Cushnie et Ochs sent ultra revealing slashed dresses down the runway for spring 2010. To get a similar—if a bit understated—version of the look, try Alexander Wang's mesh cut out jersey skirt or Topshop's asymmetrical long sleeve mini. For the even more modest-minded, Alexander McQueen offers a turtle neck dress with sharp slits just above the elbow.
Daphne Guinness, Byrdie Bell, Julie Henderson, Lauren Remington Platt, Adrien Brody, Marc Jacobs, and Lorenzo Martone gathered at The Standard hotel in New York to join Valentino in celebrating the DVD launch of the documentary film Valentino: The Last Emperor. Madonna and Jesus Luz also attended the party, but avoided cameras by sneaking out a back exit post-event with Steven Klein.
New York 11/03/09. WireImage
>> Anna Wintour, Tom Florio Get New Gigs —Changes are happening all around for Anna Wintour — her fundraising efforts and continual Obama administration support have earned her one of the 25 spots on the new President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The committee, which also includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Forrest Whitaker, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Yo-Yo Ma, and Bryan Lourd, co-chairman of Creative Artists Agency, will advise the President on how to expand the role of arts in society. She's also getting a new colleague: Vogue and Teen Vogue publisher Tom Florio is becoming SVP and publishing director at Conde Nast, adding Bon Appetit and Conde Nast Traveler to his portfolio, while Susan Plagemann, VP and Marie Claire publisher, will report to him as the new VP and publisher of Vogue starting Jan. 4. [WWD, WWD]
The Riviera Club menswear look book reminds us just how much we love the laid back vintage style of Southern California surfers. In their debut collection, friends and designers Derek Buse, Greg Ullery, and Joe Sadler looked to a man named Bucker Spreckels—a real life Los Angeles party boy who spent his multimillion dollar inheritance surfing around the globe and chasing women before dying very young—as inspiration for the spring 2010 collection. Each season the boys of Riviera Club have vowed to search for a different real-life or mythical muse, hopefully without losing their specific brand of West Coast charm.
>> Escada, which has floundered in recent years and ultimately filed for bankruptcy in August, is expected to have a new owner by the end of this week, sources told Reuters today. Three bidders are in the running — among the most serious are Sven Ley, son of Escada founder Wolfgang Ley, who teamed up with former Gucci head Giacomo Santucci and Italian investment group Borletti (which also recently made a bid on Christian Lacroix) and Megha Mittal, daughter-in-law of billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.
If Ley's group wins out, they plan to replace current Escada CEO Bruno Saelzer with Santucci, whereas Mittal supports Saelzer's approach of turning the brand away from its evening gown legacy and repositioning it in affordable luxury.
>> Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Dolce & Gabbana Campaigns Under Way —Last week, Gucci wrapped its Spring 2010 ad campaign shoot in Miami, with Emmanuelle Alt styling once again, and this week, it sounds like Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana are taking care of business. Mary Alice Stephenson Tweets that Vuitton is shooting today in New York — Lara Stone has reportedly replaced Madonna for the brand, with Steven Meisel on photo duty — while Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce left for New York earlier today for their ad campaign shoot — funnily enough, Madonna is said to be on Dolce & Gabbana menswear duty this upcoming season. [@LiveFashionWeek, @maryalicestyle, @stefanogabbana]
Does the world really need another fashion magazine? In this case, yes it does. Launching in London this week, Twin magazine plans to stand out from the fashion crowd with its promises to, "love creative women and not worship empty celebrity" and "peel back the gloss and gets back to the basics of magazine-making."
Issue one of this hard-back bi-annual features a poetry portfolio curated by Carol Ann Duffy, the first female poet laureate, writing by Miranda July, and photography by Todd Selby and Garance Doré.
Models Freja Beha Erichsen and Kim Noorda also appear in the first issue, videos of which you can see here.
[Twin, Style File]
Natalie Portman the current V magazine cover girl, shot by Mario Testino in London.
The son of Escada founder enters bid to bail out the company.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, formerly head of events at Vogue, has been named director of Lincoln Center fashion week.
Vogue.TV stylist, Louise Roe, on new ways to wear the classic snow boot.
Victoria's Secret announces Chanel Iman among the new angels.
Anna Wintour is appointed to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities along with Sarah Jessica Parker and Edward Norton.
Source: WWD
