Glam Damn It
It’s a sad day to see your favorite fashion house down and out. Although it’s only a matter of time before they all admit to financial shortcomings amidst the economic crisis. The latest designer woes come from the black and white double Cs of Chanel. The French fashion house plans to cut 10 percent of its production team, or 200 jobs, by Wednesday. Chanel called off its Mobile Art Exhibit after only completing two of its scheduled worldwide destinations. It’s no surprise the layoffs were next. It’s reported that not since Coco Chanel let her entire staff go at the beginning of the war in 1939 has there been a worse crisis. Sigh. Who’s next?
Chanel to lay off 200 workers [NY Mag]
What was once only a treatment for glaucoma is now the reason mascara might be on the out-and-out. Discovered as an odd side effect for treating blindness, the drug Lumigan can actually enhance the length, thickness and darkness of eyelashes in as little as eight weeks. The FDA approved the drug made by Allergan, Inc., aka that little company that makes Botox. For now, the renamed Latisse, will only be available with a prescription starting in early 2009. Here’s hoping the drug gets approved for over-the-counter use as soon as possible so we can toss those mascara tubes.
FDA Approves Latisse; Lash Lovers Rejoice [Style.com]
Notable fashion designer Ted Lapidus died Monday of pulmonary problems in Cannes, France. The French designer known for making fashion accessible for both men and women died at the age of 79. His safari suit in the 1960s earned him the status of “the poet of haute couture” by French president Nicholas Sarkozy. Lapidus "democratized French elegance and classicism," Sarkozy said in homage to the late designer.
Ted Lapidus,79, French Designer, Dies [WWD]
Ted Lapidus, French fashion designer, dies at 79 [Herald Tribune]
With the recession in full swing, retailers have to be creative in getting shoppers in their stores. Instead of being focused on luring people in with ridiculous sales, Anthropologie is taking a different approach by offering garment 'reinvention' workshops. The workshops held in their stores are aimed at helping people reinvent their old clothes, not spending money on buying new ones.
At the December workshops, customers learned how to reinvent articles of clothing ranging from sweaters, blouses and cardigans to hats, gloves and scarves. Even Wendy Wurtzburger, Anthropologie’s chief merchandising officer, attended and learned how to turn an old sweater into a new cardigan. Anthropologie designers and executives held the workshops to interact with customers on a personal level and strengthen Anthropologie’s sense of community in rough economic times. Learning how to refashion old clothing is a great skill to have, especially in today’s economy.
Kiki de Montparnasse
Soho
79 Greene St.
(near Spring Street)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-8070
www.kikidm.com
If you’re looking for authentic French lingerie, you don’t have to hop a flight to Paris anymore. Instead, take trip to Soho and visit Kiki de Montparnasse. This boutique epitomizes romance and seduction from the moment you walk in. Low lighting sets the mood with romantic photography lining the walls. Starting with more traditional lingerie, the farther you go into the store, the more fetish-like it becomes, with whips, chains, hand-cuffs and other such toys...well, you’ll have to see for yourself.
No, Kate Moss isn’t being replaced at TopShop, but she does need to play nice and make room for another potential designer to work alongside her. Rumor has it pop diva Christina Aguilera is being courted by TopShop mastermind Sir Philip Green to create clothing lines to sell alongside Moss’. Aguilera has been to Green’s office in London, and the two are currently working out the details – a meager 1 million pounds per line has been reported. Green thinks Aguilera will appeal to a different and younger crowd, as she is glam pop and Moss is rocker chic. The two will compliment each other nicely and appeal to a wider range of shoppers. No word on when the new line will hit stores.
TopShop Boss ready to sign Christina Aguilera [Mirror UK]
If you didn’t think dresses and skirts could get any smaller, then you were mistaken! Mid-thigh mini dresses and high waisted mini skirts a la Zac Posen are up, up, and going! The little black dress has always been in style, but now designers and style houses like Rock and Republic have taken ‘little’ to a whole new level. If you dare wear a mini dress out during winter, make sure to pair it with fun colored tights and a cropped leather jacket.
Designers for spring 2009 are raising the level, literally! Matthew Williamson, Balmain and Roberto Cavalli’s collections are mainly compiled with short, strapless mini dresses and ‘almost nothing’ dresses. With the use of nude mesh and flowers, McQueen tricks the eye giving the impression of flowers blooming right off their bare bodies!
This spring, Salvatore Ferragamo will release a line of environmentally friendly handbags called Eco Ferragamo. To create the earth-loving line, the Florentine luxury brand employed an innovative tanning technique that uses naturally derived tannins from tree bark.
But don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice style for your environmental principles. Despite being biodegradable and water resistant, the leather bags retain a natural pliancy and sheen, and colors come in a wide range that includes tobacco brown, lemon yellow and grapefruit pink.
Hand woven hemp lining also adds to the eco-benefits. Aside from giving these bags a natural, hippie chic feel, the hemp plant is extremely resilient which bars the need for pesticide use.
Dernier Cri
Meatpacking District, West Village
869 Washington Street
(between 13th and 14th street)
(212) 242-6061
Dernier Cri literally means ‘the last cry’, but don’t worry, these are shouts of joy. Sandwiched between the Scoops on Washington, you could easily miss this small boutique, but take a peek inside and you’ll be absolutely hooked on this store. Umbrella lamp shades hang above the entrance and like much of Meatpacking, the store has brick walls, exposed duct work and a gallery feel. Upon entering, the first thing you will notice is Yohji Yamamoto’s new diffusion line, Coming Soon, which just dropped in NYC this summer and isn’t available in most stores until Spring 2009.
It is every woman’s dream – that shoe that just makes you go “Wow!” These spring season shoes warm our cold little hearts this December in the best possible way. Deliciously elegant and eye-catching, these are what we call show-stoppers. Take Christian Louboutin’s python ruffle pièce de résistance, or Chanel’s classic color-block pump. Calvin Klein is bringing sexy back with the resurgence of the pointed toe paired with shiny nude color and a graphic heel – fair warning: don’t be surprised when people have trouble keeping eye contact. Viktor and Rolf are also showcasing a pointed toe this season with their beautiful pale pink lace-up heel. This shoe is so gorgeous you could probably wear it while naked and no one would notice the rest of you. This shoe literally has it all – sequins, ruffles, satin and snake-skin detail - without looking overdone.