Models drop out of Fashion Week

Last week is revealed that Abbey Lee is out of  New York fashion week due to a knee injury. Ali Michael is the latest model to be sitting New York fashion week out

The Rachel Zoe Project Update

If like me, The Rachel Zoe Project is a guilty pleasure, you too will be pleased to hear that the show has been renewed for a second season.

This season we will be granted a front seat at the shows, as the camera follows Rachel through the nest offering of New York fashion. She was reportedly spotted with the camera's rolling on Thursday night as she hosted an opening at the Beverly Hills salon.

Credit Crunch- What Credit Crunch?

With the current economic climate, you would not expect smaller brands to be splashing out on models to appear in their ad campaigns would you? Clearly we've underestimated handbag brand, Coach who reportedly splashed out on a hefty $50,000 to bag Ali Michael to appear in their spring/summer 09 ad campaign. 

These last few months the credit crunch has had an obvious impact on the fashion industry. My fashion friend and I are already complaining about the few parties planned for fashion week this season, and lack thereof. For goodness sake, party God Marc Jacobs isn't even hosting any of his legendary after parties this season. Reportedly, he is cutting invites to his autumn/winter show by hundreds, despite hosting the show in the same location. When the credit crunch affects Marc Jacobs, you know there is a problem! Big brands like Versace and Prada have turned to the 'Supers' like Kate, Giselle and Linda to try and pull in those dollars as the luxury market takes a trip downwards.

Recent reports claim that LVMH are interested in acquiring the accessories brand.

If a $50,000 payout is not a statement to their competitors that te credit crunch is not hitting Coach, I don't know what is?

Something for the weekend

I hope everyone is having a great 'Superbowl' Sunday.

This afternoon I've been sitting deleting and moving some pictures off my laptop. Honestly, when your computer crashes at least 15 times a day and your mouse is incapable of moving, it's time to go through the fashion pictures clogging up your hard drive and de-junk. I know....it's hard but it has to be done right?

And what a good thing I did!! I came across these beautiful pictures of Grace Jones shot by the amazingly creative photographer Andrea Klarin. 

The styling in the shoot is insane. As fashion-ation rightly said, he has the 'ability to  think big and think imaginatively allowing the muse to create the interest and not be distracted by a setting or location.“I don't try to represent the reality but I try to filter it and through the imaginary world with some elegance and glitter!”'  

Happy weekend!

Fashionista

Déjà vu

                                                         

Yesterday saw Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Picciolo debut their first collection for Valentino in Paris. 

The collection definitely pleased the houses' namesake Valentino Garavani, who leapt from front his seat in front row to applaud:

"They did a very good job. It is a collection that is perfect for this very moment.  It was quite emotional to see all myclothes, done by these people who loved me for 12 years, and they are really sensational. They were always staying with me during my fittings of haute couture.”

Feel like you've seen elements of the collection before? According to fashionologie.com, the general feeling amongst the fash pack was that the show paid homage to the 'Valentino archive'  and the design duo failed to make a stamp on the house and did not take on the responsibility of moving the house forward. 

After seeing the collection I feel completely different. I loved the cream suits with the beautiful stand up collars, and the draped dresses and ruffle detailing on the ensembles. The jewel tones in red and aubergine were beautiful and classic but very cautious compared to the extravagant nature of the Valentino house. What more of a development is that. The designs moved away from the over-the-top excessive nature of the house, without compromising on the craftsmanship and detail we all love and expect from a couture show. I honestly think this is a positive mood for the house. The dresses and suits were very elegant and classic making it very relevant in the light of the current economic climate. 

Is it right of us to be so critical of the design duo so early into their job at Valentino? I don't think so. It reminds me of Frida Giannini's first few season's at Gucci. Wasn't she criticized in the same way for trying to copy Tom Ford's aesthetic at Gucci? Her recent success at Gucci is a far cry from this early criticism. I say, give them a chance to find their feet. Critics should save judgment and allow the duo to find their own comfort zone in the brand. 

Kate fights Back

Kate Moss really looked fashion fantastic as she stepped out in this gorgeous grey mini. Kate was recently kicked off the number one spots on the best dressed lists by the likes of Kylie Minogue and Agyness Deyn, but the supermodel really brought 'sexy back' in this grey number.

I love the shape on her. It completely transforms her from her usual petite frame by giving her some womanly curves.

Kate is currently in Berlin promoting her second fragrance, Velvet Hour

Sorry

Many of you have emailed me to ask where I have disappeared to but don't worry because I am back.

I've been so busy finishing exams and starting an amazing new job in the fashion industry, that I really have not ha time to post but I am back and ready to stay.

With that in mind, here's a 'Sex and the City' treat.

What did you think of the movie? 

It was very predictable but I fell in love. Shame we had already seen most of the outfits already in the celebrity magazines though.

Balenciaga Goes Online

Tredding the pavement for the latest installement of what the amazing Nicolas Ghesquière has to offer for Balenciaga is now a thing of the past. You can now enjoy searching for and buying the latest bags, ready to wear and accessories that Balenciaga has to offer from the comfort of your home, as the label announces that their online e-commerce website be available from the 15th May.

"It is an extension and adaptation of the existing BALENCIAGA.COM site," a spokeman for the design house.

I can't wait

Street Style Put to the Test

If you really think you're style is worthy enough to mix it with the best of them, be sure to make your way down to Knightbridge's Brompton Road today, where mega-label DKNY jeans is planning a 'cool hunting' competition. Staff are looking for trendy, innovative members of the public who could give Kate Moss a run for her money in the 'cool' stakes. All the staff will be out with their camera phones looking to find stylish people to appear in a NYC-style collage in the store's window, which will be created by the talented fashion illustration students from our own London College of Fashion.

If that doesn't sound amazing enough, the chosen few will even recieve free DKNY Jeans and T-Shirt to go home with.

RESULT!!!!

Eye Candy

Can't wait to the spring/summer 09 collections? Me too, but even more so when I discovered on Vogue.com that Stella McCartney has just signed a deal with eyewear firm Luxottica for the design, production and distribution of Stella-branded sunglasses.

The highly anticipated collaboration will begin in January with the first collection becoming avaliable for the spring/summer 09 season. According to vogue, the contract has been signed for an initial six-year term, which then becomes automatically renewable for an additional five-year term.

This means that we have a long installment of eye candy to look forward to. What better way to look glam at the shows. I'll have mine. Will you?

Lily's New Do

I'm still undecided about the new blonde do' that Lilly Alen is sporting at the moment.

I'm norally such a Lily fan but wasn't wowed when I saw her new hair. But now after seeing these pictures I'm slightly convinced. Sporting a simple shirt dress and fun shades, Lily looked hapy for the first time in long time since her break-up with Ed Simmons of the Chemical Brothers and her miscarriage.

Looking good Lily

What does everyone else think of her new do'

Gweneth Paltrow- Vogue May

Gweneth Paltrow is the epitome of glamour shimmering, like the star she is, in a gorgeous silver dress for the magazine's 'Shimmer and Shine' issue

“I simplify everything,” Ms. Paltrow tells Vogue on juggling her kids, career and husband Chris Martin.
According to FWD, the 35-year-old actress is wearing a gold, tissue-lame, embroidered Pre-Fall 2008 dress by Oscar de la Renta and Robert Lee Morris cuffs.

Loving Gwen on the cover but is it only me or does she look a bit over airbrushed?

Dunn Does It

Recently in a magazine, new It model 17 year old Jourdan Dunn, boldy touches an issue that many are scared to talk about.

The article titles 'Why are the catwalks so white?' sees Dunn speak openly about the lack of black models on the runway. This comes at a time where recently, supermodel diva Naomi Campbell spoke out about the lack of opportunities for black models in the fashion industry. Many people in the industry have avoided the recent controversy choosing not to comment on it so this is a brave move for Dunn, who is still relatively new to the model world. But like many argue, it's about time someone made a stand and who better than the designers present favourite clothes horse.

Early this month black designers like Duro Oluwu openly spoke out about the hard time even black designers are given trying to break out in the industry, crediting the help of American Vogue for seeing the quality of his clothes rather than the colour of his skin. He goes on to say that it was the help of both American and British Vogue that helped prevent further prejudice in his career and made buyers stand up and take notice of his designs.

In a society governed by tolerance and acceptance, why is it that the fashion industry has followed suit? Is the industry really suffering from racisim.

Fashion designer and former editor of style magazine Super, Super Kesh argues that "Being black in the business people instantly class you as 'urban', whereas a white person will be classed as high fashion'.

Why is this?

When I looked into this for research for this blog, I suddenly realised that there isn't many black people in authoratitive figures in the industry. Naomi Campbell, American Vogue's Editor at Lage Andre Leon Tally and now Duro Oluwu. Is that all there is out of the thousands of fashion positions globally. If that is not evidence that something needs to change, I don't know what is.

The Water Effect

I was lost for words when I laid eyes on this pictures on Fashion Ivy, which is a rare occurence.

I love the way the photographer captures the light. The movement of the models is so elegant and striking. It reminds me of the opening sequence of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film '2001:Space Odyssey where the satellites are in orbit with non digetic classical music, creating the idea that they were dancing in space.

It's funny because this type of shor has been attempted every season in both American and Britain's Next Top Model and none have managed to get quite like this.

What do you think?

Crazy for Christina

I was so happy to open the new issue of ELLE UK the May issues to see Christina Ricci the Black Snake Moan star grace one of the main fashion stories.

Seeing her in the magazine has a nostalgic affect on me because it was the August 2004 issue with Ricci on the front cover that sucked me in to the world of fashion. The rest is history.

Styled by Anne-Marie Curtis and photographed by Matthew Vriens, the shoot has a dark edge compared to ELLE's more safe, fresh look. The shoot oozed fashion and sophistication combined with the edge and quirkiness Ricci is most famous for. Unfortunately for us fashion fans, Ricci missed the hot spot front page by Madonna, who is currently promoting her new single with Justin Timberlake '4 minutes'. This is a really disappointing move from ELLE. It was only two issues ago, where the mag placed Chloe Sevigny on the cover saying that they would only include people related or influential to the fashion industry to move away from this current craze of the celebrity. We all sighed with relief untill the new issue was released putting the fashion star Ricci in one of the fashion stories and placing Madonna on the front page. I know Madge has influence trends and popular culture in the past but I'm no so sure that her trademark Adidas tracksuit is what the ELLE consumer is trying to aspire to.

Hopefully this is a momentary blip for my favourite UK magazine so all we can do is wait for next months installment.

Gosh, I'm such a critic!

What does everyone else think?

Old School Glamour for Demi and Rumer

On the runway shows of designers like Kimora Lee Simmons for BabyFat, we are getting strong references to that old school glamour that we all love. I'm talking cigarette pants, sharp tailoring, floor length gowns, the full works. This got me so excited for the new autumn/winter collections. Even more so after seeing these latest pictures of Demi, Ashton and Rummer at Grisogono’s Hollywood Dominos Benefiting The Art Of Elysium yesterday. Demi looks amazing in her white floor length gown. The swarovski crystals and fur really lends itself to that old school Hollywood glamour. Hopefully, we'll see more of that at the Oscars tomorrow. More and more celebrities are playing it safe on the red carpet. It's about time that we had more stars going all out for their 5 minute spot on the red carpet.

Rumer's dress looks amazing in her white floor length gown with it's intricate yet simple Grecian style draping. And I'm loving how both stars use the glamorous woman's make-up staple: the red lip.

Stunning

What does everyone else think?

Karen and Casey in Vogue

Here are the latest pictures from the current issue of Vogue

Enjoy!

What's on Watson

I was trailing through old pictures on my PC and came across quite a few of Harry Potter star, Emma Watson looking well......rather stylish!
I'm really inspired by her at the moment. Not only does she epitomize old British elegance, she's a classic beauty and beings something different to the young fashion scene in London who are simply try to be carbon copies of fashionista's like Aggy, Lily and Kelly.

Watch this space. A style icon might be in the making

Nylon March 2008: Rachel Bilson

I've just had a look at the new Nylon cover with Rachel Bilson and I'm really disappointed. For a girl that has so much innate personal style, stylists always manage to make her look so generic and 'teeny' on magazine shoots. Her hair is always non-descript and they always put her in the generic pinks and pastels. I'd love to see her in a more challenging shoot where they change her style completely. Something more like the recent shoot with Michelle Williams in Nylon. They completely changed her style and was creative with it and she looked amazing. Isn't that what we expect from fashion stories.....creativity!

What does everyone else think?

Two of a Kind

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman can be seen gracing the cover of the latest issue of W magazine.
Fully clad in the spring/summer Mui Mui collection both actresses spoke about working together on their latest film 'The other Boleyn Girl'

I love the shoot and think Natalie Portman really rocked it. She really got the intensity of the shoot and looked amazing in the different Mui Mui numbers. I hate to say it but I really didn't like Scarlett in this shoot. Her wide eyed expression looked scared as opposed to her usual sexual, femme fatale aura.