fashionologie

Simon Fuller Leaves 19 Entertainment; Roland Mouret, Victoria Beckham, and Storm Models Could Be Affected by Company Buyout

fashionologie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:07:54 PDT

>> Two months ago, Simon Fuller, the founder of 19 Entertainment, which owns controlling stakes in Storm Models, Victoria Beckham Collection, and RM by Roland Mouret, announced that he was leaving the company to start a new company pursuing film and other entertainment projects. He is currently retained as a consultant at 19 Entertainment.

For the past year or so, rumors have surrounded Fuller. Last June, it was announced he was teaming with Topshop's Sir Phillip Green for a global entertainment company; soon after, word came that Kate Moss might somehow be involved. Then, in November, Fuller was rumored to be pairing with Victoria Beckham for a New York-based modeling agency, which Beckham then denied.

But yesterday came news that 19 Entertainment's owner CKX (Fuller sold to CKX in 2005) is discussing the sale of 19 Entertainment to One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase. Without Fuller and with a potential new owner, there's no confirmation on what the buyout might mean for Storm Models, Victoria Beckham Collection, and RM by Roland Mouret.

fashionologie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:29:22 PST

>> Beckham Denies Modeling Agency Plans with Fuller, But Some Aren't Convinced -Earlier this week, British tabloid the Daily Mail was convinced that Victoria Beckham might be involved in Simon Fuller's New York modeling agency plans, but today, her spokesperson says otherwise: "There is absolutely no truth in the story regarding Victoria Beckham and Simon Fuller opening a modelling agency in New York. Victoria is concentrating all her efforts on her fashion line and her family." Deny she may, but some from the London side say that ideas are indeed being batted around between Fuller and Beckham, and model television of some kind is involved . . . he is creator of the Idol franchise, after all. [Vogue UK, The Imagist]

Victoria Beckham to Team with Simon Fuller on New York Modeling Agency?

fashionologie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:17:37 PST

>> Here's a rumor on a rumor: Victoria Beckham is said to be working through another deal with Simon Fuller - this time to set up a modeling agency in New York. Fuller already backs her Victoria Beckham collection and, as of August owns a majority stake in Storm modeling agency in London - which represents the likes of Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn.

Word went around a couple of weeks ago that Fuller was shopping the New York modeling agency market for "opportunities." As for Beckham's supposed involvement, her spokesman didn't deny the news, only "play[ed] down the plans," according to the Daily Mail - but it sounds now like Fuller may be setting up a new agency as New York counterpart to Storm. A source told the Daily Mail:

"Simon knows that Victoria is very savvy when it comes to fashion. Simon’s first foray into fashion was to team up Roland Mouret and Victoria, which was a huge success. Victoria is a key asset to Simon and he wants her to take on a major role."

*image: wenn.com

fashionologie — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:25:37 PDT

>> Simon Fuller Now Shopping for a New York Modeling Agency? -Simon Fuller has continously been creeping into the fashion industry since he began backing Roland Mouret in 2006. Since, he has worked with Victoria Beckham to launch her industry-acclaimed eponymous collection, partnered with Claudia Schiffer to represent her name, image, and brand rights, and just a couple of months ago he took a majority stake in London's Storm agency, home to the likes of Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn. Now, word is going around that Fuller is "scanning the New York [modeling agency] market for 'opportunities'" - a New York counterpart to his latest London acquisition? As The Imagist points out, "that would represent a whole new ideal of management that could pose huge challenges for some established players in the trade." [TI]

Victoria Beckham Debuts New Short Film for Collection, To Make Fashion's Night Out Appearance at Bergdorf

fashionologie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:38:36 PDT

>> Victoria Beckham recently let her Giorgio Armani contract expire so that she could focus more on her beauty and fashion lines; she's said to be showing her Victoria Beckham Collection - which Roland Mouret has assisted her with in the past - at New York Fashion Week again for Spring 2010, but this weekend, she's releasing a short film featuring her Fall 2009 collection (with Mouret's sharply tailored handiwork visible) online.

This is her second foray into the fashion promo film arena - her first effort, for Spring 2009, came out at the end of last year. The new short, "Swings," features eight models, perched on rope swings, moving in unison - plus a cameo by Beckham - and was filmed in a single take in London last month. Matt Jerrett directed and Beckham's (and Mouret's) backer, 19 Entertainment, produced. The film debuts Sunday on BergdorfGoodman.com, to promote Beckham's appearance at the New York store during Fashion's Night Out Sept. 10, and DazedDigital, which has the UK exclusive, is posting the full film Sunday at 3 pm UK time.

UPDATE: The video! »

Details on Google's New Fashion Initiative - Boutiques.com

fashionologie — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:15:38 PST

>> After last week's rumor suggesting that Google is launching ecommerce on Wednesday, a few clarifying details have come up: the initiative Boutiques.com is actually a curation of virtual boutiques; visitors won't be able to purchase directly from Google but rather, will click through to a brand's online store or an online retailer like Saks, Net-a-Porter, or Barneys to purchase the item.

There are at least 19 designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Cynthia Rowley, Marchesa, Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Prabal Gurung, and Erin Fetherston, who have been invited to set up virtual stores on the site. There will also be curated boutiques selling looks worn by celebrities and influencers like Lady Gaga, Victoria Beckham, Emma Watson, Anna Wintour, Rachel Zoe, and Michelle Obama. Sarah Jessica Parker has been asked to set up her own personalized shop, and a handful of high profile bloggers are also said to have been invited to curate their own boutiques in exchange for a low five-figure payment.

The idea is to have any user be able to do the same - create and share their own personalized boutique with items, brands, and looks they prefer. Elements of entertainment, gaming, and social media are also planned.

Victoria Beckham Designs On Her Own, Without the Help of Close Friends Roland Mouret or Marc Jacobs

fashionologie — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:27:59 PST

>> dVb is no more: Victoria Beckham has taken her denim and eyewear collections in-house to go with her four season-old dress line, and everything is now housed under the Victoria Beckham collection. Beckham, who just had up to 75 of her dresses stolen en route to Neiman Marcus in London for delivery last week, is serious about the designing thing.

Despite traces of Roland Mouret's aesthetic in her dress collection (and the fact that they're both backed by Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment), Beckham insists all design decisions are her own.

I have utmost respect for Roland. I think he is incredibly talented. I love what he does. He’s a great businessman. When I very first started working on the dresses, he gave me advice when it came to putting my team together. He doesn’t have anything to do with the design of anything that I do. But he taught me about how to turn my dreams into reality, if you like. He told me I needed a production manager - he helped with that side of things. I do what I do, and he does what he does, and it’s incredibly separate.

And she's here to stay »

Kate Moss Caught Between Entertainment Ventures, Now That Simon Fuller Has Acquired Her Modeling Agency Storm

fashionologie — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:42:40 PDT

>> Any hope that Sir Phillip Green and Simon Cowell may have had for Kate Moss to act as a judge on one of their shows in development may have just gone down the tubes: Simon Fuller, creator of American Idol, which helped Cowell rise to fame, just took a majority stake of 51 percent in Moss's model agency, Storm.

Fuller has been in talks with Storm's founders, Sarah Doukas and her brother Simon Chambers, for the past year and aims to “help create new joint entertainment platforms for its talent, as well as developing the Storm brand in new and exciting directions.” Doukas hopes the partnership "will provide Storm with the opportunity to work competitively, creatively and on an international level," and Fuller elaborated that the deal will allow them to “push the boundaries, blur the lines and redefine what a model agency should be in this fast moving world, where fashion is playing an increasingly important role in setting and reflecting cultures and tastes.”

So who will Kate go with? »

Vogue Joins Reality with Model.Live

fashionologie — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:23:39 PDT

>> Two years ago, Anna Wintour told WWD she turned down involvement in Project Runway because "Vogue is not in the business of making entertainment out of the struggles of new designers." Last month when asked about the possibility of a Vogue reality series, she still seemed unconvinced, but was less straight with an opinion.

Now we know why — just as Elle is gearing up to debut its reality show Stylista on The CW this Fall, Vogue announced today that it is producing a reality series of its own with IMG. Instead of showing on the small screen like Stylista, Model.Live will be web-based, debuting August 19 on Vogue.TV with syndication on Hulu. The 12 eight-minute episodes of Model.Live follow three models from IMG's Development board: 16-year-old Austria Alcantara from the Dominican Republic, 20-year-old American Madeline Kragh, and 19-year-old Dutch model Cato van Ee, who had Prada and Miu Miu runway exclusives for Fall 2008.

The show, which Vogue Publishing Director Tom Florio promises to be "not reality at all, just amateurs live," follows the three models through casting calls, runways, and airports for all four fashion weeks. Underage behavior like smoking or drinking will likely be censored if it comes up while taping, but depression or unhealthy eating habits will be "met head-on."

Let's hope this is good — it cost $3 million to make, or about $31,000 a minute.

*image: source