We dropped by the store in the Paris Marais district for a visit with Christophe the Creative Director of the brand.
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Download File: http://www.blackandpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/robinson-1.mp4?_=1
Many cities in the world compare themselves to Paris but there is only one. The “City of Lights” has always captivated and charmed visitors from around the world. Whether searching for the perfect intimate sidewalk cafe or wanting to shop in one of the many fashionable stores, Paris maintains its reputation as the capital of CHIC.
Gods and Kings The Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano
British fashion icons Alexander McQueen and John Galliano led remarkably parallel lives, from their humble origins in working-class London, to their education at St. Martins College, to their brilliant and controversial careers abruptly cut short by suicide and hate-speech, respectively. Galliano and McQueen represented the last great age of haute couture, and their tragic downfall resonates in the dissolution of fashion as high art into vulgar commodity. Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano by Dana Thomas (2015) presents a detailed portrait of both designers, as well as a scathing commentary on the commercialism of the fashion industry at the turn of the 21st Century.
The lives and careers of both men are presented in exhaustive detail. Both McQueen and Galliano are depicted as enfants terrible of the great fashion houses, although the portrait of McQueen is a bit more sympathetic, perhaps in hindsight of his awful death. Their relationships suffered, even as their reputations flourished; ultimately, their personal demons and addictions, which at first sparked their creative fire, burned them to ashes.
Thomas’ meticulous research is evident as the reader is overwhelmed with names and events; it’s hard to keep it all sorted, and the few pictures presented without textual references aren’t much assistance. Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating tale of ambition, genius, hubris, and tragedy, even if the reader doesn’t know much about fashion.
Book Review by L.T. Del Genis
Gods and Kings The Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano is available at Amazon or your local bookstore.
Editor’s Post Script.
A Post Script to the John Galliano Story, a new ending as the designer is now the creative head of fashion house Maison Margiela where he continues to provoke controversy on the runway with well received looks.
Milan Fashion Week 2016 is having an embarrassment of riches this season with so many great collections along with many looks.
Favorites:
Versace showed restraint yet this was a great collection from Donatella, a mixture of the brand DNA mixing with day wear looks..
Ermanno Scervino went for the sleek feminine silhouette of soft fabrics.
Emporio Armani filled the collection with jackets and cropped shirts.
Sportmax was assured with a 60’s shapes and color spectrum.
Costume National was a unified collection filled with black and white.
Moschino was inspired by Chanel but in a playful way.
Prada went with strong leather power suits with short hemlines.
Gucci gave the world a new meaning for Granny Chic.
Bally gets a special mention for pants suits along with many other rich looks.
Philipp Plein continues to evolve to become the new Rock Star Designer with studded, shiny looks.
Iceberg’s Dr. Suess inspired looks were fantastic for those looking for something a bit on the edge but no over the cliff.
Les Copains collection felt inspired by Asia with belts and knitwear.
Antonio Marras gave his collections a touch of dark sparkle with strong prints, full dresses, and lush silk.
Giorgio Armani turned to red and walking shorts with tailored jackets.
Dolce & Gabbana paid tribute to Italian summers and holidays gone by with graphic prints inspired from the past.
Salvatore Ferragamo was soft with leather, frocks, and strapless looks.
Aquilano Rimondi displayed mini skirts and minimalism.
Behind the glamour of a runway show there are teams of artists hard at work putting it all together.
We managed to get behind the scenes at Dimitri Show during Fashion Week in Berlin. Seeing models, hair stylists, make up artists, dressers, and stylists at work making it all happen before the ladies hit the runway.
Make up team from Maybelline
Hair team from L’Oreal Professional
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Download File: http://www.blackandpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dimitri-behind-the-scenes-1.mp4?_=2Model and Hair team. I loved her calm expression.
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Download File: http://www.blackandpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dimitri-behind-the-scenes-2.mp4?_=3Getting the finer touches around the eyes.
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Download File: http://www.blackandpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dimitri-behind-the-scenes-4.mp4?_=4An overall view of the teams at work.
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Download File: http://www.blackandpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dimitri-behind-the-scenes-3.mp4?_=5A model having foundation applied.
To see more behind the scenes footage from the show go to Pinterest.
Collections we liked from London Fashion Week
Felder Felder looks were shiny then moved on short skirts with prints.
Gareth Pugh went for red then moved to black this season with a collection that was fun if not a bit over the top.
Burberry Prorsum moved into the future with cut outs, mini dresses, and the signature dress coat and laces. The collection lived up the hype.
KTZ went super tribal and sexy but if you take away the over sized ear and nose rings the looks were sleek.
Osman with gaucho inspired looks complete with hats.
David Koma went with hemlines above the knee along with folded strips around the body.
Marques ‘Almeida was daring with ruffles and tearing apart pieces for a complete look.
Toga had a complex collection with many details.
Christopher Kane gets a mention for the neon colors and shapes.
My overall impression of London Fashion Week was a bit underwhelming. There were many great looks and good collections but the spark was missing this season.
Fall Trends from Bloomingdale’s of New York Fashion Director of Ready to Wear Brooke Jaffe.
How about a style with your selfie and tech?
Karl Lagerfeld Handbag
Canon Power Shot N Series
Image by Daniel Reiter
Momentum Headphone from Sennheiser
HTC One M8
GStar Jeans
Denham Jeans
Paige Jeans
Image by Daniel Reiter
