American Apparel In Plus-Size Competition Drama
The embattled label American Apparel has again captured headlines for the wrong reasons.
Earlier this year, it launched a campaign to find a new plus-size face via online entry and voting.
However, aspects of the campaign angered some of the public, and one woman, Nancy Upton, decided to take matters into her own hands, submitting photographs of herself eating in hilarious poses to satirise plus-size preconceptions.
Upton received the most votes, but American Apparel has refused to give her the plus-size crown.
In a statement, the company said that they wanted somebody who represented ‘the idea of beauty inside and out’. They also apologise for making Upton feel as if the campaign were something to protest against.
Commentators have remarked that perhaps the controversy is simply a publicity stunt, but Upton continues to be unhappy about being deprived of her rightful title.
Image: Nancy Upton.
Samantha Wills For Breast Cancer
Want to look good while doing good?
The McGrath Foundation, which was founded when Glenn McGrath’s wife died of breast cancer, has teamed up with designer Samantha Wills to release Pink, a line of jewellery to fund research.
The four pieces – a brooch, a pendant necklace, a bracelet and earrings – start from $74, and are made with semi-precious pink stones.
Wills is also going to design five outfits to be auctioned off for charity. And the best bit? She’s made sure they all match.
Sounds like a very health-conscious addition to your wardrobe, or a gift for somebody who’s been touched by the disease.
Purchase the jewellery until October 31st on www.samanthawills.com.
Image: Samantha Wills For Pink.
Ungaro’s Woes Continue
The House Of Emanuel Ungaro has lately become known more for its disasters than its fashion prowess.
First there was the Lindsay Lohan-designed collection, which featured heart-shaped glittering pasties and was universally panned. Ungaro sought to distance themselves from the starlet, and to recover its fashion cred.
Now, however, that has become slightly harder, with Giles Deacon, the British wunderkind who was brought in to save the company, leaving abruptly.
His departure is so sudden that he will not be credited for the company’s next fashion show, which is weeks away.
Deacon’s official line is that he is focussing on his own career, and that he is ‘proud’ of his work with Ungaro. Ungaro itself is also not commenting on any reasoning behind the split.
However, gossip is rife. Has Deacon been poached to work at Dior with Marc Jacobs (who is demanding a $10 million salary, which is slowing negotiations up slightly)? Has he received a better offer? What is it about Ungaro which means it simply cannot keep a head designer?
With six designers in six years, Ungaro is at a very familiar place yet again – finding a replacement.
Image: Deacon’s first collection for Ungaro.
The National Design Awards: Who Won?
The White House came under criticism for scheduling their National Design awards smack bang in the middle of New York Fashion Week.
However, the attendees made their peace with the decision.
One, Gilles Mendel, even postponed his fashion show for J. Mendel by a day to attend the ceremony – a decision which was justified, as it emerged that he had won against competition like Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung.
Michelle Obama, who presented the prizes, waxed lyrical about fashion to the press.
“While we ooh and ahh at their handiwork,” she said, “we may take for granted all the blood, sweat and tears that went into the process of creation. We will never see all those late nights spent tinkering and perfecting.”
Previous winners of the prize include Rodarte and Rick Owens.
Image: Gilles Mendel.
More Fashion News:
