FASHION Magazine

This month, we have devoted 16 pages to the extraordinary Bosnian-born Australian model Andrej Pejic, but there is still so much more to say. Pejic is a man who dresses like a woman—sometimes. However, he is not a cross-dresser in the way that some men dip into their wives’ panty drawers for a thrill. He is not a drag queen, like RuPaul, who routinely took three hours to transform from freckled Southern gentleman to seven-foot-tall glamazon in size 13 pumps. And he doesn’t like to say whether, like Chaz Bono, he is on his way to the other side.

So who is he?

Androgynous model Andrej Pejic has popped up as a bride on Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2012 runway as well as the runways at LG Fashion Week—including the Pink Tartan show—and he’s even met the Queen. Now, he has a new gig modeling lingerie for Dutch chain retailer Hema. In the ads, Pejic models a double-pushup bra that promises to increase your bust by two-cup sizes. Seeing how feminine Pejic looks, even though he’s one of the most flat-chested models in the business since he’s naturally sans cleavage, the bra must be amazing, right?

Word: Trantastic

Meaning: A word to describe someone (of either gender, but usually boyz) who looks tranny-ish, and also fantastic. But you could have deduced that.

Usage: “Did you love that Sid Neigum show? I thought it was trantastic.”

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Kim Newport-Mimran described her spring collection as modern ’60s sportswear, citing her own cropped bob as proof of her current mindset, and a photo of buzzy model-of-the-week Andrej Pejic with a flower in his mouth looking “very modern Bardot” as an early inspiration. Styling help came from New Yorker and former Marie Claire fashion director Lucy Sykes (Plum’s twin).

After a darker, camo-laden detour last season, the brand is back on preppy, work-wearable ground: fitted, drop-waist dresses in white and blue Prada-like stripes are made in “power stretch, a knit that works like a woven and holds everything in”; red and blue cigarette pants in a sheeny silk-wool are sleek but fun. A few very short, flippy skirts and mini ’60s shifts skew younger—or braver—than usual. And though she may have taken a stumble in her Celine two-tone heels when she came out for her bow with Pejic, Newport-Mimran should be on solid selling ground this season.

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Set to a remix of my current song obsession, Flight Facilities’ “Crave You,” last night’s Arthur Mendonça show had me in great spirits before the first model even took to the runway. My smile stayed put as the girls marched out in Cleopatra-inspired (albeit, subtly) structured linen pieces adorned with zip-off peplums and exposed hardware, paired with feminine crème draped silks. Continuing to play with texture, as we spotted in his studio last week, Arthur experimented (with success) with a ladylike black leather trench, a sophisticated waxed-linen safari suit, and a subtle metallic–tweed drawstring-waist blazer, all FASHION favourites. While I could have done without the bold geometric metallic suiting, animal prints, and the flashback to Lanvin’s Spring 2011 collection, Arthur’s string of silk looks in highly saturated hues—including tangerine and fuchsia Japanese florals, a radio wave–print sheath with a slash of magenta, and a deep sky blue blouse on standout Serbian Australian model Andrej Pejic—kept my smile holding strong into the night.

Everyone knows Andrej Pejic, the gorgeous, androgynous male model who’s been ripping up the men’s and women’s runways this past year—and soon enough, Queen Elizabeth will know him too.

Liz will soon be visiting Australia, where Pejic spent his formative years, and Pejic has been invited to Buckingham Palace for an event to celebrate her upcoming visit. He will join other British-based Australians at the event, but we’re certain he will stand out in the crowd—not only is he uncommonly attractive, but even his laid-back-femme off-duty style is covetable. The question on everyone’s mind is what Pejic will wear, as he’s known for some pretty outrageous and sexy outfits (with or without a baby bump!), but we suspect that this guy knows how to dress for the occasion.

Word: Epicene

Meaning: Either lacking in distinctive male or female characteristics or possessing both male and female characteristics. More often used for effeminate males (sissy boys) than for masculine females (tomboys or what-have-you), so we’ll go with that.

Rachel Bilson will be taking role as the style director of Sunglass Hut worldwide. [StyleCaster]

Jean Paul Gaultier isn’t crazy about career retrospectives. “I think they can be like a funeral sometimes,” winces the original bad boy of fashion, who turns 60 next year. We are sitting on the stage of Gaultier’s Rue Saint-Martin headquarters, where his punk-themed Spring 2011 couture collection has just been unveiled. Models strutted down the runway in his sailor-striped organza and leather lace bombers to a voice-over of Catherine Deneuve describing each exquisite outfit, rather than music. Almost everyone—including boy bride Andrej Pejic—was coiffed in some riff on a mohawk, and Gaultier himself came bounding out to take his bow in a spiked wig.

Nicola Formichetti, has teamed up with Gilt Groupe for a Gaga themed sale on May 20th. [Fashionista]

The Material Girl has landed: Madonna and her daughter Lourdes’s juniors fashion line, Material Girl, will be arriving at The Bay this spring. [The Star]

Canadian designer Thomas Tait is one of the recipients of the British Fashion Council’s NewGen program, which will help him show at London Fashion Week. Other winners include Mary Katrantzou, Holly Fulton and Louise Gray [Vogue UK]

January Jones bares all in Versace‘s spring 2011 ad campaign. The Mad Men actress appears in the ad–which was shot by Mario Testino–wearing nothing more than Versace heels, a handbag and her birthday suit. [Fashionista]