The Lighthouse Keeper: The New News

Hi, hi, hi. It's been a while and loads of stuff's been going on 'round here as November wraps up: Latin tests, Deadmau5 concerts, sushi, Harry Potter, sicknesses, school, more school and more more school. So, I apologize for the silence.

Anyway, there's been some pretty fabulous stuff going on in the fashion atmosphere recently. News that made my stomach lurch with excitement. So... I'll get right to it.

One of these days someone is going to tell me that my obsession with Alexander McQueen is getting old and that I should shut up and take a hike, but I really couldn't care less. He's like my favorite musician, when he's in town I'm gonna go crazy and try to get tickets to see his show.... and that's exactly what I'm going to do come this May.
Backtracking to allow some catch up... every year the Metropolitan Museum of Art (a.k.a the Met) puts on its Costume Institute Gala (co-chaired by the lovely Anna Wintour). Often called the 'Oscars of the Fashion World', it is an event where fashion royalty: designers, models, muses and celebrities come together to celebrate an elaborate themed costume exhibit... and the result is one of the most extravagant evenings in the fashion calendar. Past themes have included Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, The Model as Muse and Anglomania.

Well... there's a exhibit coming to town and it's gonna rock your socks off New York. Yes, it's obvious, is it not? The theme of next year's Costume Institute Gala is 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty'.

OH. MY. GOSH I need to go. Too bad tickets started at around $6,500 in 2007... and who knows how much they'll be now. And all that is without purchasing some sort of dress for the event, plus I'm going to need a bus ticket and hotel room and... Hold up... let's be serious, I'm in planning mode for something that is never going to happen. Sad, but true even though it's kinda fun. Anyway, the Gala will kick off a several month exhibition at the Met of over 100 McQueen items, the largest collection of his works that have ever come together. You know how stoked I am.
- Courtesy of NY Magazine

There was a post where I had a bit of a meltdown over a certain designer: Tom Ford. Well he's back in the business of womenswear (Women everywhere rejoice!) and pictures of this upcoming collection were released to VOGUE several days ago. The Spring 2011 Collection was shown in an extremely private and exclusive preview back in September during NY Fashion Week. The reason for this, Ford wants to reject the extreme nature of our media based culture so as not to ruin his clothes. He doesn't believe in the necessity of having images of his clothes uploaded months before they are going to be stocked in stores, which is sad for all the computer nerds like myself who live for the hours of waiting for new uploads. Anyway, without much further ado:

A sketch that teased many for months before the images of the collection were release last week

Can you say 70s revival? That's one of the major themes of next season but Ford is quoted saying that these were the most wearable clothes and that is the idea behind his collection. I see fringe, leopard, afros, pantsuits, wrap dresses and a whole lotta sex appeal, which is to be expected from him of course.

- Photos and interview VOGUE.com

Karl Lagerfeld was the pioneer of the whole big name brands collaborating with high street labels storm. And as of last week we can add one of my favorite designers to that list of powerhouse names that have collaborated with H & M:

Yeah, it's kinda old news but Alber Elbaz and Lanvin are in stores.... right this second! His collection for H & M was released worldwide this past Tuesday (the 23rd). It's an awesome feat because Lanvin is such a fresh label that is garnering such praise for its beautifully sculpted and ageless clothes that look good on women. I see alot of influence from his past runway collections in these clothes and hopefully when I'm in Toronto this weekend I'll be able to take a peek in stores and see if there's anything I like (haha, that's a joke, I love it all).

This video was released at the beginning of the month when the images of the collection first surfaced and it couldn't make me want the clothes any more. With models like Natasha Poly, Tati Cotliar, and Hannelore Knuts you know the fashion world is behind him 100%. I really love the idea of models ransacking a hotel... it feels like we're seeing them in their natural habitat, a behind the scenes view that is bordering the perverse and intrusive but is hilariously light hearted. I HEART LANVIN.

Here are some of the looks:

The tee features the adorable sketch that Alber was doodling in the promo video and I really want it.

I hate florals, but somehow I can stand these... I think there's so much going on that it hasn't registered in my brain.

I love one shouldered dresses, I have a couple hiding in my closet back in the UK and my mom will ask me to justify why I need another one, but that's absurd. I mean, it's Lanvin for H & M.... duh haha.

- Courtesy of NY Magazine

Something about the model shenanigans in the hotel rang familiar in my brain and I realized that I'd seen it already, but instead the models had a Y chromosome and had no fashion...

Gotta love me some Crosby.

And finally on November 16th the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner was announced: Congratulations Billy Reid, menswear designer! Just before the winners were announced miss Anna Wintour announced that the prizes were to be increased to $300,000 for the winner and $100,000 for both runners up. Speaking of which the two very worthy runners up were jewelry designer Eddie Borgo and womenswear star Prabal Gurung. This award is established to help young American designers break into the business and The nature of these awards is that the recipients meet regularly with a business mentor who will help them with the expansion of their line. Congrats guys and good luck!

From left to right: Billy Reid (W), Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Prabal Gurung (RU), CFDA President Diane Von Furstenburg and Eddie Borgo (RU)