The Met Exhibits Prada and Schiaparelli

“When you look back at certain moments in fashion, certain designers come to mind. Then when fashion has moved on, they have been left behind. That’s not, in anyway been the case with Miuccia.”

- Anna Wintour on Miuccia Prada to CNN

Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli have been bestowed the honour of becoming the next exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The exhibition is an agglomeration of two of Italy’s most successful females in fashion. Schiaparelli is celebrated for birthing the concept of fashion shows, whilst Miuccia has been at the helm of her grandfather’s fashion house since 1978.

With the recent, astounding success of Alexander McQueen’s ‘Savage Beauty’, Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton, the curators at The Costume Institute, have high expectations for their future project.

Prada - RTW Autumn / Winter 2011

In her sixth decade, Miuccia Prada displays no signs of braking to halt her fashionable career.  As the youngest granddaughter of Mario Prada, Miuccia has blossomed the house of design to one which perfectly caters to the needs and whims of their customer base. Each season Prada has surprised and astounded critics with her trademark minimalist, comfortable luxury.

In previous twelve months, Prada along with the fashion house’s sister company Miu Miu collated sales of €2.1 billion. Miuccia’s positive direction has also increased Prada’s influence with the purchasing of Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Fendi, Azzedine Alaia and Church & Co.

With a Ph.D in Political Science, Miuccia is most certainly a fashionable force to be reckoned with.

Elsa Schiaparelli is defined as one of the most influential designers from the interval period of the two World Wars.

Although Schiaparelli’s competitors, such as Gabrielle Chanel, adapted their designs to the rations accustomed with war, Elsa dispelled such lunacy and progressed with her brazen creations.

 
 
 
 
 

Elsa Schiaparelli’s luxurious creations transgressed across the domains of fashion and film. The designer created the wardrobes for numerous films including; the French edition of ‘Topaze’, Mae West’s character in ‘Everyday’s a Holiday’, whilst her final cinematic collaboration can be viewed with Zsa Zsa Gabor’s costumes in ‘Moulin Rouge’.

The exhibition is scheduled to begin in May of next year, with an official launch at Anna Wintour’s annual Met Ball. The public will be permitted entrance the following day.

Daria Strokous – Vogue Russia

Daria Strokous was birthed in Russia, with some of her childhood spent in Africa. The model is enlisted with Women Management and has inhabited the domain of modeling since her seventeenth year.

Daria’s career debuted with appearances for Prada in Milan and Paris Fashion Week. Strokous has featured in glossy images for V Magazine, Marie Claire, W Mag and Vogue UK.

Vogue Russia have chosen the national beauty to cover their August Issue. The editorial was styled by Ekaterina Mukhina with images shot by Mariano Vivanco.

Daria Strokous is in Gucci, Patrizia Pepe & Alexis Bittar

Daria Strokous is in Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Frankie Morello & Cartier.

Daria Strokous in Martin Grant & DSquared2

Daria Strokous in Stella McCartney, Nina Ricci & Cartier. Andrey Zakharov in Dolce & Gabbana, Dior Homme & Van Laack.

Daria Stokous in Versace, Blumarine, Dior, Piaget & Hervé van der Straeten. Andrey Zakharov in Giorgio Armani, Van Laack, Gucci and D&G.

 

 

Actor Vs. Model?

Hollywood’s current ‘It’ girl, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, was recently questioned about her transition from modelling to acting. The British beauty’s response?

“Do you think it’s fair that actors have been taking the money out of hard-working models’ pockets? Actresses have completely taken over the fashion industry in the last five years, in terms of big deals. Maybe it’s time the models got some payback.”

Just days after her thought-provoking response, an increasing number of images and statements have been released, naming actors and actresses alike as luxury brand ambassadors.

Prada Menswear Autumn / Winter 2011 Campaign

Tobey Maguire, of Spiderman fame, has surprisingly been announced as the face of Prada’s Autumn / Winter 2011 campaign. Although Maguire is a distinguished and reputable actor, his fashion credentials and interests have often been limited.

Louis Vuitton Autumn / Winter 2011 Campaign

Prada is not the only fashion house who has borrowed a persona from Hollywood. This week the first images from Louis Vuitton‘s Autumn / Winter campaign have been released. The glossy photographs were shot by Annie Leibovitz and features Angelina Jolie as the collection’s protagonist.

Marc Jacobs has long been a fan of the stars and starlets of Hollywood blockbusters. Most recently, he has named Helena Bonham Carter as the brand’s newest ambassador.

Dakota Fanning is no stranger to Jacobs’ luxury label. Today, images were released of the designer’s ‘Oh, Lola!’ campaign, in which the  ‘Twilight’ actress is one of the key elements.

The feminine images were shot by Juergen Teller and accent the fragrance’s playful and floral tones.

Finally, St. John’s announced last month that Academy Award winner Kate Winslet would assist in their brand’s advertising. Winslet appears effortlessly chic in her billboard and will be an icon for the more refined generation who seek quality, comfort and elegance in their choice of clothing. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

St John Autumn Campaign 2011

Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief of US Vogue, was first responsible for the appearance of celebrities and actors alike on gleaming magazine covers. Since then, fashion and brand advertising has helped to propel and revive numerous celebrity careers. As we climb further through this decade, will the fascination that emanates from Hollywood begin to decline or is the future of modelling at risk of fashionable extinction?

 
 

Emma Watson Covers US Vogue

Emma Watson continues to etch out her pathway to become a reputable style icon. Landing the July cover of US Vogue is a huge milestone in her fashionable journey. The actress, originally of Harry Potter fame, has long expressed her love for fashion. Emma Watson has previously fronted Burberry‘s campaigns and is currently the face of Lancôme‘s Trésor Midnight Rose fragrance. Watson has previously collaborated with The Tree People to create a number of chic and stylish collections which are also friendly towards the environment.

Watson, at only twenty-one years, is one of the youngest stars to have appeared on Vogue’s covers. The entire shoot was captured by famed photographer Mario Testino. Testino is also responsible for the now iconic engagement portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Throughout the magazine Watson is captured wearing elegant ensembles from Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Prada, Calvin Klein & Dolce & Gabbana.

The final installment of the Harry Potter series is due in cinemas July 15th, the fashion realm will be eagerly awaiting Emma Watson’s decisions for her various red carpet appearances.