Hedi Slimane's departure from the fashion world has been lamented far and wide. But the design Reanaissance Man isn't being lazy. Staying on fashion's periphery by shooting Prada campaigns, Slimane has also further immersed himself in the L.A. art scene.
Over the past few years, Slimane has made L.A. a semi-permanent residence, assembling a studio at the Mandrake Bar -- an easy-going drink spot opened by Justin Beal and Drew Heitzler amid Culver City's art galleries -- where he takes photos of L.A.-based artists for his personal website and sites like Dazed & Confused's digital publication. Slimane hopes that putting these taste-makers in front of a lens will in turn give Los Angeles's art scene a new face. "The sense of expansion [and] the possibilities offered to artists to experiment with space, remind of Berlin. Besides, the tradition of Southern California art has always [had] a strong impact on me," he admits.
Still enquiring minds want to know if he'll be back in fashion any time soon. Thankfully he divulges: "It is an interesting time now to observe and see how design -- and the rules of the industry around it -- will evolve and eventually transform."
Hedi Slimane has a new shoot for Vogue Homme Japan (pictured). It features scrawny male models in a variety of prints and masks. We don't get it either. [HintMag]
The Italian fashion industry is getting its bailout. Italian minister of economic development Claudio Scajola will present the "first interventions" to help the industry by the middle of the month. [WWD]
More Anna v. Carine. While 60 Minutes is doing a piece on Anna Wintour, CNN is now doing their own on Carine Roitfeld. CNN followed the French Vogue EIC around during New York and Paris fashion week, but no word on when the program will air. More attention for Anna's French counterpart? Could she just be working her U.S. notoriety for the rumored take over at Vogue US? [The Cut]
A female model was crying as she walked down the runway in the Jil Sanders show in Milan. All in all does the reason why really matter? No. But being world class busy bodies, we're still dying to know...[Heard on the Runway]
Hedi Slimane shot Yves Saint Laurent's home in honor of the relaunch of YSL Rive Gauche Homme. A poignant and touching tribute, yes, but could he also be establishing roots with the fashion house for a future team-up? [SLAMXHYPE]
Tipsters are saying Marc Jacobs is canceling his after-show-party during Fashion Week. Is there no justice -- or merriment -- to be had in this cold, sad world? [Fashionista] Amid economic turmoil, The French are getting queasy. With Paris being seen as the epitome of luxury, high end retailers are suggesting the unthinkable -- slashing prices! Karl Lagerfeld sounds off as well. [NYT]
ELLE just signed on with Creative Arts Management. The celebrity management group was brought on in hopes of expanding ventures into TV and film for the magazine. A good sign for the second season of Stylista? [Variety]
The Chanel Mobile Art Exhibit may have crashed and burned, but that's not stopping Prada! The new building in Seoul, designed by Rem Koolaaz, is called the Prada Transformer. A tetrahedron-shaped
"transformative building," the architect describes it as a "dynamic and living
organism" meaning, more or less, it changes shape to suit the event it's hosting. So what happens when it hosts a big gay party? Oh the possibilities... [Luxist]
Hedi Slimane shot Prada's new men's ad campaign. It features brothers Louis and Claude Simonon (pictured),sons of Paul and Tricia Simonon, the bass player and manager of Punk band The Clash. Slimane world domination continues. [WWD] Madonna is appearing in an upcoming issues of W -- with insanely hot Brazilian models. Madonna better watch her back because she could be in for a serious upstaging. [Made in Brazil]
Samsonite is partnering with Thom Browne for a capsule luggage line. Browne hopped on board after expressing interest in using 19060s Samsonite luggage in his upcoming presentation at Pitt Uomo in Florence. [WWD]
Bespoke suiting is getting a face-lift. Many tailors are taking cues from contemporary fashion and finishing suits in a slimmer, more contemporary fashion to keep up with changing styles. [WWD] After the success of the YSL sale, Housing Works is staging another blow out re-sale of Steven Alan. The label donated more than 1,000 pieces to the do-gooder second-hand shop. Tis the season, gang. [Housing Works]
The New York Times claims purple is the new pink. Not if we have anything to say about it. [NYT]
Hedi Slimane shot London teenagers for his new portfolio. He scoured the city to find those young lads and lassies who best represent London, finding them anywhere from coffee shops to nightclubs.[Dazed Digital]
Kriss Van Assche's is adding a necklace to his S/S 09 collections. Called "Para Siempre" it's inspired by the "spontaneity and passion" of South America. Expect it in stores in mid-February. [IHT]
Is Robert Menichetti staging a comeback? He's had a string of headline creative director titles -- Burberry, Cerutti in 2001, his own collection a year later, Celine in 2004 -- and he maybe poised to head Italian apparel brand Cruciani. [WWD]
Post-mortem plastic surgery is all the rage. Because the last impression is just as good as the first, we always say. [MSNBC]
Is Hedi Slimane (pictured) planning a return to designing in 2009? We're not sure the source is credible, but, look! More pretty Hedi photography! [The Fashionisto]
Marc Jacobs is re-collaborating with late designer and artist Stephen Sprouse for spring accessories and ready-to-wear. He even posed nude for a scandalous shoot in Harper's Bazaar with only a Sprouse bag to cover his goodies. Says Jacobs, "“I don’t have a problem taking my clothes off, as anybody who has picked up a magazine in the past year could tell you." [WWD]
Could Carine Roitfeld be taking over Vogue? Rumors first posited Editor-in-Chief of Russian Vogue, Aliona Doletskaya, as Anna Wintour's replacement, but we now hear that Si Newhouse flew off to Paris to meet with Roitfeld. Meow! [Gawker]
We know you like everything fitted, but chunky sweaters are back. Oh well, it's fun to leave the boys guessing what lies underneath, right? [IHT]
Hedi Slimane (left) has officially signed with Art + Commerce as a photographer. Could this be the end of his career as a designer? Say it ain't so, Hedi, say it ain't so. [Fashionista]
Not that we don't play dress up all year round, but the gays have a special love for Halloween. And given that it's on a Friday this year, we're going all out. Here to help us with our outfits is Screaming Mimi's, NYC's famed vintage store, which has amassed a huge collection of costumes to guarantee we look our best come October 31st. Their NYC store is located at 382 Lafayette street, but for all you out-of-towners, their online boutique is also well stocked. Happy haunting! [Screaming Mimi's]
Attention: Karl Lagerfeld is in New York. The fashion legend has announced he will make an appearance at the opening of Chanel's Mobile Art show. We're already primping and it has us feeling like teenage girls getting ready to attend a taping of American Idol. [WWD]
Prada launches their second cellphone. It's all touchscreen and whatnot, so, hey, if you like the iPhone but just can't live without the label, here's your alternative. [WWD]
In the age of America's Next Top Model, we've all become weary of the competition winning model whose subsequent career seems to come with a catch. But when Petey Wright was crowned the V Man model competition winner, I couldn't help but be convinced that he's here to stay.
It didn't hurt his case that the V Man spread was shot by Hedi Slimane (who could make Gary Busey look stunning). But Wright himself has that look -- and God, that pout -- that was meant to take him somewhere as soon as he opened the right door.
A quick timeline (via NYMag) of his short but suddenly red-hot career:
> 1988: Born in Nashville, Tennessee > 2008: Wins the V Man and Ford Model Search > June 2008: Debuts at the spring Alexander McQueen show in Milan. Appears as the only model for the spring Yves Saint Laurent show in Paris. > August 2008: Featured on the cover of V Man, photographed by Hedi Slimane.
Stab-us-in-the-heart rumors are swirling that Hedi Slimane may be signing with the Art + Commerce agency,
which already represents photographers such as Craig McDean, Steven
Meisel, and Solve Sundsbo. We love Slimane's photography, but we love his
styling more, so let's hope this doesn't mean he's making a firm move
to the former as his career of choice. [Fashionologie]
It's always fun to see what Vivienne Westwood sends down the runway, and the same goes for what will be on her new album! Though she's not recording her own tracks, she did conceptualize and curate a compilation album of songs, titled Catwalk Breakdown, that inspire her as a fashion designer. But is there a song that sheds light on why she used that ogre of a gypsy model at the men's shows? [British Vogue]
After donating his $1 million Speedo chech to his charity, Michael Phelps fielded some questions about his own personal style. He wears "jeans, polos, button-downs, nothing too fancy." Wow, shocker. Interestingly though, he cites D&G as a favorite designer and he uses Kiehl's lotion. Try and fool us all you want, Mr. Phelps, but I see the inner fashionista through that frat-boy veneer. [The Cut] via [WWD]
Gawker poses the are-you-kidding question of the month: Has ELLE, a fashion magazine, gotten too gay? Fashion?! Gay?! Never... (Full disclosure: they pay my bills, too.) [Gawker]
When the economy takes a hit, fashion usually does too, with safer looks and more traditional styles. But there are still a few labels out there who can keep the fashion avant-garde on their game this Fall. [NYT]
After a seven year hiatus from the scent business, Wolfgang Joop announced he will release a new fragrance in the fall. It will have notes of coriander, vetiver, sandalwood, cinnamon, and patchouli, meaning you'll smell minty fresh. [WWD]
They're in, they're out, they're in, and now, officially, they're out. L.A. boutique Kitson finally got their story straight and said they are dropping Victoria Beckham's men's denim line from dVd because of poor demand. In related news, they are also dropping Lauren Conrad's line as well, but, honestly, who didn't see that coming? [The Cut]
Hedi Slimane is mulling over his fashion comeback and it could involve--wait, are you ready?--his own menswear line! I think I just peed a little...[The Cut] via [WWD]
Thom Browne apparently ruffled some conservative feathers when he wore his signature highwater pants to a reception at the White House hosted by Laura Bush for the winners of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards. One witness said he drew "more than a few stares," especially from guardsman. It's always fun to watch the righties squirm, isn't it? [WWD]
Perma-hottie Garrett Neff is starring in Calvin Klein's new underwear
campaign. Though David Beckham he isn't, he's still just delicious. [British Vogue]
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees were announced yesterday, and among the ten were a few menswear designers: Richard Chai; Alejandro Ingelmo; John Patrick of Organic; and Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons. Remember those names, boys. [Material Interest]
Gay men love fashion, and fashion loves gay men. Is it something in our jeans? Celebrating this long tradition, Truman Says exists to offer advice, tips, and the occasional catty observation on celebrity style coups and faux pas.
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