Watching the work of your fashion heroes during this week is fun, but even more fun is discovering new people who inspire. Here’s a look back at the three steps it took for me to fall in love with the so-new-she’s-still-unsigned French singer Soko.
STEP 1: Tuesday night, I took my friend Sened to the Jeremy Scott/Colette party at Elysée Montmartre…
When I saw Scott Shuman of The Sartorialist outside of Chanel this morning, I promptly ambushed him with my Chicago fashion question.
First off, he had to give love to the city by saying that he remembers getting really excited to check out Ultimo when he visited in the ’80s (Scott’s from Indianapolis). As far as shooting street style, he thinks there are neighborhoods that are good, but so many Chicagoans drive, which makes it hard…
Ah, Chanel. You could never mistake it for any other show, even if Karl Lagerfeld incorporates other trends that are in vogue.
Just pick any of this season’s nouveautés and it will be there, but looking very Chanel, of course. Romper onesie? Check. Transparency? Check. ’90s Nirvana plaid, wide legged denim, black and white graphics? Check, check, check…
Better than Blockbuster
Perhaps the best reason to live on popcorn alone: the Chicago International Film Festival opened last night and runs through Wednesday the 17th with hundreds of documentaries, features, and shorts from 44 countries. High-profile attendees include Tony-winner Jeffrey Wright, star of the fest entry Blackout and recipient of this year’s Black Perspectives career achievement award (Black Perspectives Tribute and Party, Saturday the 13th), but we recommend balancing your out-of-town intake with a shot or two of local talent. In America the Beautiful, Chicagoan Darryl Roberts interviews advertising and fashion pros about…
After my final show this evening, I walked to the Printemps department store to buy a new pair of black tights. My only clean pair is now snagged, thanks to a run-in with a Chrome Hearts bracelet. Fashion foul! Since I was coming from the Tuileries gardens, I decided to take the rue Cambon, home of Chanel headquarters. Knowing that Karl Lagerfeld’s show for Chanel happens to be tomorrow, the air felt heavy with anticipation. Well, to me at least. To the normal people walking down the street I imagine it felt muggy and a bit cool…
Last season, Givenchy’s chic, dark, romantic look seemed to be a harbinger for Mary Kate and Ashley—they went chic, dark, and romantic with their own look at around the same time.
So what could the show be telling us this time? When I saw the first model, I thought I had wandered into a Kate Spade show. Polka dots? Isn’t that a bit preppy for Givenchy?
A roundup of some favorite shows from yesterday and today
Andrew Gn
What smart designer isn’t delving into the shoes and handbags these days? Gn’s amazing jewel-toned heels had my full attention. The ’60s-style ballgowns weren’t bad either.
A lot of Fashion Week-ers complain about the hot venues. You think, “Could it really be so bad?”—until you find yourself sitting inside a clear plastic tent in the middle of the day. Remember holding a piece of glass over ants to fry them with the sunlight? It’s the same concept.
Which is why I wasn’t surprised when I got a text from Stacey yesterday: “I’m at Dior, and it’s sooo hot here!”
But she at least had something to distract her. Five minutes later she texts this: “Sting and Trudie are 4 rows in front of me! Trudie has on a very French beret!”…
It turns out I had two misses last night: I did not get to meet The Sartorialist and give him my pitch on Chicago style,* and I did not get to see the Yohji show (no cabs, merci rainy Paris weather!).
It worked out okay, though. I still got to attend the coolest party of the week, at the coolest store in the world, Colette. The soirée was to fête street photographers and bloggers…
Cult of Personality
The iconic housewares design company Alessi has opened a new Chicago flagship store at 611 North State Street (312-274-6500, alessi.com), one of six nationwide. The Italian-based company made its name by asking architects to design housewares and kitchen items. Many became cult objects, such as the Anna G bottle opener ($49) designed by Alessandro Mendini and the Michael Graves tea kettle ($149) equipped with a bird whistle. At the store, you’ll find the line’s trademark whimsical items such as the parrot corkscrew ($49) and the brightly colored Kaj watch ($85) from artist Karim Rashid, as well as…
