On Friday, the CFDA signed a 10-year lease on a new 9,310-square-ft office space at 65 Bleecker Street, where it plans to move this summer. Nanette Lepore, a staunch supporter of the Save the Garment Center movement, couldn’t help but express her concern: “We are extremely disappointed by the CFDA’s decision to leave the Garment Center. We only hope this does not signal the end of their previous support for New York City manufacturing and emerging American designers.”

Anthony Lilore, a founding member of Save the Garment Center, was a bit more equivocal: “Symbolically, I do think it is a black eye, but the New York Times is not located in Times Square, Sullivan Street Bakery is not on Sullivan Street and Madison Square Garden is not at Madison Square, so the CFDA should be where the designers are and that could just as easily be L.A. [Ed. note: No it couldn't.] but they are still in New York City. I wish them well in their new home.” Adding,  ”I think that, symbolically, it’s not right, but the industry has changed so much over the past 20 years and even five years that I don’t think it makes a whole lot of difference where they are.”

Citing a need for more space and a lack of prime real estate in the Garment District, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb insisted that his organization would nevertheless remain committed to its old home: “The CFDA is still there and to what extent the other stakeholders are disappointed about the move, our work is going to keep going. We are not abandoning anything. Our commitment stays strong.”

And to put all fears to rest, DVF — ever the angelic voice of reason — swooped in with her two cents: “We needed a very large space so we can have board meetings and clinics there. We found a great space with a great deal, and that’s that. We looked for a long time, and we didn’t find the right opportunity.” Not content to just talk the talk, von Furstenberg is also walking the catwalk by expanding her business in the Garment District with more factory space and sample room.

Because those wrap dresses ain’t gonna wrap themselves. [WWD, sub req'd]

Diving for McQueen on Nowness.com.

The two ladies wax rhapsodic over McQueen’s legacy, the intricacy of the garments’ construction and staying true to the McQueen woman in Diving for McQueen, Dustin Lynn‘s  short film for Nowness.com. Lynn’s exploration of the diaphanous dresses through extreme close-up evokes a couture Cousteau while offering a rare glimpse into one of fashion’s greatest wonderlands. [Nowness]

Mark Cramer and Coy Barton; “I’m in Steve Madden, he’s in Chinese Laundry,” said Mr. Barton of their shoes.

“I wish society was more acceptable of men wearing heels,” laments Jeff Paice, one of the queens interviewed by the Times, while in a black button down, black trousers and a pair of wedged sandals. Once upon a time, however, men could wear heels without stigma.

In 18th century France, Louis XIV often wore five-inch heels depicting miniature battle scenes. The Sun King decreed that only nobility were allowed to wear heels in red — how’s that for trademark infringement Christian Louboutin — and that no one could have heels higher than his own. Diva. Then in 1791, following the French Revolution, noted lilliputian Napoleon Bonaparte banned high heels to show equality.

Louis XIV in a sensible heel

For Paice, though, the options for a pump-lovin’ man leaves much to be desired. His cohorts, Coy Barton and Mark Cramer, allegedly 24 and 25, couldn’t agree more. ”I literally look at girls and think, you have so many options. You have jumpers, you have skirts, you have dresses, you have pants, you have shorts. Boys have pants and shorts. Or suits and a shirt,” Barton says, both he and Cramer dressed similarly in grey slacks, white dress shirt and tranny heel. But Barton, in his $115 Steve Maddens and Cramer in his $170 Chinese Laundry booties, don’t consider this a form of drag.

To them and to Sean Wagner, the heels are not about creating an illusion, they’re about having fun. “As far as we’re concerned, this is just bringing a look to a club — which is what you are supposed to do,” explains a bearded and bespectacled Wagner, in an eight-inch neon green pair of lace-up ankle boots — or as he refers to them, “my usual hiking shoes.” The 6’2″ Wagner is also a fan of the height the shoes give him. “I’ve bought Louis Vuitton. I’ve bought Gucci. But a lot of designers don’t go high enough for me. I found a company in Arizona that will do 15-inch heels for $3,000.” Let’s see 6’2″ plus 15″ equals…a towering tranny inferno.

Also taking the designer high-heeled road is Gregory Alexander, whose six-inch Balenciaga wooden wedges retail for $2000. That, however, is not the only price he’s paid for his shoe fetish. Last summer, while trying to jump a fence to get into a party, Alexander broke his ankle and was in a cast for four months. ”They told me I should never wear heels again, obviously,” he recounts.

But a broken ankle never keeps a lady down and by the time the NYT caught up with him, Alexander was in his Yves Saint Laurent Imperiale platform stiletto ankle boot — these L.A. gals do love an ankle boot —  skinny black jeans, a shirt and skinny tie and, of course, a motorcycle jacket, Because you gotta keep it butch. [NYT, Random History]

Having mastered the art of social media — they’re #1 on Facebook with nearly 9 million “Likes” and #2 on Twitter — Burberry continues to find innovative ways to engage consumers such as a live-streaming Tweetwalk, where looks from London Fashion Week were Tweeted before they hit the runway. They also scored well in e-commerce and mobile commerce thanks to its global site relaunch, landing the over 150-year-old British label the top spot on the L2 index and the official label of “Genius.”

Kate Spade was a newcomer to the index but their blend of smart e-commerce and a strong mobile and social presence skyrocketed the brand to the #2 spot. Storied houses Chanel and Christian Dior, on the other hand, seem to be resting on their luxury laurels earning only “Average” L2 IQs.

Prada and Hermès started running with the bad girls in school, smoking in the bathroom and dating college boys instead of working on their social media and as a result their IQs plummeted from “Gifted” in 2009 to “Challenged” in 2011. And to make matters worse, Prada was cited as the “biggest digital disappointment in luxury.” Yikes, wait til your father hears about this….

But in their defense, Europe might just have a harder learning curve. Ten of the top fifteen brands in the L2 index were American and on average American brands have a higher digital IQ than their Euro counterparts. Finally, somewhere the U.S. excels in something besides obesity and sluttiness.

The top 10 list is as follows:

1. Burberry: Digital births an icon: Proof that digital investments translate to shareholder value.

2. Kate Spade: Top social media score; Index newcomer did not get memo that heritage is necessary to be iconic digitally.

3. Coach: New York native continues to woo the blogosphere and registers top scores for site experience.

3. Gucci: Gucci Connects dots and delivers with shoppable video and recent Tumblr launch

5. Dolce & Gabbana: Global site relaunch threads needle of edgy and effective.

5. Tory Burch: Facebook store leads fashion F-commerce (r)evolution.

7. Ralph Lauren: New York Times iPad app takeover transforms brand into rich media publisher.

8. Hugo Boss: Top mobile scores and interactive YouTube channel venture differentiate the brand online.

9. Louis Vuitton: Embracing the spirit of travel with Amble app; Leads on Foursquare.

10. Michael Kors: Destination: Kors. Evolving brand into an online lifestyle.

[Luxury Lab, Telegraph]

On Wall Street, people are upset that America’s a big money-grabbing capitalist and that the assholes on Wall Street are assholes, so they’re staging a good ole-fashioned “occupation”: the “Occupy Wall Street” protesters “occupy” Zuccotti Park, whic they have been “occupying” since Sept. 17th.

Flannel and Doc Martens, unsurprisingly, are very popular, as is a wanton disregard for good grooming. However, one protester interviewed deeply considered the various factors of her environment and situation before getting dressed:  “I’m wearing heels and they’re really comfortable. I kind of didn’t plan to be protesting. I mean what’s a protest outfit? Like in case you get maced or arrested? You have to think about the elements and the forces that come up against you. The pencil skirt is vintage I got at a thrift store. My gauzy shirt I just got the other day and I’ve worn it maybe four times already. The sunglasses are Michael Kors.”

Thank you! Someone knows how to dress for an act of nonviolent disapprobation; and when in doubt — designer.

Meanwhile, in Foley Square,the younger generation can take a cue from the older and wiser rabble-rousers that came before them. “My black velvet jacket is from J. Jill,” said 68-year-old retiree, Judith Carluccio. “My jeans, I’m not sure where they’re from. And I have on sneakers so I can run. In case the cops come, I’m ready to go.”

Mmm, saying fuck the police well into her golden years while adorned in velvet. It’s called “experience,” kids. Now occupy that one for a second. [NYT]

On Monday, Andy Capper, editor of Vice UK, will debut the mag’s new feature, “Fashion Week Internationale” at Vice‘s office in Williamsburg — the birthplace and subsequent burial ground of post-ironic irony. The series will cover oft-neglected fashion weeks in politically and economically unstable countries such as Columbia, Islamabad and Russia. They’ve also got a new book out, Fashion Cats, featuring two cats in the latest Japanese fashion — which basically has New York Times bestseller written all over it. Anticipating the feline fashion frenzy, Urban Outfitters put in an order for 10,000 copies, but it’s available wherever books are sold…i.e. not Borders. #sad

As for Elektra’s future as a fashion critic…well, let’s just say Cathy Horyn she is not. Her observations went along the lines of ”I’m intensely tripping my shit” and ”I was too overwhelmed by the music and the people. I didn’t even really look at the clothes.” Then there was a run-in with Naomi Campbell that left the poor girl “in a very bad place” — “I got really bad vibes off of her. I don’t feel very well now. I thought she was going to hit me.”

And now Elektra knows what it’s like working for Naomi Campbell. This was a valuable learning experience after all![WWD]

From Le Figaro via The Cut:

From the first model on the runway, we are struck by what resembles an out-of-style Gucci collection from ten years ago. The fussy complications of the cuts (drawstrings, shirring, high-waisted skirts, leg-of-lamb sleeves), the disheveled hairstyle of a girl barely back from happy hour, and the overdone makeup… Overload is the key word of the show… The laced shoe? An ersatz model of an Alaïa. The jogging shorts in black leather? Already seen last year in Céline‘s cruise collection, as were the sandals with bracelet straps (here, encrusted with rhinestones). The coat bristling with raffia? A pale version of those in Yves Saint Laurent‘s spring 1967 collection.

And then shit gets personal:

At the end of this inventory suited to Kim Kardashian, Tom Ford appears. He advances. And he remains there, in the central area, asking people to stand up. Perhaps [people would do so] out of distress, or sympathy, or because all of this is supposed to be festive after all. But everybody just looks at their feet. The music does not stop. Ford tries to speak above the noise, louder. We can’t hear a thing. We just see this baby-faced man trying desperately to clear the air. He throw[s] himself upon his companion, Richard Buckley, and hugs him (Ralph Lauren often hugs his companion Ricky at the end of his shows, but then he returns backstage). But here everyone stays put. So Tom Ford retreats toward Anna Wintour and now it’s she whom he decides to embrace. Troubling.

A.) That comparison to Kim Kardashian is verging on out-of-line. B.) I’m pretty sure Mouzat called Ford fat with that “baby-faced” comment. And  C.) I think the most “troubling” part is that he reportedly had the cajones to publicly embrace Anna Wintour. People have died for less.

This isn’t the first time Ford has weathered bad press as noted sassbag Cathy Horyn referred to Ford’s spring 2001 Gucci show as “not just truly ugly, but also…completely at odds with his reputation as a designer who loves women.” And then there was that reporter at the Guardian, Jess Cartner-Morley, who also had some choice words for Ford’s latest collection.

So, is it a case of sour grapes, or has Tom Ford simply made an unfashionable misstep? Well, you’ll have to wait to form your own opinions when the photos come out, but everyone’s allowed a mistake every now and then. Hell, we keep Jean Paul Gaultier around and when’s the last time he did anything passably good? Oh, right. [The Cut]

Photo: Richard Guaty

A heaping helping of shade was thrown all over the interwebs from disgruntled customers wanting to get their clutches on the one-off collection with many blaming Target’slack of preparation for the feverish rush. The line was made available at 6 a.m. on Tuesday and by 7:47 am the homepage was down. Thirteen minutes later, Target put up a courtesy page claiming the problem was being worked on.

Though Target switched from Amazon.com‘s backend to their own platform, the #fail was mostly attributed to the Missoni fever built up over the last few months. Vogue featured  the line in its August issue — with New York Times writer Stephanie Clifford astutely pointing out that that was “perhaps the first and last time that a $30 rug made it into that magazine” — and items at the Missoni for Target pop-up shop sold out in six hours during Fashion’s Night Out. Even alleged celebrities like the Jessicas Simpson and Alba were coveting the pieces.

While the collection will last through October 22nd, over 6,000 items popped up on eBay just some 11 hours after they had initially gone on sale. While all this hubbub and hullabaloo is great for Missoni, Target’s kind of getting its ass handed to them, with words like “amateurish” and “embarrassing” being bandied about. Of course, Target will recover and hopefully learn its lesson and hopefully the masses’ unprecedented demand for discount Missoni will inevitably be satiated. [NYT]

Diane von Furstenberg: ”That’s her opinion. She is entitled. She has a voice, she uses her voice. I have a voice. All I will say is that I work very hard, and I do the best I can. I hope she comes to the show and I hope she likes the show.”

Michael Kors: ”People can make their decision as to what turns them on and what thrills them, and what doesn’t. It’s like shopping.”

Oscar de la Renta: ”It bothers me because I love my industry, and I love fashion. I think fashion is something of beauty and it really makes me mad when someone writes about fashion in a bitter way.”

Vera Wang: ”We actually employ a lot of people, and we try to support our industry, and we do pay for things. We’re doing our best to be honorable and support our industry. If those things don’t stand for something, I don’t really know what does.” [WWD]

In a week, I told myself, Lady Gaga’s vintage Versace studs…will be history. If that. “Never be afraid to dream,” she tweeted to her followers, but I had already unfollowed, like a skiff breaking from its moorings. Goodbye!

Now Gaga returns the favor in her latest column for V Magazine.

Let’s talk about…reading

“In the age of the Internet, when collections and performances are so accessible to the public and anyone can post a review on Facebook or Twitter, shouldn’t columnists and reviewers, such as Cathy Horyn, employ a more modern and forward approach to criticism, one that separates them from the average individual at home on their laptop?” Gaga muses.

The Lady then goes on to refer to Tavi Gevinson and her “prodigious and well-written blog”as the future of journalism, at which point I threw up in my mouth. But she makes an interesting point, particularly with Fashion Week literally around the corner and bloggers the world over preparing to descend on New York en masse.

Every one has an opinion and can freely express it, so — Gaga wonders — “Why have we decided that one person’s opinion matters more than anyone else’s?”

Well, simply because not every opinion matters. Do I care what some 15-year old blogger in granny socks has to say about anything? Of course not. Does Cathy Horyn care what I have to say about anything? Of course not. And does Gaga care that Cathy Horyn unfollowed her on Twitter? Maybe.

But opinions are subjective. I value Cathy Horyn’s opinions, not because she’s a curmudgeon and hates everything/everyone — though that certainly helps — but because she’s a great journalist who’s not afraid to say what she believes in. And to then back it up.

At the end of the day, some opinions are valued more than others simply because when there are too many opinions, the subject being opined upon gets diluted. Rather, it becomes more important who’s giving the opinion than what the opinion is being given about.

Anyhoo, you can read the latest “From the Desk of Lady Gaga” when its posted on vmagazine.com today or when the issue hits newsstands September 8th. [WWD]

- Naomi Campbell‘s BFF (thank you), Nelson Mandela is following in her graceful, catwalk strides by starting his own fashion line called 46664, his prison number from those 27 years he was incarcerated. [Styleite]

- The Wall Street Journal called in an expert to explain why Linda Evangelista‘s son needs $46,000 a month from his father, billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault-Hayek. Turns out young Augustin James is ballin’ out of control. [The Cut]

- A report that Jay-Z bought Billionaire Boys Club – Pharrell‘s clothing line — have been refuted by Jigga himself, who claims he’s only “partnering” with the Neptune. [GQ]

- 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]

“I thought [W] could be a very strong general-interest publication for our generation [ages 30 to 50], in the way that Vanity Fair is for a different generation.”

– Stefano Tonchi [Editor in Chief, W] on his vision for W, LA Times

Photo: NYT

Firstly, don’t come from Jersey. Guidos and guidettes are anathema to the hotspots lining the effortlessly cool Meatpacking District. Michael Stasky of the Gansevoort Hotel’s Provocateur nightclub says, “We do not do plaid, and we don’t do stripes,” but “a blazer, a solid button-down or a solid sweater” is the uniform of choice. On the other, softer hand, women who dare to wear anything less than a five-inch heel better keep (comfortably) walking. So the clientele mostly looks like expensive call girls and the men rich enough to buy them. Provocative indeed.

But strict dress codes aren’t solely for the impossibly chic.

The Continental, an East Village hub for sports-loving douchebags, has a “no baggy jeans or bling” policy. Owner Trigger (really?) Smith explained to The Times back in January that “[t]here isn’t a racist bone in my body,” but “it just so happens that more minorities” are prone to wear said baggy jeans and bling. See, that’s not being racist. That’s just being a dick. The Times, however, is quick to point out that “on a typical Saturday night, the Continental’s mixture of frat boys and barflies sports an unironic mélange of ripped blue jeans, grubby backpacks, baseball hats and sneakers.” A little bling would do that trash some good.

Brunch is a sacred weekend tradition that should be attended in ornate hats, statement broaches and sunglasses large enough to hide your hangover/disdain for everyone else.  Duh, right? However, Daniel Koch, the snarky brains behind Day and Night Brunch, believes people need to be told in no uncertain terms to step their fucking games up, even if that means buying $400 sunglasses: “You get guys in from L.A., they think a brunch is a brunch. We have to say, ‘Look, dude, this isn’t what you think it is.’ You can’t rock a T-shirt here unless you’re a rock star.”

And that’s the fundamental problem. A T-shirt at brunch isn’t acceptable no matter who you are. But that’s what matters at the end of the day and at the head of the line: not what you wear but who you are. I mean, I’m all for harshly judging people based on their wardrobe — it’s in my job description. But I couldn’t care less who you are, what you do, or who you know; tell me a story with your goddamn garment.  I care about the clothes, not the person in them.

For that reason I refuse to stand in lines or, god forbid, pay a cover. That and I’m a bitch. But, if I can’t get into some bar or club, I have no problem turning around on my Cuban heels, calling my huff and leaving in it. There are simply too many places in New York to deal with the politics involved at the door, especially when the most fun is usually had at some dive bar where there’s no dress code and no one coherent enough to care what you’re wearing to being with. [NYT]

Photo: NYT

“What might once have been dismissed as a take on mom’s household apron was literally elevated with a pair of wedges to achieve new fashion status,” writes Menkes of the royal formerly known as Kate Middleton‘s contribution to the world of style.

Menkes goes on to explore the “explosion of surface decoration” and how the Duchess, in her infinite wisdom/fierceness managed to “politely” and “familiarly” embrace prints on her “run-up to the royal wedding.” Then again on “her ‘howdy’ North American tour” when, “she wore a frill-collared shirt with graphic motifs under her cowboy hat” to the rodeo.

Bold prints are definitely in season, and have been for a while — Menkes cites the now infamous Prada Baroque print as well as historic scarf prints by Hermès and Versace — but does Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in all her bone-thin perfection inspire your choice in “surface decoration”? [NYT]

Check out page two for the perfect outfit to splurge on for a food frenzy weekend in Brooklyn.

- Hussein Chalayan was “devastated” when Tom Ford passed him over in 2001 for being “too avant-garde.” I guess birthing eggs weren’t what Gucci was looking for back then. [Vogue UK]

- Vogue‘s coveted September cover will go to Kate Moss and her wedding, shot by go-to Wintour lensman, Mario Testino. And Vanity Fair is going decidedly classy by shooting Lindsay Lohan while under house arrest for their September issue. [Page Six]

- Apparently, Princess Beatrice has been listening to the haters and has hired full-blown fashionista Emma Watson‘s stylist for $2400/day. Meanwhile, throw that glorified basketball hoop of a Philip Treacy hat back on and stop boring me. [Styleite]

- Ice queen Johnny Weir will be the face of MAC Cosmetics‘ holiday collection, “Glitter and Ice.” [Page Six]

- And if that isn’t gay enough for you, check out the windows of Michael Kors Bleecker Street  location in celebration of the recently passed same-sex marriage bill. Those brides are actually drag queens, FYI. [Racked]

Photo: NYT

Horyn, in her usual straight-shooter fashion, posits that Galliano’s very public unraveling could have been avoided had Bernard Arnault and Dior chief exectuive Sidney Toledano “sufficiently addressed” his problems:

“Nothing about this affair has ever felt right — not his abusive comments, not his self-destructive behavior, not the way he was dismissed….His personality and showmanship were definitely part of Dior’s success, and maybe there was a fear of meddling with it.”

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an executive at LVMH told Horyn there had been “casual discussions” about Galliano returning to his eponymous label. Both this and another executive seemed to think that the media and public would accept the return and resurgence of John Galliano.

Horyn thinks, and I certainly agree, that John Galliano deserves a second chance, but what do you think, dear readers? Is it too late to save his once-brilliant career or does time — and rehab — heal all wounds? [NYT]

When the ten day long auction launches, bidders can win one of eight amazing prize packages that range from a head to toe Dolce & Gabbana style consultation and outfit to a dinner for two and roundtrip airfare to Italy to a full Superbowl 2012 package.  Visit gq.com, justkeeplivin.org, or dolcegabbana.com/dg/perfumes for more information.

The fragrance itself, described as “the ultimate connoisseur’s scent”, was a concoction of pepper, grapefruit, lavender, vanilla, and patchouli (aka light, cool, and a little intimidating).  Former NY Times Scent Editor Chandler Burr walked us through each individual scent in a fun and compelling sniff class that broke it all down.

Who is this man exactly?  GQ Style Correspondent Brett Fahlgren told us that the character behind the scent was “a contemporary charmer, with a spirit of masculinity– a man who is courteous, refined, and cultivated” while the designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana remarked “he is worldly, successful, impeccable, but also boasts something else such as an innate elegance that distinguishes him from the rest”.

More exciting news at the event was the launch of Dolce & Gabbana’s new iPhone app, “Rules for the Modern Gentlman” which was written by Dylan Jones, editor of GQ UK.  The app was designed to cover tips on etiquette (like asking a girl on a date properly), style & grooming (like how to match your patterns), and quick solutions for gentlemanly predicaments (sort of like the how to eat a pork loin off a rib without disturbing the passed appetizers peace).  Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana told us, “The application is a perfect reflection of the scenarios that the Dolce&Gabbana man may find himself encountering; as a modern gentleman he can approach each situation with a sense of poise and confidence that distinguishes him from the rest.”

When looking for the campaign’s face, naturally, the brand turned to Hollywood ladies man: Matthew McConaughey.  The campaign video showed off McConaughey, the one gentleman himself, the morning after an epic celebration (very a la How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days). Still tuxedo clad, he strolls through the party ballroom doing exactly what we would all do after a grand night at a ball, staring into a beach sunset.  How dapper. We recommend the scent for the young and elegant set, the gentlemen of our generation.

Whoever said high school was the best time of your life clearly wasn’t gay. For some people, however, that was their peak so it’s understandable that they would want to revisit a simpler, sluttier time.

The New York Times, apparently short on stories about the Middle East collapsing in on itself , sent a reporter to Green Bay, Wisconsin where 100 people or so turned up for “prom the way you always wanted it.”

And it wouldn’t be prom without awful dresses, spiked punch and of course a king and queen. Despite my cynicism, it’s actually quite cute. Who doesn’t love a second chance to do it right, do it over or do it in the backseat of their Chevy Camaro? [NYT]

Speaking with the New York Times, Gan said of Gaga:

“She’s got a lot to say. She’s got her own very personal, very special viewpoint that comes from a well-informed place. She is almost Vreeland-esque in her analysis and critique of fashion.”

Diana Vreeland was Vogue‘s editor in chief from 1963-1971 and is more or less responsible for the caped magnificence that is André Leon Talley.

So what does Gaga have to say? Well, in 1,445 words — that apparently did not require a lot of editing — the Lady basically wants to let you know that she knows her shit:

“I myself can look at almost any hemline, silhouette, beadwork or heel architecture and tell you very precisely who designed it first, what French painter they stole it from, how many designers reinvented it after them and what cultural and musical movement parented the birth, death and resurrection of that particular trend.”

She’s like fashion’s Rain Man, which I guess would make Nicola Formichetti her Tom Cruise…? [NYT]

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.

Photo: Huff Po

- Carine Roitfeld is coming out with a 400-page book entitled Irreverent! (I love when an “!” is included in the name) that lists among its contributors, Olivier Zahm, Cathy Horyn and (brace yourself) Anna Wintour. [Styleite]

- Nylon asks if the onepiece, a “high fashion Snuggie” is a good idea or bad idea. I ask why I’m not wearing one right now. [Nylon]

- Givenchy Couture‘s new CEO, Susan Whiteley is Alexander McQueen‘s old CEO; and Givenchy Couture’s old CEO, Fabrizio Malverdi, is now running Dior Homme. And in this game of fashion musical chairs, Riccardo Tisci is still circling around Dior Couture‘s creative director’s seat. [Fashionista]

- The New York Times compares Lindsay Lohan‘s court-room walk of shame to a catwalk and the red carpet, both things that Lindsay hasn’t been invited near in years. [NYT]

- NBC is working on a new reality competition fashion show in the same vein as The Fashion Show and Project Runway, ingeniously titled, The Fashion Project. As usual, NBC on the forefront of innovation. [The Cut]

- Apparently Rihanna, whose Vogue cover has been compared to the little mermaid can’t hold a candle to Ariel. We could also compare their singing, but Ariel would win that, too —  fins down. [The Hollywood Gossip]

- On a sad note, noted rap singer Nate Dogg has died at 41. In honor of him, my favorite quote from his classic duet with Warren G, “Regulate”: “If you know like I know then you don’t want to step to this’ It’s the G-Funk era, funked out with a gangsta twist/ If you smoke like I smoke then you’re high like everyday/ And if your ass is a buster, 213 will regulate.” Good night, sweet prince. [All Music Blog]

Horyn already expressed her approval of the gown, stating that it “recalled some of the opulent state dinners of the Reagan era” and trumpeted the gown’s approapriate level of “pomp”.  She also understands the subsequent fallout that has occurred, led by Oscar “The Grouch” de la Renta, over choosing a foreign designer for such an important occasion:

“His [de la Renta's] business is based in the garment district, and by using local factories for most of his production, he contributes to its prosperity. This is an important issue to him.”

She is less sympathetic, however, to the CFDA, whom she sees as being more than just a bit hypocritical in their condemnation and are simply trying to “goad” Mrs. O into wearing American designers:

“The truth is many of its members, including its president, Diane Von Furstenberg, manufacture a significant portion of their clothes outside the United States, mainly in Asia.”

But given the heated rhetoric over one gown chosen for one event over one week ago, Horyn thinks — and rightfully so —  that attention is being taken away from Mobama’s substantial accomplishments.

“I want her to be known for something other than her fashion. I want her to be a great first lady who truly cares about the lives of Americans at the time when many need help. I want her to be far more than “prime placement” for a dress label — whatever the country of origin. She supports a number of causes, notably healthful eating habits, but these deeds are being overshadowed by what she wears.”

Horyn goes on to cite an article in The Economist that expressed the hope “to hear more about what Mrs Obama thinks and a lot less about what she wears.”

That article, published during the first months of Barack Obama‘s administration, cited Michelle Obama’s impressive background  — she graduated cum laude from Princeton and earned her law degree from Harvard before embarking on a successful career in the public and private sector — and credited her hands-on approach during the 2008 election, traveling around the country giving “intelligent, substantive and well-delivered” speeches in support of her husband.

Ever since that election the White House, according to the article, has tamed down this image, trying “its best to turn the first lady into a celebrity mother-cum-clothes-horse,” in reaction to Hillary Clinton‘s  forthrightness during the first years of the Clinton administration.

“Hillary Clinton’s determination to act as a virtual co-president back in 1993 helped to create a backlash against her husband’s administration. It also raised uncomfortable questions about power and accountability. Given America’s continued neuroses about race, an outspoken black first lady might prove to be even more divisive than an outspoken white one.”

Not only would an “outspoken black first lady be divisive,” it would be downright alienating.  It’s true that Mrs. O has taken a back seat to her husband — his position practically calls for it — but that has not reduced her own merits. It’s really America’s perception of the Obamas and who Americans want them to be and want them to represent that has dictated this fanatic fascination with her sense of style.

At the onset of the Obama administration, there was an excitement that everything would be different, better. A sort of optimism that was frequently compared to John F. Kennedy‘s election some 50 years prior. And  with this new, black Camelot came — as The Economist put it — the “Jackiefication” of Michelle Obama.

Couple that with the fact that the Obamas were younger, more attractive and more accessible than any first family since the Kennedys and the American public couldn’t help but slip Michelle into Jackie Kennedy‘s iconic pillbox hat. It was all part of the optimism, but with this comparison we lost or forgot or chose to forget the Michelle Obama of the campaign trail; the passionate, articulate Ivy-league educated attorney who stood beside her husband rather than behind him.

It’s easy to forget that despite her flirtations with couture and high society, Jackie Kennedy was also a well-educated woman with her own opinions who later in life had a successful career as a book editor.  Hillary Clinton simply reinvented what a First Lady could do and hers is a large pantsuit to fill.

Horyn believes that the only person who can change the perception of Michelle Obama is Michelle Obama. But it’s all part of a great balancing act. After all, Michelle Obama represents so many things to so many people.  As an African American, she is an inspiration for all minorities; as a successful woman, she is an inspiration for other women; as first Lady of the United States, she is the face of America and a champion for civil causes; but at the end of the day she is a woman and like most women her clothes are an extension of her.

It’s impossible to please everyone, particularly when everyone has an opinion about what you say, where you go and what you wear. No doubt it would behoove the press to focus on the causes Mo champions, but let’s be real, that shit doesn’t sell. And if there’s one thing Americans respond to it’s celebrity culture. There are no bigger celebrities in the world than the Obamas and like all celebrities, we as a culture love to build them up and tear them down, only to build them up back again.

This dress controversy will blow over, but how will history remember Michelle Obama? Will she be proactive like Hilary? A style icon like Jackie? A lush like Betty? Sure Mo has a hand in her legacy, but America will remember what it chooses to remember. Thats the way history works. It’s written selectively by the winners, so for all her degrees and her speeches and her social work, will she only be remembered for a few great dresses?

We’ll have to wait to see how the rest of her husband’s presidency goes before we can even begin to answer that.

Link Love: New York Times

Photo: Huffington Post

According to WWD:

“My understanding…is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?…I’m not talking about my clothes, my business. I’m old, and I don’t need it. But there are a lot of young people, very talented people here who do.”

Barring the fact that de la Renta has been outfitting First Ladies since before Betty Ford had her clinic, Mo has a well-documented reputation of wearing and supporting lesser known American designers.

Bitter, much?

Robin Givhan, however, felt — rather intensely — that the nationality of the designer had less to do with her choice than what the gown meant as a statement:

“The red petal print, silk organza gown wasn’t so much an act of diplomacy as a broad statement about the new realities of the fashion industry. In choosing a dress from Alexander McQueen, Mrs. Obama championed the cause of artisan design, the legacy of bespoke tailoring, and the staggering creativity that can be nurtured in the frock trade when it is at its best.”

Or she thought, “Hey, it’s China, they’re communists, right? Give me that McQueen number, hack off the sleeves and sweep my hair up in a regal crown, I’m reading to orphan children right now.”

I’m sure there was more than that to Mo’s decision, but the extent of Givhan’s analysis might be a little over the top. Still she makes an incredibly incisive and enlightening point:

“In wearing the gown to honor China, a country that many view with disdain for its abundance of cheap labor, counterfeit products, and poor labor practices, Mrs. Obama seemed to be recognizing the country’s inevitable place in the fashion cycle and giving it its due. Indeed, Chinese consumers represent a vast new marketplace for designer companies, and the production quality of its factories continues to improve. In short, Mrs. Obama’s choice was an optimistic celebration of all that fashion can be and it seemed to suggest that China was welcome to be a part of that vision.”

I’m going to say it once, if you like it you should throw a goddamn Pulitzer at it. Again.

Link Love: NY Mag

NYT: “Also, Cher is back. Did you see that raunchy Julien Macdonald dress and the red wig?”

See it? I lived in it.

Geriatric perfection.

A few hundred years Cher’s junior, Fanning was flawless nonetheless in head-to-toe, off-the-runway Rodarte for the New York premiere of Sofia Coppola‘s new film, Somewhere. Then for the Hollywood premiere she wore Valentino Haute Couture.

Meanwhile, she’s barely through puberty and is dressing better than half the starlets, twice her age.

And yes I am looking at you, Kate Hudson.

So are female stars dressing better and taking more chances? Well, yes and no. For every Elle Fanning in Rodarte or Carey Mulligan in Prada, there’s bound to be someone abusing McQueen or horribly out of place in Dior.

What we have are young women who grew up on fashion magazines and have a love, interest and knowledge of fashion and dressing up. Fashion is more democratic than ever, so it’s only natural for a twelve-year old to embrace a heady brand like Rodarte.

Especially when her older sister has been turning it out for ages. And with awards season upon us, Elle and the rest of young Hollywood will have plenty opportunities to wow, stun, confuse and confound us.

LINK LOVE: New York Times

Joan doesn’t believe in the JRE (“That is such nonsense.”), but she does believe in speaking her mind:

“No one says anything bad [about celebrities] — they’re not going to say, ‘Your ass is too big, and you shouldn’t be wearing that color, and you look like a fool.’ You can’t say that so what’s the point of doing the red carpet?”

Luckily we have her dishing out the sass on E!‘s Fashion Police weekly. And that sass comes from a loving place – where that place is I could not even begin to guess, but it’s full of love. As proof, Joan admits that she is worried about the direction certain starlets are taking in their wardrobe selection:

“…[T]hey’re all trying to copy Lady Gaga. You want to say to Katy Perry, ‘You’re beautiful! You’ve got the body, wear a pretty dress. You don’t have to strap electrical stuff on your dress.’”

If anyone should say something to Katy Perry, it’s Joan. I want her swooping down from the rafters, gathering that slutty pop tart in her talons, imprisoning her in Neiman Marcus and showing her what a lady looks like. For, despite her dirty mouth and caustic wit, Joan Rivers is a classy broad:

“I am very formal. I mean, I’ll sit down with finger bowls. I think you should sit down, and a meal should be an event — it should be pretty. Everything should be pretty. Life is very rough, and I think you should make everything around you as lovely as possible.”

This from the same woman who called Betty White a “schemey little bitch.”

LINK LOVE: NY Mag

Racked‘s “very well-placed” sources, claim:

[T]he magazine’s parent company was unhappy with all the bad press surrounding Roitfeld’s alleged pay-for-play scandals…demanding huge sums of money for extracurricular consulting gigs and the enormous, public embarrassment of being banned from Balenciaga last season for abusing her position at Vogue. In the latter case, Roitfeld allegedly borrowed Balenciaga preview pieces and sent them to her client, Max Mara, to copy…”

Then there’s that other scandal with ANDAM winner Hakaan:

“An angry anonymous letter, which was circulated among French media this week, asked “how a Turkish designer out of nowhere books Natalia Vodianova, Maria Carla Boscono, Lara Stone or Natasha Poly for his show—models asking €15.000 min per show, and who aren’t really famous for their charity!”

Roitfeld also made an unprecedented move by showing up to Hakaan’s first show with Kate Moss in tow. And then there’s that other scandal involving LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, who “allegedly threatened Conde Nast International Chairman Jonathan Newhouse with the removal of all LVMH ads from the next issue of” French Vogue after the last issue (edited by Tom Ford) apparently didn’t contain enough LVMH ad credits and exercised “poor taste” in this editorial.

As for rumors that Carine will be working with Ford on his new womenswear line, Ford recently told the New York Times Cathy Horyn:

“Carine and I have no plans to work together at the moment, and it is nothing that we have even discussed, but of course I think she is brilliant and we are close friends so who knows about the future.”

Well, I guess Heidi Klum‘s been right all along. In fashion one day you’re Anna Wintour and the next, you’re …Carine Roitfeld. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds, who will succeed Carine (Emmanuelle Alt is apparently not an option) and where Carine lands, besides inevitably on her stilettoed feet.

LINK LOVE: Racked

As I’m writing this I’m wearing a gold lamé bat-wing hoodie. And I haven’t been laid in over 4 months. The reasons for the latter are many-faceted, but the former certainly plays a role in my enforced abstinence.

Fashion has always been a mode of expression for me, as much as a necessity to weather the elements. Some times I feel like mimicking a silhouette from the runway, some times I feel like channeling a favored icon and some times I haven’t done laundry for a month and I just throw together whatever hasn’t been spilled on, rolled around in or mangled beyond comprehension.

That means I often end up looking like a half-blind transexual styled me in a seedy disco after one too many vodka tonics.

Shockingly, most guys don’t go for that. The average gay man (should such a creature exist) dresses to attract other gay men, usually in the style of that object of desire. Walk into any gay bar and you’ll see a proliferation of tight plaid shirts, tight jeans, tight T-shirts and sneakers; a sea of clones groping blindly in the dark for love and attention.

And if you happen to walk into a bar that my friends and I frequent, you’ll see capes, jodhpurs, holiday sweaters in June, turbans and more than one sensible wedge. For luckily, I have friends who share my belief in fashion for fashion’s sake and that dressing should be fun. They’re slightly luckier in love than I, but we know that if we discarded our drop-crotch pants for a pair of Levis and a billowy top for a shirt that actually fits, men might be more likely to talk to us.

But who wants to look like everyone else? And that’s the spirit of Medine’s blog. As she said in the Times:

“You can still tell when a girl is pretty. The men who really get repelled by what you’re wearing are a little shallow, and you probably don’t want to date them anyway.”

Personally, I’d take a fur shawl and a lace bodysuit over a so-so date with some guy I’ll never talk to or see again any day of the week. And if I ever do meet a guy who likes me despite, or because of, my tranny fare, well, then I’ll be wearing this on my wedding day:

Although it’s been a slow few months, I’m not fooling anyone by wearing white.

Here’s what to give the woman in our lives who would never dare to leave the house without her beloved accessory:

1.  GUESS Laurita Box Bag, $115.00- This bag has all the bases covered: sexy, trendy, adorable, and affordable.

2. Treesje Krome Bag, $98- A good bag lover wouldn’t be caught dead pulling her designer lip gloss out of anything less than the perfect cosmetics bag.

3. B. Makowsky ‘Whitney’ Leather Satchel, $258- This is an incredibly chic day bag. Any girl wearing this means business.

4. Rebecca Minkoff Shine Studded Rockette, $150- This is perfect for the bag lady who loves to party. It goes great with those red heels that you know she’s been waiting to debut.

5. Alexander Wang Diego Leather Bucket Bag, $825- Every bag lady needs a splurge bag and this Alexander Wang is it. It’s a must-have for urban girls on the go.

Watch the smooching here

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco legally changed his last name from Johnson in 2008 to reflect his jersey number, 85. And in another inventive stroke of genius, he opened an online store, childpleez.com, which sells T-shirts and women’s underwear featuring his various catchphrases, like “Catch Me If You Can,” “Kiss da Baby” and – get this – “Child Pleez.”

Terrell Owens has his own reality show on Vh1, in addition to his own cereal, his own children’s book and numerous guest appearances on television and in commercials. He’s already registered his catchphrase “I Love Me Some Me,” and is seeking trademarks for “Get Your Popcorn Ready” and a logo with his initials.

I, shockingly, know nothing about sports, but I do know a lot about celebrity. T.O. and Ochocinco are taking advantage of their fame by turning themselves into brands and sure their catchphrases sound idiotic and all kinds of gay, but hey, they’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.

While I’m crying into my empty sequined clutch purse.

LINK LOVE: NY Times

Please read this quote from the NY Times, and you too can feel glad:

Whether it knows it or not, Dash is a pop-up store, practically biodegradable. (Odds are the sisters didn’t sign a 20-year lease.) The design is deeply unambitious: some tables, some fisheye mirrors, some hanging racks, white walls. “This store needs to be our signature look,” Kim says in the preview for the TV show. If she meant “temporary,” they’ve succeeded.

Maybe a little push from America’s finest newspaper will send the sisters back to L.A.

LINK LOVE: New York Times

Bobby Downs Jr. is the new voice of the iconic nude nut . But with the new voice comes a new Mr. Peanut; a dapper gentleman in a waistcoat (still no pants, though – scandalous!) and a sidekick named Benson.

According to the New York Times, Benson is subservient to Mr. Peanut because he is “shorter than Mr. Peanut — one nut in his shell rather than two.”

Well, I’m glad to see that Mr. Peanut is finally out of the closet. But does this mean that Benson’s voice will be played by Jude Law?

In a revelatory, totally eye-opening profile from the New York Times, Olivier details a life of globetrottin’, schmoozin’ with downtown hipsters, why the hell Purple costs $35, and how he will sex you up. Because he loves women. With respect.

Basically, anyone who writes him off as a misogynist pig is just a sex-starved prude. Not to worry, Olivier has some advice to spice up your life!

Everyone is scared of having a free sexual life and what they do is go on the Internet and masturbate. This is the pure sexual misery today. They don’t even go to the movie theater like in the ’70s.

Masturbating in a movie theater. CAN YOU NOT? Have you learned nothing from Pee Wee Herman?

If you’re not familiar with Four Loko here’s a brief description: crack in a can. It generously contains 12% alcohol and 135 mg of caffeine in a vividly-colored 24-oz can. And it costs less than 3 bucks!

No surprise, then, that college students and teenagers are pounding those suckers back lke morning after pills. It’s the perfect way to start the night or to keep it going or to end it on a sad, vomit-inducing note. As a student at Boston University said, “You can get drunk for $5 all night.” This student then went on to say that “[she] definitely think[s] it brings out the aggression in people.” But in all fairness, so does regular alcohol and living in Boston.

And it’s also no surprise, then, that Ramapo College in Dirty Jerz has already banned the beverage, as well as all caffeinated alcholic drinks, from its campus after six students were taken to the hospital. One Ramapo student bragged…admitted “to drinking three cans of Four Loko and several shots of tequila in just over an hour.” He had a blood-alcohol level of .40. And that’s why the children, particularly that guy, are the future. Personally, I’d like to meet that Ramapo student, shake his hand, and then pound back some Tequila shots. If it leads to a little under the jock action, all the better.

So what’s really the harm in a ludicrously alcholic drank that’s basically a Red Bull and vodka on steroids?

According to doctors, Four Loko is dangerous “because the caffeine masks the effects of the alcohol, keeping consumers from realizing just how intoxicated they are.” One particular killjoy doc says that “your body’s natural defense is to get sleepy and not want to drink (I don’t know to whose body he is referring) but in this case you’re tricking the body with the caffeine.” Yeah, tricking it into being awesome.

The real problem here is not with the drink itself; it’s with kids not knowing how to get shitfaced properly. And for that I blame the parents. You don’t drink more than one Four Loko in a night. You start off with it, hit a few shots, move onto mixed drinks then take it into a smooth landing with some beer. Or if you need a pick me up around 1 a.m. and your coke dealer’s not picking up (yet again!), then you drink a Four Loko.

At the end of the day, Four Loko is just an amateur boozer’s drink. It tastes like juice so “people don’t appreciate how much alcohol they’re consuming.” And you should always appreciate your alcohol. Kids have to learn somehow to hold their liquor and they’re not going to learn by punishing those of us who have already learned. The hard way. The streets of New York have been splattered with all sorts of my bodily fluid  and I am a better person because for it.  Don’t take Four Loko away. Tell kids to grow a fucking pair. Education is the key.

The writer of the article, Guy Trebay, posits that the shift towards more traditional ideals of masculinity is related to the recession and the loss of security in one’s profession and thus in one’s masculinity. When times are good and the markets are strong, everyone wants to run around like an effete, man-kissing dandy, but tough times call for a tough man. A real man, if you will.

Trebay has a point. Prosperity often leads to a loosening of morals. Remember the 90s? While one need only read the news to notice a massive wave of conservative idealism washing over the country. But then again, different models sell different things. High fashion and androgyny are nearly synonymous, while commercial fashion often subscribes to a more traditionally male image.

Masculinity, just like femininity, is open to interpretation; now more than in any other time in modern history. Lest I remind you of Givenchy muse and transexual model, Lea T. The old rules simply don’t apply anymore.

NYT wrote The Art of the Pants Roll? which begs the question of why men would do such a thing. Uh, where the hell have they been? My pants haven’t covered my ankles since this winter. I feel such a great outlet should be able to keep up with the modern man better. I remember this past May when they published the article:  The Resurrection of the Bow Tie and I nearly died of bewilderment. I think that I am pretty fashion forward and I was wearing bowties long before the article came out and what shocked me even more was then it was near the end of that trend anyways.

There is no bashing intended. I just want them to step their game up. (I’m always looking for another writing gig)

Julianne Moore is featured in the new edition of T Magazine, read the interview here.

Natalie Portman wore a Rodarte for Target, the exact one I wanted which was sold out, dress on the red carpet the 9th Annual New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend event last week. I think she looks super cute!

LINK LOVE: Just Jared

Terrible or not (okay, terrible), everyone seems to hate Lindsay Lohan and Ungaro. Good thing it was just for publicity? Here’s what the big guns had to say about it:

1.) The Washington Post: “The collection was dominated by fuchsia. It included safety-orange ruched leggings, heart prints, genie pants and heart-shaped glittering pasties. It lacked finesse, sophistication, technical skill and any evidence of good taste. Everyone involved seemed in over their head — swept up in a giant publicity-spewing machine.”

2.) WSJ: “it was hard to imagine that Ms. Lohan and Archs could concoct a collection that is as cringe-worthy as this. Some models appeared on the runway with glittering heart-shaped pasties on their nipples, worn under blazers. Others wore the pasties on their foreheads. Highlights included hot pink streetwalker dresses, an unending hearts motif, and a skintight white mini dress so short that the model’s cheeks hung below the hemline.”

3.) Style.com: “This quickly devolved into a bad joke of a fashion show, one with questionable color combinations, “bad eighties” draped silk jackets and drop-crotch pants, old-fashioned and ill-judged fur stoles, and, yes, tasteless sequin pasties. To top it off, the fabrics and the construction lacked the finesse you expect from a famous Avenue Montaigne brand.”

4.) WWD: “As for the clothes, they looked cheesy and dated … Hot pink, orange and flashy, with an overworked heart motif relentless in its execution, the collection displayed none of the promised younger side Lohan was supposed to deliver. Nor in a million years would one guess that the lineup was designed by one young woman and “creative directed” by another. Glitter heart pasties all around, ladies?“

5.) The New York Times: “Ms. Lohan’s arrival at a 45-year-old Paris house known for $1,500 dresses and a tradition of couture craftsmanship is entirely different, something akin to a McDonald’s fry cook taking the reins of a three-star Michelin restaurant.”

LOL.

LINK LOVE: Racked

The New York Times’ Eric Wilson in his review of Emanuel Ungaro:“But Ms. Lohan’s arrival at a 45-year-old Paris house known for $1,500 dresses and a tradition of couture craftsmanship is entirely different, something akin to a McDonald’s fry cook taking the reins of a three-star Michelin restaurant.”

LINK LOVE

It took me a long time to find a size 2 among the racks. There are, however, abundant size 10’s, 12’s and 16’s. The dressing rooms are big, clean and well tended. I tried two fairly cute items: a modified domino-print swing dress with padded shoulders by American Living (a Ralph Lauren line created for Penney’s) and a long psychedelic muumuu of a style generally worn by Rachel Zoe. Each was around $80; each fit nicely and looked good. I didn’t buy either because I can do better for $80, but if I were a size 18, I’d have rejoiced.

Ouch. That’s harsh.

[I]t has the most obese mannequins I have ever seen. They probably need special insulin-based epoxy injections just to make their limbs stay on. It’s like a headless wax museum devoted entirely to the cast of “Roseanne.”

Wow, even worse.

A good 96 percent of the Penney’s inventory is made of polyester. The few clothing items that are made of cotton make a sincere point of being cotton and tell you earnestly about their 100-percent cottonness with faux-hand-scribbled labels so obviously on the Green bandwagon they practically spit pine cones.

Who do you think you are Cintra Wilson?  Do you guys think this was a fair review?

LINK LOVE: NY Mag

From these pictures alone, Eolo Perfido proves to have creepy, glamorous, and commercial photography in his repertoire.  He’s worked for Ad Agencies JWT, BBDO, and Saatchi & Saatchi, and has also been featured in Vogue Russia and the New York Times.  I was utterly impressed with Perfido until I saw the last photo…Indiana Jones plays soccer and drinks Pepsi? I don’t even know what’s going on there, but hey, I guess you have to make your money somehow so you can keep taking pictures of little red riding hoods in wolf masks.

SOURCE: Trendland

LINKAGE: glitter

Rosario Dawson models Max Mara, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and her own skin for  The Spring Fashion Issue of T, last Sunday’s New York Times Style Magazine.

Shot by Sølve Sundsbø, the shoot is simple and focuses on Dawson as a natural beauty.

GALLERY:

Ever since New York Times posted that spread all about the reinvention of plaid, I have been hooked on finding great ways to add plaid to my wardrobe that isn’t in the stereotypical shirt form. These cool ties from David Hart & Co. are an awesome way to do that. I through in a couple of his other ties that I thought were cool just for fun, but my real obsession here are the bow ties. I need a bow tie, and my hunger for plaid needs to be satiated, so this tie is like killing two birds with one stone. Potential customers, consider yourself warned, these ties aren’t cheap. The going rate for a long tie is $160-$150 and a bow tie will put a $115 dent in your pocket. They are totally worth it if you have the money though. If you’re looking to get a David Hart & Co. tie just head over to Bergdorf Goodman and get shopping.

Oh and this would be a great gift for dad during the holiday season!

For more on David Hart & Co. check out their website here.

A major component of the hipster look has always been plaid, but the pattern is shown in a whole new light in The New York Times. I love all the looks in the spread. I have always been a fan of plaid, it just isn’t the easiest in the world to style properly.

Thanks NY Times.