The launch of Carine Roitfeld's new magazine, CR Fashion Book, hasn't been without its controversies. As you will know, Condé Nast reportedly banned several photographers, models and stylists from collaborating with the former Vogue Paris editor but despite all of that, Roitfeld is flying high. The preview of the issue has gone down well and this weekend, just about everyone turned up to congratulate her at the party she hosted to celebrate the debut issue.
'It's very different from my last party,' she told The Cut, having a look at the guests in the marble-floored atrium of the Frick Museum. Around the same time last year Roitfeld through a karaoke party to celebrate her Barneys campaign at a strip club on the West Side Highway so basically the polar opposite of this year's swanky 'do. 'I want to do something different, more classic,' she said about the formal Mercedez Benz-sponsored black tie event. 'After all, I am a grandma now.'
The weather may still be on the bad side despite it being June but that shouldn't stop you from fully embracing the key S/S12 trends. One of my favourites for S/S12 is the tropical prints that Joseph Altuzarra pioneered in New York and Stella McCartney also embraced in Paris.
While the style may seem a bit daunting at first, there's so many ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe without it feeling overwhelming. Follow Yasmin Sewell by limiting the print to one piece like on a pair of ASOS Africa printed shorts. If you're willing to the whole nine yards, follow Altuzarra's lead by sporting it head-to-toe on a jumpsuit or on a trouser suit.
The CFDA Awards took place a week ago but the non-profit organisation is still in the headlines. This morning Steven Kolb announced the 26 new members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's board.
Joseph Altuzarra, Jean-Michel Cazabat and Yvan Mispelaere are three of the new additions along with Rachel Zoe. The move is a big one for Zoe. While she has long been recognised for her styling, the appointment signifies her position as a force to be recognised with her brand too.
Kolb also confirmed that Diane von Furstenberg's run as president, which she started back in 2009, has been extended for another two years. 'Diane has done an excellent job as CFDA president,' she said. 'The time and resources she gives and the vision she has created is a huge benefit for our organisation and industry.'
In this weird way it feels like your job. It feels like it’s part of what is it to be a designer now but it’s also really important to get out there. We live in an exceptionally communicative time with the Internet and social media and you have to be part of it. You have to engage in it. Otherwise you’re not being a part of your own time.
Last night the CFDA Awards, the Oscars of the fashion world, took place and in New York at Alice Tully Hall and the winners are in. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen took away the big womenswear designer of the year award for The Row, Joseph Altuzarra won the Swarovski Award for womenswear and Phillip Lim for menswear and Tommy Hilfiger was awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.
Simon Spurr didn't end up winning the menswear designer of the year award, which was just as well considering all of the controversy surrounding his departure from his namesake line.
Anticipation for this year's Met Gala was high and the event definitely didn't disappoint. While it's true, there were several disappointing looks from people like Coco Rocha and Jessica Chastain, the majority of the looks were really strong and it was really good to see people research and commit to this year's Schiaparelli theme.
The above is a round-up of my favourite looks. Regular readers will know that I was on the dubious side about Joseph Altuzarrateaming up with Lana Del Rey but I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Her dress, along with her new dark hair, looked beautiful and so did Carey Mulligan in her golden Prada creation. As an Olsen fan, I'm generally impressed by anything either twin turns up in and last night was no different. The black dress from The Row that Mary-Kate Olsen was classically simple but still powerful.
The 'Bridget Jones' actress is rarely ever spotted on the red carpet at a major event wearing anything other than Carolina Herrera and also, Dundas is known for designing pieces that ultra sexy pieces and well, let's face it, sex appeal isn't necessarily something that Zellweger tends to go for.
Which partnerships are you excited to see tonight?
Earlier on this month J. Crewconfirmed that they had decided to team up with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners and runners up for the second year in a row and as you will recall, Joseph Altuzarraconfirmed that he was working with them on a collaboration too. Like everyone else, being a fan of his mainline I was really interesting to see what he would come up with and now the final images of the complete collaboration are here.
Inspired by 'Brigitte Bardot in Saint-Tropez and French preppy style', the collection features a several gingham dresses, Breton tops with holes (not quite sure why) and coloured wedges. While there's nothing particularly wrong with the collection - the Breton tops and dresses will definitely make good wardrobe basics - there wasn't much that stood out about either. Nothing about the collection seems to correlate with his mainline at all.
Will you buy something from the collection when it drops online on April 19?
Joseph Altuzarra is at the top his game right now. His collections continue to be the perfect balance between creativity and wearability (remember those parkas that were an instant sell out on Net-A-Porter?) and of course, he has that big J. Crew capsule collection in the works too. Just as Alexander Wang noted in an interview last year with Harper's Bazaar, while the 'IT' boy status has its perks, it often comes with a lot of downsides too.
'The fashion industry has a tendency to embrace someone and drop them,' the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fundwinnertold the Washington Post. 'You don’t want to be the It boy, the flash in the pan, which is why I’m really concerned and try not to be too exposed. I don’t go to too many parties or do too much press.' But this isn't anything new. The whole musical chairs that's been going on the industry over the past year or so is illustrative of just how bad things have become.
Stefano Pilati was the designer of choice to speak at this week's French Institute Alliance Française as a part of their Fashion Talks series and as you would expect, the event pulled in a full house.
It's not clear whether they bagged him to talk at the event after the announcement of his departure was confirmed but either way, it was perfect timing. Everyone from Joseph Altuzarra to Derek Blasberg attended the event and naturally, his departure from the brand and his plans for the future were the main point of conversation.
