To say that Lara Stone is the girl of the moment, is an understatement. Having walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Miu Miu, Givenchy,Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld and Jaeger, to name but a few, and starred in ad campaigns ranging from H&M (Sonia Rykiel collaboration) and Revlon, to Jean Paul Gautier and DKNY, it is clear that the industry is head over heels in love with Ms Stone (and rightly so too!) She has most recently been ranked 3rd in a Top 50 Female Models poll put together by models.com, and deemed by W magazine (in it's August 2009 issue) as the 'most wanted face of the moment'.
With so many accolades, and a bank balance that is clearly bulging inspite of the recession, it was a surprise for us to learn that the 27 year old was admitted to rehab earlier this year, to treat alcoholism.
We've seen a rise in the trend of industry professionals battling the way for curvier models and protesting against the size zero standard that is deemed normal at the moment, however one of the biggest names in fashion, Mr Karl Lagerfeld himself, has openly criticised the recent change.
While Glamour magazine have been keeping to their promise of showing more plus-size models, and German magazine Brigette announced last week that they will stop using uber-thin models from now on, Mr Lagerfeld insisted that the runway should be reserved for those thinner than the average woman. "No one wants to see curvy women," he told Focus magazine, adding "You've got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly".
These recent comments might mark the beginning of the end for the pro plus-size industry debate, as ironically not so long ago, Lagerfeld chose plus-size icon Beth Ditto to perform at the Fendi party last season. Ditto herself admits, “I know that one year Karl Lagerfeld was refusing to make clothes for women of a certain size, and the next year he was asking me to play the Fendi party". Always one to spark a trend, maybe Karl's support to thin models will throw a spanner in the works of all those who fought for 'normal sized' girls on the catwalk, and allow more professionals to air their opinions. The debate continues...
According to Fashionista LVMH, which boasts a portfolio of over 50 luxury brands ranging from Louis Vuitton to Moet & Chandon, is said to be gearing up to sell off a few of its under- performing designer brands. According to sources, Celine, Loewe, DKNY and Kenzo are the brands that are set to go first.
This comes as a surprise as Loewe and Celine have attempted to turn their fortunes around in recent months. Loewe has refocused its energies on its core leather business whilst Celine, having appointed Phoebe Philo as its Creative Director in 2008, is enjoying much praise following the unveiling of Philo's first collection for the brand.
There has been much anticipation for the release of Loic Prigent's, 'The Day Before' documentary series that sees the director follow Proenza Schouler, Jean Paul Gaultier, Fendi and Sonia Rykiel 48hours before their collections take to the runway.
Although the documentary does not air on the Sundance Channel until September 9th, the whole series following Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi has just been leaked and here they are.
I particularly enjoyed the many lovely afternoons in Chinatown spent, wearing a bulletproof vest, with Heather McDonald — the ‘Dragon Lady,’ as she was affectionately called by the local vendors — seizing counterfeit goods from the nooks and crannies that many of us never imagined existed within the maze of buildings that is Chinatown.
”The US Supreme Court nominee tells WWD about cracking down on fake luxury goods and representing the Fendi family at a private legal practice
Sonia Rykiel, Nathalie Rykiel and Gabrielle Greiss acknowledge the public at the end of Sonia Rykiel autumn/winter 2008-2009 ready-to-wear show
Wouldn't you want to know what happens behind the scenes before the big shows at fashion week? Well, now you can. Loïc Prigent, director of 'Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton', has just created a new series called 'The Day Before'.
The title says it all. The director follows Sonia Rykiel, Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier and Proenza Shouler only 36 hours before their collections hit the runway. It looks Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld's recent documentaries have encouraged the fashion elite to open their doors to the world. I doubt that these designers would have been so forthcoming had the editors not done it themselves.
Expect to see castings, multiple coffee runs, stitching, restitching and all of the drama that comes with fashion week.
The series is set to be released the day before New York Fashion Week starts in September. Makes sense, right?
Beth Ditto is one strong woman. Last week British GQ's features editor Alex Blimes branded the Gossip singer as a 'fat lesbian' and nothing more than a 'porker'. If that was not bad enough, Blimes seemed to be confused as to why the fashion industry has become so transfixed with the star. As The Cut put it, he claims that 'waif-thin' fashion editors need someone to visually offset the usual beanpoles promoted by the industry and are, in fact, 'stupid' for liking her.
The only good thing to come from these disgraceful comments is that it has got people talking about the issue again. Today, Beth Ditto spoke to The Times about her views and experiences in the fashion industry.
On attending Paris Fashion Week last season: I know that one year KarlLagerfeld was refusing to make clothes for women of a certain size, and the next year he was asking me to play the Fendi party. What a contradiction they are! But they're probably just as big victims of not being able to see beyond the ends of their noses as all the people complaining about it. You have to get in there, shake it up.
