The Fashion File Blog

It's rare these days that a television show not called 30 Rock, The Office or Gossip Girl can illicit strong emotional reactions from me, but apparently I'm growing soft in my old age. Thursday last, with an Entertainment Weekly in my lap and a falafel pita to my right, I happened to glance up at the TV at the exact moment Wilhelmina Slater busted out this delight:

I might have gasped. Or squeed. Or hyperventilated - in a good way. Suffice it to say, an unfamiliar sound escaped my throat and I giggled with glee. Had Christmas come early this year? Was everything coming up Milhouse? Could the Ugly Betty wardrobe supervisor read my mind? (If not, let me put this out there: presumably Betty has been working at Mode for about 18 months. I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but there is no way some kind samaritan from the beauty department wouldn't have attacked those deranged caterpillar brows with Herculean tweezers and offered her a hairbrush. Also, is a musical makeover montage a la Devil Wears Prada too much to ask?)

Still confused and wondering why I was so tickled by such a conspicuous (not to mention impractical) hunting ensemble? Well, the only other person ballsy enough to wear red tartan plaid whilst attempting to remain invisible to potential predators is none other than Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan.

As such, I have no choice but to assume that Wilhelmina Slater has been watching copious amounts of Dynasty on DVD in an attempt to brush up on her blackmailing / conniving / kidnapping / catfighting / murdering / multiple marrying / champagne tossing / accent affecting skills. That, or a higher-up at ABC is overly invested in my continued viewership.

Whatever the reason, I raise my glass to you, costume department, and wish you much continued success.

PS Honourable mentions to Ms. Angela Bower for this enchanting Dickensian guise.

Images courtesy of abc.com

November 20, 2008 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Toronto dance-pop sensation Fritz Helder & the Phantoms are on their way to world domination. No stranger to the pop music scene, Fritz Helder was Nelly Furtado's cheoreographer for the last two years. Now, their world is all about fashion, glamour and party. Here is their latest video "Lagerfeld Lady", which was partly shot in the streets of Paris. As you will notice the super catchy tune could also make a perfect catwalk show soundtrack. Which label will use it first ? We say Karl Lagerfeld!

POSTED BY FLORENT GILLES

November 19, 2008 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The secret is out! The Victoria's Secret Show taped this weekend in Miami. It won't air until December 3rd on CBS - but here is a STUNNING pre show teaser of model Maryna Linchuk.

Posted by JESSE

November 16, 2008 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I have to preface this post by saying that the only relation it has to fashion is that my friend called me in a state of WTF confusion after hearing the following remake whilst shopping at H&M. I am all about random remakes of songs that really didn't need a second attempt and as the Bond movie Quantum of Solace opened this week, I thought it appropriate to bring former Bond theme-song opener Dame Shirley Bassey to the fore.

This is the remake.

And this is the original, in case you missed it the first time around.

Do NOT get me wrong. I think the Dame Bassey version is AMAZING. It is the most over-the-top thing I have seen since Elaine Stritch won her Emmy in 2004 (sorry, I'm all about a good Elaine Stritch reference). Is she wearing opera gloves with matching bolero and are those people really dancing around in masquerade? Yes. It's basically a really good karaoke version of the Pink original, but sung really well by a Dame (I'm not being offensive by using the term dame here - Shirley Bassey is a real Dame - could you see Dame Judi Dench remaking a Pink song ?- now THAT would be a great way to open the next Bond film...)

Posted by JESSE

November 15, 2008 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

No big surprise there - but how early, you ask? Well, 10:00PM for a 10AM launch the following day sounds about right for us laid back North Americans (the Japanese certainly took this English proverb to heart - having waited three days to be the first to dash into the new H&M in the Harajuku district last Sunday).
Tiffany Lee and her friend were patiently waiting all night - watching the entrance emptied and painstakingly restocked with Comme des Garcons items. Without a rain slicker or a pair Hunters in sight, these girls took a page from Producer LUKE and toughed it out with two Burberry Walker Check Umbrellas and lots provisions to keep them warm.

Before you could say Kawakubo it all began!

This Fashion Filer is a veteran of the H&M designer collabos and found this one to have a more pleasant and patient crowd. Though, needless to say the mad dash and bartering were no different, but happily there were no brawls or injuries sustained.

And fine, a little bit of initial hoarding.

Lots of happy fashionistas (bows are big this season (literally!) AND for SS 2009 says granddad Karl)

And of course, the proud owners the The Dress (the prize fish, if you will). Why The Dress (and not the dress)? Only three were available in Ontario - not sure of the custody arrangement, or if it was a Sisterhood of the Travelling Dress scenario, either way it was well worth the wait Tiffany!

Posted by JACQUIE

November 15, 2008 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Printemps, one of Paris' most trendy department stores, just unveiled their new Christmas windows. They started the holiday season off with a bang by inviting Paris' own Santa, Karl Lagerfeld, to turn the store front into a fashionista's winter wonderland. The whimsical display featured candy colored flowers and dancing space age dolls complete with silver Chanel-esque quilted ensembles. We hope Santa Karl leaves some Chanel under our Christmas trees this year!

POSTED BY LINSEY BALLAS AND ELIZABETH PANTALEO
PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH PANTALEO

November 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not sure if Nicolas Ghesquiere thought no one would notice men (who are we kidding, boys really) in his women's wear collection for Balenciaga Spring 2009. Maybe he thought he'd just sneak them in there? I have to say I almost didn't notice at first glance. If you squint as you go through the photos, the first guy out of the gate looks a little like a brunette Agyness Deyn ... only younger of course. These are not the manliest of men - which leaves me with the question - Who dates the Balenciaga boy? Let's weigh the options... (before we start I recommend clicking on the youtube link as a soundtrack to this visual experience).

Look 1

Okay, so Cole Mohr is pretty cute in a girly kind of way. His masculinity has come into question before, most notably when he wore a dress in the Marc by Marc Jacobs Campaign. Not sure if his case is helped much in stir-ups and exaggerated shoulders...

Look 2

Where to start??? Long hair, shiny skinny pants... this is the boy for you ONLY if you are tortured and enjoy uniquely rebellious things. Like poetry jams. Chances that he is a vegan are good

Look 3

Things are looking SLIGHTLY better for boy three, though those pants are still a little too shiny...

Look 4

Boy four is acceptable. You can see him arriving to pick you up for a date, meeting the rents and holding the door for you as you head to some 80's themed party (which he is perfectly dressed for). Not to get 'R' rated, but you can even see the goodnight kiss - with a warning to mind the razor sharp cheekbones...

Look 5

Speaking of the eighties... What's the name of that horrific group with the lead singer who looked like a fool? Right, Flock of Seagulls. This is the spawn of the lead singer, no doubt.

Look 6

This is male model Ash and he has been making major waves in the mens modeling market. He debuted Vogue Hommes Japan's premiere issue and here he is still managing to keep the 'hommes' in Vogue Hommes Japan.

Look 7

Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.

Photos from Style.com

Posted by JESSE

November 13, 2008 4:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)