fashionologie

Highlights from Inside the 2009 Costume Institute Gala: Gisele Dumps Galliano for Versace, Carine Roitfeld Showed

fashionologie — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:38:20 -0700

>> Despite all the drama before and after, the Costume Institute Gala itself furnished plenty of notable and quotable moments; for those who were wondering, Carine Roitfeld did attend, even though it was reported that Julia Restoin-Roitfeld would not.

Gisele Bundchen pulled out of John Galliano's table at the last minute, choosing to ride in with the Versace camp instead; it sounds like she might be returning as the label's Fall 2009 face - the New York Times reports that her custom Versace dress "was conceived while she was modeling for [Donatella’s] next ad campaign." Helena Christensen, meanwhile, joked of her Zac Posen dress, which read "Vogue," the V formed by a plunging neckline: “It’s so I can remember whose party I’m at."

And while Kate Moss was on hostess duty (and presumably her best behavior) for Anna Wintour, she still managed to be herself, pulling a big wad of gum out of her mouth when asked about being a muse: “I’m amused. I think it’s quite interesting for somebody to go outside of the box and think that a model actually has had some input into fashion. A lot of the time, the models don’t really get a say.”

But they do have a bathroom fascination »

Alber Elbaz Brings Out His Jokes for London Lanvin Opening

fashionologie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:34:19 -0700

>> In honor of Lanvin's first London store, Alber Elbaz - who is apparently on a post-show, protein-only diet - flew in to give a guided tour of his Spring 2009 collection. During the day, there was a "girls only" policy, but at night, the ladies - Alexandra Shulman, Yasmin Le Bon, Anouck Lepere - were joined by the menfolk - Jefferson Hack, Juergen Teller, Jonathan Newhouse. Microphone in hand, Elbaz had the audience "in stitches," according to WWD, as he cracked jokes while presenting: “I dress women. I don’t undress them - unfortunately. My mother would be happy if I did.”

As for his denim collaboration with Acne: “It’s so nice when Acne tells me, ‘No problem, we can do that.’ I live in Paris, where you ask a cab driver to take you somewhere and he says ‘No.’” When he introduced Anna de Rijk, hot off the runway, as his bride, he joked on his decision to carry wedding dress in the store: “I have friends - Liz Taylor types - who are on their third and fourth weddings. They tell me they need a different dress for each one.” And to wrap it up, a little comment on what women want: “Next to chocolate or a rose, I think the only thing that can make a woman happy is maybe a pink dress.”
*image: source

Alaia Wasn't Good Enough for Dior, But Naomi Campbell Lived With Him

fashionologie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:13:53 -0800

>> He may be one of the lesser knowns of a design generation that includes Valentino Garavani, Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Giorgio Armani, but at 68, Azzedine Alaia has carved out a niche of his own. Like Armani, Alaia owns his business, allowing him to design his way - as Stephanie Seymour, who spoke with the designer for March 2009 Interview puts it - "usually very late at night with an old film playing in the background." More elusive than Marc Jacobs but more forthcoming than Martin Margiela, a window into Alaia's world is always a treat; More from Seymour and the man she refers to as "Papa":

Alaia was fired from Christian Dior after five days.

I met my best friend, Leila, whose mother had connections to clients of Christian Dior in Paris, and eventually someone asked if I could come work there. I got the job. But when I arrived, it was the end of the Algerian War [1962]. After five days there they said to me, "You can't work here any longer. You're a foreigner."

"I have such fond memories . . ." »

Twelve British Models, Twelve i-D Covers for March 2009

fashionologie — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:05:55 -0800

>> Last week, Edward Enninful was in Goa, India, styling a shoot for Vogue, but this week, it's all about i-D and England - he brought together twelve British faces - past and present - for i-D's March 2009 Best of British issue. "The confirmations were instant - it was about doing something for England, and models have been so faceless - British models always have personality."

Together with Solve Sundsbo, Enninful styled each of the twelve covers to bring out the character of the individual model - "I went though a great thought process - we didn't want clichés and stereotypes" - "rock 'n' roll Kate" Moss as a mature woman and fashion designer, "ageless" British models like Twiggy, newcomer Eliza Cummins, who is also moonlighting on the new Dazed & Confused (NSFW), symbolizing British grit with a snarl. To further the emphasis on personality, each cover face has her own cover quote summing up her outlook, from Stella Tennant - "I don't really fit the box" - to Agyness Deyn - "Feel the fear and do it anyway." Leave it to Naomi Campbell to bring the non sequitur: "I love a Sunday roast."