Thursday, January 31, 2008

Signe Karl

What can be said about Monsieur Karl Lagefeld that hasn't been said? He's a creative giant, a genius. A truly inspired man. Every season, I look forward to seeing what he will come up with for the House of Chanel. Chanel in my opinion, is the pinnacle of fashion. It's one of the houses that remains stoic and true to the vision of Madame Coco Chanel. The look is instantly identifiable and unique. No one else does what Chanel does. No one else would dare try. It is one of my goals to meet this man and tell him in person just how much I admire and respect him.

I'm not the only one fascinated with Karl. A new documentary, Lagerfeld Confidential
was recently released about Karl's life. I haven't seen it (waiting patiently on the film to be released in my area) but I will probably end up purchasing the DVD. Karl was also the star of
Signe Chanel, a film about the creation of the Fall 2005 collection.

In case you haven't seen that, here's a clip:


To Karl, with love.

Iconic Style: Just Dita

This is the first post in a series called Iconic Style, my best dressed list. So move over Mr. Blackwell!

Once upon a time, there was a little girl with a big imagination who dreamed of wearing lingerie and high heels and vintage confections like the Hollywood glamazons of old. That little girl grew up to become the best dressed woman in the world today. Bar none. If you don't already know who I'm talking about, then Town & Runway has a lot of work to do! I'm talking about none other than Dita. Dita von Teese that is. The iconic raven-haired beauty who is on the fast track to becoming one of those people who no longer needs a last name. Just Dita.

"I’m the same person as when I was a kid; I just look different. I became fascinated by old movies when I was very little, but I didn’t want to be a movie star – I wanted to be the women they played in those movies. I wanted that glamour in my life. I remember thinking, why can’t I dress like that every day? Look how amazing she is, and look at the power that she has. I pored over old pictures for inspiration, and I became a burlesque artist because I loved the retro aspect of it. I loved playing dress-up. It fulfilled many different aspects of me. I didn’t do it because I wanted to be famous, because that’s when you fail – when your drive comes from the wrong place."

I'm not sure when I first discovered Dita, but it was love at first couture. She shocked my senses with her defiantly glamorous style. I became even more enamored when I discovered that Dita is a self-created work of art. The queen of burlesque doesn't use a glam squad and learned to perfect her look by simply practicing in a mirror. "I'm working on my second book, which is about glamour and eccentric beauty. I felt like there are a lot of beauty books out there that tell you the right way to wear your makeup, and I want to tell people how they can create glamour in their lives, and that breaking the rules is sometimes the best way. I don't work with a stylist, I don't work with a glam squad to get me together for the red carpet, I really enjoy the time it takes to do it myself, to choose my clothes and do my own makeup and my own hair. I think that I have a lot of female fans who want to know how they can create '40s waves and paint a perfect cat-eye themselves. You look at the red carpet and say "Oh, it took 12 people to get them there," and it did, but they didn't need to have 12 people. If you really set your mind to it, you can do it yourself. I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the rules."

For girls like me with somewhat sheltered upbringings who were raised on classic movies where propriety was the order of the day, or simply for fashionistas, Dita is a breath of fresh air. She's an inspiration for anyone who dreamed of morphing into a larger than life screen legend. She's a testament that it is possible. Anything in life is possible. I'm sure when Dita first started incorporating her glamorous style into her life, people around her probably didn't "get" her. I can imagine her peers or colleagues snickering at the contrast of her dark hair against her cool white skin or her penchant for french lace pantyhose and unique hats. But, when you know you've got something special, criticism no longer bothers you. You hold your center. You believe with all your heart that yes, you can be your authentic self without fear of ridicule. And now as Dita jets around the world being heralded as one of the most interesting celebrities to come along in an age of celluloid brats. She is a spokesperson for many luxe brands. She performs her innovative striptease routines to packed audiences. She's an author. A muse.

She is a testament to the fact that if you want to get to the tops of the fashion ranks, you have to be what most people perceive to be a caricature of yourself. But, it's actually your truest self. Dita, you never fail to disappoint with your daring and bold fashion choices. I salute you.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Town & Runway

Welcome to my niche on the web. Town & Runway is the web-zine where the glamorous lifestyle meets the runway. My eclectic interests will be featured here: fashion, beauty, jet-set travel, exclusive events, philanthropy, high society, fine wine, and more. I firmly believe in living a chic life and strive to add a little beauty and culture to my life every day. Whether it's curling up with a good book and a glass of Bergerac, attending opening night of the opera or taking a jaunt across to Atlantic for a week of R&R in your favorite European city, do whatever it takes to inspire you. I can't wait to get started. Please visit often!