McQueen Cremated With Lock Of Isabella's Hair; Japanese Teenagers Get Their Allowances Cut
Latest- Cathy Horyn‘s lengthy piece in the Times reveals some new information about the circumstances of Alexander McQueen‘s death. For one, his suicide was highly unexpected:
- Friends did not think that his grieving for his mother was unusual or excessive, and he continued to make visits to the office and design the fall collection. And although the Daily Mail interviewed a distraught man who identified himself as the designer’s boyfriend on the morning of his death, sources say McQueen was not seeing anyone exclusively at the time — in the parlance of the Grey Lady, he was having “mostly online dates.” He and Isabella Blow used to “talk dirty” to each other. And after her 2007 suicide, McQueen kept in his safe a lock of her hair. He had part of it made into a ring, and his friends put the remainder into his coffin. [NYTimes]
- Here is the spring/summer ad campaign for McQ. [SB]
- A Lebanese brand, Sarah’s Bag, employs ex-prisoners and other marginalized women to do embroidery work. The founder, Sarah Beydoun, spent time in a women’s prison while researching her master’s thesis on prostitution, and sees the company as another avenue for social activism. [Independent]
- Vivienne Westwood is still making versions of the dress Carrie’s character wears at her failed wedding to Big in the Sex and the City movie. Because of the “exaggerated sweetheart neckline” and the corset bodice, it is said to create a very slimming silhouette. [NYDN]
- Heidi Klum, on her comfort with her body: “I think it’s because I grew up in a very easy-going family where my parents were always naked. My parents are still naked. I mean, it’s not like we’re hippies and we run around naked, but if they happened to be in their room changing or something or someone comes out of the shower, they’re not, like, ‘Oh my God. No. Close the door.'” [Daily Mail]
- Derek Blasberg, on his book, Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady: “I’d like to think it’s sort of like the Preppy Handbook, where anyone at any age can pull something from it.” Um, Derek? That book was a joke. [Daily Intel]
- Julien MacDonald used to want to be a painter when he grew up. Now he dreams of “sailing around the world like Captain Cook did.” [Independent]
- When their first store opened in L.A. in 1981, the Korean hard-core Christian couple behind Forever 21 sold “cheaply made knock-offs.” The more things change! Now their daughters have taken positions at the company. [LATimes]
- Levi’s has a new ad campaign, and it features an (unnamed) group of artists and musicians it’s calling “Levi’s Craftworkers.” A section of the front window of its Regent St. store in London will be turned over to the Craftworkers as an art gallery. Sounds brilliant. [Guardian]
- Jason Wu‘s favorite downtown spots include the Strand — can’t argue with that — Momofuku Ssam, and Narnia Vintage. [Refinery29]
- Maria Cornejo doesn’t like to read fashion magazines. Magazines, we’ve noticed, generally return the favor, despite the fact that she makes such wonderful clothes. Sigh. [W]
- Brooklyn Decker really likes sports. Really. [NYTimes]
- Meanwhile, her husband Andy Roddick is trying his hand at modeling. Lacoste launched its men’s scent Challenge with Hayden Christensen as its face, but has just switched to the tennis star. [People]
- Despite a run of golden spring weather, the male model greeters at the SoHo Hollister store are not yet shirtless. Apparently they disrobe on a schedule, and the happy event is set for three weeks hence. [Racked]
- Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of New York City’s democratically elected oligarch, has signed with Wilhelmina Models‘ Sports division. She is “a keen equestrian.” [P6]
- Don’t think Hermès‘ new fine jewelry collection, which is designed by Pierre Hardy and costs $23,000-$880,000, is just like any other earrings-the-cost-of-a-mortgage-downpayment out there: no, this is “haute bijouterie,” friends. [WWD]
- J. Crew‘s men’s collection for fall has colors inspired by Constantin Brâncuşi’s sculptures. [Style.com]
- Creative director Jenna Lyons says she’s not enthused by fashion’s continuing love affair with the 80s. “I was committing fashion crime after fashion crime all day long. I had asymmetrical hair. It was bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.” [The Cut]
- Despite recently anointing Christian Louboutin her dream collaborator brand in an interview, Lyons says J. Crew is instead working on a bridal jewelry collection with Miriam Haskell. [WWD]
- American Apparel doubled security for the second day of their London street sale, after a riot broke out on the first. Guys: They’re just t-shirts. They’re not magic. [Daily Mail]
- Avon has acquired the U.K. “natural” skincare brand Liz Earle. The price was not disclosed. [Crain’s]
- Domestic Japanese same-store sales at Uniqlo fell 16.4% this March on last year’s numbers. That is the company’s biggest single month contraction since March, 2003. [BW]
- Maybe it’s because Japanese high schoolers’ average allowance fell 11.4%, to around $64.68 a month, in 2009? [WWD]
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