>> Despite a scathing review in The New York Times yesterday, the" black hole of bad art and superficial temptations," otherwise known as the Chanel Mobile Art exhibition, brought out the well-heeled last night. Editors were in full force — Carine Roitfeld and Franca Sozzani swarmed Karl Lagerfeld upon his arrival, Glenda Bailey and Amy Astley made early cameos — but there was no Anna Wintour in sight . . . nor Bee Shaffer for that matter. Strange, considering how close they are with Karl — Bee was at the Versace-hosted Whitney gala the night before, but no Anna there either. But speaking of missing persons — Catherine McNeil and Freja Beha Erichsen fans will be happy to know that after their well-documented disappearances during Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, they've popped up again — together, no less.
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Chanel Mobile Art Opening Misses Anna Wintour, Brings Back McBeha
>> THE MODELIZER —Catherine McNeil missed both Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks, with her Sydney agent only offering that she was "unwell" as explanation. But according to her grandmother, it's nothing to worry about — only exhaustion and homesickness: "She's just burned out." Instead of gracing catwalks aplenty, McNeil was recuperating in New York. [The Courier-Mail]
>> THE MODELIZER —Several models haven't shown up in Milan shows they normally walk in, but at least we have an explanation for one of them. Catherine McNeil is this season's Sasha Pivovarova — her Sydney agent says that she is "unwell" and will miss Milan and most likely Paris, too. [Frockwriter]
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>> THE MODELIZER —Fun times: Abbey Lee Kershaw's alternate persona "Addy Lee" and her "unknown friend" Catherine McNeil showed up to the V magazine party last night. [Wireimage]
Preen: Pregnant with Pretty for Spring 2009
>> It's hard to imagine being pregnant and designing hot little minidresses for other women to wear, but when you're Thea Bregazzi, one half of design duo Preen, and those hot little minidresses happen to be what your label is known for, that's just what you do.
The heavily expectant Thea stayed across the pond in London while her partner in design and life, Justin Thornton, carried on with the label's show today. He carried it well — everything went smoothly, save a slight wardrobe malfunction for Anja Rubik and the confusion that ensued at the end of the show, when Justin didn't appear at the end of the runway and no one knew when to start the final applause.
As for the clothes, the dresses with intricate paneled cutouts and peekaboo zipper slats, the piquante shots of tomato red, and the sexily laced up pleated skinny pants came together for a more refined collection than we have seen from Preen in the last couple of seasons. Maybe Thea should be pregnant more often . . .
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