There's more turmoil at the house of Emanuel Ungaro. CEO Mounir Moufarrige has resigned, according to WWD, which doesn't necessarily come as a shock considering extended rumours about exec-level chaos after Lindsay Lohan being taken on as artistic adviser. After all, the nipple-pastie debacle of last fashion week basically left the label a joke.
According to Ungaro, though, Moufarrige's stepping down has nothing to do with Lohan. WWD wrote: "In a brief statement, Ungaro said Moufarrige would continue to advise the company as a member of its strategic committee, but that he was 'withdrawing' from an operational role to devote more time to his other businesses, which include U-Boat and Welder, two fast-growing Italian watch companies."
So Lohan still has her job for now, but Marie Founrier, who has 18 years of experience at the company, will lead operations under the title of general manager. But we wonder how long the troubled starlet will actually stay with Ungaro, since Autumn 2010 shows are fast-approaching and it seemed Moufarrige was the only person left on her team.
Italian Vanity Fair gives the first looks at Madonna's Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign for Spring/Summer 2010, and we're surprised to see the pop legend washing dishes and eating pasta (or at least pretending to) for the Steven Klein shots. According to Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's blog: "Madonna herself recalls the strong, raw sensuality of the iconic actress Anna Magnani - showcasing when soft sensuality meets bold authenticity." Hmm.
According to the designers, this is Madonna at her most real. We're not so sure about that (especially since her appearance on Letterman last September marked the first time she'd ever eaten New York pizza, and even then she refused to eat the cheese), but what do we know? Vanity Fair wrote: "When asked as to whether Madonna knows how to wash dishes, Stefano Gabbana replies, 'Certainly ... she's a very practical woman ... ' And does she actually eat spaghetti despite her most enviable figure? 'Of course,' says Stefano, 'and she can allow herself to with all the exercise she does!' "
Good news for those of you who were unfortunate enough to miss out on pieces from the debut +J collection by Jil Sander for Uniqlo, which sold out in minutes. You'll be happy to hear that the Spring/Summer 2010 collection is well underway and due to hit the stores on 14 January. Prices range from $49.50 - $149.50 for outerwear, coats and jackets; $39.50 - $59.50 for trousers and skirts; and $10.50 - $49.50 for cut & sewn. Dresses are priced between $49.50 and $99.50, whilst a piece of knitwear can be yours from as little as $29.50 going up to $129.50.
The collection: "introduces fresh perspectives on volume, teamed with perfect harmony in fiber, color, optics, and touch. Experimentation is essential, but subtle, leading to new interplays of material and motion." So with that in mind, expect Sander's signature style of clean, simple and elegant lines, wrapped up in luxe fabrics and delicate silhouettes as well as masculine tailoring injected into the women's high-neck shirts, offered in soft, airy colours and shades. And if ivory pastels and pearly, iridescent hues, in environmentally-friendly textures such as tech-satins, ultra fine cottons and luxurious wools are to your tastes, then expect to be blown away by the collection. We've already marked the date in our diaries, and we would urge you to do the same. But if you just can't wait that long (we couldn't either), check out some sneak pics below.
Last month we were all excited when we learnt that the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was finally being taped, and thus, one step nearer to reaching our television screens. We brought you images of the 'angels', Heidi Klum, Chanel Iman, Mirander Kerr and Co, taking to the streets of New York's Times Square to get some photo-ops pre-taping. Although it seemed that Victoria's Secret mania was taking over the city, we've just heard that not everyone was impressed by the fanfare surrounding the VS show or the "huge Aggreko generators stretching over half of a city block...running 24 hours a day for over a week, generating vast amounts of noise and preventing and/or disturbing any sleep."
The show, which was taped on World Aids Day, did indeed still have to go on and the VS camp were forced to stump up some funds to compensate the residents and enable them to sleep better. We just don't understand why they weren't offered tickets to preview the show, surely that would have been the cheaper option, non?
Designer Pamella Roland chose sequins and cap sleeves for last night's New York premiere of 'Nine'. We're happy to see she's following the trend of ditching opaque tights.
You might have noticed there's a recession on. And trying to find ways around customers' penny pinching, luxury labels are trying a method that, frankly, we didn't see coming. Yes, they're asking people what they want. How fresh!
Dolce & Gabbana tried this before their spring shows by posting YouTube videos that asked questions like "Do you prefer black or white?" or "High or low heels?" Simply wait for the comments, and you have a consumer wish list. (Except we have to wonder how many people who can afford Dolce & Gabbana clothes trawl YouTube aimlessly to find video surveys.) Prada, on the other hand, lets shoppers customise quilted jackets, jeans and accessories in its Italian made-to-measure shops.
Then there's Chanel, a brand that calls upon a previously secret club called "friends of Chanel" to help shape design. Who's in the club? Well, not 50 Cent. The list includes the likes of Leigh Lezark, Caroline Sieber and Poppy Delevigne. When she stopped by the last round of Paris shows, Lezark told WWD: "I test out product before it hits stores, and give my opinion and what I love about it." So basically, being a friend of Chanel is like gaining entrance to the best club ever. But somehow, we don't picture anyone doing secret handshakes with Karl Lagerfeld.
If America’s Next Top Model’s previous seasons have put you off the show entirely with what some have described as “cruel and unusual” judges, then don’t despair. We have news that will suck you right back in. Contrary to what we suspected, American Vogue’s Editor-at-Large, André Leon Talley, is serving on the judging panel full-time.
Tyra Banks is currently filming the next season in New Zealand, and the local press – who have been “stalking them like an endangered species”, according to New Zealand’s Cassius blog – have confirmed Tally as on the panel, but Kimora Lee Simmons, model and Creative Director of Phat Fashions, who judged on the show’s first season, as merely a guest judge.
Let’s hope that “10 reasons why ‘America's Next Top Model’ is bad for women, humans,” list doesn’t unearth itself this time around. But with Talley, a front-row regular for over 25 years, on every episode, you definitely have a reason to give this season a chance, well, the last twenty minutes of each episode at least.
The Golden Globe nominations are officially out, and though there's no documentary category to give 'The September Issue' or 'Valentino: The Last Emperor' any nods, Tom Ford's 'A Single Man' earned three nominations. Colin Firth is up for Best Actor in a Drama, and his counterpart Julianne Moore could get Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. Ford himself didn't get a nomination for directing, but the movie's score is up for an award.
So. Moving on to the Golden Globe ceremony itself, can we expect to see Ms Moore in a custom Tom Ford dress again? Because that definitely would be award-worthy.
