The Luxe Chronicles

Fashion: Why So Few Women Behind the Lens?

If fashion is an industry supposedly dominated by women, why are all the leading fashion photographers mostly men? Why do so few women take up the art? Other than Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Regina Relang and Lillian Bassman, I can't off the top of my head name any others. Why is that? My inquiring mind wants to know your thoughts on the matter.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Fashion: What's Wrong With Fashion Magazines?

"Seriously?!"

It has become fashionable (pardon the pun) to dissect the troubles afflicting print fashion magazines these days. The recession, excessive photoshopping, underfed models, the stale content of many magazines and of course, the Internet, are routinely cited as explanations for the overall decline in ad revenue and circulation. U.S.Vogue as the industry leader is getting more than its share of scrutiny and critique (much of it deserved). While many of the reasons cited may indeed be contributing factors, I don't think any of the analyses proffered to date are particularly convincing.

Haute Couture: God Is In The Details - Why Not Just Enjoy Them?

Every couture season, it's the same story: chroniclers of fashion invariably question the future of the tiny industry. Usually, they point to the dwindling number of couture clients throughout the world and surmise that it's only a matter of time before there are none left and legendary couture houses are forced to shutter their ateliers forever. Of course, the fact that the future of Christian Lacroix's couture house looks increasingly bleak hasn't helped matters. "Was the sunset at Chanel symbolic of couture’s fading light?" asks New York Times' fashion critic Cathy Horyn.

Fashion: Haute Couture's Rising Stars

Lest you come away with the impression that Dior was the only couture house to unveil a collection in Paris yesterday, I would like to draw your attention to two other very talented couturiers each of whom presented a parade of gorgeous creations worthy of attention.

Fashion: Chanel Inc. on How to Make Friends and Influence People

Many journalists, writers, online editors and bloggers received the above notice from Chanel's corporate parent recently politely instructing them to refrain from what the company considers an inappropriate usurpation of their brand name (please click on the above image to read). Not since Apple Computer tried (unsuccessfully) to prevent the use of any and all images resembling that most ubiquitous fruit, the apple, has a brand sought to push the limits of trademark infringement law this far.

Fashion: Bad Taste for Back to School

Behold "Sasha Fierce for Derion" back-to-school collection. The line which is described as "junior apparel" is yet another offering from Beyoncé Knowles and her "designer" mother Tina Knowles. It includes a full range of sportswear, outerwear, handbags, footwear, eyewear, lingerie and jewelry. The accessories reportedly involve large metal chains, heavily studded shoes and oversize sunglasses like the ones Beyoncé wears on tour. I can think of no better reason to send your daughters to a uniformed school or at the very least, lobby for a stricter school dress code. Can you?

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Luxury: Are We Preaching Into the Wind?

Social responsibility seems all the rage right now. Terms like "ethical luxury" and "sustainable luxury" have crept into the lexicons of luxury CEO's and marketeers alike. It's hard to tell where this new social conscience will lead but it does remind me of the debate over the ethicalness of wearing fur. I came across these images of Blackgama adverts and Peta's 2005 parody on a blog called Planet Fabulon (a veritable visual feast of glamorous imagery which I highly recommend).

Fashion: A Few Random Musings

As mentioned in my post from last Friday, I attended a Fall/Winter 2009 trends event at Net-A-Porter's London headquarters last Thursday evening. Prior to the start of the presentation, I had the opportunity to chat with a number of Net-A-Porter's team. It was an insightful evening on a number of levels and I thought I would share a few of them with you.

Fashion: Oh Glenda! What Have You Wrought?

Everyone from media professionals to fashion bloggers are up-in-arms over U.S. Harper's Bazaar July issue featuring Angelina Jolie. Rather than commissioning a cover shot especially for the purpose as is customary for most high-end fashion glossies, the publication resorted to using a paparazzi photograph from one of Jolie's many red carpet appearances instead, a tactic more closely associated with tabloids like the National Inquirer than a blue-chip fashion magazine of Harper's Bazaar's stature.

Books: Christian Dior on the Merits of Fashion and Haute Couture

Last week while I was in Paris, I had a bit of time to kill before my meeting and so of course, I headed straight to Galignani on rue de Rivoli, my favorite bookstore in the whole world. While browsing the aisles, I came across a tiny little book entitled Conférences écrites par Christian Dior pour la Sorbonne, 1955-1957 (Éditions du regard, 2003), a set of two lectures written by Dior for la Sorbonne (although the latter was never delivered).