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Spoofing Saint Laurent
vfiles.com
Fashion social-media platform VFiles has riffed on the fashion house’s inimitable advertisements, throwing fallen stars into the mix.
When news broke last week that Hedi Slimane had cast Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, Ariel Pink, and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon to star in a new “music project” campaign for Saint Laurent Paris, the Internet was rife with excitement and slight disbelief over the concept’s randomness. Slimane, an accomplished photographer and designer, shoots all of Saint Laurent’s campaigns in his signature black-and-white film. It makes the ads—typically designed as a diptych to include a photograph on one side, and the house’s sleek new logo set against a white background on the other—open to Internet-meme-type interpretation.
And this is exactly what fashion social-networking site VFiles has done with its series of Saint Laurent Paris spoofs that were unleashed onto the Internet just days after the “music project” announcement. Employing the help of Photoshop’s more rudimentary features, VFiles has turned photos of Lindsay Lohan, Raven Simone, Amanda Bynes, Jared Leto, Nas, Winona Ryder, and Paris Hilton into Slimane-worthy shots. (They even doctored a shot of Charlie Sheen that came from the pages of our very own Newsweek) The random assortment is not far off from the designer’s own disparate casting choices, making VFiles’s spoof that much more believable.
And the DVF Awards Go to ...
Her arm was in a sling, but iconic designer Diane von Furstenberg was glowing as she recognized the recipients of her annual DVF awards, given to women who help women.
Legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg paid tribute to an extraordinary group of women on Friday afternoon at the Women in the World Summit, starting with her own mother, Lily.
“In 1945,” von Furstenberg said, “there was a young girl who was 20 who got arrested by the Germans. She was in the house doing her resistance work, and she got sent to the death camp at Auschwitz. She made it. She survived. Fourteen months later, she weighed 48 pounds. But her spirit was amazing.”
Rick Ross and Zara Under Fire
Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Protesters Want Rick Ross Dropped from Reebok: Reebok’s sponsorship of Rick Ross is stirring controversy. WWD reports that more than 40 protesters gathered outside a New York City Reebok store on Thursday to protest the rapper’s sexist lyrics, including “Put Molly all in her Champagne, she ain’t even know it. I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” The rally was arranged by UltraViolet, an activist group against sexism. UltraViolet is working to persuade Reebok to cut ties with Ross. But the group’s staged attempt was unsuccessful: Reebok security reportedly blocked the protesters from entering the store. Ross has since addressed the controversy with a pair of tweets: "I dont condone rape.Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS," he wrote in one. The other reads, "Apologies to my many business partners,who would never promote violence against women. @ReebokClassics @ultraviolet." [WWD]
Did Zara Employ Slave Labor?: Zara is under investigation for allegedly using slave labor at one of its Argentinean clothing factories, The Telegraph reports. Upon factory inspection, a workers’ rights group reportedly found immigrants who work 13 hour–plus shifts in sweatshoplike conditions. “They were not registered and they were living in terrible conditions,” said Juan Gómez Centurion, who heads Argentina’s Government Control Agency. “They had no official documents and were held against their will; they were not allowed to leave their workplaces without permission.” A Zara spokesperson responded to The Telegraph, saying the allegations have surprised company officials and that Zara has not received any complaints from Argentinean police. [The Telegraph]
Bloomberg Snags Vogue Cover
The mayor and environmentalist fronts L’Uomo Vogue’s eco-friendly May issue. By Misty White Sidell.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has long campaigned for the fashion industry through organizations like Fashion’s Night Out and the CFDA. And now it seems as if all that fashion do-gooding has panned out—it’s won him the cover of the eco-friendly May edition of L’Uomo Vogue, Italian Vogue’s magazine for men. For the event, the New York City mayor and C40 Climate Leadership Group president was photographed by Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini in a conservative though spiffy dark suit and striped tie.
Of the casting choice, Italian Vogue editor in chief Franca Sozzani told the Financial Times: “I did think it might be controversial in a sense. But I think that’s good. It should get readers talking.” Inside the issue, Bloomberg speaks of the importance of active climate change reform in urban environments. “Cities are at the frontline of the battle against climate change,” he told the magazine. “Half of the world’s population already lives in urban centers and that number is only going to rise. Urban centers are also responsible for about 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
Diesel Names Nicola Formichetti As Artistic Director; Lululemon Restructures to Prevent Against More Sheer Recalls
Nicola Formichetti. (Fairchild Photo Service/Conde Nast, via Corbis)
and Christopher Kane insists that he is resourceful.
Nicola Formichetti in at Diesel: Nicola Formichetti has officially made the leap from Thierry Muger to a new job. On Thursday, he was named the artistic director of Italian sportswear brand Diesel. In an unconventional press release issued to The Daily Beast, Diesel proclaimed: “Hell, yes! Diesel ignites yet another firestorm by appointing Nicola Formichetti to be the commander-in-chief of the brave army that will spread Diesel’s marching orders far and wide.” In the same release, Diesel founder Renzo Rosso explained of the appointment: “I finally met somebody as crazy as I am. Nicola shares my vision and I find it incredibly inspiring to work with him: two creative planets are colliding to generate fresh, mad insane ideas.” Formichetti’s first collection will debut for fall 2103. [Fashion Beast Inbox]
Lululemon Restructures Following Recall: Lululemon is now taking internal steps to account for a recent recall of its black ‘Luon’ yoga pant, which the company says will cost them approximately $67 million in sales. Its chief product officer, Sheree Waterson, will depart on April 15 “as part of a reorganization aimed at tightening up processes that led to a recall,” reports WWD. The brand has set up “a new team with expertise in the areas of ‘quality, raw materials and production.’” Lululemon has also stationed employees internationally to oversee various production locations. [WWD]
The Rise of Man-Heels
Recent photos of shopping-addicted sportswriter Buzz Bissinger in high-heeled boots represents just one new case for the style’s return to menswear. Misty White Sidell reports.
Last week, Buzz Bissinger revealed that he has a shopping addiction—a serious condition for which he has checked into rehab. But it wasn’t just the news that surprised people—or the $600,000 price tag on his many Gucci purchases. There was something else shocking too: Bissinger’s experimental new style featured an array of high heels.
Recently it seems that men’s fashion has grown to accept new, formerly only feminine, styles. There have been Justin Bieber’s drop-crotch pants, mandals (men’s sandals), and even mantyhose. But all the while, another trend has been building: meels—or man heels. They are heeled boots for men that take a page from Louis XIV’s book, while finding a new form for today.
Anti-Rape Lingerie?
Michael Haegele/Corbis
Fed up with a culture of sexual harassment, three students in India are building undergarments to help women fend off attackers by delivering electric shocks.
India’s recent brutal rapes have inspired a new invention.
Three engineering students in India have developed “anti-rape” lingerie, which they claim will help women fend off unwanted sexual advances.
Bradley Cooper's New Hair Style; Nicola Formichetti Reportedly Headed to Diesel
Patriot Pics/FameFlynet
Bradley Cooper’s New Hair: The actor’s ‘perm’ (a term he actually confused last month for a set of rollers) has finally made its debut. Cooper, who’s currently filming a new David O. Russell movie that takes place in the Seventies, was spotted in Boston with a super-curly new do. [People StyleWatch]
Formichetti to Diesel?: On Tuesday it was announced that Nicola Formichetti was parting ways with French fashion line Thierry Mugler. One day later, it’s rumored that Formichetti will soon announce a major collaboration with Italian sportswear brand, Diesel. Both WWD and the New York Post report than a Diesel announcement could soon be on its way. [WWD] [NY Post]
Nicola Formichetti and Thierry Mugler Part Ways
Art director Nicola Formichetti acknowledges applause at the end of Thierry Mugler's spring-summer 2012 ready to wear collection presented on Sept. 28, 2011 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Thibault Camus/AP)
Nicola Formichetti and Thierry Mugler “have mutually agreed to end their creative partnership,” following a two-year run, according to the brand.
French fashion house Theirry Mugler has “mutually agreed” to part ways with Nicola Formichetti, its creative director of two years. Hired in 2010 after gaining notoriety as Lady Gaga’s stylist (she walked in his debut runway presentation), Formichetti is credited with reinvigorating the sleepy brand. In his five seasons as creative director of both the label’s men’s and women’s lines, Formichetti produced entertaining runway shows with a millennial appeal. His space-age designs however, often received mixed reviews.
In a release issued to The Daily Beast, Joel Palix, the president of Clarins Fragrance Group and director general of Mugler said “In the two years of his tenure Nicola has accomplished our original mission of bringing his energy to the brand…Nicola has been instrumental in attracting a new audience which is undeniably crucial for the future strategy of the house.”
Heidi Klum Heroically Saves Son From Drowning; Angelina Jolie Sells Jewelry to Fund Afghan School
Heidi Klum and her family have been enjoying a relaxing vacation in paradise, but the supermodel/TV host quickly sprang into action Sunday to rescue her oldest son, Henry, who got caught up in a dangerous riptide at a beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. (Apollo/FameFlynet)
Courtney Love stars in Saint Laurent ads.
Heidi Klum's Rescue: Heidi Klum saved her 7-year-old son Henry and his two nannies from a riptide in Hawaii on Sunday. The supermodel told US Weekly of the valiant move: “Of course, as a mother, I was very scared for my child and everyone else in the water," she said. "Henry is a strong swimmer and was able to swim back to land. We got everyone else out safely.” Photos of the rescue have also been released. [The Daily Beast]
Angelina Jolie's Jewelry Fund: Angelina Jolie is releasing her Style of Jolie jewelry line into stores for the first time in order to help fund an all-girls school that she’s just opened in Afghanistan. The designs will exclusively retail at Tivol, a jewelry store in Kansas City. “Beyond enjoying the artistic satisfaction of designing these jewels, we are inspired by knowing our work is also serving the mutual goal of providing for children in need,” Jolie told E! News. [E!]
Kate Trademarks Her Name For Clothes (Just in Case)
Chris Jackson
Kate Middleton's reps have trademarked her royal title so it can be used on clothes and other products
Kate Middleton has been a massive boost not just to the Royal Family’s popularity but also to the finances of its charitable arm, the Royal Collection (£4m pounds in wedding china, £10m in ticket sales to see her wedding dress) so no surprise that Kate’s people have now applied to the Intellectual Property Office to trademark her royal title, the Duchess of Cambridge, so that it can be used on "a wide range of goods and services" which specifically include clothing, footwear and headgear.
The latest revelation will add fuel to speculation that a special range of baby clothes will be produced to mark the birth of the royal baby, expected in early July.
Inside Helmut Newton’s World
The return of the legendary fashion photographer’s book ‘A World Without Men’ adds a new dimension to his iconic photographs.
This week welcomes a reprint of a seminal book of fashion photography, World Without Men, a collection of sumptuous pictures taken by Helmut Newton from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.
Did The Met Ruin Punk?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's new costume exhibition, PUNK: Chaos to Couture, tries to pay homage to the gritty, subversive, late-1970s movement. But has punk-inspired high fashion added to its legacy-or destroyed it?
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Makeup for men is on the rise—and it’s no longer a taboo. Alessandra Codinha reports.
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