In an interview with The Guardian, British Vogue's Alexandra Shulman reveals the secrets behind choosing a cover girl, although she admits that there is no set science behind the agonising decision. "It's difficult to say what will sell" Shulman explains, "Kate Moss sells well for us but then we tend to play to our strengths and put her on the September cover - it's better to use your ammunition on a big issue rather than battling against a difficult seasonal sensation".
Despite describing Moss as a safety cover girl, Shulman remembers the 2003 Vogue cover with the waif-like rock chick styled as David Bowie's iconic Aladdin Sane sleeve as a "complete catastrophe". Other things to avoid include dirty colours such as mustard or aubergine, and high fashion pieces - "a real thumbs down". "The evidence suggests that black cover girls don't sell as well as white cover girls," she admits with regret, although Glamour's Jo Elvin disagrees with such narrow conventions.
Today the British Fashion Councilannounced the winners of the BFC NEWGEN MEN scheme sponsored by Topman. The designers, who will receive sponsorship from the system, include: Christopher Shannon, James Long, and JW Anderson on the catwalk, Carolyn Massey, Lou Dalton and Sibling for presentations and Christopher Raeburn, James Small, Katie Eary and Omar Kashoura with installations.
BFC NEWGEN MEN was launched in 2009, developing from 'MAN', the menswear day held at London Fashion Week, and will provide up and coming menswear talent with the official BFC Catwalk Show Space at Somerset House, as well as funding to raise their profile. The initiative will run from the 17th to the 22nd of September, while Carolyn Massey, Christopher Raeburn, James Long, Katie Eary, Lou Dalton and Omar Kashoura will also show in Paris with sponsorship from LONDON showROOMS between the 24th and 27th of June.
The Cristobal Balenciaga Exhbition has attracted the interest of royalty and the super famous, it is that amazing. Set to be inaugrated by Queen Sofía of Spain, "Balenciaga: Spanish Master" will be opening to the public on November 19 on the Upper East Side. Having being curated by Hamish Bowles of Vogue, the exhibition examines the work of the marvellous man that was Balenciaga and how his Spanish influences are prevalent in the 60 pieces of clothing and accessories on display.
Items to be included are Balenciaga's "Infanta" gown from 1939, matador boleros from 1946, flamenco-inspired dresses from the fifties and sixties and the embroidered wedding dress worn in 1957 by Sonsoles Díez, daughter of Balenciaga's muse, Marquesa de Llanzol. It is rumoured that some of the pieces have never been exhibited and have been pulled from many private collections across the world. The show ends February 19 so make sure you catch a glimpse before then.
They say that all publicity is good publicity, and it seems Elle's editor-in-chief, Robbie Myersagrees. Reality television series The City has been barging its way into the Elle offices for quite some time now, and despite showing creative director Joe Zee hiring the somewhat incapable it-girl Olivia Palermo and showcasing Erin the 'power publicist' spending the majority of her time whining about said it-girl, Myers doesn't seem to mind.
"I think we are very aware it makes for interesting television," she explained, while Liz Gateley, MTV's senior vice president for series development backed her up. "Television is still the most powerful medium to get your brand out there" she proclaimed, "And I think Robbie is a smart enough editor to know the power of the medium."
Teen Vogue - who appeared on The Hills for quite some time - decided it was best to cut the contract as the starring girls got older, "As we were going into the fourth season, the girls were getting older. They were going to bars. They were meeting guys." Teen Vogue's Amy Astley explained, "And Teen Vogue is very wholesome", she continued, politely. Good job for The City, Elle isn't so 'wholesome', then?
Life only seems to get better for Tavi. Aside from cementing herself as one of bloggings hottest property, she has now just bagged a writing gig with Jezebel. On the column this week you can expect her to be writing about "feminism, and fashion, issues facing adolescents, and Daria," said Jenna Sauers. Tavi told Jezebel:
"There are some things that I want to write about on my blog, but, you know, it's a fashion blog and I'm comfortable with it being primarily fashion," she said, after putting Miuccia on hold. "So it will be nice to be able to talk about things that aren't fashion-related."
"I think it'll also be nice to have a younger voice at the site. Wait, that sounds like you guys are like, oh-my-gawd, so OLD, it's not like that — but it's just that, I mean, everyone's always talking about 'THE YOUTH' and 'THE CHILDREN' and stuff."
A play about the life of Fashion Icon Isabella Blow is set to premiere next month at the Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival. Playwright Jean Bergantini Grillo is behind the script, which he spent the last three years crafting and much accomplished director Jen Forcino is at the production’s helm. This led to the choice of costume designer Susan Voelker to re-create the garments of Blow who was famous for sporting many a Philip Treacy number.
The play is not connected to the film in any way which is being produced by the well-known and highly acclaimed designer John Galliano. Without even guessing, it is predicted by everyone than Voelker will come under more scrutiny than the production itself, since Isabella Blow was famous for her incredible style and wardrobe.
Despite Stefano Tonchi saying that he "should be set" regarding his new team at W, rumour has it that he may be recruiting Anna Dello Russo as fashion director at the magazine. On the contrary, the magazine's current fashion director Alex White doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon leading many to believe that this is nothing more than a rumour.
Daily Front Row points out that "Dello Russo essentially hires photographers and stylists for Japanese Vogue...which someone's gotta do at W, right? (Without [former creative director] Dennis Freedman, who had twenty-year-old relationships with A-list photogs like Michael Thompson, Mert & Marcus, and Bruce Weber, there's a real void in that category.)"
You would think it was enough that Karl Lagerfeld has the house of Chanel at his fingertips. At the brand, his tune is eclectic yet always classic and tuneful. He is the priest at the altar of Chanel and we all worship him, season after season. However this is not enough for the man they call Karl the Kaiser and so it comes as no surprise that now he is taking on the role as Editor-in-Chief of one of France's top newspapers, Liberation.
The entire issue bears the Lagerfeld touch, from illustrations to comments, special interviews of him, and an opinion page about the legendary designer - no part of the paper has been left untouched. The front page is a picture of the man himself encaptioned : “Karl Lagerfeld gives ‘Libé’ a makeover.” This he does indeed with his magical way of turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary. Also included is a little mention from the "real" editor, Laurent Joffrin, who states that Lagerfeld “has a profound culture, and a sharp eye.”
The rest of the paper is made up of daily news but with this comes a Lagerfeld twist. Another side to the Fashion genius , Karl the artist. His "fashion-o-licious" drawings, range from portraits of Afghan men to Angela Merkel and Liliane Bettencourt. Perhaps the most interesting and amusing is his visual interpretation of the World Cup which has swept each nation to embrace the men who are representing their countries. However, Lagerfeld uses satire in his depiction of a dominant male sport using erotic portraits of the football players. This will surely only further enrage the football fans, lets face it England aren't exactly on a winning streak, in particular the 'macho' males who already have no interest in fashion whatsoever.
The newspaper is a collector’s item and there are only going to be a very limited, 160,000 copies printed, good luck on getting your hands on one! If not for the excitement of owning such a rare item,start the hunt for a copy now for the sheer entertainment and a good laugh on Mr Karl Lagerfeld .
