Biz Buzz: Weekly Round-Up

Biz Buzz keeps its fabulously accessorized ear to the ground to provide breaking fashion news coverage.

Scott Schuman, famous for his mega-popular blog The Sartorialist, incited a hailstorm of fury Wednesday after posting pictures of fashion blogger Angelica Ardasheva and calling her “bigger” and “sturdy.” The post had 1,426 comments at the time this ‘Cuse Clothes Line post was written. Many of the commentators were unhappy that this girl was considered heavier or plus sized. Schuman updated the post by saying, “I love a post like this. It creates a real and important conversation. A number of the commenters are upset by the word ‘curvy.’ They feel I should have used the word ‘normal.’ However, normal is relative. There is a young lady on my team who is 5'0", and another who is 5'9". Which would be ‘normal’?” Ardasheva responded to the controversy on her blog by saying that she thought she has a “normal body” but “did not mind [Schuman’s comments] at all.”

The photos of Ardasheva that appeared on The Sartorialist, courtesy of Jezebel

Knockoff versions of designer bags are not a new trend, but designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler are not happy that Target is making knockoffs of their PS1 bag under their Mossimo line. “The attitude, the slouch of the bag — they got the weight really right,” Hernandez told the New York Times. This is especially an issue because Proenza Schouler has collaborated with Target on their Go International Collection. “So our product is in Target right now, and then this bag comes out. It’s just disappointing, especially from someone we worked with,” said Shirley Cook, Proenza Schouler’s chief executive.

The Proenza Schouler PS1, courtesy of The New York Times

The Mossimo for Target PS1 knockoff, courtesy of Fashionista.com

Carine Roitfeld, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, is now working as a guest editor and stylist for Barneys New York. She’ll work on its fall ad campaign, catalogue and window displays, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Carine Roitfeld, courtesy of style.com

Super stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Roger Berman welcomed their first child, Skyler Morrison Berman on Thursday, March 24. “Thank you all so much for your love! @rbermanus and I couldn't be happier with little Skyler Morrison in our arms...he is everything,” Zoe tweeted Thursday. She posted a photo of the family on Twitter the following Wednesday.

Roger Berman and Rachel Zoe with their son Skyler Morrison Berman, courtesy of rachelzoe.com

Other news in Zoe-land has Rachel’s former assistant, Brad Goreski, launching his own series on Bravo, the channel that made him famous with The Rachel Zoe Project. “I'm so excited about my show on @bravotv!! Can't wait to start filming ‘Its a Brad Brad World!!’ Dream come true!!” Goreski tweeted Wednesday.

Brad Goreski, courtesy of style.com

-Julie Kosin

The Craze: Eclectic Chic

The Craze is a trend report bringing you the latest (and, duh, the greatest) in beauty and style.

With the weather getting a little bit warmer each day, we can’t wait to bust out of our winter gear and jump into dresses and skirts. Instead of relying on lightweight, flowy, or bohemian items, change it up and go eclectic. Mix and match bold prints and colors for an unexpected look and possibly some double takes from passersby.

Eclectic doesn’t mean throwing on plenty of neon. It can be classy and subtle, yet eye-catching. Check out Jason Wu, Juan Carlos Obando, and Proenza Schouler’s take on the eclectic chic trend for inspiration this spring.

Juan Carlos Obando

Proenza Schouler

Jason Wu

-Lauren Dulay

Rag Report: Shining Twilight Star

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Twilight star Kristen Stewart is featured on the cover this month’s Vogue. Eve MacSweeney delved into who Kristen Stewart truly is in her article “Coming on Strong.” The 20-year-old actress has already accomplished a lot including her role as Bella in the Twilight Saga. However, this young woman does not flaunt her successes. She has a mellow attitude and strives for nothing but the best.

In the first photo, featured in the letter from the editor, Anna Wintour states how Stewart has “made a generational link with girls all over the world.” In the photo, shot by Mario Testino, she is wearing Proenza Schouler. She sits cross-legged and is slightly hunched over making her seem approachable and open to conversation. Her facial expression is neutral and relaxed, allowing her natural beauty to shine through. It’s no wonder so many girls feel they can connect with her.

Stewart’s next photo is with Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. She is wearing one of their dresses in a deep earth brown and glowing sunset orange. There is emotion in her face and she is holding her two hands together. This photo allows us to truly see Stewart and relate to her like millions of others.

In the last photo, Stewart’s hands are almost exactly like the previous photo indicating that it is her natural stance. She is dressed in a tweed bustier dress by Proenza Schouler in a bold and rebellious pattern to match her personality. Stewart is who she is and has a certain edge to her, which can clearly be seen through the way she stands and how she portrays herself.

Stewart gives off an edgy vibe and isn’t afraid to show the world. She rarely shows her smile and is often “accused of being downbeat and defensive” during her appearances in public. Nonetheless, perhaps these seemingly negative qualities are what make her so relatable. Girls and young women are able to relate to her as she shines in her role of Bella.

-Brittany Fowler

The Craze: Putting the pep back into patterns

The Craze is a trend report bringing you the latest (and, duh, the greatest) in beauty and style.

If weather trends hold, we are looking at two more months of winter. It will be a long time before we can shamelessly rock jersey sundresses and denim cutoffs bare-legged, but that doesn't mean we have to match the Syracuse skies with dull attire. 

One of the easiest ways to perk up your winter neutrals is to throw some prints into the mix. Plaid is a simple, reliable bet, like vanilla ice cream, but as the folks at Doo. Ri and Prada show us, the spectrum of winter print possibilities is endless.

 

Doo. Ri pre-fall 2010

Prada pre-fall 2010

Feeling extra daring? Or extra bored with your current wardrobe? Try layering patterns on patterns. Mixing patterns successfully can feel like an intuitive art, but there are a couple of hard and fast rules to make the process less daunting.

 

Proenza Schouler pre-fall 2010

 

Matthew Williamson pre-fall 2010

Mix prints of different scales to avoid overwhelming your figure: say a narrow pinstripe skirt with an oversized floral print blouse. Wearing different patterns in monochromatic or muted shades can also keep the look from entering Lady Gaga territory (unless that’s the direction you’re headed in).

- by Emily Montgomery