Long Live McQueen! Burton Is Named Creative Director!

As we all know, Alexander McQueen was a creative genius and since his death there has been an enormous creative void in the fashion world. Shortly after his death, it was announced that the Gucci Group would continue on with the McQueen legacy. 

After many rumors, it has finally been announced that Sarah Burton will take the lead for the London based brand. Burton joined the brand in 1996 and in 2000 became the head of womenswear design and has been credited as Lee McQueen's right-hand design aide. Unfortunately, due to his death, the Fall 2010 collection was incomplete which left Sarah Burton responsible for it's completion just in time for Paris Fashion Week this past March.

"The creation of modern, beautifully crafted clothes was at the heart of Lee's vision. I intend to stay true to his legacy," says Burton.

Check out the Fall 2010 collection here!

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2010RTW-AMCQUEEN/

Better Late Than Never.. Gucci Launches Haute Couture Line

Gucci has released a couture line called, Gucci Premiere. This was merely another "fashion rumor" throughout the year until Salma Hayek made it official when she was seen wearing a beautiful burgundy one-shoulder dress by the label during the Cannes Film Festival.

Creative director Frida Giannini felt compelled to start the "one-of-a-kind" line to suit the needs of the customer who is looking for that stunning red carpet look. 

"We frequently received many requests from celebrities, actresses and singers, and it was very difficult because, of course, Gucci was born as a ready-to-wear brand, so we were not prepared to offer this kind of service and to deliver something so special," she tells Womens Wear Daily. "Our ready-to-wear factories do a freat job - they have great tailors, but the craftsmanship and the finished of everything is very different."

Her plan as of now is to create a capsule collection twice a year along with made to order gowns.

Although the house is working with a team in Paris, Giannini has no interest in showing her couture line during Paris fashion week. 

"We don't have any kind of plan in this direction for the moment. It's more an intimate approach between the house of Gucci and the stars and the celebrities. I don't think, honestly, it's in the soul of Gucci to do a haute couture show".

With puckered lips, this gives even more reason to say, "It's Gucci bitch".

H&M Coachella Festival Line/ Fashion Against AIDS

On May 20th, H&M released it's capsule collection inspired by the California music festival Coachella. I managed to make it to the flagship store in San Francisco to see everything up close after having been drooling over the pieces online weeks prior. For the guys, what stood out the most from the collection was an indigo linen blazer, a pair of khaki harem pants, a distressed leather jacket, a floral printed sleeveless top and a geometric print t-shirt. For the ladies, there was a light brown fringe dress, an acid washed denim motorcycle jacket, and lots of paisley stuff. The collection also had an array of accessories, a variety of headphones in different colors, and a nifty sleeping bag and tent. 

I felt that the collection carefully drew the line between looking like a total hippie and looking very modern and hip whilst still maintaining the spirit of the music festival. And, as always, the prices are very friendly! SHOP NOW!!!

The collection also donates 25% of the proceeds to numerous HIV/AIDS prevention and education projects.

San Francisco Asian Art Museaum

Every first sunday of the month you can go visit the Asian Art Museum in the financial district in SF for free... and it's amazing. They're currently showing everything from ancient Indian sculptures to Japanese Samurai swords as well as the Shanghai exhibit (not free). 

It was apparent that each piece of art was made with the utmost level of integrity and hard labor... and it was beautiful. However, there were a couple pieces in particular that really stood out for me. I was drooling over a headdress that reminded me so much of the Givenchy Haute Couture Fall 09' show- Each shared the similarity of exquisite beauty and heavy religious undertones (Pope-Chic). 

The museum also featured a collection of Indian puppets that would certainly give any child nightmares for a week. It was very reminiscent of the masks Adam Kimmel used for his Fall 10' collection. Like the puppets, Adam Kimmel's presentation also had the juxtapostion of ugly (the masks) and beautiful (the clothing). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMDkVfScGT0

http://www.gq.com/fashion-shows/brief/F2010MEN-AKMEN

http://www.asianart.org/

Bona Fide Fashion Icon

Fashion extraordinaire Nicola Formichetti is one of the hottest and most important figures in the fashion world today. As creative director and editor of magazines such as Dazed & Confused, Vogue Hommes Japan, V, V Man, Another, and Another Man, Nicola has also styled the likes of many famous celebrities and musicians-  most notably Lady GaGa. He also works as a business strategist for many fashion brands and is a contributor to many fashion film projects.

His idiosyncratic style is stemmed from his Japanese and Italian upbringing: minimalist yet eclectic; modern yet traditional; Asian and European.

Check out his outstanding work here:

www.nicolaformichetti.com

nicolaformichetti.blogspot.com

AI has style!

Hollah AI! I told yah'll I'd be back. I've been roaming around

this week looking for some stylish Fashionista's and I've come

to the conclusion of "who needs pants when you have leggings" 

And I think the students at Ai can attest to that. For you male 

students out there, it seems to be grunge and a mixture of 

sophistication with some urban edge. Enough of me babbling.

Here are some examples of the student body 

looking fly and setting trends.

Ai has style!

Nuff said.

Boutique of the week.

For my first post of boutique of the week I'm taking a different and large approach. If you live in the city and have any interest in high commercialized fashion, you've heard of Union Square. Well a little bit of the beaten path is a small road that is only open to pedestrians called Maiden lane. The side street is comprised of two blocks, blocked in by Kearny, Post, Geary, and Stockton street. On Maiden lane theres a large collection of high end stores that don't get as much attention as well as easily accessible stores like Macys and Sacks Fifths Avenue in Union Square do. On maiden there is, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Spectacles, Chanel, Theory, Hermes, Prada, Mont Blanc, Tory Burch, Glory Chen, John Varvatos, Paul Smith, and many many more. Plus there are plenty of specialty stores and quaint little cafes. So whether its in your price range or way out of your budget its worth an afternoon to check out.





Students posted from top to bottom: Monica Avila, Leanna Liu,
Jakie Zavalza, Eddie Contreas, and Carly Jo Maiuro 

Are You A Drag Queen Or Something?

    Within the past 5 years, menswear has really been given a big "Umphh"... I don't really know what that means but basically what I'm trying to say is that menswear is bigger and better than ever. As we enter a new decade, men have been given the option of wearing clothes that defy the realms of "ordinary" menswear. Until recently, designers have introduced new shapes to menswear that can often be mistaken as being too feminine and just downright weird by most people. I believe this is because people are not used to change... people are afraid of "the new". Now, I'm not encouraging men to dress like Lady Gaga, but what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to think out of the box just a lil' bit. Here are some highlights from the Fall 2010 shows that validate my point.

    Rad Hourani Fall 2010 show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=933Mhm_uH8E&feature=related

    Rick Owens A/W 2010

Givenchy A/W 2010

Ai Has Style

Layers are always an essential in the city by the bay,

 and the students 
at the AI know how to rock them.

Hollah everyone! It's Taylor Louchart here and I'm focusing 

on how much style the art institute of San Francisco has.

 Hence "Ai has style." 
Every Friday I'll be posting pictures of students with their 

own depictions and aesthetic of individual style.

So watch out for me and my ruby red camera roaming around 

campus ready to snap your picture and 
great sense of fashion.
Also!
I'll be checking out a fresh, trendy boutique and posting

its name, address, style, and sales. 

Trust' they wont disappoint.
So keep reading and I'll keep searching.

Have a delicious week!

Who was photographed from top to bottom then left to right.

Norene, Mary, Khairy, Jessica, Nick,

Rojelyn, Karl, Lauren, Monty.