Bell & Ross Gets Airborne for D-Day

Swiss watchmakers Bell & Ross, known for their hi-tech watches with aeronautical instrumentation that are able to withstand the extreme environmental conditions, have created a limited edition collection of 500, BR01 Airborne watches to be sold exclusively at at the hip boutique store Colette in Paris for one week starting June 8th. The watch will honor the 65th anniversary of D-Day and the commemoration ceremony by President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The watch bears the skull emblem that paratroopers of the US Airborne division wore on their uniforms during WWII as a symbol of their bravery in the face of death. Many of the paratroopers were often the first to face death and their uniform badges carried the rather unsettling “Death from Above” motto. For those feeling a little Damien Hirst inspired, two of the watches from the collection will have diamond-encrusted skulls.
 
Colette.fr
Bellross.com

Fade to Gray

DKNY’s iconic billboard will soon be replaced by California tween beach brand Hollister.

It’s another sign of changing times.

Since 1992, DKNY's iconic billboard at 600 Broadway served as the unofficial gateway into SoHo. Designed by Peter Arnell, it features a view of the lower Manhattan skyline before 9/11, including the Twin Towers and the Statute of Liberty. It appeared in the opening credits of "NYPD Blue" and was the first of three outdoor advertisements Donna Karan had commissioned in the ‘90s. It is also the last one standing. "It's very sad," Karan said of the billboard impending removal. “I hope to find a new home for it soon.”

Last year, the six-story building was sold to Abercrombie & Fitch for $71 million and shortly after DKNY lost the right to use the wall. The signed will be replaced by a gray Hollister sign in time for the store’s opening in July.

HOME, SWEET HOME

(From left: A scene from “HOME” and silk scarf by Alexander McQueen)

PPR CEO Francois Henri-Pinault thinks everyone should see Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s environmental documentary. He paid $14 million, but you can watch it tonight for free.

Al Gore's inconvenient truth about global warming created more than a few waves on the eco-front. It inspired the creation of other inauspicious documentaries highlighting Earth’s 11th hour as mankind continues to drains it of its natural resources. While his predecessors focused mostly on science, Yann Arthus-Bertrand takes a look at the bigger picture by providing a breath-taking bird's-eye view of the world and what is at stake if all is lost. Betrand and his team shot the film entirely from a helicopter flying across more than 50 countries around the world over the span of three years. The award-winning photographer so impressed PPR CEO Francoise Henri-Pinault that Pinault’s French luxury company contributed approximately $14 million to Betrand’s project so that the film could be distributed worldwide for free today on World Environment Day. Pinault’s wife, Salma Hayek, also narrates the Spanish version of the film while Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Sergio Rossi, all owned by PPR, designed limited edition pieces made from sustainable materials. Proceeds from the sales of these items will go towards Good Planet.

"HOME" premieres tonight on the National Geographic Channel and on YouTube.

Buzz Aldrin Stars in New Louis Vuitton and Omega Campaigns

In honor of the 40th anniversary of man’s historical first steps on the moon in 1969, luxury companies are snatching up former astronaut Buzz Aldrin for their Fall Campaigns.
Louis Vuitton has been known to use shocking figureheads outside the realm of celebrity and beauty before, like their 2007 ad campaign with Mikhail Gorbachev, but Buzz Aldrin—shot by Annie Leibovitz—is certainly the coolest one yet. Omega’s ties to Aldrin date back to the actual moon landing when Aldrin famously wore an Omega Speedmaster to the moon. It was the only watch tested by NASA that was discovered to be compatible with the lunar environment. To celebrate this achievement Omega will launch a limited edition of 69 platinum versions of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 “40th Anniversary” watch. And that’s plenty to buzz about!

Black Beauty

A goth resurgence is in the air with vampire themed hit book series turned film, Twilight and the HBO series, True Blood and even the Fall 2009 collections which were dominated by black. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times? No doubt, and cosmetic companies are catching on with everyone from M.A.C and Chanel to YSL putting out dark lipstick for Fall in deep purples to shades that are dangerously close to black. YSL has its wine colored tinted gloss called PruneFrappé while M.A.C’s statement makers are Rock Star and Here I Am. Chanel was so inspired by this season’s dark overtones that they’re putting out about four different variations all of which are so dark they’re virtually black with names like Oriental and Maniac. This season we can all look like Marilyn…Manson that is.

Bernard Arnault’s Wife Hits the Books

Hélène Mercier Arnault is probably best known as the second wife of French luxury billionaire, Bernard Arnault (who happens to be the richest man in all of France). But, Hélène is in fact a well-accomplished woman herself as a classically trained concert pianist with international acclaim. This month, Arnault will release her memoir entitled, “Au Fil des Notes” (“As the Music Flows” in English) in which she will not only discuss her love of music but will also cover everything from her bourgeois upbringing in Quebec, her youth in New York to living la vie bohème in a studio in Paris and her first encounter with Bernard Arnault. Unfortunately, for a look into her colorful and privileged life you will have to know French bien sûr, as it is currently only being published in France by French publishing house Plons.

Paul Smith Bunny Bins

At the Super Contemporary Exhibition in London which is being sponsored by the Design Museum and Beefeater 24, twelve new innovative commissioned designs by various London designers are on display now through October 4th . The cheekiest of them all? Paul Smith’s five foot tall Bunny Bins—public trash cans designed as bunnies whose red ears light up whenever something is thrown into the receptacle. The idea in mind is that by making trash cans fun it will give city dwellers a new incentive to keep the city sparkling clean. The Bunny Bins will also be in Covent Garden and Holland Park through October 4th. Not bad for some rubbish!
www.designmuseum.org

A Cuter Khaki?

The 'Khaki Swings' ads were amazing. The Claire Danes campaign, not so much. Can Gap make Khaki sing again?

CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Alexander Wang, Vena Cava, and Albertus Swanepoel designed khaki pieces for this year's installment of Gap's Design Editions series. The word "khakis" often conjures images of bad summer camp shorts and Disney World tourists. But no longer are khakis to men what mom jeans are to women. Gap's new khaki pieces are actually pretty cute. They won't be enough tosave the entire company from itself, but they're a solid start. Alexander Wang did a motorcycle jacket, Vena Cava did dresses, and Albertus did hats. Check them out in the slideshow. What do you think?

Name to Know: Dror Benshetrit

Tel Aviv-born, Eindhoven-educated, and New York-based Dror Benshetrit is showing off his Isaac Mizrahi-style high/low range. 

After making a splash at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair with his crowd-pleasing crumpled felt peacock chair for Cappellini, the designer and founder of Studio Dror this month sees the launch of his sprawling range of affordable homegoods for Target. The limited-edition "Dror for Target" range includes bedding, decorative accessories, and stationery in a palette of brown, raspberry, plum, and aqua. Among the items that caught our eye? A modular shelving system (pictured above) that can be configured to fit a range of environments and functions. At $89.99 per set, it's the most expensive item in the 23-product collection, which also includes 99-cent mini-composition books and pillows that flip from abstract patterns to pixellated birds or butterflies, depending on your appetite for fauna and figuration. More Dror-designed Target merch is featured after the jump.

Open Classic

Case Study House #8, better known as the Mondrian-inspired house and living laboratory of Charles and Ray Eames, will be open to the public for one week only beginning Jun 12.

Located in the Pacific Palisades, you can tour the exterior of the stunning Case Study House #8 Monday through Saturday as long as you schedule an appointment at least 48 hours in advance by calling 310.459.9663.

The off-the-shelf industrial-parts exterior spawned a whole movement who's influence is obvious in modern day prefab homes and the green movement; they've even been honored with their own postage stamps. What's so charming about this home is that it was one that was actually lived and worked in. There was stuff on the tables and the shelves, it wasn't ever a minimal, stark space. It was always full of life and inspiration. We think it would make a great weekend outing.

Highline Set to Open June 10

Its been almost 10 years coming, but thanks to generous donations, including this week's $10 M pledge from Diane von Furstenburg and Barry Diller, the Highline is a reality.

Check out this slideshow to see it's progression

CFDA Nominees

In a startling flash of obviousness, Craig McDean shot all the designers in their own designs for the CFDA journal. 

The award ceremony will take place on June 17. Check out the nominees:

2009 Womenswear Designer of the Year:
Marc Jacobs
Narciso Rodriguez
Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy

2009 Menswear Designer of the Year:
Calvin Klein Collection’s Italo Zucchelli
Michael Bastian
Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders

2009 Accessory Designer of the Year:
Marc Jacobs
Vera Wang
Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez

Swarovski Award for Womenswear:
Thakoon Panichgul
Alexander Wang
Jason Wu

Swarovski Award for Menswear:
Patrick Ervell
Robert Geller
Tim Hamilton

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: 
Albertus Q. Swanepoel
Alejandro Ingelmo
Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry.

International Award:
Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award:
Anna Sui

Eugenia Sheppard Award:
Women’s Wear Daily editor in chief Edward Nardoza

Eleanor Lambert Award:
Jim Moore, creative director of GQ magazine

Bag Lady and the Queen

Handbag designer Anya Hindmarch received her Member of the Order of the British Empire, which was pinned on by the Queen herself (yes, that Queen) earlier today at Buckingham Palace in London, England. Hindmarch was awarded the MBE for her contribution to the British fashion industry, which is significant, to say the least. Though, we highly doubt she toted her "I'm not a Plastic Bag" canvas carryall -- the design that really put AH on the international fashion map -- for the occasion. The Brit designer describes the recognition as "Such a fantastic honour and a really special experience. It made me feel so proud to be British!" As it should.  This kind of blows away having your designs carried on the red carpet or out to the supermarket, no?

The Other Show at ICP: David Seidner

There has been considerable attention given to the current Richard Avedon exhibition at The International Center for Photography in New York. But the concurrent show of David Seidner's pictures of historic French fashion mannequins captivates

In 1944, the war-battered French couture industry decided to revive its international reputation by conceiving a small exhibition entitled Théâtre de la Mode. The exhibition organizer enlisted the major fashion designers of the day, including Jeanne Lanvin, Lucien Lelong, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Pierre Balmain to create outfits for small wire-frame dolls just over two feet tall.

The exhibition of over 230 dolls, displayed in artist-designed sets, opened in Paris on March 27, 1945 at the Museum of Decorative Arts. It was an instant sensation, and traveled to London, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, New York, and San Francisco. With the return of the French fashion industry, the dolls had completed their work and were donated to the Maryhill Museum near Portland, Oregon, where they disappeared from view.

Under an extraordinary set of circumstances in 1990, the dolls were rediscovered and returned to Paris, recoiffed and restyled for an exhibition at the Musée de la Mode. Because of his pioneering work with French fashion and historical gowns, David Seidner was asked to photograph the little dolls. Working in the rough interior of an abandoned theatre set, Seidner captured the essence of French style in dolls dressed in designs made on the eve of Christian Dior's New Look, which radically changed fashion in 1947. ICP will exhibit fifteen of Seidner's color photographs from the David Seidner Archive in the Permanent Collection, along with one of the original dolls.

SEE SLIDESHOW