It's all systems go at Saint Laurent at the moment. It was only a week ago that Hedi Slimane showed his first women's wear collection at the house and already, images of Anja Rubik wearing the collection have been uploaded onto the label's recently revamped website.
The images are good and were no doubt shot by Slimane in their headquarters, leading many to believe that the images will form the brand's S/S13 campaign but I'm not convinced. On the whole, the PR team has been pretty tight lipped about the brand's plans moving forward, besides, of course, the new name change, so I can't imagine that they would release the campaigns so soon.
When you think of Anthony Vaccarello, what springs to mind? Anja Rubik and her exposed right hip in that dress that he designed for her to wear to this year's Met Gala, no? That exposure was both a good and a bad thing. Good, because it definitely put his name out there in the consciousness of the mainstream but bad because it, to a large extent, pigeonholed him into designing sexy evening wear.
For that reason it was a smart choice, then, that he opened the show with Rubik completely covered up wearing a simple but desirable white blazer and black trouser combo. The move was deliberate. He was making a point to the world that, while he will continue to deliver those dresses that get the photographers snapping, there's more to him that a hot dress. And this season that he transpired on the series of deconstructed jackets, white over the knee shorts and easy throw on tops that are just what we all need for summer, and will no doubt prove to be a smart business move.
Sex was still there and so were short hemlines. The dresses clung closely to the body to replicate how your clothes would look if you had walked out of the ocean wearing them. I can't lie, the dresses did look extremely hot on Cara Delevigne and Jourdan Dunn but that's partly where the problem is. As has been the case for the past few seasons, I'm just not convinced that these looks will translate on us mere mortals.
I’ve worked many times with Terry Richardson, and I like him a lot, and I’ve never had a situation with him where I felt uncomfortable. What photographers do is open the door and see how you react to different things. And if they see that the girl’s uncomfortable, then they stop. I know there was the whole drama with Terry Richardson, and actually, I was asked to do the Pirelli calendar with him as well. But I know his pictures, and I knew that I might not feel comfortable in certain situations, which would be really difficult for me and for him, because he has a vision. So, I decided not to do it because I was not sure it would work for both of us. But every time I’ve worked with him, there was never a situation where I was pushed into something. Everyone has their own limits and everyone has their own boundaries, and you know, another girl can do way more and feel comfortable with it.
As I previously reported, Anja Rubik was in Cannes last week to celebrate the relaunch of her magazine, 25 and now the first look of the new issue is out, it's actually a lot more sexual than many had expected.
In a recent interview with Style.com, Rubik said that she drew on 70's issues of Playboy and erotica magazines and it shows. Throughout the issue the likes of Arizona Muse and Abbey Lee Kershaw appear nude and features include sex tips ranging from advising women to 'Leave your heels on during sex' to 'Let him watch you masterbate'. The magazine's theme also came through in Rubik's editor's letter where she wrote, 'We aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, just make it more lubricated for an easier rise.'
But the magazine isn't all about erotica. The model has always made it clear that she aims to portray women in a strong and confident way and to do so, she decided to only collaborate with female photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Inez van Lamsweerde on the issue.'I started thinking that there are so few female photographers,' she told Oyster magazine. 'The issue is about very strong women, very ambitious; she does what she wants and she is comfortable with her sexuality.
Anja Rubik might still be modelling but 25 magazine, the project she started back in 2009 with husband Sasha Knezevic, is her main focus. To shake things up, the magazine has undergone a big revamp with everyone from Inez can Lamsweerde to Annie Leibovitz collaborating on the new issue, which will be unveiled today in Cannes.
1970s erotica magazine, Viva, along with Playboy and Carine Roitfeld were the starting points of reference for the issue's erotica theme. '25 is basically directed toward very strong-minded, ambitious women, who are very comfortable with themselves and their sexuality,' she told Style.com. 'I was thinking a lot recently and looking how sex is approached nowadays, and nudity, and bodies. Erotica kind of disappeared. The way we approach sex is either really prude or very vulgar.'
Anthony Vaccarello's dresses with the hip high slits have gained a level of notoriety. Carine Roitfeld was the first to sport the style at her big fashion week party two seasons ago after Karlie Kloss sauntered down the runway in it days before and in the words of Kelly Rowland, Gwyneth Paltrow 'put it down' in the dress on the cover of Harper's Bazaar's special revamp issue.
Since the leg is the centre of attention, it was only a matter of time before one of the designer's dresses had a Angelina Jolie moment on the red carpet and that came last night. Anja Rubik sported a white version of the style to attend the Costume Institute Gala with the designer. While I've always been a fan of the model's, her jutting hip has rightfully caused a bit of concern and aside from that, I definitely prefered the dress of Paltrow.
Just about every major designer and model has descended on New York last night ahead of the Met Gala on Monday but ahead of the event, Balmain's Olivier Rousteing threw a big party last night at Chelsea's Hotel Americano. At the event the designer spoke about the launch of the brand's new Twitter and Facebook accounts that became live this week, revealing that he plans to get in on the Twitter action himself. 'It's a good way to understand what [customers[ feel about the collection, about the clothes and they can see the details, and they can be more a part of my soul,' he told The Cut at the event. 'I hope they will 'like us' and enjoy what we enjoyed to create.'
Aside from that, what was more interesting was his revelation that Joan Smalls is his guest at Monday's event. The partnership definitely works. Smalls looks good in everything but it will be interesting to see how she looks in a piece that showcases the new direction that the young designer is taking the brand.
That wasn't the only Met Gala confirmation from last night. Karlie Kloss will accompany Jason Wu, Anja Rubik is going with Anthony Vaccarello and Constance Jablonski will attend with Haider Ackermann. New in today is that Arizona Muse is teaming up with Erdem, Thakoon with Christina Ricci and Doutzen Kroes with Roland Mouret. The most interesting confirmation is that Karolina Kurkova will attend with Rachel Zoe, cementing her as a designer to be reckoned with.
See images from the Balmain party in the slideshow.
New York Fashion Week started with a bang last night as the annual amfAR New York gala event took place to kick off this season's festivities. The gala, which raises money for HIV/AIDS research, always see the best of fashion and entertainment come under one roof and as you would expect, the red carpet outfits were strong. Models were particularly on form last night. Joan Smalls looking incredible in a black Givenchy gown, Anja Rubik sported that much loved black and gold Gucci flapper dress and Liya Kebede broke the penchant for gowns by opting for this season's two tone trousers teamed with a white blouse.
Last month we were all left wondering what French Vogue would do after they announced that they are relaunching their website. Their website has arguably not been as strong as their international counterparts but that's all a thing of the past as Emmanuelle Alt proved that they are force to be reckoned with as she unveiled the new design today.
To celebrate the relaunch Anja Rubik, Karmen Pedaru, Kendra Spears, Jasmine Tookes and French TV personality Mademoiselle Agnès, joined Alt to perform Wham's 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'. All the models serve as back up singers for Alt, with Agnes playing the guitarist.
Since taking the role as editor last many have criticised Alt as coming across as unapproachable and frosty so this video will undoubtedly serve to dispel such allegations and besides, can you honestly imagine any other editor (besides Anna Dello Russo, of course) letting go and releasing something like this?
2011 has been the year of the model wedding. Kate Moss, Anja Rubik and Lily Aldridge have all got married this year and now Snejana Onopka has joined them. Last week the model tied the knot with 29-year-old businessmen Mykola Schura wearing Vera Wang in front of less than 40 guests, according to Fashionologie. "It was very traditional," Onopka said of the ceremony, . "I've never been to weddings. This is the first wedding I attended, and it's mine!"
