Don't Quote Me

"Luxury is for the rich, not the nouveau riche."-Karl Lagerfield backstage at Chanel couture

Kanye+LV

At the Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris last week, Kanye West sat front row as the line of sneakers he designed as part of a collaboration with the house paraded down the runway. Not mind-blowingly awesome, but not terrible bad, either. What do you think?

Save Anna

Having a little fun with the recent news that Anna Wintour might be replaced at Vogue, New York artist Christopher Lee Suavé has designed these screenprinted tees of the notorious editrix. It's a hillarious statement item that'll have all your friends (and those in the know) giggling for days. I just ordered mine from Seven New York, but they're also available at Hint and Jewcy. Get 'em while they're hot!

"Chictopia: the people's fashion destination"

You all have got to check out Chictopia.com! I feel like it's been somewhat of a well-kept global fashion secret accessible only to the fashion elite. Just kidding. But seriously, Chictopia is this really cool website where you can go to see what other stylish people are wearing. It's a great place to get ideas, browse different looks, and even upload photos of yourself to see what people around the world think of your style. Thought you were hot stuff, eh? Just wait until you log on and see girls in Paris rocking Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, and Chloe! It just might make you think twice before you step out of your house in Forever 21 jeans and a tee...

Whoops!

Finally, some real action going down in the tents! Alexandra Tomlinson had a little tumble on the runway today at the Chanel Couture show. While I take no pleasure in watching models fall down (ok, well maybe I do...but just a little bit), I've been itching for some bodies to hit the floor ever since those poor girls ate it last season at Prada and Rodarte. Haute couture shows are too stuffy anyway. Loosen up, people, take a trip!

Alexander Wang to do menswear!

Lately, it seems as though designers with a niche in either womenswear or menswear are now expanding their business and designing for both sexes. With the economy being so bleak and fashion companies being so hard up for cash these days, do you really blame them? CDFA nominated menswear designer Tim Hamilton recently announced that he would try his hand at designing for women. Rick Owens and wonderboy Gareth Pugh just showed their first menswear collections to rave reviews at Fashion Week in Paris last week. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen plan to add menswear to their high-end label, The Row. And, just today, Style.com is reporting that Alexander Wang (who just came into some extra cash as a CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund award recipient) is planning to show a men's collection this Fall. Wang even says that he will be wearing the men's pieces himself, so keep your eyes peeled for a little preview. While I'm not usually a tee shirt kind of guy, best believe that I'll be breaking my neck to get my hands on one of his new pieces!

You're either "in" or you're....sent to VCU???

Get ready, kids, because Korto Momolu, Project Runway Finalist (Season 5), will be coming to VCU on Thursday, January 29. I stumbled across this bit of information by chance as I was browsing the Fashion Department's website (go figure), and since I hadn't heard about from any of the fashion professors I thought you guys might like to know! Korto will be talking about her experience on Project Runway and discussing the fashion industry. The lecture is open to the public and will be in Room 535 of the Bowe Street Deck at 1 p.m. See you there!

move your muscle, carve it out, work it, HUSTLE RICHMOND!!!

In case you haven't heard, pop artist and style icon Lady Gaga will be coming to Richmond on Friday April 3 as part of her nationwide tour titled "The Fame Ball". I'm so excited that she has chosen to grace our city with her presence. To me, Lady Gaga is more than just another pop singer with a number one hit on Q94. She's a very intelligent, articulate, and creative young lady. Gaga recieved formal music training at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (which isn't easy to get into), and I feel as though she's incorporated a lot of what she learned there into her music. When Gaga hits the stage it's not just lipsynched lyrics and tired old choreography, it's much much more. “I look at...artists as icons in art," she says. "It’s not just about the music. It’s about the performance, the attitude, the look; it’s everything. And, that is where I live as an artist and that is what I want to accomplish.” I can't wait to see her performance. I know it'll be nothing less than spectacular.

Telling it like it is

If you're interested in reading a very honest and truthful review of those bland, boring menswear looks that just showed at Milan Fashion Week then click here. Guy Trebay of the New York Times sums it all up quite well.

Will the real Thom Browne please stand up

Amazing. Here a some shots from New York designer Thom Browne's latest menswear collection in Milan. In lieu of a runway show (seems to be all the rage these days), Browne opted for a presentation and it did not disappoint. 40 male models acted out some sort of ritualistic office scene which was set, apparently, in the 1950s. "The models all wore the same outfit: a shrunken gray suit, cardigan, wing tips, and camel overcoat. After they walked into the room, a 'boss' rang a bell at which point they took off their short coats and slim-fitting suit jackets, sat down, and started typing. They sat at identical desks and even ate identical lunches." Pretty cool, eh? Now, please excuse me while I go watch Mad Men for more inspiration.

ummm, how cool is this?

So. Earlier today I sent an email to Fashionista complaining about having seen that Madonna/Vuitton video on Perez Hilton (um, gross) instead of on a fashion-forward site like theirs. Well, not only did Natalie email me back (i'm totally going to save her address and cyberstalk her for an internship) but she also posted the video on fashionista.com not too long ago! You're welcome, world!

Watch the magic unfold

Dying to see Madonna wrap her legs around her head in live action (take note, ladies)? Here is "The Making of: Madonna for Louis Vuitton", a behind-the-scenes featurette with Madonna! and Marc! and bags! and shoes! Enjoy.

Stop the Insanity!

While clicking through photos from the most recent menswear shows in Milan I landed on a most disturbing shot from the Etro show: an old man. Now, this is nothing new. Vivienne Westwood, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yomamoto, and Ann Demeulemeester have all made some crazy, radical statements on the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 runways by sending out models that were like ...ancient. I thought it was just some avant-garde designer phase. That the fashion world would put this bizarre fascination behind them and move on. That come next season my eyes would once again feast upon hot, young, "it" models like Karlie Kloss and Sasha Pivavarova. I thought wrong. This is the second season in a row that designers have pulled this nonsense. Three strikes and you're out guys...don't let it happen again.

Arthritis at Etro

Osteoporosis at Ann Demeulemeester

Balding at Vivienne Westwood

Heart Disease at Yohji Yomamoto

Alzheimer's at Comme des Garcons

McQ just misses the Target

Following in the footsteps of smart, money savvy designers before him, Alexander McQueen announced not too long ago that he would be designing a diffusion collection for Target's GO International label. Well, Nylon.com has posted newly released photos from the collection and I have to say that it's not what I expected. Jersey knits, Alex, really? I wasn't expecting the Lauren Conrad Collection 2.0! Where's the leather? Where are the Victorian shoulders, sleeves, and collars? There are some interesting graphic tee shirts, though, that I think will sell fast and those shoes aren't too bad either. Take a look for yourself and tell me what you think:

Milan Fashion Week: Roundup #1

So far, Costume National, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Missoni and Burberry Prorsum have shown their F/W 09 men's collections and I don't quite know what to think. While much of the construction is very sharp, tailoring is strong, and fabrics tend to be heavy yet soft, the colors are dark and muted. While lack of color tends to be characteristic of most fall/winter collections, one can't help but notice the sartorial reflection of our economic plight. However, as Raf Simons said yesterday of his collection for Jil Sander, "I wanted to present something powerful." And maybe that's the reason Marni's collection, however meager it may have been (their few pieces could only warrant a showroom presention in place of a runway show), appealed to me the most: it inspired. The colors and patterns at Missoni also made my eyes perk up amid a slideshow of blacks and greys, but what else does one expect? If looking at a Missoni collection doesn't feel like one is looking into a kaleidoscope then something's wrong.

Marni

Burberry Prorsum

Missoni

Burberry Prorsum

Men's Fashion Week!

I don't feel as though men's fashion week gets as much attention as it deserves. There are 5 full days of menswear shows at Milan Fashion Week (1/17-1/21) and another 4 days at Paris Fashion Week (1/18-1/21). I will be bringing you some of my favorite looks every day so keep checking back.

Don't Quote Me

"Modern androgynes don’t want to confuse gender identities, but draw the best qualities from both."-Stefano Pilati on his unisex collection for YSL

10 Rules of Style

In this month's Details, they asked Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg to give his rules of style. Be amused:

1. Opening a conversation with "What do you do?" makes you sound like a shifty, social-climbing dickwad. Small talk is for sissies, but if you're stuck with it, you can certainly come up with something better than that.

2. Talking about what brand you're wearing is gay in the bad way. Just keep quiet and play dumb if someone asks. Talking about what a great deal you got on the aforementioned item is worse. If you must, tell your mom, because she has sale empathy and will take your victory as her own. It's sick.

3. I don't think a tie is a relic, not yet. It's purely masculine—that one garment that allows you to go a little outside the box. A tie with a well-cut suit makes you look put-together and confident. It's an auto-chic, easy uniform.

4. Cigarettes are a vile, dirty habit. Joints, on the other hand, are perfectly acceptable.

5. Whenever you start a new project or a new job, don't tell anyone what you're working on, because it can change direction a million times and once you start telling the world about it, you get constrained by your own mouth.

6. That skin-toned paste your girlfriend gave you to treat your pimple is makeup. Don't kid yourself. You're a girl if you use it. Figure something else out.

7. Rabid atheism does not lead to attractive or acceptable cocktail-party conversation. You know who you are and you need to chill. We get it, okay? God is for dummies. Now shut your hole.

8. It's just not cool to fart on a plane, even if everyone's ears are plugged from the altitude and they can't hear where it came from. Heed my warning: Airplane-fart karma is a bitch, and you will find yourself at the receiving end on a sleepless transcontinental red-eye soon enough.

9. Style fills the gap between how you see yourself and how you want other people to see you. It is not a mysterious quality reserved for Cary Grant or Liberace. You have a sense of it in there somewhere. It's just a matter of finding a way to express it without seeming like you're trying.

10. Rules, as they say, are meant to be broken. Don't get too caught up with what I—or anyone else—tell you about your personal style, except for No. 8.

iStyle

Dear iPhone brethren: If you haven't already done so I'd highly suggest you download the STYLE.com application from the iTunes App Store immediately! Not only is it free, but it comes complete with every major ready-to-wear and couture runway show from New York to Paris. The most recent update to the application now has coverage of the menswear shows, too. You can read reviews, see individual looks from the catwalk, and even watch video of the shows. And believe me, nothing could be more amusing on a bus from Richmond to NYC than watching models tumbling down the runways at the Prada and Rodarte shows over and over and over again! So, there you have it. Don't say I didn't let you know about the best iPhone app EVER!

My new favorite site!

Please check this site out! It's very smart and fashion forward (probably because it's written by Matthew Edelstein, former fashion editor at Details). I've just discovered a new fashion crack and I'm so hooked!

Put on a happy face!

Mark your calendars, ladies, because this just in: on Tuesday January 20th there will be a nationwide distribution of FREE MAKEUP at your local department store!!! No, this is not a drill. Rather, it's what happens when your company is on the losing side of a class action lawsuit. Accused of fixing prices and hiding inventory levels from 1994-2003, "major stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s are being forced to give away $175 million worth of beauty products nationwide, for free, to anybody who walks into their stores." (from Fashionista.com). Customers are, however, limited to one item, while supplies last, from a listing of goods which can be found by clicking here. While no one at Saks Fifth Avenue or Macy's was available for comment, Nordstrom at Short Pump Town Center did confirm the giveaway. Knock yourselves out!

The stores:
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue
Dillard's
Macy's
Bloomingdales
Bergdorf Goodman
...and more!

The brands:
Chanel
Dior
Vera Wang
Clarins
Sarah Jessica Parker
Estée Lauder
Clinique
L'Oréal
Lancome
Ralph Lauren
Armani
Givenchy

All Tied Up

Here are some of this season's most stylish neckties (and few bowties as well)....

Dior Homme "Butterfly" Bowtie $240

Alexander McQueen Knitted Necktie $143.45 @ oki-ni

Rugby Ralph Lauren Tartan Necktie $49.99

Rugby Ralph Lauren "Skull Print" Necktie $49.99

J Press Bowtie $49.50

a carytown brunch.

And what better place to go than Can Can Brasserie. This french restaurant has got Steak Frites to die for!

"Et tu, Sarkozy?"

With all of this hysteria surrounding the photos of President-elect Barack Obama frolicking on Hawaiian beaches, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind readers of one thing: it could be worst (see photo above). I really don't understand why those vacation pictures have attracted so much attention. Not only is President Obama (47) a good looking guy, he also has a great body for an almost 50 year old politican. So let's lighten up and thank our shining stars that we aren't subjected to nauseating photos in Le Parisien of our president looking like that.

Training for a Baywatch audition, Mr. President?

Don't Quote Me

“I am totally committed to Nina Ricci. None of us really know from where such rumors come up, but we are feeling very confident that things are going in the right place.” - Olivier Theyskens to WWD, addressing the rumors that he may be leaving Nina Ricci.

Booking The Sartorialist

Scott Shuman, better known as The Sartorialist, has just landed himself another title: author. In addition to being a photographer, blogger, tailor, and icon, Schuman is now an author! Under contract with Penguin, the photographer/blogger/tailor will publish a 500 page book featuring plenty of photos and a bit of writing as well. "I have received many offers in the past about doing a book, but I held back until I felt the right offer was at hand," says Schuman. "The main reason I feel so excited about this project is that Penguin will publish the book in paperback, and a special limited-edition 'bespoke' version simultaneously. This was very important to me because as a photographer I wanted a beautiful book to showcase my images - but I didn't want to do just another expensive coffee table book that would be too expensive for many of my readers. I think this creative method will be the best of both worlds."

It's good to know he's thinking about the little people...being that they kind of made his career and all. I'm definitely excited about this book. I'm going to start saving up now so that I can buy one of those limited-edition hardcovers...you know they're gonna be boss!

"That's One Secret I'll Never Tell..."

...you know you love her! Here's Gossip Girl Blake Lively, in all her gorgeousness, for the cover of Vogue's February issue.

The Results are In!

After spending an hour flipping between NBC, E!, and TV Guide Red Carpet coverage of the Golden Globe Awards I've tallied up the points and ranked the winners and losers. While there weren't any super amazing pieces that took my breath away, I wasn't disappointed. Feel free to weigh in!

BEST DRESSED:
Eva Mendes was absolute perfection in this Dior Haute Couture gown by Galliano.

....need I say more?

This Reem Acra gown couldn't possibly fit Eva Longoria any better. She looked great.

Olivia Wilde gets it right with a lavander Reem Acra gown.

Elizabeth Banks was my favorite look of all wearing J. Mendel.


WORST DRESSED:

Glen Close looking like the Emperor's handmaiden in this get-up.

Susan Sarandon in a Prada pantsuit voted among the worst dressed for obvious reasons.

America Ferrera in an extremely poorly fitted dress by...who cares.

Debra Messing's dress is so-so, but that frizzy ponytail just ruined the whole look.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Christina Applegate's hair and makeup were flawless (unlike her dress, unfortunately).

Aaron Eckhart looked very debonair and extremely well coiffed. I approve.

I actually thought Lopez looked great but her dress reminded me too much of that horrendous green Versace dress (if one can even call it that) which she wore to the Grammy Awards back in 2001.

I adored the leopard-print Lanvin gown worn by Maggie Gyllenhall, but I just don't think it was appropriate for this red carpet.