The Cut

Marc Jacobs’s New High Heels, and Other Memorable Fashion Moments

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:45:42 -0500

Photo: Getty Images

]]>Marc Jacobs is perhaps the only person who can top Marc Jacobs. After he presented his spring 2009 Louis Vuitton show in Paris yesterday, he may have trumped the collection by taking his bow in high heels — a stacked variety à la French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Needless to say, the choice of footwear left the fashion flock abuzz. We spend more time talking about the clothes he designs than the clothes he wears, but Marc has never shied from making his own fashion statement, from those shoes to the skirt he wore following his New York show to his SpongeBob tattoo. We compiled Marc's most memorable fashion statements in the slideshow.

Gucci Really, Really, Really Loves Bergdorf

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:20:27 -0500

That's amore.
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci

]]>Okay, bag fanatics, Chanel's not the only one making sweet, sweet love to New Yorkers. Gucci is unveiling fifteen one-of-a-kind bags at Bergdorf Goodman tomorrow to celebrate the label's return to the main floor of the department store. But see, these are no mere designer purses. Oh no. These limited-editions come in Bergdorf's signature color of lilac. And if that's too subtle a declaration of amore, they're also engraved with a "Gucci loves Bergdorf" tag. The bags come in leather, croc, ostrich, and python and range from $1,295 to $29,800. Recession? What recession?

Chanel’s Mobile Art Exhibit Has Landed!

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:49:47 -0500

Photo: Melissa Hom

]]>Behold: the pieces of Chanel's Mobile Art Exhibit as they currently lay in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park! Friends, as we type this, construction workers are putting together this structure — the Greatest Handbag Pavilion Known to Man — in earnest. The exhibit, which showcases Chanel-handbag-inspired art, opens to the public on October 20. The structure designed by Zaha Hadid takes three weeks to assemble. As you see, Chanel has provided construction workers with some mighty fine hard hats. Steal one before Chanel starts selling them in stores for thousands of dollars.

Plastic Surgery Down; Get Madonna’s Stage Makeup

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:14:24 -0500

Now if only we could get those arms...
Photo: WireImage

]]>PLASTIC SURGERY
• Plastic-surgery business is down 53 percent. That's not such a downside to the recession. [CNN]

HAIR
• Here's a convincing argument about why mustaches are not sexy and never will be. [Jezebel]

MAKEUP
• Gina Brooke, Madonna's makeup artist on the Sticky & Sweet Tour, explains how to get Madonna's stage look. You know, for your next Madison Square Garden gig. [BellaSugar]

• Stila's talking eye-shadow palettes include four colors and a friendly little voice that tells you how to achieve a smoky eye. New colors come out this week. [Beauty and the Blog/Sephora]

• Elizabeth Hurley hung out in Jersey over the weekend to promote Estée Lauder. Represent. [WWD]

NAILS
• Mix your own nail colors! Here are three brilliant recipes for dark gray, Nordic gray, and dark blue to get you started. Hey, if you want to do it right, do it yourself. [All Lacquered Up]

Video: Silicone Dresses at Hussein Chalayan

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:27:41 -0500

Photo: Jeremy Kost

]]>Hussein Chalayan's spring collection was a sight to behold: spiked silicone dresses, perfectly still models, and a rotating stage. Artist Jeremy Kost filmed all of this as part of his Paris Fashion Week series. Watch and be awed.

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Related: See more videos by Jeremy Kost.

Beatrice Inn Owner Launches Clothing Line

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:42:33 -0500

Photo: nytimes.com

]]>Beatrice Inn owner André Saraiva just launched his clothing line Andréwear. He did so "out of necessity," you see, because he could never find things he wanted to wear in his favorite stores. Those things include the leather jacket you see here at left and skinny pants you can see here. Saraiva owns Parisian boutique Black Block, where you can find the line. It'll also be available at Opening Ceremony in New York soon. We can't wait to be total dorks and wear our Andréwear to the Beatrice. How better to illustrate the phrase "too cool for school"? Aside from living in Williamsburg and not taking showers, that is. [NYT]

Video: Music Rehearsal at Hussein Chalayan

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:00:15 -0500

]]>Hussein Chalayan doesn't put on a CD and call it a day at his runway shows. He uses drinking glasses and some very talented fingers. Artist Jeremy Kost captured the rehearsal in Paris before Chalayan's spring 2009 runway show.

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Related: See all of Jeremy Kost's videos.

Barack Obama’s Paris Runway Debut

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:18:41 -0500

Spring 2009 looks at Sonia Rykiel, left, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
Photo: Imaxtree

]]>When it was reported that Donatella Versace's most recent men's collection was inspired by Barack Obama, Donatella was quick to correct the press. Obama himself didn't inspire her, but rather "the type of man Barack Obama represents." However designers showing at Paris Fashion Week conveyed no such reserves about using their runway shows to blatantly support Barack. Sonia Rykiel's spring 2009 collection included sweaters that read "I have a dream" and "Obama." Jean-Charles de Castelbajac put Barack's grinning face on a dress paired with gloves that read "yes" and "no" — probably his way of saying "rock the vote." And at the end of her program notes, Stella McCartney wrote, “P.S. Vote Obama!!” None of this surprises us. What does, however, is that Barack didn't permeate the collections in London, Milan, or New York in this way. Maybe designers in other parts of the world didn't want to add fuel to the whole Obama-is-a-celebrity fire? Like embracing a First Lady who's posed nude, leave it to the French to say, "Yes, we can!"

Meet the New Girl: Zuzana Gregorova

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:38:05 -0500

Zuzana Gregorova (DNA Management) at Ralph Lauren
Photo: Imaxtree

]]>Slovak model Zuzana Gregorova hit the runways in 2006, walking for Diane Von Furstenberg and Derek Lam. But she still flew under the radar for the most part. Until now. The green-eyed stunner was featured on covers of Italian Marie Claire and French L'Officiel last month and became a face of DKNY Jeans alongside Chanel Iman and Alana Zimmer. And in her best runway season yet, despite her five-foot-nine frame (short in the runway-modeling world), she booked Narciso Rodriguez, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace. But she didn't stop there! She’s also new face of Christian Dior’s upcoming Addict cosmetics campaign and will make her first American Vogue appearance in the November issue. Sounds like this one has made it.

Model Profile: Zuzana Gregorova

Plus: Browse over 450 beauties in our always-growing Model Manual.

Sarah Palin’s Hairstylist Has Been Identified!

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:52:24 -0500

Photo-illustration: Getty Images

]]>The red highlights. The lash-skimming bangs. The half–French braid. And of course, that inimitable bouffant. Sarah Palin's hair has become as much of a conversation topic as that kitschy wink. But we all know a working mom with five kids can't get a mini-hive so smooth all on her own. Enter: Angela the hairstylist. W magazine recently learned that Angela has been traveling with Palin. She's based at the Hair Grove in Westlake Village, California, where she won't be available again until November 4.

W wasn't able to confirm Angela's last name since "the Hair Grove stopped answering our questions." But the magazine did find out how Palin found Hair Grove. So who lent a helping hand? Cindy McCain, of course! McCain directed Palin to the salon, which is where she found her own current stylist, Piper. McCain had reportedly inquired at the salon about extensions. Thankfully, she doesn't appear to have gotten them. But we wonder if McCain passed Angela down to Palin and took Piper for herself. McCain did sport a slight bouffant herself a couple of months ago but has recently — and wisely — taken to wearing her hair down. Guess we'll never know.

Where Sarah Palin Got Her Hockey Mom Hair [Editors' Blog/W]

Video: Paul McCartney Swarmed by Press at Paris Fashion Week

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:15:55 -0500

]]>What happens when Sir Paul McCartney goes to Paris Fashion Week? Artist Jeremy Kost found out. Watch as Sir Paul leaves his daughter Stella McCartney's show, poses for fan photos, signs a couple of autographs, and avoids mauling by frenzied French press. Well done, Paul.

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Related: See more videos by Jeremy Kost.

Confirmed: Kate Winslet to Play Vivienne Westwood

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:42:58 -0500

Kate Winslet
Photo: Getty Images

]]>Kate Winslet will play Vivienne Westwood in an upcoming biopic of the designer, confirming rumors that surfaced last week. Winslet is supposed to spend some extra time with Vivienne to "hone her performance." The film will follow Westwood's rise from her punk roots to international stardom. Now can one of you movie people please hire Maya Rudolph to star in a Donatella Versace's biopic? [British Vogue]

New From Paris: Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and More!

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:09:23 -0500

Yves Saint Laurent, spring 2009.
Photo: Imaxtree

]]>Paris Fashion Week ended yesterday, but the magic lives on in our new spring 2009 runway slideshows! Don't miss the harem pants at Yves Saint Laurent, leather at Alexander McQueen, and exceptional ball gowns at Giambattista Valli.

Yves Saint Laurent
Alexander McQueen
Haider Ackermann
agnès b.
Giambattista Valli
Chanel
Viktor & Rolf
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
Valentino
Rue du Mail

Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell Open Hermès; Horyn Loves Galliano

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:31:09 -0500

Photo: Getty Images

]]>• Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell opened the Hermès show in cowgirl-inspired threads. [WWD]

• Cathy Horyn thought the John Galliano show was "exceptional" and "came alive with trance-making English colors and a silhouette that looked dashed off with a pencil." [On the Runway/NYT]

• Jessica Stam's working to get a pilot license. Probably a better modeling side gig than, say, singing. [WWD]

• Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen showed up hand in hand at Paris nightclub Regine's for a Fashion Week party and were "inseparable." Maybe their lifestyles aren't so different, after all? [NYP]

• Carine Roitfeld started the dance party at the opening of Ralph Lauren's new Avenue Montaigne boutique. Just another reason to adore her. [WWD]

Valentino Appoints New Designers, Doesn’t Tell Facchinetti

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:37:50 -0500

Alessandra Facchinetti
Photo: Getty Images

]]>After the spring 2009 Valentino show in Paris on Friday, company CEO Stefano Sassi told reporters it was designer Alessandra Facchinetti's last collection for the house. Over the weekend the company confirmed Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who have designed accessories for Valentino for ages, will take over as creative directors. However, Facchinetti wrote in a public e-mail the media heard of her dismissal before she did:

"It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino…

"This news came as a great surprise since the company's top management has not yet seen fit to inform me. I would like to thank Valentino s.p.a. for showing their appreciation of my 'creative contribution and my sophisticated talent' although I deeply regret the fact that this talent and contribution do not seem to have been adequately acknowledged."

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So what went wrong? To start, neither Valentino nor his partner, honorary president Giancarlo Giammetti, cared for her. Vava himself expressed this to reporters back in January, but echoes the sentiment in today's British Vogue: "[Chiuri and Piccioli] always demonstrated an enormous respect and love for my work. There is an existing archive with thousands of dresses where they can draw and take inspiration from to create a Valentino product that is relevant today. It is a shame that their predecessor didn't feel this need." Giammetti said, "To pretend to transform and revolutionise the Valentino style is a utopia which is a loss from the start … Pier Paolo and Maria Grazia are company oriented people and it is right to give them a chance to bring forward a style, which alongside Valentino, they have developed."

We hope Alessandra got a good severance package when the door slammed her ass on the way out.

Valentino's New Duo [British Vogue]
Related: Breaking: Alessandra Facchinetti OUT at Valentino