Ausländer Spring 2012: Andrej Pejic & Rick Genest

Image: Ausländer

Brazilian fashion label, Ausländer first chose Andrej Pejic and Rick ‘Zombie Boy’ Genest, to exhibit their Spring 2012 collection, on the Rio catwalk in June of this year.

Fashion Rio

The fashionable love affair has continued with the release of Ausländer’s campaign for their Spring 2012 collection. The campaign is constructed solely around Pejic and Genest in the line’s simple fitted attire.

Image: Ausländer

 Ricardo Bräutigam is at the helm of the label, his choice of campaign protagonists proving to be hugely successful. The glossy images were photographed by Marcelo Krasilcic with styling by Antonio Frajado and José Camarano.

Image: Ausländer

Once again, Pejic utilises his androgynous qualities to flirt with the boundaries of gender-based attire. In each shot, Pejic exudes confidence and seemless elegance when transitioning between menswear and womenswear.

Image: Ausländer

At merely nineteen years old, Andrej Pejic was scouted during his school years in Melbourne, Australia.

In January of this year, Pejic paraded down the catwalk for both Menswear and Womenswear for Jean-Paul Gaultier and also showcased his talents for Marc Jacobs in the designer’s Menswear show.

Image: Ausländer

In April Pejic was awarded the eleventh rank on the models.com Top 50 Male Models List and also received the 98th rank on FHM Magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2011.

Thus far in his career, Andrej Pejic has worked alongside fashionable greats such as photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Pigott, Steven Meisel and Jeurgen Teller.

Image: Ausländer

Rick Genest was bestowed with the name of ‘Zombie Boy’ by the media and his legion of fans. Genest was first scouted by Thierry Mugler‘s, Nicola Formichetti on Facebook.

Genest’s launch to fashionable society occurred when he opened Thierry Mugler’s Menswear Autumn / Winter 2011 Fashion Show. This was the first show with Formichetti as the design house’s creative director.

Image: Ausländer

The model’s career has spanned the domains of print, catwalk and music television with a prominent cameo role in Lady Gaga‘s video for ‘Born This Way’.

Thus far, Rick Genest has collaborated with Mariano Vivanco, Steven Klein and appeared in editorials for I-D Magazine, Vogue Hommes Japan and GQ Style.

Image: Ausländer

Lady Gaga & Barneys NY Collaborate for Christmas

“If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys. It’s the decadent reward.”

- Sarah Jessica Parker to Vanity Fair.

With only one hundred and thirty-one days to Christmas, the globe’s most fashionable retailers are beginning to outline their holiday season ventures.

Image: Barneys New York

Barneys New York describe themselves as a mecca for discerning fashionistas, clothing connoisseurs since 1923, a Manhattan institution and an emporium of style and gorgeous products.

Today, the fashion institution announced their Christmas collaboration with fellow New Yorker, Lady Gaga.

The store’s Holiday 2011 Campaign: Gaga’s Workshop, will entail the vision and direction of Lady Gaga, artists Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide Pierson alongside Thierry Mugler‘s creative director and Gaga’s personal stylist; Nicola Formichetti to create the vocal icon’s interpretation of Santa’s workshop.

The Madison Avenue department store will transform their entire fifth floor into Lady Gaga’s grotto. The songstress’ emporium will be furnished with limited edition gifts designed by Gaga and Formichetti.

Image: Barneys New York

Barneys’ CEO Mark Lee, discussed the future collaboration with Women’s Wear Daily. He exclaimed that;

“Holiday is about joy, sharing and inclusiveness, and to me, Gaga really represents all of that. Her platform is so much about positivity, individuality and universality in a very today way.”

“There are a lot of things for fans of all ages, for kids and kids at heart. I think our existing and new customers will find fun things to share and give as gifts in a lighthearted and not so serious way.”

Gaga’s Workshop will welcome ‘little monsters’ from November until January 2nd.

Barneys New York will also donate 25% of sales on all items from Gaga’s Workshop to a charity of the singer’s choice.

The Edge of Boring

Lady GaGa is synonymous with perfectionism, high quality and stimulating story lines ,when it comes to the music videos she releases. Many, such as ‘Alejandro’, have been controversial for their use of religious iconography or sexual nature.

During the interval for last night’s episode of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, GaGa’s latest video, ‘The Edge of Glory’, was premiered. For once, Lady GaGa is without background dancers and male protagonists, to aid the telling of the melody’s story line. A rigid saxophonist is the songstress’ only accompaniment in the video.

‘The Edge of Glory’, is a disappointment for both cinematic and fashionable reasons. The video shoot is based on one street location with close-ups focused on a window balcony, doorstep and fire escape. The five-minute footage takes place over one evening but there is no plot to the video and leaves the audience questioning why GaGa is merely gyrating and continually ascending / descending a fire escape and a typical street. There seems little which could be defined as ‘glorious’ on her set.

Within the video for ‘Judas’ alone, she exhibited pieces from Christian Lacroix, Haus of GaGa, Thierry Mugler and Raquel Allegra. Lady GaGa has recently declared that she will wear nothing but Versace for the next two months. Her strange statement was rooted in proof with the release of her latest video. The ‘Haus of GaGa’ directed shoot, displays the New Yorker in one outfit alone – an ensemble from Gianni Versace’s last collection with the design house. With such a huge personal interest in style and all things designer, I was on the edge of grieving at Lady GaGa’s lack of fashion in ‘The Edge of Glory’.

I wish Lady GaGa had left us in suspense for a while longer, teasing out the release for ‘The Edge of Glory’. This would have allowed her to create a video, of a similar standard to previous releases such as ‘Judas’ or ‘Telephone’.

Of course, many of Lady GaGa’s little monsters, are enamored and admire the video’s uniqueness – in comparison to others in her back catalogue. Personally, it’s free of inspiring fashion and action, two elements which I have come to expect from the American icon.

Donatella Versace released a statement proclaiming her love for Lady GaGa and her choice of Versace for ‘The Edge of Glory’.

“I am greatly honored that Lady Gaga chose to wear a Versace Vintage look throughout her Edge of Glory video. I am a great fan of hers and I believe that my brother Gianni would have appreciated her talent. Like him, Lady Gaga is unafraid to push boundaries and she has created an original vocabulary by merging fashion, music, theatre and art. For me, this video represents a wonderful tribute to anyone who is unafraid to take chances.”

- Donatella Versace

The CFDA Awards Go GaGa!

“The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 370 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers.” (CFDA,2011)

The CDFA Fashion Awards were held last night in the Lincoln Centre, New York. Celebrities, icons and designers walked the red carpet in the most luxurious and showcasing designs. Lady GaGa, Marc Jacobs, Arthur Elgort, Hilary Alexander and Hal Rubenstein were just some of the industry’s biggest names who were in receipt of an award last night.

Lady GaGa, dressed in Thierry Mugler, was honoured at the event with the ‘Fashion Icon Award’. Nicola Formichetti, Mugler’s creative director is also Lady GaGa’s stylist and is responsible for many of the songstress’ most iconic looks.

GaGa was accompanied to the event by her younger sibling Natali Germanotta. During her speech GaGa vocalised her love of fashion, she explained that “fashion made me feel like a star before I was”. With her turquoise hair and platform booties, GaGa left critics in no doubt of her status as a fashion icon.

As with most fashion events the invitees yearn to be dubbed the night’s best dressed. The nominees for this year’s event (according to me) are; Liv Tyler, Lucy Liu, Naomi Watts and Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen.

Liv Tyler (left) attended on the arm of Proenza Schouler , the designer duo won the night’s most coveted prize; ‘Womenswear Designer of the Year’.

 

Lucy Liu (right) was a glamorous guest dressed in a lace / feather gown by Monique Lhuillier.

Naomi Watts (left) glittered in her gold Calvin Klein Collection gown.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (right) once again proved their designing talents modelling creations from The Row with Mary-Kate adorning her dress with a gold Chanel sequined jacket (as seen in Vogue UK). The matching handbags were a nice touch too!

 

‘Midnight in Paris’

Location: Tribeca Grand Screening Room, New York.

Thierry Mugler & The Cinema Society co-hosted a New York screening of ‘Midnight in Paris’ last night. The Woody Allen film stars Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson and Kathy Bates. With such a wealth of experience and talent on-screen and the aesthetic backdrops of Paris, the film will without doubt be a success.

The attendants at the soirée were polished and on trend with some even attired in Louis Vuitton’s recent creations. Olivia Palermo (of ‘The Hills’ fame) was particularly impressive with her androgynous menswear ensemble. Not for the first time, Palermo liberated herself from the expected gown attire. Last night, once again showcased her individual style which blends current trends and personal flare / creativity.

Palermo wore Charlotte Olympia’s ‘Bebel’ Leopard Print Platform Pumps along with a Charlotte Olympia ‘Pandora’ clutch which due to the transparent nature highlighted her preferences in cosmetics and mobile phone brand. Once again, she looks effortlessly chic on the red carpet, with the metallic tinges feminising the traditionally masculine outfit. The appearance was a great fashion success but personally, I think an elegant updo or chignon would have further accentuated the look’s femininity.