Couture Combats COVID-19

There is no one in the fashion industry that I know that hasn't been affected by COVID-19. Many, like myself, have lost work as a freelancer for the foreseeable future. Photographers, writers, designer consultants, producers, models, everyone connected to the industry without a salaried job, and works in the gig economy will be hurting financially. Others are working from home for brands that are losing millions in sales, so their job security is threatened. Some are risking their lives because their clients and managers are forcing them to work onsite and travel. I could go on and on, but I would instead highlight where fashion brands are doing something to fight the global pandemic:

Prada donates ICUs

Italy was the first European country to be crippled by the Coronavirus. Much of that had to do with an aging population and a lack of facilities. In response, the Prada family contributed “two complete intensive care and resuscitation units each to Milan’s hospitals of Vittore Buzzi, Sacco, and San Raffaele.” Other Italian designers contributing to the efforts include Donatella Versace and Giorgio Armani, who made financial donations.

LVMH Fragrance Division Making Sanitizer to Donate

Parent company to Louis Vuitton, Bulgari and Moet & Chandon, LVMH is leveraging its fragrance factories to make hand sanitizers instead. They will be donating the hydroalcoholic gels to health facilities in France to battle the shortage of sanitizers around the country.

Nike donates $15 million

The Oregon-based company has about 12 000 employees in the state, and the HQ is closed at least until the end of April. Nike is donating the majority of the 15 million dollars towards relief efforts in their local community, with some of the funds also going towards the Boston, Memphis, and overseas offices.

Christian Siriano Pledges To Make Masks

New York's governor made a plea for manufacturers to produce masks to combat the dangerous shortage of protective gear for workers on the front lines. Designer Christian Siriano pledged his team, manufacturing capabilities to help make this happen.

So what can you, as a fashion fan, do to help the many people around the world affected by the Coronavirus? If you are in a position to hire someone remotely, even if it is not fashion, that would be great. Fashion writers, photographers, marketing pros adapt quickly to other industries. For independent brands, do some online shopping! If you need to try clothes on in person, you can always buy yourself or friend a gift certificate and spend it later.  Not in a financial position to shop or hire? If nothing else, send your fashion friends some online support, a good review, social media shoutout, or just call them. Stay connected. Hell, you can try on all your favorite outfits via video chat and get some feedback. Together we can all conquer COVID-19.


This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.
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House of Versace - Some Thoughts

Whenever any high profile fashion-themed television program airs, non-fashion people inevitably bombard me for my opinion on it.  Mostly, they want confirmation that what they see is "really how it is".    I watched Lifetime TV's House of Versace last night with pretty low expectations in the accuracy or artistic merit department, but fully expected to see some great fashion.

I love Gina Gershon as an actress.  She plays ballsy roles that mix sexy, wacky and scary oh so well.  She played an over-the-top Italian beauty maven on the television show Ugly Betty a few years which no doubt served as her audition.  As Donatella Versace, she looked great and created a flawed, but sympathetic character.  She was over the top as you would like her to be with the men, sassy quotes, drugs and drama.  However, I'm sure I'm not alone in being disappointed that there wasn't a bit more humor in this portrayal.  I think Maya Rudolph set the bar too high on Saturday Night Live.  

I was preparing to indulge in a trip to my favorite 1990's fashion moments.  The peppy club hits at the beginning of the movie had me optimistic.  I was actually at the first Versace show to debut in Bryant Park many years ago.  It was one of my favorite shows of all time.  However, the biggest disappointment of this film was the cheap recreations of the Versace fashion.  It was far too obvious that the pieces were not the real thing.  The models in the film just didn't have the walk or the attitude or the posture of the models back then.  The fabrics looked cheap and clothes fit poorly.  I know that the costume designer Claire Nadon attempted to source some pieces from Ebay and followed pictures in a book, but 90% of the wardrobe were just knockoffs.  Really?  Half the women in Los Angeles and every costume studio should have racks of it.  

For all of Donatella's declarations about heels and confidence, the runway shows certainly didn't reflect it.  The poorly produced fashion segments looked so bad that the viewer who doesn't remember the real thing will end up wondering why the Versace name ever became an icon.

Drugs and champagne in fashion! Yes, it exists, but only occasionally to a certain segment of the population.  Yes we know the woman went to rehab.  The movie started with her hustling for editorial and celebrity coverage.  All the extraneous work that needs to be done just to get the fashion designs to be seen, but the movie dissolves into scene after scene of her drug use that overshadows her work and particular talents that made her a great partner to her brother.  Gianni was murdered, cue slo-mo Donatella drop to the ground.  How about the shock and sadness of all of his peers and what he meant to the fashion world?

I know a Lifetime Movie is about sensational drama and not a documentary.  I just wish for once that the real star (the clothes) would be the ones to shine.

Did you watch the movie?  What did you think?

Photo: Joseph Viles/Courtesy of Lifetime

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Top Fashion Designers of Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live has been a trendsetter in comedy and pop culture.  However, the late night stalwart of drunken, frat-boy humor isn’t where most people look to find sharp satire of high fashion.  

In 1985, Richard Avedon directed a ground-breaking concept commercial for Calvin Klein’s fragrance, Obsession.  Artsy, sexy, it didn’t follow typical television advertising.  Saturday Night Live created their version of the ad for fictional fragrance “Compulsion”.

In a rare moment in 1993, designer Giorgio Armani made a cameo on the variety show playing the Italian Prime Minister.  While I geeked out at the appearance, clearly no one else recognized the fashion legend.  He spoke in beautiful Italian, but ended with a touch of the lapel, complimenting “nice suit”.

Maya Rudolph, one of my favorites on SNL made a big impression on the show as Donatella Versace.  Her performance embodied the decadent lifestyle that many of us fantasized the designer might have.  Perhaps her portrayal was spot-on due to the help of its biggest fan, Ms. Versace herself.  The designer told the ladies of The View that she called Ms. Rudolph with pointers on how to play her.   The both of them even appeared together onstage at the VH1 Fashion Awards in 2002 in a hilarious art-imitating life moment.

Most recently, one of couture’s contemporary stars was disgraced in a drunken rant.  Saturday Night Live withheld judgment on the alleged bigotry itself, but mocked designer John Galliano’s flamboyant style and kooky public behavior.  Galliano was played by comedian Taran Killam  with the memorable quote “I have no ugly friends, I dress like a meth-ed out Musketeer and I’ve got a mustache that whispers ‘I’m a bad person!’”

Is the fact that top designers (or their comedic counterparts) have inspired great laughs a testament to their pop icon status?  Or does that mean that even the highest arbiters of taste understand not to take themselves too seriously? 

Do you have a favorite SNL fashion moment?

Photos courtesy of NBC/Saturday Night Live, Kevin Mazur, Corners Magazine, Calvin Klein Inc, London Evening Standard

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