THE FASH PACK

Editorial Spotlight: Lara Stone's Vogue Russia Cover Story

Naomi Mdudu — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 BST

Model: Lara Stone (joined by Francisco Costa)

Stylist: Camilla Nickerson

Magazine: Vogue Russia

Photographer: Mark Seliger

See more after the jump

The Guest List: ELLE's 17th Annual Women In Hollywood Gala

Naomi Mdudu — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:00:00 BST

Morning Links

Naomi Mdudu — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:00:00 BST

I think it's safe to say that Tim Gunn isn't a fan of Lady Gaga's sartorial choices [Racked]

Are you a fan of Karlie Kloss too? [Fashionista]

More sources confirm that Rachel Zoe IS pregnant [In Touch]

Want to see Ashlee Simpson-Wentz's new hair cut? [People]

Zoe Saldana reveals which designer she'd like to collaborate with and it's not Francisco Costa [Fashionologie]

Calvin Klein Collection's Minimalism Is Perfect For Spring

Jill Hilbrenner — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:22:28 BST

Francisco Costa's latest show got us excited for two reasons: Minimalism is back and has now been interpreted by the designer who does it best, and in the process, the man brought Lara Stone to the runway. The latter point isn't exactly shocking, as the Dutch model is the face of three Calvin Klein campaigns, but give us a break - we were pleased. Calvin Klein Collection's spring offerings are perfectly pared-down, with emphasis on Spring's big "colour," white, and each piece had all the nuances that prevented minimalistic from feeling bare.

The lines were simple, the fit was impeccable, and the sexiness was still there. (We challenge anyone to wear a black dress with a near J.Lo-plunge at the neckline and not turn a few heads.) Pops of interest were added with a few pieces in navy blue and blood orange, with the palette otherwise sticking to white, cream and black. Sheer panels inserted at the neck in a few instances confirmed that the sheer trend isn't gone just yet...but as with everything else, Costa did it his way.

See more images after the jump

Clueless Cher's Calvin Klein Dress Hits Confederacy, In LA

Nic Willison — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:00:00 BST

Confederacy, the chic LA boutique has forged an exciting collaboration with Calvin Klein - and Clueless! fans get excited, Cher's infamous little white dress is being reincarnated. The partnership came about after owners Ilaria Urbinati and Danny Masterson became friends with Francisco Costa, with Urbinati unable to hide her adoration for the Calvin Klein brand.

"It was love at first sight," she recalls of the meeting, "I sort of geeked/fan-ed out on him and went into a spazzy explanation of how my formative-years love of Calvin was partly based on the little white Calvin mini dress Alicia Silverstone wears in Clueless! I renacted the scene for him (you know, "Cher, what are you wearing?" "A dress!" "Says who?" "Calvin Klein!" "Well, go put something over it!" "Duh, I was just going to!" and then she comes out with the clear trench). So of course I said, Francisco, you need to remake that dress."

After Urbinati's enthusiasm and a few watches of the said scene on YouTube, Costa was persuaded and the legendary dress remade, with the original pattern obtained from the warehouse in Italy. To the delight of the LA label, Confederacy are the first to carry the limited-edition dress, which will be available for $915 in-store and at shopconfederacy.com alongside the rest of the Calvin Klein Collection.

Calvin Klein To Host An Exclusive Multi Brand Event In Berlin

Nic Willison — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:30:00 BST

Today Calvin Klein announced it is to host a multi brand event in Berlin, to showcase the latest offerings from Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Underwear and the label's latest addition to their fragrance collection - Calvin Klein Beauty. The invitation-only event - which will take place on Wednesday 7th of July at Die Muenze, Germany - will coincide with the opening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin and the renowned industry tradeshow, Bread & Butter Premiere League.

Lara Stone, face of three of the Calvin Klein brands is expected to attend, alongside the newly announced face of the Calvin Klein Beauty fragrance, Hollywood actress Diane Kruger, and Kellan Lutz, who models for the Calvin Klein X Underwear range. The evening will be hosted by the brand's three creative directors, Francisco Costa, Italo Zuccheli and Kevin Carrigan, as well as the company's President and CEO, Tom Murry, and will present the Spring and Resort 2011 collections as well as revealing a specially commissioned installation by J.MAYER H. architects.

Lara Stone Will Be The Face For All Three Calvin Klein Brands

Nic Willison — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:00:00 BST

Image courtesy of Calvin Klein

Knocking an oiled up Eva Mendes from her position as Calvin Klein model, newly-wed Lara Stone is set to become the face of all three of the CK brands - making it the first time the brand has had one face across the board. Stone will front the fall campaigns for Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein and Calvin Klein Jeans, and will remain exclusive to the brand, as it will be the only apparel label she will be modelling in ads and runway shows for.

The move marks a change in the Calvin Klein brand, as the label is known for making waif-like supermodels such as Kate Moss and Natalia Vodianova famous. "I conceived my fall 2010 collection with a self-aware and assured woman in mind", CK's creative director Francisco Costa told WWD. "For me, Lara was the perfect choice for the new campaign because she is a woman who epitomises confidence and sensuality".

See more campaigns after the jump

Francisco Costa Aims To Bring A 'Newness' To Calvin Klein By Casting Models Closer To Reality

Nic Willison — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:00:00 BST

Francisco Costa, womenswear designer at Calvin Klein is rethinking the way he casts models, and although he doesn't have a system - "We have no rules really, you know" - he is now aiming to move away from the waif style so synonymous with CK in the nineties, to a look more realistic to their current consumer. “We do what we feel is right for the brand. And I just feel that my customer is a real woman. She’s not 14 years old, she’s not 16 years old, so what I’m trying to do is cast models who are a little bit closer to my reality, a person who goes to my store. The reaction is really to emphasize the customer, the need for the clothes to have that immediate sort of emotion to those who would buy it.”

As for bringing back Stella Tennant and Kristen McMenamy, famous CK models from the nineties, Costa revealed they were "happy and amused" to be back on the catwalk, and the reunion just felt natural.“It felt like a family getting back together, so it felt really wonderful. And it wasn’t really a statement, in the sense of, ‘Let’s just bring these models for the press.’ It was a natural feel. I felt it was right for the time." That said, the return to a curvier Calvin girl doesn't mean Costa will stop designing for the thinner fans, though. "I don't think we can ignore anyone," he explained "[The waif look] is just historically what Calvin did. And we're just in different times and we don't want to change what was done; what was done was perfect. Calvin is genius. I just want to bring a little bit of newness to today."

Quote Me: Francisco Costa On Stella Tennant Walking His Show

Naomi Mdudu — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:00:00 BST

“

If you think of the waif movement, Calvin [Klein] started it. I think we've lived with that mindset for quite a while, and I was very intimidated by changing that because that was such an association with the house. It was a very conscious effort to change in the past two years, to give it a twist, to make contact with the customer, because in reality, no 16-year-olds are buying my clothes - she's 45. I love to think my customer is 45 because that's the woman I want to dress. It's the moment when a women is so comfortable with herself. That was the intent, to bring models who were wonderful then and are still incredible now.

”He said at the Cooper-Hewitt museum in New York as part of the “Voices in American Fashion” panel.

Sticks And Stones Break Vogue Australia's Bones

Jill Hilbrenner — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:00:22 GMT

When Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa spoke at an informal seminar in Australia recently - with Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements - the crazy beast known as the internet came up. After all, it was a fashion conversation, which basically implies a contractual obligation to examine what happens when people take to their computers. Clements asked Malcolm Carfrae, Calvin Klein's executive vice president of communications and another panelist at the Q&A, whether his company deleted negative comments on the brand's Facebook fan page. Carfrae said no, but Clements reported a different approach.

According to WWD: "Clements confessed onstage that 'we knock them off' on vogue.com.au. At a party that followed the seminar, Clements told WWD that Vogue Australia refused to publish any negative comments about its advertisers." Hmm. So if you have some sort of beef with Vogue from down under, we recommend taking a calming walk rather than trying to get your frustrations out online.