Well Shod, Well Imformed

TEARS, TANTRUMS AND TRIUMPHS!

In breaking news…

MAJOR UPSETS at this year’s BFC Awards with both The Beloved (Nicholas Kirkwood) and The Great Dane (Camilla Skvogaard) leaving the ceremony empty handed.

Mon Dieu...Quelle Horreur!

Kirkwood lost out to Katie Hillier and (what should have been) Skovgaard’s BFC award went to Holly Fulton.

On the upside, Vogue UK tweeted that British Model Karen Elson ‘fell THROUGH the stage’ while presenting (the amazing) Grace Coddington with the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator of the Year.

Stitt Storm or Drunk?

Much to the displeasure of the Despotic Queen, there was neither humiliation nor hilarity this morning at the Australian Fashion Laureate ceremony.

With their bold prints and their long-held commitment to ‘ethical fashion’ this year’s recipients, Brisbane’s Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson of Easton Pearson (above), truly are great Australian innovators…let’s hope they decide to bring that ‘innovation’ back to next years RAFW!

Congratulations to Pamela and Lydia.

WILL TANGENT BE LEFT RED FACED BY 'BLACKFACE' COVER?

What appears to be the second cover of Australian fashion e-zine, TANGENT MAG has leaked and it’s a whooper.

Featuring a unidentifiable model (her id obscured by blackface makeup), the e-zine’s creators seem to have taken inspiration from (the highly controversial) October issue of Vogue Paris, that featured Dutch model Lara Stone in blackface make up.

Unfortunately (I guess it depends on how you look at it) for TANGENT's creators, the Steven Klein editorial created such a furore and prompted swift condemnation from industry insiders and media.

Both Klein and Vogue Paris's Editor-in-Chief, Carine Roitfeld were criticized for being ‘culturally insensitive’ and ‘tactless’. While the harshest criticism was delivered by US website Jezebel, “It's kind of sickening to think that minstrelsy has become just another "reference" for po-mo fashion editorials to "appropriate" to show how "edgy" they are, "conceptually."

Since the issue of ‘blackface’ remains, thanks to television show Hey Hey it’s Saturday and Harry Connick, Jr. a hot button issue with the Australian media, Imelda can’t help but wonder, is the 'blackface' cover simply a conscience attempt at courting controversy, in order to garner publicity for the fledgling publication?

If so…I’d suggest they batten down the hatches because the 'Hey Hey' black-lash was as fast as it was furious!

Neither TANGENT Editor-in-Chief, Heather Cairns nor Creative Director, Emmanuel Giraud were available for comment.

UPDATED - A spokesperson from TANGENT MAG has confirmed the above image will be the publications second cover. The spokesperson also denied the image was part a publicity offensive, saying that the editorial was inspired by “chess pieces” and that creator was unaware of the recent furore (created by ‘Hey Hey it’s Saturday’).

SKOVGAARD & KIRKWOOD, BFA SHOE INS!

The Great Dane (aka Camilla Skovgaard) and The Beloved (aka Nicholas Kirkwood) are gloving up for an electrifying showdown at this years BFA ceremony.

Whilst nominated in separate categories (Skovgaard - Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Accessories and Kirkwood - Accessory Designer of the Year) Imelda’s pantalettes are soaked at the thought of these two footwear supernovas FINALLY bumping heels and dueling-to-the-death over who the Despotic Queen loves more!

However, the Despotic Queen doeth suspect Kirkwood’s omnipresent companion ‘The Gate Keeper’ will be on-hand to ensure neither designer ends the night stilettoed ala Single White Female.

With those sweet sounding rumours of Skovgaard’s appointment to Balmain (as CD of Accessories) doing the rounds over at The Fashion Spot, could a win at this year’s BFAs finally give French Vogue Editor in Chief, Carine Roitfeld and Balmain licensee Giuseppe Zanotti the confidence to green light the appointment?

Like Skovgaard, the blistering haute Kirkwood has enjoyed a profitable year (despite the econo-misery) including picking up two new accounts in Australia and he continues to collect accolades like Imelda collects scalps.

Skovgaard and Kirkwood are such red-hot favorites (in their respective categories) that Imelda suggests they may want to considering clearing a space in the ‘good room’.

The Despotic Queen wishes to congratulate both designers and ask they pardon the appalling pun!

LMFF PRIORITIZE THE OH-SO FASHIONABLE SOCIAL MEDIA SET

LMFF may be 5 months away but according to the event organizers, Australia’s largest ‘consumer attended fashion week’ event is already shaping up to be a social media bonanza.

Talking to Imelda, AMPR Senior Account Consultant Ben Handberg said “the online community is a priority for LMFF”. Handberg went on to confirm that event organisers are seeking to “actively foster and look after the online community”, the PR Consultant also revealed next year’s festival will involve “much more online content”

However, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘which international blogger will be bought out to cover the event?’

This morning, event organisers circulated an email announcing that ‘international guests will be revealed’ at the event’s media launch next Tuesday.

It would be fair to suggest LMFF organisers have taken close note of the publicity boon generated by Scott Schuman and Les Mads, who as part of Tourism Australia’s ‘opinion leader incitive’ were bought to Australia during RAFW. One would also imagine LMFF have made note of the publicity Filipino blogger (and Imelda’s 3^rd World Home Gurl) Bryan Boy bought to this years MSFW.

When questioned if the international guests would be on par with RAFW’s ‘international guests’ Handberg replied “It looks that way”.

While Tourism Australia’s Advocacy Manager, Trinity Scarf, has confirmed TA’s involvement, “Yes I will be working with LMFF to bring out a blogger but we haven't together finalized who it will be”

However, LMFF organizers were quick to quash (but not dispel) the rumor that event would be hosting a ‘fashion blogger’ with a spokesperson saying, “LMFF are currently negotiating with a number of social media opinion leaders”.

While it does seem like international sponsorship (to fashion events) is the new retail window installation, the spokesperson from LMFF did temper my journalistic enthusiasm by stating that LMFF’s business events and seminars were a ‘priority’ for the ‘international guests’.

This suggests that should LMFF be hosting a fashion blogger the he/she will be of serious note.

While all will be revealed next Tuesday including the festival Ambassador, Imelda can reveal that world famous fashion photographer (and friend of the Despotic Queen) Sonny Vandevelde will be exhibiting his backstage (and theft worthy) photography as part of the festival’s art program.

So between the festivals new push into social media, international guests and Sonny I’d say we’ve got the makings a fine looking fashion festival.