Posted: April 16, 2010 at 9:36 am | Tags: Alexander McQueen, British Designer of the Year, Council of Fashion, Designer, Designer Awards, Fashion, Kristin Knox, Prince Charles
The first biography on the late Alexander McQueen is set to be released next month
The designer committed suicide in February and fashion journalist Kristin Knox has already penned a book in tribute to him, entitled ‘Alexander McQueen, Genius of a Generation’.
The biography – to be produced by publishers A+C Black – will take a look back at the 40-year-old star’s glittering career, including 120 images of his most memorable creations as well his final, unfinished Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.
McQueen was born in London’s East End and was named British Designer of the Year on four occasions between 1996 and 2003 and made clothes for a whole range of high-profile stars, including Britain’s Prince Charles.
He was also awarded a CBE as well as being named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards.
McQueen – real name Lee – was discovered hanged in a wardrobe at his London home by his cleaner on the eve of his beloved mother’s funeral on 11 February.
An inquest into his death was told he left a suicide note for his loved ones, which is believed to have been found at the scene.
Posted: April 13, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Tags: Anna Wintour, Camera della Moda, Designer, Fashion, Giorgio Armani, Milan Fashion Week, Patrizio Bertelli, Prada, Vogue
Italy’s biggest designers are spreading their shows out over seven days at the next Milan Fashion Week to ensure press and buyers stay in the city.
Some of the world’s largest and most influential fashion labels including Giorgio Armani and Prada have united to distribute their shows evenly across a full week, meaning the biggest shows aren’t condensed into three days and smaller labels will have a chance of being seen.
Armani said: ‘I am happy that my call for responsibility has been agreed to and I don’t think I was the only one hoping for it: the moment had come to reconsider in earnest the issue of the fashion calendar, because a whole industrial system revolves around it.’
He added the agreement was reached with the Camera della Moda, Italy’s governing fashion body.
He said: ‘The agreement by the major designers, which protects the emerging ones as well, has been reached with the mediation of Camera della Moda and demonstrates we Italians, if we really want it, are perfectly able to assert ourselves without fear in order to enhance what the world acknowledges to be a rich and inimitable creative heritage.’
Prada‘s chief executive Patrizio Bertelli added: ‘Milan Fashion Week is an event of fundamental importance.
‘Today we have made a significant step forward which goes in the right direction: in fact, it underlines a sense of belonging we have been afraid of losing because of recent controversies.’
Vogue editor Anna Wintour caused huge controversy at this year’s Fashion Week in March when the show was increased to five days, but she opted to attend only for her originally planned three days, prompting many designers to change their show dates in order to accommodate her.
Posted: April 13, 2010 at 1:34 pm | Tags: CFDA, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Coleen McLoughlin, Designer, Georgina Chapman, Harvey Weinstein, Marchesa, New Yorkers for Children Gala, Vogue Fashion Fund, Wayne Rooney
Georgina Chapman is pregnant with her first child.
The Marchesa designer – who is married to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein – is set to give birth in August and is having fun dressing her ever-expanding stomach.
Speaking at the New Yorkers for Children gala, Georgina said: ‘We’re so excited! I’m five months along, but this dress hides it pretty well!’
While it will be the first child for Georgina, Harvey already has three daughters, Lily, Lucy and Emma, from a previous marriage.
In 2004, Georgina co-founded Marchesa with fellow Chelsea College of Art and Design graduate Keren Craig, with the label being named after socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati.
Investors of the brand include Giuseppe Cipriani and Steven C. Witkoff and in 2006, the label was named one of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund‘s top ten finalists.
In 2008, the designers created one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated wedding dresses – that of Coleen McLoughlin, who was marrying England soccer star Wayne Rooney in a beautiful Italian ceremony.
Posted: April 12, 2010 at 10:02 am | Tags: Ashley Olsen, Designer, Elizabeth and James Label, Mary-Kate Olsen, Olsenboye, The Row
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are adding denim to their Elizabeth and James label.
The 23-year-old twins – who have two other clothing lines, The Row and Olsenboye – have created Textile Elizabeth and James with designs which have been inspired by the 70s.
Ashley said: ‘With the addition of Textile Elizabeth and James, the label offers a well-rounded collection of casual to dressy options for the trend conscious customer.’
The debut range will initially feature three jean styles – high-waisted cropped flare, distressed denim bell-bottoms and a casual button-fly – and all will retail at $245.
Mary-Kate added: ‘The fit, wash, hardware and fabric of Textile Elizabeth and James embody the Elizabeth and James quality and design aesthetic our customers have come to expect. The details of each piece have been carefully executed for a worn, classic touch.’
By the end of the year, Mary-Kate and Ashley will expand the range to eight denim and corduroy styles as well as distressed T-shirts, delicate blouses, sweaters and sweatshirts.
The siblings recently revealed their junior range Olsenboye was inspired by their friends.
Mary-Kate said: ‘We’ve been working with our friends who are our age and in art school.’
Ashley added: ‘They’ve helped out with the art on the web sites and doing the commercials and the videos.’
Posted: April 12, 2010 at 9:45 am | Tags: Designer, Fashion, Gisele Bundchen, Grendene, Ipamema, Supermodel, WWD
Gisele Bundchen could never be a fashion designer.
The supermodel - who gave birth to her first child in December – admits she wouldn’t have the skills or the patience to create clothes and accessories full-time, but did enjoy working on her flip-flop collection, Ipamema, with Brazil’s largest shoe company Grendene.
Speaking at the launch in Paris yesterday (08.04.10), Gisele said: ‘I am very inspired by nature and like to use that for my ideas, but actually designing them – no way. I would be a disaster.’
The Brazilian beauty says she is more focused on her creations being environmentally-friendly rather than how much she helped design them.
She told WWD: ‘Nature is very close to my heart, and it is important for me that people who buy my flip-flops are made aware of the environment.’
Despite being one of the world’s most successful supermodels, Gisele recently admitted she was initially terrified when she entered the fashion industry so invented a second persona.
She said: ‘I was in the fashion shows in Milan, I was 17, I was doing like 100 shows. People were asking, ‘How does it feel to be the model of the moment?’ It was hard for me to answer as myself. I barely spoke English. I thought, I have to give my best because they trust me with that. I invented this other person, and she could do everything. She wasn’t afraid; she was able to be ballsy and risky and sexy or androgynous. She was bold. I had to believe in myself as this person that was strong, up-front, invincible, and positive, who knew what she was doing, even though I really didn’t.’
Posted: April 12, 2010 at 9:39 am | Tags: Designer, Etam, Etam Group, Eva Herzigova, Fashion, Laurent Milchior, Supermodel, WWD
Eva Herzigova has created a fashion line for Etam.
The supermodel has teamed up with the French label to design a ready-to-wear label, entitled Eva Herzigova Pour 1.2.3, and admits she had a lot of fun doing it.
Speaking about her range, Eva said: ‘It has been totally hands-on, no one telling me what to do and designing whatever crossed my mind.
‘Having done my own clothes from when I was young in the Czech Republic, I know how things are assembled and think of each detail. I am a perfectionist and I demand a lot, and I wanted something that is affordable but also luxurious.’
Laurent Milchior, co-managing director of the Etam Group, added to WWD: ‘Eva is a real woman, always elegant, and will bring a bit more warmth to the brand.’
The collection features jeans, trench coats and gypsy skirts, as well as smarter outfits including long silk evening dresses.
She has also designed a range of accessories to complement the clothes.
A website is set to be launched in July to make the collection more accessible.
Posted: April 9, 2010 at 9:21 am | Tags: Christopher Kane, Designer, Elle Magazine, Fashion, Model, Yasmin Le Bon
Yasmin Le Bon is a ‘hoarder’ when it comes to clothes.
The stunning model - who has three daughters, Amber, Saffron and Tallulah, with husband Simon Le Bon – admits she now hangs on to most of her outfits as she wants to give them to her girls because she has never got over making the mistake of selling one of her beloved designer gowns.
Talking about her collection, she said: ‘Like, the girls love the history. They only try to pinch the stuff I’ve had for years. Everything is going to be theirs eventually, anyway. Clothes are to be used: why would you not wear them again and again? That’s why I’m such a hoarder.
‘I made a very silly mistake once. In a moment of madness – I’d probably just had a baby – I sold an Azzedine Alaia dress. I went back the next day to get it back and it had gone. That’s my great fashion loss and it taught me a lesson.’
Yasmin, 45, is a huge fan of many up-and-coming designers and recommends investing in their creations now.
She told Britain’s Elle magazine: ‘I love the young designers coming through. I would give my right arm for everything that Christopher Kane comes up with. Now those are investment pieces. If you spend money on something extraordinary, you’ll keep it forever.’
Posted: April 9, 2010 at 9:16 am | Tags: Designer, Fashion, New York, Paris, The Gamme Bleu Show, Thom Browne, Women's Wear Daily
Thom Browne believes he will be more successful once he moves to Paris.
The US designer’s menswear label is currently based in New York and despite making a big name for himself there, he thinks relocating to the French capital will be more beneficial.
He said: ‘We’re focusing on growing internationally as a collection brand. Showing in Paris opens up the world a lot more. Also, Paris is the best city for understanding innovation and provocation. And when it comes down to a commercial point of view, it’s important to be able to sell that early in the season. Most designers would rather have their show before selling. The selling season is so early, and the shows in Europe are in tune with it.’
However, Thom admits moving to Paris will have its difficulties because he’ll be under more time pressure.
He told WWD: ‘It means getting the collection done two months earlier, which isn’t easy. And even sooner, actually, because we have to get everything and everyone over there. It’s going to be a big couple weeks in June. The Gamme Bleu show will be five days before. We will use the same show producer we use here, so it’s comfortable in that regard, but there are big differences between the cities to navigate, so it’s good to have the right resources.’
Posted: April 8, 2010 at 10:37 am | Tags: Baptise Giacobini, Chanel, Coca-Cola, Coco Rocha, Designer, France, Hogan, Karl Lagerfeld, Label, Model
Karl Lagerfeld has designed a range of Coca-Cola Light bottles.
The Chanel designer has created a limited edition bottle for release in France, made in aluminium and featuring his own silhouette.
As well as designing the bottles, he also shot the advertising campaign starring models Coco Rocha and Baptise Giacobini.
The bottle goes on sale in France on April 28 and will sell for 47 euros and comes with a matching bottle opener.
In the campaign, Coco is seen in a Lagerfeld-inspired outfit, including his eponymous high-collared white shirt and a black neck tie.
It is not the only collaboration Karl is committing to this month – it was recently announced he would be working with luxury Italian label Hogan in 2011.
In a statement, Hogan said it was looking forward to working with the German-born fashionista.
It read: ‘Karl Lagerfeld has built a universe where every line is controlled and every detail has meaning. From this Cartesian spirit has arisen a hyper-modern and structured style at the top of its form. A look and an attitude transcribed through graphic codes that have become emblematic signatures.’
Posted: April 7, 2010 at 9:30 am | Tags: Advice, Alexander Wang, Amanda Seyfried, Calvin Klein, Designer, Dominic Cooper, Fashion, LOOK Magazine, Mama Mia, Prada, Stella McCartney, Style
Amanda Seyfried gets fashion advice from boyfriend Dominic Cooper.
The stunning actress admits she’s quite casual when it comes to style and relies on her ‘Mamma Mia!’ co-star to help her look good.
She said: ‘I love Stella McCartney and Alexander Wang. But I’m more likely to buy leggings than an elaborate low-cut piece. They both make casual clothes that have something extra going on, which is what I want. I also like Calvin Klein and I love Prada bags. Actually, Dominic bought me a gorgeous bag. He knows a lot about fashion. He’s very stylish.’
Amanda looks good in most designer clothes as she is blessed with an enviable figure but says she has to work hard to maintain it.
The blonde beauty told LOOK magazine: ‘I love to work out. I like it when my body is tight and when I feel good. I’ve been doing it since I was young and I have a big obsession with exercise and wellbeing. I guess it was always in me, but there’s pressure to be a certain way, regardless of my profession. Nobody ever makes me think about losing any pounds, but I don’t weigh that much to begin with as a I have a small frame.’
