>> When Donatella Versace presented the Spring 2010 Atelier Versace collection by appointment only during couture week at the end of January, Hamish Bowles reported sightings of gowns adorned with "chunks of Swarovski crystal, swags of fine silvery chains, and hologram discs to give a Paco Rabanne-esque edge." Now, you can see for yourself: Versace just uploaded the collection's lookbook today, featuring Kasia Struss.
Kasia Struss poses on city rooftops for 25 magazine, photographed by David Vasiljevic.
Terry Richardson is in the hot seat, as a model accuses him of taking advantage of her at 19.
Dan Abrams' Styleite lauches with user-generated style photos and power grid rankings of top designers, fashion editors, style bloggers, and models.
Chanel denies rumors that Alber Elbaz will replace Karl Lagerfeld.
French Connection plans to close most of its U.S. stores, sells Nicole Farhi.
Prada responds to discriminations complaints in Japan and "stresses that accusations regarding an alleged misconduct have no grounds."
>> Earlier this week, Anja Rubik and Sasha Knezevic celebrated their new new-look take on Austrian magazine 25 — the official launch issue features Constance Jablonski, Karlie Kloss, and Abbey Lee Kershaw on three separate covers, all styled by Barbara Martelo and photographed by Marcin Tyszka.
Sal Morale (who appears in the issue with girlfriend Maryna Linchuk) DJed the fete in an old Paris apartment, where fellow featured subjects like Heidi Mount, Karlie Kloss, Alana Zimmer, and Kasia Struss joined him. The issue boasts an abundance of couture — “It is rare to get so many couture clothes in a magazine," Rubik told WWD — and comes in a limited-edition English version (2,000 copies) and a larger print run in German (50,000 copies). “It’s an Austrian magazine so it was important to keep a link between the first issue and Austria,” said Rubik, explaining fashion editorials inspired by artists Egon Schiele (photographed by Victor Demarchelier) and Gustav Klimt (featuring Eniko Mihalik).
Knezevic and Rubik are already hard at work on their next issue of the quarterly magazine; noted the latter: “One of our contributors will be Julia Restoin-Roitfeld."
[Editor's Note: I contributed to the issue.]
Released this morning to promote Love magazine's third issue, The Love Thing features not the supers which graced Katie Grand's eight covers but instead Prada-clad Kasia Struss, Lindsay Wixson, Pixie Geldof, Agyness Deyn, and Dree Hemingway. The models play in traffic while wearing leopard coats, sheer trenches, black garters, or nothing at all.
Alberta Ferretti's latest ad campaign takes me back to my childhood, when I would frolic in my fairy outfit and colorful braided headband. Only now it's Hanne Gaby Odiele, Kasia Struss, Constance Jablonski, and Dorothea Barth Jörgensen having the fun, and the clothes are way chicer. I love everything about these Steven Meisel shots — the fluid movements, the romantically beautiful dresses, the serene colors. If only I could transport myself to Alberta's fairyland! What do you think?
>> Steven Meisel co-opted the Twitter phenomenon for the last Vogue Italia issue of the decade — December 2009 — and rechristened Twitpic "Meiselpic" for his purposes. Inside the issue he wrote to his 20 model "followers" under a blurred portrait of himself — surprising, as the photographer is reclusive and does not like to be photographed himself —"Feeling a touch swine flu . . . so not coming to work today. I'm sending you some clothes . . . wear what you like, Meiselpic it back to me. xxSteven." What comes next — and is featured on the cover — are twenty pages of model self-portraits in the style of Twitpic. Lara Stone took the below picture of herself and "Twittered" underneath: "I love my new boobs. Werk!!" A pregnant Gisele snaps herself in lingerie, covering up her bump, and "Tweets": "Privacy is beautiful!" And Freja Beha Erichsen, who's not known to be a Meisel favorite, makes a surprise appearance, as well.
With Spring ready-to-wear in the bag, designers are conjuring up their Spring ad campaigns, placing the hottest of the hot with the most stylish shutterbugs. Thus far, we know Lara Stone will star in Louis Vuitton's ads, while Daisy Lowe will shine for its swimwear line. In Versace land, Donatella has chosen Fabcon Georgia May Jagger to be photographed by Mario Testino. On the celebrity front, Madonna was snatched up by Dolce & Gabbana — we're hoping she won't look as photoshopped as her previous Louis Vuitton ads.
To learn who else is starring in Spring '10 ads, read more
>> Balenciaga Spring 2010 Ad Cast Said to Be All Models, But No Miranda Kerr —The Spring 2010 shows are over; let the campaign guessing games begin. First up on the rumor mill: Balenciaga. Spring 2009 saw a bevy of models cast, Fall 2009 focused on Jennifer Connelly, and for Spring 2010, it sounds like we're back to all models — Kasia Struss and "three unknowns" are said to be involved. Guess that means Miranda Kerr, who Nicholas Ghesquiere personally requested for the show, won't be having an Adriana Lima-Givenchy moment. [Fashionista, The Imagist, Style File]
Mulberry's latest ad campaign helps me gear up for Fall, both physically and mentally. The moody hues are so Autumn, and those leather hobo bags are just lovely. Irina Kulikova and Kasia Struss's jumpy posing keeps the photo from being too stagnant, and the mellow background allows the bags to shine. I'll let Bella fans determine whether or not the big hair is cool, but the outfits and location are spot on. Agreed?
I once spoke of the fashion metamorphosis of the house of Chloé and its ad campaign transformation. I feel like when it comes to ads, Chloé has done it all: streets, deserts, beach, and now Spanish wheat fields. This is the second major ad campaign for designer Hannah MacGibbon, and she has stuck with photographer Mikael Jansson. What she hasn't stuck with are the same models as Spring. Instead of Anna Maria Jagodzinska and Toni Garrn, she chose Kasia Struss, Sigrid Agren, and Karlie Kloss. Do you dig this or is it way too au naturel?
