I had never heard that Detroit has a Fashion Week, but apparently they do. I’m sorry that I didn’t cover this, maybe next year, since you know, as the website says it’s Michigan’s “only fashion industry event.” That makes it sound so much more sad than exciting.

This year’s week was sponsored by the CW and showcased designs by Reco Chapple of Bravo’s ‘The Fashion Show,’ and Bianca Golden from one of the millions of seasons of America’s Next Top Model.

If you’re actually excited about this, check out their site

I’m always surprised at how busy and nutty-acting everyone gets during Fashion Week prep. Everyone is in a huff. I’ve seen a lot of models in Soho, they’re almost all in huffs. Except for the “It” models, you know like Ash and Jethro. I bet they’re never in anything like a huff, they’re only in magazines. Is Cole Mohr still “It”?

Anyway, I got invited to the model casting for Duckie Brown. It made me feel a little special, but whenever I told anyone they sort of laughed. Everyone thought I was trying out to be a model, I wasn’t. Duckie wanted me there to cast models, and pretend to DJ. I really like pretending.

It was self-defeating though. The casting, I mean.  I was the short, pasty, black-clad kid with grandma glasses and bad hair. Everyone around me was 6 foot tall, healthy, fit, and beautiful. It was awful, and amazing. Amazing because they were changing and naked and trying on great clothes.

Two boys I party with came on a go-see. Is that an official term? Go-see? Or did Tyra make that up for America’s Next Top Model? But, right, Jace and Harvey came on a go-see. It was nice seeing them out and about during the day. And I think both of them were cast, because they have amazing walks and are so handsome.

Oh. Did anyone see that Craiglist missed connection from Tuesday? A friend posted it to my Facebook. I think someone I know, a boy, gave a man a blowjob at the Box while his girlfriend watched. It all happened on the balcony, I mean, I must have been a few feet away. Was it you? Tell me the truth. I need the scoop.

I think it’s a good nightlife when things like this can still happen. It reminds me of Studio 54.

It’s so sad that the Ruff Club is ending. I don’t know what else to say. It’s the end of an era, or something. There’s a rumor that Peaches Geldof and Jethro Cave will be there. That they’re going to DJ. I love Nick Cave, and his son Jethro is amazing. I didn’t know that Peaches is still around. Can I have her job? What is her job?

P.S.

I forgot to mention I met Christopher Sauve and Julia Frakes yesterday while creeping Soho with Alex. Chris was the nicest, like so pleasant. Julia was a button, but I kind of think I squeezed her hand too hard. Alex thought her pants were a great Beacon’s find, but of course they were Erin Wasson. Nicollette said Julia was a downtown luminary.

I guess she must be if she’s curating a collection at Screaming Mimi’s for Fashion’s Night Out. I’m jealous, wish I was curating a collection.

Did you know that even the Disney Channel changes its New York programming before and during Fashion Week? I told you, nutty-acting. Everyone.

If any of you know me, you may know that I have (had) relatively long blonde hair that did not suit me, at all.  I’ve never been afraid to change my hair, because it will grow back, and it is just hair.  Rebecca suggested after seeing Bryant G, that I try out a new salon in SoHo that she had just been to called Projet F.

I booked at Projet F through Lifebooker, which is a dream seeing as I am completely unorganized in terms of thinking ahead to get my haircut.  When I want to cut my hair, I want to cut my hair, and Lifebooker allowed me to book an appointment and attend it three hours later.  The salon has an really cool vibe, with very clean black and whites and a good stereo system, plus full length mirrors, and great capes so you don’t leave the salon with hair all over your shirt.  

Projet F has only been around for about seven months, but is building up their name as Lifebooker gives customers a deal at an amazing salon with the some of the best stylists around.  New Yorkers of all walks of life are beginning to notice how great this salon really is, just as I was sitting there, Jaslene Gonzalez from Americas Next Top Model season 8 came in to say hello to her stylist and grab a few bags she left in their earlier.  

After telling my stylist, Anthony Fonseca, to just cut all of my hair off and showing him this photo of a basic idea, I went back to be shampooed. These weren’t your regular shampoo chairs, or your regular shampoo experience.  I laid down in the most comfortable chair ever, and a ten minute shampoo and head/neck massage.  Another Anthony that was shampooing me explained that they use this technique of massaging the head and neck (which feels amazing) to ensure that all of the nutrients get into your hair, and that not every salon does this. 

I then sat down to get my hair cut, and Anthony did an amazing job.  He listened to what I wanted, and also gave suggestions to how the photo I brought in could be workable for my face shape, and every day life.  He began chopping away and I felt completely comfortable as the inches fell to the floor.  He gave me a mirror to show see the progress, and I was overjoyed to see my new style emerge.  I got a quick blow dry and a splash of pomade and we all agreed, short hair suits me WAY better. I’ll definitely be going back to Projet F to refresh my cut, and would recommend any of their stylists for an awesome new look!

Check out their website, or you can even walk-in at 180 Lafayette St (Between Broome and Grand)

Here’s my before and after shots, what do you think?:

It appears to me that Project Runway’s new home at Lifetime may be the best move possible for the show! After a severely disappointing fifth season on the Bravo network, the season six preview definitely looks entertaining! And if stolen fabric and emotional designers didn’t stir enough drama for you, Lifetime’s addition to Project Runway, Models of the Runway, looks like a cattier, more realistic version of America’s Next Top Model. 

The new season starts on August 20th at 10PM Eastern Standard Time on Lifetime. One month, folks!

Jason Kibbler shot Jourdan Dunn for Vogue Russia, who displays her versatility in these shots.  From beginning to end, Dunn goes from high society (in Dior), to high jumping (and her legs look gorgeous, I might add).  The only thing I’m not crazy about in this jump is her left wrist…I think the America’s Next Top Model judges would probably agree.

SOURCE: Dunn Deal

Times are tough, and when it’s time to trim the fat its only fair that the once-famous supermodel, whose only real purpose is to make it look like it’s not really all about Tyra and provide shallow, empty commentary, should pack her bags and leave the house.

“The current state of the economy has forced shows to make major budget cuts industry wide,” says America’s Top Model executive producer Ken Mok, in a joint statement with Tyra Banks released Monday. “America’s Next Top Model is not immune to these financially challenging times. We’ve had to make significant cuts in every area of the production and, unfortunately, Paulina was a casualty of these cuts.”

Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to make a difference since the show is a joke anyway. They should’ve stuck with Janice even if she did talk out of her ass half the time, at least she was entertaining. So who’s up next…Frederique Van der Wall?

I honestly haven’t watched ANTM for a while, but thought that this photoshoot was very exciting, the models were supposed to ‘act’ their colors…not sure if they really did that, but the photos look amazing.

LINKAGE: Ohnotheydidnt

Shot for the New Yorker in 1995 by the legendary Richard Avedon, this creepy shoot seems worthy of a concept for Americas Next Top Model. Featuring gorgeously style models that appear to have no idea that their loves are merely skeletons, Avedon creates many shots of sheer passion and romance. In agreement with WickedHalo, this shoot has a striking resemblance to the Corpse Bride, but with a ‘Corpse Groom.’ As creepy as these decomposed grooms seem, you can’t help but notice the beauty in each shot, and have a hard time looking away from the photos, no matter how gruesome the concept may be. Each shot brings the couple into a different scene, of love or catastrophe. There’s even a sex scene, which could perhaps be followed by the family portrait with the child as a very creepy doll, even more so than the skeleton. A few of the shots seem straight from a horror movie, but the concept overall would do Tim Burton proud.

GALLERY: In Memory of the Late Mr. and Mrs. Comfort

LINKAGE: Wicked Halo

Look Indies! It’s a stampede of candidates for America’s Next Flop Model. Yes childrenz, you read right, they stampeded like a hoard of cows tryin to get to the feedin trough at the Olive Garden, Moooooo! Not to volunteer to help in a needy community or to provide blood so there would be surplus for life saving purposes or to burn Anna Wintour in effigy, not important causes like that. No, these delicate young heffas straight grid-ironed and clawed and catted their way forward for the chance to bask in the glow of Tyra’s premium silky weave. I know Tyra’s gonna turn this into a “very special Tyra” episode and talk to the “victims” about how they overcame this “hardship” and it’s all gonna lead back to her. I mean really, must we push, everyone will have their chance to be told to go kill themselves. This is just ridiculous, I thought I was watchin’ a soup line in a 3rd world country and what’s pitiful is that most of these wannabes will be models when Satan starts up an ice cold lemonade stand in hell on the 4th of “Nevuary”. I would call them whores for attention but I gave up snarkiness for lent………………………so I won’t call them whores……………………I’m just not gonna call them whores……………………no, I’m not calling them that…………not whores………………………wait, what is lent again?

-Z’maji of HauteBlogXOXO

America’s Next Top Model producers must really be scrambling for guest judges. Clay Aiken has been scheduled to guest judge an upcoming 12th cycle episode of ANTM. Now, I can see an ex-model, stylist, personal trainer, talent agent…hell, even Brendan Fraser as a judge…but Clay Aiken?! Someone enlighten me, what does a shoddy musician know about models, fashion or beauty? 

Thanks Jezebel!

I don’t know how Clay Aiken is relevant to fashion, except for his incredible outfits in Spamalot (above).

But Tyra reportedly has him on board be a guest judge in an April episode of America’s Next Top Model.

From Entertainment Weekly.

We all know that America’s Next Top Model is more like a hazing filled, college girl soap opera than contest television. It only took the producers 12 cycles to realize that viewers want more than skinny girl drama and lack of self-confidence…they really want to know what it takes to be a model, or at least look like one! Thanks to show producers, we can now look forward to 144 pages of America’s Next Top Model: Fierce Guide To Life. From eating healthy to runway etiquette and makeup application to inner beauty, your daily ferocity will soar. The book is slated to hit shelves sometime in April.

For more, check out The Pipeline!

If Daisy Lowe is considered “curvy,” then America’s Next Top Model cycle 10 winner, Whitney Thompson, despite her beautiful plus-size model body, is “morbidly obese.” 

Okay, so Lowe is the new face for Marc Jacob’s Marc by Marc Spring 2009 campaign. Rumor also has it that she snagged the DKNY campaign, to be shot by The Sartorialist photographer Scott Schuman. Jacobs calls her “adorable” and and Fashionologie says Lowe could bring about “the death of size zero.” Compliments? Yes. Patronizing compliments? You bet.

Whoever thinks Daisy Lowe is a “curvy” model really ought to have their eyes checked. Let us assess the situation: 

Height: 5′ 10″

Measurements: 32.5″ – 25.5″ – 35″

Lowe is an A-cup, with a tiny waist, the average model hip measurements and a typical model height. She isn’t curvy at all. If anything, Whitney Thompson should be considered curvy and NOT plus sized. And the media wonders why eating disorders are so popular these days.

Thanks Fashionologie.

The modeling industry isn’t just about smiling wide and looking pretty. Oh no, like any other big business it’s about money in the bank and with the recent economy slump, Elite had to cut 60 girls from their lives of glamour, fame and jet-setting. No worries though, big names like Coco Rocha, Alice Burdeau, Emma Beam, and Stephanie Carta are still rocking catwalks and magazine covers. But for those of you America’s Next Top Model fans, we’re not exactly sure what is going to happen to recently signed reality show rejects Anya and Katarjyna. Rumor has it that they are “out of town.” Sure. 

It’s a shame Elite couldn’t find it in their hearts to can “It” girl Harley Viera Newton. Yuck.

Thanks Fashionista!

Who needs Tyra when you’ve got Finlandian beauties decking it out for runway supremacy on Finland’s Next Top Model?  Seriously, this show looks hot!!!  I wish this wasn’t just a promo and the girls on this show actually had to beat the shit out of each other to win. Kind of like a Fight Club for waify model types.  Tyra, give the American people what they really want. WWF style battle royals!!!

Eugena Washington for Project Runway’s Jerell

Saleisha Stowers for Pamella Roland

Dani Evans for Project Runway’s Korto

Bianca Golden for Project Runway’s Korto

Naima Mora for Project Runway’s Joe

This past week, Top Model contestants decided to take on fashion week’s star-studded runways for the ultimate plunge! Straight from Tyra’s factory, the models were looking better than ever with a fierce take on the modeling front. Five of the contestants, Naima, Saleisha, Bianca, Eugena and Dani, stomped their pumps down the catwalk in a confidence sure to win them bold success. Several of the models appeared in the Project Runway showcase featuring designs mended by the talented Korto, Jerell and Joe, while others modeled for names like Pamella Roland and others. Though this is probably their extent of work since the judging panel, I have to admit, they don’t look half-bad.

Thanks to NYMag for the pics

Indies..Meet Tatiana Stewart. She recently moved to New York City to become a ballet dancer, but soon found her niche in the harsh realities of the modeling industry. We’ve recently been talking about the backtracking taken from a recent step in the right direction when it comes to super-skinny models. This is, yet again, another step in the wrong direction.

18 year old Tatiana is an accomplished young woman who came to New York looking for success in her talents. When she was scouted to model clothing in Abercrombie & Fitch she discovered yet another skill she could take into consideration. Well, at least she thought she could. This is no issue with the agencies; Ford, Click and Elite Modeling came to Tatiana’s beck and call, but picky designers, photographers and reality show casting directors can’t seem to be put in their place.

America’s Next Top Model showed a definite interest in Tatiana, but when screen tests rolled around and models were asked to lift up their shirts to bare their abdomens Tatiana was dismissed. Though the CW is claiming they don’t have weight guidelines, lets face it, to them, she wasn’t skinny enough to be a skinny model. The basics of her casting call advice have been to take her size four, six-two body and shrink it to a “loose size two”. That’s ten to fifteen pounds on an already super-skinny frame! What are they thinking!