Get Ready For Black Friday

u.s.a - after you've recovered from your turkey and egg nog induced stupor this thursday, you'll probably be waking up at the butt crack of dawn for a little black friday shopping. well, till the 7th of December, Lucky Brand Jeans will be offering 50% off all items with the purchase of a pair of jeans! On Friday, from 6Am to 12PM, every purchase of jeans will come with a free item.
To find out more, go to http://www.luckybrand.com/.

Keep checking The Blay Report for more Black Friday scoops.

Rag & Bone Steps It Up

photo courtesy of rag & bone

www - rag & bone has released a first look at their new line of women's footwear, launching this spring. the line will include loafers, oxfords, and ballerina flats, and range in prince from $330 to $515.

Thakoon Discontinues Reverse Kimono Dress

www - the night michelle obama wore her famous "reverse kimono" thakoon dress to the democratic national convention in august, women all over the country rushed to their phones to order the $1,250 dress. but designer thakoon panichgul, despite getting increased sales this year due to the dress's popularity, has announced that he will hold off on making anymore for his next collections.in the meantime, panichgul will be releasing a new line of clothes to be sold in all target stores this december.

DNR FOLDS

new york - it's like that?! the fashion and fashion journalism industry seem to have really taken a hit due to the recent critical economic situation. patrick mccarthy, the editorial director of W and WWD, announced today that condé nast has shut down DNR, the menswear counterpart to WWD. the upcoming november issue will be its last. all future DNR coverage will be added to WWD print and online publication. here come the layoffs.

FASHION DEBACLE AT GUCCI'S OPEN HEART GALA

new york - the recent gucci gala at the oak room to celebrate it's charity work in collaboration with songstress rihanna was the place to be last night - stars like madonna, timbaland, patricia field, and stavros niarchos came out to support the cause and impress in their most stylish ensembles. but mary j. blige...oh mary. in a fur louis vuitton scarf, at that. i thought you said there'd be "no more drama," mary?


photo by steve eichner

STEPHEN JONES TO RECIEVE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVMENT AWARD

uk - the british fashion council has announced that stephen jones will recieve the outstanding achievment award at the 2008 british fashion awards on tuesday, november 25. jones, a central saint martins grad, has been in the millinery business for over twenty years, and has collaborated with the likes of john galliano and giles deacon.

CHECK IT OUT: UNDERLINING COLOURS

www - for all the blaynistas out there interested in up and coming art and fashion, check out underlining colours. underlining colors is an art and design collective involving graduates from the London University of Arts. the site is a gallery, online magazine, and blog, and every quarter it chooses a different muse as inspiration for each issue. this theme is then interpreted through photography, styling, and graphics. amazing stuff!

visit!

Get On That: Norma Kamali for Walmart Sale

new york - "shop smart, feel uplifted, and be guilt free because you made good choices is what norma believes what every one must do during this new tough economy." november 21 - 25, norma kamali clothes will be from $20 and below at the norma kamali flagship store at 10019 11 W 56th Street in new york. from 10AM to 10PM, get the in on the latest holiday pieces.

pictures courtesy of thebudgetbabe.com

New Gucci Ad Featuring Pon de Forehead

www - gucci has just released its new print and tv ads for its new tattoo heart collection of bags, the proceeds going to unicef. unfortunately, the bags are horrible and tacky looking. what was frida giannini smoking? the ad itself is confusing and i don't know what it is rihanna is trying to do. but maybe it's just me. what do you think?

Goodbye, Anna?

new york - when you think "Vogue," 9 times out ten you will probably also think "anna wintour." the fashion legend has been at the helm of vogue magazine since 1971, and she also oversees teen vogue, and the now defunct fashion rocks and men's vogue. but her contract with condé nast expires this year, and some in the industry are hinting that anna will not be renewing it. apparently, insiders say that anna, 59, is burnt out and ready for retirement. she's been running the magazine for twenty years, but maybe she's ready to hand over the torch to someone new? afterall, it was former vogue editor grace mirabella who also left her post at the age of 59, allowing for anna's big takeover. but then, this might all be just hearsay...

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER FOR TOTS?

paris - really...no, really? yes, really. jean paul gaultier is debuting a line for children. it doesn't make fashion sense to me at all, but i'm sure the bottom line is that it makes dollars and cents - or more to the point: euros and cents. according to wwd.com, the legendary designer will debut a collection of 120 pieces for boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 14 this january. the zannier group of france, which already produces and distributes kids clothes for venerable brands like marc jacobs and kenzo, holds the license for gaultier's kids collection....so now comes the most obvious question: i get that you would wear gaultier, but would you splurge on it for your kids? personally, mine will have to make do with the gap until they are old enough to understand the concept of investment pieces.


photo: gaultier. source.

SONYA RYKIEL EXHIBIT IN PARIS

paris - la musee des arts decoratifs on 107 rue de rivoli will be home to the new sonia rykiel exhibit. this is the latest in a line of events scheduled to celebrate paris born, russian designer's 40th anniversary. the exhibit will feature over 200 pieces and will be on display from this thursday until april 19th 2009. if you happen be in paris check it out: La Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001 (00 33 1 44 55 57 50; lesartsdecoratifs.fr). also check out this absolutely brillianat piece on rykiel written by carola long in the u.k's independent.

photo: rykiel with her daughter. source.

The Man Skirt

photo courtesy of nymag.com

new york - it's a trend that has its fans and its haters: the man skirt. marc jacobs has been spotted around town wearing one, and these past few seasons they have been a staple on at least several designers' runways. barney's already offers manskirts in their stores, but many high-end department stores are hesitant to take them on. bloomingdales director kevin harter has been quoted on saying that he doesn't think "a skirt for men will ever end up in bloomingdale's." what do you think? yea or nay?


photo courtesy of the sartorialist


photo courtesy of the sartorialist

Get Into It: Thierry Mugler

recently, his motorcycle corset has been seen on sasha fierce for her new album, though thierry mugler's fashion house did not survive the nineties (although he's recently made a comeback). starting in the mid seventies, his styles were bold and highly structured, with a new feminine silhouette that was angular while still accentuating the curves of a woman's body. below are videos of his 1992/93 couture show, inspired by 40s noir, the infamous harley dress going down the runway for the first time in '92, and an amazing corset dress modeled by model nadja auermann.

Versace Works It In Beijing

photos courtesy of http://news.xinhuanet.com

beijing — versace is working to create a better relationship with its asian markets, and this past thursday versace showed a re-creation of its milan runway show in beijing, china for the first time. jet li made an appearance, teaming with the italian fashion house to put on a live auction after the fashion show - raising $100,000 for earthqauke survivors in the sichaun province of china.

Thank you!

recently, the lovely blaynista afrobella did a profile on me for a piece on "beautiful black bloggers." i'd just like to thank her, and direct all my blaynista's to her fabulous blog! she gives amazing beauty and hair care advice for woman of color.

Afrobella - All shades of beautiful

Beyonce is...Sasha Fierce in V Magazine

beyowulf, baby. why do you make it so hard? why do you make it so hard to defend you from the haters who say you're overexposed and crazy? i mean, clearly, they just don't get it. you are fierce. sasha fierce, even. but then...things like the recent V magazine spread come out and i find myself wondering if i really do think you're fierce or if that is just years of conditioning. some shots are breathtaking and some are...confusing?no shade, but in some of these pix you're giving me tyra banks in full-on psycho mode! still fabulous, though. always fabulous.

pictures courtesy of justjared.com

Gap Still Working On Staying Relevant

www - hey, remember when everyone was in love with the gap? when people sort of looked forward to their ad campaigns? yeah, me neither. well, the gap has just released their new winter ad campaign, featuring such stars as john hamm of mad men, jason bateman, and the guys of snl. there is a conspicuous abscence of any chocolate people however, hmm....just sayin'.
















scans courtesy of ohnotheydidnt

Versace Sets Its Sights On Asia

beijing - the current economic crisis in american has not only affected americans, but people and industries all over the world, the fashion industry being among those hit. however, versace has announced that they do not expect the current situation to do to much damage - a strong asian market will help it coast through the economic mess. the chief executive of versace, giancarlo di risio, said that he believes the asian market will be the second biggest market after his native europe in under a year. therefore, versace is investing $56 million to fortify its presence in asia, and opening dozens of stores china, taiwan, and japan.

It's Official: Target To Start Selling McQueen

ww - this march, target will be launching their first designer collaborations line with none other than alexander mcqueen. the designer has created a version of his mcg collection for wholesale, which will be available in all target stores for a limited time.



photo courtesy of courtesy photo

First image of Audrey Tatou as Coco Chanel Released

the first still of actress audrey tatou as fashion legend coco chanel has been released. the film is being directed by ann fontaine and has just begun shooting in Paris and Normandy. a release date is set for the fall of next year. with shirley macclaine's wooden and completely unconvincing portrayal of mademoiselle, let's hope that audrey (who is a very capable actress), paints coco in a much better light.


photo by Chantal Thomine-Desmazures

I KNOW WHAT I SAID ABOUT ANGELINA JOLIE BEFORE, BUT.....

usa - this harpar's bazaar cover is amazing. i am living for everything from the fonts to angelina's face!

pic source: dlisted.com

You Can Vote However You Like

Today is November 4th.

Get out to those polls!

Fierce: Kate Winslet on the Cover of Vanity Fair

Get On That: Anna Sui Sample Sale

new york- i'm sure all blaynistas like to keep their fashion game up to the highest level possible, but sometimes when you're balling on a budget it's not easy to be laced head to toe in the designer duds you crave. well, november 3 through 11, anna sui will be holding a sample sale of epic proportions!! clothes will be 70% to 80% off, starting as low as FIFTEEN DOLLARS. the location is at 250 West 39th Street, between 7th and 8th avenue, on the 18th floor. The times are 8-9:30, 11:30 to 2:30, and 4:30 to 7. Good luck!

Men's Vogue Downsizes Circulation

www - the economic crisis is affecting people and industries worldwide, and the fashion journalism industry is not excluded from that equation. condé nast recently announced that men's vogue will be publishing twice a year from now on, instead of ten issues a year. its entire ad sales staff has been laid off, and now vogue's staff will be picking up the slack. let's hope that this will be a temporary solution to a problem that grows more and more dire as weeks go by.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford Does French Vogue

france - she's 42, but she looks better than most twenty year-olds out there. cindy crawford was recently shot by inez van lamsweerde and vinoodh matadin for the november issue of french vogue, and the photos are proving beyond any shadow of a doubt that she's still got "it."







photos courtesy of celebrity snap