Comeback Week: Equality

I'm glad you see the error of your ways and now I'm proud to say, so did the Supreme Court. This is a great week of PRIDE! 

Where are you Róisín Murphy? We Need You!

Two weeks ago I saw a drag queen in a turban perform to 'Royal T" by Italian house DJ Crookers featuring Róisín Murphy and I had a thought: what happened to that B???  I LOVED her! 

                   
                         


This above colab with the sexy video appears to be Rosin's latest output. Sadly this was released in autumn of last year and her last full album, Overpowered, which was brilliant, came out in 2007! 

("Just gonna pop out for some milk right quick") 

My beloved Irish chanteuse with the wicked style and sly delivery, where have you ran off to? I heard you're having babies, but why not give us more of that sharp Euro trash disco sing-alongs? it is Summer, afterall and this boy has even started "working out" (ie: situps and squats at home. Don't get carried away) and could use some energizing jams. 

Róisín, rush back to us! 

Yup, the Beard is Gone

With temps hitting 90 today and major change on the horizon, 

it was time for a facial hair revolution 

Good Advice

It's Spring. Renewal. Motivation. Forward! 

Time to make the donuts. 

(Thanks Uptown Cory for this inspiration!) 

They Said it Wouldn't Last...

We had to prove them wrong...

What you're looking at here is my 'new' job's way of rewarding you with a silver metal fly for each year. I got my first one! One year, baby. 

Guess I can stop referring to Bluefly as my new job, huh? I'm a bona fide Bluefly copywriter extraordinaire, honey! 

WHAT?!

ELLE UK reports Nicolas Ghesquière is leaving Balenciaga! 

The fashion label and its creative director of 15 years reached a “joint decision to end their working relationship," effective Nov. 30.

Much turmoil has been going on with designers coming and going at storied houses lately, but never has a new blood ever molded their vision so seamlessly with that of the fashion house while still pushing them forward. Plus Ghesquière's designs resulted in both critical and commercial success. 

When the details start leaking this is gonna be interesting, child! 

Ready or Not.......

(Photo courtesy Alexandra Shulman) 

Bill Gaytten's Last Hurrah at Dior

On Friday, Bill Gaytten showed his last interim head designer Dior collection leaving the door open for Raf Simons' Spring 2013 debut. But there were really beautiful and fun pieces in this serviceable swan song 

Crisp calico shirting feels so fresh. And love the piping trim.  

Full and tulle = Springtime cool. 

My co-worker is obsessed with backless dresses and this one would be primo if she were not my co-worker and instead some lady who doesn't have to work for a living. Those shoes are an unfortunate pairing. 

Farewell, Mr Gaytten. Enjoy your Galliano namesake label makeover (he's at the helm there now) and It Can't All Be Dior awaits Raf's contributions with breathe that is bated. 

Moving to Park Slope

Today I leave Stately Grand Street Manor for the Park. Park Slope with Mr Taurus





Might be a bit delayed with posts this week. To be continued!

The Art of NoLita

I'll miss it!

Farewell Old Friends

During this weekend's pack-down, former treasures got tossed and shoes that don't fit and that I've worn to the nubbins became rubbish

Oh we had so many sidewalk talks together, my favorite stompers. Til we meet in heaven where I can strut in you all day long and you never pinch my toes...

It's a Niece!

Mr Taurus' sister gave birth yesterday to a beautiful baby girl, Alina Louise. 

I'm 3 times an Uncle now! 

Is Someone Finally Moving Into the Old Charlotte Ronson Store?

Doing a little post-work snooping in my neighborhood last nite, I noticed some commotion coming out of the old Charlotte Ronson space on Mulberry Street

Almost a year after it unceremoniously closed looks like someone might be cleaning up for a possible new tenant.

To be continued....

Toujours Vingt-et-Un?

The land of couture is about to be invaded by cheap rags with hidden Christian agendas

Forever 21 is opening their French flagship at the end of January.

Globalization continues its slow Blob-like consumption of the world's individual identities. Mon Dieu!

I Just Had a Carrie Bradshaw Moment

Sorry ladies this isn't one of those fab moments of Dior saddle bags, cosmopolitans and it restaurants.



Rather I sat in my office and listened to my adjacent co-workers talk about their investments, how they've diversified their IRA's and opened money market accounts when they were seventeen and how it's a great time to buy up cheap stocks.



I mentally dipped out to fix the buttons on my Ben Sherman dress shirt (patterned after the Marimekko I'm inspired by but can't afford.) I took the premature withdrawal in hopes that the continuous calculations of how to juggle birthday parties this weekend, holiday parties the next and new years the next while still paying rent weren't legible to anyone nearby. Plain and simple: I don't fit with this financially fiscal crowd. Nothing's fomenting for me in some stowed away account except hopes and prayers

See much like Sarah Jessica Parker's signature role, my interest over the years was towards inappropriate dress, magical evenings and witty banter

My stocks are null and void but my late nite liaisons have been quite diverse. I got no home equity but an unending portfolio of tales for the grandkids.. or at least the next cocktail party. Invitations being the bold print letters I'm getting in the mail.



Luckily for fantasy land Carrie Bradshaw she learned how to marry well and all was happily ever after and a walk in closet

My real life self worries. I know my fair share of creative types who ain't got a house of their own to piss in. Rent paying, still struggling. And that's definitely one list I don't want to be on.



So with my impending birthday on Sunday, I can't help but wonder: is it possible to never give up the youthful pursuit of play and still have to work for it?

Juicy Couture's Pressed to Play with the Big Boys

Uh-oh terry cloth enthusiasts it looks like the Juicy's gonna dry up.


A little birdie (a very cute one at that, grrr) recently divulged to It Can't All Be Dior that Juicy Couture is reinventing itself with the focus on couture and leaving the juicy at the door

(Bye bye, sugar. And not a minute too soon.)

The brand, owned by Liz Claiborne Inc., is going through a full re-haul. Stores will be completely redesigned and packaging and advertising will be pushed into a new frontier as well. CEO Bill McComb is hoping for a similar renaissance like he's performed at Kate Spade, another brand now successfully guided under the Claiborne hand

(Could Juicy Couture be getting a new image with a youthful brand ambassador like its sister label, Kate Spade?)

Meanwhile the clothes themselves will emphasis refined, tailored and grown up styles with no pink or rhinestones in sight

(And definitely NO butt messaging!)

Think when Erin Fetherston did last year's Holiday capsule collection

Actually, there's an interesting thought: have they approached Fetherston to become full time creative director? She does toe the line beautifully between girly and luxurious. No confirmation yet on any new design talent, but you know we'll keep you posted!

Newsflash: Magazines Continue to Struggle

Get out!

Seriously though numbers came out for the first quarter of 2011 publishing year and only VOGUE had an increase (12.7 % for the year so far). Let that sink in for a minute before I drop another bomb.


Critics are saying this March 2011 issue is why VOGUE avoided the otherwise universal fate:

Behold the power of Lady Gaga. Her March cover shot by Mario Testino pulled in the youngin's known as little monsters by the dozens and drove VOGUE's sale figures sky high (the issue sold over 100,000 copies more than March 2010).


I'm not gonna critique the cover or the star or anything of such, but I will say this a new generation of stars are emerging and the youth vote counts (which is surprising considering how often we hear they read everything online) so let's see how other fashion mags respond to the numbers (Glenda Bailey, of course, just wants to permanently slap Jennifer Aniston on the cover. Oh Glenda, always out of touch)

Cintra Wilson Finished Being Critical?

"This will be my last dispatch as your Critical Shopper. This column has been a singular joy and privilege to write, and I will miss your readership. Whenever you find the mate to your perfect bondage-boot hidden under one of the couches at Barneys on sale day, I will be with you in spirit"

And just like that my favorite bitter pill of a professional shopper, Cintra Wilson, signs off at The New York Times?

And with a review of the United Nude store on Bond Street? Really? I mean an architectural shoe line is nice and very Cintra ( a self-professed shoe maniac) but a bit of a weak fade out if you ask me.

Come back and be mean to the rest of the Manhattan Mall!

Afterall, Roundabout hasn't even been reviewed yet!

Last (?) Critical Shopper: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/fashion/31CRITIC.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

Cacharel No Longer Feeling Amor Amor for Cédric Charlier

VS.

Cacharel announced that it's bidding creative director, Cédric Charlier, adieu in October. 




Signed in April of 2009 after assisting Alber Elbaz at Lanvin for six years, the Belgian designer has been responsible with getting Cacharel back in the fashion game by returning to Paris fashion week, relaunching women's ready to wear, renewing editorial interest and pushing the brand past its 70's heyday nostalgia

Some Spring 2011 looks 

(I kinda want these acid print shorts)

No word on who will replace Charlier or his next move, although Esprit is down right itchin' for a makeover, my friend. 

Oh, What Can You Do When She's Dressed in Black

In both my styling and retail career I have run into these unwritten, foreign to me, stodgy rules applying to weddings. I never knew you couldn't wear black to a wedding. 

Where do you get all these unspoken do's and don'ts, women? What's the modern day rationale behind banning black and why is everyone sniping at Princess to Be Kate Middleton for not caring about archaic codes of dress? It's 2011, let's move on from the days of Goody Proctor, shall we?

Meanwhile the Sagittarius in me wants to know where she got that hat with the little spear/arrow/feather thingy?