Who Do You Want to Win Top Model All Stars?

After that last post, I felt I could use some lightness.

So let's ask a pivotal question: who's gonna win Top Model All Stars?

(Mr J: Sorry B, you're already out the runnin')

With Laura given the old heave ho this week, we're down to the final three


1. Lisa

I mean this B has been killin' it. Challenge after challenge. She can rap, she can write, she can jump. She's got energy for weeks. She's like Orpheus on an ambrosia bender (or whatever their cocaine was. Something tells me the Ancient Greeks had some powerful ish). Would nail the guest correspondent on one of those Entertainment Tonite clones prize. Although has a tendency to interrupt and talk over the subject. But would teens and girls on they lunch break from Bath and Body Works shopping at EXPRESS really relate to her?





2. Allison

(God I really loved Allison's blood orange homage this week)

The total opposite. Quiet as a blacked out roommate and just as "how'd I get here?" However, B can take some pics. Probably the best and most consistent of the group. The judges give her a hard time about not looking directly into the sun but I'm pretty sure my momma taught me that's a no-no. The best fit for VOGUE Italia. Would bomb terribly at the Access Hollywood hosting prize.






3. Angelea

My bet for the win. Why would they have pulled her up out the bottom two so often? She's got the best sob story and she's firmly taken on the "Thanks for making me: a fighter!" stance. I can just see the Regis and Kelly (oh wait, who be the new Regis???) interview about how she overcame obstacles and such. To be fair, I like her. She has spunk. But she's also all over the place and break easily under pressure. I think the EXPRESS ad is her strength. I mean c'mon? That's her to a ruched v-neck stretch hot pink tee. And she'd probably be ok on TV with a teleprompter. But she's not very VOGUE Italia even if Franca Sozzani pretended like she writes deep moving prose this past episode.




So there you go. Who's it gonna be? My prediction: Angelea for the win, Allison will take the runner up and Lisa the bronze. Luckily she's quite the fan of that over-tanned look.

Thoughts? Wagers? Knock knock jokes? I'm open to it all.

Qu'est Que C'est it Ain't So!

(Photo from TMZ)

John Galliano has been suspended as creative director of Dior after being arrested Thursday nite for an alleged scuffle and anti-Semitic altercation with a couple at popular Parisian cafe, La Perle. 

Stories vary to what happened during the alleged fight, but response was swift from Dior. According to Women's Wear Daily

Christian Dior president and CEO Sidney Toledano confirmed that Galliano has been suspended from the house until police conclude their investigation. Toledano emphasized that Dior has a zero-tolerance policy against racism and Antisemitism. 

Galliano persists an argument did occur, but that he made no racial slurs. Several witnesses are coming forth and suits are being made on both sides.  

Wow! I hope this is all found to be untrue. Galliano is a master designer and talent and has been a huge force in the Renaissance of the storied house of Dior. I'd hate to think of any connection to bigotry. 

LVMH, owners of the Dior label, have not commented on next week's planned Fall 2011 fashion shows, nor any plans for the future. 

Below a very interesting video from Telegraph UK where Fashion Director Hilary Alexander interviews Vogue Italia Editor in Chief Franca Sozzani and Fashionwiredaily.com's Godfrey Deeny about their thoughts about the allegations of a man they've worked with and known well over the years. 

Franca Sozzani Loves Fashion Bloggers, Franca Sozzani Loves Fashion Bloggers Not

Vogue Italia editor in chief Franca Sozzani agrees to be a judge on America's Next Top Model but then criticizes fashion bloggers for being irrelevant, vain and that

they don't offer an opinion but only talk about themselves [and] don't hold a real importance in the business

Ouch! What's with the nastiness? (Especially ironic when I'm reading this on your own blog on Vogue.it !)


I think I understand her point buried in here, though. Everyone and their mom has a blog now and the democratization of fashion has diluted its once rarefied air, but that is not an issue for fashion alone. Everyone  is an influencer now on music, electronics, fashion...everything. Companies across the gamut want to make money and will listen to the chorus of the public to see what demand is out there. That's just good business and the definition of democracy. Whether you agree with everyone's opinion or not and how serious or well researched their view may be, well that's life. Everyone has a voice and the internet has given them a megaphone so either listen up or put in ear plugs.

Particularly bizarre in this post is the about face that happens at the end:

I would like to know their opinion to understand a new point of view and not just rely on journalists who have been doing this for thirty years

 Not being biased at times helps to see what people who work in this industry miss 

That's the most backhanded compliment I've read today. The tone of this post certainly seems biased and many fashion bloggers do work in the fashion industry and the "non reliable opinions" come from copywriters, publicists, stylists, fashion editors and the retail workers who are actually responsible for convincing the public to part with their hard earned money when the hyped up article of clothing and the consumer are actually sharing the same space.


Later the post waffles on the thesis that was presented to us:

Lets wait a minute before acclaiming or hating [bloggers]. There are still a lot of people who don't know what blogger means, and none of us knows how it will evolve. It's still under observation. The only thing I can say with certitude it's that if it were a disease, we would call it a viral cold. An epidemic!

As far as I can recall, you opened this debate of bloggers' role, why be evasive now? Why straddle the fence on whether we're a "disease" or not?

Original link: http://www.vogue.it/en/magazine/editor-s-blog/2011/01/january-28th