Summer with Daria

French Vogue is my favourite fashion magazine of the moment. Not only does it give me an excuse to read French aloud (by myself of course) but the mag has what I consider one of the best Fashion editorials every issue.

The August 2009 issue is no exception.

Featuring one of my favourite models, Canadian Daria Werbowy, the editorial shows Daria channeling different eras of fashion from the 90s Gap look to 70s disco (and do I spy Brooke Shields?)

But really all August issues are just lead-ups for September. I cannot wait for the September issues!

Speaking of Canadian models, did anyone watch Canada's Next Top Model? What do you think about Meaghan winning? I think she was the best of the final three but I was secretly hoping that Maryam would win.





(Photos: The Fashion Spot)

Most successful male models

Lately I've been in a real male model mood. What does this mean? Well, for the past month or two, I've been obsessing over them. Most of my blog has been taken up by all the women models and I never really gave much thought to the males because they aren't as visible as their female counterparts. But lately the men have been bombarding my mind.

It started with the luscious Boyd Holbrook, who's long, blond hair and Brad-Bitt eyes ensnared me. And then along came Jamie Dornan, who I first noticed in the movie Marie Antoinette. And then...and then...the daddy of my obsession, Taylor Kitsch. As of right now, he is number one, and will forever hold a place in my heart as long as I keep watching Friday Night Lights.

So I was very excited when Forbes released their list of the most successful male models today.

Forget Kate, give some love to the guys! Girls, you can thank me after you've cleaned up your drool.

No. 10: Cole Mohr

No. 9: Taylor Fuchs

No. 8: Jon Kortajarena

No. 7: Tyler Riggs

No. 6: Ollie Edwards

No. 5: Garrett Neff

No. 4: Danny Schwartz

No. 3: David Gandy

No. 2: Matt Gordon

No. 1: Sean O'Pry

So what go you guys think? Are they hot or not? Do you like the really skinny models or the beefcakes?

Should Vogue be budget-consicous?

Last week the New York Times ran a piece on how American Vogue has lately been featuring "mid-range" products in the magazine. They called the new trend "budget-conscious."

They quote fashion director Sally Singer: “We’ve always shown a wide range of price points and lower-priced items,” she said. “As long as Anna Wintour’s been at Vogue, from her first issue, she had jeans on her cover with a Christian Lacroix top. She’s always had a high-low sensibility.”

But lately Singer says the magazine has been deliberately featuring more cheaper items because of the economy. “In the past year, I feel a greater need to signpost certain elements we’ve had in the magazine. Maybe we need to make sure the reader can find them more easily.”

But if readers were looking for cheaper items, why would they go to Vogue in the first place?

Vogue has never pretended to be anything but a snooty, high-society magazine that puts emphasis on living the high life no matter what the cost. People read Vogue so they can take a peek at that luxurious fantasy life. The magazine has never been apologetic for featuring items like a Fendi 24k gold mink coat because readers expect to see ridiculous items like that.

I expect to see outrageously expensive but fabulous clothes, shoes, bags and jewels in the magazine even though I know I can't afford them. But when I start to see items from the Gap or J.Crew I get a bit scared. Where is the fantasy? If I want to see clothes from the Gap, I'll pick up Lucky magazine or walk down Yonge Street.

I do understand the value of the point that during these tough economic times a magazine shouldn't be flaunting inaccessible wealth to the credit-card debt ridden people. But that's the lure of the magazine; it's inaccessibility.

Vogue has weathered two World Wars and several recessions and still come out on top. Why should this time be any different?

So Vogue, you can throw in a few lower-range products to make it seem like you care about the rest of us, but don't throw away your soul aka those gold mink coats. It's just not you.

Coco Avant Chanel

The summer blockbuster season is almost over (anxious to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Monday) but there are two non-blockbuster films that I am very excited to see. One of them is the documentary The September Issue, about the making of Vogue's very popular September issue, and the second is the french film Coco Avant Chanel, starring the lovely Audrey Tautou as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

Vogue UK released a few images from the film and talked to the costumer designer, Catherine Leterrier. This is what she had to say:

"The relationship with the House of Chanel was excellent," Leterrier told VOGUE.COM of the filming. "I was completely free designing exactly what I wanted for our film which takes place before Chanel created her 'maison de couture'. She started as a milliner. She became successful creating hats."

"The research process was the same as for any other period film," Leterrier explained. "We did research from real garments - in museums, flea markets, vintage shops or private collections - and research from painting and photos. For the show of the end we used authentic outfits from the Chanel Conservatory and Audrey Tautou wore a Chanel suit inspired by 'Mademoiselle' in the Sixties."

My first impression of Chanel's costumes was a bit underwhelming; the colour scheme is very dark (grey, black, navy) and monochromatic but the tailoring, the details and the fit are exquisite. They perfectly capture Chanel's free-spirit and her transformation as a designer.

The photos show her in the popular Chanel suit, complete with pearls and a wonderful dark loose suit with a wide white collar and brooch.

Although the photos don't show whether we will see any more flamboyant costumes à la Lagerfeld (to see if Karl approves the wardrobe click here,) I am looking forward to seeing these subtle, beautiful clothes.

Click here to watch the trailer.

A work in progress

Two weeks ago I moved to Toronto and am living on my own in my first condo. It's been a lot of fun; meeting new people, hanging out with old friends and staying up past the last GO train back to the suburbs.

I've also been having a great time decorating my place. I'm trying to make my home more personal by adding family photographs to walls and on tables. But I am also letting the fashion obsession come out in the decoration; stacks of fashion magazines against the walls and under the coffee table; fashion drawings on the walls, random bags strewn about and coffee table books lying around.

Like I said in the post title, it's a work in progress but I'm excited at my start. My current project is getting a bunch of Vogue covers and my favourite fashion photographs and putting them on my wall like a collage.

What do you guys do in your home that shows your fashion side?

I'll follow you until you love me, papa, paparazzi

My friend sent me a link to a anti-paparazzi clutch bag. It's awesome especially if you don't like having your photo taken.

Here's how it works: When the device in the bag detects a camera flash it responds by emitting another flash that interferes with the photo. So if you take a picture of someone with the bag, all you will see is a flash of light. Brilliant, non?

Now if only Lindsay Lohan would use it so we wouldn't be subjected to her crazy mug every day.

Clear eyes full hearts can't lose

Girls: Rob Pattinson has nothing on Taylor Kitsch.

I'm not sure if any of you guys have heard of a little show called Friday Night Lights. Well let me tell you; it's my favourite show right now, only second to Battlestar Galactica aka the Greatest TV Show Ever. And part of the reason why the show is so great, is thanks to hot Canadian actor, Taylor Kitsch.
What does this have to do with fashion? Well, Taylor used to be a model for IMG and has modelled for Diesel and Abercrombie & Fitch. And P.S. have you seen those abs??

I've only heard of Taylor Kitsch through Lainey Gossip because Lainey is obsessed with him and the show. And then he appeared as Gambit on Wolverine: Origins. So last weekend I was in Best Buy and saw Friday Night Lights on DVD and like the impulse shopper I am, bought the first two seasons. So now I'm hooked. Not just on Taylor but on the show. Guys, it's an amazing show and I'm surprised why hardly anyone knows about it. It's not focused on football. It's about relationships, family and friendship. And the acting is amazing, especially Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, but the whole cast is superb.

And then there's Taylor. He plays the brooding, conflicted and ususally drunk Panthers running back, Tim Riggins. I think his long hair is my favourite part of him.

So if you want to see great TV and a hot guy who can actually act, watch Friday Night Lights!

R.I.P. Michael Jackson: Style Icon

I'm not going to talk about the Michael Jackson of the last two decades that has overshadowed his brilliant music career. I want to pay tribute to his lasting influence in fashion, which although can't be compared to his musical influence, is nonetheless still felt in the fashion industry today. Jackson died today at the age of 50.

Like I said in the title, he is a style icon. He turned a sparkling glove into a worldwide symbol. And now decades after he began his career, his style is still influence designers today.
In the Spring 2009 show, Balmain showcased Jackson-inspired military jackets. Funnily enough, Jackson was recently photographed wearing Balmain clothes that look like they could have been Jackson's from the 70s and 80s.

His style was showstopping and his upcoming tour "This Is It" promised to be a spectacle. WWD reports:

"The pop icon had costumes created specially for him by Crystallized Swarovski Elements. Along with the sets, the ensembles would have featured more than 300,000 crystals in 43 sizes and 27 colors. As Nadja Swarovski, vice president of international communications for Swarovski, told WWD Wednesday: “As the King of Pop, it is only natural for him to be crowned in crystal.”

Farewell, King of Pop.

The September Issue

I just watched the trailer for The September Issue and I am trembling with excitement. I can tell that the documentary is probably going to rival Valentino: The Last Emperor as one of my favourite fashion docs.

My favourite bits include:

- Anna telling Oscar de la Renta to take out a look she dislikes from his upcoming collection. "I personally would not put this in the show."
- "This type looks so large and pretentious. It looks like it's going to blind people."
- Grace Coddington telling a minion to mention an "amazing" photo, because Anna has "killed half of it."
- Anna's reaction to a minion telling her that "he didn't do the Coliseum dress" in a photo shoot.
- Anna's minions nervously mumbling after she asks them "is this really the message we want to put in the September issue?"

Check it out here

The highlight of my day

It's been a pretty boring day at work and I am feeling really tired (mostly from staying up late packing for my move on Saturday.) So when I saw the photos of my favourite male model, Jamie Dornan, starring in the Calvin Klein ads with Eva Mendes, I woke right up.

Boy is hot. A bit too greasy, but sexy.




And for some reason, the media is in an "uproar" over the CK ad that features a bunch of half-naked people. Boring! We've seen it all before. I don't see what the big deal is just because there is a little bit of nakedness going on. It's not as bad as all the violence we see on TV. The photos are pretty tame compared to all the nudity you can find in fashion magazines like French Vogue. But it's great publicity for Calvin Klein.