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Rap Artist/Actor LL Cool J aka Todd Smith is making a fashion comeback. His eponymous fashion Todd Smith by LL Cool J was carried by Sears and some other mega retail stores in 2008. And though LL Cool J’s first fashion line didn’t break any retail records and was discontinued almost as soon as it launched, the rap icon did not get a sour fashion taste in his mouth, so to speak.
LL is back with a new fashion line, named at his first hit rap song, “Rock the Bells.” This retro fashion line—which stays true to the rap traditions of Slick Rick, Curtis Blow, and Big Daddy Kane—will be a limited run of apparel.
We’re staying true to where the culture came from, but reimagined for now,” explained LL Cool J. “Two years ago, I launched my radio station #RockTheBellsSXM CH43 on #SiriusXM,” the artist wrote on the social media platform, as reported on fashionnetwork.com. “And one week from now, we will release our first limited edition collection of RTB products.”
The Rock The Bells collection will be available January 28 and will include 80s-styled hoodies, tee shirts, and record label-branded varsity jackets. About his new fashion line, LL Cool J contends, “I’m an MC. I’m a product of the culture, I represent the culture, so I’m lifting up the culture!!!”
Image courtesy of amazon.com
Au revoir Glamour
It appears that Condé Nast is about to shutter another print publication. On Wednesday, the French agency AFP confirmed that Condé Nast has intentions of closing down Glamour magazine.
“Following a painstaking assessment, Condé Nast France can confirm it intends to close down Glamour. The process will involve consultations with staff over a period of several months,” a Mind Media newsletter confirmed. According the newsletter Glamour is closing due to financial concerns.
In an attempt to deal with its dwindling readership, in 2018 Glamour switched to bi-monthly publishing. However, sales continued to decline, falling to 120,000 copies which was down from 220,000 copies in 2017, according to ACPM.
In the US and UK, Glamour has already converted to an online publication, while the Italian edition closed in 2019. Glamour is published in France.
Image couresy of fillermagazine.com
Halston’s new boss
The Halston brand continues to shake things up. The brand has experienced several creative directors since its eponymous founder, Roy Halston Frowick, passed away in 1990. And some of the former heads are quite illustrious—Sarah Jessica Parker to Tamara Mellon to Rachel Zoe.
Now the iconic label has a new chief creative officer, Robert Rodriguez. “I always thought Robert Rodriguez was the perfect choice for leading the Halston brand,” said Andrea Scoli, president of Halston. “Having worked with him for so many years, I truly felt that his aesthetic and vision for Halston would be an asset to us in supporting our future growth.”
Robert Rodriguez got his start in fashion working for Christian Dior under Marc Bohan in 1990. In 2003, Rodriguez launched his eponymous fashion line.
“I am honored and delighted to be part of Halston,” Rodriguez said in a statement, as reported on fashionweekdaily.com. “Roy Halston Frowick was the creator of luxury American fashion. It is with great respect and admiration that I continue to lead the legacy and his iconic signature.”
Image courtesy of complex.com
Galliano collabs
John Galliano has scored a collaboration. Well, that is his first with Maison Margiela—where has been the creative director since 2014. This also marks the first time Galliano has collaborated with a mainstream brand.
For Galliano’s collaboration with sneaker giant Reebok, Galliano is bringing back Maison Margiela’s tabi shoe, first shown in 1988. But this time in sneaker form.
The Margiela x Reebok sneaker made its debut at Margiela’s recent couture collection. The sneaker shoe is unisex with the classic tabi split toe and comes in yellow. The sneaker will in Maison Margiela stores later in the year in a variety of colors and in flat and heeled styles.
—William S. Gooch
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