FASHION Magazine

Word: Weddingitis

Meaning: According to the inestimable Urban Dictionary, it’s an “ailment from attending too many weddings or the byproduct of having too many friends become engaged when you are still single. Side effects include outbursts of “AWWWWWW!!” and deep sighs. Lately, this -itis has become a far greater threat: studies show you can catch it even from people you don’t know, and a rash of celebrity weddings, spreading virally, has everyone in danger.

Couture Week in Paris came to a close today with Azzedine Alaïa showing his first presentation in ages. As we’ve been reporting, the past few days have been marked with highs (Givenchy) and lows (Dior). Regardless, the overall messages of unabashed luxury and attention to detail, inherent to haute dressing, were unanimously heard loud and clear from the handful of couturiers who showed.

It was a success story at Valentino, where designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli made a solid argument for the relevance of couture. The collection was inspired by the flight of the Russian aristocracy after the breakout of revolution, but it sometimes felt more like a medieval fantasy. Sheer, light fabrics, gilded ornamentation, and house signatures such as vibrant red, bows, and lace felt youthful not stuffy, proving that haute couture can still be fresh and exciting when modernized.

At Alaïa, things were more secretive. Showing during an organized fashion week isn’t usually the designer’s style, and today’s presentation wasn’t an occasion to attract endless media attention. Images of the clothing have yet to be released, however Jeanne Beker described strict lines, croc coats, and some pieces in Mongolian lamb. If the move towards exclusivity sounds strange in today’s world of democratized fast fashion, it does make sense in terms of couture’s traditional exclusive nature, only being accessible to a select few. Despite the scant media coverage, big names like Kanye West, Donatella Versace, and Sofia Coppola were in attendance. You can bet there were no members of Vogue present as Alaïa’s feud with Anna Wintour rages on.

Former Dior Homme designer, Hedi Slimane, confirms that he will be returning to fashion design. [Fashionologie]

Though the annual CFDA Awards are meant to honour top-tier American designers, there’s no debate over who was the focus of last night’s ceremony. Everyone was Gaga for the Lady, with all eyes on her green wig, sky-high boots and custom Mugler spiked thong. Honoured with the night’s Fashion Icon Award (past recipients include Kate Moss, Iman and Nicole Kidman), Gaga turned fire (the good kind) on the night with her lighthearted antics and her unabashed speech. Upon her acceptance, Gaga shared that when she got news of her award from Anna Wintour, she confused the editor in chief of Vogue with a friend and responded with a “Yes, bitch. We did it!”

Want the rest of the details? Get the skinny on last night’s event in six points or less!

Watch out biographers! If you were considering writing a book on Karl Lagerfeld, you might wanna rethink your plans. [Elle]

Could we love her more if we tried? Watch Natalie Portman flit around in a very Parisian Sofia Coppola short for Dior: [Bella Sugar]

Sophia Coppola attended a press conference in Tokyo to discuss her new movie, Somewhere, in a dress created by who else… Marc Jacobs. Channeling her signature effortlessness, the Louis Vuitton graphic printed number was simply paired with fishnets and basic black heels. Are you into it? Have your say after the jump.

There’s a whole generation of girls that knows Stephen Dorff best, or perhaps only, from his transformative role as…the guy who rescued Britney Spears from a bathtub in “Everytime.” With Somewhere, the latest tender, plotless, irresistible film by Sofia Coppola (in theatres January 7), that should change. The love story of an adolescent father (pill-popping, bed-hopping movie star Johnny Marco) and his preternaturally wise girl-child (played by Elle Fanning), Somewhere is less Stephen Dorff’s comeback than his redemption. It’s a makeover in which he looks a lot like himself: the wild, damaged wonderboy every unreasonable woman wants to fix.

On a Monday morning at Toronto’s Hazelton Hotel, Dorff sat down to a breakfast of sliced fruit, a Diet Coke, and Camel Lights. He wore old jeans and a T-shirt, like in the film, and didn’t seem particularly showered. “I feel like hell,” he growled; sure, but hell looks good on him. And when the tape rolled, he was gold: talking eagerly and untiredly about everything from Johnny Marco’s “classic look” to Sofia Coppola’s un-Hollywood-ness to Elle Fanning’s new favourite bracelet. Guess who bought it? Yep. Don’t pretend you’re not falling.

Scuttlebutt says that French holding company PPR, which owns the likes of Gucci, Balenciaga and YSL, is looking to buy Burberry, but neither party will comment. [WWD]

Just what the men’s fashion world needed; Marks & Spencer will be releasing a line of men’s underwear inspired by Robert Pattinson. Our hearts go out to the dudes who succumb to these manties after being pressured by their girlfriends. [StyleList]

Looks like Sophia Coppola is directing for Dior again, the cinemateuse  was photographed filming a short advertisement for the fashion house, starring the new face of Parfums Christian Dior, Natalie Portman. [Fashionologie]