The Glamorous Month

Welcome to the Glamorous Month (or months, rather, January through February), where new projects come up, the fashion buzz starts, fashion gears up for the Fall collections and Haute Couture Week, where the A-list prove why they are are some of the most desired people on the planet on the red carpet at all the award shows, and much more that really kick starts the new year.

Kreativite


Frédéric Mélotte and Sham Jolimie have collaborated on a very special project that everyone is talking about: Kreativite.

Sanjeet Boolell-Designer.

What?

"Our photographic project is about celebrating creativity.
'Kreativite' pays tribute to some talented Mauritians through simple and elegant portraits."

Anu Sumputh-Designer

Why?

"Mauritius is home to many talented minds whose lives are made rich by creativity.
We hope to inspire other Mauritians, especially young people, to look up to these positive role models."

Danila Lacoste-Make-up artist and Image Consultant

They post one photo each day.

Frederic had this project in mind for around two to three years now and is currently working on it with Sham Jolimie, also a photographer and a fashion lover.

Ravi Jetshan-Ravior

Frederic : "As a portrait photographer, the ultimate aim is to capture the portraits of people that are interesting and have depth of character. We also wanted to work on something never done before in Mauritius. It's been around three to four months now that we have contacted everyone, over 50 people. Everyone who has a creative job has a strong personality, 'rien de mieux que ces personnages pour s'amuser.' I have already photographed fourteen artists-photographers, artists (paint), fashion designers, DJs, musicians, sculptors, artists (music), music producers, choreographers...I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish everything before returning to Malaysia but I'll do my best!"

Sweetie Ramlagun-Designer

You can find an interview of Frederic by Khatleen Minerve for the PAPM blog here.


Fall 2012 Menswear

I have been extremely impressed with what I have seen, and my favourite collection so far is Prada, where some actors turned to modelling for a very decadent, regal, dramatic show. I just didn't like Garett Hedlund, who seemed to treat the whole show as another way to draw attention to himself. Lots of suits and interesting collars, and a definite military feel throughout the majority of the collections.

Images courtesy of Style.com

Prada

 

Versace

Comme des Garcons

Dior Homme

Lanvin

Alexander McQueen

Couture week

Suzy Menkes is the journalist I most admire and she has just written such beautiful pieces for the International Herald Tribune on the Couture shows that you just have to read them. I have provided links, just click!

Alexis Mabille

Armani Prive

Bouchra Jarrar

Giambattista Valli

Givenchy

Maxime Simoens

Atelier Versace

Jean Paul Gaultier

Valentino

Chanel

Elie Saab




Christian Dior

Hollywood's Season of the Year

It started with the Golden Globes, where a bevy of stars swarmed the red carpet! My best dressed was Angelina Jolie. She was just stunning in an Atelier Versace gown! My best dressed man was-who else?-Brad Pitt, wearing a Tom Ford suit. My other favourites are Emma Stone in Lanvin and Charlize Theron in Christian Dior. I'm expecting more fabulous fashion to come, and cannot wait for the Oscars!

They look so elegant together it's intimidating.

She looks so regal!

Charlize Theron strikes the perfect ethereal feminine/ sexy look

Red hair paired with a plum dress prove to be an amazing combination

My Inspiration

I haven't written about what inspires me much before, and today is the first My Inspiration section.

Yves St Laurent is one of my icons and one of my biggest inspirations. In fact, I saved up all my money for quite a long period of time just so that I could buy Yves St Laurent by Florence Muller and Farid Chenoune.

It goes beyond more than a simple coffee table book. This really encompasses everything - from Pierre Bergé's account of his life, to all of his collections, as well as more private photographs, 200 full-colour illustrations, and “A Gallery of Saint Laurent Women.” It is beyond anything I expected. My respect for him is simply immense!

Here is a short summary of his life, courtesy of Vogue:

"Yves Saint Laurent was born in 1936 and grew up in Oran, Algeria. At 17, he left for Paris where he showed his drawings to Michel de Brunhoff - director of French Vogue - who published several of them immediately. Following a stint at fashion school, Yves Saint Laurent was introduced to Christian Dior where he worked until Dior's death in 1957.

After taking over as art director for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent launched his first collection for the company, the Ligne Trapéze, that year. It was a resounding success and won him a Neiman Marcus Oscar.

In 1962, after completing National Service, Yves Saint Laurent set up his own fashion house with Pierre Bergé. In 1966, he introduced le smoking - his legendary smoking suit. His other inventions include the reefer jacket (1962), the sheer blouse (1966), and the jumpsuit (1968).

Le Smoking, created in 1966, taken from http://fashionedbylove.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/perfect-wardrobe-according-to-yves.html

In October 1998 Yves Saint Laurent showed his last ready-to-wear collection for the Rive Gauche label he had founded more than 30 years before. He carried on his haute couture until 2002. After a brief stint with Alber Elbaz as designer, in 1999 Tom Ford arrived to take control at the house. The brand entered the stratosphere where it remains today, covering perfume and menswear as well as womenswear.

At his last show, in 2002, a tearful Yves Saint Laurent took his final bow as his long-time muse, Catherine Deneuve, sang Ma Plus Belle Histoire d'Amour. Stefano Pilati, who replaced Tom Ford in 2005, continues Yves Saint Laurent's message that "dressing is a way of life".

Yves St Laurent (GQ magazine)

Yves Saint Laurent died after a long period of ill health at his home in Paris on June 1, 2008. He was 71."

Here is the more detailed summary of his life, a biography courtesy of The Biography Channel:

"The son of an insurance company manager, Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent left home at the age of 17 to work for the French designer Christian Dior. He would go on to become one of the most celebrated designers in history.

After winning first prize in the International Wool Secretariat contest for his cocktail dress design in 1954, Yves Saint Laurent landed the job of Haute Couture designer when Dior died in 1957. At the tender age of 21, he launched a spring collection for the fashion house and gained critical acclaim for his dresses.

In 1960, he was conscripted into the French Army. His spell in the service was short-lived however, and he was transferred into a French mental hospital suffering from stress, where he underwent psychiatric treatment, including electroshock therapy, for a nervous breakdown. He served in the military for just 20 days.

YSL Metropolitan Museum of Art: Autumn 1965 "Mondrian" day dress

In 1962, in the wake of his nervous breakdown, Saint Laurent was released from Dior and started his own label, YSL, financed by his companion, Pierre Bergé. The Rive Gauche boutiques for women were established in 1966, and men's wear followed in the 1970s. He was the first designer to use ethnic minorities as models on the runway.

'YSL' is perhaps most famous for "Le Smoking" tuxedo jacket, see-through blouses, peasant blouses, bolero jackets, pantsuits and smocks. By feminising the basic shapes of the male wardrobe, YSL set new standards for world fashion. He not only adapted the male tuxedo for women, but also safari jackets, pea jackets and flying suits.

Yves St Laurent Peasant Blouse Fall 1977, taken from  http://fashionedbylove.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/perfect-wardrobe-according-to-yves.html

His 1971 radical ‘40s’ collection shocked critics, as did the advertising campaign for the first YSL men’s fragrance, ‘Pour Homme’ which featured Yves himself posing nude. In 1977, YSL launched the very popular ‘Opium’ perfume. In 1983, he became the first living fashion designer to be given a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1993, the Saint Laurent fashion house was sold to the pharmaceuticals company, Sanofi, for approximately $600,000,000.

YSL held a 300-model fashion extravaganza at the final match of the 1998 World Cup football tournament in the Stade de France, and the following year he was awarded a 'Lifetime Achievement’ award from The Council of Fashion Designers of America. On his retirement, Saint Laurent became increasingly reclusive and spent much of his time at his house in Marrakech, Morocco. In 2007, he was made a Grand Officer de la Legion d'honneur by French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

Some of the sketches of the designer

Aged 71, he died from brain cancer in June 2008 on a rare trip back to his native Paris. President Sarkozy said in tribute, 'Yves Saint Laurent was convinced that beauty was a necessary luxury for all men and all women.' A few days before his death he married his long-term partner (note from Alex:  Pierre Bergé ) in a civil ceremony. His body was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Majorelle Garden in Morocco, which he regularly visited and found to be inspiring. A number of the designer's belongings were sold at auction the year after his death, including Egyptian sculptures and paintings by Picasso. "

A young Yves St Laurent (The Guardian)

Tomorrow, Khatleen Minerve and I will be at Ebene for another edition of Style on the Streets!See you all there!

Long Live YSL's Legacy, and have an awesome week and weekend!
xoxo
Alex

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