Classy By Derek Blasberg

In honor of Derek Blasberg's book Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady releasing today, I am devoting the front page to him. I will eventually include him in the Favorites section but for now let's celebrate his first book. This witty and seemingly omniscient fashion writer hails from St. Louis, Missouri, and though he claims that his own mother does not know Carine Roitfeld, Blasberg himself certainly does and can often be seen partying with her, Julia, and Vladimir. He now lives in New York City with his miniature dachshund, Monster. I have read that he would love to have a stalker and I wish I had the time to fulfill his wish. Alas, I have not so in lieu I would like to offer this fun little collage of highlights featuring Monsieur Blasberg in assorted compromising positions. Congratulations on your new book, Derek! I cannot wait to read it and I hope that it is the first of many. Also consider taking Blasberg's quiz to measure your classy quotient.

Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady cover image courtesy of Amazon.
Derek Blasberg photographs courtesy of Condé Nast, SIPA, Twitter, and V Magazine.

Update on mercredi 7 avril 2010 by kellina

Mr. Joe Zee could not make the Classy release party last night and he sends his regrets to Monsieur Blasberg oh so adorably!

Update on mercredi 7 avril 2010 by kellina

Do you dream of breaking into the fashion industry? Read Monsieur Blasberg's first column for Teen Vogue for insider tips, he proffers fabulous advice for all aspiring editors regardless of subject. Yowzah, we are seriously heading for that stalkership if this keeps up...

Update on jeudi 8 avril 2010 by kellina

Of course there's more, this may turn out to be the longest post in the history of the site. For a quick introduction to Classy that will make you laugh aloud, visit elle.com and read an excerpt from Blasberg's book on "Vices." Angelina Jolie and vials of blood, is that true?

Battaglia: In Just-Spring

Not quite sure why Giovanna Battaglia immediately reminded me of this e.e. cummings poem but I thought I would share it with you without too much analysis nonetheless because it is a rare opportunity to read these lovely words:

in Just-
spring       when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles       far       and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far       and       wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

 from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and
     the

             goat-footed

balloonMan       whistles
far
and
wee

— e.e. cummings, from Tulips and Chimneys (1923)

Giovanna looks exactly mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful here, does she not? Her shoes are perfect for hop-scotching and jump-roping and marbling and piracies! I think I like both her outfit and the poem because they capture an aspect of the early days of spring, not as colorful as the days that follow but lightening and lifting, savoring the bloom and promising more to follow.

Giovanna Battaglia photograph © 2010 Vanessa Jackman. All Rights Reserved.
"In Just-" © 1920 Edward Estlin Cummings. All Rights Reserved.

Vogue Paris Covers: 1920 – 2009

Remember last autumn when giant prints of Vogue Paris covers could be seen decorating the landscape in Paris? If you missed the celebration, you can console yourself with a copy of Vogue Paris Covers: 1920 – 2009, a gorgeous hardcover book that collects ninety years of VP covers selected by editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld. By turns amusing, dreamy, eccentric, nonconformist, cinematic, nostalgic, these iconic images are not simply photographs of a model looking into the camera. Often involving famous artists and film directors, the Vogue Paris covers of the past evoke the era in which each was created and document the stylistic development of the fashion world. Among the distinguished creators that have graced the cover of Vogue Paris are illustrators like Eduardo Garcia Benito, René Gruau, and Georges Lepape and photographers such as Guy Bourdin, Man Ray, and Mario Testino. This is a book you will find yourself referencing constantly, lingering over inspring ideas and making old trends new again. C'est classique.

Vogue Paris Covers: 1920 – 2009 cover image courtesy of Amazon

Roitfeld In Humor Chic

I just discovered this witty illustration of Carine Roitfeld by aleXsandro Palombo, an Italian fashion designer and knitwear pioneer who also portrays the world of fashion with deft strokes in his wonderful art. If you like Palombo's work, check out his book Vanitas, Inshallah which includes the piece featured here and over one hundred other images by the artist. Colorful, surreal, poetic, provocative, Palombo's shrewd naïveté draws you into his picture. Visit his blog Humor Chic for his daily portrait of society, très drôle, très chic.

Carine Roitfeld illustration © 2010 aleXsandro Palombo. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld: Album Of A Woman Of Fashion

News flash: Rizzoli is publishing an entire 300 page hardcover book devoted to Carine Roitfeld! Due to release October 19, Carine Roitfeld: Album of a Woman of Fashion looks at the amazing life of fashion's top editor and stylist. As an added delight, Olivier Zahm of Purple Magazine serves as editor for the book. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon UK only.

Carine Roitfeld photograph by Mario Testino courtesy of Vogue US

Update on jeudi 8 juillet 2010 by kellina

Rizzoli has pushed the release date for Olivier Zahm's book Carine Roitfeld: Album of a Woman of Fashion to next fall. More exciting, they have issued an invitation to Roitfeld fans to send a personal question for Carine to inquire@purple.fr; if she chooses to answer your question, it will appear in the book. I have verified the authenticity of the request.