Fashion News Alert: Cher Collabs with Versace, Naomi Campbell’s New Gig, and Revlon Prepares to File for Chapter 11 Protection

June 15, 2022 by Leave a Comment

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OK, its Gay Pride Month and like other Gay Pride celebration around the world that means lots of chatter and adoration of gay pop icon Cher. But it doesn’t start and stop there.

This Gay Pride Month, Cher and Donatella Versace have come together to create a four-piece limited edition capsule collection. Appropriately called, CHERSACE, the capsule collection contains two tee shirts, socks, and a cap emblazoned with a rainbow-hued iteration on the house’s Medusa logo alongside the CHERSACE logo and a slogan that reads: “Celebrating love and unity xxx Donatella Versace, Cher.” 

Hmm, you may ponder if Cher and Donatella Versace are two star-crossed divas that work well together. Fashion Reverie agrees that with that thought, you are on the right track!!

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Revlon’s troubles

When you think of iconic cosmetic brands, Revlon is one name that may come to mind. Though Revlon has not been in the news as of late, the cosmetic brand still carries much weigh in the beauty industry.

That said, the shares of the legendary beauty brand have declined by 46% as the brand prepares for Chapter 11 protection, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. As of mid-March, Revlon had long-term debt of 3.31 billion. This debt is due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. However, Revlon has seen some growth as consumers are venturing out more.

Still, the current small growth does not offset the brand’s supply chain challenges and deter competition from emerging digital cosmetic brands. Chapter 11 will protect Revlon from bankruptcy.

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Naomi Campbell’s new campaign

No grass is growing under supermodel Naomi Campbell’s feet. At 52, Campbell fronts the campaign for Self-Portrait’s debut handbag collection.

This handbag collection pays tribute to the 1990s. The bags were “inspired by the ease and freedom associated with the Self-Portrait brand” and come in two styles—the Bow Mini and the Bow Micro.

“When thinking about how to launch the Bow Bag, I was feeling quite nostalgic and reflective of the past and kept being drawn to the 90’s, an era when fashion was sweet yet tough, and heavily influenced by music,” details Portrait creative director Han Chong, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.” The origins for this campaign came from such a simple idea born out of a play on words with the name of our new bag.” 

“There is only one person I knew would be able to fill the role of our lead for this video… Naomi defines not only the era we are paying tribute to through this project, but she represents everything the self-portrait woman stands for—she’s strong, independent, provocative, and always authentically herself.”

The campaign is directed by Renell Medrano and is shot in a private house in London with music from the original 90’s hit record “The Boy Is Mine” by Brandy & Monica. Campbell is styled by Haley Wollens with Campbell wearing garments from Self-Portrait’s fall 2022 collection.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Johnny Depp Dramas Increases Sales of Dior’s Sauvage, Herve Leger’s New Collaboration, and G-III Acquires Karl Lagerfeld

May 31, 2022 by Leave a Comment

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Hollywood power stylist Law Roach has created a resort capsule collaboration with Herve Leger. This lilac and neutral-toned, 25-piece collection seeks to take a new perspective on the brand’s famed bandage dress.

Law Roach has made a name for himself in Hollywood for styling such celebs as Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Tiffany Haddish, Celine Dion, and Ariana Grande. Roach also appeared on “America’s Next Top Model” as a judge.

Roach has dropped a hint that the resort capsule collection will contain ribbon embroideries and stripes. The Hervé Léger x Law Roach collection, priced between $690 and $2,900, is set to drop online and in selected stores this October.

Image courtesy of thehollywoodreporter.com

Depp’s defamation increases sales

You must be living under a bush if you aware of the salacious defamation trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Though some may not agree with the judgement rendered by the judge in the case, one thing is true, the case has increased sales of Dior’s men’s fragrance Sauvage, the fragrance which Depp is the face of.

Depp’s fans have made Sauvage the highest selling men’s fragrance this week at Ulta and Sephora. Depp has been the face of Sauvage since 2015.

Wall Street Journal editor Jacob Gallagher noted that Sauvage has also become the fourth top-selling men’s eau de parfum on Amazon.com and the TikTok hashtag #diorsauvage has been viewed nearly 350 million times. A spokesperson for Depp explained to Gallagher that “[Depp] knows that Dior, in particular, has been steadfast and unwavering in its support and he will always be grateful to them and to all those who have supported him through the sales on his behalf.”

There has been no comment on why Dior has not dropped Johnny Depp as the face of Sauvage due to the defamation charges between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard.

Image courtesy of PYMNT.com

Karl Lagerfeld acquired

This past Thursday G-III Apparel Group, Ltd announced that it had fully acquired the Karl Lagerfeld brand. G-III Apparel previously owned a 19 percent stake in the brand. G-III acquired the remaining 81% for $214 million dollars.

“We have great respect for Karl Lagerfeld’s experienced and talented leadership team, led by Pier Paolo Righi, with whom we have worked closely for the past seven years,” said G-III Apparel’s CEO, Morris Goldfarb, when the transaction was first announced last month. “This team, combined with G-III’s expertise, is expected to unlock more of the brand’s global potential, which we believe represents a retail sales opportunity in excess of $2 billion.”

Karl Lagerfeld launched his eponymous brand in 1984 and the brand had experienced a resurgence in the past decade. The brand was taken over by Pier Paolo Righi toward the end of 2011.

Presently there are over 120 company-owned and franchised stores and is also available in select multi-brand retailers and its online website. In 2021, Karl Lagerfeld’s sales increased by 40%, compared to 2020.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Tom Ford Resigns, Yeezy Gap by Balenicaga Launch Postponed, and Gisele Bundchen’s New Gig

May 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of anneofcarversville.com

You know someone is a supermodel when they can leave the industry for a few years and come back stronger than ever. That is Gisele Bundchen’s story. Well, sort of!!

Though Gisele doesn’t appear on the catwalk anymore, she officially retired from runways a few years back, she is now front and center as the face of Burberry’s TB Summer Monogram campaign. The collection includes gabardine trench coats, silk-blend bomber jackets, silk dresses, cotton shirts, swimwear, and sunglasses,

For this campaign, Gisele was photographed by Luigi & Iango. And in a nod to Burberry’s vintage history, Gisele is posed in front of unreleased images by Luigi & Iango photographed over a decade ago.

Image courtesy of designscene.com

Bye, bye Tom

In shocking news, Tom Ford stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). After serving in that position for three years, Ford’s last day will be May 31.

“When I began my role as chairman in June of 2019, my goal was to help the American fashion industry become more globally recognized for its talent and importance. I could not have imagined the extraordinary circumstances that both the industry and the world would have to navigate—that a pandemic would shut the world down and change the course of our lives and of our businesses forever,” wrote Ford in a statement distributed by the CFDA.

“The pandemic challenged all of us to think about our businesses in new ways—from the design process and production, to how we reach and speak to our customers,” he continued in his statement. “We were forced to come up with creative new ways to run our companies. Some may think that fashion is just about making beautiful clothes and accessories or having runway shows, dressing celebrities and throwing parties without considering the incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, or that the fashion industry is a $3 trillion industry that employs millions of individuals. As chairman of the CFDA, I have had the privilege to experience first-hand the remarkable determination and optimism that drives our industry. I am honored to have been able to support the truly incredible talent in the American fashion industry for these past three years, and I look forward to continuing in my role on the CFDA board.”

During his tenure at chairman of the CFDA, Ford helped bring back the Met Gala and New York Fashion Week (NYFW), after NYFW and the Gala’s absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also launched the CFDA’s A Common Thread initiative with Vogue, donating over $5 million to the fashion industry in the United States.

Tom Ford will remain on the CFDA’s board while the board looks for a replacement.

Images courtesy of gq.com

Delays to Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga

Because of the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Uvlade, Texas, Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga’s launch has been postponed. The collection was set to launch on Yeezygap.com and Balenciaga online partners Farfetch.com, Mytheresa.com and LuisaViaRoma.com.

“In light of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, we are postponing the Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga launch until Friday, May 27,” the company said in an official statement, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “As we pause, our hearts go out to the families and communities impacted.”

Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga is the result of a collaboration between Yeezy Gap and Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia. Ye, or as he is better known, Kanye West signed a 10-year deal with Gap to create Yeezy Gap in 2020.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Nike Bolsters Serena Williams’ Brand, Bella Hadid’s New Gig, Versace and Fendi Collaborate

May 5, 2022 by Leave a Comment

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Just as it was rumored last year about a partnership between Fendi and Versace, the proof is in the pudding. Wagging fashion tongues whispered that there would be a collaboration between Versace and Fendi, and the wagging tongues were correct.

Fendi and Versace have just released their first collaboration, an ode to femininity and friendship. “It’s a swap rather than a collaboration and, most of all, it is done out of friendship. It is the beauty of togetherness after time apart and a celebration of women who have inspired me so much,” said Kim Jones, creative director of Fendi Couture.

This Fendi and Versace collection is named Fendace. The collection will be available in Fendace pop-up stores and at a series of events worldwide, the only physical venues showcasing the entire collection on May 12. The collaboration will be commercialized in the brands’ namesake stores under the names Versace by Fendi and Fendi by Versace.

Fendace brings together the creativity and savvy of Versace Fendi and the campaign will be modeled by a bevy of supermodels and top models. The list of models includes Naomi Campbell, Kristen McMenamy, Imaan Hammam, Adut Akech, Amar Ak way, Anja Rubik, Anok Yai, and Lina Zhang.

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Big, bold Serena

You know you have reached the top of your career when a building has been named after you. Enter Serena Williams!!

Nike has named the largest building at the Nike World Headquarters after Serena Williams. The Serena Williams Building spans 1 million square feet, the space houses 200,000 square feet of lab space for Nike’s consumer creation teams to test new ideas in developing, presenting and merchandising Nike products. Other specialty spaces in SW include 140,000 square feet of showrooms and workspace; a footwear materials library; a color lab; and the two-story, 140-seat Olympia Theater, named after Serena’s daughter. 

“Architecture has long been a creative catalyst for Nike. A manifestation of form and function following footprint, this building embodies Serena’s legacy as a force for positive change. It is the art to the LeBron James Innovation Center’s science, allowing us to know and serve athletes like never before,” said John Hoke, chief design officer, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

There are also some sustainable assets to the Serena Williams Building. Twenty percent of SW, which is Leed Platinum–certified, is made up of recycled content that was harvested and manufactured locally. It is outfitted with 648 solar panels, adding to an anticipated energy-cost saving of 41 percent compared to a baseline building. Additionally, the building sits beside federally protected wetland, and is designed to preserve and supplement the environment. 

“The whole building takes your breath away,” added Serena Williams, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “Every element, everywhere you go, is an opportunity to be inspired. I hope this building encourages people to bring out the best of themselves and to dream bigger than they thought possible.”

Image courtesy of dailymail.com

Bella and Swarovski

Supermodel Bella Hadid is not letting grass grow under her feet. It was recently announced that Bella is the new face of Swarovski. Swarovski’s new creative director, Giovanna Engelbert, selected Bella as the new face of the iconic brand. 

Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the recent campaign demonstrates the many faces of Bella Hadid. The transformative crystals show Bella’s many facets and moods.

“Bella goes from sporty to glamorous while remaining the same girl with confidence and authority,” Engelbert said of her new muse. “In that sense, she conveys the values of Swarovski to perfection. Today, crystals are a dynamic part of our everyday wardrobe: a way of accentuating your individual style in a way that can be as casual as it can be elaborate. Bella is the poster girl for this state of mind.” 

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: The New BCBG Max Azria, and Gisele Bundchen’s New Cover, and Au Revoir Michel Goma

April 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of V Magazine

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has graced thousands of fashion magazine covers. But since her retirement a few years ago, Gisele Bundchen has devoted herself mostly to her family.

The 41-year-old supermodel is now gracing her first cover in four years. For V Magazine’s summer 2022 issue, Bundchen wears pieces by Chanel, Dior, Philip Treacy, Armani Privé, Norma Kamali, Amina Muaddi, Jimmy Choo, and Cartier. Bunchen is styled by V Magazine’s Gro Curtis.

“When you’re in your twenties, you try to fit in. and you try to belong. When you’re in your forties, you feel more comfortable in your skin. I feel like I have only gotten stronger with time, and that’s in all [aspects] of my life,” explained Gisele Bunchen, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com.

It is only fitting that Bunchen would return to modeling fashion magazine covers at V Magazine, in that many of Bunchen’s magazine covers were with V Magazine. “Her body of work, only some of which we’ve captured, is constantly referenced, perpetually admired, and a permanent chapter in the book of fashion lexicon,” detailed V Magazine Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan.

Image courtesy of stylefrizz.com

A new direction for BCBGMAXAZRIA

BCBGMAXAZRIA is entering a new era. BCBGMAXAZRIA’s new creative director is Albino Riganello and his new collection for BCBGMAXAZRIA was inspired by screen sirens and sex symbols of the 1970s, actresses Edwige Fenech, Barbara Bouchet, and Zeudy Araya. Riganello celebrated his fall 2022 collection for BCBGMAXAZRIA at an intimate dinner at Manhattan’s LIGHTBOX.

“She’s not afraid of experimentation. She is an art lover, a visionary, a philanthropist, a pioneer, and more,” he said of his archetype. “Her way of dressing has evolved along with the changing of the times. Versatility rules her wardrobe and outfits need to easily be transformed from day to night,” explained Riganello when speaking of his vision of the new BCBGMAXAZRIA woman.

Riganello comes to BCBGMAXAZRIA after having worked at Alessandro dell’Acqua, Dolce & Gabbana, St. John, Givenchy, Zuhair Murad, and most recently, popular NYC-based sustainable brand AMUR. “Today we live in a completely different reality than years ago, and women’s wardrobe is drastically evolving with the time. I will always have a woman’s needs in mind while designing, emphasizing femininity, sensuality, and that modern aspect that the brand is known for,” detailed Riganello at the time of his appointment, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com.

Image courtesy Maurice Zalewski/Corbis via Getty Images

So long, Michel

The fashion world mourns of the loss of French couturier Michel Goma. Goma is known for his 10-year stint at Jean Patou where he helmed the iconic French brand’s couture collections. It was at Jean Patou that Goma hired Jean-Paul Gaultier as his first assistant. While at Jean Patou, Goma’s creations were worn by celebrities like Rose Kennedy, Princess Ashraf Pahlavi and the empress of Iran, Farah Diba.

Goma launched a new label, MG, that was very popular in Japan. The label produced bridal wear, eyewear, and luggage collections for the Isetan department store.

Goma was creative director for Balenciaga from 1987 to 1992. While at Balenciaga. French fashion chronicler Guy Monréal paid tribute to him in L’Officiel, praising Goma for “having invented a new kind of young woman, at once dynamic and spiritual. With his spinning-top skirts and cancan-style petticoats, his low-cut necklines, and corkscrew frills, he honoured the great Cristobal.”

Goma died on April 22, 2022. He was 90 years old. He was buried in native village of Moncrabeau, in south-west France.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Philipp Plein Cleared of Homophobia Allegations, Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio Collabs with PatBo, and “Making the Cut” Returns for a Third Season

April 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment

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“O, what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.”

After homophobia allegations by a former employee, German fashion designer Phillip Plein has been cleared of said allegations in New York State courts. Amro Alsoleibi, the former regional director of Philipp Plein’s New York stores, accused Plein of discriminating against him because of his homosexuality.

Alsoleibi, who was hired by Plein in 2018, frauded Plein for $100, 000 for fictitious services by Philipp Plein Americas Inc. to a phantom company owned by Alsoleibi’s friend and co-tenant Tala Atassi. New York Courts concluded that as soon as the scam was discovered, Alsoleibi alleged that Plein discriminated against him because of his sexual orientation and fired him.

“I am very pleased about this decision, which sets the record straight and responds to the despairing attempt by Mr. Alsoleibi to discredit my reputation in order to try make money off me,” said Plein in the press release. “My brand and my business have been built from zero through over 20 years of hard work by hundreds of people, among whom both LGBTQ and heterosexual [individuals] have always been represented,” he added.

“I will always react against attacks like the one by Mr. Alsoleibi, who first tried to deceive me and my company by creating false services and contracts, and then tried to deceive public opinion and the press by creating false allegations. My utmost appreciation goes to the judge who was able to acknowledge that,” concluded Plein.

Image courtesy of reaadsme.com

 

“Making the Cut” is back

“Making the Cut” returns for its third season with co-hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. This third season promises to be an incredible season with Nicole Ritchie returning as a judge. Jeremy Scott will continue as a judge. Additional guest judges have not yet been announced.

“Making the Cut” seeks to find the next big global fashion brand. Winners will receive $1 million to invest in their business and a mentorship with Amazon Fashion. They’ll also have an opportunity to create an exclusive co-brand with Amazon Fashion and sell their existing collection in Amazon Fashion’s “Making the Cut” store.

“I am excited for Making the Cut to return this summer for its third season,” Heidi Klum said in a statement today, as reported in the dailyfrontrow.com. “I was so happy to be reunited with Tim, Nicole, and Jeremy as we searched for the next great global fashion brand among our most talented group of designers yet! This season’s fashion far exceeded our expectations and there are so many amazing looks that I cannot wait to wear myself.” Tim Gunn added, “After watching the success of our past designers, including winners Andrea Pitter and Jonny Cota, I’m tremendously excited for fans to see what this season’s enormously talented group of designers has in store.”

“Making the Cut” season 3 will air in 240 countries and territories. The series is taped in Los Angeles.

Image courtesy of yahoonews.com


Alessandra Ambrosio is not slowing down

Who says a model cannot have a career into her forties? It is possible, and Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio is proving the viability of continuing a modeling career into her forties.

This 41-year-old model/actress is collaborating with Brazilian clothing brand PatBo for a collection of elevated and luxe bohemian dresses and separates. Ambrosio opened and closed the runway show of fellow Brazilian Patricia Bonaldi, creative director of PatBO, for the brand’s debut at New York Fashion Week in September 2021.

Ambrosio was seen on the first day of Coachella in the brand’s silver cropped top and the matching metallic fringe shorts paired with a lace duster. The 16-piece collection’s price points start at $295 and is now available for pre-order. The collection will be available on June 20 on the website and at select retailers.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Condé Nast Unionizes, H&M Closes Stores, and Au Revoir Patrick DeMarchelier

April 1, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of thetodayshow.com

H&M has announced that it will close 240 stores globally. This is a bit of a surprise because first quarter financials for the megastore, though below pre-COVID-19 levels, were substantial.

The store closures come on the heels of H&M opening 95 new stores. The new stores will be opened in what H&M calls “growth markets,” while the closures will be in established markets.

H&M has had to shutter 185 stores because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia was H&M’s sixth largest market, accounting for 4% of its sales.

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Workers unite!!

It has finally happened. Condé Nast’s employees have formed a union with NewsGuild. Nearly 500 employees from editorial, production, and video have asked that management recognize the union. That includes staff from Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, Bon Appétit, Glamour, Architectural Digest, and other Condé Nast brands.

The Condé Nast employees’ bargaining representative is from NewsGuild which also represents The New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, and Pitchfork. This would the biggest infusion of employees ever with the biggest new unit.

“The current workplace culture at Condé Nast allows many people of color and women to be consistently silenced by management. It’s no longer enough to play-act a commitment to diversity or apply [band-aid] solutions to issues of discrimination,” said Epicurious social media staffer Kaylee Hammonds in a statement, as reported in the Hollywood Reporter. “[We are] unionizing today across the company so that this hypocrisy that currently thrives at Condé Nast can be remedied.”

“Workers at Condé Nast have organized hundreds of their colleagues with one shared goal: to raise standards and fight for better working terms and conditions,” says Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “This is an opportunity for Condé Nast management to work more collaboratively with employees and be held accountable in addressing long-standing concerns about equity, inclusion, fairness, and diversity. I’m excited to welcome these workers into the Guild and proud to join them in their fight to improve their workplace.”

Image courtesy of yahoonews.com

Au revoir Patrick

If you have ever watched the film “The Devil Wears Prada,” you will probably remember that fictional editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly always asking for famed fashion photographer Patrick DeMarchelier. They had a fantastic congenial relationship in the film and in real life. Of course, in real time, Miranda Priestly was modeled after Anna Wintour.

That said, all good things must come to end. And the closure of those good times makes us very sad. The entire fashion industry mourns the death of famed fashion photographer Patrick DeMarchelier.

DeMarchelier moved to Paris from Le Havre at the age of 20 and worked as a photographer’s assistant before getting his big break at American Vogue, before moving to New York City. Demarchelier formed a long-time relationship with Vogue creative director Grace Coddington at both American and British Vogue. One of his most memorable photographs is the one taken of Linda Evangelista for the September 1992 issue Harper’s Bazaar.

DeMarchelier shot campaigns for ​Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, and personal photos of Princess Diana. DeMarchelier also photographed the Pirelli calendar in 2005, 2008 and 2014.

Patrick DeMarchelier is survived by his wife and three sons. DeMarchelier was 78 years old.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: New Book Explains Vice President Kamala Harris’ Dismay over Vogue Cover, Maluma Launches Fashion Line, and Elsa Klensch Transitions

March 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of pennlive.com

Another celebrity fashion line, hmm, do we care? Well, perhaps we should care about this celebrity fashion line.

Colombian pop artist Maluma recently announced his fashion line for Macy’s. This collection will be exclusively for Macy’s and feature women and men’s garments. The collection, Royalty by Maluma,” was designed in partnership with Reunited Clothing and has affordable price points ranging from $39.50-$179 with sizes of SX to XXL.

“Royalty by Maluma” is a unique blend of my Latin culture and my love for fashion, with stylish wear-anywhere looks that are versatile for a night out or every day,” said Maluma. “In addition, my partnership with Reunited Clothing for Macy’s represents the American Dream. This will be the first of multiple drops in my collection, that I hope will inspire my fans to dream.”

“Maluma’s impeccable sense of style and inclusive commitment to celebrating the beauty and sexiness of everyone, whoever they are, made him an ideal partner to collaborate with,” added Durand Guion, vice president, Macy’s fashion office, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

This collection includes bold pops of color and paisley prints. In addition, there are some personal touches from the Colombian pop artists which include his signature crown finishing and patterns inspired by his hometown of Medellin, Colombia.

Most of us would kill to be on the cover of any fashion magazine. But if you are Vice President Kamala Harris, the thrill did not last long.

Image courtesy of yahoo.com

Vogue, maybe not

A year ago, VP Kamala Harris graced the cover of American Vogue. Many of us were thrilled to see the newly elected Vice President on the cover of the esteemed fashion magazine. However, a new book, “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future,” reveals that Vice President Harris, and her team were not so happy about the images chosen for the Vogue cover.

The February 2021 issue of Vogue has Vice President Harris on the cover in a not-so flattering black pantsuit with Converse sneakers. According to the book, the outfit was self-styled, and Harris received very negative comments on social media about the cover. The Vogue cover was photographer by photographer Tyler Mitchell, who was the first black photographer to photograph a cover for Vogue when he photographer Beyonce for Vogue.

The image that appeared on the cover was leaked out two weeks before the publication of the February issue and many folks felt that the image was beneath the professional character of Harris. Some calling the image “too casual” and too “informal.”

According to the book, Harris was shocked that Vogue chose the “informal” image for the cover. Authors are quoted in the book as saying, “Harris was wounded,” the authors wrote. “She felt belittled by the magazine, asking aides: Would Vogue depict another world leader this way?”

Because of the criticism over the February 21 cover, Vogue released a limited-edition digital issue with Harris in a more flattering powder blue suit by Michael Kors Collection against a gold backdrop. Wagging tongues contend that this was the cover the Kamala Harris wanted and thought this image would appear on the cover.

Image courtesy of manicmetallic.com

Bye, bye Elsa

If you didn’t get the opportunity or were too young to watch Elsa Klensch’s show on CNN’s “Style with Elsa Klensch,” you missed a treat.  Elsa Klensch, the host of CNN’s “Style with Elsa Klensch,” died earlier in the month.

“Style with Elsa Klensch” premiered on CNN in 1980. Klensch was of the pioneering journalists of fashion and one of the first to present fashion news and coverage on cable television. Known for signature bobbed hair and Australian accent, Klensch covered runway shows from New York City to Paris to London, Milan, and Tokyo. She also interviewed designers Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Carolina Herrera, Karl Lagerfeld, and Anna Sui appeared regularly on her show.

“Her show had a tremendous impact on popular perceptions of the fashion industry,” said Valerie Steele, the director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, as reported in thenewyortimes.com. “Prior to this, fashion shows were an industry event, or you had to be a private couture client to be seeing it. Elsa Klensch really opened that up to the public.”

You could see a wide range of designers and not just know their names but their faces and their runway footage, which is now so ubiquitous,” Ms. Steele said. Ms. Klensch, she added, took on the role of intermediary, between the real world and the fashion world. “She looked comfortable but not 100 percent part of it,” added Valerie Steele.

“Style with Elsa Klensch” ended in 2001 after the parent company, Time Warner, laid off 400 employees. “There were corporate changes; it was a good time to go,” she told The Times, adding, “I always said I’d stay at CNN for 20 years, see out the millennium, then find something else.” Elsa Klensch died in her home in Manhattan on March 4. She was 89 years old. 

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Missoni’s New Director, Alexander McQueen Comes Back to New York, and the Met Gala Returns in May

March 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Images of Alexander McQueen fall 2022 courtesy of dailyfrontrow.com

A lot of fashion pundits thought after Alexander McQueen passed away, his brand would go out of existence. Not so!! Since McQueen’s death, the brand has continued.

Sara Burton is the current creative director of Alexander McQueen and under her helm the brand has returned to showing collections in New York City. ​”New York is exciting, creative, not speedy, but it is a fast city. I wanted to have a pace, energy, and precision to the tailoring and the coloring so to have a vibrancy and sense of character on purpose with a huge personality,” said Burton, according to fashionnetwork.com, after the brand recently presented in New York City on March15.

“New York and America is such a big part of McQueen and has been incredibly supportive to us. We showed Dante here (1996), Eye (1999), and Savage Beauty (2011). It’s part of our creative community; I’ve always loved people from New York, so it’s great to come here and honor that.”

At the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Burton presented the fall 2022 collection against a backdrop of tree mulch piled 15 feet high. The piled high mulch represented the brands connection to the community seen through the lens of an Alexander McQueen aesthetic; the same way trees are connected to community. “These dresses are individual characters; in the way we have characters in the McQueen family, it felt like they could exist in New York or any city really,” explained Burton.

Burton looked to the downtown New York City woman of the 1980s for inspiration for this fall 2022 collection. There were variations on leather envisioned as strapless jumpsuits and peplum-like jackets combined with full-skirt silk faille dresses. (Think Madonna and Cyndi Lauper of the early 1980s.)

“The color palette came from looking at a photo of mycelium mushrooms—which are very topical at the moment obviously—but what I really love is how trees talk to each and heal as a creative community and work together. But [mushrooms] are toxic at the same time,” she continued, adding the colors were found in nature.

The fall 2022 after party was held at the Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District. Many attendees were garbed in bustier slash full skirt dresses that the brand is known for.

Image courtesy of purepeople.com

The Met Gala Goes Back to May

For 2022, the Met Gala returns to its original date in New York City, May 2, after having to change dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Met Gala benefits the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds will co-host the event along with Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Tom Ford, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri, and Anna Wintour will also continue their roles as honorary co-chairs for the event.

The 2022 theme will be a continuation of last year’s theme, In America: An Anthology of Fashion. The 2022 exhibit will feature some 100 examples of men’s and women’s dress from the 19th and 20th century in a bid to tell the unfinished stories of American fashion and the talent ‘behind the seams.’

The 2022 exhibit will be housed at the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing period rooms. This placement allows the viewer to see how American fashion evolved culturally and socially against an American domestic life backdrop.

Filippo Grazioli Image courtesy of vogue.com

Missoni Reinvigorated

Missoni has reorganized. And with this in-depth reorganization, there is a new creative director, Filippo Grazioli. Grazoli replaces Angela Missoni, who has moved on to creative direct the home decoration line. Grazoli will helm the menswear and women’s wear lines, as well as the lifestyle brand. His first collection will be the spring 2023 collection which will debut in Milan.

“In agreement with the [Missoni] family and FSI, we have appointed Filippo Grazioli as Missoni’s new creative director for the men’s and women’s collections. A young designer who nevertheless has an 18-year experience working with prestigious fashion labels, Grazioli has joined our team to sublimate Missoni’s identity on the luxury market and further strengthen the [modernization] process we have engaged in,” said CEO Livio Proli in a press release.

“I’m [honored] to be joining the world of Missoni, a label that has left its mark in the history of Italian style, maintaining a remarkable integrity over the course of nearly seven decades,” said Grazioli. “I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given, and the possibility to shape my experience further in a new vision that maintains the joyfulness, freshness, sense of [color], and positivity that are the core qualities of Missoni,” adds Grazioli.

Since 2020, the Missoni brand has been managed by former Armani CEO Livio Proli. Under Proli the brand invested in and increased its digital presence in China. Missoni, under Proli, closed it more youthful line, M Missoni, and took back control of Missoni Home which was previously licensed. In 20201 Missoni experienced double-digit growth with revenue of 105 million euros.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2022 Campaign, Olivier Rousteing’s New Gig, and Several Brands Close Shop in Russia

March 9, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of hollywoodlife.com

You would think that Olivier Rousteing would have enough to do being the Creative Director of Balmain. Not so!!

Rousteing now has an additional job. Wagging fashion tongues were insinuating that former enfant terrible of the fashion industry, Jean-Paul Gaultier was looking for some top designers to design his couture collections. When Gaultier showed up at Balmain’s recent fashion show, wagging tongues believed that Rousteing would be the chosen designer. And they were right!!

Soon after, Gaultier’s fashion brand revealed that Rousteing will be a guest designer for Gaultier’s haute couture collection. Rousteing’s haute couture collection for Gaultier will be revealed in July 2022.

Jean-Paul Gaultier sold his fashion brand to the Spanish Puig Group in 2011 and stopped creating ready-to-wear collections in 2015. Since then, the brand has re-introduced ready to wear with a sailor-themed collection 2021 in collaboration with five emerging designers Ottolinger, Palomo Spain, Lecourt Mansion, Alan Crocetti, and Marvin M’Toumo.

The brand has revived their haute couture by collaborating with five young fashion designers. The first collaboration dropped in July of 2021 with Japanese designer Chitose Abe reinterpreting the Gaultier codes.

Image courtesy of anadoulagency.com

Dasvidaniya Russia, well temporarily

As the US and other countries sanction Russia over the invasion of the Ukraine, several fashion and beauty brands are following suit by closing stores and limiting inventory. Every day the list becomes larger with brands taking action against the Russian invasion. The ever-expanding list now includes L’Oreal, Unilever, Pronovias, Sephora, and the PVH brands which include Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, and Kenneth Cole.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, PVH stated that on March 7, PVH brands will temporarily close stores in Russia and in Belarus. Two percent of PVH brands revenue comes from sales in Russia, Belarus, and the Ukraine.

 On March 8, 2022, L’Oreal stated that its stores, and their directly operated counters in department stores and its e-commerce sites in Russia, will be temporarily closed. And Unilever will stop imports and exports out of Russia.

On Instagram, Sephora announced that it will suspend operations in Russia and all its 24 boutiques in Russia. The closures and suspension of business happened on March 6.

“Given our increasing concerns about the current context and the complexity to operate, we will suspend our activity in Russia until further notice,” said the brand, which operates 2,600 stores in 35 countries, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. Sephora is owned by company LVMH.

Image courtesy of wmagazine.com

Marc Jacobs reinvents

Back in the early 2000s, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs were the go-to brands for any fashionista who wanted stylish, trendy clothes at a higher price point. And Jacobs continued this upward projection for almost two decades.

Though he hasn’t been in the news much as of late, Marc Jacobs is a fashion brand that still brings a smile to shoppers. With Marc by Marc Jacobs defunct for the last few years, Jacobs launched a new brand, Heaven by Marc Jacobs, a few years ago. Heaven by Marc Jacobs will appeal to a much younger consumer.

And in line with the youthful point of the brand, Jacobs’s has employed an array of pop stars and actors that will appeal to his young consumers, namely Nicki Minaj, Sky Ferreira, Yung Lean, Steve Lacy, Paloma Elsesser, and Mena Suvari. Mena Suvari recreates her iconic scene from “American Beauty” for Heaven by Marc Jacobs’ spring 2022 campaign.

The collection launches online and in-stores today and this season sees contributions from artist Claire Barrow, photographer Ed Templeton, 1994 TV series Hi Octane and 1950s show Gumby, and more. 

—William S. Gooch

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