Categories
Fashion

A Low Octane Met Gala

Of course I reviewed the Red Carpet fashion looks from the 2022 MET GALA. The big event raising money for the Costume Institute in New York City. Vogue Global Editorial Director Anna Wintour reigns over the biggest night in fashion. The theme this year “Gilded Glamor” raised a few eyebrows. The theme was either a stroke of insensitivity, pr genius or random luck given the growing wealth gap. Let’s face facts, how many of us can afford the $35.000 ticket? Only the rich and famous need apply for the First Monday in May dress up.

Funny, given the over top promotion on the Conde Nast platforms for millionaire party, a person would not think many of the publishing house employees have formed a union for better salaries, working conditions and security. Under the banner “Prestige does not pay bills”. Perhaps, a fundraiser for Vogue staff should be organised.

Relevant

Desperate to stay relevant, let’s face it, Vogue’ mountain top tastemaker status is under threat from platforms and content makers. The MET GALA is a cash cow for the aspirational publication with income streams from sponsors to high media value. According to the Business of Fashion, the 2019 MET GALA generated over $16 million.

The Red Carpet Gold Medal: Kim K stole the limelight channeling old Hollywood Glamour in a nude dress inspired by Screen Goddess Marilyn Monroe, hardly keeping with the theme of the night, but the reality star mogul understands the optics. For the other attendees, their A-Game fell short, lacking spectacle. As if invitees were unsure. In other words, “I’ll go, but make a social political woke statement at an elite event during a global pandemic in a world on the brink of World War 3.” I hope the food was good.

Categories
Fashion

Cannes 2018

Categories
Interview

#thisberlinale18

Categories
Fashion

Milan Fashion Week Vogue Party

The Vogue Party was the the place to be at Milan Fashion Week on Thursday the 21th.  After the Versace Runway Show the super models showed up to give the event an added uber thrill and a display of 90’s Girl Power.  The ladies generated an excitement when they walked the Black Carpet. The theme of the evening  was Black Tie or Naked.

Vogue Party images by Leah Ahuja.

Categories
Fashion

Exotic Journey

Giuseppe Zanotti

A journey through time is how the designer describes this collection complete with touches of the exotic, architecture, and design.   The materials of choice include satin, feathers, mink, and velvet using core colors of black, burgundy, purple, and plumes.

Presented during Milan Fashion Week.

Categories
Fashion

GLAM Inspired!

Dubai based fashion brand AAVVA was founded in 2006 by Lebanese Ahmad Ammar and Brazilian Vincenzo Visciglia.

The Black and Paper interview with Fashion Designers Ahmad and Vincenzo.

How did you guys start in the fashion business?

Ahmad: We met in 2011, while working on the same project in Dubai. That project was in our field of engineering. Soon we realized that we both had a vision when it came to fashion, we decided to start our own fashion line, AAVVA.  I also had a degree from ESMOD Fashion School in Beirut.

Vincenzo was involved in the fashion and modeling fields before.  Everything pointed in the direction for us to start a fashion brand.

Vincenzo: Dubai, the city with all its dynamics was also a driving source of inspiration for both of us. We strongly felt that we could do something in the field of fashion especially in a multicultural city like Dubai. Even though we’d studied engineering, we felt certain fashion we could make a contribution to the fashion field.  We followed our instincts.

Do you have a favorite piece from the Resort Collection?

A: We have a couple of pieces that we really like.

Our favorite pieces from the resort collection are the fringe dress that we are making it in 2 styles, the cotton thread fringes as well the fully beaded Swarovski crystals fringes, this dress has been worn by many celebrities like Joelle and Ola and other fashion influencers,  as well, it was our top selling in Galleries Lafayette Dubai Mall.

What is the goal of your designs?

A: Our goal is to express our vision and background as engineers while portraying our love for fashion, art, and style. We want to be able to bring out the best incorporating our backgrounds as engineers.

What is your vision of modern feminine fashion?

A: We design for the modern, feminine woman of today. And we always make sure to emphasis this in each piece. Femininity is something that really represents both Arabic and Brazilian woman, so here comes AAVVA, the mix between the rich Lebanese and the colorful Brazilian culture!

What type of woman do you have in mind when you design?

A: We design for the modern yet feminine woman of today!

What designer has influenced you the most?

A: We believe inspiration is all around. J

V: We both agree that we get our influences from so many talented designers, both Arab and non-Arab. We want to stay up to date, in style.  Also, our inspiration comes from our customers; the people we design for are very influential on our creations.

Being located in a place that is both conservative and progressive, is it a challenge bringing the two together as far as designs?

A: Conservative is never really a challenge, we know our Arab clients love our pieces. They come to buy many of our stunning looks to wear for their events like weddings or a red carpet gala.

V: Progressiveness of the place also helps us to keep track with what’s going on! Obviously, we are constantly aware of the progress that is being made all around and we are lucky to grow and progress together with Dubai. As we mentioned, UAE was always our source of power to start and grow, the source of our inspiration.

 

Powered by Etihad Airways.  The Official Airline of the Fashion World. 

 

Categories
Cinema

Berlinale Day 6

Berlinale Day 6

Director Aki Kaurismäki

How do you start a day in the surreal?  Attend a Aki Kaurismaki press conference.  The Finnish directors film The Other Side of Hope debuted at the Berlinale today, his first film in Competition.    The feedback I have gotten concerning the pic has been mixed to good.  The Nordic auteur was nothing if not genuine.  The entire press conference was more entertaining than many films at the festival.  I have never attended a press conference where a person stood up to sing a Finnish Tango song.

https://www.facebook.com/breck5/videos/10211656432596754/

The films premise is that of a Syrian Refugee (An Everyday Topic in Europe) played by Sherwan Haji,  who arrives in  Finland only to go into hiding at a restaurant when he learns he will be deported.  The Other Side of Hope is part of a trilogy.  When the other 2 films will happen is a guess.

The press conference took on political tones of nationalism, xenophobia, and racism in the form of questions and answers from both the press and the panel.  The helmer commented, in Finland with the arrival of many male refugee, the men of the country took it as an act of war. His film was not about changing the world’s opinion on refugees, only Europe’s opinion on refugees.  Tomorrow it could be you who is the refugee.  Today it is him, said the director.

The second press conference, The Lost City of Z, with Robert Pattison and Charlie Hunnam as early 2oth century explorers is a bit of an old Hollywood adventure epic picture. Did the press pool like it?  I got positive feedback. Director James Gray tackles the White Man Burden’s/Destiny themes by dissecting it. Based on the adventures of Percy Fawcett who disappeared in the Brazilian Jungle while searching for a lost civilazation in the early part of the 20th century.

The Lost City of Z was screened out of Competition at the Berlinale.

Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve returned to the Berlinale starring in the Martin Provst film The Mid Wife.   Judging by the initial applause of the film and the lack of audience at the press conference, I would guess the film is not one of her best features.  What made the press conference was the presence of a Diva wearing a Black Leather Dress with such commanding presence one would dare not notice her.  At this stage of her career I was curious what motivated her, thankfully, another journalist asked her.  She responded by saying, I choose the director more than the character. Concerning her acting, “There is always a bit of me in a film”.  I understand Beatrice Sobolevski, the lead character from the film, but I am far from her, said Deneuve.

Catherine Froth

The Mid Wife also stars Catherine Froth and Olivier Gourmet.  In Competition at the 67th Berlinale.

 

 

 

 

UPDATES:

The Party received 2.3 stars from critics.  A surprisingly low rating given the level of applause at the press conference.

Mr. Long from Japan received  2.0 stars from the critical review polling.  The film is a story of a man trying to find a new life, starring Chang Chen.

There is still no front runner for the Golden Bear.  Trying to guess what the jury will favor this year has proven to be a difficult task.

www.berlinale.de

 

 

Categories
Cinema

Berlinale 2017

It is coming up to that time of year again, February 9th kicks off the Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin. Acclaimed Dutch Filmmaker Paul Verhoeven will be Jury Head.  The 67th fest opens Etienne Comar’s debut film Django.

 

14 films are in competition this year including entries from directors Holland, Veiel, Potter, and Moverman.

Stay tuned for more updates and complete coverage of the Berlinale here at Black and Paper.