It’s been a fashion-news packed week – from Vera Wang’s shocking new Olympic boyfriend to the CFDA Fashion Fund finalists. Read on to get up to speed on all the gossip!
Trust fashion to give the gossips a scandal with about eighteen twists and turns.
Vera Wang, whose first Sydney store opened this month, has just separated from her husband and business partner Arthur Becker. The two were married for 23 years and have now filed for divorce.
Now the New York Daily News is gleefully reporting that US figure skater Evan Lysacek, a famous rival of fashion favourite Johnny Weir and prone to wearing feathered costumes on the ice, has moved into Wang’s New York apartment.
Several news companies tried to discuss the ‘Vera Wang curse’ when the queen of wedding dresses ended her own marriage, but Wang has dressed so many brides the results were uninspiring. The big scandal is the figure-skater, who is 36 years younger than Wang.
However, nobody beyond the gossips is commenting. Lysacek is a client of Wang’s, and she has designed some of his most flamboyant competitive outfits.
The celebrity bridal business can be cutthroat. Once Wang was indisputably top dog, but increasingly celebrities have been turning to Monique Lhuillier for wedding gowns, or to custom-made couture. A handsome figure-skating scandal wouldn’t damage her image – people are more concerned about the fate of the Vera Wang brand, as both she and her estranged husband are equal partners.
Wang’s empire has been expanding beyond dresses – the brand now does dish collections with Wedgewood to be ordered on bridal registries.
Athletes on the arms of stateswomen of fashion is nothing new – after all, the happily married Anna Wintour gleefully escorts the winner of Wimbledon to Fashion Week every year, and has consequently formed a great friendship with Roger Federer.
Image: Vera Wang with Lysacek at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this year.
We love Alber Elbaz.
His ten years at Lanvin have basically given him carte blanche to concoct a year of magical happenings at the fashion house. From karaoke to a capsule line of dreams, we’re loving his style.
And his latest act is in the same vein – playful, charming and innovative.
Lanvin’s 2012-13 print ads will feature ‘real people’ – not professional models, but non-fashion citizens of the streets. Only a few ads have been released, but it looks as if Elbaz has picked a huge range of ages, races and weights to represent his clothing – which is extremely important at a time when luxury clothing is accused of getting narrower and more elitist in scope.
Seeing the same models season after season work clothes in print ads can become monotonous – it’s more interesting to see Lanvin’s clothes work on genuine bodies.
Our favourite of the ads? The one featuring the 80-year-old ex-Apollo dancer, fierce and elegant. We hope to look like that when we’re past our 70th birthday.
What do you think – democratic, or not exciting?
Image: Lanvin campaign featuring 80-year-old model.
Now this is our kind of personalised service.
Starting on July 30, Louis Vuitton – king of the It bags – is bringing in a choose-your-own-adventure bespoke handbag service. You can design your own version of one of their classics.
And it isn’t merely a choice of three colours. The specialists estimate there are up to 80,000 possible creations, combining the style, finish, clasps, patterns and many other details.
However, Vuitton is preserving its luxury clientele. You can’t order online or via a store – unless, of course, you’re a Vogue editor. The personalisation sessions are done in person, in London.
The Bond Street Maison, Louis Vuitton’s British home, will be hosting ‘consultants’ to help discerning customers choose from all their different options.
The luxury component also comes with a certain timescale. The handbags will be handmade at the couture house’s French factory, and take between six months and a year. That’s a wait and a half in fashion – enough for an entire year’s worth of seasons – so you’d better pick timelessly.
Choices of bag include the drawstring Noe, the Lockit, the Triangle (invented in 1934) and many others, with skins from neon to beige available to customising customers. And all, of course, will have their custom Louis Vuitton padlock – in case anybody points out it’s not something they’ve seen on the pages of Vogue.
We anticipate the more extreme fashionistas like Anna Della Russo insisting on printed, studded and crystallised versions. Personally we’d love to see one in a shocking floral – just to clash with the classic shapes.
How would you customise your fantasy Louis Vuitton bag?
Image: Louis Vuitton customising salon tools.
It’s that time of year again. The Council of Fashion Designers America and Vogue have released the finalists for the Fashion Fund Award.
If you’re not clued in, here’s the gossip: the CFDA/Vogue Awards are the stepping stones to a big fashion career for young or obscure designers looking for a foothold. Previous nominees include cult favourite Pamela Love (who was the favourite to win last year, but was beaten at the post) and household name Alexander Wang.
The highly sought-after prize is also incredibly lucrative. The winners get $300,000, the runners-up $100,000 each, and tend to be lavished with attention and praise by Conde Nast and the world’s fashion press. It’s a big deal.
So who are this year’s favourites?
Suno, the NYC-based label designed by Max Oserweis and Erin Beatty, has a lot of street cred – and a few celebrity fans – for its eclectic mix of materials. Its latest collection featured tweed accents and stripes in sleek streetwear – not an easy feat. We’re wondering, however, if they have the edge to win.
We’re loving Jennifer Fisher’s jewellery collection, which tends to be inspired by rituals and symbols from religions around the world. The Elder Statesman, named after a T.S.Eliot play, focusses on impeccably-made simplicity in wool and other thick fabrics – but the CFDA traditionally favours avant-garde design rather than good workmanship.
We’re also loving A.L.C – the Andrea Lieberman Collective – for its use of leather in bright colours and Scandinavian prints. It has mass-market appeal plus eccentric sleekness – a good mix for the judges.
The big name on the list, and the probable favourite, is Wes Gordon, who already has a cult following and has his shows on Style.com. His jewel-tone womenswear, with huge capes and proportions, is romantic and gorgeous – we loved his Fall 2012 lace-sleeved purple coat, great tailored suits and accents of fur.
Other names include Tabitha Simmons, Jennifer Meyer Maguire, Ilesteva and Giuletta. Who do you think should win?
Image: Wes Gordon Fall 2012.
