Disciples of Haute

A Tribute to the Late Donna Summer

“Yeah, will you be my Mr. Right
Can you fill my appetite
I can’t be sure
That you’re the one for me
But all that I ask
Is that you dance with me”
- Donna Summer “Last Dance”

Now don’t those lyrics tug at your heart strings just a little? Tis one of many chart topping hits by Donna Summer, also known as the “The Queen of Disco.” I was so sad to hear that Summer passed away today at the age of 63. We want to take this moment to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

Summer was a beautiful, chart-topping American singer/diva with a powerful sense of style. Her music was the backdrop to the disco era of the 1970’s and she ”revolutionized dance music with songs ‘Love to Love You Baby’ and ‘I Feel Love’.”  Other hit singles include “She Works Hard for the Money”, “Bad Girls”, and ”Hot Stuff”. Summer’s Grammy Award win for Best Femal Rock Vocal Performance for “Hot Stuff” was history making in that it was the first time an African-American artist and the first woman to ever win in the category! She won a total of 5 Grammys over the course of her career.  

Summer was known for her fabulous sense of style. Her looks were versatile: from flower child to diva glam. Her music and spirit will be missed. Rest in peace to the Queen of Disco.

Source:
http://rivergrandrapids.com/pop-music-donna-summer-dies-at-63/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Summer

Red Carpet Looks from the 2012 Met Ball - NYC

Check out this collage of some of my favorite looks from last week’s Costume Institute Gala (better known as the Met Ball). A celebration of the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fashion exhibit, celebrities, models, designers, and athletes descended onto the red carpet for this invite-only affair. Famous faces included Anna Wintour (US Vogue editor), Carine Roitfeld (former editor of Vogue Paris), Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Beyonce, Sarah Gisele, Chanel Iman, and more!

This year’s fashion exhibit entitled “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”, compares and contrasts the works of designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada. While moving through the dresses and ensembles that have Prada one of the most influential fashion houses, the collection is certainly pared down (compared to the excess of last year’s Alexander McQueen exhibit).

“Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Sources:
http://www.Fashion.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/arts/design/schiaparelli-and-prada-impossible-conversations-at-met.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Schiaparelli

Office Chic Style Spotlight: Paddle8

By way of the Wall Street Journal, check out what the office style scene is like at Paddle8, a Soho-based online art marketplace that allows users to buy art from over 200 galleries around the world! Of the 12-person start-up team, “each employee..has either a fine arts background or business and technical expertise. The merger of these disciplines is reflected in the company’s office style.” Similar to GiltGroupe, Paddle8 membership is free. 

What they’re wearing: (Top) Co-Founder Alexander Gilkes in Tailor at Savile Row; (and from left to right) Nonoo dress, Levi’s jacket, SAMMA jewelry, Sigerson Morrison shoes; Comme des Garçons scarf, J.Lindeberg jacket, John Varvatos shoes; Cynthia Rowley dress; and dress from a shop in Singapore called “Her Velvet Vase” paired with a Laura Lombardi necklace.

To check out their art offerings, visit www.Paddle8.com.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2012/02/22/work-wear-office-style-at-fab-com/tab/interactive/

More from Fall 2012 NYFW: Tribune Standard

[tribyoōn] A raised platform from which a speaker may address an audience / champion of the people.
[standərd] A level of quality or attainment.

I must say that the emerging designers always give you what you want: innovation and a pleasant surprise (they even shot their Fall 2012 lookbook directly following the presentation with a DJ spinning!). Such was the case when I arrived at Pier 59 Studios to see the fall offering for Tribune Standard, a NYC-based designer that pays homage to 70’s sportswear. 

I LIVE for this aesthetic! Downtown chic, utilitarian/industrial design, with whimsical (see: nonwearable) numbers thrown in for fun lol. The color story involved cognacs, plums, beautiful takes on the little black dress, creme and biege. There was lots of texture, beautiful beading on evening wear, prints, and loose blouses tucked in smart slacks and strong suits.

Click on the picures above for a better look!

Gucci Trial Against Guess Ends

Last week, a federal judge heard final arguments in the Gucci America Inc. v. Guess?, Inc. case in which plaintiff alleges trademark infringement. Gucci, a subsidiary of Paris-based PPR, is seeking monetary damages totaling $120 million for what they describe as ‘studied imitations of the Gucci trademarks.’ Also named as co-defendants are Marc Fisher Footwear (Guess’ shoe manufacturer), Max Leather Group (licensed to manufacture belts and other small leather goods for Guess and the likes of Ann Klein, Michael Kors, Nine West, and Lacoste), and Swank Inc. (licensed to design and distribute Guess’ men’s jewelry).

Gucci asserts that “the imitations included a green-and-red stripe design, a square G, the designer’s name in flowing script and a diamond pattern with repeating interlocking G’s.” In total, plaintiff estimates that $221 million worth of Guess products infringed on Gucci designs. According to Louis Ederer of Arnold & Porter who represents Gucci, “this was in fact a calculated scheme to infringe on some of Gucci’s most iconic trademarks.” Judging by the pictures alone, Guess was more than ‘inspired’!

Guess, however, feels differently. Daniel Petrocelli, legal counsel for Guess, claimed that Gucci had no right to make a trademark infringement claim because they waited nearly seven years to file suit. Petrocelli also argued that Gucci could not prove that Guess customers might be confused by the designs as “they have no evidence of actual confusion and they have no lost sales or diverted sales.”

This argument may have held up, until Ederer introduced damning evidence pointing the blame at Marc Fisher Footwear. Allegedly, Guess “provided Guess’ fabric supplier with Gucci’s samples, with the intent of helping them to copy coloring and patterns.” (Insert !!! here)

Instead of making a judgment after what was a three-week long, non-jury trial proceeding in U.S. District Court of SDNY, Judge Shira Scheindlin heard closing arguments then asked both sides to submit post-trial documents. A decision in the case is expected in the next month.

Stay tuned for developments here at DOH!

Sources:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-19/gucci-assails-guess-for-studied-imitations-at-trial
http://iamjojo.com/fashion/gucci-to-claim-124m-from-guess-alleged-knockoff-scheme/