Balenciaga Exhibits Edgy, Sculptural Looks for Fall:
“The show opened with two little black dresses, but there was nothing simple about them. With that Balenciaga construction shaping the hips into two round curves — leaving the impression of a tiny waist — they were as much sculpture as dresses . . . For Mr. Ghesquiére’s latex jackets, liquid latex was poured into molds with patterns in relief. These were then painted by artists. The result is a painting in relief on the torso, arms and shoulders of a scuba-thick jacket. They rode the models’ thin bodies like coats of armor.”
“I may be stiff and wooden, but my clothes are ALIVE!”
***The UK’s Guardian rhapsodizes over the collection, calling Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga “the label that other labels copy” and “the most influential in the design world.”
Scottish Youths are the Worst Dressed on the Continent:
“The worlds of fashion and politics have collided after an MSP branded Scottish youngsters the worst-dressed in Europe. Last night fashion experts defended the country’s youth after Christopher Harvie, a 63-year-old politician and history professor, accused them of wearing ‘what must be the ugliest clothes’ in the ‘entire continent’.”
NY Police Bust Major Chinatown Counterfeit Ring:
“Police raided a major hub for counterfeit goods in Chinatown on Tuesday, seizing more than $1 million of fake Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Rolex and Coach merchandise . . . ‘People that come to this city and want to have a business here are getting defrauded and robbed by those who counterfeit their brands,’ Bloomberg said, ‘and we want all companies in this country and this world to understand if they come to New York, we will protect their rights.’”
Zac Posen Named as New Australia Target International Designer:
“The 28-year-old New York fashion star, a favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Heigl, has been announced as the next international big name to create a designer discount range for the store . . . A red carpet success, Posen put Heigl in a stunning white gown with fishtail hem at the Emmys last year and he’s recreated the look in red for Target. This time it comes at a fraction of the Hollywood price, at $299.99.”
Check out Zac Posen’s Fall 2008 collection below, for a glimpse of the flair he’ll impart to his Target line:
Luxury Group PPR Announces 51% Income Hike:
“French luxury goods group PPR remains confident of continuing success in 2008 after recording a 51% hike in net income during 2007 . . . ‘These results reflect the strength of our brands and retail concepts, active in the fastest-growing consumer and luxury goods segments in over 90 countries,’ said chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault.”
Victor & Rolf Miss the Mark with Message-Swamped Collection:
“A ‘NO!’ rising up off a model’s shoulders and emerging like a hunchback behind. Lots of ‘NO!’ painted on models’ faces. And ‘DREAM ON’ or ‘WOW’ similarly built into clothes. To which I say, ‘Huh?’”
Guys, put the scissors down and back away — and go take your meds!
