Trend Report: Body Suits

by: Caroline - December 7th, 2009   Filed under: Trend Reports
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(L-R: Leigh Lezark, Megan Fox, Magda Berliner, Lady Gaga)

Megan Fox wears only lace tights walking around in Los Angeles. Last night Lady Gaga wore nothing but a lace Dolce & Gabbana bodysuit and lingerie to dinner at Balans in London. Marc Jacobs and boyfriend Lorenzo Martone wore a pair of Stephen Sprouse bodysuits to Allison Sarofim’s Halloween party in New York. Magda Berliner wore tights and a body suit to Tamsin Lonsdale’s Halloween party. Leigh Lezark, an American DJ and model, wore Chanel’s fall ’09 body suit to the Chanel spring ’10 show last month in Paris. Daphne Guinness wore a threeasfour S/S 2010 body suit to theShiseido + RxART Party party in New York this week. Click to Continue Reading

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Why the MOCA Gala this weekend will change everything in art forever, thanks to Lady Gaga, Francesco Vezzoli and Dasha Zhukova

by: Caroline - November 11th, 2009   Filed under: Events & Parties, LA Scene
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moca los angelesUpdate: Nav. 15, 2009: We now have a report from the MOCA gala here

The headlines read:

* * * * * *MEDIA ALERT* * * * * *
MOCA ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
One-night-only performance of “Ballets Russes Italian Style” starring Lady Gaga and the Bolshoi Ballet choreographed by Italian performance artist Francesco Vezzoli hosted by Gala chairs Maria Arena Bell and Eli Broad, Honorary Gala Chairs Larry Gagosian (Gagosian Gallery) and Dasha Zhukova (Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow).
This event is so important because it’s the first time Los Angeles has had the correct set of art patrons, socialites and hosts to exemplify how performance art can bring regular art in to every day life. MOCA has assembled such a dream with 3 key ingredients it never had before: Francesco Vezzoli, Dasha Zhukova  and Lady Gaga. Francesco Vezzoli, the most successful performance artist on Earth, is choreographing the entertainment – an outrageous preformance starring Lady Gaga and the Russian-based Bolshoi Ballet. Dasha Zhukova put art on the map in Moscow for young people, before moving to London last year to take over Pop Magazine and has been in and out of L.A. recently eating at Osteria Mozza and planning this event at MOCA. Even more key – she is an L.A. Native (went to Pacific Hills in West Hollywood). The fact that she is back doing this now – is the major event that is going to make the event this weekend change everything and is going to completely push art over the edge in L.A. And then ofcourse there is Lady Gaga, and well, you know. She is Lady Gaga.

But my friends – allow me to break it down for you step by step:

 1a. The most important thing you need to know is the name “Francesco Vezzoli,” MOCA gala entertainment choreographer.
You may remember his recent internet sensation – a faux commercial about featuring Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams cat fighting in lingerie on the ground over a faux perfume bottle called “Greed”. This is NOT TO BE confused with Natalie Portman’s upcoming girl on girl sex scene with Mila Kunis. Separate issue.
 
Natalie Portman & Michelle Williams perform in “Greed” commercial
Watch it here:
 
1b. Francesco Vezzoli is capable of moving mass tides. 
In March 2005, Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli directed and filmed a faux trailer for a non-existent remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula. (Gore Vidal is an screenwriter, political activist and the stepbrother and confidant of Jacqueline Kennedy). The film debuted June 10, 2005 at the Venice Biennale 2005. He is capable of getting massively important people behind him for his art. Look at this credit list:
Directed by Francesco Vezzoli
Cast
Courtney Love … Caligula
Milla Jovovich …. Druscilla
Karen Black … Agrippina
Benicio Del Toro … Macro
Michelle Phillips … Messalina
Glenn Shadix … Claudius
Helen Mirren … Tiberia
Gore Vidal … himself

From Vogue UK website:

WHEN IN ROME WEAR VERSACE
Donatella Versace designed costumes for Courtney Love, Milla Jovovich, Benicio Del Toro and Helen Mirren for the trailer of a remake of Gore Vidal’s 1979 masterpiece, Caligula. The trailer, presented on Friday at the Pavillon at the Venice Biennale, is the result of a collaboration between Versace and artist Francesco Vezzoli who has attempted to create a hypothetical remake of what is one of the most controversial films of the last 30 years. As explosive as the original director Tinto Brass’ version, the new film will star Milla Jovovich as Drusilla, the sister with whom Caligula has a passionate affair, Del Toro as Macro and Mirren as Tiberia. It will also feature cameo appearances from Vidal himself and Adriana Asti, who starred in the original film. And Donatella was the perfect choice to dress them. “The challenge,” she said, “was to make the ancient Roman togas modern, rendering them more proportioned, sophisticated and sensual while still in tune with the times. I choose simple opaque jersey for the costumes and inserted the classic Versace symbols such as the medusa and the gold metal chain to give them that contemporary edge.”

Watch the trailer for a remake Gore Vidal’s Caligula (2005) here:


2. The second most important thing you need to know is the name “Dasha Zhukova,” MOCA gala co-host.
Dasha is the current reigning social Queen of the non-US territories. She is as well known as Paris Hilton or Beyonce in Moscow and London. She is currently pregnant with Roman Aboramavich’s baby – who is the wealthiest man in Russian and owns the world’s two largest yachts.
Dasha grew up in Los Angeles (Pacific Hills ’99) and moved to Russia and then London when she was tapped to edit Pop Magazine (think US weekly meets Rolling Stone). Dasha put herself on the map by turning an old bus station in Moscow into a gallery for modern art. It is called the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture (GCCC).
Dasha is in and out of L.A. all the time with the likes of Andrea Casiraghi (heir to throne in Monaco) and they eat at Mozza Ostera and the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge. Dasha has a US-based clothing line called Kova & T.
The reason why Dasha co-hosting this event is so important is because she has a proven ability to penetrate the art world and make it exciting. She had NO background in art before she transformed the Garage. She had no experience with buying and collecting art before she recently started. The art world does not accept new-comers from Russia who are dating billionaires. But she is completely respected because her choices are impeccable.
IF Dasha returns to L.A. she will focus her energy on REDEFINING the art world for young people. Venice. Aside from street art – there is nothing at all interesting about the art culture in L.A. It’s boring and basically sucks. IF Dasha makes a move to focus her energies on Los Angeles once more, we will have an art culture BOOM OUT OF NOWHERE that will be on par with major film premieres, the Oscars, Laker’s play-off games, and other spectacular events L.A. is known for. Dasha also has a blog.

Celebrities wearing Kova & T:

November 6th, 2009 (Hollywood, CA)- Last week “New Moon” star Kristen Stewart wore the Kova & T “Audrey” cropped blazer while attending The Twilight Saga: New Moon cast tour
November 9th, 2009 (New York, NY)- Last night actress Demi Moore wore the Kova & T “Janet” tunic dress in black and gray to the 9th Annual 24 Hour Plays on Broadway

3. Listen how this all fits together:

The Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture (GCCC) has made possible the one-time preformance with Lady Gaga, the Bolshoi Ballet and Francesco Vezzoli (try to learn the name). Francesco Vezzoli is fabulous friends with Larry Gagosian. Larry was instrumental in helping Francesco pull off his elaborate hoax in London to lure patrons to his gallery to see the Eaux de Faux “Greed”. Dasha and Larry are friends because she now lives in London and helps the arts there.


  4. Learn the term”gallerina,” loose the term, celebutante, and watch for Los Angeles’ new society Queens.

This is a photo from the last great MOCA party – the Louis Vuitton/Murakami collaboration. Where there are celerbities, there are more sponsors willing to pay for more placement which make the parties better for everyone. Muccia Prada is a friend of Francesco Vezzoli (again, try to learn the name). Muccia is well-known for collaborations with architects, designers, filmmakers, artists and photographers worldwide -even L.A. based celebrities and party promoters like her friend Amanda Demme, who often handle invites and guest lists for her store parties on Rodeo (look out for the Prada book launch on Rodeo this Friday). Muccia is friends with all the L.A. coolies and is often in Los Angeles. Ergo, MOCA now has a formula. A community of incredibly hip, chic, and famous artists, designers, celebrities, art buyers and gallerinas are about to POP in L.A.Collecting, understanding and being involved in art is about to become as important as it is for ALL Angelenos as it currently is for certain social sets in New York. I am not saying Maastricht will have to move to the L.A. Convention center – I’m calling a new era in art and the way it’s handled in mainstream living, as exemplified by celebrities, films, parties and society in Los Angeles.


5. Why you as an Angeleno should care and what you can do about it.
Follow our blog. We will be tracking the progress of this and putting it into terms you can all understanding, connecting dots between people and explaining why certain things matter more than others. 

More things to know about ”Francesco Vezzoli”.

1. Vezzoli has trademark tears. Watch for them in his art, or on French Vogue covers.

 

Photos for this post from Vogue, Wireimage, Bauer media and Kova & T.
Related posts: 

 

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Weekly Juice – Beverly Hills hotel renovations, Soho House permits finally come through, Dasha Zhukova returns to her native LA for MOCA party

by: Caroline - November 2nd, 2009   Filed under: Events & Parties, Invites, LA Scene, Weekly Juice
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Squeeze it, Read it, Love it

My friends at the Beverly Hills hotel (aka “The Pink Hotel”) tell me the Sultan of Brunei, the hotel’s current owner, plans to build two more large bungalows on the beloved tennis court (RIP). I noticed the hotel also recently change the doormen and bellmen uniforms from the traditional dark green to black suits with gold accents. The publicist confirmed the new, and more contemporary and stylish look.
Old Guy’s new location on Sunset Blvd has been slightly delayed. Originally slated to open this fall – the new opening date is December ’09. The new bar will go by the name “Le Bar Boutique” at the former Blowfish location, now standing empty.

Jilted bride victim from Bel-Air hotel’s sudden closure wins law suit to retrieve deposit.

SOHO House final permits go through and construction continues in the 9200 Sunset Blvd building (across the street from  soon to be “Le Bar Boutique” and upstairs from new Boa).

Tom Ford‘s in town for the world premiere of his directorial debut film “A Single Man” – premieres this Thursday at AFI Fest.

Dasha Zhukova returns to her native Los Angeles to co-chair major fundraiser for MOCA downtown with Larry Gagoshian and Eli Broad. Performance by Lady Gaga and the Bolshoi Ballet choreographed by artist Francesco Vezzoli (who has made spoof trailers casted with A-list actors for fake films – that’s how good he is!).

The Daily Truffle will be at the Breeder’s Cup this weekend at the Santa Anita track at Kids Zone, The Directors Room and the Turf Club. Come say hello!

MORE ON MOCA GALA:::

Today the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles announced plans for its 30th anniversary gala, to take place on November 14. The benefit will be held at MOCA Grand Avenue, and will be chaired by Maria Arena Bell and Eli Broad, who will be joined by honorary gala chairs Larry Gagosian and Dasha Zhukova, along with artists, collectors, and patrons celebrating the museum’s milestone anniversary in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years. The largest, long-term installation of the museum’s acclaimed permanent collection will open to the public the following day at MOCA Grand Avenue and the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

Following red carpet arrivals, the gala will begin with cocktails and a private preview of the exhibit. MOCA chief curator and exhibition organizer Paul Schimmel will be on hand, as will artists featured in the museum’s collection, including Chris Burden, Jeff Koons, and Ed Ruscha. After the preview, guests will enter a tented area in front of the museum along Grand Avenue. During dinner, a performance piece from artist Francesco Vezzoli will be presented for the first and only time. Vezzoli’s work, Ballets Russes Italian Style (The Shortest Musical You Will Never See Again), will star Lady Gaga and dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet performing the world premiere of Speechless.

More key words: Breeders Cup, Mind that Bird, Zenyatta

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New Rodarte movie travels to Paris for new Fashion Film Festival

by: Caroline - September 24th, 2009   Filed under: FASHION
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“Fashion film” is a genre which not too long ago was barely on the radar and is now booming! The launch of “A Shaded View on Fashion Festival”, the newest fashion film festival, will open Paris Fashion Week this weekend and is the new “must-attend” for editors and buyers and the new “must-submit” for every fashion house and designer. Festival creator, Diane Pernet has defined “fashion film” into 3 categories: music videos, commissioned works by designers and film inspired by clothes, and made independent of the brand. Diane Pernett is co-editor in chief of Zoo magazine and runs the only recognized fashion film website, A Shaded View on Fashion.

VOX HUMANA directed by Griffin for Rodarte Featuring Jenny Lewis, Kenneth Anger and Jonathan Rice.

“Fashion film in 2010 is what music videos where in 1983″ says Griffin of PRESENT FUTURE FILMS‏, and director of Rodarte‘s 2008 video. Watch it on Griffin’s website http://www.presentfuture.net/. Griffin is en route to Paris today to represent the film in Diane’s festival for Rodarte’s designers, Kate and Laura Mulleavy. Rodarte’s film is meant to represent the darker turn they took for their fall ’08 which was inspired by Japanese horror films. (3:32 mins)



The three day film festival opens Paris Fashion Week for the second year in a row and is called “A Shaded View On Fashion Film“. Griffin’s film, “Vox Humana”, stars L.A. Native Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame and has a special cameo from another L.A. Native, Kenneth Anger who is also a legendary avant garde filmmaker. Rodarte is one of several major brands to be recognized in the festival for their participation in the new genre. Others include Gucci, House of Waris, MATTHEW WILLIAMSON/H&M (which stars Eva Herzigova & Vincent Gallo), Gareth Pugh, Galeries Lafayette, Sergio Rossi, MAC Cosmetics, Rick Owens, Jeremy Scott, Yohji Yamamoto and oddly enough – Wonderbra. *(all videos can be viewed here)


GARETH PUGH AW09 directed by Ruth Hogben for Gareth Pugh

MAC KITTY directed by Floria Sigismondi for MAC Cosmetics

SCIENCE OF SEXY directed by Ali Mahdavi for Wonderbra

The Wonderbra film stars Dita Von Teese, who just had a party in London last night to launch the “Party Edition” bra. The film shows a bunch of scientists all looking for the cure under microscopes and then Dita comes in with lab coat and snakeskin Louboutins to solve the crucial problem. (2:16 mins)

Griffin’s Rodarte film was also just shown at Nick Knight’s “Fashion Revolution SHOWstudio exhibition,” which closed British Fashion Week, and will run through the end of the year, Dec 20, 2009. Photographer Nick Knight has worked with Vogue, Kate Moss, Dior, etc. and also runs the fashion/photography website SHOWstudio.com. Nick Knight is another name to watch in fashion film. A popular piece from Nick Knights’ show is his Brad Pitt short film in which Brad violently throws paint on a blow-up wall photo of himself and reads poetry.


Guests arrive at Nick Knight’s “Fashion Revolution SHOWstudio exhibition” in London September 23, 2009
Left to Right: Nick Knight with Naomi Campbell, model Lily Donaldson, Robert Konjic with Julia Restin-Roitfeld

“Flora by Gucci”, directed by Chris Cunningham and starring Gucci model Abbey Lee was also selected in Diane Pernet’s upcoming fashion. Chris is an English music video film director and video artist who is most famous for his work with the the late Stanley Kubrick on the then-unfinished project A.I., which was picked up by Steven Speilberg. (1 min)

Fashion brand “House of Waris” designer, Waris Ahluwalia, directed his own video “Omina Vincit Amor,” which was selected for consideration in Diane Pernet’s film festival as well. Waris based the film on a journey into the old world as he explores his love of gold.


Fashion film began in the 60s with pioneering projects like William Klein’s Qui Etes Vous Polly MagGoo and William Claxton’s Basic Black starring Peggy Moffitt (not on my youtube playlist, view here) and trend offers viewers an ever deeper level of insight into the artistic side of fashion. Nick Knight, along with fashion designer Alexander Mcqueen, have done loads of fashion film collaboration. The genre has lurked in the cult and industry depths of art but is now receiving it’s place in the fashion industry spotlight -perhaps largely due only to the recent financial crisis which has made the less expensive forum more appealing than a full-blown show or a traditional print campaign.


William Klein’s Qui Etes Vous Polly MagGoo


“Basic Black: William Claxton w/ Peggy Moffitt,” 1967

Last spring, many shows were canceled and scaled back due to the recession. Balleniaga moved their show to the Hotel de Crillon, Karl Lagerfeld showed his pre-fall Moscow/Paris collection in a theatre and created his first ever silent short play to play behind the handful of models who walked through the intimate gathering.
Some designers skipped the show all together, opting for stand alone films that ran at parties or showings as we saw from Montcler in the basement of the old Paris Opera house, and this fall, Marchesa continued the trend with another gellery-esque “showing” with statue-esque models simply posed at the Chelsea Museum.

The trend of film in fashion is further being popularized by Chanel No.5′s recent mini-film, starring Aurdey Tautou, that shows her searching for, and finally finding, her lost lover on an old fashion train.

Dior has also commissioned a 4-part mini-series, each set in a different city, starting with “Lady Dior Paris,” which is pure Hitchcock, and features the iconic Lady Dior handbag, and the Oscar-winning Marion Cotillard.
Earlier this year, Roman Polanski & Italian performance artist Francesco Vezzoli put out a faux ad based on the non-existent perfume “Greed” with Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams having a cat fight over the fake item. The film is meant to accentuate the problem with vanity.

David Lynch, who can always be counted on to support the merging worlds of weird and lovely, shot a mini-film for Gucci’s real perfume in 2007, featuring models Raquel Zimmerman, Natasha Poly and Freja Beha Erichsen, who are shot to the sound of ‘Heart of Glass’ by Blondie.

Tom Ford could have had an edge into the coming genre as he, himself, is an aspiring director. This year, we will be able to see his first try at film in “A Single Man” starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Ginnifer Goodwin. The stylized suspense drama follows a widowed man around Los Angeles for a day and was screened at the Venice film festival this summer and opens in theatres soon.

Opening Ceremony recently jumped on the bandwagon for their store opening Tokyo, with three short films starring Jason Schwartzman, Chloë Sevigny and Jena Malone directed by M Blash & Gus Van Sant.


“Starring” by designer Jeremy Scott – which was in Diane’s festival last year – is inspired by TV soap operas and the gorgeous women who inhabit them, featuring Asia Argento, Tori Spelling, Lisa Marie, China Chow, Amber Valletta, Liz Goldwyn, & Monet Mazur.

MORE ABOUT RODARTE’S FASHION FILM DIRECTOR GRIFFIN:
Griffin is a director and producer, who has worked in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Mexico City and points between for the past 10 years. Griffin is in the process of developing two features film project which he will direct and produce, one about Mexico City, and the second written by the creator and editor of dune magazine, Charlie Brown (Fumihiro Hayashi). Currently, Griffin is working as one of the curators and producers of the 42 x 42 onedreamrush film festival as well as directing his own short film for the festival. 42 Filmmakers make 42 second films for 42 Below spirits. Griffin wrangled shorts films submissions from David Lynch, Kenneth Anger, Sean Lennnon, actor James Franco, and Harmony Korine. Griffin also produced The Harmony Book in conjunction with American Rag Cie. to showcase a select group of artists, designers and eccentrics based in Los Angeles.

Watch the 42 x 42 onedreamrush film festival trailer:

All other videos in this blog can be viewed on the Fashion Film playlist here.

Related Stories on Daily Truffle: Jeremy Scott’s “Starring”

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