ANDREA JANKE Finest Accessories

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chanel Haute Couture

No surprises here. Freja showed up at the Chanel Haute Couture show earlier today wearing three beautiful looks. No special treatment. No opening or closing looks. No smirks. No different hair style. She was just one of the runway girls, and I don't know why but that's utterly refreshing to me. Sometimes you just want to see a model do her job and do it well, without all the fanfare and hubbub that can happen.

The toned down affair, both in setting and in color, was quite beautiful if misleadingly simple. If you get a chance, zoom in on the details and you'll see what distinguishes Haute Couture from RTW and why these pieces cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. Freja wore a softened expression on her face to match the mood, instantly drawing up nostalgia in me for the old days. I definitely don't miss seeing that hard, stern glare that used to be her frequent runway companion. What always surprises me with models like Freja (and Raquel, Daria, etc.) is how they manage to seem ageless despite surviving through the rigors of a stressful industry like fashion. I guess the ageless gene, in addition to the skinny, tall, and good skin genes, are what distinguish them from us mere plebeians. ;)

Valentino Haute Couture shows tomorrow....any bets on whether Freja will be there or not?

Image Credits: style.it

Christian Dior Couture inspired by René Gruau

À La Manière de John Galliano

Dramatic interpretations of Christian Dior's New Look and René Gruau's illustrations ...

Photo Credit: VOGUE

Photography by Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com

Monday, January 24, 2011

MIFUR REMIX 2011 Award

A Kind of Haute Couture - MIFUR REMIX 2011 Award

Before starting today my editorial of the Paris Haute Couture Show by Christian Dior, I'd love to start with the 1st of a series of editorials to showcase you a competition of very talented young designers -

The international competition MIFUR Remix 2011 Award at Milan, Italy, which will be held for the occasion of the MIFUR International Fur And Leather Exhibition from 6th to 9th March, 2011.

The Competition

The MIFUR Remix competition was introduced 2003 by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) in collaboration with MIFUR, the Milan based international fur and leather exhibition. The competition aims to encourage, inspire and support young designers as they develop and explore their relationship with fur, as well as giving them an opportunity to showcase their innovative designs and international audiance. Since 2010 IFTF introduced to REMIX a new fourth prize category, the special OA (Origin Assured) Award. This award recognized designers who exclusively used the Origin Assured furs in their design.

Now after 8 years and over 300 students from more than 22 countries have maken part since 2003.

The German Fur Institution (Deutsches Pelz Insitut), as supporting IFTF Member association, selected Guliya Baykieva respresenting Germany at MIFUR Remix 2011 Competition, which will be held from 6th to 9th March, 2011, in Milan.

Guliya Baykieva

The young russian designer Guliya Baykieva lives since 5 years in Germany. After several years of studies in Art, Design and Pattern making in Russia, Guliya continued her qualifications since September 2007 at the AMD Akademy Fashion and Design, Düsseldorf, 2009 participating to interships at Giles Deacon and Louise Goldin in London. Already 2009 Guliya Baykieva was awarded with the MIFUR Remix 2009 Third place.

Competition style of Guliya Baykieva for MIFUR Remix 2011 Award -

Short asymmetrical, draped fur coat made out of Blue-Iris velvet mink,

mink stripes and high quality leather combination

Sketch by Guliya Baykieva

Photo Credit by Claudio Overio

Model Alisa Ziegenfeuter

Source: Deutsches Pelz Institut

Corporate Partners to Gulyia Baykieva:

Furrier: Slupinksi, Königsallee 92, D-40212 Düsseldorf

Furs by Mayer & Cie. AG, Düssseldorfer Str. 1-7, D-60329 Frankfurt

MIFUR Remix 2010 Award winners

MIFUR Remix 2010 Award - First place for Laura Grillo designed

an overcoat in Nafa Northern red fox

MIFUR Remix 2010 Award - Second place and OA Award - Eliana Dimitrakopoulou,

who studied at the London College of Fashion, designed a mink dress

in a shade of rosy-purple

MIFUR Remix 2010 Award - Third place for Hyun Yeu,

designed the pink fox fur dress

Photo Credit by ARS ARPEL Group s.r.l.

http://www.arsarpel.it

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Freja Speaks

Most of the time I post about things that other people have said about Freja. Whether it's from regular fans, photographers, designers or models, there has been a plethora of good things said in regards to Freja. But rare is the time that the tables are turned and Freja gets to do the talking.

The February issue of US Harper's Bazaar contains a story about IMG model manager Jen Ramey. She's at the top of her business and if her name sounds familiar, its because she's guided the careers of Kate Moss and Daria Werbowy. Just think of any top girl at the powerhouse agency and odds are Jen stands behind her success. Lily D? Check. And yes, Freja? Check.

The article is your typical "how I overcame [insert obstacle here] and feel great about myself now" story that fashion magazines are apt to give us every single issue. That being said, Jen admirably lost 120 pounds and overcame a breast-cancer scare. A few of her model clients are interviewed for the article and here's what Freja had to say:

"Jen is one of the strongest women I know. I'm not surprised that she succeeded in what she put her mind to..."

"Jen manages to cut straight to the core. There's never any BS with her..."

Ok, yeah...Freja's not going to win any oratory prizes for her input here, but it was pretty surprising to see her name when I read this story. I knew that Jen was her manager, but I guess I just wasn't expecting any words from the (previously) press shy Freja. I've spent the better part of over two years covering Freja and her career, and in those earlier days backstage interviews, style features, appearances at parties, anything that didn't solely relate to the catwalk or the editorial, were near impossibilities. All I can say is that Freja's come a long way. Now as she enters the ripening phase of her career, I hope she gets the chance to speak more often. It would be nice to cover the things she says, instead of just the things people say about her. :) Anyway, congrats Jen!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Runway Randomness

Freja popped up in Berlin yesterday, making a runway appearance at the Hugo by Hugo Boss show where she had the honors of opening and closing. Random, no? Then again, to my memory, Hugo Boss always manages to snag a few big name models for their BFW show. I'm sure they pay very nicely. And it's nice to see the return of a sleek and clean runway version of Freja.

Brings back memories doesn't it? Memories from her earlier seasons....

In other runway news, the Haute Couture shows start next week and Chanel is showing on Tuesday, the 25th. So mark those calendars you avid Freja watchers. Bets on what role Freja will play this time? After being singled out during the Pre-Fall show, I wonder what Karl has in store for her this time, if anything at all. Another fact of note is that Karl is once again foregoing the epic proportions of the Grand Palais in favor of more intimate settings at 46 rue de Cambon; not to be confused with 31 rue Cambon, the address made famous by Coco Chanel. So no elaborately huge runway centerpiece this time around. The economy is only showing slight signs of recovery, so excessive consumption is still a bit taboo.

Anyway, all this runway randomness just adds to the excitement about the F/W 11/12 runway season peeking right around the corner.

Image Credits: scans by tFS member Alien Sex Friend, fmd1.com, elle.de