At the Grand Palais this morning in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld created a giant rotating Earth with flags marking all the stores.  The models walked out in front of the revolving globe to the sound of "Around the World" by Daft Punk while wearing the latest Autumn-Winter 2013 collection.  "It's about the globalization of fashion," said Lagerfeld.





















And, it just shows the global domination of a global brand.   After all, it is a Chanel world, with Karl as King of fashion, and we just live in it ;)  Chanel really does make the world go round!

Am I the only one who loves the Chanel hula hoop bag?  Chanel has created everything: a guitar case, paper flowers and headpieces, a surfboard, and even a compact all-in-one set.  It is only natural that Karl would bestow upon us a glorified towel rack-slash-purse-slash hula hoop.  Thanks, Karl!

"It's for the beach.  You need space for the beach towel, huh?  And then you can put it into the sand and hang things on it, and things like that." -- Karl Lagerfeld

Designer knockoffs are nothing new. Famously, Forever 21 is actually best known for their propensity for copying clothing designs, making cheaper versions, and selling them in their stores. To my amazement however, just a few days after buying a dress and a shirt from Urban Outfitters, I spot the exact copy, albeit both cheaper in price and quality, at TJ Maxx.

Below is a photo of the pink Sparkle & Fade sleeveless chiffon shirt I purchased from Urban Outfitters, and underneath it, the green Myth sleeveless shirt I spotted at TJ Maxx. Both are cut in a relaxed, swingy silhouette with a high/low hem, buttons down the front, and a pointed collar. The only differences are the colors and the price point. Urban Outfitters still has the product for sale online, found here: Sparkle & Fade Sleeveless Chiffon Shirt.



Below is a photo of the orange Coincidence & Chance lace revel dress I purchased from Urban Outfitters, and underneath it, the ivory Monteau lace dress I spotted at TJ Maxx. Both are cut with a fitted bodice and full skirt, with sheer mesh accents at the shoulders, a chiffon lining, and a back zipper closure. The only differences are the colors and the price point. And, after checking Urban Outfitters online, they still have the produce for sale, even available in the same ivory color, found here: Coincidence & Chance Revel Dress.



Now, I might be guilty of a little purchasing of designer knockoffs, mostly jewelry and purses from downtown (please do not tell Karl!) but I am totally against this blatant copyright infringement. It might stem from the attorney in me, and it might just be that I like to encourage innovation. Designer brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton have a very recognizable symbol and status. The prestige of the company grows when more and more people can recognize their trademark symbols, such as the signature interlocking double-C for Chanel or the LV monogram for Louis Vuitton. Knockoffs of those trademarks then, do not diminish the actual product. In fact, some might argue that it makes the purchasing of the real items that much more illustrious. On the other hand, brands at Urban Outfitters, such as Sparkle & Fade or Coincidence & Chance, have no recognizable trademarks or known logos. They are simply designing the trends of the moment. For other smaller brands to knock them off just shows a lack of originality and creativity, and it diminishes the clothing lines at Urban Outfitters.

Now, there is nothing I can do about this, per se, but I hope that all of you fashionistas and trendologists take a moment on your next expeditions to the mall and make sure that you are not purposely purchasing a stolen idea -- its all about conscientious shopping :)

Karl Lagerfeld for Metro! Karl has the ability to make anything relevant again, even the newspaper :) I really liked his recent comments in the Metro: "I do what I want because I have fun, you know. I don't want to be the designer who designs one look that you're known for, for the rest of your life, and then he disappears and he dies ... I like the continuity to play with fashion. I have no problem, no reason. I do Chanel, which is the French version of me. And Fendi is my Italian version ..." Oh, Karl, you are a true renaissance man, trying your hand at everything.

A little black and white inspiration on a gray (grey?) Winter's day.

Looking forward to the majestic hues of Spring!

Karl reminds us that the lion is the king of the jungle and that Chanel is the king of fashion.

Poster of the week:

Song of the week: "Power"

Collection of the week: Christian Dior Resort 2011

Interview of the week: M.I.A. with Lynn Hirschberg

Comeback of the week: Frame Bags

Article of the week: "When MTV Could Actually Inspire"

Tweet of the week:

“can CHANEL please help me out by getting me some stickers to put on my scram bracelet so that i can at least wear a chic dress?! maybe!? x.” – Lindsay Lohan

Collabo of the week: Barack Obama / Paul McCartney / Jerry Seinfeld

Party of the week:

Everything a girl could want - put together nicely thanks to Karl for the Fall 2009 Ready to Wear Chanel show in Paris.

I don’t care if she looks like the main character in “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” - Mischa looks fab here. I want to be able to rock those rings and that hat! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, there is no way homegirl wears Keds apart from the ad campaign.

Wonderful – the Chanel Spring 2009 Haute Couture Collection – everything in the collection is white, or black and white. Most impressive? All the flowers, headpieces and little caps were created from paper! Oh, Karl, you are so creative in this time of economic downsizing. Get your scissors and construction paper out, kids. We are going to make this happen!

According to a production assistant, Karl Lagerfeld had specific demands at his set for Chanel’s latest ad campaign:

“He requested seven loaves of Pennsylvania Wheat Bread and a tub of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter to be brought directly from New York to the set. My only job was bringing him the bread and the fake butter. Karl paid me $500 to do it, plus he paid off my $200 speeding ticket.”

The only payment I would request would be in form of a Chanel purse!

If I was a rock star, this would be my guitar case:

Shoes of the week:

Song of the week: “Bossy”

Worker of the week: Leonardo DiCaprio

Article of the week: “The Tao of Mary Kate”

Upgrade of the week: Strawberry Shortcake

Interview of the week: Anna Wintour with New York Magazine

Quote of the week:

“One day in the distant future, the children of our children’s children will look back upon the ‘aughts’ for retro inspiration and stumble upon the sartorial black hole that is Paris Hilton. Her egregious crimes against fashion are too numerous to list here, but in this photo of Her Tragedy, accompanied by her boyfriend Benji Madden, the offending look is very wannabe It couple: If you took a snapshot of Kate Moss and Pete Doherty from two years ago, photocopied it 27 times, covered it in Velveeta, ran it through a Hot Topic sample sale and then sold it as a cheap knock-off on Canal Street, it would look like this picture.” – Elizabeth Spiridakis

Collabo of the week: Converse / Pharrell / Santogold / Julian

Party of the week:

Totally disgusting and intriguing at the same time. This is getting out of hand. And no one is actually to blame. Not Karl, not Mary-Kate, not Vogue. An entire change of mindset is necessary.

Two-tone tights! Two-tone Mary Janes! Two-tone eyeglasses! So simple, yet so brilliant. Everything shown at this season’s Chanel show in Paris was just pure elegance.

Just a month ago, Karl Lagerfeld recreated a 75-foot Chanel jacket for the Chanel Haute Couture Spring show. This past week, he recreated a Chanel carousel for the Chanel Ready-to-Wear Fall show.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Karl Lagerfeld is a genius.

Happy 21st to Mary-Kate and Ashley!

[Can we all take a moment and admire that Chanel watch...?]

One line of last week’s episode of The Hills made me soooo green with envy that I wanted to stab the television. And from the looks of it, Lauren also wanted to gauge out Emily’s eyes.

“I’m taking 18 credits at NYU two days a week, I intern two days a week at Teen Vogue… and I also work one day at Chanel.” - Emily Weiss aka “super-intern”

Who gets to work at Chanel while they are in undergrad?! If I wasn’t so annoyed by her, I would want to be her. Although, I will always support Team LC for life.

IN OTHER NEWS: what is happening with B?! She is starting to scare me.

I have only been watching previews and random scenes, but I am already in love with Signé Chanel, a documentary on Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2004-2005 collection. It is so funny to watch grandmothers: Madame Martine, Madame Jacqueline, and Madame Cécile, all gather in what looks like an upstairs attic, clocking in and out, sewing and designing haute couture for the most wealthiest and influential people in the world. The charming histories of Chanel – Monsieur Massaro is the decades-old Chanel shoemaker who learned his craft from his father – Madame Pouzieux has been braiding the trim for Chanel clothing since 1947 – Monsieur Lesage exclusively does embroidery for Chanel – all humanize the fashion line. All of which is very interesting for moi, who did a report on Coco Chanel in the 10th grade, calling her one of the most influential people in the 20th century. Bravo to Loïc Progent, for making the documentary (and to my mother for initially recognizing Coco’s effect on the world).

P.S. I want this shirt, if anyone has an extra $50 to give me. Booses!

I think Coco must be rolling over in her grave right now. Oh, to be young, pretty, and rich – the Olsens and their Chanel bags.

The season finale of The Hills is tonight, with an apparent cliffhanger: will LC stay with J-Wahl in Malibu or go to Paris for Fashion week. Duh – she is obviously going to stay – don’t we all know that they are still together and have been photographed together at a million events in LA? Way to go, MTV, and make it so predictable. Yet, I have to admit that The Hills has been a decent summer show, with the real breakout stars being 1) the headband; 2) the Chanel purse; 3) Bolthouse Productions; and 4) Hisham Abed.

Of course, all the cool kids, aka moi, already knew about Brent B. and Sam N., and their respective companies, Bolthouse and SBE Entertainment. This summer I saw Mr. Nazarian himself at his own club, Privilege (randomly hanging out with Eve and her posse). I also saw Jen R., Bolthouse’s notoriously ugly, tough-as-nails doorgirl in front of Hyde. But, now Brent’s name has exceeded the Hollywood set and moved beyond to the Midwestern masses. And, due to Lauren’s favorite choice of hairstyle – the headband – and her Christmas present from Jason – the Chanel purse – all the suburbanite teenyboppers have been clamoring at their neighborhood mall for multi-colored plastic bands or knock-off designer purses.

My favorite star, however, is the cinematographer, Hisham Abed, whose luxurious and sparkling palette of beautiful views and iridescent landscapes has done more for Los Angeles’ aesthetic appeal than the entire tourist industry. With shimmering shades and overwhelming colors, it is simply the best looking show on tv, and makes me feel proud to be an Angeleno.