After the buzz around the Met's 'Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations' exhibition died down, so did the initial excitment about the brand's revival not helped, of course, by the big appointments at Dior and Saint Laurent, but this week the brand was back in the headlines.
During the Paris shows former Chanel muse Inès de La Fressange let slip that the announcement of the new creative director is imminent but at the time, she kept quiet about how she was privy to that information but now we know why. Today WWD confirmed that she's been brought on board to help with the relaunch. What that means exactly is still unclear but what the brand's spokesperson has revealed is that the role will involve consulting, something she already does for brands like Roger Vivier. In doing so, she joins by French model and actress Farida Khelfa who was recently hired as its spokeswoman.
Azealia Banks has been courted by just about everyone on the fashion scene but it was her partnership with Alexander Wang for the Met Gala that really made sense. Like M.I.A. and Zoe Kravitz, who have both attended the event with the designer in the past, Banks represents that effortlessly cool vibe that Wang has become synonymous with.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the pair have decided to collaborate again. This time it's for Wang's T line, as the rapper has been announced as the new face of the line. Azealia 'exudes a certain rawness that makes her a very unique talent,' the designer told Style.com. 'I loved working with her on this video for T Fall 2012, and think the collaboration captures a collision of energies.'
Like his S/S12 collection, Prabal Gurung's A/W12 collection was made for the red carpet and yesterday another piece made it's red carpet debut on the back of Zoe Saldana.
The actress, who was noticeably absent at the Met Gala, returned wearing this long black gown with sheer panels that everyone went crazy for back in February and cleverly kept accessories simple with her hair pulled up away from her face.
The CFDA Awards are less than a week away and now the confirmations of those involved are coming in thick and fast. While we already know who some of the awards are going to - Johnny Depp is receiving the style icon award and the media award is going to Garance Dore and Scott Schuman - this years presenters have remained under wraps until now.
According to WWD, Jessica Chastain will present the women's wear award to Marc Jacobs, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for The Row or Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler. The menswear award will be presented to either Billy Reid, Simon Spurr or Patrik Ervell by Matt Bomer and Jessica Paré will present for accessories.
On a different note, who else has a feeling that Kim Kardashian will attend this year's event to make a point after Met Gala-gate?
The whole debate about celebrities covering magazines is an issue that doesn't seem to go away and Kim Kardashian is the prime example of just how far that trend has gone. Lynn Hirschberg hit the nail on the head when she wrote in W magazine that, 'Kim Kardashian can't sing, act, or dance, but she's found the role of a lifetime in the fine art of playing herself.' Based on recent events, it seems like that's one role that the fashion industry are no longer interested in.
As you'll remember, much was said about the reality star's absence from the Met Gala this month, with reports alleging that Anna Wintour did not want her there. Joe Zee also spoke out recently explaining that the most profitable Kardashian could not be considered as potential Elle cover star simply because that 'role of a lifetime' is not enough to bag her the big spot.' Is the fashion industry finally rejecting the overzealous interest in celebrity, or at least reality stars, that has dominated over the last few years? Well, at least that's what it seems.
'What's shocking to me is how important the red carpet is. At one point I thought it was ruining [fashion] but I don't think that anymore. I don't think any celebrity can take away from fashion,' André Leon Talley said this week. 'Not even Kim Kardashian could take away from fashion...Though, of course, Kim Kardashian didn't come to the Metropolitan Met Ball but [her boyfriend] Kanye West did.' While I'm not anti-Kardashian, there is a lot of truth in what he says. The rise in the celebrity-for-celebrities sake culture has been perpetuated by magazines who have been more than happy to put them on their covers and by designers who are increasingly clamouring to get them on the front rows at their shows, TV crews in tow.
'So would you ever dress Kim Kardashian?' Robin Givhan asked Ralph Rucci. 'No, I think that's bastardizing yourself [as a designer].'
Ever since it was announced that Schiaparelli will make a comeback, the rumour mill has been full of speculation about who will take the big creative director's job. The majority of people, like me, were desperate to see John Galliano join the brand as a part of a big comeback but Stefano Tonchi quashed the reports at the Met Gala last week. Jenna Lyons has a different idea.
This week the J. Crew president told the New York Post that she thinks Iris Apfel would be ideal for the role. 'She's so full of life, and she's got an incredible attitude,' she said. 'I don't think she'd want to, but I think she would be amazing.'
I used to go every year, but it’s not affordable anymore. It’s totally corporate now. Oh, it’s not the same. They used to be really beautiful and fun. Now the corporations buy tables, because who can afford such a ticket? John Barrett did my hair today and said that the tickets now are $25,000 a pop. I mean, that’s a little bit insane. I’m happy for the reason that the recipient is the Costume Institute, which I’m very involved with, and I like to see them get money. But otherwise, I think it’s sort of sad.
Marc Jacobs didn't go down particularly well with his outfit at the Met Gala this week but despite the negative press, the outfit has clearly resonated. Daily Front Row did some digging and found out that the lace dress from Comme des Garcons S/S12 collection had sold out completely at Barneys.
While the are not sure whether the piece sold our before or after Jacobs sported it on the red carpet, it shows that the piece wasn't as outlandish as we all initially thought. It clearly sells well. I wonder if the elf shoes that he wore from his Fall 2012 collection will sell out too?
Elizabeth Banks didn't go down particularly well with the fashion critics after wearing that hard-to-pull-off Mary Katrantzou ensemble at the Met Gala but this dress more than makes up for it.
To attend the premiere of her new movie, 'What To Expect When You're Expecting', she chose another leading British fashion brand, Peter Pilotto. The brand's floral printed dress with sheer cut outs was the style of choice teamed with black peep toe heels and an embellished black clutch.
Carey Mulligan looked incredible on Monday night in her Prada creation at the Met Gala and if, like me, you were a fan the dress, you just might be able to get your hands on it. Yesterday the actress put the dress up for sale on eBay with a starting bid of $500.
The auction isn't aimed at benefiting the co-chair personally, as all of the proceeds of the sale will go directly to Oxfam, which means that you can bid today guilt free. You haven't got much time though because the bidding ends on May 19 and so far there have been seven bids with the highest sitting at $1,025.
