FYI: REST IN PEACE, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN.

Legendary British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead today after taking his own life at the age of forty, just days after the death of his mother, Joyce. Ambulances were called at 10:20AM to his luxury flat in Green Park, central London, where it is believe he hanged himself [DailyMail]. It is only threee days before the start of London Fashion Week, the career of the designer was far from over. Between 1996 and 2003, McQueen was named British fashion designer of the year four times. His talent and unique creativity in his fashion show presentations were unparalleled. March 9th was supposed to be the debut of his new collection at Paris Fashion Week. With details yet to be released, his office has confirmed the tragic news, saying "It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family."

Born March 16, 1969, the designer started off making dresses for his three sisters. As a teenager, he apprenticed on Savile Row, making suits for the likes of Prince Charles, later going on to Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It was upon graduating that his talent was discovered by Isabella Blow, who went on to become one of his close friends, and to whom he dedicated his Spring 2008 collection after her suicide May 7, 2007. "My relationship with McQueen began in 1994, when I went to a Saint Martins graduate show. I couldn't get a seat, so I sat on the stairs and was just watching, when I suddenly thought: I really like those clothes, they are amazing. It was his first collection." (DailyMail)


Here in the tents, emotions run high and the damper on the first day of New York Fashion Week is thick and heavy in light of the event (McQueen was to show here at fashion week today). I send out my sincerest condolences to the McQueen family, and hope that the iconic designer's legacy continues for etnernity, and his work continues to reign supreme. RIP, Alexander McQueen.

FYI: EMPORIO ARMANI HAS CAUGHT A FOX

Megan Fox has replaced Victoria Beckham as the face of the Emporio Armani underwear and jeans ads for Spring/Summer 2010, photographed by Mert & Marcus in Los Angeles. The twenty-three-year-old sultry and seductive actress sizzles in the photos below, plastered all over billboards in Tokyo, Paris, Milan, New York, Rome, and Los Angeles this month. A huge Fox fan myself, I am pleased to see her svelt, womanly body showcasing Emporio Armani and setting a more realistic body images for the youthful Fox fans in the said cities. 

“Megan is young and sexy and has a lot of spirit,” Giorgio Armani tells UsMagazine.com in a statement. “Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans are all about a youthful attitude making her the perfect choice for the collections.”

REBORN PROCESS: MODEL HYONI KANG GOES VINTAGE

Ford Supermodel of the World 2007 winner, Hyoni Kang, is adding to her long list of achievements by adding “entrepreneur” to the roster. We have all seen her in campaigns from Lacoste to DKNY. Now, the Korean-born model has teamed up with a stylist, Aeri, and J, a photographer and the New York editor of Vogue Korea to open up a vintage store in SoHo this past Christmas. While J manages the business aspect of the store, fittingly named Reborn Process, Aeri and Hyoni find vintage pieces throughout the country and re-make them in their workshop. Also the model for the line, Hyoni calls the new venture, “a vintage reform and remake store.” Hyoni and Aeri will also design their own line of tees for the store, but otherwise, every piece in the store is one-of-a-kind and unquestionably unique. As a fierce vintage fashion lover, I personally adore the idea. From what I have seen on the website, the pieces are wholly amazing, and very Vogue-like chic. Check out the website or drop by the shop at 35 Crosby Street in New York City. 

FROM POTTER TO PRORSUM

From Potter to Prorsum, Emma Watson has evolved from a young wizard to a sheer goddess. In these shots from the Burberry Prorsum Spring 2010 Campaign, Emma looks like a gem in beige and pastel trenches with waist-cinching belts and busy collars. And as if the boy candy doesn’t suffice, Emma is adorned with arm candy featuring the latest of the Burberry Prorsum bags for the spring. Be it a movie shoot or photo shoot, Watson brings forth her indwelling magic on all sets.

DARIA WERBOWY IS TWENTY-SIX YEARS TODAY

“She is much more than a model-
a personality and a unique beauty, a rare mix.”
-Karl Lagerfeld

In quite nearly every mainstream fashion magazine, cosmetic company Lancôme unleashes the forcefully mesmerizing face from which peer the pair of inimitable blue, baby-doll eyes belonging to Canadian supermodel, Daria Werbowy. Twenty-six years in and already an inductee into Canada’s Walk of Fame, Daria bears a long list of accomplishments in the industry which she -quite surprisingly- had no initial intention of being a part of. Luckily for the world of fashion, the industry has twenty-six years today to thank their lucky diamond-studded stars for a gem like Daria Werbowy. So naturally, I decided to do a brief tribute to my indisputably favorite supermodel.

With one of the most enviable resumes in the business, Daria has been regarded as one of the top runway models in history and has been named one of the top ten earners by Forbes magazine. Switching from a smaller agency to joining world-class model scout Elmer Olsen as he left Elite to form his own agency, was undoubtedly the wisest professional move Daria could have ever made. With ace agent Elmer Olsen, her career began to flourish on an international level as the agency on the forefront of personal model management took her to new heights. In fact, by 2003, Daria had been in more shows than any model had ever walked in one season alone, making her the “breakthrough” girl in the industry. Yes, Daria Werbowy has quite the vitae, but there may be a fair bit exceeding the person you have in mind.

Stunning as she may be, there is much more to the five-foot-eleven beauty than first meets the eye. Reveled for her attractive personality, Daria is a charismatic, creative, intellectual role model who engages in her fair share of philanthropic work. Karl Lagerfeld, the designer for Chanel put it in impeccable terms; “She is much more than a model - a personality and a unique beauty, a rare mix.” With hobbies like snowboarding, sailing, basketball, and a heart of gold, I cannot fathom a single thin not to love about the athletic Ukrainian/Polish/Canadian catwalk queen. With a passion for art, Daria told Canada’s Walk of Fame that “Art is definitely something I’m going to be working at my whole life. It’s my outlet. It gives me solace and comfort to be able to sit backstage on my own and draw ink sketches and let everything come out through my hands.”Spoken like a true artisan, soulful and honest. Dexterous. Darling. Daria. Happy, happy birthday, and many happy returns!

“Art is definitely something I’m going to be working at my whole life. It’s my outlet. It gives me solace and comfort to be able to sit backstage on my own and draw ink sketches and let everything come out through my hands.”

-Daria Werbowy to Canada’s Walk of Fame.

THE OLSENS GO OPTICAL

Style veterans Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen hardly hit the streets without being clad in the trendiest designer pieces, and of course, their trademark stunner shades. So naturally, the idea that the young business-savvy trendsetters are to open an optical line comes as no surprise to me.

To be released in 2010, glasses will fall in the $325-390 range, and focus on four prominent styles. According to NYLON, "A classic aviator, a square-lens oversize pair, one with rounded shades, and one where the tops hit your eyebrows." NYLON just released the info with three examples from the eyewear line. Check it out the link to the article by clicking HERE.

UPDATE

FYI: ANNA SUI HAS TARGETED GOSSIP GIRL

Following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui’s becomes the second collection in the Designers Collaborations initiative for Target. With nineteen looks in the collection, Anna Sui caught her inspiration from the infectiously addicting hit television show, Gossip Girl. Sui was especially inspired by the four styles types of central female characters Blair, Serena, Jenny and Vanessa. Slated to hit over 250 select Target stores and online at The Target Website, the line will only remain from September 13th to October 17th. Luckily for all my readers in New York City, you are invited to a exclusive pre-sale from September 10th-12th at 54 Crosby @ Spring (scroll for invite). Take advantage of the great styles and sales, and enjoy the fine fashioning of Gossip Girl’s finest!

“I have always been a fan of designer partnerships with mass retailers. I think it is a great way to bring fashion to everyone,” designer Anna Sui tells WWD. “It is an exciting challenge to try and interpret my aesthetic into a mass-produced product with a specific international source as the focus.”

Have a sneak peak at some of the clothes below.

Following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui’s becomes the second collection in the Designers Collaborations initiative for Target. With nineteen looks in the collection, Anna Sui caught her inspiration from the infectiously addicting hit television show, Gossip Girl. Sui was especially inspired by the four styles types of central female characters Blair, Serena, Jenny and Vanessa. Slated to hit over 250 select Target stores and online at The Target Website, the line will only remain from September 13th to October 17th. Luckily for all my readers in New York City, you are invited to a exclusive pre-sale from September 10th-12th at 54 Crosby @ Spring (scroll for invite). Take advantage of the great styles and sales, and enjoy the fine fashioning of Gossip Girl’s finest!

“I have always been a fan of designer partnerships with mass retailers. I think it is a great way to bring fashion to everyone,” designer Anna Sui tells WWD. “It is an exciting challenge to try and interpret my aesthetic into a mass-produced product with a specific international source as the focus.”

SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER.

Oh, September. 

Alas, the month the fashion world avidly awaits has finally come around. Of course this means that my favorite five-pound fashion read will hit the stands. For the fashion world, our year starts this month, so it's important to start off on the right stiletto. Not to mention with the documentary "The September Issue" out in theaters we can now look into the chronicling of the legendary Editor-In-Chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour and her team of fashion disciples working to plan and create the iconic "fashion bible". If you haven't heard of the long-awaited documentary yet, check out the trailer below.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MR. SCOTT SCHUMAN

Like a beautiful butterfly captured in the hand of a bright-eyed child, fashion blogger Scott Schuman proves, snapshot after snapshot, that beauty is more than just in the eye of the beholder. With every picture he takes, Schuman creates an inspirational photo documentation of international style and displays it on his renowned fashion blog, The Sartorialist. On August 12th, 2009, Penguin Publishing Company is releasing a publication of The Sartorialist’s photographs directly from his blog, labeled one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Design Influencers. Now how did all of this come to be, how is The Sartorialist what it is today? For Scott Schuman, it all commenced after he gave up a fashion sales position in 2005 in order to take care of his daughter. From there, Schuman began carrying a digital camera around the streets of New York with him, capturing street style in an extraordinary manner, and henceforth, The Sartorialist was born.

Over the years, the photoblog has depicted outfits that have caught Schuman’s eye on the stylish streets of New York, Paris, Stockholm, Milan, and London. In a single still, this artist captures the essence of movement, color, style, grace and city life in every photo he takes, with subjects ranging from regular city slickers to fashion celebrities such as Karl Lagerfeld, designer for Chanel. Schuman’s mastery has nabbed him a Paris fashion week special for style.com from Conde Nast, and work from many other well-known fashion publications.

Often referred to as The Sartorialist himself, Scott Schuman has become internationally renowned in the fashion industry for his adept artistic ability and visionary talent for spotting and photographing street style with such finesse. Where his vision first began was the most pressing wonder for me, so I deemed it a quintessential question to be answered for all my inspired readers. Schuman says his inspiration was initially sparked by a picture of a man on an empty street, shot by German photographer August Sander. From that single vision, an entire photo empire was born at thesartorialist.blogspot.com. Little does Mr. Schuman know, but every one of his photos takes my vision to a whole new level- the man is truly an inspiration to me, as I am sure he is to many from coast to coast. Below is an excerpt from the blog of The Sartorialist, as well as a shot of the cover from the soon-to-be-released book.

"Well what can I say - the book is starting to roll off the presses. Penguin just sent me one of the first printed copies. It is so crazy to actually be holding the book I have been working on since January. I know I took all of the pictures, I remember taking each one, but I still can't believe I took all of the photographs. Tracy is holding the paperback version, and soon I will have a copy of the limited-edition hardcover with slipcase to show you.
This has been a labor of love. Taking the pictures, editing the pictures, arranging the pictures, doing most of the writing while I was still in Phoenix after my Dad died. It's hard to put into words how one feels looking at their own work presented like this - so I won't even try."

-Scott Schuman.
Courtesy of The Sartorialist.

THE DIARY OF HEDI SLIMANE

Creator of the line, and simultaneously, world of Dior Homme, Hedi Slimane is one of those shooting stars; a fleeting moment of inspiration to all glassy-eyed onlookers. Whether you have seen his brilliant ocular spectacles in high-fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, or ogled the sophisticate design of the menswear line for Christian Dior, then surely you have experienced the visionary gift wrapped and delivered by Slimane himself.

His work behind the seams has earned the Tunisian-French fashion designer the well-suited title by the CFDA of International Designer of the Year in New York, 2002. But much to my dismay, many haven't had the pleasure of discovering Hedi's proficiency with the camera. His pattern of rockeresque-styled shots for Courtney Love, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Moss, and Amy Winehouse have led him to the creation of his publication Stage, a collection of rock photography that brilliantly puts his work in lights.

But alas, how lucky I have been today to have stumbled upon the virtuoso's online photographic journal, The Diary of Hedi Slimane, a photomontage that gives us an overflowingly inspirational view through the lens of Slimane. Now I can share with you the chance to bat an eye behind the lens here, and experience the wonderful world of the multitalented Hedi Slimane.

Je voudrais présenter,
Hedi Slimane.

WHEN BEAUTY INTERSECTS POWER: FIRST LADY GRACES MARCH VOGUE COVER

This March, First Lady Michelle Obama has graced the cover of the renowned Vogue magazine, making her the second First Lady to ever be featured on a Vogue cover, the other being Hillary Clinton. First ladies have been photographed for Vogue in the past, the first being Lou Hoover, wife of Herbert Hoover, but although they made the magazine, very few have had the honor of gracing the cover. The story going along with the cover is brilliantly written by Vogue editor, Andre Leon Talley.

Taken by infamous celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, Michelle Obama is pictured in the cover photograph stretched across a comfortable-looking beige sofa in the Hay-Adams Hotel where the Obama family stayed the few days prior to the inauguration of Barack Obama. Michelle looks exquisite, pictured in a magenta Jason Wu dress, this same designer being the one who designed her gown for the historic inaugural ball.
Inside the magazine, another photograph portraits the First Lady in her very own professional atmosphere, featuring her in a black Narciso Rodriquez dress with the White House peering in from the far window. The article was meant to take a look into her new lifestyle, and the adjustments that the Obama family have made to make way for the flood of changes that have washed into their lives. Michelle talks of finding a new church in the area, as well as getting the Obama girls adjusted at school and in the white house. The article takes a look into Michelle Obama's own dreams, goals, and aspirations, as well as her own personal wardrobe which, might I add, is fabulously stylish and as sophisticated as the leather-bound books on her mahogany shelving units. Even the hard-to-impress and highly judgmental Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Anna Wintour, wrote how impressed she was by the inauguration dress designed by Isabel Toledo, and the aforementioned custom-made ball gown designed by Jason Wu. Personally, the Narciso Rodriguez camel coat she so stylishly adorned at the Lincoln Memorial opening ceremony was what caught my eye!

Vogue has always and persists to be the nation's premier mainstream magazine for fashion. Putting a woman of colour on the cover, and a First Lady at that, really gives insight into how the editors of the renowned mag view the new administration. The ideals behind how beauty can intersect with power, even politics if you will, brings new light into the fashion world, and maneuvres the ideals of how power can be beauty. And how a south side Chicago-born black woman with curves can be fabulously portrayed of a symbol of beauty for all women to idolize.

"Change was the clarion call of Barack Obama's election campaign," writes Vogue's editor, Anna Wintour, "though I don't think any of us at Vogue initially realized that would include the difference that was going to be made by First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe. It wasn't just that her choices projected a simpler, streamlined, more modern attitude, rejecting the ridiculous idea that the only way for a First Lady to dress is in the dreaded White House standard-issue uniform - the boxy, anonymous suit that always managed to look as appealing, and as comfortable, as armor. Instead, we have a woman who is happy in newer, less obvious designer choices like Wu and Toledo. . . . It's inspiring to see our First Lady so serene and secure in her personal style."

AVIDLY AWAITING THE RETURN OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

As the world waits for the 81st Academy Awards this February 22nd, the recent display of haute couture in the Paris fashion week gave attendees plenty to choose from, and start thinking early. Although the awards are fun, my favorite part of the Oscars is definitely taking in the lavish ensembles on the red carpet.

Last year’s awards brought us some superb outfits to ogle, so as we desperately await the return of the world-celebrated awards show, let me give you a reminiscent look at my favorite top ten (plus one for best-dressed male!) accoutrements from last year. see my list below.

1. Anne Hathaway in a vividly red Marchesa gown and Harry Winston Jewelry.
2. Rennee Zellwegger in clean, pristine Carolina Herrerra and simply sparkling Cartier Jewelry.
3. Tilda Swinton looking divine in a flowing black velvet piece by Lanvin.
4. Hilary Swank looking, well, swank, in Atelier Versace, Chopard jewelry, and a simply to-die-for Salvatore Ferragamo clutch that I have been longingly eyeing for quite some time now.
5. The darling Adrienne Frantz looking luminous in a glittering gown by Zuhair Murag with a hard-to-spot Daniel Swarovski clutch, but definitely there to tie the piece together.
6. Keri Russell looking pure as her snow-white Nina Ricci ensemble with glittering H. Stern jewelry, altogether posing her as the beauty queen of the northern world.
7. Penelope Cruz in Chanel Haute Couture and Chopard jewelry. As always, Penelope comes out of on top looking in fact, "haute" to trot! 
8. Heidi Klum glamorously sporting custom John Galliano, and also rocking her very own Heidi Klum Collection for Mouawad jewelry. The wondrous Leiber bag and Stuart Weitzman shoes just bring the whole masterpiece together, to have Heidi looking the image of perfection, as per usual. 
9. Jennifer Garner, in Oscar de la Renta, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, and another Roger Vivier clutch, a seemingly popular choice for red-carpetwalkers this evening.
10. Cameron Diaz, pretty-in-pink in a gorgeous Christian Dior dress, lovely Bulgari jewelry, and believe it or not, another Roger Vivier clutch for the evening.

And my top male outfit award goes to..
Javier Bardem handsomely sporting Prada.

With all the red-carpet usuals preparing for the grand prix tomorrow night, every fashion follower is on the tip of their toes, just counting down the grand debut. Ladies and gentelmen, haute couture cats of all locations and tongue, get ready for the night we have all been waiting for. Tomorrow is The 81st Academy Awards. Oh red carpet, darling? We have been patiently awaiting your return.

THE MAN, THE LEGEND. NOW THE STORY.

From catwalks to magazine editorials, Karl Lagerfeld graces the media and public with his ever-mysterious presence, complete with his signature dark shades and snow-white locks pulled into a tight ponytail down the stretch of his neck. But what do we really know about the man behind the exquisitelycouturable line, besides him being a mere artistic engineer of fashion? This Monday, February 9^th you will be able to discover it all for yourself. In honor of Fashion Week, the Sundance Channel will be airing the long-awaited feature film, the Lagerfeld Confidential, at 7pm EST. 

After ten years of contemplation, the intrepid director Rodolphe Marconi has finally decided to pursue his creation of the Lagerfeld Confidential, which provides an exclusive look into the mysterious life of the “man behind the shades”. For the first time ever, Karl Lagerfeld has allowed and artistic director to create an artwork of his life, entrusting the director with his day-to-day life and personal daily encounters. To date, there exists no form of authorized biography of Lagerfeld, for he chooses to keep his memories and experiences under strictly confidential lock and key, leaving us with what one could only call the “Karl Mystery”. It may give him an air of a certain je ne sais quoi, but all the same I am simply overjoyed at the prospect of taking a trip into the fashion visionary’s life.

What you can learn about a public figure from breaking the secluded separation block can give you remarkable insight into the unjustified stereotypes we plaster across their name and image. Naturally, the best things in life seem to take the most time, but I haven’t the slightest doubt that it was worth the wait. Three years of work and over three hundred hours of footage can allow you to penetrate a barrier that invites you into the daily life of Karl Lagerfeld from behind the lens of an artful filmmaker. The world-class couturiere displays the heart and soul of his being for the fashion world to see, and the outcomes of it are far from unfortunate. How full of bliss I was, when I discovered the true gentleman with a thirst for literature, knowledge, art and culture. You will see a man who is hopelessly in love with luxury, living quite the luxurious life himself, and you will finally have an opportunity to be able to experience it from a spectator’s point of view. How pleasant it will be to discover the affectionate and humorous fashion architect, who loves nothing more than to jest with others and bring laughter to their lives, in the very comfort of your own home. Oh but please, don’t just take my word for it, embark on your voyage of discovery into the life of Karl Lagerfeld yourself.

“Rodolphe Marconi discovers the shattering moments of a life, a solitary man hurt by the death of the person beloved, a man who however doesn’t bear the nostalgia : « If life was really better before, there would be no reason now to continue »” SOURCE 

Photo courtesy of the Lagerfeld Confidential Official Website.

FYI: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

After years of massive white tents and long, structured catwalks being propped up in Bryant Park near Times Square, New York Fashion Week has hopped on the real estate wagon and is wheeling on down to the Upper West Side’s Lincoln Center plaza commencing Fall 2010. Well, well, I hadn’t even the slightest clue they were house shopping!

The gorgeous 16.3 acre series of buildings forms the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and although reports are unsure of whether all the shows will be moved indoors or some still kept outdoors, the palatial buildings will serve as a grandiose venue for the Fashion Week. After all, this is the same stomping ground for many renowned cultural organizations, such as the renowned Juilliard School, the American Ballet School, the New York Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Opera. Fashion has really taken it up a cultural notch, and I simply adore it.

So if you are lucky enough to be attending the Mercedes-Benz Fall Collections 2010 Fashion Week next February, be sure to capture the iconic tents in their natural habitat, because it will be the last time you see them standing on the grassy green grounds of Bryant Park (tear, tear).

What do you think of the new location?

(Photo courtesy of David Lamb, 2000.)

A FOOTBALLER'S BIRTHDAY

Now usually I would not specifically address a birthday that is completely unrelated to fashion. However, that is quite the contrary in this footballer’s case. The soccer star was featured in a US Vogue article with Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy, and that my friends is quite the honor in itself. This was one of my favorite editorials ever shot, so I posted some of the pictures from the shoot below. Now you can visually wish the buff soccer star a happy birthday, while enjoying some of the greatest fashion photography of all time. Beauty, truly. If you want to read the full article, you can check it out HERE.