Alexander McQueen at the Met

Ever since rumors started circulating that Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, would be designing Kate Middleton's wedding gown, I've had McQueen on my mind. Burton was a long time friend of McQueen and basically his right hand person for years, so it makes sense that she would succeed him as creative director of the company. Of course, it won't be officially announced that Burton is designing Middleton's gown as tradition dictates it remain a secret. (Good luck with that!) However, as a British designer, it's not entirely a surprise that she would be one of the top choices for the royal family. 

We'll all have to wait until April 29th so see Burton's design, only a few short weeks away- I can hardly wait! And as if that isn't exciting enough, shortly thereafter, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC will be hosting a large exhibition of McQueen's work. The exhibit will include over 100 pieces that span his 19-year career, which tragically ended with his suicide in February 2010. 

I found some amazing pictures and information about the exhibit titled "Savage Beauty" here. Take a few minutes to hop over there and see this small sampling of his genius and I can guarantee you'll be ready to book your trip to the city to see his designs in person. I know I am! 

Project Runway: Season 8, Episode 4

WIN: Michael
AUF'd: Kristin

Honestly, you know I've had a rough week, when an episode of Project Runway airs and I don't manage to blog about it immediately! I'm sorry this is so late, but doesn't the saying go, "better late than never?" I'm banking on that. Anyway, last weeks episode was an exciting one because of the artistic element involved. A PHILIP TREACY HAT! Holy cow.

My favorite episodes often center around a prestigious guest judge- Bob Mackie was probably my favorite of all time, but Philip Treacy is pretty exciting, too. Remember SJP's outfit for the premier of the first SATC movie? She wore a Treacy hat with an Alexander McQueen dress. It doesn't get much better than that. In case you forgot it, here it is:

I think that if I were on Project Runway, a challenge like this would kill me. It is SO hard to take such a statement piece like a Philip Treacy hat and create a garment that can stand with it, yet avoid competing with it. They have to be the perfect complement to each other and just thinking about that challenge is enough to blow my mind. Fortunately, some designers minds were not too blown by the challenge and they managed to not only succeed, but to excel. First up, the winner:

Can you believe he actually threw an entire dress out and started over? I love it when the underdog wins! Time will tell if he actually is an underdog, or if this was merely a lucky week for Michael. Another top design for me was Andy's design. He wasn't in the top or bottom three, but his design still stood out for me:

I suppose it's a touch costume-y, but the color of the dress against the hat just really worked for me. Another top look (for the judges AND me) was Valerie's. Are you all feeling as sorry for her as I am. Every week she's in the top, but she just can't catch a break and get the win!

I think Valerie had one of the most difficult hats to work with, since it was more of a mask than a hat. She nailed it, though. I've got my fingers crossed for her to get a win this week. It's her time! Now, can I get a show of hands for who was surprised that the judges hated Christopher's design? Me, too! I was shocked! In case you forgot, here it is:

When this look turned the corner onto the runway, I died. I loved it! I understand what Michael Kors said about the satin leggings, but other than that, I love this look and I think it works flawlessly with the hat. But I suppose that since Philip Treacy didn't like it, it doesn't actually work as well as I think. I also find it hard to believe that there was any comparison between it and April's look. Can we talk about the diaper shorts for a minute? No, strike that- they're the LAST thing I want to talk about. Especially since she didn't get eliminated. Ugh.

One word: Ew.

Do you really think that hideous monstrosity deserved to stay and Kristin's black and pink dress deserved a trip home?

I'm not saying this look is amazing, but it's not a pair of booty shorts that look less flattering than a diaper. Just sayin'.

What do you think? Was this episode as good as the Mackie episode? Leave a comment- you know I love them!

Alexander McQueen, dead at 40

Reports are now starting to come in that Alexander McQueen, the incredibly creative and talented fashion designer as been found dead today. We do not yet know how he died, but I'm sure it will be reported shortly. Police have said that there were no suspicious circumstances. He was a resident of London and was one of the most innovative fashion designers of all time. In his honor, here are some of his creations:

His designs were truly works of art and he has certainly left behind an incredible legacy.

McQueen's Elephants

Fashion week seems like it was ages ago even though it's only been a little more than a month since it ended. (But let's be honest- a month and a half in the fashion world is like a year anywhere else.) I keep meaning to post my favorite runway shows and items from NYFW 2009 but it just seems like such a daunting task at this point. So instead, I'll just show you what was perhaps the most controversial element of said fashion week- Alexander McQueen's shoes:

The shoes with his collection were all incredibly outrageous, but these "elephant" shoes are what intrigued me the most. He essentially had three styles of shoe in his show- all incredibly high (around 10 inches with a huge front platform to make it possible for the models to walk), many embellished with ornate carvings or beads as pictured above, and all very eye-catching.

The materials used on the non-elephant platforms were very industrial and edgy- metal pieces that appeared to be welded together- all very futuristic in style. There were shoes carved from porcelain with intricate designs that were almost seaweed-esque (think a high-heeled version of Disney's "Little Mermaid" underwater castles). Mr. McQueen has truly outdone himself this time. So what do YOU think of these shoes? Are they wearable? Are they art? Are they wearable art? Would you wear them? I'm pretty crazy where shoes are concerned, but these are WAY out of my league.

Diffusion Confusion

A diffision line is a term for a ready-to-wear line of clothing produced by a typically high end designer. It's a line designed to reach the masses and the items therein are significantly less expensive than their runway counterparts. Isaac Mizrahi led the way with discount department store diffusion lines with his line designed for Target. Lots of designers have followed in his footsteps including Vera Wang who has designed a line for Kohls and Alexander McQueen who also designed for Target.

The list of designers with diffusion lines could go on for days- Marc by March Jacobs, D&G by Dolce & Gabbana, and Emporio by Armani to name a few- but you should be aware of the differences in these diffusion lines. No, my friend, not all diffusion lines are created equal, and therefore it is understandable that you might have some diffusion confusion. I hope I can clear some of that confusion up for you.

The easiest way to break it down is to divide the diffusion lines into two types- the first is the type that is still handled by the designer. Marc by Marc Jacobs is a good example of this. The second is the type that is handled by design teams who work with the chain or department store where the product will be sold. Isaac Mizrahi's line for Target is an example of this type of diffusion line.

A mass-produced diffusion line is certainly a lucrative way for a discount department store to create a frenzy in their store- H&M had a run on their Karl Lagerfeld diffusion line, but that's a whole other story. The point I'm trying to make is before you plunk down your credit card, take the time to closely examine the garment you are buying. Some diffusion lines are still made with high-quality craftsmanship, while others are poorly tailored, and use cheap materials. To generalize, it is a safe bet that a diffusion line that is handled by the designer themself will be of a higher quality than one that is handled by a team associated with the chain store. Regardless, when considering a piece from a diffusion line, make sure you are buying it for the right reason- because it looks good on you. If you are buying something simply for the label inside it, you are bound to be disatisfied and will be far less likely to wear it. After all, who can see the inside label except you? Think about it.

Remember that when purchasing a piece from a diffusion line, you are buying something that is most likely mass-produced. When purchasing a designer piece, you are getting something that is made with high quality craftsmanship and it is more than likely a unique piece and sometimes even one-of-a-kind. Isn't that why we like buying designer duds? The idea that we can have something no one, or very few others will also have is appealing! When you purchase from a diffusion line, you may have a "designer" item in your closet, but it's likely not a one-of-a kind item. If that's not important to you, then onward! If you get nothing else from this post, remember that in purchasing ANY item of clothing the most important criterion is how that garment looks on you. Designer pieces, thrift shop or garage sale finds, department store items- any of these can be equally fabulous or fatal if they are not flattering on you.