...more Halston

Halston was "the designer" during the 70s, closely linked to the disco culture, as he was a party boy himself. He had a famous clientele, from Bianca Jagger to Jacky Kennedy (he designed the pillbox hat she wore at her husband's 1961 presidential inauguration).

He launched his womenswear collection in 1968 (he later launched menswear aswell). In 1972, he was named by Newsweek magazine "the best designer in America". Halston was the first to "realize the potential in lincensing himself", so he collaborated with JC Penney, presenting a more affordable line under his signature. He also introduced a perfume, a controversial move at that moment, which became the second best selling perfume of all times (the bottle was designed by Elsa Peretti).

        

He sold his company in  1973 and he was later fired, while the company was under his name. He died in 1990, from AIDS complication in San Francisco.

In fall 2008, the company was revived by Harvey Weinstein, Jimmy Choo’s Tamara Mellon, and stylist Rachel Zoe. Former Versace designer Marco Zanini, was appointed creative director, a collaboration which downfell two seasons later.

In 2009 Marios Schwab, took the role of creative director giving a very promising first season to the Halston house. Watch Fall/Winter 2010 11 at http://www.halston.com/ 

Sex & the City II is full of Halston...first you have SJP wearing the white stretch V neck jersey heritage dress on the "Carrie on 2" poster (she also wears it in the movie).

Then she strolls around the city in this fabulous electric blue lurex plisse heritage dress.

Finally she goes to Abu Dhabi (which is actually Morocco) wearing the salmon asymmetric jersey kaftan styled with an amazing turban.

Well, maybe it has something to do with the fact that SJP is the official Halstonette of the Heritage line, reviving the style in more affordable prices (still, not that affordable) all available at http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/Halston_Heritage/All .

I think we have a very revived Halston house...we keep ourselves posted to see what is next! I leave you with Sister Sledge's He's the Greatest Dancer..."he wears the finest clothes, the best designers heaven knows, from his head down to his toes, Halston, Gucci, Fiorucci, he looks like a still, that man is dressed to kill" as the lyrics indicate...

Kill the LBD!!!

 

Saturday night I go out at a club, one of these big ones with VIP area and all, bit posh, not my style (it used to be though)...After half an hour I realize that 90% of the female population in the club wears the "little black dress"!!! It was so homogeneous as if it was a uniform!!! Yes, I know it is convenient and an all time classic, but come on ladies, be creative, experiment a bit!!! Being a woman gives the luxury of choice...wearing the LBD, makes you look dull, especially if you decide to wear it all together!!! Clubbing is fun...have that in mind next time you dress up for it!!!

R.I.P. Lee McQueen

 

This image of Alexander McQueen is stuck in my head since I first saw it in 2000 birthday issue of Face magazine. McQueen for me was the fashion pioneer...his biography is spread everywhere so it a bit useless saying over and over what he's done...yet it is quite fascinating that the son of a taxi driver from Stratford quitted school at age 16 and went to learn the craft from the finnest of Savile Row; not so much that is a unique action, but because of the drive he must had in him for the metier...

He shocked and provoked as many said, but he always delivered unique, original pieces from an angle he could only see. Every season he had a new story to tell and fashion was agog for it....

Credit crunch and all, McQueen was the only one who did not compromise by boosting denim sales and logomania, yet he introduced some of his finest work, taking the next step and forwarding fashion to new dimensions!!!

I will always remember Alexander McQueen for his nudes back in the 90s, his genius cuttings, his theatrical shows, wearing air max with a tailor suit and putting his head on plate. Thank you for always making the difference...you will be greatly missed...

Ari Macropoulos

Ari Macropoulos is an American photographer and film maker.  Born in Amsterdam in 1957, Macropoulos started his career as Andy Warhol's assistant, joining the East Village art scene in early 80's. He befriended Jean-Michel Basquiat and has even photographed him. Macropoulos is known for photographing people leaving on the edge, in their natural environment. He has worked with sub-culture groups such as snowboarders, skateboarders and hip-hoppers following their everyday life and capturing unique instants.
In 2009 he directed "Claremont", a film for fashion designer Adam Kimmel, where skateboarders ride down mount Claremont wearing Adam Kimmel suits.

Adam Kimmel presents: Claremont HD from adam kimmel on Vimeo.

His work  can be seen on numerous publications and has callaborated with magazines such as New York Times Magazine, Vogue Italia, Teen Vogue, Dazed and Confused, Arena Homme Plus, Interview and Blind Spot, as well as with the most major snowboarding magazines such as Transworld Snowboarding and Snowboarder. He is currently represented by AFG Management in New York. 

Working in Greece in fashion...

Working in Greece in fashion, is something of an oxymoron itself. No that we lack of talent, yet there are other factors that make it an oxymoron. First the market is quite limited. Then you have the greek way of doing things, which cannot compete outside greek borders…whoever tried to do it like that flopped! The most important, in my opinion, though, is that we don’t use our strengths and accept our weaknesses. Usually we try to copy something happening in other countries and continents which might be totally irrelevant with the current situation, status of Greece. In other words we lack of identity… Trying to copy will just bring fast profit for a short period!!! Of course there are few exceptions…Greek designer George Eleftheriades is the proof of having a strong identity and avoiding the mainstream route of getting your name known can give a long term and successful career. There are also quite few young greek designers who have worked and managed to export successfully.

Fashion as an industry is not a rose garden…you have to have a tough stomach, strong will and above all believe in yourself. If you have all that, then you should evolve continuously. You have to be current, but you should be fast forward at the same time. Unfortunately, if your country of choice is Greece your task becomes even harder, as the routes of expression are more like lanes and there are quite few things happening…you have to find your own way…that’s quite a challenge…on the other hand you can always leave the country…

What we should focus on is us…take a minute to see what is going on around us…which is the situation politically, socially, culturally in our country, embrace it and inspire from it…create an identity!