Versace goes for broke?

Following in the footsteps of Lanvin, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Jimmy Choo (to name but a few), H&M have confirmed that Varsace will be the next high fashion label to launch a small collection for the high street giant.

Though she previously declined offers to do a lower-priced collection, Donatella told the New York Magazine, ‘’ I respect everyone who does (those type of lines). But the reason I didn’t do it is because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand.’’  

The womenswear collection will be dominated by dresses featuring studded leather, silk and colourful prints, with accessories including high heels and costume jewellery. The men’s collection will focus on sharp tailoring, including ‘the perfect tuxedo’, as well as belts and jewellery, while for the first time in a designer collaboration at H&M, the collection will include some homeware pieces, including cushions and bedspreads.

Is Donatella hoping to have the same effect on shoppers as Alber Elbaz last year, when his Lanvin for H&M collection sold out in a matter of minutes (with many items subsequently selling for even greater prices on eBay), Varsace is set to launch H&M menswear, womanswear and homeware which will go on Sale on November 17 later this year- shortly followed by a pre-spring collection that will be available online from January 19 2012.

This is what Donatella had to say, ‘’ I am thrilled to be collaborating with H&M and to have the opportunity of reaching their wide audience. The collection will be quintessential Varsace, perfect for H&M and Varsace fans everywhere.’’   Am I the only one baffled by this sudden change of heart?

Margareta Van Den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M also masterminded collaborations with Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme Des Garcons and Jimmy Choo. Here is what she had to say, ‘’Versace is one of the most important brands of recent times and their collection for H&M will be glamorous and flamboyant-everything Versace stands for.’’ And she also went on to say ‘’ Donatella is sharing with us iconic designs from the archives. This is such a celebratory collaboration and is perfect for the party season.’’

Now does this mean that there won’t be any fresh designs from the brand? Will they be doing an update of the old styles or just simply as they are?! Personally I’ve never been a Versace fan, never mind that I can’t afford it. But I must say I am really looking forward to seeing the full collection, well for menswear anyway.

Below is a sneak peak of what’s in store for all the Versace lovers. She even wore one of her designs to the Versace men’s show In Milan (pictured below) and you can see more here.

Pics from: Thehuffingtonpost.com, Fashionista.com

Follow Me on Twitter: @SekeloTimelly

Look Of The Week: John Varvatos



John Varvatos Spring 2012



My Hot List: Menswear

  

Bottega Veneta Biker Jacket



J.Crew Shirt





Cutler and Gross Shades



Acne Skinny Jeans

Ralph Lauren Biker Boots

Mulberry Holdall

Angelina Jolie for Louis Vuitton

Angelina Jolie is the latest celebrity to pose for Louis Vuitton’s popular “Core Values” campaign.

''The campaign is expected to run for at least 18 months alongside a few other recent “core values” personalities, including Bono and Sean Connery. Vuitton introduced the advertising concept in 2007 as a way to trumpet its travel roots and showcase its perennial monogrammed leather goods as a balance to its fashion-driven marketing — and to reach a broader audience. Other personalities who have posed for Vuitton include Mikhail Gorbachev, Keith Richards and Catherine Deneuve.'' writes Miles Socha for WWD.com.

pic: WWD.com

Oldest Working Supermodel Turns 80

An 80 year-old model sounds like a fashion ‘’fairytale’’!  But style icon Carmen Dell’Orefice proves that working the runway as an octogenarian Is not only possible, but pretty damn fabulous. Born on the 3^rd of June 1931 in New York, Carmen started modeling in 1945 at a very young age of 14.

She spent most of her time in foster homes and sometimes with other relatives because her parents were constantly breaking up and getting back together.  In 1942 she reunited with her mother and moved back to New York City. Carmen and her mother were still very poor, despite modeling.

In 1946 when she had just turned 15, she was introduced to VOGUE by her godfather. At the time they had no telephones and VOGUE would send runners to their apartment to let her know about modeling jobs. Carmen was making a name for herself in the industry, but due to malnourishment photographers had to pin back dresses and stuff her body with tissue.

She appeared in the 1947 issue of VOGUE as Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and Cinderella. She then covered the November 1948 issue of VOGUE, working with noted fashion photographers (of that era) Irving Penn, Francesco Scavullo, Norman Parkinson and Richard Avedon.

In the early 1950’s she met and married Bill Miles. He would pick up her weekly modeling checks at her agency and only give her $50 (R350.00) of them. They had a daughter named Laura, but it wasn’t long before they called it quits. She then met photographer Richard Heimann and married him only six months later.

In 1960’s she was photographed by Melvin Sokolsky for HARPER’S BAZAAR. The iconic image titled Carmen Las Meninas is world famous and has been collected internationally. Carmen retired (after her third marriage) in the mid-sixties after 20 years as a model. She continued to appear in magazines, only now as a socialite.

Things did not go as well as she they thought they would. Desperate, she decided to return to modeling in 1978. She returned to her old agency, Ford, Hoping to work as an agent, but they turned her down flat. They assumed she was trying to revive her modeling career and convinced her that, at forty-seven, her future was behind her. Lacking other options, she did modeling sporadically, mainly catalogue work.

It wasn’t until her old friend Norman Parkinson ran into her at a party and decided to take a gamble. He flew her off to Paris for French VOGUE. The new portfolio revealed a new Carmen; sexy, silver-haired and sovereign. Ford did a volte-face and opened a new division specifically to handle her, and she began working with a new generation of photographers: Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier, Arthur Elgort, Peter Lindberg and Steven Meisel.

 In 1985 and in her 50’s, she authored her best-selling book Staying Beautiful: Beauty Secrets and Attitudes from My Forty Years as a Model. She says that she doesn’t diet but confesses to have received a little help ‘’here and there’’ from the surgeon’s knife.

60+ years later Carmen continues to be without a doubt one of the best posers in the business and she hasn’t stopped working. While many a senior citizen is walking with a cane. The ageless elegant Dell’Orefice continues to strut the runway in her signature silver-haired glory, appearing for John Galliano in 2000, Hermes in 2004, and Alberta Ferretti just this year.

Today Carmen views life with equanimity and has the air of someone who is likely to be surprised by much. Oh, and she won’t be retiring any time soon. She may have ‘’earned the right to work part time,’’ as she recently told an interviewer, but she remains steadfast in her resolve to ‘’DIE WITH MY HEELS ON.’’

Check out a handful of images of the woman called ‘’The World’s Oldest Working Model.’’

Lea T. Transexual Model Poses For Blue Man Swimsuit Campaign!

Noted Givenchy muse Lea T. shot her first swimwear campaign for Blue Man on the beach in Rio, madeinbrazilblog.com writes. Lea T. struck a pose alongside Marlon Teixeira for Terry Richardson, whose photographs are known for their controversial, graphic sexual subjet matter.

Here are some photos of Lea in action and for more check out- www.madeinbrazilblog.com/blog/lea-t-marlon-teixeira-blue-man-making-of/.

Pics: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/