In the wonderful world of fashion, everyone — and everything — is connected. We’re taking a look at who and what made waves in the past seven days, and weaving a common thread between them. From a Victoria's Secret model going to court to DSquared²’s new clientele, this is your one-stop style-story shop.
Common Thread Week Of January 18
1. Golden Globes Red Carpet. The hits, the misses and all of the dresses that fell somewhere in between — the Golden Globe Awards red carpet is where starlets and stars tend to take more sartorial risks (than, say, at the Oscars). And this year didn’t disappoint. From Jennifer Lopez’s barely there dress to Sienna Miller’s Erdem two-piece number, the gowns ranged from the weird to the wonderful.
Do you know who else wears clothes that range from the weird to the wonderful?
2. Victoria’s Secret Model Constance Jablonski. Unfortunately, Constance Jablonski isn’t in the news for wearing her bedazzled wings, but because she’s being sued by her former modelling agency, Marilyn Model Management, for US$3.3 million for allegedly violating her contract. Constance is now being represented by rival agency DNA, and MMM is not happy about that. It’s a bit odd that they’re suing the model rather than the agency, but, then again, it’s an odd business to begin with.
What other modelling agency is closing ranks and closing doors?
3. Ford Models In Toronto.Ford Model’s only Canadian office will be closing its doors in Toronto at the end of the month. It seems like the decision was made at their head office in New York City and will leave around 250 Canadian male and female models unrepresented. The agency has offices in LA, Miami, Brazil, Chicago and Manhattan — Toronto was their smallest market, but it’s also a city that draws 40,000 people to Toronto Fashion Week every season.
Do you know whose headshot wouldn’t have looked out of place on the wall of Ford 40 years ago?
4. Grace Coddington. Promoting the launch of her autobiography, Grace Coddington appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and, of course, charmed the pants off the whole audience. The breakout star of the 2009 documentary 'The September Issue,' Grace has been the creative director of American Vogue and Anna Wintour’s right-hand lady since 1988. She’s been on fashion’s frontlines since before most of us were a twinkle in our dad’s eye — that alone demands respect, but it’s her humble demeanor and wild red hair that makes us love her.
What other fashion editor is turning her attention to book writing?
5. Alexandra Shulman. Being the editor-in-chief of British Vogue sounds like a pretty all-consuming job. But somehow Vogue’s top editor, Alexandra Shulman, has managed to carve out enough time to write a fictional novel… and, apparently, it’s pretty good. Set in the ’80s, the story revolves around three friends who work in journalism, PR and social programming. So while it’s not autobiographical, the subject matter obviously sticks close to Alexandra’s own experiences.
Do you know who else is sticking to what they know, but not too close?
6. Dsquared².The Canadian Milan-based sibling design duo has decided to grow their high-end fashion family to include a childrenswear line. Sticking close to the playful spirit of the brand, the new range will focus on clothes for that hip DSquared² clientele that's grown up and had kids of their own. Babies in cheeky buffalo-plaid onesies? Preteens in terry tube tops and fluorescent high-top sneakers? It'll all happen… in the spring of 2014.