Lily Donaldson

>> Last night marked the opening of Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld's Louis Vuitton-sponsored, curated exhibit of three photographers and close friends of his — PC Valmorbida (boyfriend of Theodora Richards), David Mushegain and Salim Langatta.  Both the party and after-party at Indochine (a Roitfeld favorite) were super crowded — the latter hit capacity and saw Carine Roitfeld dancing on the restaurant's banquettes.  Sister Julia, girlfriend Lily Donaldson, and godfather Mario Testino were all in attendance, as were a number of other fashion folk — Lara Stone, Erin Wasson, Gisele Bundchen.  And Carine was proud of her son's current career choice — according to Vladimir, it was his parents who pushed him to move to the US — "I don't know if he will do more shows or film, but when you try to produce things, it's a hard hard job, and I'm very proud of him.  I'll be very happy if he becomes successful."
*image: source, source, filmmagic

>> Rag & Bone always attracts the legions — last season there was enough trouble filing in when the show space was the vast Pier 94; this season, the crowd had to push and shove their way through the two small double doors of Cedar Lake Ballet Theater, and a number of people who were supposed to have seats were forced to stand.  While the rest of us were bumped and budged, immobile, Julia Restoin Roitfeld knew how to conquer the immovable best — just after she waved hello to Genevieve Jones, a tall, modelesque man parted the crowd with an "Excuse me, I'm late for the show."  Presumably, everyone assumed he was a model trying to get backstage fifteen minutes after the show was scheduled to start.  Julia saw him and latched onto his elbow with a "Hey, Zack, I'm going to use you as an excuse to get through."  And with that, she was in — the rest of us still in the same place.  Turns out, the guy wasn't even in the show.

But Edita Vilkeviciute was, and Isabeli Fontana — who closed — Diana Farkhullina and Sigrid Agren — all new faces, in addition to Rag & Bone perennial favorites like Coco Rocha, Lily Donaldson, Sasha Pivovarova, Jessica Stam, and Julia Stegner.  The label's usual palette of navy, black, and gray was in place, with some unexpected pops of red in a flower brooch here, in an obi belt there.  Marcus Wainwright and David Neville worked with a different stylist this season — Tabitha Simmons — and she helped them take it to a new level — the chain mail detailing on a hem or peeking out under a jacket was an especially unique touch.
*image: source

>> Last night, editors and models alike gathered at Cipriani to simultaneously launch Fashion Week — officially — and benefit one of fashion's favorite causes: AIDS research foundation amfAR. Anna Wintour presented and Donna Karan received an award for her contribution to amfAR's mission; Lara Stone, Caroline Winberg, Jessica Stam, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, and Anja Rubik (with boyfriend Sasha Knezevic) all got gussied up and came along for the ride. Afterward, there was a mass migration to Rose Bar, where they were joined by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Giovanna Battaglia for a little enjoyment of the calm before the storm.
*image: source, source

>> Last week, Edward Enninful was in Goa, India, styling a shoot for Vogue, but this week, it's all about i-D and England — he brought together twelve British faces — past and present — for i-D's March 2009 Best of British issue.  "The confirmations were instant — it was about doing something for England, and models have been so faceless — British models always have personality."

Together with Solve Sundsbo, Enninful styled each of the twelve covers to bring out the character of the individual model — "I went though a great thought process — we didn't want clichés and stereotypes" — "rock 'n' roll Kate" Moss as a mature woman and fashion designer, "ageless" British models like Twiggy, newcomer Eliza Cummins, who is also moonlighting on the new Dazed & Confused (NSFW), symbolizing British grit with a snarl.  To further the emphasis on personality, each cover face has her own cover quote summing up her outlook, from Stella Tennant — "I don't really fit the box" — to Agyness Deyn — "Feel the fear and do it anyway."  Leave it to Naomi Campbell to bring the non sequitur: "I love a Sunday roast."

>> Stella McCartney marked the end of couture last night by debuting two things — her new Paris flagship (which actually opened in November) and a Cartier sapphire and diamond pendant that her dad gave her mom in the '70s and just passed onto her.  Joining her in celebration were Lara Stone, who recently moved to London, Stefano Pilati, Heidi Mount, Daphne Guinness, Lily Donaldson, and the ever-goofy Sasha Pivovarova, who in addition to her book for Prada, has now been invited to illustrate a children's book for Karl Lagerfeld.  There was fun to be had by all, including Francois-Henri Pinault, who joined in the game of "Who am I?," and ran around with Suzy Menkes and the rest of the bunch, cigarette rolling paper stuck to their foreheads.
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January is arguably one of the toughest months of the year. The holidays have fizzled, wallets are depleted, and attitudes are shaky. When I viewed this editorial in Visonaire's Spring Preview 2009, it was a momentary escape. I love when editorials mix media and Nick Knight is indeed a mixmaster. Lily Donaldson is lovely as an ethereal, artsy creator who floats by on painted pieces of cardboard. Need a pick-me-up? Slide on . . .

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>> You know Burberry is worried when their Spring 2009 campaign comes out looking like a catalogue.  Mario Testino did the honors at Petersham Nurseries outside London, and Christopher Bailey carried on his all-British cast tradition with returner Lily Donaldson and newcomers Eden Clarke and Alexina Graham, but gone are the days of Fall 2008's moody black-and-white ads and Spring 2008's edgy, colorful group shots.  These new Spring 2009 ads seem aimed much more for the mainstream, with their prominent placement of denim, the top-selling trenches, and the new, trademark plaid-covered Gardener Bag.  Everyone's going for the money shot this season — and with Burberry, those intentions are quite transparent.
*image: source