The September Issue

Only one magazine comes to mind when you think of this fall issue--Vogue. And now, a movie by the same title will be out this summer (August 28th) chronicling Anna Wintour and her staff and they put together the issue that 1 in 10 American women buy and read.

While you may think,"God, enough with Anna Wintour already!" The documentary actually focuses on the the day to day tasks, people, deadlines, and project objectives that it takes to get this nearly 1,000 page issue to print.

But, if you just want to gawk at the most famous magazine editor in the world, I'm sure she'll be on her best behavior for the cameras but not without a few nasty slip-ups here or there.

Regardless, it looks like an entertaining fashion documentary!

CHAOS loves Bryce

Meet Bryce Durfee, 6'0 blonde hair blue eyed sweetheart who hails from North Carolina. Represented by B1 in NYC and Vision in LA. Bryce's new face status lasted just a split second as he quickly blew up in a matter of weeks in NYC. Campaigns for Abercrombie and Fitch, Marc Echo as well as various editorials.

I've had the pleasure working with Bryce on several occasions. Very driven, focused and tons of fun. Even though he might say he hates modeling. Damn those ones who just "have it" but hate it... yea uh huh, more like a love hate! ;) Bryce definitely has got a bright future in the modeling industry. Even though he took a semester off to go to school, the industry just can't get enough of this one. Now in LA for the summer, I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of Bryce in the coming months.

Lucky you for being a CHAOS reader you'll be seeing Bryce in the up coming Fall issue of CHAOS along side Gabe Witmer @ Ford and Tyler Wood @ City coming out September 1st. Trust me you won't want to miss this editorial, all we can say about it is ... boys will be boys! Oooohh!!!

Photo by Rick Day

Leave Your Parachute at Home

While we are on the subject of pants I'd thought I should bring up another trend that is not so chic as the one previously reported on (see below). I'm talking about parachute pants (or, harem pants as they've now been dubbed) that graced the runway last year and are now infiltrating the streets of New York. If they haven't already, they may be coming to a city near you...

These poufy, un-flattering, MC Hammer meets Cher trousers do not look good. On anyone. Period.

Of course, here at Chaos we are all about the reader taking fashion risks, developing a unique personal style, and having fun building his or her wardrobe. But parachute/harem pants should not be part of that wardrobe unless they are your back-up Halloween outfit.

So please, please, if you are at H&M, TopShop, Zara or, god forbid, a designer's store that sells them for beaucoup de l'argent (I won't name the perpetrators) , re-assess your purchase before you wind up stumbling down the street in a diaper-like ensemble.

Stick with jeans.

Cut and Rip those JEANS!

Just a little "quickie" here for you. I would just like to inform you that the metal days are coming back in full force. I'm not talking grunge here, we've been there done that. Come to think of it, actually that is of the current trends for those in the know. However, for those who like to be on the budding rise of "what is next" grab those jeans you were just about to throw out and a pair of scissors and go to town! You don't need to spend $350 on these jeans by some designer either. I will update tomorrow with a tutorial on how to get this same look (even better) from a pair of jeans in your closet.

Peace

Rip-Don't Stop

If there is one thing I love, it's nylon tights. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the American Apparel and H&M decoupage tights and metallic trims and liquid leggings and whatever else. I do not discriminate. However, there is something about a nicely ripped nylon that kinda turns me on in no other way. Here is your tutorial for the day!

Ripped nylons are quickly coming back in style. I mean, I guess they never left if you shop at Torrid and Hot Topic (I almost just threw up typing that, btw) but high fashion has been getting ripped lately as well. You have to be VERY careful in how to achieve this look because you definitely do not want to be looking like something a rat crawled out of.

So, take your standard nylon tight...and put it on! Easy right? Right. Now you can do one of two things, or both, as I like it. Take a knife or scissors, or sharp-edged something and GENTLY drag it along the nylon. You will have to pinch up a bit of it off your leg as to not cut yourself. PLEASE be careful when doing this, I trust we are all capable adults here. Just a small incision will do as a nice oval shaped tear will form. These can be done anywhere but the best parts are the upper thighs. Now slide your fingers through the tear and put some strain on the nylon, pulling it up a bit. You will notice that runs start to form. Keep pulling it until you've reached your desired run length.

If you prefer not to have holes and just runs, then you might have to do some between-the-legs maneuvering and pull on the nylon from inside until it's stretched and runs.

Have fun with this look and pair it up with a cute dress and blazer, or cardigan. I just love mixing trends! But please do not slip cut off denim shorts on top! That look is so passe you might as well be sporting a denim mini-skirt and Ugg boots!

Milan Men's Fashion Goes All Out

While Milan fashion has always been known for its bold, sometimes outlandish styles, this year's Spring/Summer 2010 shows took menswear a step further. Gucci's Frida Giannini said she went to Rio for inspiration and what she came back with was everything from anoraks to men's leggings. Describing her collection as "resolutely optimistic," Giannini went on to say that it ex

presses "a desire of escapism, of lightness and freedom with the sporty and super chic attitude of someone who can take long holidays on the Brazilian beaches."

While Gucci looked to South America for inspiration, Versace looked to the French Foreign Legion of Northern Africa. Tunics, light weight suits, and gold and silver jewerly dominated the collection that Donatella said she hoped represented "the hazy light of a mirage in the desert."

Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo also did some world traveling for their design inspiration. And, when asked by reporters what inspired such bold fashion designs, Cavalli's answer mimicked what designers often say of their women's collections, "It is man who is beginning to love himself and wants to make himself evident."

We couldn't have said it better.

Alright alright, the time has come on Facebook where you can pick your own URL. Not a huge piece of breaking news for you all I'm sure but here's the thing: in order for the CHAOS fan page to get it's own URL, or any fan page for that matter, we need to have 1,000 fans. We currently have 566 (444 needed, for all you math whizzes). 

So, if you're not a fan yet, then become one. If you don't have Facebook, then join!...just to become a fan.  And direct everyone you know to the magazine and have them join too! In order for CHAOS to take over the world, we need an army - and we're halfway there! 

CFDA Awards=Fashion Roast?

Tracey Ullman, the unlikely host of this year's awards held at Lincoln center, opened the ceremony dressed as a rich, Upper East Side housewife who was indiscriminately shoving her Hermes purchases in Duane Reade bags. "Oh, this recession is too much to bear!" she cried out.

In what the New York Times dubbed as more of a "pep rally" than an awards show, the CFDA event this year did at times oscillate from a pat on the back to younger designers and a bit of a roast for the more established ones. Unlike past years, where the big players swept the awards, this year, the ceremony handed out honors to newer talent.

The winners included Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte for women’s wear, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler for accessories, and, in a tie, Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders and Italo Zucchelli of Calvin Klein for men’s wear, Alexander Wang won for emerging talent in women’s wear, and Tim Hamilton and Subversive's Justin Giunta won the same for men's and accessories, respectively.

Of course, many of fashion's old gaurd were nominated and Ralph Lauren won the new "popular" award where fashion fans could vote on their favorite designer.

However, it was probably a wise choice to pick Ullman, known for her obsessive knitting more than her fashion, to rib the audience a bit as the evening wore on. “The most important thing is to go back to basics, and remind ourselves why we fell in love with fashion in the first place,” Ullman said. “As long as you have a single needle and a spool of thread — and a first-rate marketing team — you can do it.”

And the designers seemed in on the joke before the ceremony even began--several took promo pics for the event wearing over-the-top garb (specifically Marc Jacobs in a bunny ear hat and Jason Wu in an evening gown over a tux). Because, after all, what's fashion without at sense of humor?

Marc Jacobs Cheap and Chic for Summer

While we all love Marc Jacobs not everyone has the budget to splurge on his latest collections. Luckily Marc is extending his gratitude by making it much easier to shop his boutiques this summer.

Starting last week new additions entitled, "Jacobs by Marc Jacobs," including totes, bikinis, and more were released into stores, some as low as 10 dollars. And the bikinis aren't made from just any old fabric but they're actually prints from Marc's 2009 runway collection!

If you don't have the pocketbook for a runway look, this summer fun collection is just what you need. You can go to www.marcjacobs.com or your local store to get great finds.

We're Plastic But We Still Have Fun!

Has everyone seen Lady Gaga's new video for Paparazzi? Yes, I know it's pop culture and we can get right back to our underground indie cravings in just a minute but first, I must rave. 

So the new video plays out like a novella, a mini-film of scorned love, murder, and cheesy dance routines. But it's amazing. Seriously. As soon as she was carried out of a limo in a neck brace and placed in a wheel chair and then started giving me jazz hands, I was kinda hooked. It's a whole other level of ridiculousness for Lady Gaga. But in a good way! It's like, retarded. There's even the same gold robot-esque body suit that was used in George Michael's Too Funky video (c. 1992). 

The video continues with various death scenes of beautiful 'paparazzi stalked' women sprawled out on lawns, marble floors, and hanging from the ceiling. It's the pentacle of pop morbidity but it's so damn fierce. You have to watch to see how it all ties in because I'm not about spoiling shit. I must say that there is a cameo of the triplets from Daisy of Love which kind of turned me off but in essence it only adds to its sexuality.

The video was directed by Jonas Akerlund, a Swedish video director who has worked with the likes of Smashing Pumpkins (Try, Try, Try music video/Try short film), Madonna (American Life music video {the original banned version, not the watered down Bush version}, Ray of Light, Jump, and I'm Going To Tell You A Secret documentary). He also just directed the far-outsy amazing movie about speed junkies, Spun).

What really got me excited was the fact that the ending of the video is the same ending that I thought of when I first heard the song. Don't you just love making up music videos for your favorites? Anyways, watch the video because it really is a visual masterpiece. If you're not already a Gaga fan, then please stop being pretentious and just enjoy. Her music and videos are really all about having fun, pushing boundaries, and ground-breaking fashion styles and isn't that what we're all about?! Hmmm...

Vogue Editor Attacks Fashion Houses

Alexandra Shulman, the editor of British Vogue, sent a letter to major fashion houses last week denouncing their use of "substantially smaller" sample sizes. According to Shulman, by doing so they force the publication to hire often unhealthy models to fit the clothes. Not intended for publication, the leaked letter to Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Muiccia Prada, Dontalla Versace, and other major fashion players outlines that:

"We have now reached a point where many of the sample sizes don't comfortably fit even the established star models. Instead we are having to use girls with jutting hip bones and no breasts or hips, to fit them. Nowadays I will often ask the photographers to retouch to make the models appear larger. I am finding that the feedback from my readers and the general feeling in the UK is that people really don't want to see such thin girls in either editorial or advertising."

Shulman, who has edited the publication for over 20 years, also placed blamed on people inside the publishing world. She later told the Times that, "Quite often I hear the fashion editor say when talking about one model or another 'I don't think she will fit the clothes.' Some of the girls she was talking about were already very thin."

Only time will tell if Shulman's outrage will translate into more open-minded designers. However, while her attitude is welcome, I doubt Anna Wintour shares her sentiments. What do you think? Do you think models are too thin or has the industry already begun to change?

Stella McCartney for GAP

I know what you're thinking--"YES! Finally! Affordable Stella digs!" Well, not quite. Because, while the collection set to launch in November of this year is sure to be trendy and elegant, you will have to be pint-sized to wear it.

That's right. Bucking the trend of doing a fashion designer stint for major clothing stores, Ms. McCartney and the mega-chain have decided that little tykes need brand name fashion power too.

Says McCartney:

“For years now I’ve wanted to create a collection for kids, it’s something I’ve often been asked about. I believe that this one off collaboration will be a great way for customers to be able to participate in the Stella McCartney brand. I believe that kids clothing should be more accessibly priced, which is particularly important at the moment given the current climate. It’s really exciting for us to do a boys and girls collection for the first time.”

Hopefully, the venture will be a success and GAP will ask her to lend her designing talents to us grownups soon enough.

From Designing to Dancing...Vera Wang Does It All

ABC just announced that season nine of Dancing With the Stars will premiere with a three-night, five-hour event on September 21, 2009 and as told to E! News Vera Wang may star on the show's sixth season.

Wang, who rose from Vogue editor to famous wedding dress designer, will be 60 years old by the time the season kicks off.

She also trained as a professional figure skater as a child and later on designed outfits for figure skating professionals such as Nancy Kerrigan.

A rep for ABC declined to comment on current casting as well as reps for Wang.

Emma Watson As The New Face of Burberry

You've probably seen Emma Watson as the cute sidekick in the Harry Potter movies but to much surprise, Emma is all grown up now and is sporting a killer trench coat in the Fall 09 photos as the new face for Burberry.

Burberry designer Christopher Bailey has managed to do it again combining a classic, traditional look with a slight edge. Watson is featured in Burberry's ads with nude lipstick and smoldering eyes, a look always favorable for fall temperatures. With only a few more months left of summer and fall outfits looking like this, I'm already looking forward to to my new wardrobe.

Berlin Wall Fashion

Daniel Rodan, a German leather designer, has come out with a collection of Berlin Wall-themed clothing. The leather dresses and menswear feature art from the East Side Gallery--aka the 4,265 foot stretch of the Wall painted by nearly 120 artists from 21 countries twenty years ago. The graffiti has become a symbol of the East-West divide in that city that lasted for nearly 30 years.

In a news conference, Rodan told reporters:

"Bringing together these three things: the political event, fashion design, and the art of the East Side Gallery, and then making sure the clothes fit on the celebrities -- it was a real challenge."

The leather outfits will be worn by various celebrities and then auctioned off for charity after the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Wall commence on November 9.

The Newest Fashion Trend: AIDS!

By now I think that everyone is aware of the Fashionñ Against AIDS motif that is swirling around. H&M had a huge collaboration with artists like Robyn, Dita von Teese, and Cyndi Lauper (plus a bajillion more) to design 'Be Safe' and 'Think First (or something)' tees with condoms making heart shapes and other eyebrow raising attire. Thanks to Designers Against AIDS (DAA not ADD {thats for the dyslexic}) fighting this global disease has now become everyone's responsibility...and livelihood. 

What is Designers Against AIDS you ask? Well, it is a program which was started in Belgium in 2004 as an extension of the non-profit organization Beauty Without Irony (founded by Ninette Murk). The program's main purpose is to bring awareness back to the world of the disease because it has truly been forgotten and overlooked, especially in the western hemisphere. Collaborations with music, fashion, and art icons help DAA bring the epidemic to the eyes of the young generation, teaching that the only cure for AIDS is prevention (by wearing a condom, duh!) and knowing your HIV status. So get tested! All t-shirts and body's are made of organic cotton and 25% of the sales price will be donated to HIV/AIDS prevention projects of DAA, UNFPA, MTV's Staying Alive Foundation and YouthAIDS.

There is also a program which started in January 2008 called Models Against AIDS, bringing AIDS awareness to young model starlets and teaching them the joys and benefits of safe sex. 1% of each models booking goes to DAA.

Each year, AIDS walks are held in major cities across the country. And you better believe that San Francisco is at the top of the charts when it comes to participation and fund raising, raising more than $4.5 million last year alone! It's important to remember that every little bit of support helps the cause of this global epidemic. 

You can visit www.aidswalk.net to find out more information and to see if there is a walk in your area or if you want to donate or volunteer your time. You can also go to www.designersagainstaids.com to purchase some of the artist collaboration fashions just discussed and you can even pay a visit to my own personal fundraising page here.

Resort Fashion Week?

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that Resort Fashion Week in New York is more fashion and less resort. And by fashion, I mean fashion-fashion. Like outfits you'd wear to the club or a cocktail party--not by a pool or the beach.

Take Derek Lam, for instance. A bubble gum pink punk princess dress? At which resort, pray tell, would one were that? It's cute and all but unless you consider a Friday night at the Roosevelt Hotel a resort, then I don't think it will make it in your suitcase for your summer trip.

And Marc Jacobs was even less vacation inspired. A 40s housewife dress? A leopard print coat? A silk purple party frock? Unless your idea of a vacation is to be modestly dressed at rooftop pool parties in Williamsburg, I don't get much of a resort vibe either.

At least Diane Von Furstenburg got the memo--she managed to make her collection chic and vacay inspired without churning out just another ready-to-wear line.

So, word to the wise for designers who choose to show collections during Resort Fashion Week: Make sure you're actually designing for what and who you say you are designing for and not just trying to make an extra buck in between February and October. We're onto you.

Something to Lighten the Mood

No matter where you live, it seems that the weather has been screwy all Spring--chilly in LA, rainy in Miami, and the worst combination of both in NYC.

So while you may be wondering why you're wearing a coat in June, other people have been wondering why the heck ice cream trucks are always so lame (not an easy comparison, but bear with me). Specifically, someone by the name of Doug Quint, a New York musician who decided that ice cream trucks weren't particularly chic.

"Let's face it, ice cream trucks are kind of queer, and a middle-aged white man driving one is pretty suspect,"Quint said on his Twitter page.

So enter the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck that features gourmet flavors such as olive oil and bacon and forgoes the Chester-the-molester music for some upbeat cha-cha tunes. Right now, Doug's truck cruises New York's Village but, if his designer ice cream is as good as it sounds, it probably won't be long before you'll hear some Cuban music in your neighborhood.

Dior Goddess Fertility Shoes Offensive or Just Plain Stylish?

Last week French actress Marion Cotillard was spotted wearing Christian Dior shoes at the Bike in Style event in New York City. These weren't any Dior shoes though. These were $1600 Dior Goddess Fertility strappy sandals.

When these originally premiered the runway there was a slight buzz on if these shoes would be deemed offensive by anyone. You are, afterall, stepping on a Goddess.

No complaints have been made as of yet.Then again, if you can afford a pair of $1600 fertility sandals, I doubt anyone is going to tell you what to do.

Karl Lagerfeld Denies Rumors About Leaving Chanel

After an uproar in the fashion world regarding Karl Lagerfeld rumored to be leaving Chanel soon, all rumors have finally been put to rest.

Diane Pernett, writer of www.ashadedviewonfashion.com, stated recently,“This is not a fact until you officially read it somewhere else but rumour has it that Karl Lagerfeld will not renew his contract at Chanel and that Alber Elbaz will take his place and Olivier Theyskens will take Alber’s place at Lanvin…Nothing is engraved in cement, these are still just rumours you will have to wait and see.”

While we have all wondered when the fire would burn out of Lagerfeld's creative direction for Chanel it seems as though it won't be anytime soon.

Pernett posted an apology on her website saying, "Today both Chanel and Lanvin denied the rumours that Karl Lagerfeld was leaving the house of Chanel and that Albert Elbaz would be taking his place and that Olivier Theyskens would take Albert's place at Lanvin. It came from a good source, obviously not good enough, but it was clearly stated on my site as a rumour, never as a fact. Frankly, I am happy that it was not true, and apologize if I caused anyone any discomfort."

Lesson to learn here: Maybe it's not such a good idea to post bombshell rumors regarding some of the biggest names in fashion if they, themselves, have not confirmed or released the information first. I doubt Pernett will be posting any outrageous claims in the near future.

Sustainability Never Looked So Hot

As going green becomes more trendy by the day it's no surprise that a New York clothing line would jump on the bandwagon and create clothes made completely out of sustainable materials.

Main designer, Eviana Hartman, worked previously as a writer for publications such as NYLON, Teen Vogue, Vogue, and The Washington Post. Her idea behind her clothing line, "Bodkin Brooklyn," was to create stylish clothes made out of organic wool and cotton and various innovative fibers such as recycled-PET nylon, cellulosic fibers, and kapok. Bodkin consists of classic yet forward thinking pieces that combine style with utility. Bodkin was also named the inaugural recipient of the Ecco Domani Sustainable Design Award in 2009. Hey, if it's helping out the planet and making us look good in the process, what's not to love about this line?

A Different Kind of Fashion Show

Whether you live in the City or you will be visiting this summer, New York has a ton of fashion exhibits to check out. You really cannot afford not to go museum hopping.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (through Aug. 9)
Marc Jacobs and Justin Timberlake chaired this exhibit (and, of course, Ms. Wintour) and boy oh boy, if you want to see some amazing fashion photography, this is the show to see. If anything, it will make you long for Linda and Cindy.

Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology; Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out (through Sept. 26)
If your are a fashion fan who loves detailed craftsmanship, then this is a must-see. The exhibit highlights Toledo's daring fashion choices from her bold architectural couture to Michelle Obama's lemongrass coat.

International Center of Photography; Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 (through Sept. 6)
You literally could be clueless about fashion (but why would you since you read Chaos?) and still enjoy this exhibit. Richard. Avedon. Enough said.

If you can't make it to any of these shows then you can contact each of these museums for catalogs. However, I have a feeling if you do purchase one, it will wind up heavily thumbed on your cocktail table.

Vol. 3 The Euro issue is now live!! :)

Hi! We just released Vol. 3, The Euro Issue, Summer 2009! You can check it out right over there to the right ------>

Enjoy!!!

A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To SoHo...

I experienced my first NYC catcall today. That's right, I looked SO good that construction workers from Queens were hollering at me in the streets. Actually, they were more heckling me, which is fine as well. 

I was strolling through SoHo wearing a Ralph Lauren 'Big Pony' polo
(which btw is Ah-May-Zing! They come in the best colors and the fit is so right. They also have polo match ones where there are like 15 ponies and riders squaring off. Well, maybe not 15 but, you get the idea. ANYWAYS...) my cute new H&M white cuffed shorts, vintage lightweight wool blazer and brown leather wingtips. Oh, did I mention knee-high argyle socks?  You can see my inspiration here. Oh yea. This is the part where the catcalls come in. 

The look was first featured (or will be featured) in the new issue of CHAOS, due to be released at any moment now. It is something that I was pretty adamant about doing to capture the British schoolboy theme that we emulated so damn well. And its New York, if there's anyplace in the world that I can pull this look off, it's here. 

I just don't understand where a bunch of Gambinos from Queens get off coming to SOHO and heckling a fashionisto on the street halfway between Spring and Broome. The knee-high sock thing is definitely something that is an upcoming trend for men but you probably wont see more of it until S/S 2010. It goes hand in hand with the nerd chic movement that is inspiring oh-so-many slick hair parts and Buddy Holly glasses.

The moral of the story is: fashion is meant to be unexpected so play with it and have FUN! As long as your comfortable in it and it makes you feel sexy, it's SO all good. It's way better to have Queens construction workers heckle you in SoHo and get those demure glances from passer-by's on the street in the West Village than to have no reaction at all. 

London Fashion Gets a Celebrity Makeover

It's no secret that it's been quite some time since London Fashion Week carried the names of major fashion industry heavy-hitters. For as long as we can remember, Vivienne Westwood has reigned as queen of the event and only a handful of other major labels have been able to find their niche in the city's style semana. However, although the fashion week across the pond often has to cater to lesser known lines, it soon will be getting an injection of celebrity power come Fall when both Burberry and Matthew Williamson will be showing their spring/summer lines (both fashion houses made announcements over the past week).

Considering that this fall will be the 25th anniversary of fashion week in London, it looks like the city got its anniversary presents early. Who's next? McQueen? McCartney? We'll have to wait and see.