Best Actress nominee Carey Mulligan chose a black Prada gown with an asymmetrical hemline for her first walk down the red carpet. If you look closely at the gown, you'll see that the gown is embellished with Swarovski crystals, as well as miniature corkscrews, watch gears, scissors, forks and knives. It's a very clever twist on a classic gown that makes it quite youthful and fun. You may recall that Carey said Anna Wintour advised her to wear a short gown to the Oscars, but she refused saying that when she was a little girl that wasn't how she pictured herself walking down the red carpet, which is a hilarious thing to say to Anna. Here is the detail on the dress:
We weren't really feeling the black satin ankle strap shoes, which were also by Prada. The heavy straps interrupted the lovely long line of her legs. But it's a minor quibble: she looked great. Carey accessorized her look with a black satin Prada clutch and huge vintage diamond chandelier earrings by Fred Leighton.
Anna Wintour sat for her first formal portrait by Alex Katz. The painting is part of a special exhibition at National Portrait Gallery in London. The portrait, entitled "Anna," was painted in 2009, in oil on linen. Alex, an American painter in his 80s, was inspired to do the portrait after seeing The September Issue.
She sat for Katz, 82, at his New York studio in late 2009, the first time she has consented to have her portrait painted. "I couldn't think of a nicer way to spend the afternoon. We talked for two hours while he worked," recalled Wintour, who was the inspiration for Meryl Streep's terrifying editor in The Devil Wears Prada.
Katz asked Wintour to pose without her sunglasses after watching The September Issue, the recent documentary film which went behind the scenes at Vogue, and noticing that she had "lovely eyes". He said: "Painting Anna was like shooting fish in a barrel. There was no way I could miss it."
*****
And Wintour's verdict on the portrait? Well, she liked the yellow. "I was pleased to see that he used a lot of colour, which I adore," she said.
The exhibition of Alex Katz Portraits will run from May 15 – September 21, 2010 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Admission free.
Image: Alex Katz, "Anna," 2009, oil on linen, 60" x 84"
Video: Stars Come Out For Christopher Bailey at Burberry Prorsum Show
Christopher Bailey, the creative director of Burberry Prorusm, has a lot of loyal fans. Anna Wintour said she flew to London from New York just to support him. She said she was very happy that he decided to show in London for the second year, instead of moving to Milan or Paris. Kate Hudson, Kristen Stewart, Claire Danes, Mary-Kate Olsen, Mia Wasikowska and Carolina Herrera all were in attendance. Take a look:
The Telegraphreports that Milan Fashion Week has been thrown into absolute chaos because of Anna Wintour's request that the top designers move their shows to dates she will be there. Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Fendi all complied, but it has really thrown the schedule into disarray. Italian newspapers are calling her arrogant, and some have suggested it would be better that she skip Milan entirely.
Anna requested the schedule change so she could go to Paris Fashion Week right afterward, then be in Los Angeles in time for the Oscars.
Milan's world famous fashion festival lasts from Feb 24 until March 2. Now the most important haute couture houses are reorganising their shows to coincide with her visit, from Feb 26-28.
Her decision has left fashionistas in a panic and prompted accusations of arrogance.
"Anna Wintour, the woman who holds Italian fashion in the palm of her hand," ran a headline in Corriere della Sera, the country's most respected broadsheet.
"She wants designers to schedule their shows during these three days," said Mario Boselli, the president of the Italian Fashion Chamber.
He told The Daily Telegraph: "It has bad consequences for many, many people involved in the shows, from stylists to models to hairdressers. It's absolutely crazy.
"She's welcome in Milan but if she only comes for a fleeting visit, perhaps it would be better is she stayed at home."
Mr. Boselli told The Telgraph that the same request had been made to Paris Fashion Week, but the French -- being French -- replied with a hearty non!. He noted wistfully that the French "have a bit more spirit" than the Italians.
Anna Wintour Releases Statement About Alexander McQueen's Death
Vogue editor Anna Wintour released the following statement today about the death of designer Alexander McQueen. She says he was "one of the greatest talents of his generation."
"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing — from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."
Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph went backstage and then to the front row before the Spring 2010 Haute Couture Chanel show in Paris. She chatted with Karl Lagerfeld about his inspiration for the collection, with Anna Wintour about how retail is doing, with Alexa Chung about her clogs (horribly uncomfortable from all accounts) and with Amber Rose and Kanye West. Amber was wearing a full length knit Chanel gown which featured a hood. But enough about that. (In fact, we hope we never see or hear of such a thing again in this century.)
The show's inspiration was "neon baroque" but the color palette was muted, with lots of silver, white, cream and palest pink. There was no gold whatsoever in the collection, not even in the buttons. The models wore teased high hair straight out of the court of Marie Antoinette, with the addition of grey streaks and fabric embellishments. The models wore Rougee Allure Lipstick in Genial, which will be available in the Chanel Summer 2010 makeup collection and Le Vernis Nail Colour in Silver. We love silver, but we think Karl got a little carried away by the end of the show with the groom wearing a silver lame suit. Take a look:
WWD reports that next year's Fashion Night Out in New York will be held on Friday, September 10 instead of Thursday September 9th. The change was made by the event's organizers so that it would not occur during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The organizers also thought that more people would be able to come if it were held on a Friday night. There is going to be some tricky scheduling so it won't conflict with Fashion Week events, however.
The first Fashion's Night Out was held this past Sept. 10 and was successful in getting crowds out to hundreds of stores in New York City, which stayed open late for designer and celebrity appearances, live windows, musical performances, book signings, and to sell merchandise. Fashion's Night Out was also held in several major cities around the world and will next year again go global.
But while the traffic was strong, many retailers felt people were much busier partying than shopping. However, for the second Fashion's Night Out, it's expected more incentives to shop will be added. A fashion show of fall 2010 styles for consumers is being considered as well.
Fashion's Night Out is organized by Anna Wintour of Vogue, the
the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and NYC & Company, which is New York's organization to promote the city.
The official website is already counting down the date to the very last second.
Marc Jacobs Only Goes to the CFDA Because Anna Wintour Makes Him
Marc Jacobs revealed some interesting tidbits at the WWD CEO conference. Marc really hates going to the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. He has won a number of the awards, but he just doesn't like award shows in general. He doesn't even watch the Oscars, the Tonys or the Golden Globes. In fact, the only reason he goes every year because Anna Wintour makes him.
That partly explains his ambivalence about the Council of Fashion Designers of America and its annual awards. Speculating about why he has not won in the women's wear category for several years, he remarked, "Because they're stupid! No, it's not true. I'm really not this egomaniacal monster that you might think I am. My team and I, we've gone to the CFDA awards year after year after year, and we always feel we've done the best collection. That's not to say there aren't other great collections....I don't believe in these prizes. I don't watch the Academy Awards or the Emmys or the Tonys. I only go to the CFDAs because if I don't go, Anna Wintour calls up and says, 'You have to go because you're part of the American fashion industry, da da da da da,' and you can't say no to her. So you sit through this thing as everyone tells you you're going to get it, and then you don't get it, and then everyone tells you it should have been you. You're like, whatever. You go home empty handed one more time, and it's fine. We have nine of them," including from years when they were perhaps not as well deserved, he said.
That is just too funny. You know that he gets that call every year from Anna making him go to the awards show. Marc also talked about Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham.
Asked to name the next Ralph or Donna, he declined, saying many young people have talent and passion, then mentioned Alexander Wang. When a question about celebrity designers came up, Jacobs noted Lindsay Lohan's failure at Ungaro, but complimented Victoria Beckham. "She is someone who has always wanted to design clothes. She knows the body, she loves it and she's working her ass off," he said. "It's too easy to say nobody who’s celebrated for something else shouldn't do fashion."
As for the CFDA, Marc said that it is different now that it was when he was much younger when he had problems with the organization. Now it gives grants to young designers who would never get a chance to show their talents in the current economic climate.
Fashion's Night Out was such a success that it will happen again in September 2010. WWD reports that Mayor Bloomberg is on board, and so are the rest of the retailers who participated this year.
Today, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Vogue magazine, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Co. will unveil the return of the event on Sept. 9 -- and the plan is to make the second one bigger and better than the first.
"The numbers are in, and it's clear that Fashion's Night Out was a tremendous success," Bloomberg said. "Thousands of New Yorkers attended the events in all five boroughs, supporting the city's retail and fashion industries, and helping a worthwhile cause. It's sure to be an even bigger event in 2010."
The first event, which took place Sept. 10, was widely considered a success. In New York alone, more than 700 retailers remained open until 11 p.m., and designers planned special personal appearances or events, with various spots around the city turning into major block parties.
"We were absolutely bowled over by the response to Fashion's Night Out," said Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. "It was only 15 minutes after the event began, and we were getting reports about lines around the block at stores throughout the city. It was wonderful to see people embrace this initiative, and we are thrilled that they wish it to return."
CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg added, "To have designers in stores to celebrate and start a shopping season is the best idea for everybody. It creates excitement and lots of business."
ShopperTrak reported that foot traffic in stores was up by 50% on Fashion's Night Out. Another survey found that 75% of the attendees at the event actually bought something, while a majority of shoppers went into a store they had never been to before. Shoppers also stepped outside their normal shopping neighborhoods and experienced a new area of the city.
He's the least known famous designer in the world: Kinder Aggugini has ghost designed for major fashion houses, including Calvin Klein, Versace and Vivienne Westwood. But now he is showing his own collection -- this is his second time at London Fashion Week. Kinder's show was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the fairytales of the Grimms Brothers. We expect to see one of the hats (created by brilliant milliner Stephen Jones) on Lady Gaga in the near future.
Hilary Alexander, the influential fashion director of The Telegraph,
raved about the collection, saying "It blended the considered tailoring, learnt during a Savile Row apprenticeship, with the pile-it-on, miraculous mayhem of colour, print and daredevil styling not seen at London Fashion Week since Christopher Kane launched 'body-consciousness' three years ago and, before that, the maverick days of Alexander McQueen and Galliano." Alas, Anna Wintour missed the Kinder show -- she didn't arrive until the next day. Take a look:
Fashion's Night Out was a big success last night in New York. The crowds were big and the celebs came out to support the fashion industry. Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Kate Hudson and Mayor Bloomberg got the festivities going at the Macy's in Queens -- Anna smiled and signed lots of autographs. She hit several parties last night. Victoria Beckham talked to fans at Bergdorf Goodman, where Ashely and Mary Kate Olsen played bartender. Charlize Thereon helped host things at Dior. Justin Timberlake, Taylor Momsen, Katy Perry, Hugh Jackman all attended events (Taylor performed with her band). Padma Lakshmi judged a celebrity cooking challenge and trainer to the stars Tracy Anderson demonstrated how you too can get Madonna's legs.
As she was leaving one event to go to another, the AP asked Anna Wintour why she put Charlize Theron on the cover of the prestigious September issue of Vogue this year. Anna quickly replied "because she's the most beautiful woman in the world." Here's a clip of some of the festivities:
Oprah Winfrey and Patrick Robinson to Co-Chair Met Costume Institute Ball
Oprah Winfrey and Gap creative director Patrick Robinson will co-chair the annual gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute next May, in support of a new exhibit that focuses on the style of American women. The two will join Anna Wintour at the fundraising gala which will take place on May 3, 2010.
[T]he next exhibit is "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity." It will explore "how the American woman initiated style revolutions that mirrored her social, political, and sexual emancipation." It sounds neat and educational, but the real kicker is that the clothes on exhibit are coming from Brooklyn.
Roughly 75 outfits, ranging from high fashion to haute couture, from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection were transferred to the Met in January and will be on display there from May 5 through August 15. Many haven't been on view to the public in over 30 years. The collection includes pieces designed by Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, Madame Gres, Charles James, Jeanne Lanvin, Edward Molyneux, Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Madeleine Vionnet, among others.
The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection is absolutely amazing, but the Brooklyn Museum simply couldn't afford to properly maintain the collection. With this new partnership with the Met, the collection will be lovingly cared for and exhibited to the public in style. Last year's event was co-chaired by Kate Moss and Justin Timberlake.
Andre Leon Talley Wears Ugg Boots, Draws the Line at Crocs
Time Out New Yorkinterviewed Andre Leon Talley, editor at large for Vogue magazine. Apparently, many of Andre's scenes were cut from the film (which is infuriating), but he says he didn't mind so much and that they did get him playing tennis with all his Louis Vuitton accessories.
Andre says Miss Wintour (that would be Anna Wintour) saved his life by staging an intervention about his weight. She convinced him to take up a sport and he picked tennis, which Anna also plays every morning. None of that is terribly shocking. But then he drops the bombshell: Andre reveals that he wears Uggs at home. But he draws the line at Crocs. Here is the hilarious exchange between Andre and Erin Wylie:
Well, what do you wear at home? People think that you wear these outlandish outfits always.
No! I wear Juicy Couture shorts, a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and Uggs.
Really? You wear Uggs?
I started wearing Uggs two years ago.
Do you wear Crocs?
What are Crocs?
Those colorful, plastic…what Mario Batali wears.
No! I draw the line at Uggs. It's a cozy shoe. Also, they're only $98. That's the high and low.
That loud sound you hear is the Ugg factory gearing up for 24 hour production as the Ugg Boot goes from out to in again in an instant.
Here's the clip from The September Issue Andre is talking about. He's clearly trying very hard to keep the weight off that he worked so hard to lose. He looks great. We just love the fact that he plays tennis with a giant Louis Vuitton throw over his shoulder and that he has a Louis Vuitton hard case to keep his Fiji water in. But then again, who doesn't? Take a look:
Anna Wintour appeared on The David Letterman Show to promote the new documentary The September Issue. Anna looked absolutely fabulous in a slim cut, black and white Carolina Herrera dress. Dave grilled her about whether it's true that she's mean and not warm and cuddly. This entire line of approach to Anna Wintour is so revoltingly sexist. No one ever debates whether Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or Warren Buffett is warm and cuddly enough. It's all about how competent they are in business. Anna is a brilliant business woman. She's professional and tough in a very cutthroat industry.
We thought she did a great job, especially considering that she doesn't do a lot of tv appearances. For example, Anna has a very funny response to Maureen Dowd's column about her this week and she good naturedly played along with Dave's jokes. She also poked fun at herself by walking out in her trademark dark sunglasses, then took them off for the interview. Take a look:
Report: Anna Wintour Still Embracing the Atkins Diet
Maureen Dowd takes on Anna Wintour in her latest column in The New York Times. Maureen went to the premiere of The September Issue and sat somewhat close to her at the after party. Naturally, she was quite interested in what Anna actually eats.
The Devil does wear Prada.
I ended up sitting a stiletto's throw away from Anna Wintour at the Monkey Bar, after the Museum of Modern Art screening of the new documentary about her. Nuclear Wintour looked summery in a floaty print Prada dress so au courant it hasn't yet hit the stores.
Just like Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, Wintour can be seen in the new film clutching a Starbucks cup in her office and the back of her chauffeur-driven car. It seems to be her only sustenance, so I was curious to get the skinny on what the Skinny One eats.
"I'll have what she's having," I told a startled waiter, who assumed I was kidding and pointed me to the part of the menu he thought suited me better: Chasen's chili and Mrs. Carter's butter tart.
"Anna eats steak and burgers, protein, and drinks a little wine," said the Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley, mesmerizingly mountainous in a navy Armani with a white saber-toothed tiger tooth necklace and Manolo framboise velvet Woodstock sandals.
Maureen really fell short in her investigating. She should have grilled Andre as to what exactly Anna eats on her hamburgers. Lettuce? Tomatoes? A bun? Surely there is no cheese involved. Is it buffalo meat? Turkey meat? Angus? Kobe? We need details. One thing's for sure. Anna is still embracing the Atkins diet, or at least a modified version of it. But we'd still like to know about the bun.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour released the following statement today about the 
Thursday September 9th. The change was made by the event's organizers so that it would not occur during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The organizers also thought that more people would be able to come if it were held on a Friday night. There is going to be some tricky scheduling so it won't conflict with Fashion Week events, however.
