fashionologie

Watch: Anna Wintour's Quick-Witted Turn on The Colbert Report

Justin Fenner — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:19:28 PDT

Anna Wintour kept the audience on The Colbert Report rolling in the aisles last night when she sat down to talk about the Costume Institute's new exhibit. When Wintour started lauding Miuccia Prada's work, host Stephen Colbert joked that he doesn't "really trust Prada. My understanding is, the devil wears Prada. And this is a Christian nation, Anna," he said.

To which Wintour could only reply, "That movie was so last year." Watch all of the hilarity below.

The Colbert Report
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A Glance Back at Anna Wintour's Met Gala Looks

fashionologie — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:17:32 PDT

The Party of the Year, the Oscars of New York, the Met Ball, or the Costume Institute Gala - call it whatever you like, but one thing's for sure: it's Anna's party. In honor of the upcoming 2012 Costume Institute Gala (in just a few short days!), we take a look back at Anna Wintour's ensembles of choice over the years - which recently have been exclusively Chanel couture - starting with her very first Met Ball as Vogue's editor in 1988.

View Slideshow ›

Versace Puts On the Ritz, Candice Swanepoel Covers Vogue Japan, And Roberto Cavalli's Latest Rant

fashionologie — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:59:04 PDT

>> Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

Versace will show its Fall 2012 couture show at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on July 1, a month before the hotel is scheduled to close for a two-year renovation. The Ritz has a special place in Versace's history - it's where Gianni Versace presented his last collection for the house before he was killed in 1997. "The closing of the Ritz Paris for two years represents the end of an era but also the beginning of a new one," said Donatella Versace. "So to be able to show Atelier Versace there one last time will be a memorable milestone." [Vogue UK]
Roberto Cavalli took to Twitter to air more grievances against Anna Wintour, writing, "I confide you a secret... Anna Wintur das nt come to see my show in Milano ....... Why ?? becouse I dont do publicity in American Vogue ??" Cavalli called Wintour's influence on American fashion "terrible" in an on-camera interview last week. [Daily Front Row]
Teri Agins, author of The End of Fashion, is writing a new book billed as a "behind-the-scenes exposé" that will "focus on the rise of fast fashion and celebrity designers in the multibillion fashion industry." The book doesn't have a title yet, but publishing house Gotham is expected to release it sometime in 2014. [The Cut]
A group of protesters dressed in classically tailored suits assembled outside of the new Abercrombie & Fitch store on London's Saville Row, waving signs that say "Tweed Not Greed" and "Give Three-Piece a Chance." One of the organizers of the protest said he wanted to stop the store from "selling crappy clothes to ghastly people." [Styleite]
Candice Swanepoel shimmers on the May cover of Vogue Japan in a gold-fringed Gucci dress. The issue's biggest cover line reads, appropriately, "Glamour Game." [Fashion Gone Rogue]

Photo: Donatella Versace with models at the Versace Haute Couture Spring 2012 presentation in Paris.

Roberto Cavalli: Anna Wintour Wants All Women to "Dress the Way She Does"

fashionologie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:55:23 PDT

>> Roberto Cavalli said Anna Wintour's personal style has influenced American fashion to a degree that makes it "terrible."

In an on-camera interview, La Repubblica asked Cavalli what advice he'd give to young people who want to work in fashion, and the 71-year-old designer said he wants to see less minimalism and monotony. Cavalli said that instead of following the advice of designers and influential editors, they should "try to create a new and different direction."

"Just look at American fashion, which is almost fashion - it's terrible and you almost can't even look at it," Cavalli said. "But it has been driven by a great journalist, Anna Wintour, who wants all women to be like her and dress the way she does. It's difficult, so I can only say, try to be different, and try to create artistic fashion styles."

To be fair, Wintour does her share to promote young talent - she helped establish the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund with the intent of getting young designers access to the resources and capital needed to grow their brands. Maybe the designs of the Fund's recipients, like Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Joseph Altuzarra, are still too minimalist for Cavalli's taste.

When Sarah Burton Lied to Anna Wintour, Analyzing the Modeling Industry, and Kate Moss's 300 Covers

fashionologie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:41:11 PDT

>> Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

Sarah Burton looked Anna Wintour straight in the eye and lied to her about her involvement with Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress - not a feat most designers could pull off. According to Hamish Bowles, the editor cornered Burton and asked her point blank whether or not she was designing it, and Burton said no. "Anna was telling everyone, 'Sarah told me she's not doing the dress, so she's not doing the dress,'" Bowles said. [The Cut]
A few other pieces of Alexander McQueen's creations are on display as part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's current exhibit, titled British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age. Among other items included in the exhibit is "a tattered Anarchy in the U.K. T-shirt designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren." [Fashion Etc]
The Model Alliance today released an analysis of the modeling industry's working conditions and found that 68 percent of the models surveyed suffered from depression or anxiety, and 77 percent had been exposed to drugs and alcohol on the job. The analysis also revealed that 93 percent of models get their start in the industry before their 20th birthday. [The Fashion Spot]
Marissa Mayer is known as much for her position as one of the top female engineers at Google as she is for her penchant for designer clothing. "Oscar de la Renta is an amazing designer who works really well with color and detail which I think is something that's inspiring," she says. "When you want to treat yourself to something that's really beautiful, that really inspires you and captures your imagination, you should buy it." [BuzzFeed Shift]
Just how many issues of Vogue has Kate Moss covered? According to a new book, Kate Moss: The Making of an Icon, she's been on over 300 covers of international editions of the magazine, including her recent September 2011 cover of American Vogue. [Stylelist]

Time Names 100 Greatest Fashion Icons

fashionologie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:31:22 PDT

Coco Chanel in 1920

>> Time magazine today released its list of the 100 greatest fashion icons, a collection of designers, brands, models, muses, photographers, editors, and stylists meant to be the definitive guide to the "visionaries that changed how we think about what we wear, and how we wear it."

The list includes all of the expected players - Coco Chanel is there, as are Yves Saint Laurent, Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, and Steven Meisel - but there are also a few people most wouldn't think of for a list like this. Sarah Blakely, inventor of Spanx, is included because she "has helped shape the modern woman - literally." Jacques Heim and Louis Réard, the men who simultaneously invented what eventually became the bikini are also on the list.

Time only mentions style influencers who made an impact after 1923 - the beginning of Time magazine - which means the list reaches back to people like '20s icon Zelda Fitzgerald and Chanel rival Elsa Schiaparelli. The list doesn't include any notable retailers (Andrew Saks and Ikram Goldman would have been worthy additions), and it's also not very diverse - of the 100 people on the list, only eight are black and two are Asian.

Still, the list is a testament to how vital the creative forces of the fashion industry are to the world at large. Take a look at the whole thing on Time.

The 6 Chicest Looks From Last Night's State Dinner

fashionologie — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:33:54 PDT

>> Official government parties might not be the first place to look for style inspiration, but Michelle Obama, Anna Wintour, and the other women who attended the White House's state dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron looked ultra chic last night.

To wit: the first lady dressed up in a deep blue custom Marchesa gown - and she thanked the fashion house by way of inviting designer Georgina Chapman, who wore a sparkly pale blue dress of her own design. Meanwhile, Samantha Cameron wore a stunning lace-covered dress by British designer Alessandra Rich, and Wintour brought the Chanel couture dress she wore to the 2009 Met Gala out of her closet for the occasion. Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern and PBS reporter Gwen Ifill also got glammed up - stroll through the slideshow to see what they wore.

View Slideshow ›

Alexander Wang's Afterparty, Iris Apfel's Number One Style Tip, and Gisele's Rant

Christina Perez — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:58:31 PST

Those stories and more - here in our daily news roundup.

A video that's making its way around the web shows an angry Gisele cursing after the Patriots' Super Bowl loss to the Giants. The supermodel didn't know she was being filmed. [Huffington Post]

Speaking of the Super Bowl, Vogue didn't charge Madonna to use its logo during her halftime show - in fact, Condé granted the singer permission to use the logo way back in early January. "We're so very grateful to Madonna to have been part of such a spectacular performance," Anna Wintour said. The performance was viewed by over 100 million people. [Styleite]

American Vogue isn't the only Condé glossy embracing the art of musical performance. In honor of the launch of French Vogue's new website, Emmanuelle Alt has filmed a video in which she dances and lip-synchs along to Wham's "Wake Me Up." Models Anja Rubik, Karmen Pedaru, Jasmine Tookes, and Kendra Spears serve as backup dancers. [French Vogue]

Alexander Wang will not be hosting his usual - and infamous - postshow party this Fashion Week. However, according to his publicists, the party will be back on next season. [The Cut]

And, in preparation for Fashion Week, here's a style tip from Iris Apfel: "If your hair is done properly and you're wearing good shoes, you can get away with anything." So true, so true. [Footwear News]

Anna Wintour Raises Top Funds For Obama, Jonathan Saunders Wins British Fashion Fund, & Gwyneth Covers the New Harper's Bazaar

Christina Perez — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:11:33 PST

>>These stories and more - here, in our daily news roundup.

Gwyneth Paltrow graces the March cover of the newly redesigned Harper's Bazaar. Photographed by Terry Richardson, Paltrow wears a super-revealing cutout Anthony Vaccarello dress and has Veronica Lake hair. [Fashion Foie Gras]

The British Advertising Authority has banned a L'Oreal ad because it features a digitally altered image of actress Rachel Weisz. The authority says the photos "misleadingly exaggerated" how well the product - a skin-firming cream - works. [Styleite]

Anna Wintour has been revealed as one of President Obama's major re-election fundraisers. According to a recently published list, Wintour has raised more than $500,000. [Telegraph]

Jonathan Saunders has been named the winner of the British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. The Scottish designer will receive 200,000 euros to invest in his business. [Huffington Post]

Charlotte Gainsbourg recently released a new double album, and it was produced by Beck. Now she's teamed up with The Horrors' Tom Furse for a remix of her song "Anna." "I like fashion but I am not passionate about it. I love being a little bit far away," the singer and Balenciaga muse says. [Nowness]

Abbey Lee Kershaw Fronts the New Gucci, Jerry Hall Returns to the Catwalk, and Kate Moss Is Not Into Twitter

Christina Perez — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:52:35 PST

>>These stories and more - here, in our daily news roundup.

Abbey Lee Kershaw is the face of a new set of Gucci fragrances. The fragrances launch this March and all have names that start with "G" - Gorgeous Gardenia, Gracious Tuberose, Glamorous Magnolia, Generous Violet, Glorious Mandarin - "because of Gucci, of course," explains the brand's creative director, Frida Giannini. [WWD]

Jerry Hall returned to the catwalk this week to walk Jean Luc Amsler's couture show in Paris. The 55-year-old wasn't the only older model to grace the couture runways; Yasmin Le Bon, 47, walked Stéphane Rolland's show wearing a 110-pound dress. [Telegraph]

Kate Moss says she is not joining Twitter anytime soon. "I just don't understand it. I don't get it at all." [Styleite]

The first episode of The Fashion Fund - a web miniseries about the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition - premiered yesterday on Hulu. In it, Anna Wintour criticizes candidates' submissions, saying things like, "Well, this is just generic," and "I mean, it’s fine, it’s not offensive." The Cut
Photo via WWD