Thom Browne was reportedly in danger of bankruptcy, but now the designer claims that isn't so. He would still appreciate a financial backer, however, to grow. [WWD]
The same cannot be said, however, for Marc Ecko. The Post is reporting that he owes investors upwards of $170 million and has to make cuts across the board. The lable says the situation is not "life-threatening at all." [NYP]
Thierry Mugler's costumes for Beyonce's tour have been revealed. They're being labled "Sasha Warrior" and, yes, it still incorporates that metal glove thing. [The Cut]
Matthew Williamson has this to say about his new menswear line: "For the first time in 12 years, I could think of what I’d want to wear myself. I went to my wardrobe and picked out my favorite pieces and reworked things I’ve collected. The vibe is British boy on holiday in Cuba returning to England by way of Ibiza or one of the Greek islands.” [NYP]
West Side Story chic? The New York Times investigates the timeless style in the wake of the revived musical. [NYT]
When Florence's Pitti Uomo stole the beloved Thom Browne from New York Fashion Week, we felt a little snubbed. Yes, Italy is known for its style, its grace, it's beautiful men -- but, Mr. Browne, you are American! And thus we firmly held that you belonged here, with us, at New York Fashion Week.
Nevertheless, we have to give Browne credit for wowing European audiences with a Florentine collection that actually was presented more like a performance piece than a runway show. But, this is Thom Browne we are talking about here, and rarely does he do anything commonplace or expected. At last night's GQ toast for the six finalists in the its Best New Menswear Designers in American competition, Browne reassured us he isn't snubbing New York: "I've been wanting to show in Europe for a while. It had nothing to do with not wanting to show here, I was invited to show here."
When it was speculated that perhaps his European showing might have had something to do with the fact that his designs often run antithetical to the mainstream, especially in the U.S., Browne responded, "I never trend to or away from anything. So I hope everybody is just conscious of doing their own thing." So, basically, he's just doing what he's doing because that's what he likes doing. No hard feelings.
As if Thom Browne's (pictured) fashion shows weren't weird enough, this just in from WWD: "For his show at Pitti Uomo in Florence, men’s designer Thom Browne
conceived a tightly synchronized and hyper-condensed day in the life of
an office drone, circa 1955. Forty models, moving in unison, typed at
identical desks, ate identical lunches, and…wait for it…wore the exact
same outfit. Forty of them." [WWD]
Dolce & Gabbana have more than just a fashion show planned for men's week in Milan. A lucky few will also be personally invited to watch David Beckham play for AC Milan (where he's doing a brief stint during the U.S. off season) in a private Box with not only Stefano and Domenico, but Victoria Beckham herself. [WWD] In other D&G news, expect more controversy from their next round of ads. They will reportedly feature men on their knees praying, which the designers know will cause a ruckus, but they insist it actually promotes a return to values. Here's what we value: men with no shirts. So I think we'll be OK. [Fashionista]
Valentino is in the muck again. He and business partner Giancarlo Giammetti are being fined $39 million for tax evasion. [WWD]
Church's is expanding into lifestyle accessories. The traditional British footwear company (owned by Prada) unveiled silk ties, cashmere scarves, blankets, small leather goods and an umbrella at Pitt Uomo. [WWD]
Smell This: Burberry's new unisex fragrance, The Beat, which is targeted at the label's new younger demographic. [Fashionisto]
Who doesn't love a good mix? Kris Van Assche apparently does. Rumor has it he's commissioned former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren to create a special mix for the Dior Homme men's fashion show. [WWD]
A $8,250 Louis Vuitton skateboard? Sure. Why not? They're part of the Stephen Sprouse collaboration and you can pick up yours today at the Louis Vuitton Soho store with proceeds benefiting the Free Arts NYC program. [The Cut]
Now that Thom Browne (pictured) is at Pitti Uomo with his new collection, he has some Florentine favorites. And he'd like to share them with you. How thoughtful. [WWD]
WWD is reporting that European Luxe brands are bracing for 2009 with a return to basics... but they're also reporting that Pitti Uomo is going to be rife "with new brands and a fresh, contemporary edge." Make up your minds already! [WWD]
Vivienne Westwood wants to write the new Sex & the City movie. As long as it doesn't involve another Carrie/Big break-up-make-up, we're OK with that. [The Cut] Remember those Henry Holland t-shirts we mentioned a while back cartoonishly depicting the fashion elite in compromising poses and outfits? Well there's now a lookbook for said tees, and Agyness Deyn is modeling them. Surprise surprise. [The Fashionisto] Heads up on Manhattan's Lower East Side: Greg Armas now does custom. The man behind crowd favorite shop Assembly is rolling out handmade creations in collaboration with some of his favorite brands, including pieces with Mary Ping and leather accessories label Makr. [Refinery 29]
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]
Care to know what your favorite designers were up to on election night?
Among others, Thom Browne was on a plane to Milan and missed all the raucous celebratory festivities. Sucks to be a tastemaker sometimes, doesn't
it? [Refinery 29] Marc Jacobs is canceling his annual holiday party. Conde Nast and MJ bringing down the axe? Let's hope Obama's win last night turns things around or it's going to be a sloppy holiday season (as if it weren't already). [Fashionista]
Tom Ford is adding new new names to his cast list for A Single Man. Big Love's Ginniger Goodwin and remember-when-he-was-a-cute-kid Nicholas Hoult (from About a Boy) have both signed on. [Hollywood Reporter]
Yesterday was Ms. Anna Wintour's 59th birthday. As evident in these pictures from her vast years in fashion, she's been rocking it for a long time. The skirts were shorter, but the glare was just as icy. [Fashionologie]
Patrick Grant, of Savile Row's Norton and Sons, asserts the trend is about "reclaiming the suit from 'the City,'" and believes that carefully tailored pieces are in demand because as of late there has been "a return to elegance but also a return to craft -- people are coming to us because they want something made for them, but also made with integrity."
Ponystep's Fashion Editor Jean-Marc Masala sees the trend as the result of denim losing its rebellious associations. "Jeans don't have the power they used to have -- they are not a freedom flag anymore," he said. "Ankle trousers are cool because they make you look like you belong to a gang -- everything from rave kids to ecopunks. Plus the sexualizaion of everything makes people think 'The more I flash the better.'"
We're all for more skin, and there's something faintly romantic and courtly about the idea of coquettishly baring an ankle, but that doesn't mean we're ever come to terms with the idea of pegged pants making a comeback.
Olympic swimmer and Phelps BFF Ryan Lochte (left) says he wants to design clothing. He's already done a few things for Speedo, but, after hitting the scene at New York Fashion Week, his wheels are turning for his own line. "It’s going to be a mix of dressy, punk, rapper, surfer, and skateboarder," says Lochte. Sounds incredibly focused, but if the ads could involve guys throwing each other into a pool, we're on board. [The Cut]
Thom Browne, who's always full of surprises, has been tapped to design a menswear line for Moncler. The new line will be called Gamme Bleu and will meld Browne's preppy American syle with Moncler's sportier heritage. He's also said to be developing a few items for the home as well. Can he be stopped? We hope not. [DNR]
The Levi’s 501 button-fly line of jeans is joining with gay media for a queer take on its "Unbuttoned" campaign. Beyond the ads you may have seen on this site and others, Levi’s 501 will be the sole sponsor of an uncensored program block that Logo will introduce next month, which will run original cuts of Queer as Folk and The L Word during the prime gay witching hours of 1 to 3 a.m. on Sunday mornings. [NYT]
Yigal Azrouël delighted the male fashion industry with his first presentation of menswear, and the designer answered a few questions about his inspiration for the Yigal man. Though the clothes were nice, the male models (twins among them!) were nicer. [The Cut] -- SETH PLATTNER
He hasn't even shown his Spring collection yet, but Thom Browne has already committed to showing his Fall collection at the Pitt Uomo trade show in Florence next season. It saddens me that we won't be treated to cropped pants, boy-cut blazers, and some crazy overcoat of questionable material (feathers? roses? human hair?), but those fearless Italians should cozy up to such designs quite nicely. [Material Interest]
Eric Wilson, ever ready to give his opinion over at the New York
Times, reviews the men's collections shown thus far at New York Fashion
Week. Surprisingly, he keeps the verbosity to one page. [NYT]
Given that Roger Federer has been stuck on the court during Fashion Week, Anna Wintour had to find his arm-candy replacement, and that man might be Justin Timberlake. She was seen congratulating him after the William Rast show and overheard saying to Timberlake, "Can we get together soon?" [Fashion Disclosure]
Also from the William Rast show, crowd-goers were confused and slightly put-off when Timberlake refused interviews and opted out of performing, despite heavy handed rumors he was going to take the stage at the end of the show. Wonder what made him so shy all of a sudden? Was he smitten over Anna's invitation? [WWD]
Gay men love fashion, and fashion loves gay men. Is it something in our jeans? Celebrating this long tradition, Stylelist exists to offer advice, tips, and the occasional catty observation on celebrity style coups and faux pas.
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