Former Plus-Size Model Crystal Renn's First Vogue Cover Shoot

Formerly the most sought-after plus-sized model in the world, Crystal Renn shows off her new body on the cover to Vogue Mexico this month. Having been between a size 10-14 for most of her career, the press nearly fainted over photos that were released last summer that showed a dramatic weight loss. Renn has always been open about her battle with anorexia as a teen model, so it came as a shock when she appeared to be just as thin as when she had an eating disorder.

Crystal Renn as a teen and the controversial shoot in 2010

Read more and see Renn's Vogue editorial after the jump

You Are Invited: A Current Affair Pop Up Marketplace Returns!

A Current Affair returns for it's third edition for spring! Curated by vintage dealer Richard Wainwright and Joey Grana, designer and owner of Scout, with additional vintage selection by Emmy Award-winning costume designer David Zyla. This is not your usual extremely marked-up flea market pickings sale: Along with more than 25 local vintage retailers and private dealers, you'll find choice vintage clothing, jewelry, eyewear and more from labels like Balmain, Halston, Chloe, Comme des Garcons and Lanvin. ACA alumns Weltenbuerger, and Reclaimed In L.A. will be returning with a new addition of rustic jewelry line Alkemie.

Be sure to come on Saturday evening for an exhibition of 10 vintage looks curated by Zyla, and hi, OPEN BAR sponsored by Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, Izze Sparkling Juices and Smartwater. Note: admission is $10 at the door each day, but considering the kind of one-of-a-kind pieces you'll find, it's more than worth it.

A Current Affair

Cooper Design Space

860 South Los Angeles Street, Penthouse

Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, April 2 from 6pm-10pm

Sunday, April 3 from 10am-5pm.

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Style Breakdown: 9 of Spring's Strangest Heels

With the weather starting to warm up, designers are rolling their tan and toe-airing footwear. Scrolling through my trusty online shops, I've noticed an influx of interesting plaforms--some beauties, some beasts. Here's just a handful of Spring's strangest shoe styles.

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Raw Geronimo Brings The Rain At Popomomo's LA Fashion Week Event

On Sunday, despite the heaviest rain Los Angeles has seen this season (heavy for us, probably nothing for New Yorkers), dedicated fashion enthusiasts packed out the Mandrake bar for clothing line Popomomo's LA Fashion Week event. Performing that night was the line's latest campaign star, musician Laena Geronimo, shot by an amazing photographer and personal friend of mine, Job Piston.

The photographer with his work

Raw Geronimo

Popomomo stands for "post-postmodern movement" and boasts collections made locally of only sustainable and/or organic fabrics. The simple, feminine and delicately architectual designs are as sustainable as the material they're made of: They can be worn and accessorized in so many ways, expanding the pieces' longevity. Having previously designed for Urban Outfitters and Free People, designer Lizz Wasserman no longer wanted to be restricted by the gaudy limitations of disposable trendiness. Popomomo is at its core completely season-spanning, not to mention good for the environment.

Watch a clip of Raw Geronimo's performance. Sorry the lighting and sound is weird!

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KidViskous 1,000 Cranes For Japan Relief

Please help us raise money for Japan

KidViskous is donating all proceeds of our 1,000 Cranes necklace listing on Etsy to the Red Cross for disaster relief.

Japanese legend says if one were to fold 1,000 origami cranes, a real crane will grant that person a wish of health or long life. While we may not have 1,000 cranes, we can still contribute to the health, well-being and wishes of the Japanese people affected by the tragedies that have befallen their country.

Visit our charity listing at our KidViskous Incubator Shop on Etsy.

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Cover Woman Anna Wintour: Rare Interview & Cover Shoot for WSJ Magazine

Not the cover of Vogue or any other distinctly "fashion" magazine, Vogue Editor-In-Chief graces the cover of Wall Street Journal Magazine shot by Mario Testino. While not as household a name as say, Martha Stewart with homemaking or Oprah with everyday lifestyle, Wintour is just as much of a powerhouse in fashion as the aforementioned women in their industries. It's interesting that of all publications, Wintour chose to grant the rare interview with WSJ magazine. Being that she is the top dog in fashion, it makes sense that she can only choose publications that are relatively unrelated to the industry. I expect WSJ will get into the actual business, power dynamics and possibly the financials of her work instead of her opinions on fashion. The issue will be on newstands March 26.

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Flashback: Lady Gaga Naked, Tied Up For Vogue Hommes Japan September 2009

A woman after my own heart. It's amazing people are still debating whether or not Lady Gaga is a transsexual. Transsexual, no; transgressive, yes. Here's clear evidence of her lady parts from a stunning photoshoot by the incredible art photographer Nobuyoshi Araki from the Septemeber 2009 issue of Vogue Hommes Japan. Araki is known for using "Kinbaku," which is the meticulous art of Japanese bondage, so it's only fitting Lady Gaga get tied up in it too.

Funny to see how far she has come. Watch an interview with her in 2008 when she thought performing on "So You Think You Can Dance" was her biggest break yet.

"Somebody shot [pop music] in the face. I dunno who, but I want it to come back."

More photos after the jump:

Shop For A Cause: Fashion Benefits Japan

The outpouring of good will for Japan has been enormous across the board--but there is still a lot of work to be done. One thing that really struck me was how right as the earthquake hit and during the immediate aftermath, the Marc Jacobs Twitter has shown particular concern for their employees in affected areas. Since the earthquakes and tsunamis hit Japan, clothing companies like UNIQLO, Levi's, Coach and American Eagle have donated millions of out-of-pocket dollars to the relief efforts, while many others are teaming up with charities to help raise money. Fast Retailing Group, the company that owns UNIQLO, g.u., Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam and Theory in particular has been doing amazing things to help the disaster victims, its CEO personally donating far more than the company and all its employees combined. Uniqlo and Theory also have clothing donation boxes set up in their retail stores and Fast Retailing is donating tens of thousands of garments from their lines.

Actress Rinko Kikuchi & model Jenny Shimizu wear Opening Ceremony for Japan tees

Designers and retailers are also creating charity incentives to shop, many donating 100% of proceeds of overall sales and the sale of special items to relief efforts. We've compiled just some of the shopping opportunities where you can help Japan while getting a little something back.

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You Are Invited: Opening Ceremony, The Standard, The Red Cross + Tons of Designers, Celebs & Artists Team Up To Benefit Japan



The New Andrej Pejic... Is Asian! Introducing Model David Chiang

"I see myself as the next Linda Evangelista. I don't wake up for less than $10,000."

The fashion world has been abuzz about stunningly feminine male model Andrej Pejic's unreal features, but it just takes a off-hand comment from fashion godfather Karl Lagerfeld to bring light to the next androgynous It-model. In comes idealistic 22 year-old David Chiang, to whom Lagerfeld said, "you look like a beautiful Chinese girl." The Canadian model of Taiwanese descent debuted in the fall 2010 season, walking for Alexander McQueen's final menswear collection and Emporio Armani. He skipped spring collections and re-emerged for fall 2011, walking for Dior Homme, Rag & Bone and others.

Now, as an Asian person myself, I'll admit that Asian men with feminine features are easier to find compared to other ethnicities, so it would not be too hard to find more like Chiang. Thus, he's not quite as shocking as Pejic. Chiang does however strongly remind me of late Korean model Daul Kim, who sadly commited suicide in 2009 (she was my favorite model). The masculine facial features that Chiang does have lend themselves to Kim's sultry and inherently sinister look. 

Daul Kim

See more photos after the jump:

Help Japan: Remember To Donate

Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross. In the wake of Japan's biggest tragedy since WWII we all need to do our part to help.

(image via Together We Kill)

LOVE x LUST: Patterned Collaboration Wedges For Spring

LOVE:

Julian Louie x Aldo Sobeslava Ikat Wedges - $125, Select Aldo locations (for now)

The tribal patterns blew up in last year's ethnic-inspired spring trends and looks like it's hanging on this year. A collaboration between Aldo and designer Julian Louie, whose reconstructed pieces don't usually favor patterns (think a color-blocked Proenza Schouler), the limited-edition collaboration launched today. Only one style is available online so far (but I'm getting a page error...) and the rest of the 8 styles are for sale at five Aldo flagship locations. The collection will be hitting the rest of stores and online starting April 18th. This is the first of three collaborations Louie has done with Aldo: The Fall 2011 collection in discussion for production and Louie already started on the Spring 2012 collaboration.

LUST:

Loeffler Randall x SUNO Erin Lace-Up Wedge - $645, LoefflerRandall.com

I mean, it's 5.3 inches high, of course this is the Lust! The Aldo wedges look about 4.5'', but no word on that yet. Another great collaboration, this time with shoe line Loeffler Randall and NY-based clothing line SUNO. Both designers have been around under five years and their low-key alliance for Spring 2011 matches well with anything from vintage daisy dukes to classic shirt dresses. Although it seems an unlikely collab, Randall's shy, feminine styles works wonders with SUNO's striking Kenyan-inspired prints.

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Laetitia Casta Gets Lewd For Purple Magazine By Terry Richardson

Interesting update: I recieved a comment on this post that was filtered as spam so I did not read it until now. It appears that Terry Richardson and Purple Magazine have broken some sort of French artist copyright law enforced by the ADAGP by capturing images of Aristide Maillol's statues without permission. The ADAGP has targeted my blog as well, so I have since removed the images. Seeing as Purple has an image with Maillol's piece on the cover of it's Spring/Summer 2011 issue, one wonders how this will play out. As of today, they are still using the images online and certainly on a number of printed magazine already circulating and for sale.

It's sad that we cannot sometimes use art in our own work, especially when the statues like Maillol's are outside and completely open for the public to enjoy. Still, the wonderful images from the Purple shoot are available online with a simple Google search for anyone curious.

Read my original post with the one remaining non-Maillol photo. Fitting, no?

Stunning Victoria Secret model and actress, French beauty Laetitia Casta does her share of revelling in/on the arts for a Purple Fashion spread and cover for their Spring/Summer 2011 issue. I'll give you one guess who shot this... Terry Richardson of course. Casta poses provocatively in Azzedine Alaïa and latex dresses atop and against French sculptor Aristide Maillol's statues that sit in the gorgeous Tuileries Palace gardens in Paris. In the issue, she discusses her relationship with late designer Yves Saint Laurent, whom immediately fell in love with her when she came into a YSL fitting (she was too short and curvy for any of the pieces). Casta was only 21 and Laurant was 64.

But it is no wonder Laurent fell in love with her: Other than being one of the top fashion models in the world, the national symbol of France, Marianne, took on her features in 2003 and she was chosen to play another curvaceous French bombshell, Brigitte Bardot in the Serge Gainsbourg biopic. Bardot also happens to become the first famous Marianne alumna in 1969. Although we don't see much of her now, there's no denying that she will always be remembered as one of France's greatest beauties.

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A Look Back At Carine Roitfeld; Her Uncertain Future

What can we say about Carine Roitfeld? After a much publicized leave from her coveted Editor-In-Chief position at French Vogue, now Roitfeld has been banned from fashion week. Jonathan Newhouse, Condé Nast's International Chairman, sent a letter to designers requesting that they not invite Carine to their shows because "it might send a confusing message" having both her and her replacement Emmanuelle Alt there. I haven't seen a high fashion fallout like this since Rachel Zoe pulled a "bigger than Jesus" with Anna Wintour. But Zoe certainly won that battle now with her top-rated Bravo show, QVC line, fashion news site and of course, the $10,000 per styling gigs. Still, Wintour always wins the war.

But back to Carine. It's not clear what she will be doing now that she no longer wields the Vogue saber (rumored to team up with Hedi Slimane to direct YSL if current creative director Stefano Pilati leaves). Designer consultation was one thing she had been doing while still at Vogue, although the conflicts of interest made it one of the reasons Roitfeld left. In the end we cannot deny her talent in any fashion venue. Here is what I think is a stunning example of Roitfeld's abilities, starring model Lara Stone and shot by Mark Segal from a 2007 issue of French Vogue. Amazing how her styling then still resonates today--and the baby jaguar certainly helps.

More photos after the jump:

Lady Gaga x Supreme by Terry Richardson for Purple Magazine

Hardly a fashion spread so much as legs spread, Terry Richardson shot Lady Gaga in his usual pervy way and published the photos in Purple Magazine. The set was originally shot for Vogue Homme Japan, the issue with her wearing the meat bikini on the cover that enraged PETA. No, it's not an official collaboration between the singer and NYC skate brand Supreme, whose biggest advocate right now is probably hip hop delinquents Odd Future. But damned if she doesn't make Supreme look good.

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John Galliano's Dior Replacement: Who Can Match Up?

With now former Dior head designer John Galliano officially ousted from his position of fourteen years due to anti-semetic outbursts, Dior is pressed to find a replacement. The names that have been circulating the media the most have been Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, soloist Haider Ackermann, and Stefano Pilati of Yves Saint Laurent. Given that Galliano will be leaving Dior with their Fall 2011 RTW collection, its only fit KidViskous explores this latest season from both Dior and the designers in consideration. See where the designers are at this moment and where they would have to pick up from if they are called to join Dior.

Click through to see their collections:

Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' Platform: Over The Moon Or Overkill?

Just an observation: Best friend to every girl (who can't afford the designer version), knock-off king Jeffrey Campbell is just cranking out the 'Lita' platform in any conceivable color, material and pattern. And the ladies are still eating them up almost a year since its debut. I could swear in the design room there's someone who said, "My aunt is pulling up her shag carpeting, let's just throw that in there," and voila! The styles shown aren't even all of them, there's probably a dozen more that sold out, then another dozen coming out most likely. It's a great silhouette for a base design, and if my legs were longer / ankles skinnier I'd be all over this style, but when is enough enough?

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Britney Spears' Jell-O Novella Shoot for V Magazine

Popstar Britney Spears glosses the cover of this month's V Magazine suspended in a color gel filtered shoot that reminds me of dying eggs on Easter or those Jell-O cakes with fruit pieces in them. Britney would definitely be less apples, more cherries. Shot by top photographer Mario Testino, his approach is really genius: backlighting makes the body look thinner, shrouds and softens the face and gives an innocent glow that we so fondly remember Britney once having, the gel filters bring colors, textures and flaws into uniform (makes photoshopping easier) and who doesn't love a wind machine? This shoot really belongs on the cover of a drugstore romance novella (is that a horse she's sitting on?). I'm fairly certain V is completely aware of this and is just reveling in the camp of the whole thing. Love it.

More photos after the jump:

An Immodest Irina Lazareanu For Cover Magazine

The one comment about model Irina Lazareanu that always resonated with me was what Michelle McCool (not the WWE wrestler), Fashion Director of Cosmopolitan said: "It's all about the hair and her flatness. I love that she has no boobs." Aerodynamics is certainly a good trait to have in the modeling world. Lazareanu brings skin-baring warehouse cavorting to Danish fashion site, Cover Magazine. Photographed by Rasmus Skousen and styled by Emelie Johansson, the looks are quintessential every-night urban party girl outfits... who happens to have Bottega Venetta, Burberry Prorsum and Lanvin mixed in with her Topshop and vintage.

More photos after the jump: