Designer profile: Ever want to wear a crustacean? Rodnik can help | Hollywood yohana

Rodnik Spring 2012


Equal parts designer, rock star, and artist, Philip Colbert’s need to stand out is driven by anything from art inspiration (think Warhol, Duchamp, and the like), to rock royalty. His womenswear line, Rodnik, follows suit.
Rodnik started as a duo with Colbert and Richard Ascott, with their designs focused around Russian folk–inspired knit scarves, with celebs like Peaches Geldof, Sienna Miller, and Lily Cole donning their early collections. In the last few years Rodnik has become what Colbert describes as a “much more fun adventure.” Part of the adventure—are you ready for this?—is in the publicity stunts. Starting in 2009 the Rodnik Band—the label presented as an ironic fashion band, where songs are developed based on a collection concept—has recorded and toured, showing at stores and fashion weeks worldwide. We want to party with this guy.

Nowadays Colbert is on his own (Ascott left Rodnik in early 2008), and he’s been working hard to develop the spirit of the brand. “I wanted my new collection to scream, with a self awareness and acknowledgment that fashion is ridiculous—even absurd—but that’s why I love it, and that’s what makes it an art.” His latest line looks like a mix between Steve Zissou, One Fish Two Fish by Dr. Seuss, and a B52s music video, and we love it. There’s also a video to match, which makes us love it even more.
Rodnik’s latest collection for Spring 2012 is the most exciting yet, but you’ll still have to wait a while to get your hands on most of it. One Rodnik T-shirt, co-designed by the Environmental Justice Foundation is available now, with all proceeds going to the charity, and the rest launching in December.

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The fashion week feud rages on, with Milan firing back! | Hollywood yohana




You’ve already heard about the kafuffle caused by fashion week scheduling next fall, that timing for MFW is going to overlap with both LFW and PFW. Quelle horror! To make matters much worse, a press release surfaced this morning from the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in which Milan responds to New York, London, and Paris’ unwillingness to alter their fashion week schedules, and claiming that a written agreement from 2010 had MFW scheduled to take place between the 19th and 25th of September—as per usual—and which they’ve decided they’ll stick to. Dun dun dun…
But here comes the real drama: today’s statement from the Italian board of directors reads: “Such an accuse, in addition to representing an aggressive and arrogant attitude towards CNMI, used unfair argumentation in order to impose—in a unilateral way—not shared decisions. In conclusion, the Board of Directors and the Designers’ Roundtable have unanimously decided to confirm the schedule as it was previously announced on March 17th 2010: [MFW] will be held from Wednesday 19th to Tuesday 25th of September 2012.”
Looks like they are peeved. And we would be too—especially when fashion royalty have sworn their allegiance to New York and London. We’re hoping that there’s no bad blood over this in the end, Anna and Franca stay on good terms, and that the fashion world isn’t split into an East vs. West side-style battle. Stay tuned.

THEY SAID…

Mario Boselli, head of the Chamber of Fashion: “Let the best one win. Italian designers unanimously agreed on the schedule, from the smallest brand to the biggest. They showed great solidarity and Italian pride.”
The Cut: “Oh God, it’s a full-blown cris-hiss.”

Fashionista: “Does anyone else feel like this seems more akin to a power struggle between high school’s most popular clique, rather than a matter of conflicting schedules in a major industry?”
WE SAID…
Susie Sheffman, fashion director: “Them’s fighting words. Someone will have to back down. Let the games begin!”

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Toronto fashion week to celebrate 25th year with a new location and shows by Joeffer Caoc, Cynthia Rowley, and more! | Hollywood yohana




The Spring 2012 collections, taking place October 17–21, will mark the 25th Toronto fashion week. Having previously announced the location of the new venue, the Fashion Design Council of Canada has now released the schedule and details about the week.
While we’re not sure what to expect with the week’s theme of “CanadaCool,” we’re excited about the new venue, David Pecaut Square. With the new venue being downtown, we no longer have to teeter down to the exhibition in four-inch heels.
Each season showcases Canada’s design talent and Spring 2012 is no different, with collections from fashion heavyweights Joeffer Caoc, Pink Tartan, Denis Gagnon, and the new and exciting Amanda Lew Kee and Chloe Comme Parris. This season is also going international with established American designer Cynthia Rowley showing three never-before-seen looks.
With a new name and venue, we hope that the collections from Canadian designers are equally as fresh and thrilling.

THEY SAID….
Robin Kay, FDCC president: “With the spring 2012 collections marking our 25th fashion week, it must be said that as a country we are now seen as a significant presence in the global fashion marketplace.”
Michael Thompson, chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee: “Canada has an incredible pool of creative talent, and showcasing that talent at David Pecaut Square for the world to see will bring international attention to Canada’s great designers and to our dynamic city. We could not be happier that Toronto has been chosen to host this great event.”
WE SAID….
Jordan Porter, fashion market editor: “Having David Pecaut square as the new venue for Toronto Fashion Week is a wonderful idea. Being able to see what’s to come for spring from so many great and talented Canadian designers in a location that honours a man who was so invested in nurturing Canada’s arts and culture scene is a perfect fit.”

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Victoria Beckham’s newly released cat-inspired diffusion line has already sold out in London | Hollywood yohana

 

Victoria Beckham’s newest line with the very James Bond-esque name, Victoria, Victoria Beckham has caused a major fashion ruckus, selling out of Harvey Nichols on its first day in stores.
Inspired by cartoon character Emily the Strange, the line is decidedly mod with ‘60s shifts and Mondrian-worthy colour blocking. The “affordable” collection starts at £395 (which according to our rough calculations is upwards of $600). That’s Carven worthy, people! Yet somehow the steep pricing hasn’t deterred the masses, as there are already waitlists for three dresses, priced at almost $1,000. Canadians have no fear though, the collection is going to be available at Holt Renfrew very soon, and there’s no wait list to report as of today!
There is a definite feline undertone to Victoria, Victoria Beckham—bejeweled cat mannequins sport divine kitten-printed dresses. Who knew cats were the It animal of the moment? First Jason Wu’s Target line, and then Kate Moss and Lara Stone sporting sparkly cat ears on the cover of LOVE.
To promote it all, Beckham has collaborated with filmmaker Quentin Jones to produce a feline-frenzied fashion short, which may be our favourite fashion film since Prada’s Summer 2011 video (not including ours, of course).
THEY SAID:
Fashionista: “This fashion film to promote the debut of Victoria Beckham’s … is easily among the best we’ve ever seen (and we’re not saying that just because there are cats, swear).”
Mirror: “Only ‘affordable’ in high fashion circles still carries a rather hefty price tag of £500 upwards for a simple but chic shift dress. And no matter how chic it is, that’s still a lot of mullah.”

Shoppers Base: “The clothing collection includes above the knee dresses that feature scalloped edges and quirky cat, cloud and moon motifs, which apparently have been inspired by the fairy-tale cartoon character, Emily The Strange, (no I haven’t heard of it either.)”
WE SAID:
Paige Dzenis, associate online editor: “Hold up, Emily The Strange? I actually really liked a few of the Victoria, Victoria Beckham pieces I’ve seen, but finding out that the inspiration was a mock-gothic cartoon is rather ruining it. Quick! Someone from her team replace the mention of this suburban mall chain icon with an obscure twee one instead!” 

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Fashion news: The Man Repeller repels and DVF, Michael Kors and Tory Burch hit Oprah | Hollywood yohana

 


Leandra Medine, the fashion enthusiast behind the blog, The Man Repeller, has been everywhere lately! From getting all up in the Bloomingdale’s New York flagship window in collaboration with Tibi [Racked] to provoking a bit of controversy on Stylcaster by using the term “white girl problem.”

Mother is investigated after giving Botox injections to her 8-year old pageant daughter. That little girl seriously needs to buy a sunhat ASAP. [Forbes]
Is Twilight star Bryce Dallas Howard pregnant? If not, sack the stylist!
Gisele launches her own lingerie line that has an uncanny resemblance to that of Victoria Secret
DVF, Michael Kors and Tory Burch  gave makeovers on the final makeover show of Oprah!


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We grapple with the news and show you images of the collection! | Hollywood yohana




The brand with the propensity for making expensive look cheap has gone, well, cheap. Today H&M announced that Versace will be its next designer collaboration, and we can’t help but wonder, isn’t the point of Versace that it made its name defending tacky chic? (That itty-bitty mini exposing everything has been sewn with the highest level of craftsmanship and made with the finest Italian fabrics.) This collab could go so many different ways, and we’re praying for directional. Spring’s edgy technicolour zigzags, for example, would look unreal on the selling floor, as would a revival of some offbeat ’90s Gianni-isms, but a sexed-up red-carpet multi-layered goddess gown? Lost in translation. Judging by the images released with this morning’s announcement, the collection is looking fabulous so far. We’re crossing our fingers that the rest follows suit.
The collection, available on November 17, promises to include several iconic womenswear and menswear pieces in colourful prints, gold and leather, as well as jewellery and home furnishings. Donatella Versace will also create a pre-Spring collection, which will be exclusively available online from January 19, 2012. We suggest setting multiple calendar alerts, like, right NOW!

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Back-to-back-to-back with Tory Burch, J.Crew, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, and more! | Hollywood yohana




From the prim to awesomely improper, yesterday at New York fashion week was another dizzying day of back-to-back-to-back shows. Let’s drill it down:
The liner notes at Tory Burch’s show yesterday referenced a proper girl who’s come undone by falling in love with the wrong sort of guy. Well, it might have been wrong for the girl, but on the runway it was very, very right. Self confessed, I’ve never prayed to the Burch alter, but the designer’s beautiful Fall collection might just have me changing my tune. Featuring pencil skirts, lacey dresses in wine, emerald, navy, and dusty rose, and some of the loveliest floral appliques and pearl details on done-up cardigans, the collection entered Carey Mulligan territory.
After a bit of J.Crew action and one hilarious stalking sesh at Starbucks (“I’ll have a Venti decaf water, please!”), it was off to Vera Wang, where Viola Davis, Maria Sharapova, and the face of Wang’s fragrance, Leighton Meester, took in 39 sheer, slashed red-carpet options. (This for Davis’s Oscar acceptance speech?)
Then, to the eerily dark Pier 57 for Diesel Black Gold’s collection. A tightly edited showing of the brand’s signature rocker aesthetic had motor jackets once again reinvented in distressed oxblood, leather boxing shorts done in leopard-print pony, and button-downs worn under loose shift skirts. So perfectly crafted to say “I don’t give a…”
And what better way to offset the rebel than with the show-stopping glam girls that showed up en masse at Naeem Khan. Known so well for his over-the-top (in the best way) glitziness, the India native took to Haight-Ashbury with a modern blend of the caftan, the red-carpet stunner, and the wrap dress all at once. The result? Something we’re sure to see on February 26.
Then, for another Marc outing at the Lexington (not Park, in case you get lost like us). Dorky to perfection, it won’t be a season for me unless I’ve got at least one item in my closet.
Next, I was off to Milk—my final show at the epicentre of cool—for former CFDA award winner Sophie Theallet. An offbeat sort of of prettiness unfolded through the tightly woven, ‘70s-hued (think maroon and fuchsia intarsia sweaters, wool teal wraps) collection.
Prettiness of a different sort (well, the really high-society sort) was on the agenda at Oscar de la Renta as well, way up 12 floors above the bustle of 42nd Street. Pearls dripped from skirt hems, jewels were blown up and printed on shirt dresses, and the frothiest fantasy prom dresses walked down the runway in a collection that’d suit many a 5th Avenue princess just swell.
And finally, to close the night with Narsciso Rodriguez‘s silk-slashed ode to autumnal hues. Though it felt a bit like going through the motions, the designer did turn out quite a few beautiful sculpted coats.
Wait, one last stop! In the basement… of the Hotel Americano, for Business of Fashion’s 5th anniversary party. With founder Imran Amed decked in suspenders and birthday buttons, fashion’s finest from Tory Burch to Fern Mallis to Toronto’s own Shinan Govani showed up to toast a glass.

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Check out our top 25 looks (we had trouble choosing) from Chanel’s Marie Antoinette-meets-punk Cruise collection | Hollywood yohana



Crunch, crunch, crunch. The sound of platform sneakers on pea gravel signalled the start of the Chanel Resort 2013 show, with models emerging from a wall of greenery in the sprawling parterre garden of Versailles. A convoy of 300 black cars had chauffeured press and clients from Paris to the former home of Marie Antoinette for the event, which included a punk performance with Alice Dellal thrashing away on drums. The collection had many nods to the past: 18th century panniers, decorative stomachers and frilled sleeves, and cropped court wigs over ribbon-tied ponytails, all blended with cropped jackets and knickers in sugary pastels. Tilda Swinton, Vanessa Paradis and Inès de la Fressange mingled afterwards in a hot house with Lagerfeld, who was laden with jewellery including a delicate emerald pin. Emeralds and punk? Marie Antoinette and Coco Chanel? Quintessential Lagerfeld-style mash-ups.



Recreate Christopher Kane’s granny-chic sandals in 4 steps | Hollywood yohana




 Granny-chic is quite a feat and we adore the girlish reflective flower motifs, flower-appliquéd organza and shimmery pastels of Christopher Kane’s spring collection. And here’s the secret added bonus: they’re comfortable too. To emulate the style, we picked a pair of sport sandals over at Sport Chek and transformed them in four simple steps.

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