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Yves Saint Laurent, the legendary French designer who revolutionized fashion by putting women in pants for evening wear with his iconic “Le Smoking” tuxedo, died Sunday evening in Paris. He was 71.
Let’s take a moment of silence for one of the most influential fashion designers of our time.
Photo: Associated Press
Tags: yves saint laurent 
I tried to avoid it but the inevitable is upon us: Kira Plastinina has arrived stateside. I’m a bit wary of the Russian that just invaded the USA. Perhaps its her bubble gum pink theme or that she’s another version of Paris Hilton. Or maybe I’m just envious because I wanted to be fashion designer at her age but didn’t have a filthy rich father to bankroll my lofty dreams.
If you haven’t heard of the 15-year old Russian heiress/fashion designer yet, then you will soon.
Los Angeles times reports that:
Her first U.S. store opened in New York last week. Five more are on the way this month in Los Angeles, including a Robertson Boulevard location opening Friday. In the U.S., the goal is 50 Kira Plastinina stores in the next three years and eventually 250. New York Fashion Week is also in the designer’s sights.
It’s full speed ahead for Kira, who has been featured in four WWD articles and called a “teen tycoon” by Teen Vogue. Her online store opens on May 13, her store on Robertson Blvd opens on May 16, a Beverly Hills outpost on May 20, and three more Los Angeles stores this month alone. No wonder she’ll be moving to L.A. for the summer where she’ll be hanging out on the beach, walking red carpets and having a pink themed party on June 14.
Plastic fantastic! Looks like the well oiled Kira machine is doing all the right things to attract its target market: teens. Kira says she adores Gossip Girl and The Hills (bonus points for her!) and will be tapping Audrina Partridge of The Hills as her brand ambassador. Is a Gossip Girl tie-in in the works?
She looks like younger version of Victoria Beckham, doesn’t she?
I’ll be checking out her pink themed store next weekend. Stay tuned!
Tags: kira plastinina 
Among the 100 people named by TIME Magazine as the “The World’s Most Influential People” in 2008, three have had considerable influence in the fashion industry. Namely, Karl Lagerfeld, Carine Roitfeld and Takashi Murakami. Each honoree had other influential (and former TIME 100 honoree, in the case of Marc Jacobs) people write about them.
Tags: 2008 most influential people in the world, carine roitfeld, karl lagerfeld, takashi murakami, time 100Karl Lagerfeld has pushed the boundaries of what is possible, reinventing classic Chanel pieces without compromising the integrity of Coco Chanel’s original designs….Before Karl, we all looked to couture for inspiration and direction. Now, through his work, fashion originates from the street, the media—anywhere. This has resulted in exciting collections that are provocative and sensual. His unrelenting experimentation in fashion, art and photography offers us endless possibilities yet is always grounded and relevant.
Fresh from the tents! More links to photos from the latest shows:
• Betsey Johnson
• Carolina Herrera
• Chris Benz
• Doo.ri
• Malo
• Jill Stuart
• Oscar De La Renta
• Pamella Rownland
• Ports 1961
• Proenza Schouler
• R. Scott French
• Thakoon
Remember to keep on checking ShopDiary’s index page’s sidebar (highlighted below) for links to fashion week photos or videos. The most recent ones aren’t on the fash mags’ websites yet so get them here first!
The term “fast fashion” has taken on a new meaning and it’s not limited to high street chains anymore. In a groundbreaking move, online giant Net-a-Porter has taken the initiative to deliver products to customers faster than the chains can copy them. Along with the relaunch of Halston, Net-a-Porter will have two key pieces available to customers within 24 hours of the label’s February 4 runway show. This is a major departure in the cycle of fashion where it takes several months for runway fashion to hit store shelves, giving plenty of time for high street stores to knock off styles and offer them at lower price points.
“This is offering a luxury brand a lifeline in an age when the high street chain will deliver their product to customers faster,” said Natalie Massenet, chairman and founder of Net-a-porter.com. “We are allowing a luxury brand to reclaim the right to sell to the customer first. We are only doing it with two looks, but hope that we are offering a glimpse to brands that we can change the fashion system and say, ‘We can get the product to the customer, because we can market and distribute in the world.’”
Net-a-porter will offer two Halston looks: a daytime shirt dress for $1,495 and an evening silk dress for $1,795 with same day delivery in London and New York and anywhere else in the world the day after.
[via WWD]
It looks like LVMH is out to rule the luxury market. In an effort to capture the Chinese market, Fendi just showed a few hours ago on the Great Wall of China. The pictures are so amazing! What a spectacle! Just thinking about the logistics to produce a runway show in this historical location boggles the mind. And you know it’s a bit difficult to climb the Wall. Everything was done on a grand scale. There were 88 models and the runway, as you can see, was more than twice the norm. This definitely tops the Louis Vuitton show in Japan last year! I just hope that they leave the site intact as most of the Wall has deteriorated over time.
You have to see pictures of the preparation done prior to the show from French Vogue as well, on Wednesday and Thursday. What will they think of next? A show in the Taj Mahal? I guess that would be Hermes‘ turn. But then, LVMH might beat them to it!
Karl Lagerfeld, with Fendi creative director Silvia Venturini, is all smiles after the show. Of course!
Watch this fantastic video montage of the show:
[Via The Daily Mail and Coutorture]
A month after fashion critic Suzy Menkes wrote a scathing review of Marc Jacobs and blasted the designer for showing two hours late in New York, Marc offered an olive branch by way of a t-shirt. The embroidered shirt by Lesage, with a cartoon of Suzy wringing Marc’s neck, was tied up in a bow and left on Suzy’s seat at the Louis Vuitton show in Paris. Suzy responded by writing a more favorable review of Louis Vuitton in her International Herald Tribune column. And no, Marc himself says that he did not stick his tongue out at Suzy.
Awww, you two! I’m jealous! And we all thought it would be a drawn out epic battle to the death.
[via FWD, Cathy Horyn]
Todd Oldham has been hired by Gap Inc as creative director of the stuggling Old Navy chain. It will also be a revival of sorts for the designer, who has largely left fashion for almost a decade, as he returns to designing clothing instead of textiles, home decor and furniture. And what better way to do it than with a retailer with a broad reach such as Old Navy? A line of merchandise under the Todd Oldham name will also be sold exclusively at Old Navy stores. Oldham starts on October 1st.
[via WWD and L.A. Times]
It’s been interesting following the auction of Prada prototypes from the F/W 2007 season. Through July 25, these one-of-a-kind creations will be posted in increments every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a seven day auction. There are currently six items up for grabs. My favorites are the yellow open toed mary janes on the left and the navy radzmire dress seen below. Bidding is out of the question for me though since they are not in my size or budget! Check more photos after the jump. And for fun check on the bidding wars, currently between bryanboy and Fashion Pig. How about reading these allegations of shill bidding?
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