13 posts tagged "Bill Blass"
French Castle, American Story
2013 marks the fortieth anniversary of Le Grand Divertissement è Versailles, the runway battle royal that took place in 1973 between French fashion houses (Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pierre Cardin) and American designers (Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, and Bill Blass). Held as a fundraiser to restore the palace, the evening was attended by everyone from Andy Warhol to Princess Grace of Monaco, and, in addition to a bevy of couture, featured performances by the likes of Liza Minnelli and Josephine Baker (above).
But aside from being, perhaps, the most epic runway spectacle to date, Versailles marked the first time African-American models took a prominent place on the European fashion stage. Last night, in honor of the anniversary, and in celebration of Women’s History Month, the Fashion Institute of Technology hosted a screening of Deborah Riley Draper’s 2012 documentary, Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution. And the historic event’s stars, like Pat Cleveland (below, right), Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, and Bethann Hardison, among others, turned out for the film and a lively panel discussion. Continue Reading “French Castle, American Story” »
Balenciaga Goes Back To The Future, What’s In The Cards For NYFW, Acne For Everybody, And More…
Balenciaga has revamped its Paris flagship. At the newly redone Avenue George V store, you’ll find more of Ghesquière’s (left) covetable collection, an ornate banister borrowed from the Balenciaga archives, and an enormous starburst clock—just don’t try to tell time by it, as it runs backwards. “Back to the future,” CEO Isabelle Guichot explains. [WWD]
Fashionista checked in with a psychic for NYFW predictions. What was in her crystal ball? Jewels at Marc, a solo reality show for Michael Kors, and good tidings for Jeffrey Monteiro at Bill Blass. Time will tell! (Except at Balenciaga in Paris, where it runs backwards.) [Fashionista]
Acne has launched a small capsule collection aimed at transvestites. Would it be wrong to say “fabulous”? [Vogue U.K.]
And Barneys’ Simon Doonan is leaving the New York Observer after ten years to pen a column for the online political mag Slate. [Fashionologie]
Mamma Mia Madonna, Monteiro for Blass, and More…
More details on Madonna‘s spaghetti-eating, tear-jerking campaign for Dolce & Gabbana. “She really cried,” says Gabbana. [WWD]
If Mad Men is Sex and the City for guys, then skinny ties are their flower pins. [NYT]
Jeffrey Monteiro is in at Bill Blass, and the gig starts in January. In case you’ve forgotten, “the last of four designers who tried to carry on [the label’s] legacy finally gave up,” so no pressure, Jeff. [NYT]
Christina Ricci is starring opposite a Donna Karan handbag in Four Play, the new short/commercial directed by Sting and Trudie’s son Jake. If this starlet and bag trend keeps up, male models could be out of a job. [WWD]
Remember Esprit? It’s bringing a big ol’ flagship and love from Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Daisy Lowe to New York next year. [Refinery 29]
Monteiro For Blass, Wu For Tse, And More…
Karl Lagerfeld used to sleep in a boxing ring. So not surprised. [WWD]
Rumor du jour: Jeffrey Monteiro is heading to Bill Blass. We’re cool with it as long as he keeps designing his own line. [WWD]
It’s not Jason Wu for Target, but Wu’s decision, announced today, to design a capsule collection for TSE is probably just the beginning of Wu’s cross-market domination—Wu-mination, if you will. The line will be on view during New York fashion week in February. [WWD]
Lorenzo Martone is one half of ARC NY, a new “boutique talent p.r. agency for catwalkers.” Lydia Hearst and Alessandra Ambrosio are already signed up, and we’d be surprised if more of Martone’s high-profile crew don’t join, too. [Page Six]
Speaking of Lorenzo, Marc Jacobs has admitted to being a little awed and impressed by his Louis Vuitton customers: “There’s this huge cult following of almost crazy people at Vuitton who just want whatever they buy to be exclusive.” Don’t get him wrong—he’s not complaining. [Times U.K.]
The Times investigates “the steady infiltration of 19th-century haberdashery into the 21st-century wardrobe,” which is a nifty way of saying guys are dressing like Civil War re-enactors. Muskets are going to be huge. [NYT]
Buy Luella to save Luella. At 50 percent off, this is a slogan we can get behind. [Fashionista]
Olivier Zahm is bringing his particular brand of photography to New York. His show—the editor’s first—opens December 1 at the Half Gallery. Don’t bring your mom (unless you’re a Roitfeld). [BlackBook]
Put down that bamboo. It may be toxic. The eco fabric gets a dressing down in the Wall Street Journal, which means we may have to go back to wearing hemp. [WSJ]
Som At Hilfiger, Hutson At Generra, And More…
Som and Tom? Perhaps. Peter Som and Tommy Hilfiger are reportedly discussing bringing Som on as a “part-time creative consultant.” Som, who was formerly the creative director at Bill Blass, presumably knows a lot about American sportswear. [WWD]
Richard Chai—Love is the name of the designer’s new “boy-loves-girl-girl-loves-boy’s-clothing” take on contemporary dressing, and the slouchy, languid-looking separates for men and women will be what guests see at [Chai's] runway show next week. His original, higher-end line isn’t going anywhere, you just have to see it at the showroom. [WWD]
And Chai’s making Keds! They’re for men, but we kind of want them for ourselves. We don’t think he would mind. [WWD]
Drama! Katie Holmes’ new line—Holmes & Yang—has bumped BFF Victoria Beckham‘s dVb denim line out of the rotation at Maxfield’s in L.A. In the cutthroat world of boutique buying, we’re sure that’s exactly how it happened. [Page Six]
Now that you mention it, Georgia May Jagger does look an awful lot like Brigitte Bardot. [Telegraph U.K.]
Sean Lennon and his girlfriend with the amazing name—Kemp Muhl—re-created Lennon’s parents’ (you know, John and Yoko) famous nude Rolling Stones cover. Except this time Lennon is fully clothed and Muhl is totally naked. Convenient, Sean. [Huffington Post]
Swaim Hutson of Obedient Sons & Daughters is the new guy at Generra.
And by new guy we mean creative director. [WWD]