MODELICIOUS(These up and coming models are hot and so are their careers)

Models, everybody wants to be one, only a few get to successfully obtain the title. Models are known for being fabulous fashion hangers, having great bodies and getting even better paychecks. It's easy to see why everybody wants to be a model, look sexy for a designer and possibly become a millionaire before the age of 25. These up and coming models are young, hot and have all ready made a name for themselves within the fashion industry, and most importantly they're getting paid!

Agyness Deyn


The 26 year old blonde haired Brit from Manchester, England is ubiquitous open any fashion magazine, watch any fashion show and you're almost guarenteed to see Agyness Deyn strutting her stuff at Burberry Prorsum, Anna Sui, along with numerous ad campaigns such as Mulberry, Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Paul Smith, and the list seems to be almost endless. With such an impressive resume it doesn't look like a bad economy is going to stop her any time soon.

Chanel Iman

With a strong name and a soft face. Chanel Iman born Chanel Iman Robinson is a Georgia native with mixed African American and Korean heritage, giving a look that one could describe as eccentric. She makes heads turn at just 5'9 and 110 pounds. Her sleek physique, her fierce name and her young age, 19, make her one of fashions most sought after models.

AJ Abualrub

If you've been reading your Vogue recently or whatever fashion periodical you fancy you'd notice this stunning male model posing for the Calvin Klein Collection advertisements. A Ford model, and former American wrestler, AJ posseses the athletic physique that have all of us drooling over him.

Mathias Lauridsen

One of New York Model Managements finest specimens, respectively. Mathias has the piercing blue eyes that make him a sensation, he has successfully mastered editorial, runway and campaigns. He has modeled for Gucci, Givenchy, Hugo Boss, ..... etc. He puts veterans like Gabriel Aubry to shame, sorry Halle.

AU-REVOIR (PARIS FASHION WEEK)

Paris fashion week is beginning now to wind down, as fashion week comes to an unfortunate close. The city of romance really had shows worth waiting for, Karl Lagerfeld, showed twice once from his self titled line, which had a surrealist,coutore like quality to it and then again for Chanel, showcasing a collection that would’ve made Mrs. Coco herself give the master of design a standing ovation. He of course included his blacks and whites but added some color, pinks and greens galore. It was effortlessly timeless, in that it had no heir of trend, but truly great style, the quality that Chanel is known for.

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Stella McCartney surprised and delighted with her leather pants, glimmering silver sequin dresses, grey business suits, and a glamorous ruffled fur esque jacket, so large that any woman wearing one will not only feel like a glamazon but will catch the attention of every man and woman on the way to work or to an event.

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Alexander McQueen recycled old hits and made them well strange, collagen filled lips, grandiose hats and outfits one would never wear outside of a circus were displayed. When a reporter commented that Mr. McQueen was symbolizing the end, Linda Fargo a Bergdorf Goodman representative added, " I'd like to go out looking like that." Well, I wouldn't, would you? Then of course there was Loewe the 100+ year old fashion house whose new designer Stuart Vevers made fashion seem exciting again. It seemed as if he had an obsession with leather. His runway show was very intimate and unconvential instead of a large bourgois catwalk models walked through aisles of spectators who were enjoying a little cafe and a snack as they watched in awe at the beauty coming before them.

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All in all, Paris fashion week was really as always everything it is known for, sophistication, glamour and romance. With Paris fashion week putting an end to fashion month all together, we've learned a lot about the future of fashion. 1) It's not as grim as we may think, 2) Designers are all about the 80's, sticking to their roots or completely revamping their image 3) leather is the new fur and 4) minialism can be just as sexy as and chic as excess. One thing is for certain the fashion honeymoon is over, people will start to think more wisely about what they wear, it's practicality and if they're willing to make the investment.

STRENGTH,SEX AND BEAUTY ON A BUDGET (MILAN FASHION WEEK)

Milan fashion week threw away the dull blacks and grays and let in some color, some glamour and some edge. It was all about going back to roots, houses were re-evaluating their individual style and their stamp on the fashion industry. Instead of the usual 80's references that most designers decided would be the focus of their Fall 2009 collections, many Milanese designers decided to step outside of the box. Pucci was on a roll with a refreshing line and a new head designer. The Pucci show was held this year in the Pallazo Veneza.

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Dolce&Gabbana's theme this season was surrealism. They had hats made of black gloves, and necklaces made of watches, insuating time is ticking.


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However, at one point in the week, things became a little too real for the Roberto Cavalli house when news surfaced that Just Cavalli the houses younger line was bankrupt. Apparently, the designer held a teary eyed press conference discussing the logistics of it. Despite this, the house showcased the line anyway, and the mother brand's focal point was based on strength.
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Something both women and men need to be strong in these hard times, especially those within the fashion industry who are experiencing an enormous loss of luxury customers, in their department stores and boutiques. All in all Milan fashion week was a beacon of hope that the industry will someday soon return to its glory days, and the young eyed girl will no longer have to look into the store window looking at the Marni dress she simply can no longer afford.

SHORT AND SWEET (LONDON FASHION WEEK)

Much to the opposite effect of New York fashion week which concluded last Friday after an excitement of upbeat fashion shows and after parties filled with celebs, fashionistas, socialites, and people within the fashion industry, with such chic people as Rachel Zoe, a stylist to the stars, showing that the recession hasn't stopped her a bit. London seemed to be quite cold. Everything seemed to be very straight forward, business, very little time for error. While I scanned my sources for men's fashion videos of the week I had no such luck. Instead I discovered punk is very much alive in the London girl. One could picture a wardrobe seemingly filled with Rock &Republic denim and tops from Topshop . It's easy to imagine rock bands like the Beatles coming from this iconic city. At Luella the British designer stuck to her roots, cropped dyed hair, black tops with gold embellishments, were everywhere it was almost as if her girls were playing dress up in men's clothes, with a feminine twist, and at every corner there seemed to be rapper and R&B singer, self-proclaimed artist of his generation, Kanye West. When interviewed about his ubiquitous apperance at London fashion week he replied, " I cleared out my whole schedule for this." This coming from the man who in Details magazine had said earlier that he planned on retiring from the music industry to become a fashion designer. A feat as old as time amongst celebrities and socialites. Will his collection be any good? We'll have to wait and see for ourselves.


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At Danielle Scutt due to the bad economy the designer was forced to shorten her collection and thus her pieces were ultra luxurious and eye catching. Hoping this will appeal to the luxury consumer, she created each piece with precision, and metophorically warmed up London fashion week.

RECESSION PROOF RUNWAYS? (NEW YORK FASHION WEEK)

It's that time of year again, the fashion industry's glitterati are in New York this week, for the semi-annual fashion week at Bryant Park. I think we're all looking forward to the future as scary as it may or may not turn out to be. Fortunately, Fall 2009 is uber edgy and luxurious this year as an andidote to the fear that has gripped many of us. Designers are making a statement with their greys and blacks and whites, and ocassional brights,(although many designers are using hard colors this season) by saying even misery can be glamorous. Sarah Jessica Parker who was spotted at Alexander Wang's show really captured the feelings of the moment by saying " I think this is a scary time for many young designers and I think he's [Alexander Wang] carved out a nice place for himself." Mr. Wang however is very optimistic about the future and has been well recieved by many fashionistas and people within the industry. He's even ambitious enough to create a men's collection which is said to debut in Spring 2010, we can only hope we won't be eating out of trashcans by then. Fortunately, for him I believe that as an American moderately priced designer he'll survive the downturn with grace, but will other young designers be so lucky?

Hear what Micheal Kors has to say about American fashion in times of recession:

(link to video)

WOMEN FALL 2009/10

Women's fashion this season was anything but predictable, Rodarte used silvers and metals to get across a feeling of "a future explosion" expressed by American actor, Elijah Wood. Although the pieces were sexy and beautiful to look at, I'm not sure if they were at all wearable and socially conscious of the time America's in at the moment. However, two women's collections really stood out for me, Donna Karan, who clearly understood the concept of what luxury wear should be, using traditional solid colored browns, blacks, and grays, and adding fur cuffs to compliment the beautifully draped dresses striding down the runway. The other designer that literally made me hold my breath was Carolina Herrera using flowers, copper,lapis and plum that literally shimmered down the runways of Bryant Park. Mrs. Herrera did not play it safe this season and instead decided to take a risk and the outcome was pure brilliance.

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MEN FALL 2009/10

Men's fashion this season was not so appealing, once again, redundant suits in blacks and greys were ubiquitous. Rag&Bone who have never really been a favorite design house of mine were once again dissapointing. They mixed black suits with samuari inspired pants. Ick! Although Calvin Klein was on point as usual, using shiny materials, prefectly geometrical tailoring to breathe life into men's fashion.

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FOREVER THINE; FOREVER MINE

With Valentines Day literally around the corner. 2 days and counting. Hopefully, you haven't been stressing out about what gift to give to your lady friend, or signficant other this year. Well no worries here, what's better than a pair of Jimmy Choo's or sexy Victoria's Secret lingerie? Discovering a new designer. I introduce to you the Mary Kate Olsen, Kate Moss, downtown girl inspired look, with a hint of Upper East Side snob, Elizabeth and James have arrived, with a spring collection that will knock her socks off, and maybe even her top too, one can be so lucky.

Elizabeth and James IV Blazer $395 at eluxury.com

And boys, I didn't forget about you, give him the gift of fragrance from Prada. Or some chic Paul Smith cufflinks, at eluxury.com, the premiere online department store. Or if you're not doing gifts this year then just give him the gift of company what can be more fulfilling than that?

PATRONS AND THE FASHIONS THEY INSPIRE

It's no doubt that the fashion industry is a melting pot of all types of people from all walks of life. Fashion editors, buyers, designers, models, and of course society men and women. Society women are as vital to the fashion industry as a 30 x 30 waist is to the perfect pair of Italian jeans. They are the backbone of the industry the oil of the industry when the tank is low, and is it not on low? They're able to appreciate and support designers who have a dream but lack adequate funds. They truly are superwomen. Now, not all society women are patrons of the arts or have style, but there are many who do. And that's what this post is attempting to honor. The women who have inspired many and have let us in to their gated lives and communities. Women like Georgiana The Duchess of Devonshire pictured above is a great example. She stood for female beauty and elegance and she certaintly had a way with fashion. So let's be thankful for the people who believed in us even when we didn't believe in ourselves.