CLAUDIO CINA

Rumors Confirmed - Amy Winehouse for Fred Perry

"I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS COLLECTION WITH FRED PERRY.  WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE IT FINALLY COME TO FRUITION." AmyWinehouse 

all photographs and sketches courtesy fredperry.com

Music & Fashion Icon Amy Winehouse has signed a deal to collaborate with Fred Perry.  Whoever thought of putting the two together couldn't have been more right and in my opinion chosen a better moment.  Although we have not seen her in a long time, these pictures show Amy in top form.  The pieces that she models and collaborated on are very indicative of her personal style, which is classic 50's "Beatnik".  What a gorgeous look book!!!!!!! She has added a touch of retro femininity to the sporty chic British English brand.  The color palette is simple and perfect in shades of pink, black, white and grey.

You can visit fredperry.com and order some of these amazing classics that start from 55£ and go up to 275£.  Be sure to see Amy wearing a lot of Fred Perry when she stages her comeback, which judging by the buzz this new venture, is hopefully soon.

Peter Dundas Turns Up the Heat for Spring at Emilio Pucci

The Emilio Pucci girl has more than just amazing clothes. She's got legs, confidence, and sex appeal oozing out of her! For Spring 2011, Peter Dundas did not hold back.  There were great prints which were inspired by the man that founded the house, but they were reworked and given a new point of view which made them fresh and unexpected. But what I am most impressed with since Mr. Dundas first took the role as creative director of Emilio Pucci is how he's managed to take solid fabrics and make them just as interesting (if not more) than the prints by embellishing them and decorating them to the max, thus, giving them a life of their own.  He opened the show with beautiful tones of blues and whites which he said was inspired by a recent trip to the Greek Islands.  Boy did it show and it was done beautifully, with great options that spanned from day to evening.

all photos courtesy style.com

Emilio Pucci, much like Givenchy, has hired a creative director to bring the brand and it's image into the 21st Century.  In doing so, the house has evolved and developed a new language that has now become very identifiable with Peter Dundas's style for Pucci.  Looking at one any of the exits above, one wouldn't think of anyone else but him which is a great compliment to any designer.

On a side note, many of the people that showed up for the show were left to wait, obviously to no disappointment, for the arrival of Kylie Minogue, who arrived a whopping 45 minutes late.  Take a look at how she just glowed in a gold one shoulder dress from last season's Emilio Pucci show.

New Volumes at Lanvin for Spring 2011

Leave it to Alber Elbaz to make these new volumes and proportions at Lanvin look perfectly right for the moment at Paris fashion week.  Elbaz has been developing and refining his short silhouette over the past seasons, but for Spring, he ventured into new territory introducing a floor length and just below the calf looks that are effortless, fluid, and sexy.   Especially the versions that had a thigh high slit or front opening.  The models looked like they were walking on air, or better yet floating.

all photos courtesy style.com

As always, every design is well thought out and orchestrated.  You definitely know that the woman that wears Lanvin is constantly on the mind of Alber Elbaz, and that, apart from his tremendous talent, is one of  his secrets to success.

His collection for H&M is scheduled to hit stores November 23. Make sure you mark your calendars and make it to stores plenty early as you know that these pieces will be gone even before you get a chance to make it to the dressing room.

 

Up & Comer LAUREN BAGLIORE Shines Light on Toronto Fashion Week

all photos courtesy Lauren Bagliore

Lauren Bagliore's second collection which she debuted at Spring 2011 Toronto fashion week shows that she is no amateur designer.  Her asymmetrical lines, intricately draped jersey dresses and soft tailored pieces came in shades of black, white and grey.  The play on light and dark moments present throughout the collection was inspired by “The Resurrection: From the Dark to the Light.” After experiencing major family tragedies this past years, the designer looked within and created a collection that spoke true to her aesthetic.  As she puts it so nicely, "I love creating edgy, fashion-forward designs and clothes that are beautifully draped and wonderfully cut.  I want women to feel sexy and unique, but also comfortable in my clothes."

Lauren is a friend and native New Yorker.  She currently lives in Calgary where she runs her design studio.  She splits her time between the two cities.  Before launching her own line in Fall 2010, Lauren trained with designers Vivienne Westwood in London and Zac Posen in New York.  

We can definitely be certain that we will be seeing a lot more of Lauren Bagliore's work.  Her sharp aesthetic, attention to the littlest details and determination are part of a humble start that is sure to take this designer very far.

"The Wow Factor" - Worth Couture Fall 2010 Presentation

Worth Couture, which stems from Charles Frederick Worth, the English fashion designer of the 19th Century who is widely cosidered the Father of Haute Couture has seen a return the last few seasons with a new collection by designer Giovanni Bedin.  The clothes take their cue from the couture houses heritage in dressmaking and much like Charles Frederick Worth, Mr. Bedin's attention to luxurious materials and meticulous fit is impeccable.  The clothes are very special and this season, he has made petticoat's an inspiration and incorporated them beautifully into these coat-dress shapes.  As we would say in italian, "molto bambola"  which translated means very doll-like.  Take a look at some of the amazing pieces below.

above; all photos from Worth Couture Fall 2010 courtesy Vougue.co.uk

Scott Schumann & Anna Dello Russo in Worth Couture

Anna Dello Russo & Leigh Lezark;

photo Source: http://www.theclotheswhisperer.co.uk/ courtesy Scott Schuman

And who else to be a perfect ambassador of these shapes and the brand is friend to the blog, "Anna Dello Russo" She looks absolutely amazing and brings the dress from the form in the presentation to life during Paris Fashion Week for the Spring 2011 collections.  I look forward to seeing future runway presentations and hopefully a bigger line from Mr. Bedin as the quality and the craftsmanship truly deserves more air time.

Black At It's Best at Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2011

I can't help but think of Madeleine Vionnet when I look at these clothes.  They are the best BLACK clothes of the season!  Yohji is synonymous with black.   He cuts and drapes beautifully.  It is not always easy to read all the detail that goes into making clothes when you cut them in dark tones but that has never been a problem for Mr. Yamamoto.  The volume of each piece is incredible and it not hard to see why women like the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy adored his work.  They are elegant, edgy, and sexy.

all photos courtesy style.

This season, Yohji added a gothic or be it vampire twist to the collection with psychedelic printed tights and shoes styled that from a distance reminded you of  a tattooed body.  A knod to punk?

These are not only the type of clothes that you see women buying and wearing today but they have a timeless element to them as well.  You can pull one of his designs from the past and wear it as if it were one of his latest. That is what I call talent.  His pieces can also stand on their own in any museum exhibit, leaving the viewer to stop, observe and wonder exactly how each one was made. 

Yohji Yamamoto is one of the rare talents of the Fashion industry and as it would be hard to think of fashion and not think of Yohji.

Leaving Us SPEECHLESS - Lady Gaga First Artist to Reach 1 Billion You Tube Views

Out Magazine photos shot by Ellen von Unwerth courtesy Lady Gaga.com

Today marks another milestone in the pop star's singer's career.  She is the first artist to hit the one-billion mark on You Tube alone.  Acknowledging this fact with her many fans and followers on Twitter, she writes, "We reached 1 Billion views on youtube little monsters!  If we stick together we can do anything. I dub u kings and queens of youtube! Unite!"

Lady Gaga is by far the most talked about and popular singer on every major internet websites.  We want to congratulate her on this and continuing the use of her success to break down boundaries and bring attention to things that many in the past have swept under the carpet.

I am still waiting for your American Vogue Cover.  I feel it coming soon!!!!!!  Ciao GAGA

Preview Kate Moss for Topshop Autumn 2010

Today's post is a short preview into Kate Moss's Autumn 2010 line for Topshop set to launch online November 2, 2010 on Topshop.com.  The video is so easy to watch with Kate Moss directing a few of her friends in a Personal Shopping Suite playing dress up while sipping champagne and eating cupcakes......exactly what one would imagine doing if you were one of Kate's friend! The clothes are always easy, very fashion, and a lot of fun.  There are always elements in the collection of things that she loves; a Marianne Faithful moment, a 70's moment, a Bohemian moment and of course, a 30's evening dress moment.  All of these things are signature Kate and keep the droves of fashionistas coming back for more.  Sir Philip Green, the British billionaire who owns Topshop was definitely brilliant in bringing these two forces together.  Kate has such an identifiable style that every woman is after.  Of all the people photographed, Kate's photos are timeless as is her beauty and style. 

Take a look at the London cool girls Adwoa Aboah, Cara Delevingne, Genevieve Garner, Rosalyn Holman, and Jessica Horton having so much fun playing dress up with none other than Kate herself.  WE LOVE YOU KATE!

   

Kenzo Celebrates 40 Years With The Release of a New Book

Scheduled to hit stores this week in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of house, Rizzoli is releasing KENZO, a hardback fabric covered book available in 3 different printed patterns.  It is a 9x12 format with 304 pages of which 300 contain color illustrations priced at $75.  This is the first extensive book ever published to date and is a great collection and visual dialogue between two great fashion designers, Kenzo Takada (who retired in 1999) and Antonio Marras (who has been designing for the label the last 6 years)

I love love love that you get to choose you own cover.  My favorite print and the one I am looking forward to owning is the turquoise ground with the multi colored flowers.  It is very typical of the Asian influence that Kenzo Takada, the founder of Kenzo is known for.  The boldness of the patterns is true to how the collection was originally envisioned.  The first designs started because he could only afford to buy his fabrics from flea markerts. Because of this, Kenzo had to mix many bold fabrics together in one garment.

Below is the Spring 2011 collection presented at Milan Fashion Week by Antonio Marras for the house.  The prints as always were very beautiful and the proportions and silhouette bounced around the body in a very sensual and sexy way.  The layered touches of lingerie were great, especially when that touch or pop of color finished off the look.

all runway photos courtesy style.com

As Rizzoli.com puts it, "This book is truly an art object in and of itself."  I would also add that so are the clothes!  I love what Antonio Marras is doing for Kenzo.  It is so great to see when there is a wonderful pairing of an established fashion house such as Kenzo with a super talented designer like Antonio Marras.  The results speak for themselves. Here's to another 40.

Truly A Prized Possession: RICHARD MISRACH ON THE BEACH

I've come to believe that beauty can be a very powerful conveyer of difficult ideas." - Richard Misrach

Detail Richard Misrach, Untitled 696-05, 2005 from On the Beach

Richard Misrach, Untitled 394-03, 2003-2004 from On the Beach

Richard Misrach, Untitled 892-03, 2003 from On the Beach

Richard Misrach, Untitled 704-03, 2003 from On The Beach

Collection of Richard Misrach courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco; Pace/MacGill Gallery New York and March Selwyn Fine Arts, Los Angeles

Today's post is inspired by one of my favorite books from a traveling exhibition from years back called On the Beach by Richard Misrach published by Aperture that is very scarce and hard to find. The book itself is of gigantic proportion as is Misrach's work. Owning the book makes you feel like you own each and every one of those pieces (don't I wish........or even one of them)

He is one of my favorite photographers.  After seeing some of his photographs, you can clearly see why.  Stunning!  The large scale presentation of these works (some as large as 6 by 10 feet) is something to marvel over once you are done being taken by the vivid colors, textures, lighting and composition.  

His study of beaches, the ocean, sunbathers and swimmers from a viewpoint high above were taken over a four year period in Hawaii.  In order heighten the feeling of isolation, Misrach scanned the negatives into a computer and digitally removed people from the photos.

As Misrach describes it, "The photographs that appear in On the Beach were made between January 2002 - November 2005.  My thinking was influenced by the events of 9/11, as well as by the 1950's Cold War novel and film, On the Beach.  I was drawn to the fragility and grace of the human figure in the landscape.  For me, the work is both a celebration of our survival and an elegy.  Paradise has become an uneasy dwelling place; the sublime sea frames our vulnerability, the precarious nature of life itself"