Fashion Flashback

Fashion Flashback: Octavia St. Laurent

June 26, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Images courtesy of imageamplified.com and Instagram.com

As the culture wars and the politicalization around LGBTQIA+ issues continue in the US, during Pride month Fashion Reverie looks back at the fashion career of transgender model Octavia St. Laurent. At a time where revealing one’s birth identity was career suicide for transgender models, Octavia St. Laurent boldly embraced her identity and lead the path for self-actualization for trans models.

Born in Brooklyn, NY in the mid-1960s, Octavia St. Laurent was a fixture of the LGBTQIA+ ballroom scene of the 1980s. Octavia St. Laurent gained national attention for her part in the groundbreaking 1990s film “Paris Is Burning.” Octavia was in unforgettable in the “Paris Is Burning” scene where she auditions for a Ford Models’ search and doesn’t make the cut.

Image courtesy of imageamplified.com

Although Octavia St. Laurent never had a big fashion career, her runway strolls in ballroom events to Diana Ross’ ‘Swept Away” is legendary. Still, through her presentation in “Paris Is Burning” and her appearances in New York City’s ballroom scene, Octavia paved the way for transgender models who have had success in the fashion industry while being true to their identity.

“I don’t know if you know this, but I am very open about my genderism. I’m always willing to educate everybody who feels different, and help them understand that you gotta love yourself, honey. Iʼm a very powerful man, and Iʼve always used the beauty of a woman and put them together. Itʼs got me quite successful through the years. And itʼs also kept me alive. Basically, I love who and what I am, and I wouldnʼt be anything else,” explained Octavia St. Laurent in her last interview published in dazeddigital.com.

Fashion career aside, Octavia St. Laurent appeared with Danny Glove and Matt Dillon in the 1993 modest box office smash, “The Saint of Fort Washington.” She also was featured in a Michael O’Hara documentary, “Octavia Saint Laurent: Queen of the Underground,” in 1993.

“Paris Is Burning” poster courtesy of imdb.com

Octavia’s struggles with drugs and HIV diminished her fashion and entertainment career. However, before her death from cancer in 2009, Octavia achieved sobriety and had a successful comeback career on the college lecture circuit speaking on transgender and HIV issues. As one of the last surviving cast members of “Paris Is Burning, looked back in appreciation at this seminal work of gay culture, Octavia St. Laurent explained, “It was part of a history that Iʼm grateful I survived. “Paris is Burning” has become the national anthem of the gay community of my generation. Itʼs just creeping up to this new generation now. I have children calling me saying they just saw “Paris is Burning.” I just wasn’t in the state of mind, then that I am today. I am grateful that I lived long enough to see the great changes, and learn so much about myself and life around me … The documentary is a constant reminder to me of how far Iʼve come in my life. And that Iʼm here today to still live and say I was a part of that.  I took life for granted for a very long time. Iʼm just thankful I got a second chance. A lot of them didn’t. A lot of the girls didn’t live to appreciate it.” Well said!!

William S. Gooch

Fashion Designers Who Could Have Been Olympians

July 23, 2024 by admin 1 Comment

Being a successful fashion designer who has experienced longevity is hard, very hard. Once the cameras and crowds from the glitzy runway shows have dispersed, the designer needs to regroup and to do it all over again, but even better. As the Paris 2024 Olympics Games begin this month on July 26, Fashion Reverie couldn’t help but notice the similarities between being a fashion designer and being an Olympian athlete.

Elite athletes and fashion designers share common traits, they both need to possess a unique blend of discipline, and unshakeable belief in themselves and their abilities. Additionally, fashion designers have that extra something in their DNA, a natural gift of a keen eye for aesthetics.

Fashion Reverie dives into the topic and nominates six living fashion designers who have a propensity for athletics. Some had dreams early in life of performing in the Olympic Games. As for the others, we speculate about which sport they would have chosen to compete in the Games.

The Figure Skaters: Vera Wang, Richie Rich

Image courtesy of wwd.com

Vera Wang: The Pairs Figure Skater

Although Wang is best known for her wedding gown designs, her earliest ambition in life was to be an Olympic figure skater. She began skating when she was only eight years old and had won regional championships by age twelve, at which point she started competing in the junior pairs skating category with James Stuart as her partner. Together, they competed twice at the United States Figure Skating Championships, winning 5th place. The pair split up after they failed to qualify for the U.S. team for the 1968 Grenoble Olympics.

Brides across the world should rejoice that Wang pivoted to a career in the fashion industry. Wang is philosophical about her decision. In a 2005 interview with WWD, she explains that she began designing bridal gowns because she had trouble finding something she wanted to wear for her own wedding to Arthur P. Becker. Says Wang, “If I could transform people’s perception of wedding gowns by making them more modern, artistic, inventive or stylish, then perhaps I could create a valuable, emotional franchise for the rest of their lives.”

In this, she succeeded and stuck the landing. She’s dressed A-listers including Ariana Grande, Hailey Bieber, Gwen Stefani, and innumerable other celebs. She’s also launched spin-off lines with Wedgwood, Kohl’s and David’s Bridal, and received three CFDA Awards honors.

Image courtesy of wwd.com

Although she is best known for her wedding gowns, she incorporated the illusion technique she famously uses into her wedding gowns as a key design element in the skating costumes she designed most notably for Nancy Kerrigan (1992, 1995), and Michelle Kwan (2002) when they competed in the Olympics. In a fitting tribute, in 2009, Wang was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame and in 2023, WWD anointed her “The A-List Crowd’s Top Bridal Designer.”

Image courtesy of wildcatarizona.edu

Richie Rich: The Tenacious Singles Figure Skater

Richard Eichhorn is professionally known as Richie Rich, and like Vera Wang, exhibited a serious passion for ice skating from a young age and also had ambitions of competing in the Olympics. At age eleven, he moved to California’s Bay Area to actively pursue figure skating. At the pinnacle of his skating career, Rich went on tour with the Ice Capades. It was then that he discovered his love for fashion and costume. Says Rich, “Even when I was still skating, I would always hang out in the costume department with this guy named Jerry. He brought it to a level where I would rhinestone costumes and help him out.”

Next, was a critical move to Manhattan, in the ‘90s when he became one of Manhattan’s most famous “club kids,” a group of New York City personalities and club promoters who included the infamous murderer Michael Alig, Susanne Bartsch, and DJ Keoki. The group spent their evenings at NYC’s biggest clubs, voguing and showing off their self-made fashions.

Richie Rich got his start as a fashion designer when he worked as a busboy and started designing one-of-a-kind pieces to wear to nightclubs, while he worked as a busboy at Limelight. His DIY vinyl, latex and leather pieces with dramatic cutouts got him custom orders from the other Club Kids and served as the launch pad to his eventually launching Heatherette in 1999 with horse trainer, Traver Rains.

Image courtesy of refinery29.com

Everything gelled after Richie Rich went on a trip to Tokyo, where he got the inspiration to make the tee shirts that “Sex and the City”(SATC) stylist Patricia Fields pulled for Sara Jessica Parker the show’s style-guru and blogger “Carrie Bradshaw” to wear on the show. SATC was the ultimate platform for fashion and shoe designers in the early 2000s. Rich hit another career peak in September 2007 when heiress/personality/it girl, Paris Hilton, snuck out of the house to walk in the spring 2007 Heatherette show, cheered on by fans that included Madonna and Gwen Stefani.

Heatherette closed in 2008, due to internal disputes, but Rich undeterred, glided on to his next creative endeavor, and became a television personality. He never hung up his skates entirely though, when it came to fashion. In the fall of 2011, he showed his Popluxe line, and more recently Heatherette by Richie Rich in Downtown Brooklyn, at the BKLYN Studios rather than his downtown NYC stomping ground. He told BKReader, a local Brooklyn publication that he felt that “There is such an energy in Brooklyn (now).” As for the show, it could be Heatherette 3.0. Rich described it as such, “It’s Stevie Nicks meets a Club Kid and turns into a disco star.” Unsurprisingly, he has embraced social media using TikTok as the platform to launch his cosmetics brands, Btykwn (@btywkwn).

Image courtesy of gentlemangazette.com

Ralph Lauren: The Tennis Player & Strategist

Ralph Lauren had a deep love for sports from a young age. Although he played on his high school’s baseball team, once he discovered tennis, he developed a lifelong passion for the game. Had he pursued sports more competitively, particularly tennis, Lauren might have aimed for Olympic glory in his youth. He fell in love with the British sport that originated in Warwickshire England, and with seemingly all sports that the British landed gentry enjoy and consider to be an integral part of their lifestyle. Thus, Polo, tennis, and equestrianism have consistently served as ongoing sources of his design inspiration.

Lauren’s overall aesthetic also reflects a strong affinity with professional sports which is reflected in the apparel he designs, most notably tennis, polo, and golf. His company’s collaborations with the sports world took off in 2005, when the United States Tennis Association selected him as the official apparel sponsor for the US Open. Just one year later, Lauren became the first designer in Wimbledon’s 129-year history to create uniforms for the ball boys, and girls and on-court officials.

Images courtesy of wwd.com

While the RL Corporation has also partnered with the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) as the official outfitter of the 2023 United States Ryder Cup Team, the biggest feather in Lauren’s cap is his ongoing partnership with Team USA that began in 2008. Since then, Ralph Lauren has outfitted Team USA at nine consecutive Olympics and Paralympics for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as with capsule wardrobes for the athletes to wear during and post Games. This month, the RL Company is once again outfitting Team USA for their opening and closing Olympic parade uniforms. The navy opening ceremony blazer has a distinctly equestrian feel while the closing white, red and blue windbreaker looks just right for track and field.

Image courtesy of stellamcCartney.com

Stella McCartney: The Equestrienne

Stella McCartney grew up surrounded by sports and music and was an accomplished horse rider during her school years. She could have potentially pursued equestrian sports at an elite level, had she not chosen to work in fashion design. Her appointment as Chloe’s Creative Director in 1997 made her a household name in fashion circles for delivering collections that enjoyed both critical and commercial success.

She landed a joint venture in 2001 with the Gucci Group to found her eponymous label as well as lingerie, eyewear, and organic skincare and fragrance. She began to receive recognition as a pioneer in the green fashion movement, a movement that was still far away from enjoying widespread popularity. She refused to use leather and animal derived materials in her functional yet edgy designs. Her vegetarian chain link Falabella has been a “must-have” bag, since it debuted in winter 2009, despite it not being made from traditional “real” leather.

McCartney’s interest in athletics resurfaced in 2005, when she began to design Adidas by Stella McCartney. As the line evolved, McCartney gained recognition as a pioneer in the women’s sports performance category. The line is celebrated by fans for fusing adidas’ cutting-edge technology with the edgy signature style of the Stella McCartney collection label.

Another result of working with Adidas was that McCartney was appointed as Team Great Britain’s Creative Director for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This was especially significant as this was the first time in the history of the Games that a leading fashion designer designed the apparel for a country’s team across all Olympic competitions. In 2016, after launching her swimwear collection, and the STELLA POP fragrance, Team Great Britain invited Stella back to as Creative Director for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. McCartney regularly blends her love of all things equestrian into her designs. Her winter 2023 campaign was shot in France’s Camargue Salt Flats, and starred the region’s famed white ponies and supermodel Kendall Jenner in pieces that have an equestrian feel to them. Stella McCartney continues to gallop forward fusing her love of sport and design.

Image courtesy of womenshealthmag.com

Victoria Beckham: The marathon runner

Victoria Beckham, also known as Posh Spice from the Spice Girls, made the unlikely transition from pop starlet stardom to a career as a respected and successful fashion designer. Initially, we nominated her as a gymnast, given her dancing and gyrations on stage as a Spice Girl, but ultimately decided that she would made a great addition to the Olympic Track Team. It took Beckham fourteen long years of slogging forward to experience her first profitable year in business in 2022. For this accomplishment she has earned our nomination for a spot on the Olympic Games’ marathon team.

Beckham has always had a strong interest in health and fitness, that was intensified by her 25-year marriage to soccer star, David Beckham. The couple are widely admired for their strenuous personal workout routines and physiques. David and Victoria regularly share their workout routines and healthy lifestyle tips which includes a great deal of distance and interval running. According to the-sun.com, “Posh Spice might seem prim and proper, but her social media suggests she’s a beast in the gym. Victoria squeezes in as many as six sessions every week, regardless of her schedule.”

Image courtesy of vogue.es.com

Thom Browne: The Swimmer and Soccer Enthusiast

Browne has a background in competitive swimming, having swum competitively during his college years. His experience in swimming, a sport that requires discipline and focus, likely helped to shape his approach to design and craftsmanship. He made the life changing decision to focus his talents on fashion, which turned out to be an excellent choice, as he has done swimmingly well for himself in that arena. Like many champion swimmers, he seemingly came from a lane no one was paying much attention to and glided forward to become a star.

Browne is known in the fashion world for his avant-garde designs that challenge traditional notions of menswear. His collections often feature tailored suits with unexpected twists. He shattered the traditional notion of what a man’s suit should look and feel like. In an interview with Vogue Espana, Browne explained that he believed that men should be comfortable in their suits, as they are after all, many men’s daily uniform. He controversially raised the trouser hemline and shrank the proportions to resemble a little boy’s suit and forever dispelled the idea of the uncomfortable “monkey suit” that dominated the last half of the 20^th Century.

Image courtesy of Thom Browne

Like our other would-be Olympians in this article, Browne also designs for sports. In 2018 he collaborated with FC Barcelona, Spain’s legendary soccer club in a two-part design project. The first part of the collaboration was a specially created twill classic suit and tie with a cashmere 4-bar classic V-neck cardigan that the club’s players wore for their official team portrait. The second part consisted of a capsule collection of FC Barcelona- items launching in support of the Barca Foundation, the club’s charitable organization that supports vulnerable children and youths through educational sports projects. Browne revamped several of his signature looks with the football club’s iconic colors and patterns, yielding a selection of knit items and summery suiting. There was a shrunken blazer and short set off by crisp white shirting with the FCB crest. A snug cardigan, knit hat, tie, scarves and socks in Barcelona’s branded color palette and corresponding text accessorized with Browne’s familiar tri-color grosgrain ribbon rounded out the capsule. Accessory fans could pick up complementary pebble grain wallets and folios that featured matching crests, perfect for FCB-diehard.

The fashion designers we have highlighted have showcased their creativity on the runway as well as demonstrated their potential to excel in the world of sports. While they may not have all pursued Olympic careers, their experiences in sports have without question influenced their approach to fashion, blending functionality with style to yield sporty and stylish results.

Vivian Kelly

Fashion Flashback: Iris Apfel

March 11, 2024 by admin 1 Comment

Image courtesy of cnn.com

What makes a fashion legend? Is it a distinguished career, commercial success, extraordinary collections that stand the test of time? Or is it a combination of those things or the sum of all parts?

Iris Apfel was none of those things. Yet, she achieved legendary status, a status she acquired in her 80s and 90s. In fact, Apfel was the original fashion influencer.

Iris Apfel passed away recently at the age of 102. And lived a very full life that became the subject of a documentary and an art exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fashion Reverie looks back at the incredible life If Iris Apfel. There will never be another like her!!

Image courtesy of vanityfair.com

Iris Apfel spent the first 80 years of her long life as a private citizen. Iris always called herself, “just a girl from Astoria, Queens who loved a good bargain.” And loving a good bargain was a way of life for Iris Apfel, which applies to her rather whimsical random shopping for clothing, accessories, and home goods. “In a former life, I must have been a hunter-gatherer,” Apfel wrote in her authorial début, Iris Apfel Accidental Icon.

Born in 1921, Iris (Barrel) Apfel’s parents wear both retailers. Her mother ran a small clothing boutique, while her father owned a glass and mirror business. Iris’ love of shopping started very early with her strategically negotiating the price of a brooch at a West Village jewelry store during the Depression.

Iris married her husband Carl Apfel, her husband of nearly years, in 1948. Before marrying Carl Apfel, Iris worked at Women’s Wear Daily, as a copywriter, and for interior designer Elinor Johnson.

Iris In Paris: Exhibition, Paris, March 2, 2016.

In 1950, Carl and Iris created the textile company Old World Weavers which they ran until 1992, selling to Stark, a large fabric firm. Old World Weavers specialized in the reproduction of fabrics from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, and traveled to Europe twice a year in search of textiles they could not source in the United States.

Over the years, Iris Apfel was in involved in several restoration at the White House for US presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton. Through their world travels sourcing interior design items, Apfel began collecting artisanal, Non-Western clothing which she wore to dinner parties, making her a valued guest.

In her mid-80s, Iris became a fashion icon known for her eccentric but fashionable style. In retirement, she drew acclaim for a 2005 show at the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring her collection of costume jewelry and styled with clothes on mannequins as she would wear them. This art exhibit established her as a fashion icon.

Image courtesy of amazon.com

In 2011, Iris Apfel became a visiting professor at the University of Texas in Austin in the university’s division of Textiles and Apparel. In 2014 the Albert Maysies’ documentary “Iris” was released.

In 2018 HarperCollins published her biography Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon in 2018.In 2019 Iris Apfel signed a contract with IMG Models at the age 97.

William S. Gooch

Fashion Flashback: Chloe Sevigny

February 7, 2024 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of allure.com

Transformation can be difficult for all of us. Especially, when someone in their youth is recognized as having certain characteristics, but as maturity yields more depth and a transition into other things.

Some celebrities are not equipped to move past the perceptions of fans, particularly when the images and style they projected in their youth were positive reflections of bygone times remembered. The annals of Hollywood are overrun with young actors who have not been able to move past the glories of their youth.

Image courtesy of harpersbazaar.com

Chloe Sevigny is not one of those actors. And her appearance in Ryan Murphy’s “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” is evidence of her transition into more mature roles.

An ‘It’ girl of the mid to late 90s, Sevigny has emerged from that downtown girl with a peripatetic, quirky style that appealed to young consumers looking to express themselves through garments that are livable pieces of art to a mature artist that now chooses European luxury brands that can still reflect her fashion-as-art style.

This ‘Edie Sedgwick’ of the 90s is currently seen as style maven whose personal style conjures up images of a now and next fashion sentimentality. Now 49 years of age, Fashion Reverie looks back at this fashion style icon’s transformation from a downtown 90s ‘It’ girl to a red-carpet, go-to fashionista.

Images courtesy of dazed.com, glamour.com, wmagazine.com, respectively

Edie Sedgwick reincarnation

If you are not aware of ‘60s ‘It’ girl and Andy Warhol’s Galatea, Edie Sedgwick, then you should. Sedgwick epitomized that free-spirited downtown girl of the 1960s. We set her own rules and lived by her own standards. Named a fashion revolutionary by Women’s Wear Daily, Sedgwick, both an actor and model, with black stocking, miniskirts, chandelier earrings, short brown hair, and heavy eye makeup, became a controversial, tragic cult figure who broke with tradition. Establishing the clique of rebellious, free-spirited youth.

Like Sedgwick, early in her career Sedgwick was an untraditional model who walked to the beat of her own drum, preferring vintage clothing over fashionable labels. In 1994, Sevigny was called “the coolest girl in the world” by Jay McInernery in the New Yorker. Sevigny idiosyncratic style was aptly expressed in 90s vintage-store style which consisted of jelly shoes, vintage miniskirts, or vintage jackets paired with miniskirts and psychedelic tights.

Images courtesy of Getty Images, wwd.com, and Opening Ceremony, respectively

Golden girl

By the late 90s and early 2000s, Chloe Sedgwick evolved from an indie film queen to more mainstream films with her fashion sensibilities evolving beyond a downtown free spirit. Sevigny chic style, though still eclectic, included strappy heels, mini pinafores, and sexy cocktail dresses. Sevigny in the early 2000s added noted fashion brands Loewe, MUGLER, Miu Miu, and Jean Paul Gaultier to her lists of favorite brands. But her style was so much more than these esteemed fashion brands. Sevigny’s style is defined by how she mixes and matches these brands with vintage pieces in a way that uniquely her own. And acquiring campaigns with Loewe and Miu Miu helped, as well as being a muse for Marc Jacobs, and collaborations with Opening Ceremony.

Images courtesy of tomandlorenzo.com, thecut.com, red-carpetfashion.com, respectively

Fashion maven

Like all great harbingers of style, Chloe Sevigny understands how to transform her fashion without losing the style that made us celebrate her. Still employing her fashion-as-art style, Sevigny has matured in her choice of fashion brands and film appearances, with her role as 60s and 70s socialite C. Z. Guest being the most dramatic pivot in her film career.

With a style that was once the assemblage of a patchwork of varying style and aesthetics, Sevigny has solidified her style choices that can range from red-carpet fashion to luxury streetwear. Sevigny is still a very important fashion icon, and she continues to prove that in her appearances on global red carpets.

William S. Gooch

Fashion Flashback: Ivan Bart

November 4, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of hngbu.com

Fashion Reverie looks back at the career and life of Ivan Bart, president of IMG Models. On October 27, 2023, Ivan Bart died after a brief illness.

Bart first came to IMG Models in 1994 and helped mold the careers of Gigi Hadid, Ashley Graham, Alek Wek, Hari Nef, Precious Lee, Zach Miko, Quannah Chasinghorse, and Paloma Elsesser. And more recently Bart helped mentor and nurture the modeling careers of Hailey Bieber, Alton Mason, Wisdom Kaye, and others.

Under Bart’s leadership IMG Models picked up the inclusion and diversity mantle, expanding its roster of plus-size models. Bart employed Ashley Graham and other plus-size models when Ford Models dropped its plus-size division.

In under 10 years at IMG Models, Bart was promoted to president of the model management agency. In 2012 Bart lead the global relaunch of IMG Models’ men’s division. Under Bart’s leadership IMG acquired The Wall Group, which represents makeup artists, stylists, manicurists, and hairstylists.

Image courtesy of harpersbazaar.com

Bart opened an IMG Models office in Sydney, Australia in 2012. And in 2017 Bart opened in IMG Models’ office in Los Angeles, recognized the intersectionality between fashion and Hollywood, an intersectionality that has continued to gain traction. On the heels of opening in office in Los Angeles, IMG Models has signed celebrities Maddie Ziegler, Lori Harvey, Millie Bobby Brown, and Diana Silvers to its active boards. IMG Models has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, and Sydney.

“During the course of three decades at IMG Models, Ivan quite literally changed the shape and face of the modeling industry from within,” Shapiro shared. “His relentless pursuit for diversity and inclusion challenged fashion’s gatekeepers and created household names whose omnipresence has inspired generations. I literally sat beside him at a table with the former management team at Victoria’s Secret while he politely argued that they had to change their annual runway television special and diversify their models—size, age, race, background. He was the voice before there was a voice. He was courageous. He saw beauty in all its forms,” detailed Mark Shapiro, Endeavor president and COO.

Image courtesy of impression.com

Bart was named by Business of Fashion one of the fashion industry’s top 500 people shaping the fashion industry. Ivan Bart also serves on the boards of Fashion Institute of Technology and the Neuberger Museum of Art.

Ivan Bart is survived by his husband, cinematographer Grant Greenberg. Ivan Bart was 60 years old.

—William S. Gooch

A Flashback on the Intersectionality of Fashion and Music Throughout the Decades

June 29, 2023 by admin 1 Comment

For the month of June, fashionreverie.com demonstrates the intersectionality between fashion and music. In chronological order, you’ll find the beautiful journey of both forms of art and the riveting cross pollination of both art forms.

Image courtesy of medium.com

1960

Hippie Movement

The Hippie Movement, known for its everlasting impact, made hippies abandon the mainstream ideals of that time, embracing a free-spirited, self-affirming, bohemian approach to life. Cruising maxi dresses, bell-bottom pants, tie-dye shirts, peasant blouses, and fringed vests became the norm with this movement.

Hippies also embraced natural fabrics, earthy colors, and handcrafted accessories, echoing their devotion to an alternative and sustainable lifestyle. Their fashion taste symbolized a rejection of societal norms and a celebration of individuality and harmony. Additionally, folk music, psychedelic sounds, and rock evolved into the culture, with artists like Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead paving the way. The music signifies the spirit of rebellion, anti-war sentiments, and a yearning for social shift.

Image courtesy of philipmartingallery.com

Black Power Movement

The Black Power Movement gave life to the spirit of black pride and empowerment. This movement highlighted a visual presentation of black heritage and identity. African-inspired clothing, such as dashikis, kente cloth, and traditional head wraps grew into symbols of black pride and resistance against Eurocentric beauty norms. Furthermore, natural hairstyles like Afros and braids surged through the mainstream standards of beauty that had marginalized black beauty standards.

Artists like Nina Simone, James Brown, Gil Scott-Heron, and The Last Poets imbued their music with politically charged lyrics and soulful rhythms, addressing racism, black empowerment, and challenging the norms of that time. The music became a rallying cry for the movement and provided an outlet to rebel against systemic racism and advocate for black pride and liberation. The impact of this movement on our culture spreads far beyond the 60s, still inspiring generations and influencing the ongoing fight against racism.

Image courtesy of the oaklandunifiedschooldistrict.com

1970

Soul Train

Premiering in 1971, this iconic show played a key role in shaping 1970s culture by making a platform committed to previewing Black music and dance. “Soul Train” created fashion trends with its vibrant and eclectic style that celebrated self-expression with the dancers showcasing a range of distinctive and daring looks. Afro hairstyles, bell-bottom pants, platform shoes, colorful prints, and bold accessories inspired viewers to embrace their individuality and black heritage. “Soul Train” also showcased a variety of musical genres, such as soul, funk, disco, and R&B, giving way to both up and coming talents. A packed catalog of performers by legends like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye, enchanted viewers with their phenomenal performances.

Image courtesy of pinterest.com

1980

Madonna

Not just an icon and trailblazer in music, but trendsetter in fashion, Madonna pioneered a way for female stars outside of fashion to demonstrate their own fashion taste and make an impact. Known for her provoking style and fearlessness, Madonna pushed boundaries and challenged the norms through her fashion choice.

Her iconic looks, like the “Boy Toy” belt, lace gloves, cone bras, and layered accessories, became the embodiment of her presence. Her fashion sense merged characteristics of street style, punk, and glamor, and she was constantly evolving and redefining her style with each album and era.

Her music played a pivotal role in shaping the pop landscape that this generation’s artists use as a foundation. With mega hits like “Like a Virgin,” “Material Girl,” and “Vogue,” Madonna continuously pushed the boundaries of pop music, mixing genres, and pushing controversy. She symbolized female empowerment and liberation, contesting traditional concepts of femininity and sexuality.

Images courtesy of pinterest.com

Yuppie Culture

Embodying the materialistic and affluent aura of the era, this culture welcomed a polished and well-groomed tone that reflected the ‘Greed is Good’ 80s. Power suits, luxury designer brands and watches, tailored blazers, and pinstriped shirts became the sartorial emblems of success and high status, evidenced in luxury brands like Thierry Mugler, Chanel, and Donna Karan. Musically, the Yuppie culture fell for upbeat vibes of genres like pop, glam rock, and new wave. Artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Culture Club, and Duran Duran dominated the charts with their catchy tunes and flamboyant fashion choices were just the right taste for what The Yuppies were craving.

Image courtesy of theformula.com

1990

Rise of Hip Hop

Starting out as a polarizing genre and a form of art with a raw feel for African American people to express themselves that has now grown to be the most dominating music genre. It’s no surprise fashion ended up in the mix of Hip Hop. From oversized clothes to the combination of streetwear and designer brands, the range of styles were endless. Being the top music genre to complement fashion, we’ve seen hip hop musicians like Kanye, Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, and many more rappers dive into careers in fashion at top luxury brands.

Image courtesy of c41magazine.com

Grunge Movement

This movement challenged the lustrous aesthetics of prior decades, opening doors to an authentic and disheveled style. Ripped jeans, flannel shirts, oversized sweaters, and combat boots were symbols of expression when it came to this movement, symbolizing anti-establishment and non-conformity.

With high-end brands taking notice and integrating the grunge elements into their collections, the look quickly spread like wildfire as the grunge music took over with force. Distinguished by its distorted guitar riffs, anguished lyrics, and raw, gritty sound, grunge contested the glossy and artificial pop music dominating music at the time. Bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jams, and many more became synonymous with the genre.

Image courtesy of inreviewonline.com

2000

M.I.A – Paper Planes

Starting the career of an artist who broke boundaries in music, Paper Planes not only paved the way for M.I.A’s music career, also sending powerful message to the world. Dialing in themes of the struggles and prejudice that immigrants face when trying to travel, this song allowed immigrants around the world to relate to M.I.A when she endured hardship getting a work visa because she matched the profile of a terrorist.

With her story about her childhood living in Sri Lanka at the height of their civil war and moving to London for a better future yet struggling to enter the states, there was no better messenger for immigrant and inclusion than M.I.A. These musical and lyrical themes paved the way for M.I.A to take a polarizing route with a fashion style boasting her love for fluorescent colors, oversized clothes, and graphic prints. M.I.A took hardship and war and turned them into a musical expression.

Image courtesy of cnn.com

2020

Black Lives Matter

Stemming from a tragic event, Americans of all backgrounds came together to protest the inequality that black people face today in this country. This blossomed a cultural, impacting social constructs.

Dominating the charts and the music industry, Lil Baby stepped out of his comfort zone dropping a song with a theme augmenting the BLM movement called “The Bigger Picture.” With more than 183 million views on youtube and 2 times platinum, this song charted everyone’s playlists and gave a deeper meaning to their protest. To add a cherry on top, the NBA showing support via BLM shirts made waves throughout the country, followed by a myriad of major brands donating to the movement.

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Gender-Neutral Fashion Trends

When the world looked for something new in the world of fashion, musicians were up for the challenge and revitalized gender-bending outfits. From Jaden Smith to Harry Styles and Bad Bunny, and many other musical icons, gender fluidity has become popular in fashion.

With some of the pioneers of genderbending fashion like Elton John, Grace Jones, and David Bowie, it’s a full circle moment seeing icons of this generation bringing non-binary style back to life. Ranging from Harry Style gracing the cover of Vogue with a dress, to Bad Bunny breaking gender norms at the MET Gala, fashion continues to evolve.

—Lauren Pierre-Louis

Fashion Flashback: We Miss You Dear Friends

January 10, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The fashion industry experienced huge losses in 2022. From Andre Leon Talley to Issey Miyake to Vivienne Westwood, 2022 was a year that several fashion luminaries transitioned to another spiritual plane. These fashion luminaries helped change the industry.

Fashion Reverie understands and puts into practice honoring those fashion groundbreakers who have paved the way for many of us. This roundup celebrates those fashion luminaries who have given so much to the fashion industry. May their memory forever burn bright!!

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Andre Leon Talley

No fashion personality has caused consumers to stop, listen, and consider their personal style more than Andre Leon Talley. From his fashion commentary to his wit and personality on “America’s Next Top Model” to his unique analogy of haute couture fashion, fashion editor extraordinaire Andre Leon Talley proved that aspirational fashion could be accessible. His extensive fashion knowledge served the publications that employed him well, from his early career at Warhol’s Interview magazine to his tenure at French Vogue to his last posts at Vogue stateside. Talley’s witty repartee and animated commentary is missed.

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Vivienne Westwood

When fashion designers of her ilk were beginning to bow to corporate entities, Vivienne Westwood remained an independent entity inspired by Great Britain’s rebellious youth culture of the 1970’s. For five decades Westwood merged what was going on in the street (new wave and punk fashion) with aspirational fashion. And she was one of the few popular fashion designers that understood that fashion has a voice and can be a commentary on political and social movements.

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Issey Miyake

From starting his own fashion company in Japan in 1970 to continuing in the fashion industry in his 80s, Issey Miyake has continuously combined technology with innovative, fashion-forward designs. Known for geometric and architectural collections, Miyake in the 80s began to experiment with pleating.

In the 90s, Miyake was one of the first fashion designers to collaborate with artists. His Guest Artists series created an interactive relationship between fashion and people who love art. These collaborations produced what came to be known as wearable art.

Issey Miyake died from cancer in August of 2022.

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Elsa Klensch

If you are old enough to remember CNN’s “Style with Elsa Klensch,” you look forward to Klensch distillation on fashion every Saturday morning for more than 20 years. Klensch produced and hosted the 30-minute show, and “Style with Elsa Klensch” was broadcast into 142 countries with 2.5 million viewing households in the US.

Based in New York City, Klensch traveled to the major fashion capitals of the world, reporting on fashion weeks, and style in all the major global fashion centers. It was estimated that the show had 200 million viewers worldwide.

Klensch chose to leave CNN in 2001, two years before the end of her contract. In later years she wrote mystery novels. Klensch died on March 4, at the age of 92.

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Patrick Demarchelier

“Call Patrick.” Do you remember Miranda Priestly yelling that instruction in “Devil Wears Prada”? Of course, you do!

Though born in France, Patrick Demarchelier started his fashion career in New York City in 1975. And though he is best known for his photographic portraits of Princess Diana, Demarchelier was a highly respected fashion photographer working for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Glamour.

Demarchelier has shot fashion campaigns for Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, TAG Heuer, Chanel, Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Zara, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Moschino, Blumarine, Longchamps, Ralph Lauren, and many others. In 2007 he was made an Officer of the Arts and Literature by the French Minister of Culture.

Demarchelier died in March 2022. He was 78.

Image courtesy of nytimes.com

Thierry Mugler

When sexy, vixen, in-your-face fashion comes to mind, constructed to show off feminine curves, there I no need to look any further than Thierry Mugler. With the advent of era of supermodels, no other luxury designers showed off their skill in the runway than Thierry Mugler.

Mugler originally started his professional life as a ballet dancer, soon after he designed clothing for London boutiques and the French fashion house Karim. Mugler designed his first collection, “Café de Paris” in 1973 and in 1978 he opened his first boutique at the Place de Victoires.

In the 1980s and 90s, Mugler was known for his very structured women’s suits. His collections were a commercial success. However, by 2003, Mugler’s company was having significant financial losses.

Mugler left the fashion industry in the early 2000s while keeping his fragrance brands on the market. “Fashion is beautiful, 3-D art on a human being. But it wasn’t enough, which is why I went on to create in other ways. For me, it wasn’t the right tool anymore. But perfume still interests me,” explained Mugler.

Though Mugler’s fashion brand continues under various creative directors, Mugler moved on to other creative ventures including creating stage costumes for Beyonce’s “I am … World Tour.” Mugler died of natural causes on January 23, 2022.

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Roxanne Lowit

After a successful career working as a textile designer in the early 1970s, working with Donna Karan, Lowit began photographing the backstage goings on at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week with her 110 Instamatic camera. “I paint and there were people who I wanted to sit for me but had no time, so I started taking pictures of them. I liked the gratification of getting the instant image, so I traded in my paintbrushes for a camera,” detailed Lowit.

Lowit was one of the first photographer to photograph Yves Saint Laurent’s backstage and have the images published. Because of this Lowit formed a lasting relationship with Yves Saint Laurent. “I think the most memorable for me was when I was his photographer for 25 Years [of Design] at the Met,” she told W at the time. “It was the first time anybody did something for a living designer, and I was his personal, private photographer for the whole thing. My feet didn’t touch the ground the whole two weeks. We just had this wonderful rapport together, we liked being in each other’s company and we liked each other. From day one it was like that.”

Lowit popularized backstage images from the global era of Fashion Week. And her images of supermodels for the golden age of fashion will never be forgotten.

Lowit died on September 13, 2022. Roxanne Lowit was 80 years old.

William S. Gooch

Fashion Flashback: Seven Memorable Red-Carpet Looks from Recent Met Galas

May 1, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

Beauty in in the eye of the beholder, or so the adage goes. And if you are not sure you are making a statement about beauty, why not aspire to leave a lasting impression.

With the 2022 Met Gala only one day away, Fashion Reverie has rounded up some of the more recent red-carpet looks that made a lasting impression. And the means, red-carpet appearances that contain a lot of extra!!

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No one can debate that Billy Porter’s entrance and extravagant presentation at the 2019 Met Gala left an impression that is still talked about in fashion circles. Carried aloft by six muscular in the style of Cleopatra’s triumphant entrance into Rome, Porter donned a bejeweled catsuit by The Blonds, outfitted with 10-foot wings, a 24-karat gold headpiece, as well as custom gold-leaf Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and fine jewels by Andreoli, John Hardy, and Oscar Heyman. This extravagant presentation fit in wonderfully with the 2019 Met Gala’s “Camp” theme.

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In homage to the theme “China Through the Looking Glass” at the 2015 Met Gala, Rihanna made all heads turn and pulses beat in little faster in Chinese couturier Guo Pei’s yellow embroidered cape dress. The heavily embroidered ensemble was trimmed in yellow fur and weighed a hefty 25kg. Rihanna stole the show!!

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Who can forget Katy Perry stepping out as a human chandelier at the 2019 Met Gala? This spectacular look was designed by Moschino and fit in perfectly the “camp” theme of the 2019 Met Gala.

Talk about showing it all without showing it all. Beyonce gave a new name to the word revealing when she wore a revealing, embellished in all the right places Givenchy gown to the 2015 Met Gala. And she had plenty of company in the almost-naked category with Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian following suit. It was a va va voom moment!!

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Not to be left out of the mix, at the 2021 Met Gala, Lil Nas X stole the show in three bold, dramatic outfits. Fashion Reverie’s favorite was the gold body armor Versace creation that reminded us of an updated golden Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz.”

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And what would a Met Gala be without Lady Gaga? She has donned several eye-catching looks in the past. Still, Fashion Reverie’s favorite is Gaga’s four reveal outfits at 2019 Met Gala. No one does camp better than Gaga, and this Brandon Maxwell four outfit reveal demonstrates why she is the Queen Mother of Camp.

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Last, but not least, Fashion Reverie’s favorite Sarah Jessica Parker look is her “Heavenly Bodies” ensemble for the 2018 Met Gala.She walked the red carpet in a standout piece by Dolce & Gabbana‘s Alta Moda, which draws inspiration from the Renaissance. The gilded gown featured red hearts, precious stones, and a massive train. The standout item of the Dolce look was a crown with a full nativity scene perched on top of Parker’s head.

—William S. Gooch

We Heart Kitsch Valentine’s Day Fashion

February 7, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

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Dopamine dressing, which often involves wearing bright colors and bold designs, has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Fashion has always been used to make people feel happier and more confident, but dopamine dressing specifically equates fashion with feeling through colors, textures, and design. “Kitsch” fashion is a subset of dopamine dressing in its excessive adornments and sentimental focus, with Moschino leading the kitsch agenda in the luxury fashion sphere. According to CR Fashion Book, kitsch has gained a huge amount of popularity in large part due to TikTok Gen Z culture. Michelle Lee in her article “Kitsch Is In According to Fashion Week,” writes “The sweater vests of ’90s sitcoms’ past were reintroduced as TikTok’s fashion emblem; clunky acrylic rings turned into joyous and nostalgic must-haves; and cardigans crocheted in a puzzle of color (much like the J.W. Anderson one iconized by Harry Styles) brought a sense of comfortability and wholesomeness to trends.” While “kitsch” used to carry a negative connotation, this genre of dopamine dressing is no longer viewed as garish, but rather artistic.

There is no better fit for Valentine’s Day than sentimental kitsch fashion. Fashion pieces with heart cutouts and patterns in bright reds and pinks can be found at all price levels. One of Rihanna’s most iconic fashion looks was that of a bright red $22,000 Saint Laurent fur jacket in the shape of a heart which is just one very luxurious example of kitsch fashion. Fashion Reverie has decided to channel mom-to-be Rihanna this Valentine’s Day to create a swoon-worthy, luxury-focused fashion guide reflective of the top kitsch trend right now— heart cutouts and rhinestones from head to toe!

Image courtesy of AREA

AREA: High Fashion Luxury Kitsch

AREA is known for high fashion pieces often seen on models in editorial covers or on prominent celebrities like Beyonce and Cardi B. The brand is described as “witty, inherently glamorous, playfully decadent and injected with a pop energy,” and “shares its name and spirit with the iconic 80s Manhattan nightclub, known for its fusion of art and performance in conceptually themed nights.” The brand is also well-known for its crystal pieces and cut-outs. For a luxurious Valentine’s Day outfit, AREA has a plethora of crystal embellished heart cut-out items from denim overalls, jeans, and a denim jacket to a tee shirt and blazer featuring this design. Fashion Reverie recommends the Heart Cutout Men’s Blazer for a kitschy twist on a classic piece that can be layered over a simple black dress for an intimate dinner!

Image courtesy of liricamatoshi.com

Lirika Matoshi: Romantic Kitsch

Lirika Matoshi is a New York City-based fashion brand with femininity at its tulle covered heart. The brand is made up of a team of all women, with the designs showcasing a uniquely feminine lens. This, however, does not mean that only women wear the brand. In fact, the brand became increasingly popular when Harry Styles famously wore the signature strawberry embroidered dress. Each piece is feminine and romantic, which makes them a perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day outfit. Fashion Reverie envisions a woman wearing their most kitschy heart themed piece, the Rainbow Heart Dress of technicolor tulle, to a Galentine’s Day celebration! Another kitschy party look is their Heart Pink Satin Top and Skirt featuring a corseted waist, bow shoulder ties, and pearl embellishments. For a more casual Galentine’s Day outfit, the brand’s most popular item at the moment is the Radiant Heart Knit Sweater, worn by Emma Chamberlain among many other influencers. YesStyle makes an affordable dupe for under $30 as well that can be shopped here!

Image courtesy of manieredevoir.com

MANIERE DE VOIR: Chic Kitsch

For the risk-averse fashion lover, MANIERE DE VOIR pieces can be kitschy but are ultimately more chic than kitsch. Many pieces on the website are bold and make a statement which contributes to dopamine dressing; however, they are also all tailored and classic looking. For a look that can easily transition from day to night, from a walk around New York City to a skyline dinner at night, Fashion Reverie recommends their Heart Vegan Leather and Denim Trousers. This can be paired with the Vegan Heart Croc Bag for a look that is a bit more kitschy but still effortlessly chic.

Image courtesy of postergirl.com

POSTER GIRL: Sexy Kitsch

POSTER GIRL has been worn by notable pop culture figures like Dua Lipa, Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, Doja Cat, Rita Ora, and Winnie Harlow. The brand’s pieces are sultry, featuring cutouts, lace, and sheer fabrics. POSTER GIRL recently dropped their Valentine’s Collection, with the Kylie Set being custom made for Kylie Jenner. The collection looks nostalgic almost as if it is in reference to Betty Boop’s iconic heart emblem outfits. The collection is made almost entirely from red and pink lace and is garnished with delicate crystal rhinestone hearts. Fashion Reverie recommends POSTER GIRL for a particularly sultry date with your significant other!

Image courtesy of mybeachyside.com

My Beachy Side x Emily in Paris: Resort Kitsch

My Beachy Side is a sustainable beach brand focused on supporting disadvantaged women by providing them with income for hand-crafting the brand’s pieces. The brand is recognized for its signature intricate crochet beachwear. My Beachy Side created a collaboration collection alongside Emily in Paris, which often showcases outfits that are more Parisian kitsch than Parisian chic. For a Valentine’s weekend resort getaway, Fashion Reverie recommends the Pop the Top Exclusive Emily Top and Mini Skirt composed of gorgeous hanging hand-crocheted hearts. This outfit was worn on season 2 episode 8 which makes it even more of a special look!

Image courtesy of betseyjohnson.com

Betsey Johnson: Kitschy Accessories

Betsey Johnson has long been the queen of kitsch. There is even an entire section of the brand’s website dedicated to the kitsch trend featuring peppermint heart necklaces, champagne bucket bags, and rhinestone bows. Betsey Johnson recently released a “Red Hot” Valentine’s Jewelry Collection of pearls, heart cherries, xoxo beads, and rhinestone bows and butterflies. Fashion Reverie recommends the Red Hot Hearts Cherry Necklace to be worn with a more casual outfit for a daytime Valentine’s date.

Image courtesy of yumeyume.eu

Yume Yume: A Kitschy Statement Shoe

Yume Yume focuses on offering unique one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. On the brand’s website, Yume Yume asks buyers to “consider our collection an ode to those who have a nature for sparking interest and curiosity. An act of love for originality.” Their footwear has a pillowy signature look for comfort and style. For a kitschy Valentine’s Day shoe, Fashion Reverie recommends the Love Heel featuring a pink heart heel, wool lined sole, and thick vegan suede straps making it a perfect winter heel. For a less expensive heart emblem shoe option, we recommend ASOS Lamoda Knee High Platform Boots with Pink Hearts!

—Tessa Swantek

Lady Gaga Fashion Flashback

November 17, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

With “The House of Gucci” movie coming out next week there is much buzz about the infamous Patrizia Reggiani, the Gucci fashion brand and “The House of Gucci” red carpet premieres around the world. Of course, the person everyone talks about the most, besides the star-studded cast, is Lady Gaga. Expectations are high since she has publicly detailed how hard she has worked on this role—practicing authentic Italian accent for years and attempting to channel Patrizia Reggiani.

We don’t know quite yet if Lady Gaga’s performance will live up to all the media hype. However, while we anticipate the opening of “House of Gucci,” Fashion Reverie can look back at Lady Gaga’s fashion over the years

Monster mama always had a unique style and has always managed to shock us in some way; however, her style has evolved and seems to be more sophisticated and grown up today. Fashion Reverie look back at Lady Gaga’s style evolution.

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Lady Gaga on Good Day New York City in 2008

This look goes back to when Lady Gaga’s career just gathering steam and obviously designers didn’t really throw outfits on her. At that time, her costumes were often handmade.

Image courtesy of wmagazine.com

Sunglasses and Eye Make Up

In the beginning of her career, Lady Gaga often wore platinum hair, platform shoes, and would often pay tribute to David Bowie. Gaga had loads of fun with accessories and cut up jeans.

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Shells

The Video Music Awards (VMA) are a great place to experiment with style. Lady Gaga never missed that kind of opportunity. We loved her 2013 look wearing just shells to cover the main body parts. An appearance fit for a painting masterpiece.

Image courtesy of ew.com

The Meat Dress

Lady Gaga accepting Video of the Year award left us feeling hungry well unless you are a vegetarian. She absolutely outdid herself when she came out in a “meat set.” it was meant to send a message that she is not a piece of meat; however, PETA was not pleased.

Image courtesy of lofficielusa.com

2019 Met Gala

In 2019 Lady Gaga was one of the co-chairs of the 2019 Met Gaga. She put on quite a performance by transforming her outfit into four different looks. It was a historic fashion moment.

Image courtesy of lofficielusa.com

With Her Majesty

This Gaga look doesn’t seem like a look most people go for when meeting The Queen. She did look like a renaissance character, but in red latex with dramatic eye makeup. Yet somehow, Lady Gaga pulled it off smoothly.

Image courtesy of Filippo Monteforte/AFP/GETTY

A Star Is Born

For her film debut in “A Star Is Born,” Lady Gaga transformed herself yet again. She truly expresses herself through fashion and when she walked the red carpet for “A Star Is Born” premiere in Italy she looked stunning and very feminine. The dress was very old Hollywood glamour.

Image courtesy of wwd.com

House of Gucci

It is only natural for Gaga’s movie star career to continue and this time she is playing a role not even connected to a music performance. But, fashion topics are right where she belongs and she channels that confidence on all red carpets we have recently seen her on. In New York she wore a custom Armani Privé. Classic but Gaga Style.

—Tijana Ibrahimovic