subscribe to style file blog via RSSYea, Nay, Or Eh: Jennifer Lopez Hugs The Curves
November 23, 2009
It only takes a quick stroll through any fashion-forward boutique to realize that designers and retailers are still in the throes of body-con mania. What did we wear out at night before thigh-grazing hems and Lycra blends became de rigueur? You won’t find the answer on the red carpet, as starlets the world over are still flaunting the figure-hugging dresses en masse. Witness Jennifer Lopez in Spring 2010 Gucci at last night’s 2009 American Music Awards. We have to hand it to her—the singer looks great in a difficult dress—but is the look perhaps too challenging? The overly slashed frock paired with matchy-matchy platform heels is a bit much, even given the, ahem, creative dress code at music industry awards shows. What do you think? Is J. Lo’s latest offering a chart-topper or a flop?
tags: Jennifer Lopez
From Brooklyn To Hollywood, An Update On The Costume Institute’s American Women Show
November 23, 2009
Art lovers may be counting the days until Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens on April 27, but fashion types have already inked May 5—the opening of American Women: Fashioning a National Identity—into their Erdem-designed 2010 Smythson agendas. (A lucky few will join Anna Wintour, Oprah Winfrey, and Gap’s Patrick Robinson for the Party of the Year on May 3.) What to expect? “I decided to take a more interpretive and conceptual approach to American Women,” curator Andrew Bolton said at the Director’s Press Luncheon today. The show, which is drawn from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Met, considers Yankee style not through specific arbiters of style, but through broader archetypes such as the heiress, the flapper, and the suffragette that emerged between 1890 and 1940. The show closes with an examination of the screen siren because, according to Bolton, she is the apex of American style and glamour. “Women all over the world base their ideal of beauty after her.”
tags: Anna Wintour, Gap, Oprah Winfrey, Patrick Robinson
Presents Company
November 23, 2009
This holiday season it’s not only “about a dog” for Candy Pratts Price, it’s also about lions and tigers and bears, all of whom help to make Style.com’s 2009 gift guide an “Oh my!” experience. Pratts teamed up with Creature photographer Andrew Zuckerman (whose newly released Bird wouldn’t make a bad gift, come to think of it) to create a magical and enchanting seasonal portfolio. “It’s about feeling close to nature as you go shopping,” Pratts Price says, “and, of course, the beauty of the animals.” Cheers to that.
tags: Andrew Zuckerman, Holiday Guide
Natalie Portman Chooses Between Two Brothers—Or Does She?
November 23, 2009
It was a small victory to make it to the bar at Abe & Arthur’s last night, where Details and DKNY hosted the after-party for the Cinema Society screening of Brothers. Luckily, the mood at the hot spot in no way matched the emotional intensity of the battle scenes—martial and marital—that give the film its dark energy. To wit, Brothers star Tobey Maguire was full of smiles, making him virtually unrecognizable from the character he plays in the film, a prisoner of war in Afghanistan who returns home after being presumed dead. In Maguire’s absence, his wife, played by Natalie Portman, has a romantic dalliance with Maguire’s brother, played by Jake Gyllenhaal; suffice it to say, sparks fly. Maguire, who spent time with soldiers and their families in preparation for the role, slimmed down to a sickly weight, but his character returns from the Middle East with enough demons to flesh out any malnourished mercenary.
How did the stars stay sane on set? “We definitely needed the lightness to deflate the intensity,” Portman said of the cast’s attempts at humor between takes. “Jake would make [director] Jim [Sheridan] say things in his Irish accent that amused us; like the word third, he says turd, so that provided pretty endless amusement.” As for the starlet and her personal history with love triangles, she claimed innocence, but seemed game. “It would be fun if they were like Tobey and Jake,” said Portman, who wore a bright blue Spring 2010 Jason Wu dress and electric purple super-high Aldo heels. No arguments here.
tags: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Wu, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire
YSL Sells, Tavi To Tokyo, And More…
November 23, 2009
The YSL auction numbers are in, and they’re bigger than expected. Items from the beloved designer’s estate went for around $13.4 million, including an umbrella stand ($162,475) and Hermès luggage ($44,420). Maybe you can buy good taste. [WWD]
Tavi, the pint-size fashion blogger, is heading to Tokyo. She’ll be the “guest of honor” at Comme des Garçons’ holiday party on November 27, barring any further gym class injuries. [WWD]
Michael Jackson’s rhinestone-encrusted glove, the “holy grail” of King of Pop memorabilia, went for $350,000 at auction this weekend. In case you’re wondering, that’s 10,000 times its original price. [Times Online]
This year’s National Stiletto Championship race is drawing nigh. The competition, scheduled for this Friday in Paris, boasts close to 100 contestants, who must run in three-inch (or higher) heels. The prize, clearly, is more shoes. [HuffPo]
It’s not just the clothes that are getting an upgrade at Celine, but the selling strategy, as well. Standalone stores are closing, and a “boutique concept” is on tap for next year. We’ll take those leather tops wherever we can get ‘em. [Vogue U.K.]
Abercrombie & Fitch could become part of François-Henri Pinault’s PPR family, which includes luxury labels like Gucci, Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney. Does this mean Salma Hayek will have to wear lumberjack shirts and corduroy to premieres now? [The Cut]
Are Jude and Sienna back on? Either way, the New York sighting was inevitable. [NY Daily News]
tags: Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney, Celine, Comme des Garcons, Gucci, Michael Jackson
Getting Stoned With Solange Azagury-Partridge
November 23, 2009
Phoebe Philo, Saffron Aldridge, Tom Dixon, Matthew Williamson, Francesca Versace, and a clutch of other London VIPs descended on the private members’ club Home House on Friday night to see the premiere of Letter, a short promotional film produced by jeweler Solange Azagury-Patridge starring her pal Thandie Newton. “I have lunch with Solange about once a week,” said the actress. “She always has these secret things going on that I have to try to extract out of her. When she finally told me she was planning this and wanted me to be in it, well, I jumped.”
Who wouldn’t love the chance to wear one of Azagury-Partridge’s baubles? Newton paired her iridescent lavender Vivienne Westwood gown with the star piece from her friend’s new Stoned collection. It’s the same one she wears in the movie, in which she plays a femme fatale preparing to leave her hapless husband for her lover—but not without her jewels. “The film is my letter, in a way, to all the fabulous women out there,” said Azagury-Partridge. “We really are all fab, aren’t we? And sometimes, it’s nice, but not quite enough to put a ring on it.”
To be sure, the filmvert left many in the crowd wanting to buy a bauble rather urgently. But, sadly, we’ll have to wait until next month for the gems to come out. “December, grrr,” said Versace. “Forget it. I want it now—excuse me while I schmooze Solange.”
tags: Francesca Versace, Matthew Williamson, Saffron Aldridge, Thandie Newton, Tom Dixon
Blasblog: Roberta’s New York Layover
November 23, 2009
“I love coming to New York,” Roberta Armani announced at Lauren Santo Domingo’s dinner in her honor at the Standard this weekend. “In fact, I’d like to move. Someone find me a good reason—a husband, perhaps—and I’ll set up here.” If it’s a sportsman she’s after, there were a few on hand at the de facto after-party upstairs at the Boom Boom Room. Tatiana Santo Domingo, Jen Brill, Amy Greenspon, Hayley Bloomingdale, and Emma Watson were mingling with a few of the Rangers—Sean Avery, Aaron Voros, and Michael Del Zotto, all perhaps drowning their sorrows after their loss earlier in the evening to the Florida Panthers. Might be a good match; Armani travels about as much as a pro athlete. She’d hardly settled in when she had to make her way out, flying to L.A. for the American Music Awards and then, ten hours later, back to New York to host a dinner for Cate Blanchett at the Armani restaurant in the brand’s Fifth Avenue flagship tonight before continuing to Milan.
tags: Amy Greenspon, Emma Watson, Hayley Bloomingdale, Jen Brill, Lauren Santo Domingo, Roberta Armani, Tatiana Santo Domingo
Selma Blair, Woman of Simple Tastes?
November 20, 2009
It was a reunion of sorts: Ginnifer Goodwin, Selma Blair, a host of fabulous Bulgari jewels, and me. The occasion was Bulgari’s dinner at L.A.’s Sunset Tower last night, in honor of the upcoming Christie’s auction of the Italian jewelry house’s 125th Anniversary Collection. It was just six months ago that we’d all celebrated Bulgari’s milestone birthday in Rome. Any favorite pieces? Of course. “I’m just a simple girl—I’ll go for the rubellite tourmaline and diamond ring, 37 carats,” Blair deadpanned. (It certainly wouldn’t have been out of place in more-is-more Houston, where she just finished a run in the new play Gruesome Playground Injuries; we hear its next stop is Broadway.) Goodwin, in a Rebecca Minkoff blouse and Antonio Berardi skirt, made sure to tell her boyfriend, Joey Kern, “I would bid on any and all of the Serpent bracelets.” They won’t be cheap, but at least they’ll be virtuous: The auction profits go to benefit Save the Children’s Rewrite the Future campaign, providing funds for the education of children living in war zones and other areas of conflict.
tags: Bulgari, Ginnifer Goodwin, Rebecca Minkoff, Selma Blair
The Pratt Gallery’s Shades of Green
November 20, 2009
Sustainable design? “It’s nearly impossible,” says Bodkin designer Eviana Hartman. “But I definitely make an effort to try. I really consider fabrics, and not just your usual 100 percent organic cottons.” Looking at a pair of Hartman’s navy shorts in a gorgeous, filmy re-purposed polyester at Pratt’s Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion exhibit, we were impressed by how far the movement has come. Central Saint Martins Ph.D. candidate Francesca Granata and textile conservator Sarah Scaturro co-curated the installation to highlight eco-minded U.S. designers and artists who, they say, tend to get short shrift. “I think the U.S. designers that have been thinking sustainable haven’t been recognized,” Granata explained. “In London, it’s a big part of fashion right now. That’s why we wanted to do this exhibit. It’s not just about using organic material. There are different ways to be sustainable.”
Of course, there are as many ways of designing as there are of being green (or trying to be). On one hand, there’s Mary Ping of Slow and Steady Wins the Race, who creates her collection from existing fabrics such as old school uniforms. On another, Max Osterweis of Suno. After starting his line with vintage Kenyan prints collected over the course of ten years, the designer is now dealing with supplying his rapidly expanding business. (Having Michelle Obama as a fan can’t hurt.) “I’ve had to start doing my own patterns, but everything is still inspired by and created in Kenya,” Osterweis explains. “I’m not so much thinking about how to be ‘green’ as being conscious of what I’m doing. And hopefully along the way I’m offering a valuable design, too.”
Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion runs through February 20 at Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 144 W. 14th St., 2nd floor, NYC, www.pratt.edu.
tags: Bodkin, Eviana Hartman, Michelle Obama
Delfina Delettrez Fendi Isn’t Afraid Of The Dark
November 20, 2009
Remember the silver finger ring and nail polish set we reported on earlier this month? Its designer, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, was at Opening Ceremony last night showing it off, along with other creepy-chic creations like bejeweled skulls, frogs, spiders, and eyeballs. It’s not as dark as it sounds: “I don’t take it too seriously. See my skulls, they’re smiling,” the young designer explained. “I rather think that the pieces are ironic.” Opening Ceremony’s Humberto Leon was apt to agree. “She has a sense of humor about things that’s refreshing,” he said. While the presentation was her first stateside, the 22-year-old already has a strong fan base. Amy Greenspon, Mickalene Thomas, and Amy Phelan stopped by to check out her new Anatomik collection; Jen Brill showed up bedecked in her pieces; and afterward, The New York Times‘ Stefano Tonchi hosted a private dinner at his place for the jewelry designer. But with her famous last name—mom is Silvia Venturini Fendi—is she content to stick with jewelry? “Well, for now I’m growing the line, but I would love to do clothing as well,” Delettrez Fendi said. “Oh, but I would do bags first. I think always bags before clothing.” Mama must be proud.
tags: Amy Greenspon, Amy Phelan, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, Jen Brill, Mickalene Thomas, Opening Ceremony
