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Celebrities Pay Tribute to Iconic Fashion Designer Azzedine Alaïa


The fashion world has lost one of its greats. Designer Azzedine Alaïa has died of heart failure in Paris at the age of 77, according to WWD. The Tunisian-born fashion designer was best known for his precise tailoring that fit the women he dressed like a second skin. So if you’ve ever spent a night out feeling amazing in a body-con dress, you have Alaïa to thank for that: The designer earned the nickname “The King of Cling,” turning the body-con dress into an ’80s fashion staple and helping to popularize the styles we still wear today.

His fitted evening dresses celebrated the female body, and celebrities like Naomi Campbell (who was so much a part of his inner circle she called him “Papa”), Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama, Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus have all worn his creations. Alaïa was celebrated as a genius couturier, and he was often compared to a sculptor because of the way he could shape fabrics.

And of course, you might remember his name thanks to Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in Clueless. When Cher was asked to lay down on the dirty pavement while getting robbed in a parking lot, she protested, “You don’t understand, this is an Alaïa. It’s like a totally important designer.”

Alaïa’s prominence as a pioneer of fashion, marching to the beat of his own drum, was well known throughout the industry. He often worked at his own pace, according to Vogue, hosting intimate fashion shows in his Paris headquarters weeks after the official Fashion Week was over. This left an air of mystery surrounding his clothing, making it even more popular.

“If we talk about empowering women today, he did it, and he did it his way,” designer Alber Elbaz told WWD. “When women wear Alaïa, you see the woman and then you see Azzedine.”

After news broke on Saturday morning of his death, celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to the late designer.

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Here's the Deal With I.AM.GIA, Instagram's Favorite New Fashion Brand


The Instagram crowd’s favorite new fashion brand, I.AM.GIA, is also one of the most elusive. A section titled “Who Is Gia?” on its website simply reads: “CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET? YOU’LL NEVER KNOW.” That’s because Gia isn’t the name of the founder or designer—rather, it’s a persona that inspired (and continues to inspire) Alana Pallister to create the label. “The concept behind Gia was to create a character that every woman could embody and feel empowered by,” she tells Glamour. “Gia is a strong, independent badass who can take on the world and that is exactly how we want her to make other women feel.”

I.AM.GIA is barely six months old (it launched in mid-2017!), and it’s already a go-to for some of the most-followed fashion stars in the business: Bella Hadid, Jordyn Woods, Emily Ratajkowski… the list goes on. Scroll through Instagram on any given day, and odds are you’ll come across a very stylish individual wearing the brand’s pieces. (The tan Cobain pants, $84, and cropped Ankaa top, $54, are quite popular.) Pallister recognized the crucial role social media played in growing not only I.AM.GIA’s reach, but also the concept behind the whole endeavor. “I wanted to take away this ‘Insta famous’ facade that so many young women aspire to be. I wanted Gia to come out and tear apart those stereotypes. There is no rule book to wearing Gia. She is an advocate for going against the grain and being true to yourself. Some girls will wear a Gia piece with a pair of heels, some girls will wear a Gia piece with a combat boot—and either way is incredible.”

A big turning point for the brand was when they received a message from Bella Hadid’s stylist just four weeks into the business. “At that point we didn’t have a large following on Instagram and we didn’t have many ambassadors wearing the product,” Pallister says. “I remember reading the message and thinking, ‘This must be a joke’. I couldn’t believe it.” Lo and behold, her request for pieces to work during Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week was legitimate. Over the course of a week, she wore (and was photographed in) I.AM.GIA separates. “From that point it was a snowball effect in terms of sales because Gia had gained attention,” she says. “People within the industry were talking about her and wondering where she had come from.”

Pallister says the team doesn’t do trend research or forecasting for I.AM.GIA—rather, they design solely for what they imagine Gia is doing, where she’s going, and what’s inspiring her. “When we first launched the brand, the initial concept was to do four capsules a year,” she explains. (The first capsule came together in just four weeks, she says.) “However, once we took on the character of Gia, we realized that wouldn’t suit her lifestyle or the lifestyles of all women. Our girl is out there and she is doing so many different things, so now we create capsules monthly to keep up with her life.” The price point is meant to allow for that type of shopping: Prices start at $31 for a bodysuit, and cap out at $215 for a furry coat.

The Gia gang has grown to welcome more fashion influencers and industry up-and-comers, such as Kaia Gerber, a personal favorite of Pallister’s. “I draw a lot of inspiration from the ’90s so her mom, Cindy Crawford, has always been a muse of mine,” she says. “It was an insane moment for me to see this face of Cindy Crawford on this young incredible model who’s wearing I.AM.GIA.” As far as dream I.AM.GIA sightings go, Pallister wouldn’t hate seeing some mother-daughter outfits on the Gerbers. “I would love to see a ’90s supermodel in Gia next—Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford.” At this rate, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Ahead, see the one fashion brand Instagram can’t get enough of.



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Zendaya's Been On a Retro Fashion Kick, and We're Here For It


If you’ve been following Zendaya‘s style choices recently, you might have noticed she’s been leaning into fashion’s fascination with eras past. Some nostalgic references are more subtle than others—a cropped sweater here, a mod plaid there—but it’s definitely been noticeable.

“This year we’ve been playing around with decades—I’ve been really into my ‘60s vibe recently, hence the look,” she told Glamour of the two-piece, sequined-and-feathered Prada set she was wearing at our Women of the Year kick-off event, co-hosted by Barneys New York. “That’s what we’ve been really into right now, and [we’re] riding that wave [for] as long as we feel like we like it.”

We weren’t surprised, then, when she followed that Prada look with a hot-pink Viktor & Rolf jumpsuit at the actual awards that felt very retro-glam the following day.

“I like to think that, when it comes to fashion, my stylist [Law Roach] and I are always evolving and changing,” she said. “But the one thing that remains the same is that we continue to have fun and not take it so damn seriously. Fashion is supposed to be a tool to find yourself and learn more about yourself and that’s what I’ve done.” It’s not just she and Roach doing the work: Zendaya says she loves seeing how her peers are also “being super adventurous and different and having fun” when it comes to fashion. “Often we look back at different trends and we don’t realize that someone had to set those trends—somebody had to change it, somebody had to do something different,” she told us. “I think it’s nice to see that right now, it’s a melting pot of every single decade: you see someone with ‘90s, with ‘80s, with ‘70s—all in one outfit.”

Go through some of Zendaya’s greatest fashion hits from past months, and there are plenty of other examples of how to bring old-school trends into the present: the bedazzled Viveta suit from the Variety Power of Young Hollywood party, the H&M x Erdem sweater-and-skirt combo from the collaboration’s runway show, or even the Ralph & Russo gown from the Spider Man: Homecoming premiere. Basically, if you’re seeking style inspiration with a vintage edge, look no further than Zendaya in 2017.



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These Female Fashion Entrepreneurs Are Changing the Way We Shop




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How Taylor Swift is Counting on Fashion to Change Her 'Reputation'


As with any project she’s attached to, the premiere of Taylor Swift‘s “Ready For It” music video was preceded by heated anticipation, excited countdowns, and countless fan theories. The cyborg-showdown depicted in the three and a half-minute clip only unleashed more speculation concerning the “hidden meanings” she may or may not be folding into the work released during this Reputation era. (Why is “8919” written on the wall? Who are all of those robots? How many Joe Alwyn references are there, really?) All of these musings largely go back to how Swift presents herself because, on top of a new sound, she’s got a brand-new aesthetic to go with it.

Amid all of the action in the “Ready For It” video, the implications of her Blade Runner-esque costume can be overlooked—after all, she seemingly appeared nude in all the teasers for the clip, which obviously diverted the conversation slightly. But lo and behold, the futuristic storyline did provide some key fashion moments that indicate larger shift in how Swift uses clothing (or the lack thereof) to usher in the latest chapter of her career—and, of course, how this all shapes her reputation.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Jessica Jones Design in the “Ready For It” music video.

From the start, clothing plays a crucial part in setting the mood and establishing the premise for “Ready For It.” We see a hooded Taylor Swift, who some fans are calling Evil Taylor in their theories, strutting through a dark alleyway in thigh-grazing black sock boots, a black cape, and a black leotard, decorated with straps and harnesses. She then confronts Naked Taylor (or, semi-nude Taylor), a robot version of herself who isn’t wearing any clothing—until the latter bursts free of her cage. Both are wearing custom pieces by Jessica Jones Design.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

The two Taylors face off in the “Ready For It” music video.

Fans have already interpreted this showdown as a battle between two different versions of Taylor’s persona, a metaphor Swift has utilized in past music videos and used fashion to really drive home. She’ll dress her villains in black, her heroines in white—and with the notable exception of Selena Gomez’s cameo in “Bad Blood,” Swift plays both roles herself. (See: nerdy, white-dress Taylor versus the purple-clad popular Taylor in “You Belong With Me,” and the evolution from doting girlfriend in a Dolce & Gabbana gown to deranged ex with a thing for La Perla lingerie in “Blank Space.”)

So if the wardrobe premise has been somewhat constant, what’s different this time around? Simply put: the creatives behind the clothes Swift chooses to wear.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Philipp Plein in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

In the lull between premieres, fans track down paparazzi photos of the singer as she records these music videos, often identifying the exact pieces she’s wearing on set long before we get a good look and them. And the New Taylor has a thing for the most zeitgeist-y designers in the industry—ones that, if you asked is in 2014, we would never have thought to be hanging in her closet. She’s worn sequined graphic hoodies and snake boots by Gucci, a blood-red ball gown by Balmain, a cape by Balenciaga, and thigh-high footwear and jackets by Vetements. If reading off the items in Swift’s latest videos feels like a throwback to the chorus of Kreayshawn’s 2011 “Gucci Gucci,” you’re not wrong: Swift is stocking up on designers that have their own reputations for edgy, boundary-pushing, and somewhat over-the-top apparel.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Balmain in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

In the past year and a half, Swift has notably retreated from the public eye (and her famous squad.) That means that the Taylor Swift we see in her music videos (or in related clips posted on her verified Youtube page) is the only Taylor Swift we get through imagery. It also means that every time she posts a new photo or video, it opens up the floodgates for speculation, fan theories, and over-interpretation of every last detail. What she wears in these rare moments she opens herself up to the public carries more meaning, as do the designers she picks. Swift likely knows this, so the labels she’s been selecting feel very much deliberate in getting her new #brand across.

Think about the labels she’s been wearing in all Reputation-related media. It’s been a mix of luxe brands that bring together streetwear, punk, and an IDGAF attitude—like anything designed by Demna Gvasalia, Alessandro Michele, and Donatella Versace, folks with venerable histories of pushing the envelope. (Same goes for her style off-camera, where she’s been wearing Faith Connexion, Valentino, and Unravel.) With these pieces, Swift sends a message: She’s done with the innocent, er, reputation she’s built up, and is replacing it with something harder and more self-assured. Coming out of a three-year hiatus from music, she needs the most recognizably influential designers in her corner—or, at the very least, she needs to demonstrate she knows what’s in the zeitgeist.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Gucci in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

We’re already seeing Swift’s assertively luxurious rebrand at work in the first two Reputation music videos, though it’s especially apparent in “Look What You Made Me Do.” She robs a bank, referencing her many lawsuits and hold-outs against music industry titans like Apple and Spotify, while wearing a sequined Gucci sweatshirt. Sitting on a throne surrounded by snakes, she literally sips tea in a slinky Balmain gown—a brand preferred by the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Her biker gang (a second squad?) is outfitted in studded Burberry leather jackets. Her dance sequence is performed in a tall pair of Fendi boots. The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now… but probably because she’s looking for her white dresses.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Fendi in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

Of course, reinvention doesn’t happen in just the span of two music videos—not when there are six albums over eleven years to contrast with her current aesthetic. A little over a decade ago, listeners became acquainted with the singer through the video for “Our Song,” which was released in 2006; in it, she wears a frilly lilac prom dress for its entirety.

Swift mostly stayed along that stylistic straight-and-narrow throughout the 11 years since: light colors, poofy skirts, lots of sparkle, and nothing at all risqué. She was partial to the work of KaufmanFranco and J.Mendel, both award show favorites. She made it a point to not wear high-end designers in her early music videos, so that her audience could relate. Eventually, though, as her music matured, so did her wardrobe, and she began calling in Valentino and Dior. Though, in a Glamour cover story from 2014, she did say she still wasn’t inclined to wear fur, animal print, spiked clothing, or boxy shoulders.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing a purple prom dress in the “Our Song” music video.

Everyone’s styles evolve as they grow older. Swift’s is no exception. (And she’s talked about it.) The difference is that her entire musical career has been built on wearing her heart on her sleeve and, well, caring. Her relatability reached audiences through her vulnerable lyrics and outfits that, while certainly expensive, weren’t exclusively couture. (Her side-business enterprises included, among other things, an affordable sundress line with Walmart.) Over the years, this approach has attracted criticism of appearing too “calculated,”a word she hates according to her GQ cover story from 2015. But she’s admitted to using her outfits as a way to maintain that squeaky-clean image she put forth through her music: She once told the Guardian that being perceived as sexy was “not really on [her] radar.”

In her music videos, her costumes reinforced themes in her music, such as in the climactic moment in “You Belong With Me,” when Swift’s nerdy protagonist shows up to the prom in a beautiful white dress to win over the subject of her affection; or in “Teardrops On My Guitar,” when she lounges at home in a blue evening gown while musing about unjust heartbreak; or in “Love Story,” when she literally wore a medieval ball gown while playing the Juliet to an actor’s Romeo. Across the truly wide spectrum of situations the singer found herself depicted in these videos, Swift illustrated her music’s concepts (and portrayed herself) in demure but dreamy dresses as her star began to rise.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing another prom dress in the “You Belong With Me” music video.

Even as her sound strayed from its country roots and into the pop sphere, what she wore in music videos didn’t entirely abandon this foundation: Her Speak Now and Red days were defined by retro separates and breezy frocks. By the time “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “22” came around, she was wearing high-waisted shorts and graphic tees, inching towards a more modern look without undergoing a full fashion rebellion—not nearly the pivot we’re seeing in “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Ready For It.”

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing a white dress in the “Mean” music video.

1989 marked her greatest style shift pre-Reputation: Suddenly, Swift lived in New York and was all about bedazzled bodysuits and revealing cut-outs. Even with her new arsenal of sparkly “pop star” costumes, Taylor Swift was still Taylor Swift—however, she was at the height of her career, and she had the superstar wardrobe to match it. Look at “Blank Space,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Out of the Woods” for proof: All three videos incorporate gowns by Elie Saab, Valentino, and Oscar de la Renta. Luxury—whether it be in one of these gowns or a star-studded group of friends appearing at her concerts—became an integral part of her image alongside the hallmark revealing lyrics of her songs.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Valentino in the “Blank Space” music video.

There was an outlier, of course—”Bad Blood. According to Billboard, Swift turned to a literal sex shop, the Stockroom, to supply $13,000 worth of patent harnesses and bra tops to her army of models. But unlike the Balenciaga cape she wore in “Look What You Made Me Do,” these outfits weren’t making a point about her persona at large. This was a one-off in a collection of prime Swift-ian moments, with stellar gowns and handsome leading men. She had already insisted during this period that looking sexy or dangerous wasn’t part of her M.O., leading us all to believe that these costumes were what anyone would choose for a superhero squad. Swift remained the hero she had played in past videos—just in latex.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift and her model army in the “Bad Blood” music video.

Had she left thigh-high Fendi boots and studded Burberry coats at “Look What You Made Me Do,” it would have been another one-off—a cruise down memory lane, another device to move forward the plot in under four minutes. But there’s also Cyborg Taylor Swift from “Ready For It,” and the Gucci combat boots and Vetements jacket she was photographed wearing on set for a yet-to-be-released Reputation video. These styling elements are building towards something greater: Taylor Swift is seriously leaning into fashion to reinvent herself in the public eye.

“Going through different phases is one of my favorite things about fashion,” Swift told Vogue in 2016. “I love how it can mark the passage of time. It’s similar to my songs in that way—it all helps identify where I was at in different points of my life.”

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Burberry, Vetements, Alexander McQueen, and L.A. Roxx in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

Put them together, and the fashion of “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Ready For It” shows us that the old Taylor really is dead—sartorially speaking, at least. If we see a poofy princess gown or sparkly leotard return from the archives, it’s more likely a dig at her old self than a hint that she’s up to her old styling tricks. So long as we only see Taylor Swift through her music videos, she’s fully in control of her Reputation image—and it’s going to be a dark, edgy, IDFWU aesthetic from here on out. The only fault in her formulated new image? We can’t forget about her past ones.

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8 Fashion Retailers You Didn't Realize Sold Really Good Halloween Costumes


We’ve already established you can put together a solid Halloween costume from items sold at your go-to fashion retailers—which is ideal because come November 1, that Pennywise the Clown makeup and Wonder Woman cape won’t get much use. However, you don’t always have to scrutinize the New Arrivals sections to piece together a somewhat conceptual get-up: Many of our favorite stores have some pretty impressive Halloween sections that aren’t cheesy or expected.

Did you know Torrid makes a solid Twin Peaks-inspired waitress dress that would fit in perfectly at the Double R Diner, or that Modcloth has Wednesday Adams-inspired LBDs you’ll definitely continue to wear throughout the season? Take a peek at some of the best Halloween costumes you can pick up at the retailers you already frequent, and plan your shopping accordingly.



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