No one can remain a frat boy forever. You should absolutely NOT have the same apartment you had at 21 at 31 or beyond. With the slogan "Trust us. You need help.", the girls over at Sexy Bachelor Pad are helping one bad apartment, in desperate need of an upgrade, at a time. Similar companies have been sprouting up in different cities, but as this group is NY based, they get the props! (& press).
Just like his clothes and his shows, these new photos for Alexander McQueen's Fall/Winter line are pretty fierce. Photographed by David Burton, these images may never actually be used for a pint campaign, so you will have to wait for more McQueen as you stream his upcoming fashion show live form Paris next week, on October 6.
At least the world of lingerie is getting it right. First it was Wonderbra partnering with the fabulous Dita Von Teese, and now H&M has announced that cult French designer Sonia Rykiel will be their next guest designer. Rykiel, who is revered for her colorful knitwear and cool Parisian style, will design exclusive lingerie for the holiday season - the first lingerie H&M has ever offered - launching December 5. (Though she will be expanding into their knits & accessories come February 2010).
It seems everyone has a spin on new media music these days, and NPR is no exception. In keeping with Music Mondays, a post of the talented Raphael Saadiq and his acoustic song set off the album "The Way I Feel" is a must listen. For more on the Tiny Desk Concerts, go here.
As part of a new segment for this music obsessed blogger, "Music Mondays" will offer up short play lists to start off your day, depending on the inspiration. Today, as fall descends upon us, and outside it's calm and cool, a few chill tracks.
Fashion week continues to spread across Europe from London to Paris to Milan. Though there seem to be mixed reviews about the Italian shows, particularly Prada, I though it was worth posting because the show layout was just so great to look at.
For anyone who is a fan of Vogue, or at the very least the new documentary "The September Issue", then you would know the real artistic heart & soul of the magazine is it's creative director, Grace Coddington. Now, fans can rejoice at the prospect of having a little more Grace in their living rooms. In 2002, Coddington published Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue, a 400-page illustrated coffee table book which features photos from such renowned photographers as Mario Testino, a foreward by Karl Lagerfeld and an introduction by Anna Wintour herself. The book is about to be re-issued which is great eye candy, because she "really just wants to style beautiful pictures." Thank you, Grace!
This is a little late, but here in NY we have been inundated by a month of our own fashion events. But now...London! This year the city celebrates 25 years of London fashion week and here, for The New York Times, Suzy Menkes discusses the past twenty-five years of London fashion and how it has evolved.
It's hard to believe that the iconic movie "The Wizard of Oz" will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary this month! Movie theaters everywhere will be re-releasing the film across the country, and the fashion item that has captivated generations of girls, those famous ruby slippers, will be celebrated all on their own. Swarovski and some of today's hottest designers including Betsey Johnson, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., Manolo Blahnik, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, and Stuart Weitzman will all be re-vamping their own version of the famous shoe! Their designs will be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
For those of you lucky enough to see U2 play tonight in NY, I have finally found one of my favorite concert clips ever! They are truly a band not to be missed live! For concert dates in your area visit the official U2 Tour.
As far as ENK International Trade Shows go, Coterie is the belle of the ball. Running September 22-24, the New York City Fashion Coterie remains a press & trade event that is directional & exclusive. During the last seventeen years, it has been an essential sales vehicle for notable fashion houses worldwide, and continues to introduce emerging talent each season. The buying season starts here and the numbers will be a telling sign in this tough economy where retail numbers have dropped dramatically.
And the Emmy winners are...here. But really, this is less about the awards themselves and more about the glamour. Though the red carpet isn't quite the caliber of The Oscar's, it is close, and it becomes another excuse to play dress up & try to outdo one another. Check out the polls for more. Meanwhile, bringing it home last night was Blake Lively, looking gorgeous in a spectacular red Versace gown, complete with the mandatory hot Christian Louboutin's.
Designer Betsey Johnson is teaming up with New York's famed Plaza Hotel to create a suite based on the children's book series Eloise, where 6 year-old Eloise lives in a pink and white striped room top floor of the Plaza Hotel. How fabulous! Betsey is just the wild designer to do it! The end result should be lovely but...expensive.
Though Carrie Fisher will long be remembered as Princess Leia, she is now recognized as a brilliant writer, wit and Hollywood script doctor. Of course, she has had her fair share of ups & downs being raised in the movie business by two famous parents (Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher), addictions to drugs & alcohol,bi-polar disorder and multiple husbands. All of which was great fodder for her autobiographical book & film "Postcards from the edge". And now her one-woman show "Wishful Drinking", based on her recent bestselling memoir of the same title, is coming to Broadway. The show will begin previews at Studio 54 on September 22 with opening set for October 4. It will play a limited engagement through January 3, 2010. (And if you haven't been to other bway gems like "In the Heights" or "Avenue Q", what are you waiting for?)
If you want a Fashion Week Spring 2010 recap and wish to revisit the shows, you can do so either at the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Youtube Channel or Style.com, where you can pick your must have's and have nots!
Always one of my faves from the NY Times, and one who I have written about before, Bill Cunningham reports on how far menswear has come since the uptight gray flannel suit. This quirky gentleman has been riding his bicycle around town for decades and taking photos for the paper, but his commentary is so great & old school coming through that thick NY accent. Related Videos: http://bit.ly/FGoeu
We survived NY fashion week! Now onto the 'make or break' sales at Coterie Monday, followed by Paris fashion week. Often times in the ridiculousness of this past week, I found myself reminded of the ladies of Absolutely Fabulous, possibly the greatest fashion television show of all time! If you need a laugh - by all means - revisit this brilliant BBC gem, and join Edina & Patsy in all their "Sex, Drugs and Shopping" glory. Visit them here.
A clever man in Britain, "tired of giving (his) girlfriend a piggyback home every Saturday night" when she danced her feet to death in stilettos, came up with the brilliant idea of vending machines that sell flats. Genius! Female clubbers in Britain have been enjoying the comfort of slipping out of their heels and basking in the joy of flats (at a cheap price too) at their favorite hot spots. As a bonus they boast being super flexible, so they can be folded up and stashed in your bag for later usage. Bring those machines stateside - stat! **Update: Apparently many American entrepreneurs have jumped on the foldable shoe craze yet none are dispensed in vending machines. Somehow that just isn't as fun.
I, like so many others, have had a long standing love affair with the City of Paris. In 2006, the charming movie 'Paris Je T'aime' allowed us all to witness "Stories of Love. From the City of Love." Eighteen filmmakers shared their short stories of love and loss, capturing fleeting moments in people's lives that are so easily overlooked yet universally understood. This year brings my other favorite City to light in 'New York, I Love You,' where "Every moment another story begins," using the same story telling method its predecessor did, and again with an all-star cast. Opens October 16.
With the release of 'Coco Before Chanel' right around the corner, lead French actress Audrey Tautou is being featured in the new ad campaign for the fragrance Chanel N° 5. Says AT: "The fact that she created a fragrance in the 1920s that could just as easily have been created yesterday reflects the standard of excellence that applied to everything she did in her life. By playing Coco and getting to know her, I understood, even more, just how unique N°5 really is.” She is a lovely choice indeed! Now, Mr. Lagerfeld's bizarre decision to incorporate crazy, and decidedly unclassy Lily Allen into Chanel's other campaign shows a (very) rare absence of good taste.
Back Stage is actually WAY more entertaining than the actual runway show. Case in point was one of the hottest shows to be at, Marc Jacobs, captured in all the behind the scenes glory & chaos by Urban Eye. Who else was on today's must see list? Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.
I remember my neighbors years ago used to religiously go surfing on the weekend. The odd part? It was in NY. Originally from the west coast, I always equated surfing with California, or if you were really brave, the chilly waters off of Oregon or Tofino. Turns out this is far from the truth, and to prove the point, the boys of 'Saturdays Surf' have opened one of the coolest spaces in Soho. This is your new favorite surf shop and espresso bar and, most important, secret garden deck, now providing your latest hideaway for midday coffee and snacks. Indeed a welcome oasis in the bustle of Manhattan. 31 Crosby. Check it out, and let this video for The Drums "Let's Go Surfing" (directed by one of the stores owners) get you in the mood.
Anna Sui’s new collection for Target poses the question: Are you a Blair, Jenny, Serena or Vanessa? Inspired by the characters on "Gossip Girl" (the new rage in television fashion), Sui’s line for the mega retailer infuses the on-screen style of each Upper East Side, prepster/party girl with Sui’s signature vintage aesthetic. Anna Sui for Target landed in Target stores on Sept. 13 -- the day before the season premiere of "Gossip Girl."
It suddenly struck me that I have neglected all the men's shows. My apologies. And God help me, I always love a well dressed gentleman! But the 2010 menswear seems to be a little mixed up, and people are still reeling from the ridiculousness that was Thom Browne’s show yesterday. Going wild for spring, amidst rumors of financial issues, is half disaster, half PR brilliance. Other than that, it seems the usual suspects continue to raise the bar for impeccable tailoring (a must in men's fashion) and the outlandish collections will be punished later with dismal sales numbers. In other news, today brings Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Anna Sui, Nanette Lepore, Phillip Lim and Milly.
Per my earlier post, watching the runway shows online really is the most fun. Believe me, crowded tents full of sweaty people, however well dressed, isn't as much fun as it sounds. It's not like we all get front row, darling ;) This is why Style.com does such a great job with designer recaps with none other than Tim Blanks. The debate today was whether to show Diane Von Furstenberg (a NY favorite) or Caroling Herrera (I wanted every piece. Where would I go in a purple evening gown? Not sure, but I would figure something out.) See more at: http://www.style.com/video/fashion-shows-by-season/
This is hardly new news, but I love a good bargain and this is worth repeating. With all of the events of the past week, I was reminded that Project Runway's most fierce alum, Christian Siriano, had done a fabulous (and cheap!) line of shoes and handbags for Payless. The collection of skyscraping heels ranges in price from $25 to $45 and are inspired by Egyptian artifacts with hieroglyphic details and all. The spikey pairs looks a bit inspired by the Christian Louboutin for Rodarte and at this price, they are a must have. The ankle boots alone are strangely better than many others on the market for a fraction of the price. No hot mess here! Other fall 2009 designer lines for Payless include Alice + Oliva and Lela Rose.
Everyone that feels dizzy from the long list of fashion shows, please raise your perfectly manicured hand! March on Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Max Azria, Tibi and Narciso Rodriguez, and keep us entertained! Or perhaps you prefer watching from the comfort of your own home? Why not. First it was announced earlier this week that Alexander McQueen will stream his Paris Fashion Week show on October 6th live through his website. And now Michael Kors announced he will stream his Spring 2010 collection tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept 16th at 10:00am EST. The broadcast will be available at michaelkors.com. Let's hope this sparks a trend because frankly, watching high fashion while kicking it in your PJ's with snacks at home sounds pretty fabulous to me.
Another big day! Zac Posen, Jill Stuart, Donna Karan, Tracy Reese and Caroline Herrera. All fantastically talented and financially backed (though rumor is that Posen is slipping. More on that later.) But during a conversation last night with people in fashion sales, we lamented over the poor independents who have really been hit hard, and many boutiques have been forced to drop lines due to their diminishing numbers. That's why a video (thanks D) made me happy today because it goes to show that even independent designers can be creative in their fundraising. Using the medium of kickstarter.com, this designer was able to get what she needed to fulfill her dream of showing somewhere during fashion week. Visit her here to see her cute little video. Kudos to her!
Ah, the MTV Awards. Always a hot bed for controversy and in some ways, mediocrity. First there was the MJ tribute (with Madonna doing the intro, Janet rocked out later), followed by the new "New Moon" trailer (cue the screaming girls), Lady Gaga 'bled' on stage, Pink & Shakira showed up in the same dress (As my friend stated tonight, someone is getting fired!) and oh yeah, once again Kanye West is a douche Bag. www.mtv.com
Big day today from designers Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Herve Leger, Rebecca Taylor, Diane Von Furstenberg and Tuleh and so far most of the reviews have been positive. It appears that many of the designers are creating clothing that can actually be worn and are attempting to give the consumer what they actually want & need in this economy. Today I bring you a little glimpse from Jason Wu, the young American designer who is responsible for many of the chic ensembles favored by First Lady, Michelle Obama.
Per request, I recently started compiling a list of songs about fashion but it just started getting longer and longer. And where do you stop? Does Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Diamond's are a girl's best friend" count? Or should I just stick with the obvious like Madonna's "Vogue" and The Kinks "Dedicated follower of fashion"? One name that stuck out for me was George Michael, even though his songs are not about fashion, the early-mid 90's saw him produce two hugely popular music videos, "Freedom" and "Too Funky" respectively, that cast the major supermodels of the day. (They actually used the "Freedom" video at the Metropolitan museum's 'model as muse' exhibit.) Regardless of his recent tabloid fodder, I love Michael still, and if you don't remember the songs or it has been awhile, I urge you to revisit his brilliant 1990 album 'Listen without Prejudice'. (And yes, his "Faith" album and Wham days rock too.)
What I like about fashion week, or really any major art event, is that the mainstream is balanced with the Indie. Case in point: although today's shows at the main tent include Lacoste, Christian Siriano and Vivienne Tam, I will make my way to the East Village this evening to the secret underground location for the 'Mandate of Heaven' Spring 2010 show and for the debut of Opiate, their new collection of organic necessities. Hailing from Brooklyn, MOH does mostly one of a kind pieces, and has garnered a loyal following, including singer Katy Perry who they recently designed an exclusive line for. The following video is actually from their fall 2008 show, but all of their promo pieces are as cool as this one too!
This is indeed a busy week, as TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) also started last week and I have very much enjoyed the constant stream of social media updates from those lucky enough to be in attendance. Now considered one of the world leaders in cinema festivals, this year looks to debut such heavyweights as Steven Soderbergh's "The Informant", Pedro Almodóvar's "Broken Embraces", Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air" as well as many, many more.
Day two at the Spring Ready-to-Wear 2010 shows today brought shows from Cynthia Steffe, Charlotte Ronson and my 'ghost-of-jobs-past', Nicole Miller (along with a host of others of course. Check the schedule for more information.) I did not mention yesterday that one of my personal favorites showed, Elie Tahari, and did not disappoint. Once again they proved how cruel it is to tease a fan with multiple items that may never quite reach her closet. Or will they? Another mention is Gwen Stefani's 'L.A.M.B.' line and Whitney Port's new line 'Whitney Eve (Reality tv "actress" turned designer. Quelle Surprise.) and my question is this: Why? This is not the kinds of thing that belongs on a big runway, under the spectacle of lights that is NY fashion week. It is not deserving. Sorry, but there it is. Though ready-to-wear is just that, clothing to put on your back and go, it can sometimes be enough for one to long for the days of couture.
The ladies of Sex & The City have hit the streets of NY to start filming on the sequel to the smash movie. Though many of you may have seen these, I had to re-post because it's too funny and it makes me appreciate the fact that we all managed to survive the 80's. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte were seen shooting 1980's flashback sequences that are enough to scare the hell out of anybody. (Although I do love that SJP is channeling a young Madonna. Who hasn't gone there?) Personally, I'm still recovering from wearing all that neon and an arms length of jelly bangles. Oops.
I can't speak for everywhere else, but Fashions Night Out in the meatpacking district last night was a drinking & shopping frenzy! It seemed like every celeb & fashion maverick was out, and it made me very curious as to what the final tally was in terms of retail revenue. And from what I saw at stores such as Adam and Catherine Malandrino, champagne + credit card is never a good idea for the consumer but ALWAYS good for the merchant. Before the 11pm deadline, people were still buying dresses like they were never going to have the chance again. It was a great success and I hope they do this again since it really is a great idea ;)
The schedule today included designers Michael Angel, BCBGMaxAzria, David Elfin, Duckie Brown, Mara Hoffman/Nicholas K/Whitney Eve, Ports 1961 and Rosa Cha. Of course, all of this is in addition to the myriad of celebrations happening around town for 'Fashions Night Out' tonight. I fear it is enough to make your credit card cry. As the shows are revealing the Spring 2010 collections, it is a steady stream of gorgeous dresses and a reminder that maintaining the ability to eat & then expecting to fit into them is not necessarily a compatible option. I kid! See reviews at WWD.
Try saying this one three times quickly: TCM presents Fashions Favorite Films! Turner Classic Movies decided to tie into the launch of fashion week by picking these 15 style-tastic trendsetting movies because "film has provided fashion inspiration for audiences and fashion designers alike; costumes not only help create a character, but can spur real-life trends and runway looks." This list includes "Rebel without a cause", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Annie Hall" and surprise, surprise, "Breakfast At Tiffany's", which if you haven't already, you need to go out and rent asap!
Today is the release of "The Beatles: Rock Band Edition" and anybody who has ever played Rock Band or Guitar Hero before clearly knows the depth of addiction of these games. I have witnessed 10-year-olds and 50-year-olds play this game with the same relentless passion that accompanies delusional dreams of rock stardom that we all carry in us somewhere. The fact that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the widows of George Harrison and John Lennon recognize the potential of such a game and its international & multigenerational appeal is lucky for us. NY Times writer Seth Schiesel wrote a great article on it, saying: "Previous titles in the series have already done more in recent years to introduce young people to classic rock than all the radio stations in the country. But this new game is special because it so lovingly, meticulously, gloriously showcases the relatively brief career of the most important rock band of all time. The music and lyrics of the Beatles are no less relevant today than they were all those decades ago, and by reimagining the Beatles’ message in the unabashedly modern, interactive, digital form of now, the new game ties together almost 50 years of modern entertainment."
Get ready for New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, running September 10-17th! Now everyone battles it out to sit (or stand) and witness the unveiling of the Spring Collections, American designers showing before Europe. The spectacle of Fashion week is exciting but at the same time there are other ways to see and process the messages of the season. With such volatile economic times quickly knocking down designers left and right, I'm curious to see what coping mechanisms they will come up with and who will come out on top. http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/
First day back to work after Labor Day weekend. Ugh. Time for some music! Last night at a dinner party, playing with the ipod, I was reminded of last years fun album from New York's 'Vampire Weekend'. It was the soundtrack of last summer and you have probably heard their immensely popular single "A-Punk" on many a movie soundtrack (That song was ranked the 4th best song in 2008 on Rolling Stone's list of Best songs in 2008.) If you need a little pick me up today, I highly recommend a revisit!
Meow. "Fluff Chance", the now infamous blogger at emperorsoldclothes.blogspot.com, had his claws out in a recent article on celebrity designers and I *heart* him for it! This recent article was entitled "What makes a Designer? 3 cases in point: Victoria Beckham, The Row by the Olsen twins, and Alexander Wang." Noting the now crowded field of wannabe designers he says "I should have seen it coming. What the hell, everyone and his neighbor's best friend's second cousin is." Absolutely. He call VB's line "a sad rack of a dozen poorly made dresses" but goes on to support the Olsen twins line 'The Row' (see earlier post). Says Fluff: "The Row stands on its own. It has legs and uses them effectively. Comparing them to Beckham is almost impossible to avoid. Victoria is your typical example of the tired school of thought that anyone with money, star status and a closet full of designer clothes can in turn be one. I wear it, therefore, I can design it. Well to my eye The Olsens are it." Go read the article! www.therow.com or www.victoriabeckham.com
Amid the onslaught of fall fashion magazines, perhaps none have better interviews than the annual 'Style Issue' from the kids over at The New Yorker. This year includes Lauren Collins on Burberry, Alexandra Jacobs on Zappos, Dana Goodyear on the interior designer Kelly Wearstler, Judith Thurman on Amelia Earhart, Patricia Marx on shopping in Chicago, fiction by Paul Theroux, and more! (*As a side note it should be mentioned that Time magazines bi-annual Style & Design has temporarily folded under the pressures of the bad economy. Another one bites the dust. )
I don't know what scares me more: How much the daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall looks like them (kind of like the earlier post on Lola) or the fact that she is only 17 years old and did this racy new ad for Hudson Jeans. Georgia May Jagger is the new face of their brand because, as Hudson says: "We wanted to brand it as this denim company based in California, but with a very London edge. Their symbol is the Union Jack, and they are all about aristocracy and rock ’n’ roll. Then it hit me when I came across a picture of Georgia that she was the one. Her mom is an American icon, her father a British rocker, and she’s the epitome of the two. She’s in the DNA of the brand.”
September 10th marks New York's "Fashions Night Out" which is an attempt to "promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion", but really it is an excuse to keep stores open until 11pm, throw a few parties and get you to drop your hard earned dollars. Next only to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages. Because the retail sector has been hit hard, American Vogue, NYC & Company, the City of New York, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America is hosting this event in an attempt to give it a boost as well as raise money for the September 11th fund. Of course, international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals too, so keep an eye out for your city! For more: http://fashionsnightout.com/
Anyone who has seen this recent photo of Madonna's daughter Lourdes is likely having a major case of deja vu. For those of us who remember Madonna's infamous 1984 "Like a Virgin" MTV performance in this bridal get up, the fact that her teenage clone has manifested is nonetheless shocking. When did this happen? Where did the last 25 years go? (Don't answer that, I'm not ;) Aside from her appearance in Madonna's 2005 documentary "I'm going to tell you a secret", Lola recently appeared on stage for the last date on the Sticky & Sweet world tour, followed by a cameo in Ms. M's hot new video. It is only a matter of time before she takes over the pop world too. Brace yourselves! Now it's time to turn up your computer speakers and have your own dance party to Madonna's new track "Celebration"!
In honor of the US Open starting, it seems like a good time to reflect on the fashions that have hit the courts over the years. A seemingly traditional sport, many players have extended their court side wardrobe to coincide with (surprise, surprise) regular TV tennis coverage starting in the 70's. The Moment Blog recently served up some of the sport’s winning looks and some dubious line calls. Serena Williams in particular, is no stranger to a conversation-starting ensemble. About this one above (one of her more demure), she said: “It is ladylike and I am very ladylike… It is very movable, it is very light, it is delectable.” Perhaps not after a good warm-up, but I digress.
You have to love Lady Gaga....she really is doing things her way, whether it is her music or her insane fashion taste which seems to be one part 'broadway show' mixed with 'hooker chic'. Recently she has showed up to interviews in a Kermit the Frog cape (made up of Kermit heads. Seriously.) and a lamp shade hat covering her entire body, to another. She never fails to entertain!
Donna Karan has just turned 20 years old! (Uh, the label..not the woman ;) And to celebrate the occasion, DKNY has decided to do something special, by way of the new Chari-tee, where the tag of each shirt lists five charities, then allowing the customer to select one to which all of the proceeds ($65) will benefit the selected charity. Great idea!
The sudden death of Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein last week left many people stunned here in NY (and beyond). It seems especially sad after he got a second chance at life after last year's horrific plane crash. Certainly an incredible loss to the music community, his friends and colleagues always spoke extremely well of him as an individual, and for anyone who has attended his shows & loves music, he was amazing. He was also giving back to the community, working on a project with MTV to help young people battle their own addictions, which may still move forward in his honor.
