Friday

Africa Rising


The new mood in Africa is positive," - Bono

Africa Rising is the contemporary African Art exhibit that opened in Paris on October 6th, the last day of Paris Fashion week.  It is the love-child of Ali Hewson and husband Bono who have directed the world's focus towards the living conditions of the peoples of Africa for decades. This time, they want the focus to be on all the positive things happening on the continent.





Joining Ali and Bono in their efforts this year is the French Luxury Brand LVMH. Louis Vuitton, a company recognized for its support of the arts and its Core Values program, collaborated with designer Ali Hewson to manufacture a signature bag, the Edun bag, named after her line of designer clothing. It is the first time LV  has manufactured anything 100% in Africa, in this instance, Kenya.
Founder of Edun, Ali Hewson stated that it's great to be partnered with a luxury worldwide recognized brand such as Louis Vuitton, because "you are stronger as a team."
That a contemporary art exhibit dominated the social scene of Paris Fashion Week is both fitting and triumphant. It probably helped the cause just a little bit that rockstars such as Angelique Kidjo and - of course - Bono, took the stage to perform for the select crowd in support of the cause.

Alexandra Richards, daughter of Keith, provided DJ tunes. But the real stars of the show were the contemporary artists and their artwork.

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Thursday

Dita Von Teese "Closet Environmentalist" Ignites Paris Fashion Week

Dita Wowed during Paris Fashion Week, stealing the show confessed designers and paparazzi alike.  She's a self-described "closet environmentalist," often preferring vintage over new.  Maybe that's why she sat front row at Elie Saab's collection shown in the Tuileries on Wednesday?  Ahh...that nostalgia for 70's ultra-feminine fashion...

Pictured Below: Dita Von Teese front-row at Elie Saab SS11, October 6, Paris Fashion Week.

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Wednesday

Smart From The Start

Today U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that his department, along with the Bureau of Land Management, had approved the necessary permits allowing for the construction of the first two solar energy projects ever deployed on U.S. public lands.

"This is an historic day for the U.S. and for California," said Secretary Salazar speaking on conference call. "I am pleased to be moving forward into the clean energy frontier," he said also crediting Bob Abbey, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management's efforts in realizing these projects. "They oversee 245 million acres of public lands that could contribute significantly to the country's energy needs."

Suncatcher System by Stirling Energy Systems.

The nation's first two solar projects on public lands will both be in the Golden State. The 709-megawatt (MW) Imperial Valley project just East of San Diego on 6,360 acres of public lands will generate enough solar power to provide electricity for up to 500,000 homes. The second solar project, in the Inland Empire of San Bernardino County, is a 45 MW solar project on 422 acres of public lands referred to as the Chevron Lucerne project. Combined, these two solar energy projects are expected to create about 950 jobs and infuse $1 billion into California's economy.

"I am excited to join Secretary Salazar today in announcing the first solar projects to ever get permits on federal land, both of which will be located in the Golden State," said Governor Schwarzenegger who missed the press conference call because he was stuck on a plane. "Today's announcement only further cements California's national leadership in renewable energy development - and it couldn't have been without our federal partners. Our great partnership is helping to improve public health, grow our green economy, promote energy independence and strengthen our national security."  - Governor Schwarzenegger

Governor Schwarzenegger has been championing these projects from the start. Barely a week ago when the California Energy Commission approved the larger Imperial Valley project (the smaller Chevron Lucerne project did not require CEC approval), the only thing standing in the way was the permitting from the Bureau of Land Management called "Records of Decision." Now that these have been granted, the projects will qualify for the Federal Stimulus Funds in the form of 30% tax credit for overall cost of the construction of the projects. The deadline to qualify for those funds is December 31st. Salazar said he expected more projects to be approved by the end of 2010. 

Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey said that they will continue with their "Smart from the start," approach. He said that these first two solar projects are examples of how the permitting process can be streamlined "without cutting any corners for environmental reviews or ecological considerations." He added that the projects all had extended public input from various stakeholders.

"There are 11 million acres of public lands in California deserts. The area to be disturbed is less than two-tenths of 1%," emphasized BLM's Abbey.  Salazar noted that now even NRDC and Sierra Club have come on board with the projects.

Commenting on the 180 permits pending for more solar project developments in the U.S., Salazar said that, "We will be pro-active so we avoid conflicts with ecological aspects we are trying to protect. It's really no different from what we've done with city planning for the past 50, 60 years. We foresee thousands of solar plants sprouting up all over the nation."  There are currently 1.3 million acres of land under application for solar projects.

The companies that will be developing the Imperial Valley solar project on public lands are owned by an Irish conglomerate, NRT, and are called Tessera Solar and Stirling Energy Systems.

READ Press Release from Department of Interior HERE.

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Elie Saab's Delight In The 70's

Elie Saab's Paris Spring Summer '11 collection shown today in the Jardin des Tuileries is what the designer is calling his "70's Delight." The line of soft neutrals is a color palette the designer was inspired to draw on from his boyhood memories of glamorous women from the 70s. "I remember women wearing these colors. They are colors more refined, light, powdery." Nude, sable, salmon, silver, stone gray, slate - this is the palette of Saab's Spring Summer collection this year.

Saab's Spring Summer show today floated you onto a boat moored in St. Tropez Bay where nude-backed women glide along yacht decks delicately draped and exposed in flowing, wispy trains of long salmon-colored georgette dresses and whispering silver chiffon tunics.

"I wanted to work with a different style of woman for this collection; A woman who works at home, a woman who vacations on a yacht, a woman who attends evening soirees. I didn't want to use too many muses this time," confided Saab after the show.

Accessories made a big debut on the Elie Saab Paris fashion runway today. Navel-reaching gold chains dangling heavy pendants decorated the occasional plunging neckline. Gold cuffs worn on both wrists provided just the accent for the sable, salmon and smoky white one-piece jumpsuits, shorts suits and floor-length gowns. 

"Accessories are a big development for the house," commented Saab. "We emphasized our accessories this year in the line for that reason." Salmon-suede clutch trimmed with metal and a jewel of a bag covered in crystals, also textured with tone-on-tone stone gray leather interlacing could be seen being coveted by the catwalking and stunning models with free-flowing coiffed hair.

When asked which celebrities would wear his creations best this year, he responded, "Any who like the line." Dita Von Teese, a self-described "closet environmentalist" sat in the front row. The line for this season is ultra-feminine and looks like it would feel delightful to wear and to walk in. The ultra-petite and feminine Von Teese could easily strap on a pair of the chunky-heeled suede matching sandals and sway down the length of a yacht and into an all-night soiree.

The collection's colors evoke the exuberance of Bahia. The designs evoke the Rockstar era of 70s St. Tropez Jagger excess.  Music for the show was by Michel Gaubert who played Rolling Stone's "Emotional Rescue" and such 70s era classics. Hair by Orlando Pita and team; Makeup by Tom Pecheux and team using MAC Pro.

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Monday

Fashion Forward - Mode A Paris

The designers this season are taking their lines forward. Fashion Forward is what we're seeing on the runways, backstage, on the streets and in the showrooms.

 

Fashion Forward - Paris Fashion Week 2010 for Spring Summer '11

 

From Galliano's Polynesian Sailor-on-shore-leave motif for Dior to John Paul Gaultier's flagrant use of 3-D glasses - for his runway show! - which consisted of every inch the three-dimensional plus-sized models in Joan Jett wigs. Beth Ditto, pouring out of her rosette-trimmed teddy for his finale stole the show.

 

Givenchy Goes Animal. Photo by Monica Feudi/ GoRunway.com

 

Givenchy went animal on us.  Raw and untamed, Riccardo Tisci delivered his models to pulsing Techno at the Lyceé Carnot.  Zippers snaked up side seams and flashes of metal punctuated the models' catwalk.

Eco-Alert: One lone Eco Taxi was spotted outside the Givenchy venue dropping off guests. Guests were holding letter-sized animal-print invitations printed on colored paper.

Change channels to Stella's show where only Vegans need apply. Lemons and grapefruit  spilled out everywhere. Glee actress 24-year-old Lea Michele, this month's Glamour Cover Girl, said it was the only show this fur-free animal lover was taking in on her first Paris Fashion season.

 

Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington sat up front row at Chloe and took notice of MacGibbons SS11 line. Photo by Giovanni Giannoni.

 

MORE CHLOÉ PHOTOS ON WWD.com

Chloé was all grown up and elegant...as usual. There's a reason why Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly and Brigitte Bardot have all worn Chloé. In a word, elegant.

Chloé delivered again today. The runway show was held at the Espace Ephémère in the Jardin des Tuileries, and though it started 45 minutes late, designer Hannah MacGibbon delivered to reggae-rasta-rap beats with Anna Wintour in her front row.  In a show of bright whites and nude beiges, the model wearing only a silk sheer blouse raised nary an eyebrow, though Grace Coddington, seated next to Wintour, seemed to take notice.

Somehow it doesn't surprise that Stella McCartney was at Chloé before she launched her own house.  On my way out, coming face to face with Anna Wintour gave me a jolt of thrills I hadn't expected. Is it from knowing that the woman commands a part of the billion dollar fashion industry?  Of course, only afterwards I realized I should have asked her what she thought of Eco Fashion. It's not very often this reporter is caught up in the excitement of a passing moment. Chloé had a packed house and a front row of editors, in addition to Wintour. Though it seemed that the focus of the show was also a bit of a perfume launch.

 

New Perfume. Commercial directed by Roman Coppola.

 

And to round this up for October 4th with only two more days of Fashion Week left, Mary-Kate and Ashley showed their new line The Row, by appointment in a lovely salon boasting a boiserie and soaring white ceilings. Elegant suits, freely-flowing bias-cut dresses all in silk satin back crepe. They kept their 15 outfits tight and to a palette of black, pale pink and ivory. That they weren't quite ready for N.Y. served them well. Where better than Paris to show your Spring Summer '11 line the first time?! Photos are now up on Bing.com.

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