FNO will take place in all 19 of Vogue‘s international markets on five continents this year — Africa and Antarctica  are the only holdouts — with the US hosting its annual retail rail-bump on September 6. The event has grown so popular, several countries are holding FNO in multiple cities and even on multiple nights.

Milan, Rome and Florence in Italy; Berlin and Düsseldorf in Germany; Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.  Mexico City and Guadalajara in Mexico; São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; and Athens and Thessaloniki in Greece.

“We are delighted to be supporting the fashion and retail sectors again while highlighting the important role fashion plays in the economy of a country,” said British Vogue EIC Alexandra Shulman, who noted that visitors, particularly on Bond St, were up 92% since 2010.

The following are the scheduled dates for Fashion’s Night Out around the globe:

Sept. 6: Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Australia and Korea

Sept. 7: China, India, Germany and Russia

Sept. 8: Taiwan and Japan

Sept. 10: Brazil

Sept. 12: Brazil

Sept. 13: Portugal, Italy, Turkey, The Netherlands and Mexico

Sept. 18: Italy

Sept. 20: Greece

Sept. 25: Greece

[WWD, Vogue UK]

Link Love: Vogue UK

Tom Ford on personally test driving his beauty collection: "I put every single thing on -- I don't wear it down the street, but I want to see how it covers, how it works. When you put your name on something, you want people to know you believe in it." Tom Ford on his incredible shyness: "I'm the face of the brand. With Chanel, you feel that Karl Lagerfeld's personality has really melded with Coco's - but not everyone knows yet who I am, so that's why I'm in the pictures. I don't like having my picture taken but it helps people to respond. My real life's not like the fantasy Tom Ford world - with naked girls pouring perfume everywhere. It's more staying in and watching Friends on television." Tom Ford on why he eschews the runway: "The reason I present in a small controlled way is that so much of what makes my clothes special is the cut, the stitching, the lining -- things that would be lost on the catwalk. On the catwalk you have to exaggerate, almost."

Natalia Vodianova on dieting: "The only diet I have ever done is the blood type diet -- I have done it for five years now. The big contracts go to the girls who are healthy - they need to have a sparkle in their eyes and you can't fake that if you're unhealthy." Natalia Vodianova on negativity: "I think it's really important to say no in this industry actually, it's more important than saying yes. I believe it is very much about saying no, and fighting for what you think you deserve." Eva Herzigova on being a 90s super: "It's a different time now - [the supermodel phenomenon] was a trend," she said. "The woman was much more feminine then, and we took longer to build up our careers. Modelling is very much based on experience."

Jourdan Dunn on healthy body image: "I've learnt to accept my flaws - I hated being skinny and lanky growing up. I think I'm fine so I've decided that no one can tell me otherwise. OK I'm skinny -- what's next, let's move on!"

Diane von Furstenberg on independent women, part 1: "I was on an early flight one morning and I was the only woman on the plane. On the same day, I'd managed to make it onto the cover of the Wall Street Journal -- which I had bought for the journey. There was a man sitting next to me on the plane and he kept staring at my legs and nudging me in the way someone does when they want to talk to you, but don't know what to say. So instead, the first thing he said to me was: 'Why would a girl like you be reading Wall Street Journal?' I looked at him like 'you jerk'. I never said to him, 'look you idiot, I'm on the cover!' Of all the satisfactions I've ever had in my life, that was the biggest." Diane von Furstenberg on independent women, part 2: "I didn't know what I wanted to do, I just knew the sort of woman I wanted to be. I wanted to be independent, I wanted to have my own money and be able to stand on my own - not the type of woman that waits for a man to call."

Stella McCartney and Kate Hudson on Keith Richards: "We met at the VH1 Fashion Awards. I saw her -- she was so cool -- standing in this doorway with Keith Richards." - Kate "I always carry Keith Richards with me in my handbag so I look cool." - Stella Stella McCartney on counterfeiting: "Part of you thinks, 'that's really annoying - we worked really hard on that. But my CEO came in one day so happy and said: 'My mum just saw a fake Falabella Bag in Marbella!' I suppose it does show you've hit kind of a sweet spot if people are copying you. But with the Silhouette Dress and the Polkadot Dress last season, we did have to send a few little letters reminding people that maybe it's not a good idea."

David Bailey on Cecil Beaton: "I mean, I was always a big fan of Cecil - but he was the most terrible middle-class snob." David Bailey on feminism: "I had a terrible time with feminists in the Seventies. They hated me, those women. I think they hated everything."

Stefano Gabbana on Domenico Dolce: "We are in love. It's a different kind of love, but we love each other. It's a difficult word to explain, but there's no real difference in the way we work together. We have a better level of understanding and tolerance maybe since separating romantically. People are jealous of what we have: still being in love and being able to make something interesting - we are strong and that's disturbing to some people. Domenico is like my family - even though we're not a couple any more. I have a brother, a mother, and Domenico... it has been a 20-year love affair." Domenico Dolce on underage models: "People say: 'Models are so young, they're so skinny.' But Mr. Balenciaga used models at 16 and that will never change. People say they are skinny, but there is a difference between skinny and sick. If someone is sick, they're sick. It's not because of fashion. If I have flu, I have flu; it's not because I work in fashion." Stefano Gabbana on shuttering the D&G line: "When we decided to do it, the people [stockholders] called us, going crazy - but we need to do it. Chanel has one label; Gucci; Vuitton - why do we need D&G? The people call Dolce & Gabbana 'D&G' - it is the symbol for Dolce & Gabbana, there's no need for us to have two labels." Stefano Gabbana on Madonna: "We went to see her on the Blond Ambition tour, we were big fans. We were watching the show - she was wearing Jean Paul Gaultier then - and I said to Domenico: 'Imagine if one day she wore Dolce & Gabbana.' Then we picked up the paper and there she was, in one of our dresses...She's beautiful, she's mature, she's a mother - like Isabella Rossellini or Monica Bellucci. She's a real woman."

Rachel Zoe on one of her fave jobs-well-done: "Anne Hathaway at the Venice Film Festival 2008 was a really good one. She wore an Atelier Versace celadon green gown and she looked just like the quintessential movie star. Literally - I gasped for air." Rachel Zoe on avoiding wardrobe malfunctions: "One of the things I'm most militant about is proper undergarments. Dress transparency can be a real issue! I photograph my clients in their dresses from the front, from the back, from the side, inside, outside, under hot lights... it needs to be an outfit that looks good from all angles and where potential disasters are kept to a minimum."

Founded in 1996 by former British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon, the Jimmy Choo brand has become synonymous with the glamorous life thanks to frequent appearances on the red carpet and in pop culture.

What owning this book says about you: To quote the always profound Nicki Minaj – “They say my shoe game crazy / The mental asylum looking for me” — one must have a passion for Choo shoes that borders on the obsessive.

What will people say?!: “Tamara Mellon sure is all up and through this book.” Jimmy Choo’s leggy founder is featured as heavily as the shoes themselves, but considering Mellon abruptly left her post as chief creative officer at Choo a few months ago, her frequent appearance seems a bit out of place.

How this book will make your fashion brain grow: Aside from the glitz and the glam, Jimmy Choo XV has a chapter on “Technical Innovation” that, despite its name, doesn’t offer much in the way of technique or construction.

If you like this, you’ll love: Christian Louboutin. With five years on Jimmy Choo, Louboutin dedicated his coffee table book to his 20 years in the stiletto game.

In addition to a £200,000 cash prize — which translates roughly to $315,000 at current exchange rates and proves that the dollar is pretty much worthless —  Saunders will also receive mentoring from the BFC.

“I’m so happy about winning the fund,” Saunders said. “The last 12 months have been an exciting time for me and my team and I’m very proud of all their hard work. We have many exciting plans for the near future and this along with the support network provided by the BFC will enable us to achieve our goals.”

British Vogue EIC Alexandra Shulman added, “I am delighted that Jonathan has won this year’s award. His recent collections have shown that he is a designer who can provide beautiful clothes that women enjoy wearing and he is in a great position to build on his current success.” [Vogue UK]

Wasikowska, who once told Vogue UK that she was ”not sure about becoming a campaign star” and that “it would depend on what brand is, what it was for…” fits nicely into the Miu Miu stable of starlets. And because the 23-year-old is of age and not allegedly in harm’s way, chances are her ads won’t be deemed “irresponsible.”

Photos: Models.com

Then under the buzzer, this happens. By referencing/recycling that eight-year-old cover and giving it their own spin, Alt and co. end the year on a decidedly high note.  Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott capture Moss in glam rock Ziggy Stardust regalia for FrenchVogue‘s December/January 2012 issue. Freak out, this moonage daydream’s so chic.

Photo: Design Scene

Gareth Pugh

Prada

Numêro / Models.com

W's "Transformers" by Steven Meisel

Pop Magazine Fall/Winter 2011 by Gillian Wearing / Models.com

Versace x H&M

Versace spring 2011

cK One spring 2011

Balenciaga spring 2011 runway

Barney

Harper's Bazaar Australia November 2011 / Models.com

Models.com

Vogue September 2011 / Fashion Gone Rogue

Photos: Models.com

Wilhelmina Cooper (1939-1980) Before starting her own modeling agency in 1967 (yes, that Wilhelmina), the Dutch-born Cooper appeared on some 300 magazine covers, and still holds the record for most covers of American Vogue: 27. Though Gwyneth Paltrow is slowly sneaking up on her.

Photo: The Fashion Spot

Marisa Berenson with many shell headdress is worn to complement the warm Mediterranean make-up up colors, like the different shades of blue circling the eyes. She is also wearing a light blue sheer dress

Photo: Trendland

Italian designers are forming a united front to decide on their own dates, out of the three following options: 1.) move to July; 2.) show before New York in September; or 3.) leave things the way they are, which could mean an overlap between Milan and London.

Condé Nast, for its part, is not having any of this. In a letter to Mario Boselli, head of the Italian Chamber of Fashion ”obtained”  – *cough* stolen *cough*– by WWD, CEO Jonathan Newhouse writes that Vogue editors “like the schedule the way it is presently organized. We at Condé Nast do not want the schedule to be changed. We very much oppose moving the Milan shows earlier so that they overlap or conflict with the London fashion shows — or with the New York fashion shows or those of any market.”

Newhouse then goes on to basically threaten a boycott by all Vogue editors — American, British, French and Italian — of Milan shows, stating matter-of-factly that “they will not under any circumstances abandon the London or New York shows if the Milan shows are moved earlier.”

The root of the conflict stems from a pact in 2008 when all four cities agreed to kick-off the fashion weeks on the second Thursday of February and September. Boselli claims that the agreement was only for three years while the CFDA‘s Steven Kolb and the British Fashion Council‘s Caroline Rush contend that it was indeed a permanent arrangement.

As for the fromage standing alone, Paris is expected to side with Milan. However, Didier Grumbach, head of the Chambre Syndicale, would rather come to a compromise and wants everyone to just chill the eff out: “When planning our schedules we have to factor in the time constraints of houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier or Givenchy that deliver couture, men’s and women’s shows with one designer. In any case, these things can’t be improvised. We have our locations. To move dates on venues like the Grand Palais cannot be improvised. Those dates are decided months and months in advance. If [anyone wants to] move dates for 2013, why not, we have the time to talk about it, to arrange it.”

Frankly, it’s a little odd that London is siding with New York considering the hubbub over model castings earlier this season, with London designers blaming New York for hogging all the best girls and the general feeling that LFW was being squeezed out. Now it seems Milan is feeling the crunch and are going to have to come to a decision soon or face the wrath of Wintour. [WWD, sub req'd]

Photo: Trendland

Photos: Oh No They Didn’t!

Testino has long been a close friend of the royal family and was considered Princess Diana‘s favorite photographer. He shot the late princess with the wee princes William and Harry for their 1994 Christmas portraits and was the last person to photograph her, for Vanity Fair in 1997.

Of course, Testino also shot William and Kate’s official engagement photos, a by-product of which appeared on the July issue of Vanity Fair. Anna is seeking to exploit this relationship to convince the Duchess to sit for Vogue, but she’ll have to go through the Queen first. A source speaking to the New York Post says that “the Palace must approve it, and they are very protective of Kate.”

Vogue UK‘s Alexandra Shulman tried to snag Kate for her cover before the royal wedding, but Middleton declined. Diana herself appeared on the cover of British Vogue three times — in 1981, 1991 and 1994 with a posthumous cover in 1997 — so if Kate does decide to be a cover girl, she might do the nationalistic thing and follow in those iconic footsteps. [Telegraph]

VOGUE Fashion Night 2011 dans le monde (version… by VOGUEPARIS

- Alleged scissor sisters Freja Behna Erichsen and Arizona Muse get in the habit for Mario Testino and Vogue UK. [Fashionologie]

- The New Directions kids will be singing a sartorial song come September. The stars of Glee are rumored to be participating in Fashion’s Night Out. [Page Six]

- Gucci‘s got a fancy shmancy iPad app. [WWD]

- Noted cuckquean, Lauryn Hill — I’m sorry, Ms. Lauryn Hill — still crazy, still fabulous. [Style.com]

- “I’m having an interview with The New York Times. Can you just leave me alone?” Whines A-List gay Reichen Lehmkuhl whose name I won’t even bother to boldface. [NYT]

The campaign was shot by the hardest working M’s in the business, Mert and Marcus in a topiary garden at a private Oxfordshire home. I think I just got all kinds of classy just from writing that.

While the ad will make its way to print in the September issues of Interview,Vogue (US and UK) and Harper’s Bazaar, McCartney wants to draw you to her new sassed up site for a sneak peek. There you’ll also find a slew of special functions for customers such as “Private Wardrobing” — again, classy — and a “Reserve in Store” option for customers too impatient to wait for a delivery.

The new Stella iPad app features a “behind-the-scenes” of her Team GB ad campaign, backstage footage from her fall 2011 show in Paris, a preview of the 2012 resort collection and a “making of” video of the dresses the designer created for the Met Gala.

Sounds like a hoot and a half, but I think I’ll skip that “making of” video unless I want to fall asleep. [WWD]

Photo: Zimbio

They will be joined by Condé Nast International chairman, Jonathan Newhouse, to form Voguetron show support for the country’s ravaged economy and fashion industry. This show of support includes a gala dinner for fashion executives, celebrities and VIPS on November 4th and Anna will once again miss my birthday when the next day she and the other Vogue ladies attend the Tokyo FNO. [WWD]

Stylist Lucinda Chambers has Arizona taking flight in Elie Saab Haute Couture and Kirsi making waves in Marchesa, as Madeleine and Irina draw a cockney crowd in Vivienne Westwood.

Meanwhile, Fei Fei and Arizona are ready to cause a five-alarm fire in Alberta Ferretti and Carolina Herrera, respectively; luckily there’s a response team in the neighborhood.

Karmen is every inch the fairy tale princess in Dior Haute Couture and though there is nary a prince in sight, she could easily settle for a Lt. Charming of the Household Regiment – D Squadron.

Fei Fei, however is ready to find herself a few good men– and at least one boyish girl — in Jenny Packham.

All of these gowns are sickeningly gorgeous, but which one would you prefer to see the future princess Naomi Campbell-walk down the aisle in?

I’m a traditionalist and have always wanted to get married in Dior Haute Couture…my bridesmaids, all drag queens in Chanel Couture, deathdropping down the aisle while Liz Taylor officiates in a Givenchy Couture catsuit. Sadly, that dream is now missing a Dame.

Link Love: The Fashion Spot / Photos: Fashiontography

- The alleged sale of Elizabeth Taylor‘s $150 million jewelry collection is no longer alleged. Christie’s has confirmed that they have reached a deal with the late Dame’s family to sell Liz’s jewelry in addition to some of her art, clothing and other memorabilia at several auctions to be announced later this spring. If I can’t get that damned Taylor-Burton Diamond, I at least want this. You know, for lounging about the house….going to the grocery store. [HuffPo]

- This is hands down the best thing I’ve seen in my entire life: a chart detailing fashion’s silhouettes from the 18th century through the Victorian Era, the Roaring 20s, Dior’s New Look, the mod 60s, the punk 70s, up until the 2000s. How will the 2010s be represented? Tranny heels, bodysuits, harem pants, opulent fur, statement shoulders, Armageddon? [Fashionising]

Much credit is given to: a.) Aggy’s first editorial in British Vogue in “TWO years! [sic]“  in the May 2011 issue and b.) a “fresh pixie cut and dye job, calling to mind the Agyness of a few seasons ago.”  I’m not sure how “fresh” this cut is when it recalls  a past freshness, but fashion — contrary to popular belief — loves the familiar.

Deyn has been working, however…sort of…but with a cover of LOVE and an editorial here and there, it rarely compares to her utter ubiquity when she was an “It” model. Now there’s a new “It” model in town (or so I’m told) in Arizona Muse:

Before Muse, there was — and still is — Georgia May Jagger and Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss etc., etc. the catwalk goes on and on.

There will always be an “It” girl stomping down the block, but every supermodel has borne that label. And any supermodel worth her salt has “A Moment” — a return to the forefront, to stardom; hell, Naomi has “A Moment” whenever she assaults someone or smuggles in some blood diamonds. It’s all part of the game.

So don’t call it a comeback, Aggy’s been here for years.

Stephanie Seymour (July 23, 1968) As a muse for the late Richard Avedon, Stephanie Seymour created some of the best fashion photographs of the 90s, then upped the iconic ante when she strolled down the aisle as Axl Rose‘s bride (the two were dating at the time) in Guns and Roses‘ classic “November Rain” video. Though supermodels appearing in music videos was nothing new in 1992, very few looked as perfect as Seymour in that epic wedding dress. Perhaps a little too rock & roll for a royal wedding, but I would at least consider it, Kate Middleton.

Claudia Schiffer (Aug. 25, 1970) Reminiscent of a young Bridget Bardot, Claudia Schiffer’s sultry good looks catapulted her to supermodeldom in the early 90s. Though she made a comeback in a series of gorgeous ads for Salvatore Ferragamo in 2007, don’t expect to see Schiffer on a runway anytime soon; the German stunner maintains that she’s “very shy.” I’m the same way until I get a little liquor in me, hence, we just need to booze up Claudia and throw her — heels first — onto that catwalk. ASAP.

Heidi Klum (June 1, 1973) The ultimate Victoria’s Secret Angel, Klum hung up her wings for good in 2010 to focus on her thriving businesses: in addition to producing the Peabody Award-winning Project Runway (yeah, Heidi Klum has a Peabody), Klum has tried her hand at design, acting, painting not to mention re-populating the world with the help of her virile husband Seal…seriously, Heidi’s been pregnant nonstop for like the past ten years. I’m just going to say it, someone needs to separate those two.

Kate Moss (Jan. 16 1974) The kittenish face of “Heroin Chic,” Kate Moss’ arrival in 1990 sparked a sweeping change in the world of modeling. The glamazons of the 80s and early 90s now seemed outdated compared to the 5’7 Moss when she appeared in The Face magazine, shot by the late Corrine Day. Notoriously private — she rarely gives interviews — Kate Moss is still the most ubiquitous face in modeling of the past twenty years. As a regular in ad campaigns and a favorite muse for many photographers, Moss also practically owns the cover of British Vogue. Despite her amazing career, Kate has had her share of ups and downs…both fueled heavily by cocaine.

Photo: Harper's Bazaar

Tyra Banks (Dec. 4, 1973) Tyra Banks started off a rail-thin high fashion model before morphing into a voluptuous swimsuit cover girl, then a Victoria’s Secret Angel, then a fat-ass Emmy-winning talk show host and the professional smizer/creator of the now international Top Model series; in short, she is the ultimate model as mogul. And while I and a generation of other girls have learned everything we know about modeling from Ms. Banks (admittedly it took me a while to figure out how to find my light), she still has a few tricks up her sleeve (or in this case, turban), such as this shot from Vogue Italia’s iconic “Black Issue.”

Gisele (July 20, 1980) The last of the true supermodels, Gisele came along during the wave of Brazilian bombshells in the late 90s. With her athletic body and distinctive horse trot, she’s stayed at the top of the model heap for the past ten years, earning the one-name recognition to which all supers are entitled. Though there are several heirs to the throne (Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman, Coco Rocha, Hilary Rhoda, Agyness Deyn, Anja Rubik, Jessica Stam, the list goes on and on…), the queen is not abdicating anytime soon.

Photo: Models.com

Wilhelmina Cooper (1939-1980) Before starting her own modeling agency in 1967 (yes, that Wilhelmina), the Dutch-born Cooper appeared on some 300 magazine covers, and still holds the record for most covers of American Vogue: 27. Though Gwyneth Paltrow is slowly sneaking up on her.

Photo: The Fashion Spot

Veruschka (May 14, 1939) The Countess Vera Gottliebe Anna von Lehndorff was forever immortalized in Michelangelo Antonioni‘s 1966 classic Blow Up, writhing around on the floor, turning, giving and generally destroying everything in the room. At 6’1 with size 13 feet, some might say she was tranny…”some” like me. Either way, before Lidna refused to get out of bed for $10,000, Veruschka was making that in a day. Go. Head. Tranny.

Jean Shrimpton (Nov. 7, 1942) Shrimpton was a sensation almost immediately when she started modeling in 1960 and is perhaps the world’s first supermodel, despite Janice Dickinson‘s drunken claim to the title. One of the most iconic faces and bodies of the 1960s (her slim figure earned her the nickname “The Shrimp”) Jean caused a stir in 1965 when she wore a mini-dress on Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne. It was so easy to cause a stir back then; now someone has to smuggle blood diamonds just to get some attention around here.

Naomi Sims (1948-2009) Before there was Naomi, there was Naomi. The first black supermodel, Naomi Sims worked overtime to break into what is still a largely racist industry. With a little help from Wilhelmina Cooper, Sims officially made it when she appeared in an AT&T commercial in 1968 wearing a Bill Blass ensemble. And I bet she never threw her phone at anyone…no, she probably did.

Photo: Life

Twiggy (Sept. 19, 1949) A boyishly short haircut in 1966 shot Leslie Hornby to superstardom as the international supermodel, Twiggy. At 5’6 and only 91 lbs at her discovery, she ushered in a new concept of female beauty and a whole rash of eating disorders. A tradition she continued as a judge on America’s Next Top Model.

Photo: Life

Peggy Moffitt (1939) My personal favorite 60s model, Peggy Moffitt was the original edgy girl. With her dark bangs and dark, Kohl-line eyes, she had one of the most distinctive looks of the decade. As a model, muse and eventual collaborator of Rudi Gernreich, she was immortalized when photographed in his topless bathing suit, the monokini, in 1964. How’s that for a stir, Shrimpton!

Donyale Luna (1945-1979) Peggy Ann Freeman escaped the slums of Detroit for the glitz and glamour of New York City. Here, as Donyale Luna, she was exotic and intriguing whereas in Detroit she “wasn’t considered beautiful or anything.” At 6’2, with her already striking features and ultramarine contacts, she was in high demand, scoring the cover of British Vogue in 1966. Donyale lived like, partied like and dated rock stars and died like one when she OD’d in 1979. Then 6 years later she was reincarnated as a sassy fashion blogger (Ahem!)

Penelope Tree (1950) The ultimate 60s “It” girl, Tree was the daughter of socialite Marietta Tree and British member of Parliament, Ronald Tree. When Diane Arbus took some photos of Penelope, her parents threatened to sue the photographer if the photos were ever published. Nonetheless, The Tree became rival to the Twig and inspired John Lennon, when asked to describe her in three words, to respond: “Hot hot hot! Smart smart smart!” Meanwhile, that’s either 2 or 6 words. Pull it together, Lennon.

Photo: Life

Photo: Life

“If you look at any movement… it’s people rejecting what’s just behind them and pulling something out of the past.” – Vivienne Westwood, 1986

At the beginning of her journey into the fashion world, Westwood opened a store with design and business partner, artist Malcom McLaren. Through many incarnations of names, a store called World’s End (with a 13 hour backwards moving clock over the doorway) became the breeding ground for their experiments of unisex clothing inspired by 18th-century men’s undergarments, swashbuckling Pirate-wear and other historically sound yet new-age garb. The photo below was taken in the store, Vivienne on the bottom left, Malcom on the right.

McLaren and Westwood took the anti-establishment of World’s End to the runway. The first look below is a unisex tunic and pants ensemble, which was part of the Pirates collection in 1981. The next is made of sweatshirt fleece supplemented with blouse and baby blanket material. The third look from the Buffalo collection of ’82 is an antique-looking brown satin bra top with a full cotton skirt; the show note went to the tune of Take your mother’s bra and put it over a sweater with a muddy face. The fourth look on the right is a pair of distressed pants suspended by springs “to show the movement”.

The Buffalo collection:

The influence of Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McLaren moved beyond the streets and runways of London and far past the doors of World’s End when musicians got involved. In fact, the Sex Pistols wore their designs back when their brand was still called “Let It Rock”. With the advent of MTV, celebrity fans of World’s End like Boy George and Adam and the Ants became fashion icons before the world on television, in Westwood.

Vivienne Westwood drew great influence from philosopher Bertrand Russell. It is his quote on her shirt, “Orthodoxy is the Grave of Intelligence.”

With that, in 1984 when she and McLaren parted ways due to artistic differences, she went against the grain of the eighties. Where most of the industry was creating silhouettes of power shoulders and boxy suits, she drew from the Victorian era and developed the “mini crini”; a knee length version of the crinoline understructure. She also dipped into the seventies and Japan and pulled out platforms, but gave them a pirouette; the rounded up toe allows for perfect balance on point. Even more radically, she resurrected the corset, bringing it back in a liberating manner for it was no longer required. The quote on this photo reads, “…taking tradition into the future.” – Vivienne Westwood.

Feminizing the Scottish kilt, futurizing the corset and harking menswear back to medieval times, Vivienne Westwood in the late eighties was well on her way to stamping her unique print on fashion. She ended the decade with a bang: November ’89 cover of British Vogue.

More on Vivienne Westwood and the FIT exhibit:

Photography by Tommy Mendes

Photo: Refinery29

- Dov Charney has been accused of behavior even despicable by his loose, scumbaggy standards. What could that possibly be, you ask? How’s about subjecting a young girl to sex slavery for her 18th birthday (allegations AA denies). Happy Birthday — slip on this muzzle!…The Charlie Sheen Story. [Racked]

- “Artist” Richie Budd has encased a bunch of not completely unattractive frat boys behind Plexiglass in the exhibition, “Come on Guy” (one must assume) for the sake of art. And also for the sake of perverts who have been banned from every other peepshow in town. [Refinery 29]

- Kate Middleton to wear Alexander McQueen at wedding? Reportedly, the princess-bride-to-be consulted British Vogue‘s EIC, Alexandra Shulman over the momentous gown. All hail the McQueen! [The Cut]

- Matthew Morrison‘s album art was clearly dug up from a never released early-90s Richard Marxx project. Meanwhile, shelve this easy listening snoozefest and give me Amber Riley‘s record, ASAP. [Just Jared]

- Kanye West will not be attending Central Saint Martins after all, it seems. According to a CSM spokesperson: ”He isn’t coming to study the MA course but he did visit the college regarding a separate issue last week.” I hope that “separate issue” involves renaming the college Central Saint Kanyes. [Vogue.co.uk]

- Recession, resmession! Is there even a recession anymore/does anyone even care? Well Michael Kors certainly could give two shits. He’s opened his largest store in the world: a sprawling 7,000 square feet in Paris. [NYT]

- And at the Paris opening of his new store, Mary J. Blige “confirmed a year-old report that she will portray Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic” by covering a Simone classic. I’m officially starting my Oscar pool early this year. [NYT]

- Miss J. Alexander once famously said (on one of the 62 cycles of Top Model): “Fashion has no sympathy or empathy.” Well, if you’re John Galliano, that may not be absolutely true. [The Cut]

- Walking lab experiment James Franco has been tooling around with supermodel Agyness Deyn and has uploaded some of their kooky exploits on the Twitter. [Oh No They Didn't!]

Winslet pulled a Felicity following her recent separation from hubby Sam Mendes and the results are fantastic. She’s gone short, she’s gone light but she keeps her eyebrows dark, a look I can never get enough of.

Single mom. Sassing it up.

Hmm…I smell a romantic comedy based just on this cover. Quick! someone scrape Nancy Meyers out of whatever Tasti D-Lite she’s holed up in so she can get to work on this script.

Photo: Vogue.co.uk

Credit: Fashion Lover

“I am delighted that Christopher has won the second BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Award,” British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman said. “The shortlist was very strong and we were impressed by the level of talent which was inspiring. Christopher and Tammy have worked immensely hard and it is wonderful to see a designer with his vision and commitment rewarded.”

Credit: Fashion Lover

Kane is also the head designer for Donatella Versace‘s Versus label.

LINK LOVE: Vogue UK

Credit: Fashion Lover

LINK LOVE: Catwalk Queen

Kristen McMenamy is on the cover of August’s Vogue Italia cover, wearing a bead embroidered tulle dress from Ralph Lauren’s fall collection, photographed by Steven Meisel. The photoshoot, called ‘Survivor’ is inspired, or as Vogue puts it ‘interprets’, the recent environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
It’s a thoughtful gesture by Vogue Italia. I suppose it’s EU colleague, the British Vogue, wouldn’t touch the subject with a 10 foot pole.

Link Love: Fashion Lover

LINK LOVE:Gulf of Mexico oil spill reaches Vogue Italia’s August Cover

That’s what we — and Guardian reporter Imogen Fox — really want to know.

The dress, an appliqued Miu Miu creation, is on W, British Vogue and Elle UK. To be fair, we should mention that the dress Lily Allen wears on the cover of Elle is done in a muted lilac lace, while Eva Mendes (on W’s cover) and Swedish model Freja Beha Erichsen (on British Vogue) are both seen in the yellow version.

So how did it happen? We’re flabbergasted, and, well, so is Fox:

Surprisingly, this sort of cover multiplicity is rare. Actors frequently chalk up multiple dresses in the same month, but not magazine covers. There are good reasons for this. Fashion press officers work hard to achieve a delicate UN-style political balance between glossies to make sure that these kinds of overlaps don’t happen. “Usually press offices are pretty good at making sure we don’t get the same dress as our rivals,” says Lorraine Candy, Elle’s editor.

So we have to wonder what happened here — could Miu Miu be so hard up for publicity that it would need to trick three magazines into using its dress? Do we really believe Miuccia Prada is capable of doing something so schemey? No. She’s a sweetheart. And she makes really good clothes — good clothes that, clearly, beg to be photographed.

SOURCE

LINK LOVE:How did the same dress end up on three different high-fashion magazine covers?

LINK LOVE:Freja Beha Erichsen for British Vogue August 2010

Here’s Vika again. Looking awesome. Not sure what she’s wearing — perhaps her own designs. Dunno!

Just got to Paris, so tired, Becky in JEAN-PIERRE BRAGANZA jacket and PIERRE HARDY shoes, Sarah Harris from British Vogue in something CHRISTOPHER KANE — thats all I can read from my notes, and a CHANEL bag, and COMME DES GARCONS scarf, Kyosuke in a FRANK LEDER suit shorts, Jason in Sydney with TOPMAN trench coat and a bunch of other expensive things, Melanie from Paris Vogue in an animal print coat and leather skirt…. Sleepy time.

Follow Phil on Twitter: @MrStreetPeeper

LINK LOVE:Street Style Recap: Saturday, June 19th 2010

Olivia Palermo is guest personal/style blogging for British Vogue. I have to say I’m a bit surprised.

LINK LOVE: NY Mag via Vogue UK

Gwyneth Paltrow covers the new British Vogue, and inside she tells the magazine all about her revenge fantasies and pent-up feelings of hatred–possibly directed towards Madonna.

According to UK’s Telegraph, here are some excerpts from the interview.

On being filled with hate:
“Oh yes, I can be mean. I can cave in to gossip. I can ice people out and I can definitely harbour revenge. In fact, I’m having a situation right now with a friend where I’m feeling pretty angry. But revenge is corrosive and it doesn’t make me feel good. I’ll wake up in the morning and think, ‘Ugh, I feel terrible’, and suddenly realise, ‘Ah, that’s why. I’m holding on to so much hate.”

On her trainer Tracy Anderson’s split from Madonna:
“Yeah, it’s good that she doesn’t train Madonna any more. It was too much. She keeps people waiting – it takes up your whole day.”

On staying slim with exercise:
“Oh, I had to work hard to get it like this, but now I’m here it’s so great because I don’t have to think about it. I can just enjoy life. What a relief is that. I can eat what I want, as long as I exercise, which is just as well, because if I put the word’ diet’ into my brain, I immediately gain a stone.”

LINK LOVE: ONTD

Watch Patricia van der Vliet in action at her British Vogue shoot with Mario Testino.

LINK LOVE: Blog, Press & News

‘It’ girl Alexa Chung has been named “fashion’s favorite girl” by the March issue of British Vogue. She wears ripped denim and Chanel clogs on the cover.

LINK LOVE: Fabsugar

Show of hands. Who knew Victoria Beckham was a reporter for British Vogue? Apparently, the fashion icon spent some time interviewing a few of her favorite fashionites on New Years Resolutions. SPOILER ALERT: Pixie Geldof is a thumb biter so don’t shake her hands anytime soon…

I’m almost sadden by the lack of play Rachel Weisz get’s in American Media. I feel she’s so awesome in just about everything that I sometimes wish she’d have a drug problem or an inability to put on underwear so I’d get daily updates on her regular occurrences. Alas, this is not the case and I’m forced to only appreciate her in the little intervals she offers. Here she is posing like a true star for British Vogue.

After her performance in Lovely Bones, she deserves a little glam time.

British Vogue’s Model of the Year, Lara Stone, graces the Dec 09 cover.

Image via Modelinia

Does Kate look wonky or is it just me???

Image via Design Scene

British Vogue has decided to join the rest of us on the web! The newest addition to the blogosphere uses writers from the magazine with a few others to share the latest fashion gossip as well.

LINKAGE: Fashionista

The editor of Vogue has accused designers of forcing magazines to hire skinnier models to fit the clothes they make.

Alexandra Shulman has taken on the world’s top fashion houses claiming the clothes they make have become ‘substantially smaller’.
She says many of the garments sent out to magazines before photo-shoots are so small they do not even fit the star models.

In a strongly-worded letter not intended for publication, she said she had been forced to hire girls ‘with jutting bones and no breasts or hips’ simply so they could get into the garments.

She said Vogue magazine was now regularly retouching photographs to make models look bigger and healthier.

‘We have now reached a point where many of the sample sizes don’t comfortably fit even the established star models,’ read the letter, which was sent to the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Prada and Versace.

‘Instead we are having to use girls with jutting hip bones and no breasts or hips, to fit them. 

‘Nowadays I will often ask the photographers to retouch to make the models appear larger.

‘I am finding that the feedback from my readers and the general feeling in the UK is that people really don’t want to see such thin girls in either editorial or advertising.’

Last night leading industry figures hailed her intervention as a new war on the size-zero fashion industry.

Supermodel Erin O’Connor hailed Ms Shulman’s stand as ‘a huge breakthrough’.

Garments are typically cut to fit the models who will wear them on the catwalk six months before the items appear in store, however limited budgets often force fashion houses to cast ‘new faces’ in their shows. Such models are usually young and underdeveloped, so lacking in more womanly curves.

Immediately after the catwalk shows the same samples will be sent to magazines to shoot. But as the sizes are so small, editors have no choice but to hire models who fit the clothes otherwise they will not be able to publish the latest collections from designers.

Ms Shulman, who has edited the magazine for nearly 20 years, told The Times how she found herself asking photographers not to make the girls look so thin.

‘Quite often I hear the fashion editor say when talking about one model or another “I don’t think she will fit the clothes”. Some of the girls she was talking about were already very thin.’

She added that newer celebrity models such as Daisy Lowe and the Geldof sisters were not the kind of thin that would fit into designer samples.

Vogue fashion booking editor Sophie Baudrand added that she had been required to find girls who were 5ft 10in tall, with 23-in waistlines.

There are more than 1.1 million people suffering from anorexia or bulimia, according to Beat, the eating disorder charity.

Emma Healey, director of operations of Beat, said today: ‘This is very welcome. The whole controversy over size zero models has been a wake up call.

‘British fashion is leading the way on this, and it is very encouraging to see Vogue, which is THE fashion magazine, taking a stance like this.’ 

Baroness Kingsmill, who lead the 2007 model health inquiry on behalf of the British Fashion Council, said the stand taken by Shulman was an ‘encouraging sign’ from one of the fashion industry’s ‘leading lights’.

Stephen Kolb, of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, said: ‘If a stylist is casting models that are unhealthy they shouldn’t work with them.’

SOURCE: The Daily Mail

Black & White + Odd Model Poses = A total waste of a couple of perfectly good mag pages…

Just saying.