>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Take Prada Fall 2008, add a dash of Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2008 and you've got a supermodel cocktail for Dsquared2's Spring 2009 campaign — Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista captured in an epic catfight by Steven Meisel, echoing the supermodel theme Dean and Dan Caten had going for their runway show. [Models.com]
>> Peter Som has undeniably had a bout of bad luck in the last few months. First, the mess at Bill Blass, and now with his eponymous line — Creative Design Studios has decided to break their partnership with the designer, forcing Som to cancel his Fall 2009 runway show.
Creative Design Studios is a division of Lord & Taylor, and the company is looking to focus more on its "core businesses" like the department store rather than "strategic partnerships" like Som's line. “We have realized that our strategic interests are no longer aligned and feel that this is the best direction for our company at this time,” Elana Posner, who co-owns the label with the namesake designer and serves as the company's chief executive officer and president, said. The Fashion Week prospects just keep getting dimmer and dimmer . . .
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>> INSIDER WIRE —New York Look, New York magazine's biannual Fashion Week spinoff of the bracing photography and riveting tidbits, won't be publishing a Fall 2009 edition, due to the downturn in print ads, andthe Spring 2010 issue is questionable as well. Some of the content from February's Fashion Week will appear in New York's Fall Fashion issue instead. [WWD]
>> We haven't seen much of Daria Werbowy lately, but the Spring 2009 Robert Cavalli campaign allows us to see at least two sides of her — bronzed glamazon Daria and and modern Marilyn Monroe Daria. Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin helped Cavalli get his money shots — and that's definitely what he's after, judging by his newest foray: the "Cavalli card," a reptillian credit card looking to give the AmEx black card a little competition.
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Cake Not Coke salutes menswear a la Freemans Sporting Club--there is nothing we enjoy more at the end of a long day than reading about menswear.
I Heart Heels anticipates an upcoming interview in Harpers Bazaar. Find out who she's waiting for.
Today is national bubble bath day? Does that mean we can skip the gym? Champagne Taste acknowledges the holiday with a product review.
A Blurred Vision calls up sherbet colors from the Spring 09 catwalks whilst we dream of rooftop dinner parties and weekends at the beach.
>> THE MODELIZER —Nicole Trunfio's skateboarding video must have been a tryout for her new gig. After she returns from her beach vacation with Gemma Ward, she will be taping the second season of Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel, serving as a mentor to the female modeling hopefuls. [The Futon Critic]
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Ever wake up one morning mid-winter and think to yourself, "No, I will not squeeze myself into those jeans another day"--well, this fashion formula has always been our solution. It's much more comfortable than a frock or skirt and let's you play with the androgynous trends ad infinitum. Pair heavy tights, riding boots, and wool shorts with a buttoned-up white blouse, a structured jacket, or a cool, 1970's sweater and we guarantee you'll feel much more chic then when you woke up that morning. Simple as it may be, there's something to be said for those standby combinations that never do you wrong.
>> Although designer couple — and recent editorial favorite — Christina and Swaim Hutson were recently in the running for the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, all the attention couldn't save their menswear-based label, Obedient Sons & Daughters.
Their majority investor wasn't able to provide enough capital to support the necessary growth, so the Hutsons decided to shutter the brand and go a different route. “For the last year, we have continuously fought to maintain daily operations and have exhausted all alternatives and at this point we need to move on,” said Swaim Hutson.
Instead, they are currently designing an independently-owned venture for Fall 2009 — not the only new endeavor for the couple, who are expecting their second child — with a show during New York Fashion Week. The name will be revealed when invitations go out. “This is a huge risk for us, but we feel that it takes us in the right direction,” said Christina. “We are extremely passionate about what we do and truly look forward to our new focus.” The new label will feature men's and womenswear like Obedient Sons & Daughters, but is reportedly not a revision of their former collection.
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Style File reports that New York indie label Obedient Sons & Daughters will be closing down due to lack of capital from their investor. The couple, who just launched an e-commerce site for their menswear range, isn't going to waste any time before they start anew. Swaim and Christina Hutson, it has been reported, will launch their new label during New York Fashion Week. Until then we've not even a name to go on. As sad as we are to see this line go (especially considering how stellar was the Spring 09 collection) we're excited to see with the future has in store for the duo. Let's just pray it still involves suiting. Or, at the very least, womenswear.
Yesterday, when we stopped by trade show Intermezzo we caught a glimpse of Rebecca Minkoff's Spring 09 handbag collection. The brilliant color palette and inclusion of laptop cases to the range had us more than excited for a new year. Unlike the Goyard version, Minkoff's chic laptop cases (which come in neon and embossed nude) retail for just under $200. We don't know about you but we tote around our laptop just as if it were a handbag, so we're starting to think it's deserving of something a little more chic than the black velcro number we currently use. Minkoff's range--laptop cases or no--was impressive to say the least. Check out the Spring 09 styles in our gallery below, and, our interview with designer before the launch of her Fall 08 collection.
