Jason Wu Plans to Launch Leather Range, Dreams of Couture

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, News, Accessories,

New York-based fashion designer Jason Wu is to create a leather goods line.

The designer, who launched his eyewear range in March, is keen to expand his fashion empire with a new collection as he thinks it will be a great addition.

“My eyewear collection is only the beginning of my accessories range, stay tuned for later this year - there is more to come. Now that I have an established ready-to-wear business it seems to be the natural step to expand into the world of Jason Wu. There is so much more I would like to do to complete the vision.”

Jason - who counts Michelle Obama among his celebrity fans - has been spending a lot of time in Florence, Italy, researching his new range: “The beautifully ornate architecture has been very inspiring. I always find great inspiration while I travel.”

The 27 year-old designer also has an eye on couture: “I have always loved the art of couture and appreciate the rich history and awe inspiring craftsmanship. I loved many of the shows but my favorite experience was the YSL retrospective at the Petit Palais which really was so compelling.”

Read More | Vogue

Quote of the Day: Cathy Horyn Says Couture is Dying

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, News, Rumors,

“Like perpetually dieting designers, haute couture is definitely shrinking before our eyes. Oh, don’t be fooled by the giant lion at Chanel, which, depending on how you look at these things, is either an example of Karl Lagerfeld’s brilliant stagecraft or an advertisement for a new Disney restaurant chain. Most of the remaining half-dozen or so houses that show haute couture scaled down their presentations this week: a nip here, a tuck there and a PR man explaining in a hushed tone that the designer wanted to ‘return to couture’s roots.’... Unless you have been catching up on Gossip Girl reruns, national deficits and unemployment do not correlate with a couture dress that costs as much as a Harvard education. Couture is slipping off people’s radars faster than a U.F.O. “

- Fashion journalist Cathy Horyn pens the signs of couture’s death in The New York Times.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | NY Times via Fashionologie

Items Du Jour: Karl on Gossip Girl, Dita Von Teese For JPG

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Celebrities, Editorials, Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, Models, News, Rumors,

—Fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin recently shot Daria Werbowy for Yves Saint Laurent. The pair explain the appeal of women like her and Raquel Zimmerman: they’re—gasp—women.

—Megan Fox impresses her boss Giorgio by wearing an Armani Prive dress for her wedding in Hawaii. The gown had a 16ft train and was surprisingly neither black nor red and was rather conservative compared to her usual red carpet fare.

—Karl Lagerfeld was seen strolling around Paris with Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, sparking rumors that the designer is to appear on the show. He is after

commercial domination, after all…

—Muse and couture collector Daphne Guinness was spotted hopping onto a motorcycle as she left Chanel’s couture fashion show yesterday. Yes, she wore shorts under her lavish, sparkling gown. Are you surprised?

—David Sims photographs Freja Beha Erichsen, Monika Jagaciak and Tati Cotliar for the Valentino Fall 2010 campaign. Continuing with the black-and-white trend, the women also tend to shed more clothes than usual in the series.

Click to continue reading Items Du Jour: Karl on Gossip Girl, Dita Von Teese For JPG

Russia Inspired Chanel Couture

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, Models, News,

Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld took his inspiration from Russia for the Chanel Couture show in Paris yesterday.

Models walked down a specially created runway at the Grand Palais in the French capital - walking out of a lion holding a giant pearl - in shades of maroon, brown, white and pink.

Although not a huge departure from what Chanel is known for - classical, flattering cuts in various tweeds - it was a solid collection, with fur-trimmed collars and cuffs teamed with mid-calf boots and seeming inspiration taken from Faberge eggs. Waistlines were kept high and shoulders boxy, with arms billowing, and as the show progressed, sequins and ornate detailing came in abundance.

The final model to walk down the runway was Karl Lagerfeld’s male model of the moment Baptiste Giabiconi, who donned a lion’s head mask while wearing the style of suit favored by the German-born designer - a black trouser and blazer combination worn with a high-necked white shirt.

Others to put on shows yesterday include Givenchy, who provided a decadent and glamorous collection and Giorgio Armani Prive, who worked a serious and sexy business-like chic.

Quote of the Day: Magdalena Frackowiak on Closing Dior Couture

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, Models, News,

“At some point, I told myself: the dress doesn’t own you, you own the dress! So act like it and attack.”

- Elite’s Magdalena Frackowiak on closing the Christian Dior couture show with the most extravagant gown.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | Daily Front Row

Jean Paul Gaultier Returns to Lingerie

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, News,

The French fashion designer whose cone bra Madonna has made iconic, Jean Paul Gaultier, is finally returning to lingerie after nearly twenty years.

This time, Gaultier is teaming up with lingerie brand La Perla to create 27 high-end pieces (check out two more images after the jump!) due in stores this November. In addition to a waist-cinching corset, he’s looking to his famous cone bra for the line’s inspiration!

“I met Jean Paul Gaultier a few months ago, and we immediately hit it off because we shared a common vision of beauty, style, taste and quality. So we agreed to try this adventure together and unite our savoir faire,” ,” said La Perla CEO Alain Prost.

Two limited-edition pieces from the line are rumored to appear in Gaultier’s couture show on July 7.

Click to continue reading Jean Paul Gaultier Returns to Lingerie

Read More | Vogue UK

Givenchy Not Appearing in Couture Shows

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, News, Rumors, Sales,

Givenchy is ditching traditional catwalk shows in favor of private appointments with high fashion clients and editors.

The luxury French label is aiming to make fashion even more exclusive by condensing future collections into 10 looks and presenting them in the luxurious settings of an 18th century town house on the Place Vendome in Paris. The label’s couturier Riccardo Tisci told WWD he is tired of traditional fashion shows, saying, “I want to make couture even more special than it is, and not just another catwalk show. People can really experience the couture moment - see it, touch it.”

The presentation will include a lookbook shot by renowned Vogue photographer Willy Vanderperre with appearances by David Walliams’ supermodel wife Lara Stone and Mariacarla Boscono.

Laughing off reports this is a cost cutting measure, the label revealed the presentations will actually cost 35 per cent more than a traditional catwalk show. The fashion house, however, is not ruling out smaller fashion shows in the future as Tisci revealed further collections will be unveiled at the label’s couture salons where mini catwalk shows will be held.

“It’s going to be a very good moment for creativity. For couture, it’s going to go back to being very exclusive,” Tisci added, heralding this as a new start.

Megan Fox Channels Dita for Armani Privé Show

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Celebrities, Fashion Shows, Women, Dresses,

What does Megan Fox do when she has had enough of the Angelina Jolie comparisons? Find another female celebrity to copy!

Judging by her (random) appearance at Armani Privé‘s A/W ‘09/‘10 show, it looks as if the Transformers bombshell has moved on to burlesque dancer/model Dita Von Teese.

Poor Megan; it’s so hard to be original these days, eh?

Read More | The Dish Rag