Friday, August 29th, 2008
In yesterday’s edition of WWD, singer/songwriter Ariana Delawari graced the cover as well as a 2-page spread inside. Her look is street chic, endearing, and so much fun. On the cover, she was pictured wearing a buffalo skin jacket from William Rast by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala. It’s a great little leather number especially when worn with her adorable Victor Osborne fedora, purple nails, and Rebecca Beeson jewelry. Gorge pictures overall. She’s a natural in front of the camera. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to know more. Who is this girl? What’s her story? So, where did I go to find out? MySpace, of course. Just before her birth, Delawari’s family moved from their home in Afghanistan to California after the Soviet invasion. There she learned about Afghan culture and music while also forming her own taste through the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, and many other 60’s phenoms. Following the horrific events on September 11th, her family moved back to Afghanistan in order to aid in the rebuilding process. Since that time, Delawari has been flying back and forth from the U.S. to Afghanistan. She documents her travels through the use of photographs, video, and her own music under the name Lion of Panjshir. This young singer is refreshing, honest, and eclectic. Check out music from Ariana Delawari by visiting her at www.myspace.com/lionofpanjshir. Cheers to fashion, music, and talented artists that are more concerned with politics than panty flashing. ~ Maria Denardo
** Top photo via www.WWD.com **
**Bottom photo via www.myspace.com/lionofpanjshir. **
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Monday, April 28th, 2008
Miley Cyrus, photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair
Poor Miley Cyrus: Just as her Hannah Montana fame reaches fever pitch, some curmudgeons are trying to burst her pop culture bubble. In case you haven’t heard, photos of the 15-year old starlet—clothed only a white sheet—will appear in next month’s Vanity Fair are causing quite a stir. (Cyrus Junior says she’s shocked and embarrassed by the racy-ish snaps; VF says she and her keepers signed on the dotted line.)
While some speculate that the controversial snaps may hurt her spotless girl-next-door reputation—and jeopardize her next few Disney films—it may in fact seal the deal to her inevitable superstardom. After all, the white sheet photo shoot is rite of passage for many of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. Used as frequently in fashion shoots as an L.B.D. or Dior evening gown, the 500-thread count prop is oft employed when editors and photographers are in need of an intimate portrait (and racy lingerie just won’t do). So cheer up Cyrus! You’re in good, albeit scantily clad, company:
Snaps from: New York Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Entertainment Weekly
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Friday, April 25th, 2008
With May coming up around the corner—and with it, its blessed sandal-wearing weather— it’s time for another investigative look at our newsstand to see which names and faces the glossies are favoring for their covers these days. While a few months back Euro fashion houses all but ruled this hallowed ground, it seems American editors have a new-found sense of patriotism: Nearly all brands—and even covergirls!—featured on their tomes hail from the good ole U.S. of A. (Even downtown alt king Benjamin Cho scored a cover!) So, remember, while our shopping dollar may be weak, at least we’ve got strong homegrown (fashion) talent.
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Monday, March 31st, 2008
Sean Lennon & Kemp Muhl photographed by Jenny Gage & Tom Betterton for NYTimes
Is fusion the new boho? As seen in a rather fantastic photoshoot for the NYTimes Magazine, today’s up-and-coming tastemakers favor a look that could be considered the 2.0 version of uptown-downtown style. From ballgowns and bandanas to Windsor knots and Vans, the clothing combinations du jour place tony elements next to rogue accents. Now, thanks to the Times, members of this sartorial tribe have a new moniker, but since the style is all about mixing old and new, does the term fusion really fit the bill? Mull it over and let me know. Also, an unrelated (yet Times-related) question:
Who is Frederick Cook?
A.) 19th century arctic explorer or B.) Patron saint of Freeman’s Sporting Goods
C.) Both
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Friday, March 21st, 2008
Kate and Laura Mulleavy, as pictured in Vogue
Most months, its Vogue’s innovative and influential fashion spreads that turn heads. In April’s shape issue however, the magazine’s sophisticated body-issue stories carry more weight. (Yes, pun intended. And there’s more.)
Sandwiched between a “You Are Not What You Eat” story and a weight-training trend piece, there’s an unexpected story about the exercising adventures of Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the sisters behind the inimitable Rodarte line. What was surprising about the piece was not the duo’s svelte “after” photo, but the premise that editors had suggested such a pedestrian, personal endeavor to these revered designers. Doing so seemed a bit like telling Lagerfeld he’d be able to read more easily without the dark shades, or asking Cavalli to lay off the cigars…and the vodka…and the 5 A.M. bedtimes: Of course it’s only natural to make some maternal, well-meaning observations but as Emily Post would certainly agree, the majority of those are best surfaced outside the professional arena.
However, it took just two minutes of reading the sisters’ dieting diary to unwrinkle my nose and unfurrow my brow. When viewed through the Mulleavy sisters’ dreamy eyes, even the mundane can be magical: Hoofing it around the block to burn calories is an opportunity to create fairy tales about anonymous houses. Time on the treadmill becomes a quest for music with spirit and kick. A holiday gingerbread bake-off isn’t a test of the dieting wills but a place to flaunt their ceaseless creativity. And that’s not the half of it. So pick up an issue today if you can–to read at the gym or more stylish locales. A rare gem on today’s tarnished newsstand, the story serves as an inspiration not on dieting or how to dress, but on how to live ones life with class and élan.
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Thursday, March 13th, 2008
New York Magazine
With a recession hovering on the horizon, penny-pinching is trendy again, however being economical with space? Not so much: Spring magazines, shop windows, even runway shows were full of billowing mushroom-cloud dresses. This inflated silhouette—which comes thanks to the trend-setting Alber Elbaz at Lanvin—swallows its wearer whole, reducing the figure two limbs and a tiny pin-head. In wearing one of these filmy, imposing gowns, the gala-going girl becomes entirely swept up in fabric and high fashion. But considering the current landscape, who can blame us for wanting such a dreamy, encapsulating escape?
Lanvin’s Paris store windows from Jak & Jill
Antonio Berardi F/W ‘08
Antonio Berardi, F/W ‘08
Lanvin dress photographed by Max Abadian from TIG
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
While the nominee’s for the American fashion industry’s favorite popularity contest awards were announced last night, today, in broad daylight, major labels are duking it out on the newsstand. Our savvy intern Erin took spent some QT with our mail bin to see which designer names graced this month’s covergirls. Review our chart below to see who comes out on top, and ponder if you will, this fashion factoid: Of 15 US magazines surveyed, only 25% of them featured American labels on the cover.
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Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Blame it on the Gossip Girl effect–or more likely, the rise of blogs and publications far snarkier than this one–but storied fashion news sources have gotten a smidge cattier in their old age. Evidence of this can most clearly be seen in the recent batch of stories surrounding Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York City. New York Magazine, The New York Times, and even WWD all produced stories which pit the reality TV stars up against their real-life counterparts. (i.e. the show’s Hamptons-bound faces versus Tory Burch and her clique) Just as high-school girls take long, appraising looks at one another’s wardrobes, the journalists size up the star’s aspirations, social calendar, and yes, sartorial choices. While admittedly entertaining, these cocktail chatter-type stories beg the question: Could these fashion scribes be getting too close–or rather, too similar–to their subjects?
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
Being funny won’t get you very far these days: With the writers strike and all, comedy geniuses can’t earn a paycheck for their skills. However, thanks to the thoughtful folks at Nylon–who have experience with wallet-watching and trend-spotting–Judd Apatow would-bes can score luxe nailpolish with their sharp barbs. Simply submit your best joke and be eligible to win one of 10 bottles of Dior’s rare Deep Blue hue. It may not be a paycheck, but it’ll sure look good while twiddling your thumbs waiting for your union brothers (and sisters!) to come to an agreement.
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
M/M’s Stella McCartney ad campaign
To maintain your industry insider status, make sure to check out Alice Rawsthorn’s piece in the International Herald Tribune on graphic design firm M/M. The firm, helmed by Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak, has long been a favorite among top-ranking fashion cognoscenti, responsible for recognizable Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh MatadinStella photo shoot as well as several high-profile ad campaigns. (Calvin, Stella, etc). Impress colleagues and cocktail party regulars by brushing up on their non-fashion related endeavors and booking a trip to Paris’s du Pompidou museum, where a selection of their work will be on view starting January 21.
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