fashionologie

Donna Karan Spring 2010: Natural, Neutral, and With a Side of Vivid Coral

fashionologie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:28:13 -0700

>> Before the finale march, Anna Wintour ducked out at Donna Karan to hightail it to Queens and Roger Federer's guest box for the US Open men's title match. But she stuck around long enough to catch Donna's "urban atmosphere," as the designer put it to WWD, adding that she was "inspired by the power of the elements - the sky, water, wind, sand, earth, and fire" in her show notes. Karan's signature draped jersey was out in full force in all shades of neutrals, and the clothes felt very of the moment - meaning the moment many women are currently feeling to invest in solid, wearable, classic pieces rather than be tempted by those transient, of-the-moment-or-maybe-the-season-if-you're-lucky pieces.

The show was held in Karan's downtown studio space, which ended up packed to the gills, and Milla Jovovich sat front row. Charlotte di Calypso, who's not having good luck with her accessories this week - yesterday her belt popped open at Derek Lam - glided by at one point, adjusting her Stephen Jones hat all the way around her loop, to keep it from falling off her head.

fashionologie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:23:43 -0700

>> Rumor: LVMH May Sell DKNY, Make Bid On Hermes -Word is that LVMH is shopping around DKNY, with no plans to sell Donna Karan Collection, because it wants to focus on high-end luxury brands with a strong international recognition; DKNY's only response was to state that long-term company policy is to not comment on rumors. European private investment firms are also buzzing that in addition to dropping DKNY, LVMH may be selling Moet-Hennessy to make a grab for Hermes. [Fashionista, DKNY Twitter]

The September Issue Premiere: All About Anna Wintour

fashionologie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:57:50 -0700

>> Last night, Anna Wintour hosted a premiere of The September Issue (which opens Aug. 28 in NYC, Sept. 11 nationwide), and no one dared be late. Arrivals were scheduled to start at 7 pm, but Anna appeared and was joined (despite all the digs about her appearance she receives in the film) by September 2007 cover girl Sienna Miller promptly at 6:45 pm. Even Sean Combs and entourage, when realizing they were late, "sprinted across the lobby," the New York Observer reports.

Despite the general consensus that the film's true star is Grace Coddington, last night was all about Anna. Grace and Andre Leon Talley both avoided being photographed on the red carpet, and it appears that Vogue staffers were required to wear t-shirts for Fashion's Night Out (Anna's pro-shopping pet project) to the event. Grace did comment on her portrayal in the film, however:

I hate to say it, but true to life! A very annoying person. But it’s not really bickering. It’s a process you have to go through for the job we do and it just makes everything stronger. Whatever gets through is then very valid and very strong. I think they focused on me in the movie because I’m a bit more outspoken and because I don’t care about the cameras, I’ll say whatever I want to say and I won’t hold back.

Bee Shaffer, who attended in Proenza Schouler and reminded her mother to put on her sunglasses while on the red carpet (which Anna duly did), thought her own scene in the film was "so embarassing":

It’s funny because that was two years ago and I wanted to go to law school then and that’s basically all I’m talking about and now I don’t want to go to law school at all so . . . [I] still don’t want to work in fashion, that was never a possibility. Now I’d like to work in theater.

Marc Jacobs, who was apparently speaking with a French accent, had his own Anna tribute to share. "She’s a risk-taker unafraid of taking chances. She doesn’t suck up,” he said. “And she’s been very good to me on a personal level as well. When I was having some personal problems, Anna was always there for me. She’s very maternal and caring to people she cares about."

LVMH To Hold Out on Marketing Some of Its Brands for the Rest of the Year

fashionologie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:15:06 -0700

>> In the wake of the 23 percent decline in first-half profits it announced Monday, LVMH plans to postpone or suspend marketing and promotions for its brands that failed to be top performers, according to CFO Jean-Jacques Guiony.

He did not specify which brands would receive the "selective investments" still being made, but its wines, spirits, watches, and jewelry businesses were hurt in the past few months and seem like contenders for those being passed over. This new withholding strategy is part of LVMH's cost containment plan for the remainder of 2009.

So which fashion brands might be affected? »

At CFDA Town Hall Meeting, Future of Fashion Week Contemplated

fashionologie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:36:03 -0700

>> This morning, the CFDA held its first town hall meeting, moderated by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, to discuss whether Fashion Week is still relevant. Many attendees agreed with Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough, who voiced his concern: "There seems to be a disconnect. For us, the shows have become a press thing. It’s on blogs; magazines pull straight from the runways; and by the time it’s in stores, it feels sort of old."

Donna Karan, who has long been a proponent of selling and showing clothes in season, also wondered about the timeliness of the shows: "We are in a crisis. There's no question about it . . . We spend so much money on shows, but what is it getting us?”

Anna Wintour suggests something illegal »

Donna Karan Places Toni Garrn's Head on Other Models' Bodies for Fall 2009 Ads

fashionologie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:29:29 -0700

>> A number of designers are sticking very close to ideas from seasons past for the Fall 2009 round of ad campaigns - Louis Vuitton went for Madonna "Part Deux," Versace's set features the same model - Gisele Bundchen - doing the same pose she did for the house's Spring 2008 ads, and now Donna Karan, who decided last season to save money by taking her runway photography and reinterpreting it for the ads, is using the same tactic this season.

The set of Fall 2009 ads that appear on the front page of Karan's website all feature Toni Garrn, one in the look she wore down the runway. In the other two ads, it appears that Toni's head was Photoshopped onto the bodies of Anya Kazakova and Sasha Pivovarova - the stances on both bodies are identical to those in the runway photos of the collection on the website.

2009 Costume Institute Gala Arrivals Have Started!

fashionologie — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:10:20 -0700

>> It's official Costume Institute Gala time: Anna Wintour is already snubbing press in her black and white Chanel, Bee Shaffer has already had help navigating in her sheer navy chiffon Nina Ricci gown, and Andre Leon Talley who is wearing "20 pounds" of Roger Vivier jewelry, has already exclaimed "Goddess" upon sight of Kate Moss.

Gisele Bundchen has arrived in sequined Atelier Versace minidress - she says she picked it out herself and they had to make it two inches shorter for her. Meanwhile, Eva Mendes grabbed Amber Valletta's booty on the red carpet, and Shalom Harlow, Amber, Natalia Vodianova, Eva Herzigova, and Stella Tennant have made a red carpet block while they stop to exchange air kisses.

UPDATE: More designer and model pictures have been added to the gallery!
*image: source, source, WENN.com

Jessica Stam, Lily Donaldson Help AmfAR Launch the Fashion Week Storm

fashionologie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:25:44 -0800

>> Last night, editors and models alike gathered at Cipriani to simultaneously launch Fashion Week - officially - and benefit one of fashion's favorite causes: AIDS research foundation amfAR. Anna Wintour presented and Donna Karan received an award for her contribution to amfAR's mission; Lara Stone, Caroline Winberg, Jessica Stam, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, and Anja Rubik (with boyfriend Sasha Knezevic) all got gussied up and came along for the ride. Afterward, there was a mass migration to Rose Bar, where they were joined by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Giovanna Battaglia for a little enjoyment of the calm before the storm.
*image: source, source

fashionologie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:24:53 -0800

>> INSIDER WIRE -PETA has been heavily targeting Donna Karan since the latter half of 2008 - storming her DKNY runway in September, papering the streets of New York with "Bunny Butcher" ads in November, launching the now-offline DonnaKaranBunnyButcher.com in December. As a result, she vowed to be fur-free for Fall 2009, with "no plans" to use fur in the future. Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein have been past PETA targets . . . and it sounds like Giorgio Armani is next on the list. [PETA]

Louis Vuitton's Sprouse Party Troika

fashionologie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:13:10 -0800

>> Marc Jacobs may have had to cancel his legendary holiday party, but he made up for it last night by throwing not one, but three parties to celebrate the new Louis Vuitton-Stephen Sprouse redux collection. Marc - in his recent skirt and military boot uniform, plus a pair of neon pink and black Sprouse tights - hosted guests like Donna Karan, Erin Wasson, Chanel Iman - sporting some new bangs - and Arlenis Sosa Pena in the Louis Vuitton SoHo store for cocktails, then directed everyone down to Deitch Projects, which is currently hosting a Sprouse exhibit. To round out the night, an after-party at The Bowery Ballroom, featuring a performance by Sprouse muse Debbie Harry.
*image: source, source