Posts with tag designers

Michael Jackson apparently loved clothes. But he was no student of fashion, says celebrity stylist extraordinaire, Phillip Bloch, who talked to StyleList about working with the legend.

Bloch styled Jackson for what would turn out to the King of Pop's final photo shoot, the cover story for the December 2007 issue of Ebony magazine. Over two days Bloch got to know Jackson as a loving and kind person, but also as naif who seemed not to understand his impact on style history.

"Jackson wasn't up on pop culture or fashion designers," Bloch says. When the stylist arrived with a well-edited selection of high-end clothing for the photo shoot, the singer admired the clothes, asking if the notoriously British designer Paul Smith was American and whether Japanese clothier Yohji Yamamoto was Italian.

Despite his designer ignorance, Jackson was a big Roberto Cavalli fan and loved a particular Burberry military coat, saying "I always like jackets like this. I like the buttons and the details." When Bloch informed him that the look was very in at the moment and a lot of it had to do with him, Jackson responded in disbelief, "Really? That's in fashion now?"

Perhaps his comment should not have been a surprise.

"Michael Jackson was not influenced by fashion, fashion was influenced by him," Bloch says. "He was an innovator, a trailblazer. Like his iconic crystal glove -- this was way before men were dripping in diamonds. He was 'the king of bling' before the term 'bling' even existed."

He was also a delight to dress, rarely looking in the mirror (ironic for a man who sang about it) and asking few questions about the clothes chosen for the shoot.

"He was rail-thin, smaller than sample size and made to wear clothes," Bloch declares. "He fit perfectly into a woman's size 2 and a men's 40 regular."

Bloch also got to see Jackson with his son, Blanket, who visited the day before the shoot. Together they played with the assortment of diamonds borrowed for the star, who usually opted for rhinestones and theatrical costume jewelry over the real thing.

Over the two days, Bloch says Jackson struck him as a gentle and frail man in person, but a different man when the the shoot started.

It was his off-camera childlike innocence that touched Bloch. "He had a gentleness and frailty about him as a man, but when the music came on and the shoot started, his alter ego took over -- he became the 'King of Pop.'"

Despite the tawdry allegations swirling around Jackson in recent years, Bloch says the private moments they shared made the bigger impression: Jackson telling Bloch that the Oscar dress he had selected for Halle Berry was beautiful and the icon asking tons of questions about Bloch's job, saying with the utmost sincerity "you must really love what you do."

Bloch says he feels "blessed to have seen this side of the legend and to have helped create the iconic images that are now a part of history."

For more Michael Jackson coverage visit PopEater.

We have television actresses moonlighting as pop singers, rappers who double as movie stars, so why not fashion designers as fine artists? (Not that we don't consider fashion fine art!)

Proenza Schouler's first show overseas, consisted of a presentation that was partly fashion but mostly art exhibit.

As the guest designers for this year's Pitti W in Florence, Italy, designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough (you know, the guy on the receiving end of Kiefer Sutherland's infamous head-butt) veered away from the usual runway route.

Instead, the design duo partnered with the Art Production Fund to create an art project for their Pre-Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Hernandez and McCollough have often cited art influences in their designs, including work drawing from the 1960s and post-minimalism, but for their Pitti W showing, they teamed with a trio of decidedly contemporary artists.

We can't get enough of the fashion smarts of First Lady Michelle Obama. And we have company! There's a new book coming out this week, Michelle Style, by Mandi Norwood, and it indulges our craving for all things related to Michelle's confident and accessible style.

The book is a retrospective of the outfits Michelle wore during the campaign and Inauguration, starting with several chapters organized around color -- which Michelle fans know she uses masterfully. Seeing the range of purple, orange and red outfits grouped together, you also get a great sense of how much she enjoys fashion, and how her fantastic confidence transforms simple styles into chic ensembles!

Every year, the Met Costume Institute Gala is held amid a frenzy of fashion-focused buzz. After all, little can compare to an event that's centered around style and flocked to by the fashion elite on an annual basis!

This year, there's more intrigue than ever. Word is out on who designers are bringing, what people are wearing and where they'll be sitting, so as to be expected, fashion tongues are wagging. First of all, Marc Jacobs will be escorting two dates (not including his adorable hubby-to-be). Rumor has it that the designer will be joined by Madonna and Courtney Love, two women who, you might recall, had a bit of a run-in during an interview at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. We can only dream of the drama that could ensue at the Louis Vuitton table. Oh, and Anne Hathaway will be at the table, too. At least her experience with all those girl fights in "Bride Wards" might come in handy.

Then, Jennifer Aniston backed out of attending as Vogue's guest. (Can you imagine the steam under La Wintour's bob?) Apparently, when Jen agreed, she was unaware that the commitment would be so involved.

It's hard to imagine a popular retailer without an online presence these days, so thankfully the bi-costal boutique Opening Ceremony has just opened its virtual doors. No longer do you have to be L.A. or New York to purchase the shops fashionably curated contents.

Karolina Zmarlak (pictured above with her latest collection) is a Polish, FIT educated designer who has spent some time working with Carolina Herrera and Theory, and some time designing made to measure women's wear for private clients (she specializes in tailoring), and now she has released her very first ready to wear collection -- Fluid Foundations. We call these "super dresses." Why?

Bravo has started to introduce the contestants for its "Project Runway" replacement, "The Fashion Show." Season one of the stitch-and-bitch fest, which one Bravo insider described it as "like Project, but with real designers" (meow!), begins May 7.

Let's take a look at the talent, shall we?

This teaser video introduces each contestant in just a few seconds. Watch with me, and let me know what you think.

How much do you love going to museums and seeing actual clothes worn by actual people in olden times? If you love it a lot, like we do, then you will be captivated by Christian Lacroix on Fashion.

Michelle Obama seems to have a knack for making things happen for lesser known designers. She helped further the careers of Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo and now designer Tracy Feith. Feith, whose frock Michelle recently donned at a National Prayer service, will be launching a very reasonably priced line for Target that is so right for summer. Here's a sneak peek of the first looks which include model Allie from The City.

After successful capsule collections by Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and most recently Comme des Garcons, H&M has snagged yet another high profile designer, Matthew Williamson, for the latest installment.

Project Runway favorite Korto Momolu (above) was a surprise guest at that Secret event we attended. She designed three tops inspired by deodorant: A black tank for the clear gel, a decorative blue one for the waterproof formula, and a sassy, colorful strapless for the Scent Expressions.

Inspired by the famous 1857 book of poems by Charles Baudelaire, Nieves Lavi has entitled their Spring 2009 collection "Flowers of Evil." We were kind of already sold when we heard that -- and then we saw the clothes!

When we hit (capsule), a PR event that takes place in New York, Paris, and Las Vegas and promotes hot designers, last week, we not only saw some great new apparel from designers you should watch, but we saw fabulous, inventive new shoes and accessories, too! Like the crazy-fierce shoes by Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair at right? Read on!

Last week we checked out this year's (capsule), a PR event that takes place in New York, Paris, and Las Vegas and promotes hot designer. We did our best to poke around and find out which designers you need to be watching! Check out our gallery of the great new looks and ideas coming your way, like the above blouse by People's Market.

It's a fact: We cannot get enough of the styles worn by our new first lady, Michelle Obama. Whether she's wearing J. Crew from the mall, or cutting edge designers like Isabel Toledo, or Jason Wu, she looks confident, comfortable and at ease. Even when we don't love what Michelle is wearing, we love how she wears it.