The New Trend: Full-Body Yak Hair?
In the northern hemisphere, far from the Australian heat, winter is coming and trends for warm clothes dominate the pages.
Australian commentators tend to watch these trends closely, as they’ll filter to Australia when we experience our own cooler weather in June.
However, there’s one trend which has encountered a high-profile controversy in Britain.
That must-have? A full-body yak suit.
To be fair, the shot – from December Vogue UK – is the brainchild of Tim Walker, the famously whimsical fashion photographer. However, the pieces weren’t custom-made – they already existed on the market.
Among them? A $5280 yak-hair coat, complete with headdress.
The Guardian mocked Vogue’s decision to take luxury to the Nepalese frontiers, but Vogue insists that it is escapism and high fashion rather than an actual trend prediction meant for common-or-garden buyers.
However, apparently it’s increased interest in yak-hair coats tenfold.
Would you wear yak-hair, or imitation yak-hair for that matter?
Michelle Williams: ‘My Haircut Is For Heath Ledger’
Although she and Heath Ledger did not have an easy time at the hands of the Australian press, Michelle Williams has insisted on preserving an important part of her Australian beau’s taste in her fashion.
Williams has kept her short hair since Ledger died, and their daughter Matilda is now six.
When asked about the haircut, Williams said that it was ‘in memory of the only straight man who ever loved short hair’.
Williams’ pixie cut has spawned many imitations, with Carey Mulligan taking the chop after An Education and prompting comparisons.
She insists that ‘only gay men and women’ love her hair now, but that she’s resistant to changing it because it was Ledger’s preference when they were together.
Ledger was dating Australian model Gemma Ward at the time of his death. Ward then took several years off modelling to grieve.
Overall, his accidental impacts on global and Australian fashion after his passing have been surprising.
Would you keep a haircut if it reminded you of an important person in your life?
Image: Michelle Williams.
Queen Victoria’s Bloomers Reach Record Price
Ever wanted to get your hands on Queen Victoria’s unmentionables? You’ll need close to 10,000 pounds (nearly $20,000 Australian).
A pair of the late queen’s bloomers was sold at auction this week for £9375, to an enterprising collector.
The main focus of fashion auctions surrounding royals is generally Princess Diana (though property of Princess Grace of Monaco also goes for record prices), but Queen Victoria is also a very big draw.
She’s surged in popularity among collectors since 2010’s Young Victoria, which showcased a young, glamourous queen rather than the dowdy unamused image most schoolchildren know today.
The bloomers, however, are decidedly inelegant.
They are white and would reach at least the Queen’s knees, though it’s suspected the buyer will not be trying them on.
With the Duchess of Cambridge making one best-dressed list and not another this week, royal fashion is in the news – and this is definitely a change from embroidery and wedding dresses.
Image: Queen Victoria’s bloomers.
Roberto Cavalli: ‘I’ll Have Sex 15,000 Times Before I Die’
The eccentric designer Roberto Cavalli, known for his risque and over-the-top designs, gave an interview to Women’s Wear Daily this week which raised eyebrows all around.
Cavalli, who is 70, decided that he would live ‘another 50 years’.
He then felt that he needed to calculate how many more times he’d have sex before he died, and come up with the number 15,000.
Cavalli has just entered the Tokyo market, which leaves him significantly behind other high-end European retailers – but he is devil-may-care about the whole arena.
He’d also like to reassure his fans that he will be having sex solely with women.
He is, apparently, ‘the only straight man on planet fashion.’
Image: Roberto Cavalli
