FASHION Magazine

If you were ever in doubt if Karl Lagerfeld had a verbal filter, his musings in Metro should clear things up. Acting as guest EIC, the designer took to the global newspaper to give his two cents (more like an entire change purse!) on various topics.

Amid the array of outrageous comments, the most shocking is calling Adele “a little too fat.” Lagerfeld has been known to weigh in on body size and has said before that those who criticized models for looking anorexic were fat “chip-eating, jealous mummies”—ironic coming from someone who’s no stranger to being heavy, having lost nearly 100 pounds in 2001.

Adele however, was not the only singer in his latest musings—Lana Del Rey also gets a mention. As well as the Greek economic crisis and Florence Welch, the designer had things to say regarding:

Michelle Obama may preach a budget-conscious wardrobe, but that must not apply to her skivvies; the first lady reportedly dropped a nonchalant $50,000 at lingerie shop extraordinaire Agent Provocateur.

We normally wouldn’t comment on anyone’s pre-Valentine’s Day prep (which must be why Mobama and Queen Sheikha Mozah took to Madison Ave—and partly closed it off due to their arrival—for their luxury lingerie shopping spree) but for someone whose husband is up for re-election in a time where budget issues are a vital factor, we say it’s probably not the smartest idea to spend on lingerie what most people spend on a car.

Agent Provocateur is certainly benefiting from the Mrs. O’s business; the Telegraph reports she was the reason the store increased 12 per cent in sales last year, which makes us think: could all this be a publicity stunt to garner attention for the store?

We’d like to think the first lady is smarter than this, and likely had a bit of help from Queen Mozah in racking up the huge bill (that is, if the spree actually happened). Either way we can’t help but wonder what the Prez had to say about all this. Actually, we’re pretty sure he won’t be complaining.

Word: Blackgeoisie

Meaning: A “new” class of African Americans with money and “fashion power.” (Just typing this, I shuddered.)

Usage: “But if in 2012 the “black-geoisie” has integrated all the white codes, it does not [do so] literally. [There] is always a classic twist, with a bourgeois ethnic reference (a batik-printed turban/robe, a shell necklace, a ‘créole de rappeur’) that recalls the roots.” — a French Elle writer named Nathalie Dolivo in “Black Fashion Power”

Word: Camarilla

Meaning: A private, often secret, even sinister group of unelected advisors surrounding a leader or ruler; a cabal.

Usage: “SEKVIA’S DARK OUTLOOK; King Peter Dominated by the Military Camarilla. Prospects Are That Radicals Will Win at Approaching Election—King Peter May Then Leave the Country.” – a New York Times cablegram in 1903. (Sekvia, by the way, was in the Balkans… I think.)

Word: Sh*t

Meaning: Literally, feces; exclamatorily, an expression of disgust or annoyance.

Usage: “You piece of sh*t!” — Justin Trudeau to Peter Kent in the House of Commons yesterday

Word: Mensch

Meaning: A person of strength and honour and other admirable characteristics, taken from the Yiddish word for human, which in turn is taken from an old German word for man or person.

Usage: “He asked me… when was the last time I manned-up. The last time I was a mensch. I love that word. Because it’s not really manning-up. A girl can be a mensch too.” — Bruce LaBruce, in conversation with James Franco, in the new issue of Bad Day magazine.

United Colors of Benetton, the Italian retailer known more for its controversial ads throughout the ‘80s and ’90s than its multicoloured knits, is trying to get back on the radar by doing what they know best—shock advertising.

Their newest ads, part of their new Unhate campaign, features famous political figures making out, including Barack Obama kissing Chinese leader Hu Jinato and the Pope locking lips with Egyptian imam Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb. It’s rumoured that Oliviero Toscani, the brainchild behind their past controversial campaigns—some of which include a photo of a baby with its umbilical cord still attached (incidentally the most complained about ad in history) and a priest kissing a nun—is behind the new ads.

It’s being reported that the ads are part of a three-fold plan to relaunch the Benetton brand, in hopes that the retailer will become relevant again. Sure, the ads are creating buzz, but will they work to boost Benetton’s sales in a market that includes fast-fashion giants H&M and Zara? The odds are against them if their clothes continue to be lackluster.

Word: Coup

Meaning: a takeover; the usurping of ruling powers.

Usage: “I feel sure that coups d’état would go much better if there were seats, boxes, and stalls so that one could see what was happening and not miss anything” — Edmond and Jules de Goncourt

With Lorenzo Martone and Marc Jacobs officially split, the inevitable rebound rumours have transpired. Apparently, Martone has been seen hanging out (which always means canoodling!) with failed spaceman Lance Bass. That’s one heck of a downgrade – Louis Vuitton to *Nsync. [New York Daily News]

Cult fashion icon and Japanese Vogue fashion director, Anna Dello Russo, will be launching her new fragrance, Beyond, just in time for Christmas. The bottle is in the shape of a golden shoe and to celebrate, the cursor on her website has a trail of pretty golden sparkles.  [ADR]

Coco Rocha cleverly used her ET Canada reporting gig at the Grammys to reveal a look from her clothing line, Rococo. The Victorian-inspired dress featured a rich blue full length split train with a gold miniskirt and shoulder pads. Do you like the look? [Fashionologie]

Not content with their Uggs collabo, Jimmy Choo has ventured further into comfy footwear with a line of sneakers. The low- and high-tops will be crafted from snakeskin and suede with gold touches. [Stylelist]

Some of the items in Lindsay Lohan’s 6126 clothing line look rather familiar to a couple of designers. Black Milk Clothing’s James Lillis and designer Jen Kao both say Lohan copied their designs. The company disputes this, naturally. [WWD]

But wait! It is apparently LiLo who’s had her designs lifted. [Stylecaster]

A NY Times report surfaced yesterday that H&M in New York’s Herald Square had been mutilating and dumping unsold clothing. H&M responded, saying “We are committed 100 percent to make sure this practice is not happening anywhere else, as it is not our standard practice.” It’s worth noting that H&M is listed as a donor to Windfall, a Canadian new clothing bank. [NYTimes, Racked, Windfall]

Alexander McQueen’s collection for Puma is casual, cute and totally wearable. And we mean even outside of the gym. [The Cut]

The newest Victoria’s Secret angels to get their wings are Chanel Iman, Emanuela de Paula, Lindsay Ellingson, Candice Swanepoel, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
[Fashionologie]

President Obama has appointed Anna Wintour to the Committee on the Arts and Humanities, whose members also include Sarah Jessica Parker, Edward Norton and Yo-Yo Ma to name a few. [The Cut]