TUUXEDO
Yves Saint-Laurent is our Star of the month! After his study he spent his first year at the House of Dior on mundane tasks under the control from Christian Dior. In 1957, Saint-Laurent found himself at the age of 21 year old the head designer of Christian Dior S.A after Christian Dior died.
Saint-Laurent became most popular for “Le Smoking” (tuxedo jacket), see-through blouses, peasant blouses, bolero jackets, pantsuits and smocks. By feminising the essential forms of the male wardrobe, YSL established new criteria for entire world trend. He didn’t only adapt the tuxedo for ladies, but also safari jackets, pea jackets and flying matches.
A tuxedo for Chrismas is very chic, very glamour, and very French, indeed.
SCHIAPARELLI
The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture has announced three new guests to be included in the January’s official schedule 2014; Schiaparelli and others.
The return of the legendary house Schiaparelli to the ranks of couture comes before much of its new vision was unveiled, save for a first artistic capsule in the hands of Christian Lacroix and the recent nomination of Marco Zanini – formerly of Rochas – as creative director.
It is hardly a surprise, considering the house’s history, and if the comments of more than one fashion insider are to be believed, this nomination Read more »
WHO IS DORIAN LEIGH?
Dorian Leigh (April 23, 1917 – July 7, 2008), born Dorian Elizabeth Leigh Parker, was an American model and one of the earliest modelling icons of the fashion industry. She is considered as one of the first supermodels and was well known in the United States and Europe.
Dorian Leigh Parker was born in San Antonio, Texas, to George and Elizabeth Parker. Her parents married when they were around 17 or 18 years old and Elizabeth promptly gave birth to three daughters in quick succession: Dorian (1917-2008), Florian (Cissie) (1918-2010), and Georgiabell (1919-?).
In 1946, Dorian appeared on the cover of six American Vogue magazines. She worked with famous fashion photographers Irving Penn, John Rawlings, Cecil Beaton, and Paul Radkai. On one assignment, she argued with Paul’s wife Karen Radkai, who wanted to take many extra and free photos of Dorian for her portfolio.
ANTOINE ARNAULT NAMED CHAIRMAN
On Thursday, the French luxury group announced that Antoine Arnault would become chairman of Loro Piana. LVMH has completed its acquisition of major Italian cashmere clothing brand Loro Piana and named Chairman, Antoine Arnault, son of the luxury group’s Chairman.
When the 2 billion-euro ($2.7 billion) deal was announced in July LVMH said the business’s two former owners, Sergio and Pier Luigi Loro Piana, would remain at its helm. Antoine Arnault, who made his mark as head of communications at Louis Vuitton with advertising campaigns featuring celebrities such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, now heads the group’s Berluti luxury shoe brand which he is trying to develop into a menswear label.
Antoine’s sister, Delphine, 38, who used to be deputy head of fashion brand Dior, last summer became second-in-command at Louis Vuitton, LVMH’s biggest source of cash and profit. But why the nepotism is return? Read more »
EACH X OTHER
Each x Other was born of an encounter between fashion designer ilan delouis and artistic director & curator jenny mannerheim. inspired by robert montgomery’s poem “safe and warm here / in the fire of each other”, the duo decided to create a unisex and collaborative brand envisioning a masculine wardrobe for women, which invites artists, designers and craftsmen to design pieces for their collections.
This common and identical wardrobe, plays with the themes of androgyny. the brand’s dna encompasses natural fabrics, strict color codes, and most importantly it’s essential cuts and tailoring; giving the product Read more »
CHINESE PARADISE
The Chinese Yi Zhou has designed the “Paradise Suite” at Hôtel Lutetia. The Chinese artist assembled works and details reflecting her universe. The room is available for booking until the Paris hotel closes for three years of renovation in Spring 2014 – the suite features a vase she created with French label “Each x Other” and lamps she has done with jewelry maker “Gripoix”.
There are also some of her videos, a set of photos she co-signed with Chinese photographer Li Qi and a selection of her own books including one signed by Diane von Furstenberg, and Chanel’s “The Little Black Jacket” tome. Rates vary depending on the period. It is currently available for 700 euros per night, or $947 at current exchange, while it is already booked for the New Year’s Eve. Read more »
GEORGES HOBEIKA
Accentuating the female form is nothing less than a labor of love for couture designer Georges Hobeika. For over 20 years, his passion and an inborn talent have combined to envision masterpieces that exude femininity and sensuality with a creative touch that is all his own. From inspiration to creation, every Hobeika design is the quintessential expression of a woman’s inner beauty and seductive nature perfectly balanced with virtuous grace.
The son of a seamstress, Georges Hobeika discovered his love for fashion design as he fullfilled his mother’s request to assist her in servicing her growing clientele. While his study of civil engineering had proved invaluable for the sketch work, it was Georges Hobeika’s imagination and raw embroidering talent that won the hearts of his mother’s younger clients and bekoned his future in couture creation. Intrigued by fabrics and the thrill of creating his own designs, he took on an increasingly proactive role in the business and decided to travel to the heart of haute couture to pursue a career in fashion design more seriously. Read more »
POST-MORTEM INTERVIEW
Who would you consider to be an icon of absolute elegance?
Grace kelly
Who are your favourite designers?
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Jean-Paul Gaultier
- Franck Sorbier
What is the most seductive thing you could wear?
A hat.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I prefer the night. Read more »
LUXURY BRANDS
SHOULD THE LUXURY BRANDS REINVENT THEIR WAY OF COMMUNICATION ?VUITTON IS FIRED
Vuitton thought that they had all the authorisations to set up a pop up store which looks like the famous Vuitton trunk on the “Place Rouge” in Moscow.
Vuitton is so used to do what they want in France that Vuitton behaved like a Tsar in Russia which has displeased the Muscovite and lead Vuitton to withdraw the trunk.
Vuitton had then to pack back to Paris. The Russian say that Vladimir Poutine only like Russian products.
The question is who gave the authorisations ?
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Fashion photography is a concept or just an art? I think it’s all about the idea and sensations. Conceptual photography illustrates an idea. Especially in fashion to present some design and to be memorable, you need to have an idea and not only, you need to be so creative that to have a very good idea that express the essential of the fashion. The perfect idea is not enough. The stage of preparation is the first one than keep you closer to the final result.
Pre-shooting – at this stage you determine the feel you want the public to have, such as, do you want the viewer to be excited, or calm, to feel sad or happy, or should to have a great deal of Read more »
FASHION FOR VICTIMS
The fashion industry is stepping up efforts to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Among the champions in raising much-needed donations for typhoon victims is Josie Natori, chief executive officer of Natori Co., who is galvanizing individuals and companies to aid people and areas impacted by the devastation in her native country. “The Rockefeller Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund have donated $250,000, and Philip Morris International along with their partner in the Philippines, the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, has pledged $2.5 million over the next three years,” said Natori.
A number of major U.S. companies have joined Read more »
JACKIE, THE FRENCH LADY
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, born Jacqueline Lee “Jackie” Bouvier July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994), was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis; they remained married until his death in 1975. For the final two decades of her life, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had a career as a book editor. She is remembered for her contributions to the arts and preservation of historic architecture, her style, elegance, and grace. She was a fashion icon. Her famous pink Chanel Read more »
HOLMES SWEET HOLMES
Kate Noelle “Katie” Holmes (born in December 18, 1978) is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on the WB television teen drama Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003. Since Dawson’s Creek, Holmes’ career has consisted of movie roles such as in “Batman”, “Begins”, art house films such as “The Ice Storm”, horror films such as “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” and thrillers including “Abandon”. She has also played on Broadway in a production of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” and had various guest roles on television programs such as “How I Met Your Mother”.
Holmes was born in Toledo, Ohio. She is the youngest of five children born to Kathleen (née Stothers), a homemaker and philanthropist, and Martin Joseph Holmes, Sr., an attorney. She has three sisters and Read more »
MAIER IN BOTTEGA
Today, Kering announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier to develop his eponymous label. Maier will continue in his design role at Kering-owned Bottega Veneta, a position which he has held since 2001.
Born in April 1957 in Pforzheim, Germany, at the edge of the Black Forest, Maier was raised in a family of architects and attended a Waldorf school as a child. From there he headed to Paris, where he trained at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. His professional experience includes designing for some of the most prestigious fashion and luxury goods houses in France, Italy, and Germany, including Read more »
SAVE BY FLEMING
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
“I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.”
“No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel.
“Is that your son?” the nobleman asked.
“Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. Read more »
THE BALANCE BETWEEN MAN AND WOMEN
Why aren’t Women in Fashion not taken as seriously as Men? The other day I hosted a dinner with some close friends, almost all of whom were either bankers or lawyers. Most of them already knew that I transitioned from law to a fashion startup. The conversations I’ve had related on the topic usually go pretty much the same way: I told people that I am working on a fashion tech startup that is changing the way the fashion industry works, and I get a response like, “I don’t really care about fashion, but it’s cool you are doing it. It makes sense because you love shoes.” Read more »
MY PET BY KARL
The eccentric creative director of Chanel said the one-year-old white Siamese cat was his most prized possession. Choupette has its own staff, including three maids who are tasked with noting down everything the feline does while Largerfeld is away from his Paris home so that he can check up on how his beloved pet is spending its time.
“There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals… I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat,” Lagerfeld told Fashion Week: Backstage Pass.
When asked if the cat flies by private jet, Largerfeld said: “Yes, why not?” Choupette is well known among fashion circles. As well as its own maids, the cat has 27,000 followers on Twitter. It has its own pillow and dines with Largerfeld twice a day, eating food that has been specially prepared. And it wears Pets & Stones Read more »
FRENCH LUXURY IN DANGER !
It would seem that the LVMH group does like Pierre Cardin in his time, who extensively distributed his brand in the world. To consider companies like giant no arm Bandit, is a vision, which, to my mind, will soon kill the whole French luxury sector? The French cultural exception in the hand of financial people has already lead to tragedies.
Women inherited from the second generation of immigration want to switch their chadors with a Vuitton bag or a “speedy” one but, on the contrary, the riches, richer than ever, only want to buy exclusively bag.
To my mind, Bernard Arnault has underestimated the fact that the clients of the Haute Couture which were representing about 5000, 30 years ago Read more »
3D FASHION
This easy access to original draws, through electronic files, is leading to the question of counterfeiting. Will we soon able to photocopy “Chanel” bags, “Dior” logos, “Hermès” belt… with those 3D printing machines.
How are we going to protect the creation? Today, brand names have not yet answered. “The subject of copyright is vital for brand names” states François Mouclier, the CEO of Canal-Luxe.
However the threat is measured. If the printing models accessible to individuals cost from €1 000 to €1 500, the home printing has nothing to do with manufacturing in fabrics. Read more »
BRINKLEY 59 AND SAILOR 15.
She is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. And it appears Christie Brinkley’s good looks have rubbed off on her teenager daughter. The 59-year-old supermodel and Sailor, 15, showed off their striking similarities as they posed together at the 10th Annual Style Awards in New York City on Wednesday.
Mother and daughter both showed off luscious long blonde hair and matching smiles as they stood with their arms around each other at the event. Christie as always defied her age in a fitted grey lace frock that tastefully offered a glimpse of her black bra underneath.
Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders and she sported an impossibly glowing complexion.
Sailor, meanwhile, looked pretty in a short black frock paired with nude peep-toe Read more »
