If you’re anything like me, you had a hard time getting dressed on this dreary morning. For inspiration on how to fight the Rainy Day/Monday/Break-Up Day/I Hate My Wardrobe Day blues, check this out:
“Look-books” in the Dries Van Noten shop windows
In high school, long before I could afford (or I’m sure, even properly pronounce) any designer name, my textbooks served as a canvas for my wardrobe aspirations. Gucci advertisements–all products of the Tom Ford, Mario Testino, Carine Roitfeld creative orgy era–covered my Economics tome while photos of Chanel parfum were plastered on my French II book. (Fitting choices, don’t you think?) So when I saw look-book wrapped tomes propped up in the windows of Dries Van Noten’s Left Bank boutique, I got a pang of nostalgia–and new desire for the designer’s arty accessories. With the Euro exchange, my Paris wardrobe allowance isn’t quite up to par so I had to settle for window shopping, or faire du lèche-vitrine (which translates to something like “lick the windows”) one of my most favorite phrases from my tres chic French II textbook.
Kate Moss in YSL’s Spring 2008 Manifesto
Milan runway scene is in full swing, but the fashion cognoscenti is withholding their enthusiasm (read: best outfits and most potent fete-going fuel) for next week, when the A-list models, editors, buyers, and hangers-on migrate to the City of Lights. To whet your appetite for what’s to come, take a sneak peek at round two of Yves Saint Laurent’s Manifesto.
First unveiled during the recent September shows, Stefano Pilati’s magazine-like publication will be distributed in London, Milan, New York, and (bien sur) Paris, before hitting Tokyo and Hong Kong, injecting a little dose of high fashion to sidewalks, subways, and streets. Coinciding with the launch, a public installation of life-size images from the Manifesto will land in select cities for one day only. (So keep your eyes peeled!)
While last season’s Manifesto starred Gisele Bündchen, the muse for this season’s Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shoot is none other than Kate Moss herself. In the dream team’s photographs and film, Moss swans aroundFondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent in Pilati’s spring gear–complete with a mirrored star cuff. Surrounded by camera flashes, Kate shown peering in the glass window, a scene which resembles an inverted version of the model’s Top Shop window-dressing spectacle. Providing tantalizingly personal shots of her timeless highness, the YSL venture reminds us that whether we’re on the inside looking out or on the outside looking in, we’ll always be eager to watch Miss Moss. To get an eyeful, see below:
Welcome to the Dollhouse: At left, an image from Marc Jacobs‘ new Spring 2008 ad campaign, featuring Victoria Beckham and photographed by Jeurgen Teller. At right, Yohji Yamamoto dress from Spring 1998. Creative direction and set design by M/M , photography by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. It would seem that the savvy Mr. Jacobs is a member of the M/M fanclub, joining Stella, Calvin, and the like ; if that’s not enough of a good reason to join their legions of followers, I don’t know what is.
*Images: WWD.com & IHT.com
Kate Bosworth for Calvin Klein Jeans
Today WWD announced that Kate Bosworth will be the new face of Calvin Klein Jeans come spring, a post–the piece seemed to suggest–she earned by consistently attending CK events. Surely Bosworth’s lithe frame played some part, because if good front-row attendance was the only requirement for such glamorous gigs, there’d be many more fashion week regulars on Times Square’ billboards, no?
Front-row regulars Fabiola Bercasa & Robert Verdi
Also, if you’re interested in the image & trend-making machine CK Inc, you might want to sear the name and face of Tonni Garrn into your mind. The 17-year-old German stunner is working exclusively with the house that Francisco Costa is re-building.
Images: WWD, Wire, The Imagist
Nicole Miller’s 3rd Date Collection, as seen in WWD
Talk about being suggestive: Like an all-knowing Magic 8 ball, Nicole Miller’s new, coyly branded line of lingerie, “3rd Date,” hints at when to wear–and show off–your skivvies to someone special. Miller’s collection and corresponding ad campaign call to mind the days-of-the-week underwear Victoria’s Secret offered (briefly) years ago. VS’s pack of 7 (which is perhaps, the one thing not listed in the Google image archives) featured flirtatious script emblazoned on the bands which spelled out when to kiss, woo, and spend the night with a new suitor. Whether or not you choose to take dating advice from your underpinning, you have to admit that this sartorial moment meets social commentary is fashion at its bust best.
In the fashion world, what goes around comes around again and again…and again. Trends used to recycle themselves every ten years or so, but in the past decade, turn-overs seem to take place at a more rapid clip. However, there are still some styles that rarely resurface—mid-priced, mid-‘70s sportswear being among them. (Admittedly, American Apparel is doing its part to stage a full-on resurrection.) In homage to all those terry cloth robes, elastic-waist slacks, polyester (plaid!) sportscoats that are still stuffed in the back of suburban closets everywhere, here’s a few precious looks from a 1977 JCPenny catalog:
*Special thanks to Erika Lenkert for sharing these precious picts.
Not sure if you caught it, but last night The Hills (Random aside: A great belated Halloween couple costume idea includes a jean jackety Justin-Bobby and the doe-eyed, Ugg-wearing Audrina) turned into a fashion double feature. Half-way through MTV’s glossy-haired mini-drama, Erin Fetherston for Target’s commercial filled my flatscreen. The ad–which was really more of a short-film–features plenty of scenes with the fetching Miss Fetherston, interspersed with sub-plot stories of girls who had good reason to dress up in the designer’s party-ready frocks.
The piece is short & sweet; Target was quite right to put the prime-time spotlight was put on someone as talented as Miss Fetherston. And while I’ve loved wholeheartedly Target since my very first bull’s eye purchase (green plaid swimsuit, circa 1990) I couldn’t help but wish they could also put another Fetherston video on the silver screen–specifically “The Dollhouse,” which was directed by the designer’s beau Hedi Ferjani.
Featuring two bicycling youths who turn into living dolls after an Alice in Wonderland-like adventure in the woods, Ferjani’s piece (which can be seen on YouTube) spins a somewhat darker yarn than Target’s Cinderella story, but is just as enchanting as Fetherston’s fairytale dresses. Watch both films and let me know what you think—oh and don’t forget that Fetherston for Target hits stores on November 18th.
Erin Wasson & Karl Lagerfeld for the designer’s 2004 H&M collection
While we’re on the topic of Roberto Cavalli for H&M, let’s indulge in a random observation shall we?: For the collaboration’s international ad campaign, the Italian designer tapped the same model—the stunning Erin Wasson—that Karl Lagerfeld zoomed in 2004 on for his own H&M campaign. Then, just last week —in case the image hasn’t been permanently seared into your memory as it has in mine—let’s remember that Cavalli dressed up as the Kaiser for Halloween. Tres intéressant, non? Well, you know what they say: Imitation is the best form of flattery, a fact of which feeds nicely into today’s theme of Fashion People Playing Nice.
Erin Wasson in Cavalli for H&M 2007 ads
Speaking of which, perhaps Margareta Van Den Bosch and her fellow H&M superstars should invite Miss Wasson to design her own line? Considering her poster-girl status, she clearly speaks to the H&M audience, and she’s already demonstrated her fashion prowess with the fantastic styling job she did for Alexander Wang this season. And who better epitomizes the oft-imitated M.O.D. style other than Wasson herself? Plus, the collaboration could give the whole TopShop / Kate Moss phenomenon a run for their pounds money.
Technorati Tags: Cavalli, H&M, Karl Lagerfeld, Erin Wasson, Models, Kate Moss, TopShop, Celebrity Style,
*Images Style.com & Glam.com
Mischa Barton seen in Iceberg’s Milan store window
Here’s a pop-quiz for you celebrity fashion buffs: What’s Mischa Barton’s new favorite label? No, it’s not Gucci or Marc Jacobs—though she does favor those brands from time to time. Try Iceberg; the Hollywood starlet is vamping for the Italian house this season, a fact of which I was reminded of today, as I strolled past Iceberg’s shiny boutique in Milan’s shopping district. A few blocks later, I did a double take outside Accessorize, the Italian version of Claire’s: A giant poster featuring Heidi Klum coyly smiling and clutching a handbag was displayed in the window. A far cry from her recent Emmys look, but cute none the less. Clearly a supermodel who works both cheap-chic and DIY separates is one to be admired.
Heidi Klum poses for Accessorize ad
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