Gawker , Jossip, and Fashionista offer more details but I must say, this isn't the first time we've heard this. I'm taking it with a big ole grain of salt for now. But it does beg the question: are we ready for a change of the guard at America's Fashion Bible? ~A
"When people ask if I have any advice to give about fashion, it's always the same: Follow your own pace, your own instincts, no matter what. You'll get it right."---Andre Leon Talley, "A.L.T. A Memoir"
Happy Rainy Wednesday! Today’s Style File is almost long overdo! This week's style spotlight shines on fashion veteran and Editor at Large of Vogue….
...Andre Leon Talley! As one of the few people of color holding any sort of position at the Bible of Fashion Magazines, Vogue, he needs to be addressed! First a little background... Andre Leon Talley was raised in Durham, North Carolina by his impeccably stylish, polished, and pressed grandmother Bennie Frances Davis.
After attending North Carolina Central University, he received a Masters in French literature from Brown University. He was in works to get a PhD in French, but cut his studies short to come to New York and work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he met Diana Vreeland, Vogue’s former Editor in Chief. Vreeland took him under her wing, and the rest is fashion history!
He started as a writer for Women’s Wear Daily, and joined Vogue in 1983 as a fashion news director. He served as Vogue's creative director from 1988 to 1995, then moved to Paris from 1995-1998 to serve first as W Magazine's Parisian fashion editor, then Paris Bureau Chief. He returned to Vogue in 1998 as Editor at Large--he’s been at Vogue for about as long as I’ve been alive!
You can now find him styling, traveling to shows (that you can read about in his monthly "Life with Andre" column in Vogue), and sitting front row next to the Queen of Fashion, Anna Wintour. About his look, he says in his memoir, “As a young man my style became gradually more outrageous, until it has settled into what it is today: an eclectic mix of the bespoke and the extraordinary…”
“I owe much of my ideal of fashion to the late Duke of Windsor’s outlandish plaid suits…”
“…Manolo Blahnik custom makes shoes for me, and Karl Lagerfeld designs special clothes for me at Chanel and Fendi.” He continues, “My propensity of showing up wearing fancy robes has to do with two things: my physical size (if you are six feet seven inches tall, you might as well wear a beaded caftan) and my intense love of glamorous things.”
ALT makes his mark in capes of varying lengths, colors, and hues…. And make a statement bags and scarves in patent leather and designer prints.
Monsieur Talley is a highly influential, outspoken fashion maven, and has had a hand in styling artists of color like Jennifer Hudson and supporting designers of color like Rachel Roy and Tracy Reese. Maybe one day soon he’ll have a hand in mentoring a few fashion journalists of color? Like me, perhaps? Smootches! PS Need to know more? Pick up his Memoir...
here. PSS If you’re a real fashion sleuth, there’s a great article by Hilton Als from the New Yorker about Mr. Leon Talley. The article is a great narrative about ALT, and shows a more critical view of him. It’s a must read!!! I tried to find it online, but no such luck:( PSSS Thanks to Intern Suzie for providing a few pics! PSSSS The survey continues. If you've ever purchased anything you saw on The Fashion Bomb, let me know! E-mail me at thefashionbomb@gmail.com!
“But when she came to kick it, things became different./Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on./I couldn't keep it home, I thought I needed a Nia Long./I'm trying to write my wrongs/But it's funny these same wrongs helped me write this song.”—Kanye West ‘Touch the Sky.’
So today my fashion focus is on the prolific, cute actress Nia Long!
Nia’s style is supremely simple, yet superbly flattering. For red carpet events, she keeps it safe in shifts...
...and strapless numbers...
...in demure yet sophisticated grays, blacks and whites. For nights on the town, she keeps it saucy with cute shorts...
...slinky tops...
...and leather jackets in earth tones like army green, chocolate brown, and khaki. Cute. Want her look? Try these items:
First Jennifer Hudson, now Scarlett. Vogue is really trying to send the message that they, as a fashion institute, don't contribute in any way to the whole skinny model fiasco. Anna Wintour addresses the issue in her editor’s letter saying, “That fashion alone should be blamed for this health issue surprises me—many other fields such as movies, ballet, and rock music could equally be said to promote a thin ideal.” Sounds like we’re passing the blame, Anna. And all this recent ‘plus sized’ love reeks of tokenism. When the debate dulls down, will we continue to have shapely women on covers? That remains to be seen. Anyway check out the issue for the exuberant Andre Leon Talley…
click to enlarge …who says that he plays tennis to maintain his girlish figure. But don't get it twisted. In his contributor's note, he says that he's never “without a complete set of LV gym bags, racket covers, and mufflers.” Of course! Also turn to the very back of the book, (pg. 366) for a feature on Alvin Ailey dancer Dwana Smallwood…
click to enlarge …photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The article discusses her athleticism, perfectionism, and creativity in her vocation and in fashion. Check it out!
"And I'll take with me the memories/ To be my sunshine after the rain/ Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday."--Boyz II Men, 'Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
Hey Y’all, Cue the violins: Fashion Week officially ends today. This week has been full of eventful shows, from big names like Carolina Herrera, to lesser known designers like Tadashi Shoji. As Eric Wilson reported in the New York Times, there were 221 shows this season, which spelled exhaustion even for me, who only had a handful of shows on my fashion plate. Yet and still, there were some highlights that I’ve been saving up for ya. Herein, the Fashion Bomb Awards! Let's get to it... Best Seat: Tadashi Shoji. “What made your seat so great, Claire?” some may ask. Well I was second row, smack behind Carmen Electra (who was nice enough to snap a pic) I was also right down the row from Ashanti I got close enough to take a little viddy of the ‘princess of hip-hop’
Exciting, I know. The girl next to her is that red haired chick from the Fifth Element. Anyway, one of the cool things about fashion week is being so close to people you admire (designers and celebrities). Most are are very nice with the pictures and autographs! Moving along...
Best Goodie Bag: Tracy Reese! Her bag had the Tracy Reese Hue socks I mentioned at the end of this post, great Sally Hansen nail polishes, a coupon for waxing, plus other what nots (Runner up was Baby Phat with two notebooks, Fuji water, a nailpolish, and two lip glosses).
Most impressive audience: Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera was the only show where I peeped both Anna Wintour and ALT (wearing a Michael Jackson-esque diamond lapeled number) in the stands. The room was filled with similar media heavyweights like Joanna Coles of Marie Claire Magazine and Hamish Bowles of European Vogue, along with TV darlings like Kim Cattrell and Ms. Jay of America’s Next Top Model. Here’s a video of the final walk:
At the end, you can see Ms. Jay and Phillip Bloch:)
Most exciting show? Baby Phat, hands down. Do we need to view the video again?
Best Celeb Encouter: Tim Gunn! He's as nice off camera as he is on. You can't say that for many celebs (*ahem* Ms. Jay) so...you can't get much better than that.
The best part of Fashion Week? The fabulous, fierce people I met!
Designers, stylists, writers, and celebrities all flooded the tents for fashion week. It was great chatting with and meeting y'all! So next up for me is Malcolm Harris’ DesignersforDarfur show that I wrote about here. It takes place tonight at Roseland Ballroom, the same venue where I kicked off my fashion week with Baby Phat. It's nice how everything came full circle, huh? Stay tuned for a review! Smootches! PS I interviewed Daymond John, founder and CEO of F.U.B.U... ...for King-Mag.com. Check it out here and leave comments. PSS Find me on myspace:)
If you look at the styles of some of the most important personalities in the fashion world, you'll notice that each and every single one of them have a definitive, unique style that withstands trends. Their signature 'look' can be as simple as a hair cut or as extreme as a uniform. Let's take a look at a few examples:
Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue (aka the Fashion Bible)... ...dresses beautifully at all times, but Anna wouldn't be Anna without her sharp hair cut or large sunglasses. Her buddy, Andre Leon Talley (Vogue Editor at Large)... ...makes his mark in suits of navy or black, donning sunglasses on occasion. Andre Leon Talley's signature would be his plush coats and capes. I heard he once had a Balenciaga dress made into a cape for a fashion show. Karl Lagerfeld, designer extraordinaire, fabled for his collaborations with Choe, Fendi, and Chanel.... ...has a look that is so extreme that it's hard to miss. His 'uniform' comprises a white shirt, and a sassified variation upon a traditional suit. Neckwear can be a bowtie, tie, or cravat but his sunglasses and white ponytail remain mainstays. Patricia Field, costume designer for Sex and the City and most recently for The Devil Wears Prada... ...doesn't always wear the most fierce of frocks (surprising, huh?). Her only distinguishing detail is her loosely curled mane in firy red. Really, that's all she needs.
Lastly, Betsey Johnson, fashion designer... ..an make the cutest dresses, but it all goes to poo when it comes to her personal style. But, you can't say that she's easy to forget! The thought of her conjures up a very specific image... Fraggle Rock anyone?? OK, my point: Even the bastions of fashion don't waste their time (or money) getting the latest, hottest jeans, tops, or ponchos. The ones who set the trends are fierce enough to have one signature style, accessory, or full on uniform. Experiment with sunglasses (a la Elton John): or new hairstyles/headdresses (a la Erykah Badu): until you find a comfortable space.
I'd call my style classic preppy chic. I'm preppy during the week and usually wear Lacoste, J.Crew, Collared Shirts, and Argyle! I also love classics. I can rock a LBD (little black dress) any day: I like to chic it up using accessories (wide belts, jewelry, shoes). I'm still looking for a *wow* factor that will help me stand out. Maybe I can cape it up like ALT:) So what's your signature look?
Smootches!
PS, For all y'all not in NY, here's an early holiday gift: PSS For those in NYC, Botkier is having a sample sale (Thanks Val!) PSSS David Moins, writer for Women's Wear Daily, has the following quote in his story from today titled, 'Retailers Hope Cold Warms Up Holiday Sales": "Around the 17th of December, retailers are going to start marking down in order to stimulate buying, since they haven't seen the momentum they were anticipating," says retail analyst Walter Loeb, "Because of the weakness of apparel, the season has not met expectations." The 17th, you say?
