Maroon 5 - Give A Little More

Latest video I styled - Maroon 5's "Give a Little More."

Lissy Trullie "Self-Taught Learner" Video

I know it's a pathetically brief post considering it's been over six months since my last blog entry, but here's the Lissy Trullie video I styled for her album's title track, "Self-Taught Learner." It was just released a few days ago.

Directed by John Christopher Pina and Gian Mazcour.
Hair by Monet Moon.
Make-up by Brenda Momperousse.

The wardrobe features 3.1 Phillip Lim, ADAM, Hervé Léger, United Bamboo, Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony, Gryphon, Doo.ri, Acne, Charlotte Ronson, Jen Kao, Bijules, Rachel Leigh, Lerario Beatriz and Helene Zubeldia. A special thanks to all showrooms and designers for providing such great pieces for the video. Enjoy!

Ryan McGinley x Agyness Deyn = Wow

All at once inspiring, uncomplicated and spontaneous; this is fashion photography at it's best. Superb-model Agyness Deyn braves what looks like a sleet storm, striking a variety of candid (and somewhat compromising) airborne poses, all caught by the nearly-voyeuristic lens of photographer Ryan McGinley. I want more.





Photos courtesy of Calikartel

Vogue Goes to Rehab...

One thing I love about the Internet is the infinite nature of what is there and what you can find. Today while doing some research I came across this editorial from the July 2007 issue of Vogue Italia. I cannot believe I've never seen it before. The images are so powerful, sad and beautiful. Photographer Steven Meisel nailed the tabloid-fueled celebrity zeitgeist on the head, depicting top models incarcerated in what is called rehab, but more aptly resembles the backdrop from scenes in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or Girl, Interrupted.

This intimate portrait of a world only seen from the outside (if you be so lucky) is no plush Wonderland or Promises treatment center frequented by the likes of Hollywood's young starlets. Meisel almost replicates infamous scenes that have been so ingrained in our collective consciousness thanks to the supermarket weeklies like Star and Us. The final product is more than a little wink in the direction of Tinseltown's troubled elite; they are clearly the inspiration for the shoot. We are treated to a veritable buffet of familiar indiscretions. There's the ever-so-popular crotch flashing, the unforgettable maniac-impulsive head shaving à la Britney (or the opposite, bad extensions—again, thanks Britney), and all the requisite cigarette smoking one could need when coming off something more addictive. Apparently, the Surgeon General recommends them for "exhaustion," if that is the case for admission.

The art direction is so spectacular and the visuals so provocative that we have to take a moment before we can absorb the fashion. The shoot was styled by Karl Templer and incorporates a vast spectrum of soft, girly palettes mixed with a raw rock & roll roughness—and a little mismatched wackiness thrown in for good measure. Having so many different styles and moods in one editorial is pretty difficult when telling a cohesive story, but given that it is shot in a loony bin, it should be permitted creative liberty to be a little schizophrenic. Within the 20-plus page editorial there is no doubt something for every one of our multiple personalities. In any case, crazy never looked so sexy or cool.

Oscar Night Retrospective

Since I felt so personally robbed by the lack of imagination (and color) at this year's Oscars, I resolved to go back in time and revisit some of my favorite award-winning looks.

Here are my Top 10:
1. Michelle Williams tops the list with her elegant marigold-hued Vera Wang in 2006. It's ruffled neckline, knotted waistline and flowing train harkens back to the golden age of cinema.

2. Reese Witherspoon killed it in her violet, multi-tiered Nina Ricci in 2007. I remember being able to only truly appreciate it's full glory when photos came out the next day. On TV it looked almost black for some reason.

3. Gwyneth Paltrow was a vision in Zac Posen's salmon fishtail gown in 2007. The whole look is polished, modern and feminine from her straight long hair to her diamond chandeliers and cuffs. I love the delicate pleating thoughout as well as the unexpected neckline.

4. Hillary Swank brings old glamor back to the Oscars, literally, in her Guy Laroche in 2005. The up-do and minimalistic earrings kept it clean, classy and uncomplicated. She left critics up in arms over her bravado to wear, gasp, sleeves.

5. Kiera Knightly manages to look sophisticated without losing her gamine charm in her garnet toned Vera Wang in 2006. The simple, yet statement-making accessories only compliment the look. Her hair, however, leaves something to be desired.

6. Amy Adams channels Rita Haworth in her emerald Proenza Schouler in 2008. The side-swept, loose curls and the Art Deco-esque bag only adds to the green-on-redhead one-two punch.

7. Although the pink Ralph Lauren Gwyneth Paltrow wore when she accepted her Best Actress award in 1999 is not the most exciting, I think we can agree that it has secured it's place in our collection consciousness, making it nearly as unforgettable as her teary acceptance speech.

8. Not even the Lanvin goddess gown can take full credit for the vision that was Natalie Portman at the 2005 Oscars. The complete look: the smoky make-up, plunging neckline and the diamond headband completed, if not stole the show.

9. I like to reminisce back to a time when Renee Zellweger was first lauded as a great actress and not for the annoying, squinty-eyed pouter we have come to know. This beautiful canary, 50s-era vintage number by Jean Desses was a stand out at the 2002 Oscars and secured her spot as a sartorial force to be reckoned with.

There is a tie for number 10, for multiple reasons, least being the obvious that they are almost the same dress. I will explain more at the end.

10.1: I remember hearing critics complain about Nicole Kidman's peacock-toned complete with plume Gucci in 2006, but it forever remains one of my favorites. Maybe it's my predilection towards peacock feathers? Anyways I think she nailed it. Simple clutch, check. Romantic, unfussy hair, check. Beautiful show-stopping dress? Check.

10.2: I absolutely love everything about this whole look Charlize Theron has going on with her peacock blue Dior gown, simple jewelry and hair in 2005. This was also not a favorite with the critics but I can still hear a million blondes hitting the bottle (of dye, that is) after seeing how hot Hollywood's golden girl looked with her raven-tinted bob.

Admission: So the last two are technically not Oscar gowns. OK, they aren't at all, they were worn to the Golden Globes, but in my memory they were worn for Oscar. And for that I will concede and put them at the end of my list since they shouldn't be there at all. If they were, though they would definitely be higher up on the list (number 2 and number 5, respectively). Meaning Renee would get the bump; but I'm OK with that, it almost hurt to have her here anyway...

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Best Dressed: The Oscar's 2009

Admittedly, I missed the 81st Oscar's red carpet due to the fact that I thought I'd be better off without television this year. I did however, catch an hour or so of the actual broadcast and took in every female presenter (not to mention the front-row set during the obligatory, response-catching audience pans) to see who and what she was wearing.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Marion Cotillard - Dior Haute Couture

Sarah Jessica Parker - Christian Dior (though this look is becoming a signature for her)

Angelina Jolie (if only for the Lorraine Schwartz emerald teardrop earrings)

Anne Hathaway - Armani Privé

Evan Rachel Wood - Lightening up in Eli Saab Haute Couture

Tilda Swinton - Lanvin (at least she doesn't disappoint our expectations for something avante guarde and a little kooky)

As for the rest, the gowns are getting as predictable as the award winners. Aside from the red-carpet reds and a few Pepto pinks, the color of the night was predominantly black or white. Give us color! Where are the jewel tones?

While most actresses played it safe in these recessionary times (come on people the dresses are on lone, live a little!), some actresses even went so far as to wear what could be confused for the same dress worn in award season's past. Ahem, Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz you know who you are...

All in all the dresses were good, not bad but not great either—the only thing close to a Bjork moment was Sofia Loren's Limoncello disaster. But she's in her 70s and still looks hot so I, as everyone else except maybe Joan Rivers, will look the other way. Oh and one more little note to Beyoncé: it's the Oscar's, I think it's time to stop letting your mother dress you.

All negativity aside, my favorite dress of the night was Marisa Tomei's Atelier Versace gown. The intricate orgamigasmic pleating finally gave us something to take in and not once-over. The asymmetrical top was "on point" for the moment. For me, when the camera panned from top to train, it did inspire a moment of awe. So, thank you Miss Tomei for saving us from sartorial boredom.

NY Fashion Week Fall 2009

New York Fashion Week fall 2009 coverage coming soon... Please pardon the delay I'm still recovering.