- Who else but Ralph Lauren would design the US Olympic and Paralympic teams’ opening and closing ceremony looks? The US Olympic Committee revealed the quintessentially American designer’s vision for the latter yesterday and naturally the only thing missing is a gold medal or two. [WWD, sub req'd]

- Chloë Moretz sports a black bob and a fair amount of cheek in the latest issue of Vogue Russia. [Image Amplified]

- Since Nicki Minaj is hellbent on sucking these days, I’m openly pinning my raptress hopes on Azealia Banks who recently signed with Troy Carter, the manager behind her Monstrosity, Lady Gaga. The bad bitch’s album Broke with Expensive Taste drops in September. [THR]

- Max Azria is being sued for $220 million over some Playboy condoms that sadly never came to fruition in Walmart stores. As if that weren’t enough to warrant a comedic spit-take, the reason behind the condom collapse was allegedly the high level of lead in Walmart’s BCBG clothes. [TMZ]

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Azria states the quotes in the cited TMZ story have been “completely taken out of context, and the allegation regarding lead in BCBG clothing sold at Wal-Mart is completely inaccurate.”

- Hallelujer! The official trailer for Magic Mike — otherwise known as the reason I’ll be locked inside a movie theater for all of summer — has finally surfaced. Check out all the mantastic stripper action below.

McCartney’s honed her designs for each of the 26 sports, including training wear and presentation suits. She tackled all footwear and accessories as well, all speckled with the Union Jack’s blues, whites, and sparse reds.

What was her thought process behind the look? “The first place to start on a project like this is to look at the Union flag, It was important for me to stay true to that iconic design, but also to modernize it and present it in a contemporary way. Ultimately, we wanted the athletes to feel like a team and be proud with the identity we created.”

Thirty of those potential Olympians gathered this morning to model Stella’s new groove for the Games, including heptathlete Jessica Ennis, swimmer Ellie Simmonds and the triple-jumper Phillips Idowu,

Replicas of Stella McCartney’s Olympic designs will go on sale next month. Let the games begin.

[WWD]

Image: Vogue September 2011

It is both McCartneys’ first foray into ballet. Paul is donating his time and Stella is lending her services at a reduced rate; essentially they are doing it for the art of it. Though Paul is technically only the composer (whose role typically is over after the music is delivered), he has been there at every rehearsal, contributing to the set, choreography, et all. He wrote the storyline and is seeing the project, as he does, from start to finish with his hands deep in, committed to the project. It was, in fact, not his idea to bring his daughter on board, rather the producers of the show suggested it. Brilliant, thank you.

Paul McCartney with Choreographer Peter Martins

Image: New York Times

See Stella’s sketches and some sneak insight into the costumes ahead.

Paul McCartney with Choreographer Peter Martins

Imagine next year’s Olympic Brits as a fusion of the uniforms at the 2008 games (boring) and what Stella’s up to at Adidas now.

I think we can expect more body conscious streamlining of colors, mixed with some of the most technologically advanced materials on the planet. In 2008, the cuts were rather boxy and uninventive. Stella however, has a knack for accentuating the athletic body with a combination of textures seaming along the contours.

Now we’ll see if better uniforms will help their standing on the winner’s podium.

Link Love: WWD

You come from an eclectic, non-traditional family of artists. What type of art did you grow up around?
My grandfather revolutionized the interior design industry. He was one of the first people to bring colored wallpaper to California during the late 1960s and 70s. My cousin was in the music industry and has written songs for Whitney Houston. My grandmother was an illustrator, my mom’s first cousin’s husband is a well-known sculptor and she is an amazing painter who began her craft at 50 years old. Hillary Clinton asked her to paint a portrait of Chelsea when they were in the White House. My entire family gets together in Ojai, CA for Thanksgiving, and it’s like Woodstock revisited – with all these artists together, it’s the best energy and love you could ask for.

So you were very encouraged as a child to follow your dreams and do whatever your heart desired?
Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, so it makes sense that my brother, sister and I are independent. I wouldn’t say art was pushed on us, but we went towards it naturally. I spent most of my early days as a soccer player, competing on the early Olympic Development Team and in college as well. But somewhere in college, I decided I wanted to do something creative. I thought maybe I didn’t have the art gene, but suddenly, it’s all I wanted to do. I went back to school to study interior design at Parsons and took milliner classes at FIT. I secured an interior design job working with Bill Sofield, where I worked on everything from high-end residential to Tom Ford stores to the SoHo and Tribeca Grand hotels.

Interior design can be a very mathematical and structural craft. How did working in that industry influence your millinery?
I always say I make structurally interesting hats. Because I worked for an interior/architecture firm, I consider proportion, scale and how things move and look. I have the mind of an interior designer and the advantage of having worked with different materials. Unlike many designers perfecting their craft in the fashion industry, I came from people working with wood and ceramic. I am always asking how can I take these materials and techniques and construct them into something else, something new. That is my challenge, working with non-traditional materials.

Hats are almost becoming a lost dressing art. What made you want to go into the millinery business? Was it a lack of good product in the industry?
My aunt was a fashion designer in California and was always putting us kids in the fun hats she was making. Apparently, my great-grandmother was also a milliner in New York. My husband used to go to a milliner in the East Village, who we loved. I wanted to figure out how a milliner worked, so I asked if I could apprentice her, an unpaid position. Unfortunately, she rudely said no. It was very discouraging, but it motivated me to learn the trade and prove her wrong.

It came to the point where I was working long hours at the firm and was constantly stressed out. I asked myself “if I only had six months to live, would I be doing what I am doing now?” And I thought, “no, I would be working on my own. “ I looked down, saw all these hats I made and realized how much I loved making them. Selling hats to friends turned into selling them online. I just began selling at Charles Nolan, ABC Carpet & Home and will be in Treasure & Bond in the fall. But my big goal is Bendels.

Where does your inspiration come from on a daily basis? Do nature and people inspire you? What about the architecture of the city?
It’s so random. My husband and I travel a lot, and I spent a lot of time photographing anything I find interesting. I often find myself searching for things I photographed more than fives years ago and is relevant to my current project. I could be walking down the street, see something and think it would make a terrific structure or a cool color combination. People must think I’m a tourist because I walk the city with my head up. I see plants and flower arrangements and examine the proportion compared to the vase. I don’t make many large hats; I try to take the idea of a big hat and make it more me. I just styled women for the Frederick Olmsted Awards at Central Park and the Kentucky Derby with small fascinators and headpieces. I think small is the new big – fascinators are really in this season.

In the future, is there any other type of art you want to explore? What else could you design that the Satya woman would love?
I am a huge fan of dresses with pockets. Charles Nolan and I began our friendship over it – he always made them and I always love them. So I think next year, there might be a collection of vintage-inspired dresses and smoking jackets for women. I strangely like uniforms. Like the cartoon Daria, I work towards wearing the same thing every day. I want the same dress in a dozen colors and patterns to wear with black tights, black shoes and a jacket. I don’t like to think hard about what I’m going to wear. Comfortable, beautiful and chic is my motto. That is the Satya woman.

You can see more photos of Satya’s work and read her blog on her website.

In other Fashion-Johnny Weir related news, he will be the featured “centerpiece” in Elise Øverland’s show at NY Fashion Week. He’s also teaming up with furrier Adrienne Landau to mastermind a fur coat, the likes of which we’ve probably never seen. Johnny’s unabashed passion for fur makes perfect sense. He lives on the ice. And he was probably Russian in a past life. “I love things that come from dead things,” said he on an episode of his Sundance reality show Be Good Johnny Weir. But please no PETA hating for Johnny. Just love.

Link Love: The Cut

Figure skater Johnny Weir let Bluefly video cameras into his closet so that the nation might ogle his vast clothing collection, which contains much more than controversial fur-accented unitards. Weir has a two-bedroom apartment in New Jersey, one bedroom of which he uses just for clothes — in addition to his two walk-in closets. “I live in New Jersey, and that affords me a lot more closet space than the average New Yorker gets,” Weir explained. “And believe me, I need it!” We spoke to him more about his Chanel jacket obsession, fur pillows, Louboutins as art pieces, and his upcoming clothing line.

What is your advice on closet cleaning?
I don’t get rid of anything — I’m such a pack rat. There could be something that I got ten years ago that I wouldn’t get rid of. I have a vintage Chanel jacket that I don’t actually fit into — a very classic Chanel tweed jacket. I just have it as a sort of art installment. And someday I’m going to have a kid, so whether it’s a boy or girl they’re going to inherit a really great wardrobe.

Do you wear women’s clothing?
I’m lucky because I’m really small so I can wear men's clothes and women’s clothes.

Do you wear women’s shoes, too?
Usually I try not to buy women’s shoes — I have no heels in my collection. I want to buy a pair of Louboutin patent-leather heels just to fit in the apartment as an art installation. I have a pair of Chanel women's boat shoes and a pair of women’s sneakers from Gucci. And I have a small foot.

How do you feel about man heels?
I don’t like the idea of that look — I think it’s not quite right. But there are those situations where you’re performing or doing a shoot where, you know, there’s nothing wrong with a little heel. I think more men should walk in heels and run in heels and see what women have to deal with every day.

How often do you shop?
It depends on the paychecks. It depends if I’m having a good month or a bad month, but if it’s a good month I’ll go and treat myself once or twice a week. I recently got a deal to write a book and I had to treat myself and I went and bought myself a Chanel jacket — a new one, a modern one from one of the recent collections.

What are your tips for closet organization?
I know exactly everything that I have. Whether it’s a tank top or fur coat, I’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where it goes in the house. I have special bins for things I don’t actually wear because I don’t actually need them. And I keep everything color coded, so I have a very strict system of closeting.

You encountered a spot of trouble earlier this year for wearing a bit of fur on one of your skating outfits. Do you own a lot of fur?
I do have a lot of fur. I’m a big fan of fur. I’m not a fan of nutria or fake fur and I’ve taken a lot of flack for that, but it’s just a choice that I make. I travel a lot to Russia and it’s usually in winter when I’m in Russia, so you can’t walk around in a plastic coat and plastic boots when it's minus 40 degrees. I’m from the country, I’ve gone hunting, so I know what happens. I know everything there is to know about the fur industry and I choose to wear fur.

How do you store your furs?
I have one closet that’s special and air conditioned just for fur, but it’s all fur coats and scarves and blankets and pillows and things like that.

You have real fur pillows?
I like to have a furry bed. I like to get cozy even in the summertime. The air conditioning gets cold and I like to snuggle.

How’s the clothing line coming along?
We’re meeting with several different producers and people that are willing to help and want to help and are very passionate about me sort of putting my name on some fashions. I’ve been so busy, and it seems like it’s been a long time since the Olympics, but it really hasn’t and I haven’t stopped doing appearances and performing. And I'm writing my single and trying to write my book. And I found a little bit of cellulite yesterday so I’ve been in the gym every day.

What kind of price point are you aiming for?
I want Chanel quality, of course — a different price point, but of course Chanel quality. If I’m going to put my name on it, it’s gotta be good enough for Uncle Karl. Price point? I’m thinking along the lines of All Saints or Topshop — I wouldn’t go crazy and put my name on a heel for $700. I’m not a tried-and-true designer just yet. Maybe when I’m 50 or 70 I can put my name on a shoe for $700.

Johnny Weir: Closet Confessions Bluefly

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: weir in for a treat, johnny weir, video

LINK LOVE:Q&A: Johnny Weir on His Fabulous Clothing Collection, Fur, and Upcoming Clothing Line

Armani Exchange might be putting me to sleep, but Emporio Armani is sure to perk up any lady or laddie out there with a perchance for Olympian worthy men in undies. In this too hot for prime-time ad campaign, la casa Armani doesn’t hold out as ripped archers and other sportsmen play.

Ralph Lauren designed America’s official opening ceremony attire and “village wear,” and Vera Wang is outfitting figure skater Evan Lysacek. And now Rodarte jumps onto the bandwagon. Click through for more images…

Check out an interview with Kate and Laura Mulleavy on T Mag.

Fashion people love riding boots. Every season they show up somewhere on the runways, and are considered a classic must have. As far as flat practical boots go, riding boots are as chic as it gets.

Men of prominence wore riding boots during the early 1700′s, folding over the top for greater leg mobility and creating the classic upper brown band. This turndown of leather allowed the boot to be tighter on the calf and eliminate any gap below your breeches. 

Original dress riding boots were worn by jumpers at shows and dressage riders and lack any lacing. These riding boots were closely associated with nobility, causing them to have a high heel (thats where the saying well-healed comes from). Most current riding boots have heels less then one inch.

As menswear as women’s wear gained momentum in the 1920′s riding boots became trendy and emerged in a more feminine style. As opposed to stark black leather, women wore flat riding boots in fabrics such as silk and suede in muted tan colors. These boots from the 1920′s, right, look extremely modern proving riding boots are a classic.

Riding boots have taken on a new type of functionality in recent years with their rubber counterparts. Like Hunter Wellies, but so much more chic and just as comfortable, these riding boot imitators will keep your feet warm and dry without sacrificing any style points. Even classic riding boot manufactures, like Burberry (right) are jumping on this rubber trend.

2008 saw the riding boot transform itself into a diverse range of styles. Hermes sent this white animal skin variation down their Spring runway and Gucci created these thigh high fringe masterpieces that were worn by Rihanna.

Nike has recently created a “space-age” riding boot that combines function and style. Called the Ippeas, Greek for rider, Nike’s boot uses leather and synthetic material with has a built in spur. This is a huge departure from the classic riding both aesthetic that has barely changed since the 1700′s. These innovated boots were used by horseback riders in the Beijing Olympics, but would look totally at home on the streets as an updated chic sporty version of the classic riding boot.

Well, slap me in the ass and call me Susie, cause I’ve been a bad boy for not paying attention to opening ceremony last night. Every nation presented their athletes in matching outfits and I think I can definitely crown a bronze, silver and gold medal for the looks that took the cake.  Far from what I expected, opening ceremony showcased some major style trends I’d be more than willing to imitate. Check out my picks for top prizes and some honorable mentions below.

GOLD – The Netherlands: I never jumped onto piping when I saw it a few years back in a collection of Carlos Campos, but now I’m sorry I didn’t. This look is very playful yet professional and really matches the spirit of their country. Definitely a look that would make the pages of The Satorialist.

SILVER – France: The men looked dapper and the women shined with a belted ensemble that helped me remember why I loved berets so much.  What’s best is that this is a look that would be thoroughly endorsed in Paris, I’m pretty sure I saw at least one Parisian rock this at a recent visit to the city of love.

BRONZE – America: Oh, Ralph Lauren. How badly you want to emulate what an American should look like. I wish this is how we dresses cause it’s so painfully prepster hip that I instantly want to take a drive to the Hamptons and party with someone named Blake or “Insert Name Here” The Third.

The American look with the prep school innocence makes long for the 30′s again. Great job on making us look good Ralphie.

Check out the Gallery for more looks we compete for.

Images provided by Yahoo!

Unvogue.com, a Fashion Indie fave, just posted images from their August men’s issue. The nonglossy shows the rest of us future Wintour’s how a photo shoots done with some amazing shots of newbie model Wendell Lissimore.

If you’re like some folks at Fashion Indie and want to get in with your Olympic Spirit, be sure to do it in the most fashionable way possible by heading to Opening Ceremony this weekend. Their hosting a 48 hour event in celebration of, you guessed it, Opening Ceremony of the China games.

They be serving foodsies, drinks and selling an exclusive pair of Gold and Silver Nikes (what no bronze?) that will most likely be sold out at 12:01 when the event starts. 

More picts from Unvogue below…

Tonight on Project Runway, 5-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will be the guest judge as the designers are presented with a challenge of Olympic proportions. And according to Heidi Klum (in the second video), Ohno is one of the most stylish gold medalists out there.

Gold medalist Amanda Beard, 26, will appear nude in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) latest campaign in protest of the fur industry.

“Seeing animals slaughtered to be worn as fashion is awful to me, so I’m definitely against wearing fur … I’d much rather go naked than ever put a dead animal on my body,” reads the ad, which will feature Amanda posing in front of the Water Cube swimming venue.

Sports fans will get an eyeful of Amanda naked ad for PETA when the campaign premieres at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics this Wednesday.

Amanda’s no stranger to stripping down, the swimming champ posed nude for Playboy in 2007.

What do you guys think of these ads?

Thanks PopCrunch!

This ad for the Olympics is running through the BBC. I suddenly want to watch the Olympics… and Dragonball Z. 

WWD has reported that fashion designers might sometimes be accused of being prima donnas, but Lane Crawford has found a dozen who are good sports indeed. The Hong Kong-based retailer invited 12 designers to each create a look reflecting their favorite Olympic sport, with no restrictions. Wonder what this will look like. We’ll keep you posted.