The Cast-Off, Round Two
No one likes to lose. Readers may recall that, a few weeks ago, stylist Lauren Goodman (above right) and I joined in a friendly battle of casts: Having each broken our wrists, we decided to compete to see who could turn her injury into the better fashion accessory. Votes were tallied; I had the lead at the start, but Lauren got some momentum later in the game that she rode all the way to victory. Honestly, I felt ashamed. I had the home-court advantage and everything. But rather than indulge in any Serena Williams-like tantrums, I determined to learn from Lauren’s success as we prepared to face off in Round Two of the Cast-Off: THE BRACE-OFF.
Lesson 1: Buzz counts. Lauren finished her cast early and people got interested, seeing her wear the flash plaster around. So, as soon as I got my brace from the hospital—a kind of Rick Owens-y brace, black with long straps—I delivered it to designer Camilla Stærk. She wrapped up work on it right before fashion week, and over the past few days, I’ve had two name stylists ask me if they can call it in for shoots, and several front-row regulars remark that they’d consider throwing themselves down staircases in order to wear a medical accessory that cool. (I am now thinking about launching a line of fashion medical accessories, called HEAL—Colette? Opening Ceremony? Barneys? Are you listening?) Lauren, meanwhile, had the element of surprise in her favor: Working with designer Peter Som, she only debuted her brace today…
Lesson 2: Bling that sh*t. Last time, designer Dana Lorenz covered Lauren’s cast in multicolored gemstones. Von Kottwitz designer Nina Stotler and I opted for something more industrial. Not this time! Thinking bling-y, I arranged to have my brace sponsored by Crystallized™ Swarovski Elements. I was imagining something totally disco, but Camilla, who has better taste than me, opted to cover my brace in pewter crystal pearls of various sizes. This wound up covering…
Lesson 3: Remind people of Michael Jackson. Lauren’s cast was inspired by the Christian Lacroix top seen on the first Anna Wintour-edited cover of Vogue, but lots of commenters mentioned that it seemed very Michael Jackson. And they appreciated that. Camilla, hand-sewing pewter crystal pearls until her fingers were literally bleeding, really came through on the MJ. I have to say, though, Lauren and Peter Som have maybe, possibly, trumped me on this—Peter’s angle on the people-like-dead-celebs-beacuse-they-are-reminded-of-their-childhood thing was to make Lauren’s brace “a tribute to John Hughes.” Pretty in Pain! Dammit.
Lesson 4: Art-direct. This really should have been obvious—I do work in fashion, after all. Lauren got off a cute little shot of herself posing with her cast. I went for the camera phone. And I wasn’t even in the photo! People vote on personal connection, I see now. And images that pop. Camilla’s husband, the photographer Barnaby Roper, obliged my concept “sci-fi Birth of Venus, with wrist brace,” as you can see (and judge) for yourself. Again, I was positive I had Lauren on this one—I knew she was racing around to shows and that Peter was prepping his collection and that there was no way they’d be able to work a seriously pro photo into their schedules. Laughs on me, folks. Lauren managed to corner Poppy de Villeneuve, mere hours before the photog hopped a flight to London to set up her show STILL, which opens on Thursday, and got a pretty amazing portrait out of her.
Lesson 5: Flatter the audience. Vote for me, and I will love you forever. Lauren and I await your comments…
My, oh, Maya! This vote’s for you.
I love this competition. I preferred Lauren’s cast but I am going with Maya on the brace! Heal well, ladies!
Maya, all the way!
You neglected to make a conceptual short a la Tarkovsky with soundtrack by the Citizen’s Band to hype your brace but that can be forgiven… barely.
I vote for Maya’s hard rock, death metal chic brace
I vote for Maya’s hard rock, death metal chic brace.
That’s easy; Lauren’s! And everyone w/in eyeshot of my 24″ monitor agrees. Nice arms, btw.
Lauren’s is rather glamourous, while Maya’s looks like a piece of video game equiptment.
Maya gets my vote. I think there’s some real potential there!
I love a little unhealthy competition!!! great post gals!!
Obs LG. The chicness is extreme.
vote lauren
Tough call ladies, but I vote for Lauren!!!!
Both are great but Lauren’s wins my vote!
Lauren is the natural! I think when the cast comes off, it is almost a loss. Vote Lauren.
Fun! Not the broken wrist part, but everything else involved. Maya, I’m sorry, but what makes Lauren’s so great is that it doesn’t look like a brace, not a cast, it just looks good! That said, great photo.
Lauren. She’s great. So’s Peter. Sorry.
This writing is really too biased for an equal competition. I don’t care about Maya’s mistakes, that’s a little boring. I vote for Lauren because of this.
Maya’s brace/photo combo is like if the Polyphonic Spree had a motorcycle gang. I vote for Maya’s.
the pewter pearls rock!
i prefer lauren’s brace better!
theres more going on with a combination of different moods, different kinds of masculinity and personalities.
Maya’s brace seems like it only speak one language. but it becomes interesting with the acid like background…
brace wise i prefer lauren’s though!
I’m all for Lauren’s. That blue light comming out of her broken wrists cleanses my brain. Yours is too much the IT trend now, the 80′s.
My vote’s for LG – life’s good!
Team LAuren!
j’adore Lauren’s!!! i love the haute cast!!
and i hope maya’s is not too heavy. i wish for both fast recovery.
maya
Lauren is number one forever!
Pretty in Pain—Genuis!!! My vote goes to Lauren.
Hands down – Lauren Goodman! Two thumbs up (or maybe just one?)
Lauren. Great picture, great haircut, killer cast, not to become a castaway.
Definitely Maya. Lauren phoned it in.
lauren. obviously.
Vote for Lauren – fantastic
MAYA!!! SHE IS A RAY OF LIGHT!!!
Craftsmanship + Style goes to Lauren
If I could vote, I would vote for you Maya. I love both casts, but you were sooo balanced in your competing. Competion is usually so negative – you are a real fashion sport.
Lauren with out a doubt. Wicked mixed media on that brace.
kaybklyn
I VOTE MAYA ALL THE WAY!!!!! xx
I think it’s a tie.
OTB Maya Singer. Ready to scrap, gets my vote
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I vote for lauren goodman