161 posts tagged "Alexander McQueen"
Memorable Moments From Galliano’s Sit-down With Charlie Rose
Between Ingrid Sischy’s interview in Vanity Fair‘s July issue, Jonathan Newhouse’s profession of support, Cathy Horyn’s call for him to pave his own way back, and last night’s Charlie Rose sit-down, John Galliano has been monopolizing headlines of late. And understandably so—the pair of interviews marked the first time the former Dior designer spoke with journalists on the subject of his racist rant and struggle with addiction that ultimately led to his dismissal from the storied fashion house. If you missed his sober chat with Rose—during which Galliano was almost unrecognizable, having traded his signature matador and pirate ensembles for a blue oxford and blazer—we suggest you give it a watch. Galliano, who sometimes inspires sympathy and sometimes doesn’t, told Rose that it would be his last interview on the topic (he said additional discussions wouldn’t be “wise”). Here, a rundown of the apologetic designer’s most notable comments on such topics as Lee McQueen, the infamous video, his recovery, and his comeback.
On the video and the aftermath:
“No one was more shocked than myself, Charlie… At that point in my career I had become what is known as a blackout drinker. It’s where one can’t transfer short-term memory into long-term memory, so I have no memory of that event.”
“I was emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally bankrupt. I didn’t know it, but I had a very big breakdown. Nervous breakdown, mental breakdown, emotional breakdown. I didn’t know, but I couldn’t begin to describe how that felt. And I was in denial.”
“[Natalie Portman] was right to say what she said. What I said was disgusting.”
On success and addiction:
“Along with all the successes came more collections. At that moment I was producing 32 collections a year between the house of Galliano and the house of Dior. And each collection would comprise about 1,000 pieces. Would you like me to run through the collections for you? We won’t have time.”
“By then, I was a slave to alcohol, then I would take the Valium to stop the shaking to do the fittings, and the sleeping pills so I could sleep. I was traveling a lot and my life became unmanageable.” Continue Reading “Memorable Moments From Galliano’s Sit-down With Charlie Rose” »
Christie’s Hosts Old Queens and New
In the age of Middleton mania, there’s no shortage of mythology (or obsession) surrounding what it means to be a queen.
On June 4, Christie’s will unveil a preview of new exhibition, A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes, Fashion, and Chess, which, opening in October at the World Chess Hall of Fame in Saint Louis, examines the principal monarch from a freshly cerebral perspective.
“It all started with the chess museum in Saint Louis,” relayed Swedish curator Sofia Hedman of the impending preview. “The idea is that each piece on the chessboard can be seen as a different personality, and the queen incorporates the different personalities a woman can have—the enchantress, the explorer, the ruler, the mother, and others.”
Rare pieces—Hussein Chalayan’s iconic bubble dress from Spring 2007, Maison Martin Margiela’s Spring 2001 vest made entirely from baseball gloves, and more than a few ornately embroidered gowns by Alexander McQueen (left)—are placed among lesser-known new works from “very, very unpredictable and very experimental” designers, like Charlie Le Mindu and Jordan Askill. Each touches on a different element of the regal persona, with plenty of reference to royal Dutch portraiture from the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. Continue Reading “Christie’s Hosts Old Queens and New” »
CSM Does It Again
Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Riccardo Tisci, Christopher Kane—Central Saint Martins College has no shortage of iconic alumni. And it’s not hurting for fresh talent, either. Students in the undergraduate and masters programs have once again broken new ground with the release of 1 Granary, a student fashion magazine, named for the address of the school’s new King’s Cross campus at 1 Granary Square. “We were just having fun, doing what we loved,” explained the student editor and founder, Olya Kuryshchuk (she also styled the below shoot, “Going Sublime,” which was lensed by photographer Nikolay Biryukov), of the magazine’s origins. “Gradually, we realized that we had created a great opportunity—that we could meet the people who truly inspire us and show our own work in the process.”
The issue features interviews with CSM alums such as Kate Phelan, as well as some very rare archival images—the first official image of Alexander McQueen, which was shot by his friend and current CSM tutor Gary Wallis, Katie Grand’s first-ever photo shoot from when she was a second-year knitting student at the school (lensed by Wallis, the spread debuts here, above). “For the shoot, Katie and Gary Wallis drove all evening, shot all night in an old marked-off factory, and were back in time for class the next morning,” explained Kuryshchuk. And of course, 1 Granary highlights work by current students and recent graduates, with editorials showcasing brightly-printed sustainable tunics crafted by students during a group project, and some almost cartoonishly clever architectural pieces from 2011 graduate Jaeyeon Lee. Continue Reading “CSM Does It Again” »
Shop The Look: Punk and Circumstance
Punk is back with a vengeance. With the Costume Institute’s forthcoming exhibition at the Met, and Moda Operandi’s exclusive punk-themed capsule collection launching May 2, fashion is feting the subculture’s enduring impact. Although some might see the revival more as commodification than celebration, isn’t punk’s anti-fashion just another fashion statement? After all, even the pioneers of punk leveraged irreverent DIY designs to create both community and dissonance. In the spirit of rebellion (and the Met Gala next week), shop our studded and spiked evening wares, from Elie Saab, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and more, below.
1. Elie Saab gown, $6,515, available at www.stylebop.com.
2. Tom Binns earrings, $1,677.59, available at www.farfetch.com.
3. Givenchy cuff, $975, available at www.luisaviaroma.com.
4. Alexander McQueen clutch, $2,325, available at www.farfetch.com.
5. Valentino slingback, $1,295, available at www.bergdorfgoodman.com.
6. Joomi Lim necklace, $495, available at www.matchesfashion.com.
Rag & Bone is London-Bound
London’s two-season-old men’s week (technically referred to as London Collections: Men) announced another victory today: New York-based Rag & Bone, will be joining the Spring 2014 lineup. Last season, international labels Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen presented their menswear ranges in the city, and this March, Burberry also announced plans to show on its home turf for Spring 2014.
“Rag & Bone, started life in New York, but as English guys, we are delighted to be a part of London Collections: Men,” said British-born designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville. “Menswear is what originally put our brand on the map, and our British roots have heavily influenced our aesthetic, so we felt strongly about showing our Spring 2014 collection in our hometown.” The third installment of London Collections: Men will kick off on June 16.