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The news seems to be congested with lawsuits and young girls being sexualized. In the case of young model, Hailey Clauson, the bell rings true again. The case is against retailer Urban Outfitters and photographer Jason Lee Parry. The evidence is a so called ‘salacious’ photograph of the young model that was unknowingly sold to the clothing company Blood Is The New Black, who sold their Tee shirts at well known retail chain, Urban Outfitters. The lawsuit in question is for a sum of $28 million.
In the fashion industry, we are all very aware that age is important, and being under twenty has always been the best age to be. However it seems a trend is starting; girls that are too young to be sexualized are being sexualized. Like I said, in fashion, being of a youthful age is definitely of importance, but when under a certain age there are precautions to be taken. It seems as if Photographer, Jason Lee Parry, did not take proper precautions and is now being sued by Hailey Clauson’s parents.
The story begins when Hailey was only a few days deep into her fifteenth year – second year in professional modeling – and went, with her parents, to a photo shoot by Jason Lee Parry for an editorial to be published in a German magazine. After the shoot, photos were approved by Clauson’s camp including her parents for the editorial and no other end source was discussed. Her parents became upset when they realized the photos, approved only for the editorial, have ended up on retail merchandise, making other people money with their underage daughter represented as a sex symbol, positioned in what they call a ‘salacious’ pose.
As the case begins, there are many opposing statements claiming the parents and model were happy with the photos, not claiming they were too sexual. Of course, they did not expect the image to be reproduced on merchandise, and it is very unclear who released the photos, as no one wants to take blame for situation at hand.
Blood Is The New Black released this statement, “The images were delivered to us by Jason Lee Parry with the sole purpose of producing tee shirts and marketing them to our network of stores worldwide. One image, depicting a woman on a motorcycle, was printed on men’s and women’s tee shirts and sold to a number of stores, including Urban Outfitters. Neither Urban Outfitters nor Blood is the New Black were aware that the photographer had failed to obtain a model release from the Teen Model or her parents, who were present at the shoot. Blood is the New Black values its relationship with Urban Outfitters and all our customers and feels as though they must not be held responsible for this gross oversight. […] We find it unfortunate that after six years of business we find ourselves, and our partners, part of a situation brought on by a lack of proper protocol from a member of the artistic community. We have addressed this issue internally to ensure such an egregious oversight never occurs again.”
In good form, a statement was also released from Jason Lee Perry’s people saying, “Ford modeling agency assigned the model for Jason Lee Parry’s shoot. Ford approved the fashion story featured in Qvest magazine to be published. The photo in question was featured in the model’s portfolio on Ford’s site. All correspondence is documented in emails approving the shoot…Unbeknownst to Jason Lee Parry the image in question was selected by the t-shirt brand. He was also unaware of retail distribution of the t-shirt.”
As it is clear that no one wants to takes the blame, the case will go to trial and, hopefully, accumulate more evidence which will stop the mass exposure of teen and pre-teen girls in fashion.
Have you been Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s? Well, the world of celebrity certainly has and the big day has come, and gone. Kim Kardashian, possibly the most ‘famous’ of the Kardashian siblings, tied the knot, yet again. Her first run around was with Damon Thomas, a music producer. Indecently, the nuptials only lasted four years, leading Kim to meet her subsequent suitors, such as Ray J and Reggie Bush.
Everyone was adorned in black and white, at strict request of the bride and groom. The whole wedding party dressed in ivory, except Kim in white Vera Wang. And not to cause confusion, but all three dresses worn by Kim at her wedding were made by Vera Wang for Kim Kardashian. That statement is correct; Kim had not only one wedding dress, but three! Kim must really being living out the fantasy as she had the traditional gown for the aisle, but then two more for the reception! Are we trying to out-do Lady Gaga?
The festivities proceeded rather well. The internet is enveloped with photos from the wedding. There are photos of Kim getting ready, getting her eyebrows done, getting her make-up done, almost anything you could think of, there is photographic evidence. The bride, in some more traditional shots, is photographed walking down the aisle with her stepfather, Bruce Jenner. We also see Mason, Kim’s niece and Kourtney’s son, walking down the aisle as ring bearer. Kris, the Jenner, was hard to miss in her ivory get-up. The mother of the bride was wearing her ivory gear decorated with a big bow, which was somewhat clown-esque in proportions. Many believe Kim and the E! Network has deemed Kim and the Kardashian’s the Royals of the Americas – The wedding seems to follow suit with actual royal wedding in England of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The cost of the wedding was quite absurd, including a two million dollar ring. Plus many have noted similarities between Pippa Middleton’s attire and the Kardashian-Jenner girls’.
The publicity surrounding this wedding was beyond the normal Kardashian hype. E! Online is covered in nothing but Kim and Kris, and unfortunately, seem to be the only ones with nice things to say about the couple and the nuptials. Despite reviews and what others may say… Congrats and Best Wishes K & K!
The buzz has begun. Will Marc Jacobs become the Creative Director of Dior?
As the rumor mills start churning, everybody in the fashion world is sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear what Marc Jacobs is going to do. Marc Jacobs is an incredible force in fashion and any company would be lucky to have him. This is something Louis Vuitton knows very well, as Marc Jacobs is currently creative director at their fashion house. Which poses another question, who will become creative director at Louis Vuitton? All in the family at LVMH, Bernard Arnault (LVMH Chairman) will have some decisions to make.
The reason for the musical chairs of fashion directors is due to the much publicized outburst of John Galliano from the spring of 2011. Almost as soon as the anti-Semitic slurs poured from his mouth, Galliano’s chair was taken from underneath him, leaving the house of Christian Dior short a creative director. It has taken almost half a year to replace Galliano, but the talk is bustling and Marc Jacobs may be the next to take on the Dior house as creative director. Word is their ‘people’ (Marc Jacobs’ and The Dior House’s) will be meeting to discuss the possibility and the terms, of course in Paris of all places. However, Marc Jacobs will not be seen on the romantic street of Paris, only his people; at the moment Marc is too busy getting his own line together. Even though Marc has to juggle two companies (his own and Louis Vuitton) he is still one of the most innovative designers in fashion today. He has been known to breathe life into brands, giving it that kick it needs to thrive and to say the least his own lines have always been a hit, never a miss.
Of course, the imminent question still lies; who will become creative director of Louis Vuitton? You didn’t think Marc would be handling all three companies now. Another branch under the LVMH family tree is Celine. Celine has done very well under the watchful eye of Phoebe Philo. Due to that success, Phoebe is the top contender for creative director at Louis Vuitton, that is, if Marc Jacobs decides to leave. Let’s just hope the talking isn’t too lengthy as Dior has gone long enough without a creative director.
Burberry is classic, chic, timeless… and nude? The brand has come up with a new fragrance called Burberry Body and in the first ad campaign we see Rosie Huntington-Whiteley representing Burberry in their trench…and that’s it. Rosie is posing nude, and is said to be the first of many for the ad campaigns behind Burberry Body fragrance. Burberry claims Burberry Body is the brands “most sensual women’s fragrance to date.” However, much of the hype surrounding the new fragrance is about the body of the bottle. Photos have recently been released, and surprisingly have gotten more attention than the nude pictures of Rosie.
The Burberry Body bottle is a long, skinny glass bottle ornamented with the iconic check engraved in rose gold! The models may be adorned in just a trench, but the bottle is keeping it classy with the gold ornamentation. Design props can be given to Christopher Bailey for the classically Burberry look. Along with the recently released photo comes the recently released statement describing the perfume, and of course its design as being “made with the same craft, intensity and modernity of the classic trench coat. The jewel-like, elegant and feminine design combines with the sophisticated packaging to create a feeling of pure luxury.”
The other, ingenious aspect to follow suit with new social media trends is the Facebook campaign for Burberry Body. Christopher Bailey is asking all Facebook users and Burberry enthusiasts to become a fan of the Burberry Facebook page. Simply login to your Facebook account, go to Burberry’s Facebook page and become a “Fan.” However effortless these steps are the reward is anything but simple. By going through this easy process you will gain the opportunity to sample the new fragrance. The scent is said to be of peaches, green absinthe and freesia. Get these fresh aromas on your own body with their Facebook app or wait until September 1st of this year to purchase in stores and online.
Fight the winter chill this year and fight against hunger. That’s right; this coming season you can do both. Fashion designer Thakoon Panichgul has created a fashionable and charitable way to take on the trends. Thakoon comes from a diverse background; he was born in Thailand, raised in Omaha, and resides in New York. He is well known for that bold, plaid pattern seen on his runways, and now he is taking that trend to a benevolent level. Thakoon Panichgul has been described on numerous occasions as being “innovative” and taking a look at what he has in store for us in the upcoming months, he could be described as nothing less. The designer has publicized a scarf embodying his famous checks, but the kicker is one hundred percent of the earnings will go to the fight against hunger in Africa. That is correct; all proceeds will benefit the international children’s relief organization in the Horn of Africa.
As the news is always highlighting designers and various funds joining forces to raise money for all the causes that now exist, not one of them ever donates everything they make to their charity of choice. Most of the time, they do not even release the percentage getting donated from the customers purchase. As the eyebrows rise, Thakoon takes the step up over the rest. Thakoon’s focus is the Horn of Africa, where many of the African countries are located that are being devastated by hunger and famine. The Horn of Africa includes countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia. The funds Thakoon and his scarves raise will benefit these countries and the people of them. The scarves are going for $250, and for a designer look with the added bonus of feeding the hungry, the price sounds good. Not to mention, these scarves are the first piece Thakoon has released to the market that are unisex. As the designer is well known for his feminine and romantic designs, this piece takes the cake on innovation. Help the cause! And no excuses, this item is for men and women alike.
Congratulations! Tuesday, August 16th, 2011, Michael Kors finally married his long-time boyfriend Lance Le Pere. As New York State recently signed the legislation for gay marriage to be legal, much news had been focusing on openly gay fashion designer, and Project Runway judge, Michael Kors. As July 24th, the day the law passed, approached, many New Yorkers couldn’t wait to officially proclaim their love for their significant other, standing in line to receive and bestow their “I do’s” to each other. However, to be discreet, Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere were as patient as monks. The two tied the knot in Southampton, New York on none other than the beautiful Dune Beach. They were married by Mayor Mark Epley in their private ceremony. Michael only had this to say, “To marry someone as wonderful and special to me as Lance barefoot on a glorious beach is more than I could have dreamed of!”
The couple met back in 1990 while Lance was an intern for Mr. Kors. However, there’s no scandal here; Lance played his cards right and turned his internship into a position at Michael Kors. Lance’s position led him to great opportunities, including trips with the company, and its designer, around the world. The trip to Paris sealed the deal for the now couple, becoming the place the world knows as ‘where they fell in love.’
Lance Le Pere takes a turn to speak about the two newly-nuptials, saying, “We share a certain level of taste, an American point of view, and I think we like to play with Americana. Over the years and the day-to-day process of dreaming together, things just naturally fell into place.”
It’s rather evident that the two are dreamers, and now, not the only one.
It has been decided. London is number one, as far as fashion goes anyway. The Global Language Monitor proclaimed London to be the 2011 top fashion capitol of the world. Out of fifty cities worldwide, London made number one. Creating the top five, the Brits beat out New York City, Paris, Milan, and Los Angeles, respectively of course. To soothe everyone’s curiosity, the Global Language Monitor is an exclusive ranking based on a rather new tracking technology. Specifically called, Narrative Tracker, which analyzes all aspects of the written internet including; Twitter, media articles, blogs, and to a certain extent anything you could possible think of reading on the internet for information. Selected cities are chosen based upon “their distinctive styles and contribution to the fashion industry,” describes the Global Language Monitor.
Whether or not it may be fair, London took the throne over New York City, and quite literally at that. The triumph is claimed to be due to Kate and Alex. Princess Kate Middleton and Alexander McQueen, that is. With all the hype and the media surrounding the new princess and her recent nuptials to Prince William, first son of beloved Princess Diana, it is not too hard to believe that New York City would need to take a step back this year. Princess Kate and her Alexander McQueen wedding dress were all the talk for what seemed like a century; we still can’t get away from it, even with America’s “royal” Kardashian wedding coming up.
This state of affairs is explained best by Bekka Payack, the Manhattan-based fashion correspondent of the Global Language Monitor, “We are seeing what the impact of two genuine media stars, Princess Kate and Alexander McQueen can have upon a global ranking. Our numbers show that it was their presence that tipped the victory to London over New York. In the various categories, London took top honors in three, while New York, Paris, and Sao Paulo each topped the field in one.” Past rankings had New York City topping the charts three years in a row, losing only once to Milan, who now sits at fourth place.
The time has come. One of the biggest fashion events is getting its buzz around. Fashion’s Night Out is scheduled for September 8th in New York City, as well as London. Never heard of such a thing? Well, Fashion’s Night Out is the one and only opportunity to go gallivanting on the town for great finds, and some deals, while having the prospect to brush shoulders with the likes of Rachael Zoe and Oscar de la Renta. Essentially, imagine a block party over all of New York City covered in fashionistas, designers, stylists, musicians, spokespeople, and models. Sounds like fun!
This year, there are many ‘tech’ aspects being added to the fun. The big, new word for this event, apps! For instance, Net-A-Porter, the online retailer, will have entire window displays filled with designer merchandise. In order for one to purchase this designer merchandise, one must download the Window Shop app. Then, a shopper will be able to make purchases on these specific ‘window’ pieces. Net-A-Porter will be carrying on this event in New York as well as in London.
Another first of Fashion’s Night Out also includes the new technology of apps. This app is a FNO NYC guide (Fashion’s Night Out New York City guide) app, which, in the mass confusion that lies, will help shoppers and celebrity faces alike, make their way to the events they truly want to visit. In the line of trying to create as little confusion and hysteria as possible, Fashion’s Night Out website, seems to be focusing just on that. The site give you facts on downloading their app just mentioned, and gives a little more than helpful hints on planning your trip. Including, what retailers and designers are involved, and which hotels will offer discounts and perks! The site also stands as the sneak peak at the collections to be offered. Items in the FNO collection are part of the annual event, with proceeds going to New York City AIDS Fund, as well as the Community Trust.
The widespread, almost too well-known, MTV show, Jersey Shore has stirred up some more controversy. However, this time it is with retailer, Abercrombie & Fitch. Abercrombie & Fitch have claimed the cast of the Jersey Shore is liable to “cause significant damage to our brand image.” More specifically, Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino, claiming he is not the image A & F want to project to their customers.
Abercrombie & Fitch spokesperson declares, “We are deeply concerned that Mr. Sorrentino’s association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image. We understand that the show is for entertainment purposes, but believe this association is contrary to the aspirational nature of our brand, and may be distressing to many of our fans. We have therefore offered a substantial payment to Michael ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino and the producers of MTV’s The Jersey Shore to have the character wear an alternate brand. We have also extended this offer to other members of the cast, and are urgently waiting a response.”
As odd as this situation may be, MTV had no response.
Meanwhile, Abercrombie & Fitch are synonymous with half naked models sporting the fittest of fit bodies…how is this different from the Jersey Shore’s male cast members; in particular, the Situation, with his “situation.” Without his ‘Guido-esque’ cranial aspects, the Situation is essentially the perfect A & F model. His actions however, are understandably over the top. His actions, along with fellow cast-members, tend to shy on the side of a few drinks past their limit. Anyone who has watched the MTV show for a mere five minutes has witnessed the antics that go on; ruthlessly “hunting” for girls, name-calling, fighting, foul language and actions, it is quite an endless list. However, many sources are saying this could be some sort of publicity stunt to help both parties. If our memories serve correct, just last year A & F put out a “Fitchuation” shirt (undoubtedly birthed from their brand plus the brand Mike Sorrentino made for himself) that served as a top seller, bringing the retailer very successful revenue. Whatever the truth may be, in the meantime it looks like the Situation and his roomies will have to invest in some more Ed Hardy sweats.
Have you had enough Kardashian? Kris Jenner certainly has not! The celebrity mom, and ring-leader of Keeping Up With the Karadashians, has put the Kardashian back in her name (with a hyphen) making her Kris Jenner-Kardashian. However, this is not the big news; the news is Kris’ new fashion line. The one and only Jenner-Kardashian has teamed up with QVC once again. Her line, believe it or not, is called the Kris Jenner Kollection. The line is due out this fall and will premier during New York Fashion Week, scheduled for September 8th.
“One thing I love about the clothes is that they have a great deal of style but they are forever pieces, and the other is they are so well made. You want your clothes to stand the test of time if someone is going to spend a lot of money on an item,” Kris explains as she comments on the awaited line.
QVC is also excited about the new fashion line as they currently carry K-Dash, the clothing line for younger women, by Kris’s three daughters: Kim, Kourtney and Khloe. This line does very well, which is due impart to the social media surrounding the Kardashian girls, including their hit E! TV show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Doug Howe, QVC’s vice president of merchandise, planning, and sales expects Kris’s line to produce just as much hype and potential as K-Dash because of the E! TV show.
The pieces in Kris Jenner’s Kollection are styles and designs that Kris loves to wear. Essentially, her line consists of pieces that are her signature look. Most recognizable of the pieces will be her black leggings, white Tee, and black blazer. However, don’t get the idea that this line is only for the everyday. Kris also has cocktail dresses and other ‘night’ looks as to not discourage women (at any age) to go out and have a night on the town! Commenting on the line, and her lifestyle, Kris Jenner says, “We are constantly getting e-mails and tweets about where to get our clothes, so finally I can send fans to QVC to buy exactly what we are wearing, because these are all the pieces I will be wearing next season.”
The line is said to start at $35 and go up to $140. Not to count her eggs before they hatch, Kris also hopes to expand the company to carry a jewelry line to feature her other signature look, big earrings!
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