fashionologie

fashionologie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:08:56 -0700

>> Balenciaga Spring 2010 Ad Cast Said to Be All Models, But No Miranda Kerr -The Spring 2010 shows are over; let the campaign guessing games begin. First up on the rumor mill: Balenciaga. Spring 2009 saw a bevy of models cast, Fall 2009 focused on Jennifer Connelly, and for Spring 2010, it sounds like we're back to all models - Kasia Struss and "three unknowns" are said to be involved. Guess that means Miranda Kerr, who Nicholas Ghesquiere personally requested for the show, won't be having an Adriana Lima-Givenchy moment. [Fashionista, The Imagist, Style File]

Balenciaga Aims to Go Thorougly Modern for Spring 2010

fashionologie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:52:58 -0700

>> For the second season in a row, Balenciaga showed at the Hotel Crillon - word is residents forced them to move from their previous location - and Nicolas Ghesquiere took his eye "back to the start again," as the show's soundtrack went, returning to his sporty, skinny pants roots. The leggings, vests, and dresses were collages of contrasting materials - "like toys," the designer noted - and his goal was to create an entirely modern collection, sans references to the past.

In his effort to think differently, Ghesquiere told the Wall Street Journal, he mused: “There are cocktail dresses everywhere. I am asking, who are these women who go to cocktails all the time?’’ He also had his runway shoe samples made it a number of different sizes (39-41) rather than the standard 39, to help prevent runway stumbles.

Anouck Lepere and Lily Cole were both front row this morning, but the big model surprise was Victoria's Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, who some see as Balenciaga's answer to Givenchy casting Adriana Lima last season.

Balenciaga's Full Fall 2009 Campaign, Featuring a Contortionist Jennifer Connelly, Finally Drops

fashionologie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:41:25 -0700

>> Balenciaga has finally uploaded their entire dark, moody Fall 2009 campaign. Marie Amelie Sauve styled and Steven Meisel snapped house muse Jennifer Connelly lounging on a precariously tilting chaise and contorting on a fallen over couch.

Good on Tomas Maier: Bottega Veneta Is Currently PPR's Only Brand Seeing a Rise in Sales

fashionologie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:09:34 -0700

>> Just a few days after LVMH reported a decline, causing all marketing to be cut save for its top-performing brands, PPR reported a 76 percent decline in first-half profits. Tomas Maier can breathe a sigh of relief: the company's only area of growth was Bottega Veneta, on which PPR has been focusing, which saw an 8.6 percent rise in sales in the second quarter.

At flagship brand Gucci, which accounts for the bulk of Gucci Group's profits, Frida Giannini was credited by PPR chairman Francois-Henri Pinault for bolstering PPR as a whole with sustained demand for her bags in China.

As for any incoming Gucci Group brands . . . »

Diane von Furstenberg Settles After Copying; Nicolas Ghesquiere Accused of Copying Cruise 2010 Jacket

fashionologie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:26:26 -0700

>> American designers, under the lead of CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, are currently pushing for copyright inclusion under the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, but a few recent occurrences may hurt their case.

Just last week, Diane von Furstenberg settled out of court for an undisclosed sum with the Canadian designers of Mercy, who accused DVF of copying their jacket (photo comparison here), which in Diane's version appeared on the March 2009 cover of Elle. When notified, Diane apologized almost immediately, as has since ceased from using the copied design: “While this is an isolated incident for DVF, it is unfortunate that way too many others intentionally build businesses by stealing the work of other designers."

It's doubtful that Diane was talking about Nicolas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga, but some questions are now being raised about a leather jacket from his recent Cruise 2010 collection, especially because he has admitted to copying a garment in the past that appeared in his Spring 2002 Balenciaga collection. The current item of contention is strikingly similar to the "Parrot" jacket by San Francisco-based East West Musical Instruments - picture comparison above - which operated in the '60s through the '80s and sold to Iggy Pop, Janis Joplin, and the like. It's no secret that designers mine vintage pieces for inspiration, and Nicolas is not an American designer, but two examples in such quick succession can't be helping the Design Piracy Prohibition Act fight.

Natasha Poly, Lily Cole, Carine Roitfeld and More Fashion Figures Surface at 2009 Cannes Film Festival

fashionologie — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:37:03 -0700

>> The Cannes Film Festival is well underway and with the red carpet fashion such a focus, it's no surprise that some of the industry's finest are out in full form. Roberto Cavalli, who like last year continues to offer his yacht up to guests and score a number of red carpet moments - including dressing Natasha Poly for today's Inglourious Basterds premiere - was spotted riding around atop a Segway. Georgina Chapman is also in town, cinching Marchesa dress appearances on the likes of Penelope Cruz yesterday and Diane Kruger today.

Lily Cole, in Cannes for her own upcoming movie premiere, stepped out with boyfriend Enrique Murciano on Monday. "I've been studying the history of art in college," she told FWD. "But the gorgeous beach and sun is what everyone needs with two weeks left in the semester!" Carine Roitfeld, who will have her big red carpet moment tomorrow at the amfAR benefit, appeared in lacy Balmain at a premiere today with Patrick Demarchelier.

Balenciaga muse Charlotte Gainsbourg debuted a Fall 2009 dress from the label at her Antichrist premiere, Eva Herzigova showed up in a sheer dress for the second year in a row, and Doutzen Kroes also popped up wearing Alaia, of which she tweeted, "So excited he lets me wear his dress!!"

Carine Roitfeld on Knives, Nymphomania, and Having the Power

fashionologie — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:44:51 -0700

>> Carine Roitfeld speaks frequently through the images she creates for Vogue Paris, but the new, erotic-themed issue of Acne Paper provides us with a fly-on-the-wall spot at a candid conversation with the editor.

The woman who will "never wear miniskirts because they make me look older" talks pushing limits - "Never before in Conde Nast's history has there been a transvestite on the cover, and [Andre J.'s cover] sold so well. You think you are going to get into trouble but in the end people are more open than you think" - and dressing demure - "it's always subtle."

But even Carine aspires to be somebody else.

You know the idea of the Saint Laurent woman. What a dream she was: wearing trousers, hand in the pocket, no handbag, transparent shirt. I love that woman. It is exactly who I would have loved to be if I could choose. So I would have to go blonde because he loved the blondes, and I would have to have bigger breasts. But it's the idea of the woman I love, and I try to repeat this in my magazine.

"Jeans are for my assistants." »

fashionologie — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:55:49 -0700

>> INSIDER WIRE -There were a lot of designers missing from last night's festivities - Karl Lagerfeld, Stefano Gabbana, Domenico Dolce, Christopher Bailey among them - but even more notable was the lack of certain designers on the red carpet: Balenciaga, Prada and Miu Miu weren't represented at all (though Dasha Zhukova wore vintage Prada), and typical heavyweight Giorgio Armani had one sole wearer - Claire Danes. Meanwhile, Phi emerged as a dark horse - watch out Proenza Schouler, Andreas Melbostad is taking over your crowd - Erin Wasson, Natasha Poly, Lauren Santo Domingo, and Vanessa Traina all chose the label last night. [Style File]

Fall 2009 Ad Campaign Rumors: Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, and Calvin Klein

fashionologie — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:50:04 -0700

>> Just yesterday we were talking about the general direction of Fall 2009 ad campaigns and who might be the lucky girls, and already we've got some more concrete rumors.

First up, a surprise: Balenciaga is not one of the major brands to go with a single girl that was mentioned yesterday - instead, they're going with a group - of celebrities, at that - lensed by Steven Meisel. In the past seasons, Nicholas Ghesquiere has used Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jennifer Connelly - will they reprise their roles, or is he going with an entirely new look? I'm leaning toward the latter.

As for Calvin Klein, Francisco Costa is rumored to have chosen Monika "Jac" Jagaciak, one of the standout faces of the season, for the main Collection campaign - as an exclusive, just as he did with Anna Selezneva for Spring 2009. And it seems Stefano Pilati is continuing his super obsession at Yves Saint Laurent - past seasons have seen Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss was just photographed for an upcoming fragrance. Now, Christy Turlington is rumored to have been shot for Fall 2009.
*image: source

House of Style May Be the Beginning of a Career Change for Chanel Iman

fashionologie — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:07:13 -0700

>> In anticipation of her television debut on MTV's House of Style this weekend (more details here), we snagged Chanel Iman for a few minutes to chat about how she landed the coveted role of show correspondent (first peek at her in the show, left), her recent coup on the runway at Balenciaga, and about how she might have already landed a date to this year's Costume Institute Gala. It also sounds like she has a career switch in mind - but Chanel will tell you all about it herself.

How did your role on House of Style come about?

Well basically, they called my agency, I went in to meet with them, I did an audition with all the rest of the girls, and they called - I was waiting for the phone call, I was hoping I got it - but I was waiting for about three months. And when I got back from Paris - I was in Paris for ready-to-wear and did the whole fashion tour for Fashion Week - they told me I got it. I was really excited because it's just another way for me to express myself!

Tell me a little bit about your upcoming Gossip Girl appearance.

It's just experience - it was just for me to get an idea of what it would be like to be on set, to really see what happens since I've never been on a set before.

Are you looking for more TV appearances in the future then?

Yeah. I'm kind of slowing down on the modeling right now and I'm branching out to other experiences and interests that I have. [Ed. note: She told Teen Vogue: "House of Style is definitely just the start. I want to do television, film, music and designing. I want to do it all!"]

Now about that Costume Institute Gala date . . . »