Consider it a master class in how to start a media firestorm. Suzy Menkes's recent T Magazine essay about the changing nature of Fashion Week has elicited passionate responses from the people she fingers as the cause of that change: bloggers.
>> Rachel Comey's Fall 2011 collection didn't have any specific inspiration — "I was thinking of a woman who tries a little bit with her look, but it comes off in this nice, spontaneous light," she explained backstage, post-show. Unless you count Mickey Rourke, who Comey called out: "He's where I kind of uncovered that idea, I think. I was like, what makes him so charming? Because he's trying really hard, but it's in this way you appreciate."
Comey's Rourkian charmers came out in artfully mussed hair, shrunken sweaters, and cropped pants in bold zig zag or crosshatch patterns, finished with a slight flare at the hem. She even dabbled in an all-corduroy look: a blazer in cinnamon complemented by a full red skirt to match. The pants with pleats flaring at the ankle may be a hard sell, but the same can't be said for the footwear. For followers of Comey's cult of shoes (it seemed as though every blogger in town was front row — Susie Bubble, Fashion Toast's Rumi Neely, Julia Frakes, Hanneli Mustaparta, Bryanboy in an Afro wig . . .), there were zig zag heeled oxfords, green suede wedges, and even some pumps to choose from. And where was Comey headed, post-show? To relax with her son Bruno, born two months ago.
>> Streetstyle photographers Garance Dore, Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist, and Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil have all turned their blogs into further industry opportunities — Garance now shoots editorials for the likes of Glamour Italy and guest blogs for Vogue.fr, Scott has photographed two seasons worth of DKNY Jeans campaigns and has a compilation book coming out in September, and Tommy did the Spring 2009 Lane Crawford campaign. And style blogger Susanna Lau's time on Style Bubble allowed her to transition from digital media planner at an ad agency to commissing editor of Dazed & Confused's DazedDigital.com.
In the past week or so, a handful of other fashion bloggers have seen their blog time become currency for further opportunities: Yvan Rodic of Facehunter just announced a compilation book of his streetstyle photography is coming out in early 2010. Julia Frakes of BunnyBisous and Paper's Fashion Schmasion is doing some lookbook time — first in Rachel Antonoff's Fall 2009 set and yesterday, she apparently shot the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony lookbook, complete with '90s hair; the last round of which Chloe starred in herself. And finally, Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast just signed with Next, is appearing in RVCA's campaign, and has further upcoming editorials and styling work already in the pipeline.
>> INSIDER WIRE —A little Fashion Week Roitfeld update: Carine Roitfeld supposedly landed Saturday night, and has since been spotted front row at Diane von Furstenberg yesterday (along with DVF face Natalia Vodianova, who brought her kids) and Carlos Miele this morning. Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, meanwhile — who broke up with boyfriend Magnus Berger right before the holidays — is mobile blogging for Dazed & Confused this week, along with Susie Bubble. [Refinery29 Twitter, Refinery29 Twitter, WWD Twitter, Page Six Magazine, Dazed Digital]
*image: source
