Watch Gisele "KISS THE SKY"

W Magazine continues to inspire with contributing photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot, normally referred to as Mert & Marcus. The spread was styled by Alex White for the August 08 issue. http://www.wmagazine.com/ link will allow you to see Gisele in 10 different poses.

I am more than delighted Gisele still models here & there. I am not a huge fan of the "new models" like Jessica Stam or Chanel Iman. I do like Diana Dondoe. 

Another place I like to look at fashion is Allure Magazine. Photographer Michael Thompson and Creative Director, Paul Cavaco present fashion in a provocative way. 

I have given up on American Elle. I think Joe Zee is a good stylist but doesn't have the chops to be a Creative Director. 

I'll stop there. For now that is. 

My wish: a whole new crop of girls who could replace the supermodels of the 90's. Jessica Stam is never going to make you sigh - Gisele still does & I am thankful for that. 

I am not happy that Blogspot.com can't technically complete 3 paragraphs without making spaces where there shouldn't be. 

Karl Lagerfeld is losing it...

Bow ties for women? 

No.

No.

No.

Moving

I was just getting started on this blog. I have really enjoyed writing to you.

In 11 days I have to move. Looking for an apartment is NYC is a full-time job. If you don't live here, I have no way to explain without sounding like I am complaining.

I have so much to share with you. I found a stationery store in Barrington, Illinois that has beautiful stationery from Italy. I wanted to let you about the store and the very women who tend to it. I try to write a note or a letter once a week. When I received a letter from my 13 year old niece, I asked her why she wrote me. She said "With all this new technology, people are going to forget how to write." Said in a teenage voice, I was quite taken.

I also wanted to let you know about a great way to banish blemishes, leather jackets that are going to make you look sexy, the art of bathing, a new way to wear pearls so you don't look like your Nana, the list goes on.

You might catch a couple of postings before August 1 but I am going to be pretty darn busy. Please don't forget to come back to my site. 

Thank you very much. 

APM 

P.S. Blogspot.com kills me - how they can change the size of the font is beyond me. I might have to transfer this blog to another site. I will definitely let you know! Ciao for now.

L'uomo Vogue: Why Diddy?

If you live in New York, you read the NY Post for no other reason than Page Six. It's a gossip column & while I am not big on celebrities, the editor Richard Johnson does a good job of making gossip fun or funny or in this case, disgusting.

According to Page Six today, Puff Daddy, Diddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, Sean Combs - whatever you want to call him is going to be the President. 

In L'uomo Vogue that is. 

They're going to shoot him as Barack Obama sitting in the Oval Office, running for President & making campaign spots.

At one time whats-his-name was a force in the music business. He discovered & signed the Notorious B.I.G. and made a couple of good albums. My biggest problem with this guy is he's constantly in court because he's not paying child support. He's worth how many millions & he's cheap skate? Blech. There's more but my desire to spend anytime on this guy is almost nil. We look to European fashion magazines for unique fashion-layouts and great photographers that American fashion magazines don't pay much attention to. 

There are so many hip-hop gentleman who would make a better President if you're hearing me  L'uomo Vogue.

Short List:

Andre 3000 

Big Boi 

Kanye West

Jay-Z

Nas (great new album just dropped)

Ne-Yo

Mos Def

Farnsworth

Snoop Dogg

Chuck D.

Common

50 Cent

Akon

LL Cool J

Rakim

RZA

Dr. Dre

Lil Wayne (if you gave him platform shoes)

All these guys have the swagger and the good looks to pull off Obama. Diddy is such a lame idea. 

Bob Dylan in White Denim?

Dylan not only looks sexy, he looks sophisticated. It's 1969 and it looks like BD & his lady friend are in an airport. I love how his white denim jeans are straight-legged but not skinny tight. His distressed leather jacket buckled up and white collared shirt makes for a streamlined look.

Dylan with a briefcase? Why not? I like it tucked under his arm.

Why don't most people dress up when they travel? Because "I want to be comfortable." That's not a good answer. The least you can do is wear a nice pair of slacks, a cashmere sweater, even ballet slippers although every girl seems to own a pair. You need to fly in sweat pants? Pack them in your carry-on. Sneakers? They're for the gym and should not ever be worn in public unless you have a pair of Converse sneakers. They are always acceptable. My friend Ryan has great ideas for sneakers although they are a bit pricey. You can see them at WhatHeWears.blogspot.com

I have much more to say about what to wear/bring when you are getting on a jet plane but let's keep talking about Dylan. He's fascinating.   

Did you ever read Bob Dylan Chronicles? Came out in 2004. You don't have to be a fan of his music. He writes about his life, people who inspired him, his grandmother and I think one of the reasons he is such a great song writer is because he read the classics.

We're talking Balzac, C.S. Lewis, Maupassant, Dickens, Faulkner - that's the short list. 

This is what he had to say about Johnny Cash:

"Johnny Cash's records were no exception, but they weren't what you expected. Johnny didn't have a piercing yell, but ten thousand years of culture fell from him. He could have been a cave dweller.  He sounds like he's at the edge of the fire, or in the deep snow, or in a ghostly forest, the coolness of conscious obvious strength, full tilt and vibrant with danger. 'I keep a close watch on this heart of mine.' Indeed. I must have recited those lines to myself a million times."

Advice all of us could use. 

APM 

Halston designer fired - blech

Halston was one of the most glamorous & talented designers in the 70s. Since his death in 1990, five designers have tried to revive the Halston line with no success. 

Last year Harvey Weinstein (movie maker & a douche - I am being nice) & Hilco bought Halston & hired the very talented Marco Zanini. He was Donatella Versace's right hand and also had designing stints at Dolce & Gabbana & Lawrence Steele.

Tamara Mellon (President of Jimmy Choo) brought the idea to Weinstein. She was put on the board along with Rachel Zoe (talented stylist). That's a train wreck in the making. Three people having creative input? Not gonna happen. There have been very few successful designer partnerships. Mellon is not creative in a design sort of way, Zoe is but she allegedly did not get along with Marco. The fashion industry made a hullaballoo when Zoe didn't appear at Halston's show in February. Why would she?

In a first, Net-a-Porter, the popular European fashion online retailer signed on to sell Halston's pieces the day after the runway show. All the items they put up sold out in one day & they weren't even the best of the collection. 

American fashion critics gave it a luke warm review. So what? What new designer who is trying to reinvent a famous & much loved dead designer is going to be received with open arms? Give the guy a break. I was not in love with the show but a gown like the one shown here made me think this could work if Zanini was left on his own. 

U.S. retailers were not interested although European and Asians liked the collection very much.

Zanini will show his Spring/Summer 09 Halston collection in the fall during Fashion week.

Rumors are stirring that Weinstein's very young wife - talented Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman will take over. 

Firing Zanini was wrong in so many ways. It's a blessing in disguise though. I would rather patch cement holes on Manhattan streets when it's 90 degrees and humid than work for Weinstein.

APM 

 

 

Who can resist the fleur de lye?

The fleur de lye translates from the French as a lily flower. Would I be wrong to think most Americans think it symbolizes the French monarchy? In any case, most of us have some sort of affection for this symbol. Next week, Club Monaco is unveiling a collection of fleur de lye jewelry at their flagship stores. As always at CM, the prices are reasonable. The necklace shown here is only $59.00. We're not talking real gold so if your delicate skin can only handle 14K gold, you can brush clear nail polish over the charm and chain. I would skip the charm necklace. They have been very popular this summer but fall is approaching and it's time for new trinkets. 

APM