http://www.papermag.com/blogs/ en Copyright 2008 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:02:50 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss When style.com tapped Canadian former stylist Rad Hourani as one of their Top 10 New Faces for Spring 2008, they likened his angular, brooding Parisian debut to that of Ann Demeulemeester and Helmut Lang. Rad's eagerly anticipated second collection firmly defined his signature look as entirely his own: a dark, linear shape that oozes of urban androgyny. Within just two collections, his seasonless unisex wares have gained an executive cult following from the likes of Holt Renfrew and Barneys. However Rad's unwavering vision extends past merely designing clothes; the budding photographer's ethereal video productions in collaboration with the 20th anniversary of Mode Models garnered him both critical acclaim and a cult-following among the who's who of casting directors. A few weeks before his S/S '09 New York Fashion Week show, we chatted with the much buzzed-about young designer. How do you think that being a stylist prepared you to become such a stellar designer? Styling is a phenomenal means to learn how to use clothes; but more importantly if you have designing ambitions, it's a great way to analyze how things are constructed and marketed (especially for someone like me who never attended design or fashion school). I worked as a stylist for a longer period of time than a scholarship would have been, but I feel that I learned way more while benefitting from the bonus of getting to know a lot of great people who still support me today. If you could live in any era, which would you choose? Why? The end of the ‘60s/early ‘70s: thanks to Patti Smith songs, Robert Mapplethorpe photos, my favorite movie La Notte, and the freedom of a new way of thinking.]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/totally_rad_a_qa_with_designer.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/totally_rad_a_qa_with_designer.php Fashion Schmashion Julia Frakes Rad Hourani Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:02:50 -0500 Charlize Theron and (steamy) longtime love Stewart Townsend will be throwing a Fashion Week fête at Barneys New York on September 4th to toast André Benjamin's (of OutKast fame) new clothing line for men, Benjamin Bixby. Immediately following the event, Charlize and Stewart are expected to host a more intimate affair in André's honor exclusively for this threesome's meilleurs amis. What a trio! They hit it off when André 3000 appeared in Back in Seattle, the IFTA-nominated film written by Townsend and starring his belle Charlize. Here's to hoping that: 1) Jeremy Kost snaps party pics so About Last Night can make the inevitable "shake it like a polaroid picture" metaphors. 2) Simon Doonan brings along his Norwich terrier, Liberace. (Hardly a possibility, but I've been absolutely smitten since his Christmas Observer videos!) 3) I'm actually invited to shake it with said beloved pup.]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/fashweek_fete_at_barneys.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/fashweek_fete_at_barneys.php Fashion Schmashion André Benjamin Barneys New York Benjamin Bixby Charlize Theron Jeremy Kost Simon Doonan Stewart Townsend Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:29:00 -0500 My OC friends from RVCA have been in and out of town for the past few weeks, and I'm so excited that they are bringing their amazing energy and fun to our coast. Last week Pat Tenore came by for some take out dinner with his friend, artist David Cho. Pat is the visionary co founder of the RVCA brand. He is not only an artist himself, but an art fanatic and enthusiast and a huge supporter who puts his money where his mouth is, sponsoring artists, musicians, filmmakers in the same way other brands sponsor sports figures. He was in town to meet up with Opening Ceremony, as he's producing a line with model and smart left coast skater girl Erin Wasson, and will sell the stuff there -- which is RVCA's first break into "fashion." Tenore just came off of a huge show he curated consisting of Barry McGee colab Cinelli bikes which he sold in his San Francisco shop, along with one of a kind bikes designed by every artist, from KAWS to Phil Frost. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/high_meets_low.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/high_meets_low.php Fashion Schmashion Beautiful Losers Aaron Rose Alex Knost Alleged ANP Barry McGee Brendon Fowler Brian Donnelly Chris Johanson Cinelli David Cho Ed Templeton Erin Wasson Espo Geoff McFetridge Glasslands Harmony Corine IFC Japanese Motors Jo Jackson KAWS Liz Rice Margaret Kilgallen Mike Mills Modrocket Mollusk Montauk Opening Ceremony Pat Tenore Phil Frost RVCA Steve Powers Surf Lodge Thomas Campbell Williamsberg Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:29:00 -0500 Free lunch tomorrow!! To celebrate the completion of DIESEL's first NY artist wall -- an image of a giant cheeseburger created by Jonathan Sandridge -- Diesel will be giving away free cheeseburgers (I swear) tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. Here's what to do: Go to the DIESEL Wall on Thursday, Aug. 7th at 12:30 p.m. on the corner of 19th Street and Seventh Ave. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/free_cheeseburgers.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/free_cheeseburgers.php Fashion Schmashion Cheeseburgers Diesel Diesel Wall Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:58:06 -0500 Little is known about these sunny talks of the town, Elite Paris's charming model twins Elena and Manuela. Exuding an ebullient charm and Parisian poise, these young ladies are sure to flourish editorially (word is their remarkable chemistry perches the fetching familial duo to be the new 'Agnete and Kamila') and even on the runway (yes, they have the height)! One can only imagine the creative prospects that working with elegant and engaging twins may yield! Stay tuned... ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/enchantee_x_2_with_elite_paris.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/enchantee_x_2_with_elite_paris.php Fashion Schmashion Elena Lazic Lazic Twins Manuela Lazic Models Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:18:38 -0500 My friend, the architect Barbara Bestor, emailed me this yesterday. She and a group of artists made some Barack Obama buttons and they look pretty cool. Check 'em out! ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/buttons.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/buttons.php Fashion Schmashion Barack Obama Barbara Bestor Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:59:24 -0500 I was recently invited to be on a committee with a great group of art types (including my friends Marc and Sarah Schiller from The Wooster Collective and Nicola Vassell from Deitch) to judge the submissions that DIESEL received for their Wall Project in New York City. DIESEL has been sponsoring this project celebrating street art in other countries for five years now but this is the first time the project has hit New York -- probably because they are just settling into their recently renovated building that founder Renzo Rosso picked up on 19th Street. After a fun little dinner, we all sat around and edited the submissions down and down and down and I'm really excited because the design that won (and is now being painted as I write this) was my #1 favorite and is currently being transferred onto the 90-foot-high wall. It's a bit kooky-looking but the winning work's a really fun, cool graphic painting by an artist named Jonathan Sandridge of an abstract cheeseburger (no kidding) that he called "The Good Life." Very DIESEL. If you're driving down Seventh Avenue you can see it being painted from your cab this week (it's at 220 W. 19th St.). Now they need to have a BBQ party on the roof to celebrate it when it's done! ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/a_hamburger_by_diesel.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/08/a_hamburger_by_diesel.php Fashion Schmashion Deitch Diesel Jonathan Sandridge Renzo Rosso Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:14:19 -0500 Jetsetting Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen together and separately interviewed 22 influential actors, artists, and designers (including Bob Colacello, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Jack Pierson, Karl Lagerfeld, Lauren Hutton, Margherita Missoni, Robert Lee Morris, and Terry Richardson) over the course of their travels for their year-long pet project, Influence. The photo-heavy Rizzoli/Assoulinesque coffee table tome is published by Penguin's Razorbill and features personal momentos, never-before-seen snapshots and exclusive photographs courtesy of legendary lensman Rankin. The anthology is designed by illustrious book maestro Rodrigo Corral and edited by art and fashion writer Derek Blasberg. The simple contemporary cover boasts two jackets -- an Olsen gracefully flanks the front and back -- and its content is divided among four sweeping sections: Fashion, Environment, Art and Giving Back. At long last, the book is available for pre-order (list price $35) at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/marykate_ashley_olsens_influen.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/marykate_ashley_olsens_influen.php Fashion Schmashion Ashley Olsen Influence Mary-Kate Olsen Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:29:06 -0500 I took my vitamins this morning cause it's going to be a busy week. Today I am hosting a little lunch with Jeffrey Deitch at the Longchamp store in SoHo in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the luxe leather goods label and their collab with French artist Jean Luc Moerman. The lunch will preview the show (partnering with Deitch Projects) before the huge party to be held tonight in shop. I am also so excited to see expat designer Rick Owens's new shop in Tribeca (250 Hudson St.) which is opening tonight. Afterwards, I'll join him and his sig other, the inimitable Michelle Lamy, for a little celebratory din din at Mr. Chow's. I knew Rick in the old days in LA when Lamy used to own her fabulous café/watering hole "Les Deux" on Las Palmas across from the newsstand there. Lamy and Owens used to live and work like hippies in a Las Palmas storefront right across from the café. I really love what he does. And tomorrow, of course, is our party in honor of our Hermes-toting coverboy Pharrell, who will perform with N.E.R.D... Then Wednesday I head up to The Studio Museum to see the Kehinde Wiley show, "DAKAR", and attend a dinner for him at the Al Hambre theater up there. I hear the work is awesome and am thrilled to see it as I love what he does. That's just the first three days of the week. By the time I come up for air the "Black Issue" of Italian Vogue may be sold out in NY. Has anyone seen it yet? Im dying to know what people are thinking of it.... What a concept. Those italians. Too BAD its such a novel concept, but I guess when every single issue of every single fashion magazine in existence continues to be all WHITE they have to call attention to it when they include people of color. Hey, I thought the summer was supposed to be low key. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/its_gonna_be_a_busy_week.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/its_gonna_be_a_busy_week.php Fashion Schmashion Kehinde Wiley Pharrell Williams Rick Owens Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:37:10 -0500 I worship hats. And I literally lionize the "millinery magician" Stephen Jones and steadfastly refuse to stuff his haute creations into my luggage. Tredging through the airport crowned with bits of his whimsy à la Anna Piaggi or Arden Wohl may send a bizarre signal to homeland security, but any possible ramifications are surely worth saving a chapeau from possible squashage! While in Paris my inner madhatter had a major samsara upon reading Hint magazine's 'hinterview' with Stephen. I was so inspired by his creative process -- entirely distinct collaborative techniques with Rei Kawakubo (for Comme des Garçons), L'Wren Scott, John Galliano (for his eponymous label and Christian Dior), Giles Deacon and Marc Jacobs -- that I immediately skipped to my loo down la rue Saint-Honoré to Colette and procured this Alice in Wonderland tête trifle. Sir Jones (has he been knighted yet? he ought to be...) will be fabricating frippery for the forthcoming Coco Before Chanel film starring Audrey Tatou and (fingers crossed!) will accept an offer to design hats for a potential flick about Nico of the Velvet Underground.]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa_3.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa_3.php Fashion Schmashion Colette Hats Julia Frakes Paris Fashion Week Stephen Jones Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:25:09 -0500 Tanya D. may have opened the show with an equestrian nod to Gaultier's most recent Hermès RTW collection, but the Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture show soon took a turn for the neon. Prior to unleashing a flurry of models from their "cages" -- be it a hand-knitted, velvet-covered, embroidered, beaded, "whale-boned," feathered, latticed, laméed, leather-harnessed, crystallized, or snake-skinned birdcage of a construction -- Gaultier insisted that his "models are birds of paradise." "They can remove the cages and fly," Gaultier assured Hilary Alexander. Harkening back to his archives, this is infallibly the first of JPG's haute couture collections -- since his atelier's daring made-to-order establishment in 1996 -- that so directly references his erstwhile prêt-à-porter career from the early 1980's. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa_2.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa_2.php Fashion Schmashion Camille Mervin Jean Paul Gaultier Julia Frakes Paris Fashion Week Prada Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:37:27 -0500 For his Fall/Winter 2008-2009 haute couture season, Christian Lacroix orchestrated a moving cortège of woodland nymphs and forest fairies. In a spectacular entrance, Vlada (Christian Lacroix's bride-to-be) opened the spectacle at the Centre Georges Pompidou, donning the panoply of William Shakespeare's "The Phoenix and the Turtledove' -- faille sleeves peeking through a painstakingly embroidered gemstone arabesque teetered atop a playful turtledove crepeline skirt. Accentuated by Michel Gaubert's brilliant music coordination, Lacroix harmonized all the senses with this expressionistic short paisley ecru dress. Whether it was the vivid Russian motif or the eerily Lonhengrin-esque appeal, Alyona appeared as if she traversed straight out of a Kandinsky painting. "Petite Aussie" Skye Stracke roused the crowd in a carnival of color accentuated with a giant black taffeta bow appliqué that would even pique the heed of Alexis Mabille! Lacroix's artful atelier painted massive fuchsia carnations on this utterly delightful ruffled satin dress. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/07/julia_frakes_takes_on_paris_fa.php Fashion Schmashion Christian Lacroix Julia Frakes Paris Fashion Week Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:13:04 -0500 Amish hats! Haori pants! Hakamas! Inside-out jackets! Pants under shorts under skirts! OMG!! Today Rei Kawakubo presented the most buzzed-about collection thusfar during Paris Men's Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009. Truly a pièce de résistance, Rei proffered a virtually Victorian opus heavily inspired by Japanese tradition with a certain Scottish flair (namely incarnated as skirts)! An exquisite palette, wicked proportions, sophisticated styling and layering madder than a (Colonial) hatter were set off by an absolutely genius casting. The models' doleful dispositions perfectly suited the esoteric summer 2009 Comme des Garçons collection. Yet when all the moody elegance emerged together it yielded a rather lighthearted, candidly comical effect. Scintillating!]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/men_in_skirts_comme_des_garcon.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/men_in_skirts_comme_des_garcon.php Fashion Schmashion Comme des Garcons Rei Kawakubo Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:34:48 -0500 Julia Frakes: For readers unfamiliar with your work, would you mind describing what you do a bit? Filippa Berg: My job is being the fashion editor of a free Stockholm magazine called iCITY. But I do various things on the side, mostly styling. Sometimes I model, talk on the radio and I've been in some short movies. Recently I was the hostess of Go-See TV during Stockholm Fashion Week. I know some people in the industry here [in Sweden] and they often call me when they need help with different things and I'm glad to help out! JF: What was your childhood like? FB: Happy! I spent most of my time backpacking with my parents. We lived on beaches in Greece and took trains through Europe and the north of Africa. It was exciting. I didn't spend much time with other kids, though; I learned to play with myself. And I really didn't like school at all. JF: Who is your favorite new Swedish designer? FB: Personally I rarely buy new clothes, but really like what the designer Ann-Sofie Back is doing. She is truly an inventor! ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/meet_fashion_icon_filippa_berg.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/meet_fashion_icon_filippa_berg.php Fashion Schmashion Bob Richardson Filippa Berg John Lennon Julia Frakes Models Richard Avedon Sara Moon Stockholm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:44:54 -0500 I was in heaven when I saw that Michelle Obama chose to wear Isabel Toledo the other night to the Obama benefit hosted by Anna Wintour and Calvin Klein... Thanks to my friend Ikram, whose fabulous Chicago store (of the same name) is one of Obama's favorite spots, Michelle was not only decked out in Isabel Toledo but was wearing a Tom Binns necklace as well. I mean, how hot is that? I really think Michelle needs to head over to Isaac Mizrahi and grab that simple, chic, red sequinned gown from his last show for one of her inaugural looks (see above). I also bet she would look amazing in Mizrahi's new line for Liz Claiborne. She's really is looking more and more gorgeous as the days pass. She can do WONDERS for American fashion, from high to mass. We are talking rock star here. The frenzy is just beginning. She looks amazing in Isabel Toledo but you can see her looking amazing (and comfy) in a Go International dress from Target?! I can just imagine President Obama's first official trip to Europe and can you imagine Paris? He will have to borrow JFK's line about being the "husband of Jackie Kennedy." It's all very exciting. ]]> http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/michelle_obama_style.php http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2008/06/michelle_obama_style.php Fashion Schmashion Andre Leon Talley Anna Wintour Barack Obama Isaac Mizrahi Isabel Toledo Liz Claiborne Michelle Obama Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:35:55 -0500