Here are my latest finds and news from fashion, style, film, photography and beautiful living.
Interviews with Ralph Lauren don’t happen as often as I’d like, so this one is one to read. He talks about a life in fashion, the secrets of lasting style, hard work and perseverance. The designer launched his new Polo Ralph Lauren for women line at the beginning of this year, because, he says, “there are lots of things that young women love in the men’s line”. Exactly. The photo above is of Dree Hemingway wearing Polo Ralph Lauren Fall 2014, an editorial shot appeared in the August issue of Elle Italia. To me, Dree seems perfect to impersonate the Polo woman, as stated in the second quote below.
• My film recommendation this week: Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman
• Jean Paul Gaultier stops making ready-to-wear. In his open letter to WWD, Gaultier explains that “commercial constraints and the frantic rhythm of collection leave no liberty, no more than the time necessary to find ideas and to innovate”. Maybe more designers should speak up, because this is the reality in the fashion industry today.
• The exhibition Horst: Photographer of Style, celebrating the fashion photography of Horst P. Horst, is at the V&A Museum from September 6th to January 4th, 2015.
• An in-depth talk with Gucci’s Frida Giannini. “I wanted to find the best suppliers and partners to do things the right way, because most of the brands are producing in countries that are problematic. In China or Southeast Asia, you never know if kids themselves will be creating the kid’s line. This is something I said I absolutely did not want to do. Everything had to be made in Italy and under the control of the company.”
• Have you watched 73 questions with Anna Wintour?
• A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse sounds like a good book for autumn, no?
photos: Matt Jones for Elle Italia, August 2014 | Dree Hemingway styled by Alberto Zanoletti, via Visual Optimism / 2-4: Ralph Lauren | Polo Ralph Lauren fall ad campaign photographed by Bruce Weber
That’s interesting about JPG, but it doesn’t exactly clarify if it’s solely just stop presenting or completely stop producing RTW. Either way, JPG still collaborates with other brands, he just did something with a Swedish brand.
Either way, it raises some thoughts. There are many designers who present as many as 10 collections a year. For how long do we expect them to go on like that? It’s already crystal clear that the quality of the collections is suffering.
i really love dree hemmingway. and i would really love to have those blankets on those cute pups.
i haven’t seen ‘eat drink man woman’ in so long, but it reminds what a diversity of work ang lee has. he’s pretty amazing.
That photo of Dree is perfection – love it, love the styling. It was definitely time for Polo for women. Interesting news about Gaultier. I hadn’t seen it yet. One would think a designer would give up couture, not RTW. I had already seen the 73 questions with Ana but the one with SJP remains my favourite.
I was thinking if I should see the Horst exhibition in November. I have promised my son a day in London but I don’t know if he will agree to go with me V&A. Let’s see if I can bribe him with something ;- )
I would definitely consider going to the Horst exhibition if in London. I’m sure you can bribe your son to go with you.:) Regarding Gaultier, yes, it would seem more probable for a designer to give up couture than ready-to-wear, especially that the commercial part plays such an important role in fashion today, but from what he says, it’s clear that for him fashion is more about innovation and pure creation and it’s couture where he can do that properly.
Interesting choice of movie.
Dree looks so genuine American beauty, no wonder she was chosen to represent the Polo woman.
From time to time I visit your blog, cause I like your dedication and clarity of style choices. Thanks
Dree would have indeed been the right choice for the Polo woman, but she is not part of the brand’s campaign. It’s an editorial photo.
Thank you for stopping by.
A very interesting decision from JPG; but as the voracity and speed of fashion and collections keeps propelling forward I often wonder how these designers are able to maintain the frenetic pace! I also had the Anna Wintour vid flagged for my end of the week post! And also The Horst P Horst exhibition dates!! I remember watching Eat Drink Man Woman years ago and when we left the cinema thinking we need to eat right away!! I’m pretty sure that was the one! 🙂
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