Rihanna Should "Stay" in Tom Ford According to the Designer

“OK, that’s Rihanna, and she’s going to her lawyer’s office in that all-black outfit and she’s hungover and that’s why she’s wearing those glasses. Yet she’s still a rock star,” Tom Ford explained to WWD

And while I cannot authenticate Rihanna was indeed hungover here, I love that the above quote in April 2013 was spot on. Rihanna would wear a sparkly, sequined zebra print gown with monkey fur standing collar on the every day 

And she's worn other wack-a-doo getups from the mixed reviewed recent Ford collections 

More black and white 

More cuckoo footwear (Forrest Gump wore them first)

But me thinks Rihanna might be "The Only Girl in the World" who can pull these looks off 

Simon Doonan Keeps the Fashion Flock in Check

“Today’s peacock is tomorrow’s feather duster.”

-  Simon Doonan            

Women's Wear Daily

Comeback Week: Lucky Jeans

"Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.’s Lucky day might be coming soon.

The men’s wear retailer has emerged as a surprise bidder in the auction for Fifth & Pacific Cos. Inc.’s Lucky Brand division, which is also being pursued by a financial player, according to sources. " 

-Women's Wear Daily 

Fifth and Pacific is looking to unload its jean brand, Lucky Brand (along with Juicy Couture), to focus on its blossoming and promising Kate Spade brand. 

At first the business community didn't think F+P would get the $400 million it was asking for Lucky, but with buyers circling (including Jos. Bank, which has $$$ to burn and a need to acquire a new brand so it can grow further) and a new Fall 2013 campaign starring the legend Lauren Hutton

Lucky might be having its biggest moment in a lifetime, honey. 

Comeback Week: Stefano Pilati Ermenegildo

Stefano Pilati made a huge comeback this week at his premier outing for Ermenegildo Zegna. Easily one of the most anticipated shows of milan men's fashion week (Pitti Uomo), Pilati did not disappoint with his typical stret and art scene flourish added to classic tailoring. This is what he masterfully accomplished at YSL before being unceremoniously dumped. Well Kerring's lost is the family Zegna's gain and this collaboration felt like that. A unification of signature label pieces filtered through the eye of a showman with tailor tendencies. 

Particularity of note were lightweight, neutral suits with layered long sleeve t-shirts rolled back at the cuffs

The suit was lent both an urban, laidback cool as well ad an indifference to a suit. I enjoy that aggressive approach Pilati always takes. His is never just a version of house tropes, but rather a rebuttal. How easy would it have been for him to just send out clean business suits in the typical Zegna mold. Easy, but boring. Rather he roughed them up with modern styling and laissez faire. "These details add personality, mine inevitably, and that of Zegna as the world knows it," Pilati told Women's Wear Daily the day of the show

The styling is indeed a reflection of Pilati's languid style: nothing's buttoned. Everything's tossed on with only your eye on the clock as you dart out the door. But it's your foresight to curate such a mix and match wardrobe in the first place and, well, your confidence that makes it work 

This irreverence is refreshing and feels like, in this age of running behind and distractions, the way to dress.



Plus, words aside, this is just a damn beautiful coat 

Welcome back, Stefano. The phoenix has risen once more (tip of my hat to any who get that reference) 

Move Over Karl Lagerfeld

Nick Graham, chief executive of NGO Inc and founder of Joe Boxer, had a lot to say in an op-ed piece for Women's Wear Daily about men embracing their inner peacock








From the grad 'em title, "Men are the New Women", Graham shot off a string of bon mots including 






"I don't mean men should start dressing like Lady Bunny, but we can go much further than we do" 










"Style is like knowing someone all your life; a trend is having dinner with someone and never seeing them again" 

On how retail has changed: "We can no longer hide behind a store door that opens at 930 a.m. to let people buy what we tell them to" 










On how color has taken over menswear: "Don't get me wrong, I like brown; it looks great on camels and trees" 

Read the whole piece featuring tons more quotable quotes here: http://www.wwd.com/menswear-news/retail-business/think-tank-men-are-the-new-women-7002640

Haider Ackermann: Story Teller

"I find it much more beautiful when you create a story with an actress. It's about communication. It's about collaboration. Call me old fashion, but I love to construct something with someone"

-Haider Ackermann on red carpet dressing, Women's Wear Daily

How much do you love this intimate approach to designer relations and dressing? Haider has always had women who influence his work and in turn he designs romances for the red carpets for them and we, the audience, get to watch as the tale unfolds. 



Obviously Tilda Swinton comes to mind as his protagonist


Her world alive with the dangers, awe and magic of this talented Colombian designer

On My Desk Today

On my desk today: New with Tags Alexander Wang high waisted shorts I got from Bib and Tuck

 and the Matzo I’ll have to eat to fit in them! 

On My Desk Today: Rihanna and Me

Ooh girl, I hate to break it to you Women's Wear Daily, 

but ain't neither of us fresh at the rodeo, honey! 

On My Desk Today: Wednesday January 9th

A fine mix of 



Women's Wear Daily 

Gucci 

and Dinosaurs 

My office so fance 

our screwdriver is Miu Miu pink!

Perhaps I Need to Book a Flight to Finland

“We have a very long design heritage,” the [Finnair] spokeswoman said. 

“We really believe that design can make life better.”

No wonder Finnair has chosen to colab with fellow Finnish pop art print powerhouse Marimekko on "tableware, teapots, linens and blankets that the airline will use as part of the three-year deal" and all available for purchase en route and through Finnair PlusShop. 

Says Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO. “Our goal is to become a design airline, and bring our customers unique experiences for all five senses. Cooperation with Marimekko is an important step towards this target. Finnair aircraft will become roving ambassadors of timeless Finnish design and creativity, giving our customers a special experience when they fly with us.”

Wow, you would not be hearing that from American Airlines, honey. 

(Thanks to WWD and Finnair.com for photo, facts and quotes)

Guys Make Passes at Victoria Beckham in Glasses

And Posh got the newly minted optical line to prove it!

"...it will be nice to see where I will be going for once"

-near sighted but slave to fashion Victoria Beckham tells Women's Wear Daily about her upcoming (Fall 2012) launch of her signature eyewear line in conjunction with Cutler + Gross 

AVON Needs Someone to Sack Them

Every day I nab my Women's Wear Daily to keep up with the soap opera that is AVON's herculean struggles to re-invent itself. Coty's takeover bid was initially brushed aside with annoyance. Now it's a plausible lifeline with AVON even being so nice as to open its books to the perfume giant for perusal. But now Coty has pulled that offer off the table, fatigued by feet dragging

"Your total lack of engagement with us leads to believe that you remain reluctant to explore a friendly, negotiated combination on a reasonable timetable," the letter of retraction from Coty states. 

The problem with this bid loss is that AVON may not find another golden hand to pull i to safety. Hurt hardest by lack of social media outlets and online resources for their sales associates, the brand seems out of touch and dusty and undesirable to buyers. 

Plus, beauty brands established and upstart, have re-focused their ad budgets. The focus is on fresh and flirty, the way a lady wants to feel about her rouge. Case in point: today on the subway I saw a Bare Escentuals bag with "I got Matte in the Sack", a cheeky little come-hither play on words especially smart considering it's a reusable tote for the client. That's gonna be a lot of "Oh I got this free with purchase from Bare Escentuals".

In the end, it may be too late for the former skin so soft titan. AVON may be purchased or fade into the bottom drawer. Coty, which has an all star fresh and fun roster of Marc Jacobs and Chloe perfumes, Rimmel London, and a sea of celeb brands, obviously has the know how and ducats to make AVON over for the year 2012 (or catch it up at least to 2006) but you gotta strike while the curling iron's hot, honey! 

To be continued, I'm sure....

Aquascutum Will Still Hum

Venerated but troubled British luxury line, Aquascutum may have found the answer to its money woes in Chinese investment firm YGM, which already owns a vast majority.

Now with the acquisition of the British ready to wear division, the brand will be completely in pocket

Still big in Europe, 'Aqua' will be the newest addition to YGM's growing fashion roster (they already own another fabled label, Guy Laroche) and the latest in new Asian markets investing in storied Western fashion houses.

This is a trend that has only just begun and an exciting announcement for other houses that are on the verge of irrelevance (see: since 2001 Taiwanese media mogul Shaw-Lan Wang has revitalized Lanvin with 100% support of Alber Elbaz's creative vision) or need dusting off (just this week WWD reported another French fashion fave of yesterday, Mainbocher, being spruced up for potential buyers)

Having built their fortunes (like many British labels) on water resistant men's outerwear and suiting, Aquascutum pulled a GAP and tried to make itself hip only to alienate its core clientele. Now, after three years of losses, this plan failed and Aquascutum was on the brink of bankruptcy and desperately needed this last minute rescue.




To be continued...

Up On the Housetop

"Goats on roofs, families of roaming monkey, and watercolor paintings by Henry Miller..."

-Libertine designer, Johnson Hartig's Fall 2012 fashion inspirations, via Women's Wear Daily

Yeah, But is it More First Blush or Ribbon Pink?

A very special Christmas gift was delivered early for all our drag queen friends at It Can't All Be Dior: Women's Wear Daily reports that "Pantone, the color forecasting and matching firm, has inked a deal with Sephora to do a Pantone-branded makeup line"

(Can you just picture the compacts?)

This opens the door to unfathomable (yet precisely named) hues of yellow, purple and red the likes we've never seen. At the very least, hyper-pigmented herald MAC makeup better watch its back! 

The first of many in-store and online exclusives begins with March 2012's "limited edition color cosmetics collection... comprised chiefly of tangerine- and orange-shaded cosmetics and beauty accessories, ranging in price from $18 to $80"

Umm... this gonna be good! 

Good Advice: Just a Dab Won't Do Ya!

"When in doubt, apply more glitter"

-Ms. Kylie Minogue's advice for when an endeavor isn't panning out, courtesy of Women's Wear Daily at her launch of her 'Dazzling Darling' fragrance. 


Hmm... not sure that's really the way to get a promotion at the office, but worth a try. 






(Golly, it's fragrance central over at Stately Grand Street Manor today. Must be thoughts of Christmas wish lists....)

The Dior Continues to Swing...

Women's Wear Daily reports that talks with just moments ago front runner Marc Jacobs "have come to a halt" and LVMH has "stepped up the pace and depth of negotiations with other designers"

That's good news as Jacobs' vision is clearly suited for Louis Vuitton with the proof in continued sales growth under his guide.

But the disheartening news here is this buried bit that "it is understood Alexander Wang, Raf Simons and Jason Wu are among some of the candidates recently approached."

(Marc could be out, but which of these other names could really be "in"?)

Yikes! While Raf would be the best of that lineup given his penchant for imaginative and modern plays on color and print, Phoebe Philo's minimalist work at Celine already kind checks that box

(Celine looks)

New talent Jason Wu still needs to find his way and that Alexander Wang is no Dior heir! I'm sorry I know gals love his loose and shapeless, but damn if I can at all see him designing for the 21st century lady of Dior.

What Does the Louis Vuitton Woman Smell Like?

                              
According to Women's Wear Daily, Louis Vuitton is meeting with a third generation scent master (yeah imagine the pressure of that lofty title the next time you groan about your workload) to craft a signature perfume.


But that got me to thinking of duality. Louis Vuitton is one of the many labels over the years that in order to stay relevant has courted a younger market including street artists, rappers and reality tv stars. Will this scent represent the lady who wears dominatrix to the MET Ball or the ubiquitous LV logo over a pair of high top sneakers?

One could also word this as will it be more Marc Jacobs or Phoebe Philo (allegedly) ??




(*Photo from Ebay of vintage Louis Vuitton flask)

Stock Up on Your Dr Scholl's, Honey

Cuz purveyor of killer heels, Nicholas Kirkwood is finally opening a US store!

According to Women's Wear Daily, British footwear designer, Kirkwood is eying a spot in New York's Meatpacking District as his U.S. flagship. 

These inducers of shrieks of joy and pain are arriving come early 2012