Bill Cunningham, Genius

The man above might not seem like the typical fashion show attendee, let alone important enough to sit front row, but Bill Cunningham is one of the most important people in fashion. He solely created the street style photography movement... years ago. His weekly photo journal in the New York Times every Sunday has been read by fashion industry titans for years. If you live in New York City, you are most likely to have seen the elusive photographer zipping around Manhattan on a bicycle with a camera around his neck and stopping periodically to snap a photo of someone wearing something that catches his eye, fashionable or not. Just last week a documentary was released on DVD chronicling his life, and it took me by surprise. I am embarrassed to say that I just watched it, because I was in Europe when it hit theaters, but I immediately downloaded it on iTunes when it was available. This man is a total genius. His way of life is unlike any other person in fashion, his choice of living modestly and refusing to take anything but the bare essentials has kept his aesthetic of career in tact, and always on point. This man is the epitome of fashion for his way of bringing to light, the runway, along with runaway trends that are seen on the streets and worn by most, but never seen in the pages of a fashion magazine. Anna Wintour even made a cameo in the film, citing that everyone dresses for Bill, now how about that....?

Dream Dinner: Anna Wintour

Writing a blog is like editing a mini magazine, or at least that is how I think of it, to keep myself sane. And if you're looking for a more successful magazine that Vogue, you will come up short. Vogue is one of the most successful magazines in the world, and it has been at the helm of Anna Wintour for over twenty years. Ms. Wintour's work has only gotten better with age, and she is the ultimate publishing powerhouse. Her strong personality has made her a respected force in the industry, and she does not apologize for it. Her work at Vogue among other places is truly beautiful; she has made her own way in the fashion world, which has paid off greatly and will continue to pay off because she has styled Vogue in a way that makes it noticed on the world stage. 

Leader of the Ship, Anna Wintour

Attitude is everything. The woman behind one of the most successful magazines in the world knows how to present herself in the office as well as around town. Anna Wintour is the first lady of style, will tell anybody who wants to hear it. Her strong stoic persona is often misjudged, which can be seen in the documentary The September Issue. She is responsible for all America being stylish, and she couldn't do it without her right-hand women, Grace Coddington, the creative director of the magazine. Ms. Wintour is as calculated and strategic as any woman of business, and she knows exactly what she's doing. Her long career, easily spanning over twenty years is revolutionary, and will hopefully continue to well into the future. 

All images courtesy of Tumblr. Inquire for details. 

Respecting McQueen, The Met Ball

May 1st was the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, which was themed in tribute to the late Alexander McQueen. The exhibit is showcasing a number of Mr. McQueen's creations, which can be viewed through the summer at The Met's Costume Institute. The Gala was hosted by Anna Wintour, and was curated at by Sarah Burton, who is now the Creative Director for Alexander McQueen and a friend of the late designer. Ms. Burton had a busy past couple of days, having designed Princess Catherine's wedding dress(es) this weekend, and now was the celebrated centerpiece at this event here in America. I was borderline shocked at the amount of people who chose not to wear an Alexander McQueen piece to the Gala, but the the attendees that donned an original McQueen piece looked absolutely stunning. Take a look at all the people who paid their final respects to the late and great designer. 

Proenza Schouler

Young American designers that have gained success really inspire me; I first became enamored with the sister team of Rodarte, and now I am constantly finding myself looking for articles on Proenza Schouler. Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez started the womenswear line in 2002 and became an enormous success, dressing celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Chloe Sevigny, Kate Bosworth, Kirsten Dunst, Julianne Moore and Charlize Theron. The duo went from Parsons to Barney's almost over night. They worked on their senior thesis together, which was entirely bought by Barney's, almost unheard of. Lazaro Hernandez had interned with Michael Kors (courtesy of a random referral from Anna Wintour, who Mr. Hernandez had a chance-encounter with on an airplane), and Mr. McCollough interned with Marc Jacobs. Mr. McCollough and Mr. Hernandez are both 32 and riding the wave of success, and traveling around the world to be inspired by different cultures and environments. The two live and work together flawlessly, and they truly do work together; if one wants black, and the other wants white, they'll go grey, the brand would not be Proenza Schouler if it were one-sided, they have said. The brand's name comes from both of their mother's maiden names, which is now a slight regret because of the complicated lettering, apparently making it hard to find the right font for the label, but their mother I'm sure don't have a problem with it. A young person finding success in the fashion industry is always so rare, but when you can collaborate with someone, the chances of bringing two forces together makes for an intense ride, and will hopefully stand the test of time. Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough credit Helmut Lang as an idol because he left his audience wanting more, and I can tell Proenza Schouler will always leave us wanting more.

Spring 2011

Spring 2011

Spring 2011

Spring 2011

Lazaro Hernandez, Chloe Sevigny, Jack McCollough

Leighton Meester, Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Lauren Santo Domingo

Jack McCollogue, Mary Kate Olsen, Lazaro Hernandez 

Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez

Wintour in Winter

I spoke about Vogue and Anna Wintour today in a discussion on the magazine publishing industry, and am simply in awe of this photo of Vogue's Editor-in-Chief, Ms. Wintour attending one of the Spring/Summer fashion shows in Europe. I absolutely love her attitude and work mentality, but also her softer side, exhibited in the documentary, The September Issue. I think Ms. Wintour should be a role model for all editors. She sticks to her guns, and will stand by her opinion no matter what; notice her fur collar, which she almost always gets flack for wearing, but she will never cease to wear something with fur. 

Luxe Artist, Adele

I may have gotten a little ahead of myself when I pre-ordered Adele's new album, 21, which comes out in February, but I have been waiting for this for quite a while now. The British songstress makes some of the most beautiful music, which, in my opinion, will last for a very long time because of her timeless elegance and soul. Her first album, 19, was absolutely outstanding, I loved every song on it. And her efforts do not go unrewarded, she has won two Grammys; her appearance at the Grammys was styled by non other than Vogue's Anna Wintour, which broke Adele out of her cardigan and flats motif. The two songs I've heard so far from 21, are Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You, and I have listened to them on repeat for days. I would suggest all of you put your order in for 21... and 19 if you haven't already.