[Humor Chic]

- The mogul currently known as Diddy is being sued over his Empress fragrance by the similarly titled Empress Hair Care Products. Because there are only so many classy, royal-themed names to go around. [Fashion Etc]

- David Beckham‘s commercial for his bodywear line with H&M will debut during the Super Bowl, giving you all at least one reason to tune in.

- Betty White celebrates her 90th birthday today and as befits a TV and entertainment legend, NBC put together a little special featuring other people who continue to openly mock death. [Washington Post]

- It’s showdown of the has-been starlets! Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are reportedly vying for the made-for-TV role of a lifetime — on Lifetime —  as Elizabeth Taylor. [E!]

- L.L. Bean produced a Bootmobile that’s too big to fit the delicate foot of the Statue of Liberty. And good thing because I don’t want the symbol of this country in anything less than a stiletto, thank you. [Racked]

- The day before the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, over half of Papa Jay-Z‘s New York Rocawear employees were laid off for “economic reasons.”  Hey, someone’s got to pay for that $3500 lucite crib. [The Cut]

- Meanwhile, Momma Beyoncé‘s skin was apparently lightened for new promo pics for 4. Yawn. [Huff Po]

- Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs and others get the Squarepants treatment, courtesy of Dutch illustrator Mike Frederiqo. [Hint]

Photo: Roxanne Lewitt / Obsession Photo

Ostroff will be Condé’s first president of entertainment as it hopes to ween the Nast off the teet of advertisers and start rolling in that Hollywood dough. Though projects like The September Issue and America’s Next Top Model, featuring a be-caped André Leon Talley, already give CN a multi-media presence, the publisher’s not getting any money from it. Which is where Ostroff comes in.

“This is all content that Condé Nast should be able to build a library with in some way — even if it’s in partnership with other companies,” said Ostroff. “It could mean films, it could mean documentaries, it could mean television shows, it could mean digital series or digital content, it could be digital channels. And it could be across all platforms: Cable channels, cable broadcast networks. It ranges across the board.”

In that case, allow me to pitch my first — of many — Condé Nast-themed shows. Picture it, The Golden Gossip Girls, starring Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as Blair Waldorf and Serena Vanderwoodsen, respectively (naturally)…50 years in the future. It’s got Emmy written all over it…or at least People’s Choice Award scribbled somewhere on its side. [NYT, WWD]

Photo: NYT

According to Style File: “The Traina sisters reportedly jumped when they heard the first crack, others found themselves flat on the floor after the benches, supporting the likes of Mario Testino, Catherine Deneuve, Carine Roitfeld, and Style.com’s Nicole Phelps, broke.”

Everyone stood their ground, however — note Vogue‘s Hamish Bowles, Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington dutifully in the front row — and the reaction was favorable with Anna Dello Russo remarking via Twitter that it was an “amazing” show and likening the experience to church.

Amen, fashion. [Style File]

Photos via Fashion Gone Rogue

- Getting gay married just got super convenient. And kinda trashy…er. [Refinery29]

- Alexander McQueen left the majority of his $26 million estate to charity, but not without providing for his loved ones: that includes $410,000 to each of his three sisters and two brothers; $82,000 each to his housekeeper, godson, nephews and nieces; and another $82,000 to his dogs. Those nephews and nieces probably should have paid a few more visits to Uncle Alex. Or at least peed on his rug. [Fashionologie]

Sophia Coppola, Kanye West and Donatella Versace – who, it seems, invited herself – were among those lucky and not-Anna-Wintour enough to reside front row during Alaïa’s show. They got to see, up close and personal, the wool — being couture it was no less than Mongolian lamb —  the knitwear —  a “miracle” according to Style.com‘s Tim Blanks —  the cinched waists and full skirts — an ode to the designer’s trademark body-consciousness — and my favorite ladies wear staple — the coat-dresses — that made up the collection’s 25 looks.

Whatever caused the riff between Azzedine and Anna — there was a snub at the Met Gala a few years back causing longtime muse Naomi Campbell and her super friends to boycott, but methinks it goes back even further than that — readers of Vogue are the ones truly suffering. They’ll never see these gorgeous creations within those hallowed pages as long as one of them lives. And I think we all know, as per an agreement signed in blood eons ago, Anna’s not going anywhere for the next few hundred years.

But feel free to peruse some of the best looks from Alaïa Fall 2011 couture and take comfort in imagining what magic Grace Coddington could conjure up if she were given the chance.

Photos: Vogue.it

On hand to toast Wintour — who never met a Chanel bouclé tweed she didn’t drape over her frail back — were Karl Lagerfeld, Donatella Versace with bff Riccardo Tisci — fresh off his glorious fall 2011 haute couture collection for Givenchy – Lanvin‘s Alber Elbaz, Anna’s Italian counterpart Franca Sozzani, Mario Testino, LVMH head honcho Bernard Arnault, YSL‘s Stefano Pilati, Burberry‘s Christopher Bailey,  Tommy Hilfiger, professional dandy and Vogue‘s editor-at-large Hamish Bowles and the Rhoda to Anna’s Mary, Grace Coddington.

According to the Kaiser, “We had this very nice cocktail, where Anna made a very funny speech.” I have a hard time believing at least one of those facts. [WWD]

Click through for more picture from Vogue Italia that were apparently taken by a drunk intern with an iPhone.

Winners

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler

The kids, Jack and Laz

Menswear Designer of the Year: Michael Bastian

Bastian next to a surprisingly sexy Gerard Butler

Accessory Designer of the Year: Alexander Wang

Sofia Coppola will present good friend and longtime fag to her hag, Marc Jacobs with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, amidst a roar of boos. Somehow Jessica Alba scored an invite and will hand over the Founders Award to Hal Rubenstein and sexy septuagenarian Grace Coddington will hurl the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award to an unsuspecting Arthur Elgort. Karolina Kurkova, not to be outdone, will present the three Swarovski Awards.

Meanwhile, Patrick Ervell dug up Kirsten Dunst for his date, Micahel Kors will be chaperoned by Ashley Greene and Calvin Klein‘s Francisco Costa by noted actress Kerry Washington. Liv Tyler forsake frequent gal-date Stella McCartney for the humpy Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler and last but not least, Chlöe Sevigny will stumble into the ceremony with MAC Cosmetics.

This should make the FiFis look…well, like the FiFis. [WWD]

1. Paris Is Burning (1990)

Set amidst the backdrop of 80s New York ball culture, Paris Is Burning is an exploration of beauty, race, sexuality, capitalism and the American Dream, all wrapped up in a dragtastic homage to the transformative powers of fashion. Also, where do you think Madonna learned to Vogue?

See Also: To Wong Foo — Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1994) Drag queens, yes; acute social commentary, not so much…but how can you argue with this? Oh, that’s right, you can’t.

- Grace Coddington‘s 70th birthday was a who’s who of fashion royalty, with a guest list including Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Annie Leibovitz,  Helmut Lang, André Leon Talley, Liya Kebede, Karen Elson, Stefano Pilati, Hamish Bowles, Karlie Kloss, Nicolas Ghesquière, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Vera Wang, Edward Enninful, Riccardo Tisci, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez from Proenza Schouler and Laura and Kate Mulleavy from Rodarte. Twas clearly a magical night, as evidenced by this photo of Anna having what appears to be…a good time:

There but for the Grace of Coddington go I. [Styleite]

- Another image has “leaked” from Beyoncé‘s video shoot — either B has awful security or we’re just the pawns in her little chess game of pop supremacy…either way I couldn’t care less because she’s wearing Alexander McQueen. [Red Carpet Fashion Awards]

- Dolce & Gabbana revealed some behind the scenes images of their Fall campaign via Tumblr. Liu Wen, Maryna Linchuk, Constance Jablonski, Monika Jagaciak, Isabeli Fontana, and Kate King will star in the gender bending ads next season. [Modelina]

- Looks like somebody finally made a comeback. Jennifer Lopez has been named by People as the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman,” landing the cover of their annual “Beautiful People” issue. After years of subpar rom-coms and so-so albums, La Lopez has struck gold, not only as an American Idol judge (does anyone still watch that crap?) but as a spokesperson for anything that will have her. From Gucci to Venus Razors, J. Lo is shoving herself down our collective throats, and I couldn’t be happier gagging on her. [People]

- And a Happy Belated Birthday to our favorite creative director and cat lady, Grace Coddington, who turned 70 years young yesterday!

This first episode explores the versatility of the trench coat and André lays down the law while cradling baby Tyra on his Chado Ralph Rucci-cape-covered knee:

A: When you put on a coat you suggest high-octane mystery.

T: But why not put on a pea coat or a–

A: TOOOO SHOOOORT!

Next Tyra gives advice on how to JAZZ UP a trench coat and for any advice regarding the jazzing up of anything I am strictly ON. BOARD.

She suggests a wide cincher belt that she wants you to know — by yelling it over and over again — that it costs $12 at Payless. Doesn’t it feel good? And by wearing said trench with a statement necklace you’ll add a “little sex appeal” as well as some “snap and sass.” Finally zhush those sleeves and suddenly your trench has gone from “blah” to “Rrrr”  – it’s like Tyra is the poet laureate of our generation. Her or Nicky Minaj…

Anyway, André — sensing a lull — returns to discuss the history of the trench coat with Tyra still on his lap and along the way we’re introduced to the Word of the Day, “kicky.”

T: What is a kicky?
A: KICKY IS UP!  YOU’RE UP! YOU’RE UP! KICK! KICK! KICK! UP! UP! UP!

Scratch that, ALT’s had a choke hold on poet laureate since the 80s.

Finally we’re left with a disturbing conversation about whether ALT grooms “down there” — for the record he does not and for the record I feel as scarred as a child who first learns their parents have sex.

I just thought there was a secret portal into a magical haute couture world where Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington argue all day under all those capes…thanks Tyra.

Though I’m totally signing up for Type F now…mostly because she told me to.

Regardless of the fact that the Wintour’s Bone is more or less alive, I’m almost always disappointed with every American Vogue cover…the last exception being Natalie Portman‘s stunner three issues and an unexpected baby ago. However, the editorials are usually better since they don’t have to sell the entire magazine.

This shoot was photographed by the legendary Annie Leibovitz who, let’s be honest, has been treading water for the past 10-15 years. Once prolific, her work comes off stale or a bit cartoonish nowadays and Rihanna’s resemblance to Jessica Rabbit certainly doesn’t help matters.

Sure, Rihanna’s a beautiful girl, but instead of playing up that beauty her face is obscured in nearly every picture; by her hair on the cover, or by her head being tilted back, or by that terrible maroon shag wig someone clearly needs to get fired for.

Simply put, this spread could have been a lot better, especially when Rihanna gives fairly good editorial. This is Vogue, for Coddington‘s sakes. The arbiter of all that is good and stylish and unattainable. And these photos don’t even belong in Marie Claire….

This is tiptoeing dangerously into Cosmo territory.

Photos: Fashion Bomb Daily

LINK LOVE: Humor Chic

Couture – “Calling something ‘couture’ doesn’t make it hand-sewn or high class.” No, it certainly doesn’t, that’s why you should just call it Trash, then call it a day.

Statement outfits - “Does your clothing speak louder than words?” My clothing is usually screaming; if not for attention, at least for spare change. And though these creations make a statement, they also raise numerous questions, hence a Dubious outfit.

Smoldering – “O.K., your makeup is hot. Your outfit is hotter. You are about to combust. We get it.” I’ve actually never heard/seen anyone use this term when not referring to coals or an STD, but I’ll trust the Times (this once) and suggest we toss a match on that smoldering outfit and make it Flaming (which is usually reserved for the gays).

Fashionista – “The word has gone from describing a class of urban style-conscientious sophisticates to becoming a lazy and cheap byword for anyone with a modicum of taste.” Let’s not forget the further cheapening of the word after it was co-opted by a certain bargain-priced chain of department stores. Let’s just do away with the term all together since it’s lost all reverence and use it ironically to describe…oh, I don’t know…Maxxinistas.

Geek-chic -” In 2010, anyone who sported thick-framed glasses, cardigans and T-shirts with nerdy references was instantly labeled ‘geek-chic.’” I love geeks as much as the next gal, but their purported style is basically that of an old man. So let’s call a spade a spade and rename this trend Geriatric-chic, Geriatrique for short.

D.I.Y. fashion – “It’s not always necessary to knit your own mittens.” Unless you actually have a talent for sewing or construction, you’re not fooling anyone and this is just plain old Laziness.

Well-edited - “This replaced ‘curated’ to describe any collection chosen with a sharp eye.” Why not go a step further and use specific editors; whose sharp eye best described this collection? Well-Wintoured? Well-Coddingtoned? Well-Leon Tallied? Well-Sozzanied? Well-Roitfeld’d? Okay, maybe not the last one…

Mash-up: “Used to describe looks that blend multiple influences…” though not all looks blend their influences well. Those particular mash-ups are just a Hot Tranny Mess.

Hopefully these and other terms will catch on and peter out so quickly that words will no longer be used to describe fashion and we’ll reserve a series of grunts, facial expressions and elaborate movements to replace them.

Oh my god, your outfit is so *wild flailing arms followed by feigned dry heaving*!

Photo/Link Love: NY Times

At least here, in  Candy, the world’s first “transversal style magazine” where its editor/publisher Luis Venegas takes his tranny for a spin in the devil’s own Prada.

Vogue‘s editorial yin-yang Anna and Grace weren’t the only ones to get tranned out for the occasion. Kawakubo-worshipping teen blogger Tavi Gevinson, Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani and other front row staples also got the femme-men treatment for the spread “The Devil Wears Anna”.

If you’re a loyal reader of Candy, and caught one of the 1000 copies of the very first issue, then this news is old hat. That issue was released about a year ago, but these trantastic photos have only just been posted to the interwebs by photographer (and master photoshopper) Brett Lloyd.

LINK LOVE: Frockwriter

LINK LOVE: Just Jared

LINK LOVE: Humor Chic

Little Edie’s spirit was all up and in Mulberry’s Spring 2011 show. From the opening spoken intro recalling the classic documentary (“Mrs. Onassis said the matter was a private family affair.”)  to the luxe daywear, Mulberry presented a fun, cute and very wearable spring collection.

Set atop the roof of Soho House, a picturesque location if there ever was one, the models strolled out adorned with red wigs. It was like a dozen Karen Elsons stomping in front of my very eyes. Or Grace Coddingtons, whose unmistakable scarlet locks could be seen across the way.

As they paraded around the pool, which was littered with giant red flowers on Mulberry floaties, the looks held little in the way of surprises, however a mid-calf length dress with floral embellishments was a pleasant addition.

Creative director, Emma Hill cited “the contrast between maxi and mini proportions” to be the central theme for this collection, which could be seen in the fitted tops paired with loose, almost baggy shorts.

Though the Mulberry girl was supposed to be “all grown up” this season, she clearly has not lost her sense of adventure. The “Trippy Tiger, ” another influence, was printed on a couple of blouses that strolled out along the pool.

Nor has she lost her sense of fun.  Several of the models were accompanied by adorable pugs who were more than runway ready, practically stealing the show.  However, the collection as a whole was enough to hold anyone’s attention and will look amazing this coming spring.

LINK LOVE: Catwalk Queen

Fashion’s Night Out has given me one more reason to highly anticipate its imminent arrival. Or rather two, in the form of these Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington rag dolls, by Brooklyn-based artist Andrew Yang.

Barney’s commissioned the dolls, which were hand sewn and painted over the course of two weeks and they will be auctioned off starting Aug. 31 through charitybuzz.com. All proceeds benefit The New York City Aids Fund.

Bravo.

Meanwhile, where’s the Andre Leon Talley doll? Yang says that Anna’s and Grace’s looks were both his “own take on their signature look.” I guess it would’ve taken too long and too much material to throw together a Chado Ralph Rucci mini-great coat and cerulean Gucci loafers.

But I still would have appreciated an attempt.

LINK LOVE: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/all-dolled-up/

PHOTOGRAPHY:  DAVID SIMS

CREATIVE DIRECTION:  GRACE CODDINGTON

MODEL: DARIA WERBOWY

SPOTTED THE FASHION SPOT

Rodarte’s layered flowey pieces left me almost speechless, especially since the finale literally glowed in the dark under black light. Romantic, feminine, and almost bridal worthy, the clothes seem to take on a life of their own as they drift down a runway lit by candlelight and sprinkled in white confetti.

Front row included Tavi, Bryan Boy, Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Natalie Portman, Kristen Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Scott Schuman and Garance Dore.

Find more photos like this on ENVY. THE FASHION NETWORK

The September Issue DVD, which is available on pre-order now through Amazon or iTunes, has 90 more min of Grace, Anna, and Andre, which is kinda like seeing part 2.

LINK LOVE: NY Mag

Find more photos like this on ENVY

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

Christopher Bailey was named Designer of the Year and Burberry won Designer Brand of the Year. Georgia May Jagger was named Model of the Year. Karen Elson presented the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator to Grace Coddington.

LINK LOVE: Fashionista.com

Perez had a lot of typos in this entry, but we’re all guilty of that from time to time. Regardless, Grace had a lot to say on overly thin models, and the recent Ralph Lauren photoshop incident. Do you agree with her?:

“It’s a big problem. I remember when I was young [and still modeling], they told me that if I didn’t lose weight, I’d be out of the show, so I spent a week living off of coffee. But I’m a very levelheaded person. These problems nowadays are with kids much, much younger than that, and that’s most of the problem – when they’re very young and vulnerable….

But it’s a big problem in the fashion industry. And you go to meetings to discuss it, and you think it’s kind of futile, because it’s such a big thing, and in the end, people are always asking for more and they’re always asking for thinner…. [Models] have to be a little thinner than you and I because you always photograph a little fatter, but you don’t have to go to the extremes they go to. And because they’re kids, they take it too far and they can’t regulate their lives, and next thing you know, they’re anorexic, and it is tragic.

And I don’t know what the answer is, except to keep on it, which we’re all trying to do. Anna‘s trying to do it. Personally, we’re not allowed, at Vogue, to work with girls who are very thin, but you never know, because you could book them and think they’re a certain size, and they turn up on the shoot and suddenly they’ve spun into this anorexic situation. And you’re on the spot and you have to get the job done and you have one day to do it, and what do you do? But you try to be responsible, as Anna is.”

I have mixed feelings about Anna Wintour. I think we all do. I love her because she’s corporate and decisive; after-all, she has kept Vogue afloat since 1988. I hate her because her conservatism really hinders the potential of Vogue and the potential of fashion in general. But there is so much more to Vogue than Anna Wintour, is there not? I thought the purpose of a documentary was to document reality. If you call R.J Cutler’s shoddy filming and manipulative editing ‘reality,’ we’ve got some serious issues on our hands. If you pick all the clips where Anna seems cold, distant and heartless and splice them into a montage, yes, everyone is going to think she is a bitch. Again, should you pull all of Grace Coddington’s moments of undermined superiority, you automatically assume she does all the work and Anna alters and takes credit. But in reality, Anna probably agrees with Grace more often than not and Grace is probably a demanding sod. Manipulation? I think so.

Speaking of reality, is launching a September issue really that lax? Where’s the hustle? Where’s the stress? Where’s the writers slaving over deadlines? WHERE ARE THE WRITERS!? Oh, and please tell me the Vogue offices aren’t that drama free and boring. I realize that David Frankel’s The Devil Wears Prada was only inspired by Vogue/Anna Wintour and is a silver-screen dramatization, but it’s sad when a movie seems more realistic than a documentary. Really, Mr. Cutler, you made Vogue seem like another, no big deal, walk in the park. I highly doubt that is so.

All in all, had I not been slightly tipsy and in good company at The September Issue, it would be safe to say that last night was a complete and total failure. But hey, at least I learned a few important things: Reality does not exist (oh, how profound of me), Grace Coddington needs a serious makeover, jenky Long Island girls are worthy of manning the Vogue reception desk and mom is always right. Let’s just hope Fashion Week let’s me down easy if letting down is in the cards.

P.S. Daniel and I both agree, Coco Before Chanel looks like shit. Our opinion radiated throughout the Lincoln Center AMC too.