A Love Affair: Bottega Veneta

In the Spring of 2007, I fell in love with the design techniques of Tomas Maier, creative director for Bottega Veneta. Ever since then, he has always created clothes for his daintily sophisticated women, whom always has a knotted clutch. Take a trip with me (as it IS a trip down memory lane for me) and learn and watch the slow-changing designs of Tomas Maier.

Spring 2007

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

Fall 2008

Spring 2009

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Cousins?

Could Dutch model Ymre Stiekema and American skier Lindsey Vonn be distant cousins? You tell me.
Image of Ymre from FMD. Image of Lindsey Vonn from versatek.com.

Lindsey Vonn

 

Ymre Stiekema

Muiccia Prada's Set Up

On the heels of Muiccia Prada's latest collection for her family's label, everyone is gawking about her and her team's designs and casting. If there was ever a designer that was unpredictable, it is she. Thus, whatever is shown will generate buzz and whomever is walking will have a generous career extender (save Ymre Stiekema). For her Fall/Winter 2010/2011 collection, she showed "different" designs but wonderfully classic shapes that work on women with a normal size hip. But what has seemed to loom over everyone's head, without considerable thought, has been Muiccia's ability to subtly craft these shapes over several seasons of time, and it seems that we've finally paid attention.

Three out of the past four major Prada collections (including this one) have shown us a blast from the past and have created shapes that work well for women of different sizes. It seems that she has been setting us up since September 2008 (when she showed the first of three collections in question). Take a look for yourself. Images from style.com. Image of Muiccia Prada from Anyway James.

Spring 2009

 

  

Fall 2009

 

  

Fall 2010 

   

 

Tagliapietra and Costello

In the pre-show interview that Alexander Wang gave during the live-stream of his Fall/Winter 2010 Ready-to-Wear show, he stated that he hopes to make clothes that women want to wear. With all respect to his presentation skills, it can seem quite confusing looking at his jumbled mess of presentation.

If it's sensible womenswear that you want, look no further than the duo of Jeffery Costello and Robert Tagliapietra. They always present wonderful cocktail dresses and business wear for women that want to look upscale and lovely. Take a look at their past three collections.

Fall/Winter 2009

 

Spring 2010

Fall/Winter 2010

Life, Captured

This commercial from Super Bowl 44 captures a scene of African-American life so well. I love it and I know you love it too.

Funny Girls

Enjoy.

The Hit Girls of 2007

 

US Vogue May 2007 Cover

While doing pre-production for a photo shoot, I was having a discussion about the meaning of a supermodel. In reality, the definition of the word supermodel changes as the times change. Back in the late 80s and through a majority of the 90s, the supermodels (more appropriately known as the "supers") of the world were women who's personality superseded everything else (see Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, etc.). In the late 70s and  through the 80s, the supermodels were the wild women who partied like no tomorrow but still worked their butts off (see Jerry Hall, Janice Dickinson, etc.). Back in 2007, the editors of US Vogue didn't go as far as name 10 women supermodels (as they did for the previous crop of women before them in the early 90s). They simply presented fashion's next superstars. The supermodel part was up to them.

At that moment, each girl was enjoying her own success. Several of them each had a "moment," a time when the fashion world took notice, and several others were already staples in the industry.

For me, these ten girls are my "supers." I can relate to most of them, as they are my age. We probably have read the same classic novels and have similar interests. For me, these women make the industry a better place, and I smile a huge smile every time one appears on the page or on front stage.

  

Hilary Rhoda, 22, United States

Sasha Pivovarova, 24, Russia

Agyness Deyn, 23, England

Coco Rocha, 20, Canada

Doutzen Kroes, 24, the Netherlands

Chanel Iman, 18, United States

Lily Donaldson, 22, England

Raquel Zimmermann, 26, Brazil

Caroline Trentini, 21, Brazil

Jessica Stam, 23, Canada

MOMENT GIRLS

Half of the ten girls had fashion moments and ever since then, they've been on the non-stop rise. 

 

Agyness' moment occurred when Steven Meisel shot her for this November 2006 cover of Italian Vogue. Instantly, the world saw this androgynous 5'11"  girl on a new level. She's been everywhere ever since.

As an oddity, Chanel's moment occured when this issue (May 2007) hit the news stands in late April. Her career was just picking up. This feature pushed in into the stratosphere.

You can watch Coco's moment here, as she opened and closed the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2007 show.

 

Hilary's shine (no pun intended) occurred as she walked for Nicholas Ghesquiere for his Spring 2006 collection for Balenciaga.

  

Sasha's blank stare, which became known as the "Prada Stare," served as her moment, as Steven Meisel lensed her for this December 2005 cover of Italian Vogue.

STAPLE GIRLS

The other half were already staples in the industry, walking for designers, racking up campaigns, and being featured in editorials alike.

  

Oscar de la Renta, Fall/Winter 2007

Valentino, Spring 2006

Christian Dior, Fall/Winter 2007

Italian Vogue Cover, March 2005

David Sims' "Glamorama," US Vogue March 2007

I LOVE Raquel Zimmermann

 

  

 

I've always loved Raquel Zimmermann. She's such a seasoned model; designers know that they'll have a fantastic show with her on the roster; stylists and photographers love to work with her because she always keeps the the laughter coming. Now, she's entertaining with this Nick Knight video. Enjoy. Videos from TheImagist and YouTube. Images from FMD.

Galliano loves Georgina

 

  

John Galliano has a thing for the American model Karlie Kloss. She opened not only opened the Spring 2010 Christian Dior Ready-to-Wear (RTW) AND the Spring 2010 Couture presentation, but she bagged the Spring 2010 campaign. At the end of the Couture presentation, he got down on one knee and kissed the hand of Miss. Kloss. Clearly, he is smitten with her. Campaign images from Models.com. Runway images from Style.com.

 

Kloss opening the Spring 2010 RTW show

Kloss backstage

 

  

Kloss opening the Spring 2010 Couture show

Even though Mr. Galliano is almost in muse, there is another young model that he has much respect for and she is on her way to great things. Her name: Georgina Stojiljkovic, from Serbia. She was just another model that walked the shows, until she had her moment: closing the Fall 2008 Couture presentation, in a wonderfully crystallized black gown, that had the audience in awe.

After some research, I noticed that Stojiljkovic has been walking in Dior shows for several seasons now, and her beauty and poise has only been magnified since her first appearance. All images from Style.com.

 

Stojiljkovic at the Fall 2008 RTW show

  

Stojiljkovic at the 2009 Resort show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Fall 2008 Couture show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Spring 2009 RTW show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Spring 2009 Couture show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Fall 2009 RTW show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Fall 2009 Couture show

 

Stojiljkovic at the Spring 2010 Couture show