Don't expect any Alaia/Lagerfeld collaborations any time soon

Azzedine Alaia‘s recent confirmation that he’d been offered (and rejected) the head job at Dior got people talking, but apparently the designer wasn’t done dishing. In an interview with Virginie magazine, the septuagenarian designer didn’t hold back on his opinions of fellow iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld or Anna Wintour, the reigning queen of fashion media.

On Karl Lagerfeld

“I donâ€t like his fashion, his spirit, his attitude. Itâ€s too much caricature. Karl Lagerfeld never touched a pair of scissors in his life. That doesnâ€t mean that heâ€s not great, but heâ€s part of another system. He has capacity. One day he does photography, the next he does advertisements for Coca-Cola. I would rather die than see my face in a car advertisement. We donâ€t do the same work. And I think that he is not doing a favor to young stylists who might think it works that way. Theyâ€re going to fall before they retire.”

On Anna Wintour

“I said it before. She runs the business (Vogue) very well, but not the fashion part. When I see how she is dressed, I donâ€t believe in her tastes one second. I can say it loudly! She hasnâ€t photographed my work in years even if I am a best seller in the U.S. and I have 140 square meters at Barneys. American women love me; I donâ€t need her support at all. Anna Wintour doesnâ€t deal with pictures; she is just doing PR and business, and she scares everybody. But when she sees me, she is the scared one. [Laughs.] Other people think like me, but donâ€t say it because they are afraid that Vogue wonâ€t photograph them. Anyway, who will remember Anna Wintour in the history of fashion? No one. Take Diana Vreeland, she is remembered because she was so chic. What she did with the magazine was great, with Avedon and all the great photographers. Vogue remains while its fashion editors come and go.”

Well then, tell us how you really feel Mr. Alaia.

It seems like he wasn’t the only designer who felt like opening up; Giorgio Armani made comments to the Italian press about the recent Prada and Dolce & Gabbana men’s collections, calling them ridiculous looking and saying no man would ever actually wear them. Armani said “fashion today is in the hands of the banks and of the stock market and not of their owners,” in scolding the press for not being more critical of collections. He also took a thinly veiled swipe at the recently public Prada by saying his company won’t be going public anytime soon because it “is independent and doesnâ€t have debts, and that his clothes make men look more handsome and elegant.” {the Cut/NY Mag}

It’s worth noting that this is the same person who uninvited the New York Times’ Cathy Horyn from his Fall/Winter 2008 show for the tone of a review that he found to be too critical. While it’s refreshing to hear unvarnished perspectives in an industry where journalists who do actually try to practice journalism through criticism or investigation are uninvited from shows, and publications have advertising budgets threatened, we can’t see the quips making a huge difference.

It could be because designers (read: their publicists) are too pre-occupied with the Fall 2011 show season at this point to bother dressing anyone, but we have a different hypothesis: Hollywood stars dressed horribly for this yearâ€s SAG Awards because thatâ€s the only way they could get any press for their look. A simple, elegant gown that would garner much praise and a spot on all of the best dressed lists after the Oscars or Golden Globes would go largely unnoticed at the SAGs. Proof positive: Kyra Sedgwick wore a gorgeously understated black gown by Thierry Mugler last night, and hardly anyoneâ€s talking about it as far as we can tell.

Plus, if our theory does not hold true, how else would one explain Jennifer Lawrenceâ€s Pepto Bismol-colored Oscar de la Renta dress paired with stripper heels and a bow no one over the age of 10 should wear? Or Hailee Steinfeldâ€s orange Prada stripes? Andre Leon Talley praised Steinfeldâ€s look, saying her lack of jewelry and relaxed hair style were the perfect touch to ensure she wasnâ€t trying too hard. We have a question for ALT: if one should try not to look like one tried hard to impress on a red carpet, then where else should one wear one’s best jewels and finest hair style? We’d be tempted to give Steinfeld a pass because, at 14, at least she was dressed for her age, but she did the not-too-adult, but still subtly glamorous thing so well at the Golden Globes that we just have to say no to her latest look.

We loved Claire Danes’ bright pink lipstick, which would have looked decent in contrast to a printed Louis Vuitton number, but an awkwardly placed belt made her overall style a bit too casual for our taste as well. And speaking of ill-placed belts: Lea Michele. Her Oscar de la Renta gown was gorgeous, but the extra accessory seemed unnecessary. January Jones†Carolina Herrera embroidered gown was lovely, but overshadowed by an unflattering hairstyle, and, finally, Christina Hendricks, who normally takes a well-deserved place on every best dressed list, looked like she was wearing a bathrobe in her L’Wren Scott dress.

The one standout of the night was Mila Kunis in an Alexander McQueen dress designed by Sarah Burton that continued the red trend of the Golden Globes. The dress was the perfect color for her, and she looked stunning. Enough so that we’ll let the belt on this one off with a warning. Hillary Swankâ€s one-shouldered Versace dress was also quite beautiful but has been generating less press than Kunis†gown. For almost everyone else, better luck next year – or in the next few weeks when we hope everyone will lose the belts and go back to unhindered glamour.

Alexander McQueen Moves Forward

Goodbye Mr. McQueen, hello Ms. Burton. Long live McQueen.

Style.com covered the passing of Alexander McQueen and the showing of the final collection he designed, but something that was equally important this year was the success of Sarah Burtonâ€s first show as the new designer for the McQueen label. The passing of such a genius creative mind was indeed tragic, and the showing of McQueenâ€s last collection was a special moment, but Burtonâ€s signal that the brand can honor McQueenâ€s legacy while moving forward was absolutely stellar.

John Gallianoâ€s Dior Couture Wows

Dior haute couture was in full bloom this year when John Galliano showed his Spring 2011 collection of flower-inspired looks. The imagery and execution of the designs combined with the high, tulip-like hair of the models for a full package display of gorgeousness and perhaps our favorite moment in fashion of 2010.

A new collection of shades from Prada will come complete with tiny letter, number and symbol squares that can be inserted into the sides of the frames where the brandâ€s logo normally sits. There is a heart, a star, a dollar sign and an exclamation point among other characters, and you can use them in any combination you want, if of course you have the $365 to spend on a pair of these sunglasses. {The Cut}

Sunglass Hut will have them on sale in black, tortoiseshell and white. The earpieces come apart to allow insertion of the personalization characters, but you can choose only two to put in each earpiece at a time. {stylemebad}

What do you think – are customizable shades cool or too teeny bopper? Do you like them but have no interest in paying $365 for something as fragile as sunglasses? We’re not sure what to make of it, but donâ€t think it will be a big enough hit and pump up Pradaâ€s sales. Let us know your thoughts!

The deep color palates of black, navy and gray are solid themes running throughout, accented by pops of color. Marked by double-breasted suits, vests and slim silhouettes, the most current designer collections walking the runway for men, from DKNY,  Prada {NY Magazine}, Gianfranco Ferre {Coutorture} and Marc Jacobs {GQ} all seem to be taking pages from the same book.

In honor of their 40th anniversary, Interview magazine is curating Morgan’s Semi-Automatic for Miami Art Basel. The concept – sleek vending machines filled with luxury items, kicked off at last year’s show with designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Moschino, Boudicca and Richard Nicoll. The Interview selection will include Jil Sander, the Prada Marfa sign (in case you’ve been eyeing it on Gossip Girl) and many more items that celebrate 40 years of pop culture. The influential art show kicks off December 3rd and runs through the 6th. And now, on top of the 250 art galleries showcasing their wares, you can go for what’s arguably the best-stocked vending machine in the country. We wonder what’s on the agenda for the ice machine.

Read more {The Pipeline}
Read more {Interview}

Prada is releasing a 706 page book showcasing 30 years of innovation. It covers more than just fashion with images in art, architecture, cinema and communications. Prada is a brand that has brought more to the table than just exciting fashion and amazing shoes, and the book offers a comprehensive overview of the total Prada lifestyle. The book, meant to capture the creative essence of Prada through visual means, will retail for €100 (approximately $148) and be sold in Prada stores worldwide. Even if you can’t afford the bag or shoes you’ve been lusting after, the book should offer a lasting dose of Miuccia’s creativity, and husband Patrizio Bertelli’s business sense. We assume it will be present on many coffee tables this holiday season.

Read the full article {WWD}

Prada launched a new twist on the souvenir shirt with their JWP Epicenter project. Instead of a logo printed on a shirt in large letters or small fancy font, Prada has decided to bring an aspect of their land mark stores to a t-shirt everyone can bring home with them. The various floor plans of Prada stores will be printed on a Jersey White Prada Obvious Classic t-shirt (JWP). Not only is this an interesting take on the otherwise typical brand logo T-shirt but its not a direct plug of a brand, that can come across as walking advertisements. The floor plans are placed on the shirt as an over all pattern rather than just a screen print of the obvious in the center of the shirt, giving it more versatility in your wardrobe.

Read the full story {Wallpaper}

Read More {Hypebeast}

Read More {Selectisism}

Read More {WWD}