened the show, while Sigrid Agren closed. [Models.com Daily Feed]
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Yulia Kharlapanova's Quick Rise . . . And Then Fall
>> Those Spring 2009 Prada shoes are treacherous. This morning, Russian newcomer Yulia Kharlapanova opened at Jil Sander — and was heralded as "Milan's first star." But just as fast as doors can open, they can also close; Later on in the day, Yulia stumbled and fell at Prada. Ouch — of all runways, Prada is not one you want to fall on — it is perhaps the most singularly watched for casting choices and new modelling stars in the making. A little condolence, Yulia: at least Jessica Stam stumbled, too.
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Raf Simons Sees the Benefits of Fringe for Jil Sander Spring 2009
>> Raf Simons is earning raves for his tribal Africa-cum-the 1920s-cum-Man Ray-inspired Spring 2009 Jil Sander collection, and there are no arguments here. Yulia Kharlapanova opened the parade in a fantastic fringed turtleneck dress, and the fringe details just got better from there — even flowing forth from bags. The collection may have been void of color, but it was not void of innovation; it also marks the start of a new jewelry licensing deal with Damiani — spikey earrings "that resemble spears with a cluster of diamonds" were previewed on the models' ears.
Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi's First Ferre Collection: The Reviews Are In
>> Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi had a tall order to fill for Spring 2009. Before Gianfranco Ferre passed in 2007, his architectural-based label had ceased to become relevent — as Cathy Horyn put it, "It’s been a while since anyone [has] paid serious attention to the Ferre name." So could the newly tapped designers bring it back to the forefront?
The general consensus says yes. Nicole Phelps of Style.com was pleased: "They deserve high marks for this outing." Cathy Horyn of The New York Times, a Aquilano-Rimondi fan, loved the effort, with one caveat: "The designers distilled the essence of Ferre in a new, eye-catching way. Now to just refine the elements a bit more . . . " WWD felt the same: "Aquilano and Rimondi have the right ideas, but what they need now is a little restraint."
Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune also echoed the same sentiment: "Not all the Ferré collection was approachable. Yet . . . the two designers created the clothes and the buzz that will bring fashion life back to Ferré." With another season under their belts, Aquilano and Rimondi could definitely hit the right stride at Ferre.
*image: source
Andre Leon Talley's Milan Mishap
>> Milan is not good to Andre Leon Talley. Two years ago, his luggage was lost for three days during Milan Fashion Week, and he was stuck wearing the same blue Patent Miu Miu coat and velour track pants to the shows. Fast forward to today, and it's the same deal with Milan Fashion Week. His luggage was lost, and he had to wear the same Juicy Couture shorts and gray Ralph Lauren polo shirt to D&G this morning that he wore on the plane.
But ALT isn't the only one having issues with Milan: A Continental flight out of Newark filled with a bevy of editors — Vogue’s fashion market and accessories director Virginia Smith and senior accessories editor Filipa Fino, W’s fashion director Alex White, and New York magazine’s fashion director Harriet Mays Powell — experienced engine failure and was rerouted to Maine last night. They all made it safely back to Newark, but most are still looking for a new flight to Milan . . .
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>> IN PRODUCTION —Nicholas Kirkwood officially unveils his first accessories collection for Pollini with Jonathan Saunder's ready-to-wear during Milan Fashion Week, but until then, here's a preview. Expect the look to be less avant-garde than Kirkwood's epynomous line; Instead, there will be stacked heels, shots of color, and a shoe type Kirkwood has never done — flats. [WWD]
Kate Moss: No Longer a Best-Dressed List Fixture?
»Kate Moss has been dropped entirely from Grazia's best-dressed list, Agyness Deyn fills the No. 1 slot [The Cut]
»Alek Wek's 16-year-old niece Atuai is making a go at modeling [Of the Minute]
»Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are enjoying their vacation, for sure; Katy Perry has been tapped to play the D&G after party in Milan [TMZ, Chic Report]
»Fashion mag assistants augment their low salaries by "stalling to steal" [Style File]
»Alexander Wang loves his Cheap Mondays [Refinery29]
»Naomi Campbell, still vacationing with that billionaire boyfriend of hers [PopSugar UK]
»Diane von Furstenberg: designer, CFDA president, travel writer [Fashionista]
»Simon Doonan adores Tilda Swinton, so does W [Washingtonian, W]
»Barneys Warehouse Sale starts Thursday [Racked]
»Cult fave Mischen is showing for the first time at New York Fashion Week [The Cut]
»Vogue scribe Plum Sykes is developing a comedy for NBC [Variety]
»Bottega Veneta's motto in the '70s was "When Your Own Initials Are Enough" [Vanity Fair]
*image: bauer-griffin online



