Among the lessons the rapper/designer/shaman learned was to distrust said pundits, which is why he cancelled a press preview moments before it was to begin. Eric Wilson of The New York Times was witness to the diva fit and describes it thusly:

“I don’t know about this,” [Kanye] said. “I got treated unfairly by the press last time. Why would I want to do this?”

Awkward. 

With respect, I responded, this was an opportunity to describe his point of view…Would he at least care to explain the ideas behind his collection?

He pondered for a moment.

“No,” he said. “If they don’t understand it, they don’t understand it.”

Then, in a kindly way, he kicked me out.

That is super awkward. But Wilson didn’t have any hard feelings and described the collection as “harder, faster, stronger, maybe just a little bit better.” And he noted that the show elicited a smile from Anna Wintour — sure it was from the go-karts during the finale, but with Anna Wintour you take what you get and slink off into the background.

Self-proclaimed Euortrash Luke Leitch of the Daily Telegraph used a few borderline offensive remarks about video hoes but ultimately likened the collection to Givenchy:

Like so much of West’s music, this collection sampled material originally created by others: most notably Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci. And that one sample worked so well that in many ways this collection was more successfully Givenchy than the next season Givenchy collection shown here just a few days ago.

But Tim Blanks from Style.com perhaps made the nicest/least harsh comments about West’s sophomore effort, proclaiming that Kanye had “won a much-improved badge.” While “praised” isn’t the right word, Blanks also “mentioned” the designer’s attempt at editing from his previous collection, calling it “a declaration that West is learning self-discipline in design.”

Oh, and from what I can tell, no one fell and was “cussed” at during the show…so, mazel! Check out some of the looks from Kanye’s fall 2012 collection below:

The story goes something like this:

According to McCartney, Tom Ford tried to persuade her — over her protests that she didn’t work with fur and leather — to take the creative-director job at Gucci while he designed Yves Saint Laurent, which Gucci Group had recently acquired. “He said: ‘Just come to my studio and look at everything. Maybe you’ll do it,’ ” she recalled, shaking her head. “As if all those exotic skins and corduroy hamster fur were going to turn me on and make me change my entire ethic.”

But when Horyn brings this up to Ford, he sings an all-together different tune:

“It was never a conversation about taking over at Gucci. I think she might have interpreted that at a certain point.” He said he was aware of previous statements she made in the press, but “I just never corrected her.”

And Stella, being full of British cheek and verve, responded like the friggin’ lady she is:

“Oh, he’s a lying, cheating . . . what?” McCartney exclaimed, when I repeated his comment. “That’s the weirdest thing. Why would he take me into an office and show me every dead animal? Oops!” She laughed and, frowning, said to me: “How are you going to handle that? ‘Stella says she got offered Gucci but she didn’t . . . LOSER!’ ” She continued to chuckle.

As we all know, Tom Ford can take himself too seriously at times, something Stella could rarely be accused of doing. But honestly, so much of Gucci’s aesthetic is wrapped up in luxe furs and opulence for opulence sakes, thanks to Ford, that Stella would’ve been an odd fit anyway.

Anyway, the moral of this story, kids, is that Cathy Horyn will blow up your spot so you better get your facts straight. #TheMoreYouKnow. [The Cut via NYT]

If the talks prove succesful, Nicki Minaj would — correct me if I’m wrong — be the first rapper on the cover of Vogue. Although god knows Gwyneth Paltrow‘s been known to drop a hot verse in her day.

What do you think, Indies? Are you excited for a Nicki Minaj Vogue cover or has Anna finally gone over the deep-end?

“Fashion terrorist” Boyet Hernandez is living the glamorous life as a young designer on the rise in Williamsburg. In his “size 30 skinny jeans” and his hair “classically fashioned after the major hip-hop artists of the 1980s,” Boy becomes enmeshed with the photographers, stylists, models et al that make up that “incestuous machine with one purpose: to create beauty.”

The glamorous life loses a bit of its luster after Boy is mistaken for a terrorist and is imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay. There, his efforts to stay au courant – including making some much-needed alterations to his standard-issue orange jumpsuit — make him an easy target of the guards as well as his fellow prisoners. While imprisoned, however, Boy writes his memoirs on the Philippines and the Williamsburg fashion scene.

“My initial idea was to write about an artist from a superficial world thrown into a political world,” Gilvarry told The New York Times. “That’s how I came up with Boy.” Only later did the author, who is half-Filipino himself, realize that his character bore a striking resemblance to blogger-cum-businesswoman, Bryanboy. Which is totally believable considering that Bryanboy would never be caught dead in a “size 30″ anything. [NYT]

Photo: Holy Moly

Nighttime shopping has grown in popularity, with order volumes peaking around 8 pm and the number of orders between 9 pm and midnight increasing from previous years. On eBay, the busiest time of day is between 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm, when the customer is allegedly in a “good mood” (read: has had a few).  Gilte Group has added more sales beginning at 9 pm in response to higher traffic while retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Loews and Saks inundate customers’ email inboxes with special offers and deals throughout the night and into the early morning.

It speaks to logic that people are less tight with the purse strings after they’ve tied one on; when that sequined jumpsuit you’ve been eyeing for the past month or so suddenly seems like a life or death purchase and you just say “to hell with it” and add it to your cart. The article is quick to point out that drunk shopping in stores is more rare than online, but speaking from personal experience, there’s nothing better than walking into an H&M with a cocktail in hand and daring the salesgirl to say something to you. And on the rare occasion they do, that’s when you throw both a violent tantrum and your drink in their insolent faces. [NYT]

Photo: Holy Moly

Ideal for year-round entertaining, this 24 piece set comes with 12 mini martini glasses and 12 tiny spoons. Perfect for amuse bouche, desserts and cocktails alike.

Pretty much the best. gift. ever. Bakers will squeal with delight upon opening this gem. Don't forget pasta and sausage-making attachments for the Italian in your life.

Named a "Notable Cookbook of 2011" by The New York Times, Reese's clever outlook explains what's worth it to make from scratch and what should be left to the experts. Perfect for anyone into the do-it-yourself food movement.

Waking up isn't difficult when you have a crystal-encrusted teacup waiting for you in the kitchen. Lovingly made for Gaga's Workshop, a special surprise diamond awaits you at the bottom of the mug.

If these three combos - Fleur De Sel & Peanut, Chai Tea & Cashew and Thai Curry and Peanut - don't make your mouth water, they'll at least have the salivation effect on your foodie friend.

Sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne decided to trade careers in fashion for something, err, a little sweeter. And we thank them, for their cupcakes are the very best. This holiday assortment should please all holiday guests.

Established in 1999, Blue Nile has become the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry. In fact, Blue Nile is bigger than the next three largest online jewelry retailers combined. The company’s simplified, easy to understand approach to buying engagement rings and diamonds in general has been recognized by publications such as The New York Times and Forbes. Create your own stunning pieces or choose from their amazing collection – there is something for everyone.

How can you win this stunning Sterling Silver Open Heart Cuff Bracelet? Tell us in the comments who you would gift this beautiful bracelet to this holiday season and why. Whether a sister, mom or BFF, we want to hear how you are getting in the spirit of giving. May the best commenter win!

To learn more about Blue Nile, visit the website at bluenile.com or get at me on Twitter @CrystlMeatballs. You must live in the United States to enter all contests on FashionIndie.com.

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

The Wall Street Journal will start to look more like its mainstream rival The New York Times on Dec. 4 when it puts out the first issue of WSJ., its weekend lifestyle magazine supplement, edited by Deborah Needleman.

WSJ. has covered the intersection of fashion and business since it launched two years ago. But the first issue of Needleman, the former chief editor of Domino who also heads up Off Duty, the Journal’s new weekend lifestyle section, broadens the fashion coverage to help deepen the magazine’s appeal with female readers and fashion advertisers.

“Part of what we’re doing is creating a woman-friendly place,” Needleman explained. “What I’m trying to do in every issue is a women’s fashion story and a men’s fashion story, and I want to try to do a couple’s fashion story. This reader is not buying fashion magazines. So I feel like there’s a real opportunity here.”

It could be a risky move, given the female Journal reader isn’t fashion-obsessed. And fashion advertisers already have a glut of glossies to run in. (credit: mediaweek.com)

Joe Zee and Rachel Zoe watch your backs, Cathy Horyn is the latest fashionista to join the twitterati. She’ll be tweeting her exploits as she hops from show to show. The New York Times made their announcement via Twitter with this tweet: “In news that should send shivers down the backs of designers: Cathy Horyn is finally going to start tweeting this season.” We can’t wait!!!

LINK LOVE: http://twitter.com/themoment/status/7761013975

Get ready for even less of T Magazine, that lovely little fashion rag that’s inserted into The Sunday New York Times.

They have reduced circulation to only 12 times a year. Not a horrible decline, but one that is surely going to continue dropping.

LINKAGE: Even Less Fashion for the Times

Cathy Horyn, fashion journalist and critic for The New York Times, hit the nail on the head when it comes to pinpointing reasons for Vogue’s failure: Editors don’t understand the digital age our world is now living in, the magazine itself hasn’t seen any sort of change in far too long, Vogue features the same old celebrities and the same old models and they fail to give mention to the socialites. 

I know times are hard, but Vogue has simply got to roll with them. Readers want to see fresh ideas and new faces. We want to live vicariously through socialites whose immaculate lives entertain us. We want to stay awake past page 5 for once. It might take a few attempts, but if Vogue is willing to change, I bet 99% of readers are willing to support them.