Gloria Vanderbilt, the fashion icon who was also known as the mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, died of stomach cancer in her New York home. She was 95.
According to the Associated Press, Cooper issued this statement: “Gloria Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman, who loved life, and lived it on her own terms. She was a painter, a writer, and designer but also a remarkable mother, wife, and friend. She was 95 years old, but ask anyone close to her, and they’d tell you, she was the youngest person they knew, the coolest, and most modern.”
Vanderbilt was an heiress whose father, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, died when she was a 1-year-old. Her mother (Gloria Morgan) and aunt (Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, sister Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt) were locked in a custody battle over Gloria, with the legal conflict making headlines worldwide. The custody battle, which was eventually won by Whitney, led to Gloria being called a “poor little rich girl” in the media.
Gloria went on to become a successful fashion designer, who was best known for her self-titled brand of designer jeans, as well as her line of fragrances. Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are credited with launching the designer jeans craze in the late 1970s. (She sold her fashion brand in the 1980s.) She was also an actress, artist and author.
Married four times, her first three marriages (to publicist Pasquale di Cicco, orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski, filmmaker Sidney Lumet) ended in divorce. Her fourth marriage to author Wyatt Cooper ended in 1978 when he died at the age of 50. She had four sons: Stanislaus and Christopher (from her marriage to Stokowski) and Anderson and Carter (from her marriage to Cooper). In 1988, Carter tragically committed suicide in front of her by jumping from a building. He was 23. Gloria and her son Anderson starred in the 2016 HBO documentary “Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper.” The documentary is available on HBO’s on-demand services. HBO will televise the documentary again on June 20, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Gloria was surrounded by friends and family when she died, according to her son Anderson, who gave an emotional tribute to her on CNN.
Jennifer Lopez at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
The following is a press release from Council of Fashion Designers of America:
On June 3, 2019, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) celebrated the winners and honorees of the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Hasan Minhaj and Jessica Williams joined the evening’s presenter lineup, which also included Yara Shahidi, Bernadette Peters, and Tom Ford.
Jessica Williams presented the evening’s Womenswear Designer of the Year award to Brandon Maxwell, and the Accessory Designer of the Year award to Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row. Hasan Minhaj presented the Menswear Designer of the Year award to Rick Owens, and the Emerging Designer of the Year award to Emily Adams Bode for Bode.
Jennifer Lopez was named Fashion Icon, presented by Tom Ford.
Harold Koda presented Lynn Yaeger with the Media Award.
Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen was recognized with the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti International Award, presented by Anna Wintour.
Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti are generously underwriting the International Award through their foundation, the non-profit Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti which is focused on charity and the promotion of culture and art.
The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bob Mackie by Bernadette Peters.
The Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert was presented to Carine Roitfeld by Tom Ford.
Barbie received the Board of Directors’ Tribute, which was presented by Yara Shahidi.
The Positive Change Award was presented to Eileen Fisher by Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne.
In one of the highlights of the evening, Michael Kors surprised outgoing CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg with a tribute before she handed over the organization’s Chairmanship to Tom Ford.
“I have been privileged to lead the CFDA for the last 13 years,” said Diane von Furstenberg. “In fashion, we are about glamorous entrances, but beautiful exits are equally important. I could not have wished for a better exit, a more glamorous upgrade, and a better successor than Tom Ford.”
“I am honored to be the new Chairman of the CFDA and excited about all the opportunities I see in the future of American fashion,” said Tom Ford, the new Chairman of the CFDA. I have spent most of my career living and working in Europe, but I am an American fashion designer at heart who started here on Seventh Avenue. When I was asked to take on this new role, I felt a sense of duty to give back to our industry and to support our designers and the American fashion system in any way that I can, and in particular to help the next generation of talent succeed.”
“Tonight, at the Brooklyn Museum, designers, business partners, friends, supporters and muses have come together to celebrate our industry,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “You have built American fashion into a cultural influence that drives our economy.”
The 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards red carpet was broadcast live on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Coverage of the ceremony was featured on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter as well as on www.cfda.com.
CFDA Diane von Furstenberg, Tom Ford, Steven Kolb
AWARDS PRESENTERS: Dao-Yi Chow, Tom Ford, Harold Koda, Hasan Minhaj, Maxwell Osborne, Bernadette Peters, Yara Shahidi, Jessica Williams, Anna Wintour
CFDA FASHION AWARDS NOMINEES: Womenswear Designer of the Year:Brandon Maxwell, Marc Jacobs, Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Rosie Assoulin, and Sander Lak for Sies Marjan. Menswear Designer of the Year:Mike Amiri for Amiri, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss, Rick Owens, and Thom Browne. Accessory Designer of the Year:Jennifer Fisher for Jennifer Fisher Jewelry, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, Tabitha Simmons, Telfar Clemens for Telfar, and Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row. Emerging Designer of the Year:Emily Adams Bode for Bode, Beth Bugdaycay for Foundrae, Heron Preston, Catherine Holstein for Khaite, and Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto for Staud.
HONOREES: Barbie, Sarah Burton, Eileen Fisher, Jennifer Lopez, Bob Mackie, Carine Roitfeld
DESIGNERS: Joseph Altuzarra, Fernando Garcia, Laura Kim, Giles Mendel, Jason Wu, Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Michael Kors, Nicola Glass, Rachel Zoe, Stacey Bendet, Stuart Vevers, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch, Wes Gordon, Zac Posen, Christian Siriano, LaQuan Smith, Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Thom Browne
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The CFDA Remembers segment honored the passing of Kate Spade, Oribe, Blake Nordstrom, Babs Simpson, Michael Vollbracht, Ruth Finley, Ira Neimark, Kevin Krier, Bud Konheim, Max Azria, Tony Staffieri, Frank Rizzo, Patrick McCarthy, Lee Radziwill, Karl Lagerfeld
Amanda Harlech gave a special tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.
As part of the CFDA’s commitment to design education, CFDA member Christian Siriano and Ashley Graham acknowledged the following scholarships and post-graduate opportunities and their recipients.
CFDA Scholarship Awards: Yimey Hu, Rhode Island School of Design; Jacques Agbobly, Parsons School of Design Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award: Samantha Diorio, Parsons School of Design Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award: Isabel Holden, Marist College Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award: Sloan Fox, Kent State University
ABOUT THE 2019 CFDA FASHION AWARDS Nominees, honorees, and winners were determined by the CFDA Awards Guild which is comprised of CFDA members, leading fashion journalists, stylists, and top retail executives.
KCD was Executive Producer of the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards. STUDIO DE-YAN provided the Ceremony Creative Direction, Graphics, Video Production & Experiential Design.
The official partners of the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards include: Official Hydration Partner, LIFEWTR Official Airline Partner, American Airlines Official Wine Partner, Ecco Domani Official Carpet Partner, ECONYL® Official Ride Share Partner, Lyft Official Spirit Sponsor, Maestro Dobel Tequila Official Champagne Partner, Perrier-Jouët Official Hotel Partner, The Standard
Yara Shahidi at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Tom Ford at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Tom Ford and Carine Roitfeld at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Jessica Williams at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Jennifer Lopez at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Hasan Minhaj and wife Beena Patel at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Harold Koda and Lynn Yaeger at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Gigi Hadid at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Eileen Fisher at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Diane von Furstenberg at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Ciara at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Brandon Maxwell at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Carine Roitfeld at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Bella Hadid at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Ashley Graham at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
Tan France and Alexa Chung of “Next in Fashion” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
The following is a press release from Netflix:
“Next In Fashion” is a high-stakes competition series coming soon to Netflix featuring some of the world’s best and quietly innovative designers who compete for a chance to become the next big name in fashion. Hosted by fashion designer and TV personality Tan France (“Queer Eye”) and designer, model and global style icon Alexa Chung, “Next in Fashion” begins with 18 designers who face challenges centering on a different trend or design style that has influenced the way the entire world dresses.
These talented contestants have worked for major brands and dressed A-list celebrities, and will now compete head-to-head to see who has the skill, originality and determination to win the grand prize: $250,000 and an opportunity to debut their collection with luxury fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.
“Next in Fashion” is created and produced by theoldschool and is Executive Produced by Robin Ashbrook and Yasmin Shackleton with co-Executive Producer Adam Cooper.
Additional Details:
Co-Hosts: Tan France and Alexa Chung
Guest Judges: Elizabeth Stewart and Eva Chen are recurring guest judges with additional guest judges to be announced at a later date
Executive Producers: Robin Ashbrook, Yasmin Shackleton and co-executive producer Adam Cooper
The 50th annual Costume Institute Gala, also known as the Met Gala, took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. Because the theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” guests were encouraged to dress in campy fashions. The event is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year, the Met Gala was co-chaired by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Serena Williams and Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele. Here are photo and video highlights from the event.
Kacey Musgraves and Gemma Chan at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Forevermark)
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Regina King at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Nina Dobrev at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Lucy Boynton at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Tom Brady at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
Demi Moore at the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Ensemble by Bertrand Guyon and headpiece by Stephen Jones for House of Schiaparelli, fall/winter 2018–19 haute couture. (Photo by Johnny Dufort, courtesy of Schiaparellia and The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
The following is a press release from the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
The Costume Institute’s spring 2019 exhibition, Camp: Notes on Fashion (on view from May 9 through September 8, 2019, and preceded on May 6 by The Costume Institute Benefit), explores the origins of camp’s exuberant aesthetic and how the sensibility evolved from a place of marginality to become an important influence on mainstream culture. Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp’” provides the framework for the exhibition, which examines how fashion designers have used their métier as a vehicle to engage with camp in a myriad of compelling, humorous, and sometimes incongruous ways.
The exhibition is made possible by Gucci.
Additional support is provided by Condé Nast.
“Camp’s disruptive nature and subversion of modern aesthetic values has often been trivialized, but this exhibition reveals that it has had a profound influence on both high art and popular culture,” said Max Hollein, Director of The Met. “By tracing its evolution and highlighting its defining elements, the show embodies the ironic sensibilities of this audacious style, challenges conventional understandings of beauty and taste, and establishes the critical role that this important genre has played in the history of art and fashion.”
In celebration of the opening, The Costume Institute Benefit—also known as The Met Gala—takes place on Monday, May 6. The evening’s co-chairs are Lady Gaga, Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, Serena Williams, and Anna Wintour. The event is The Costume Institute’s main source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and capital improvements.
“Fashion is the most overt and enduring conduit of the camp aesthetic,” said Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute. “Effectively illustrating Sontag’s ‘Notes on “Camp,”’ the exhibition advances creative and critical dialogue about the ongoing and ever-evolving impact of camp on fashion.”
Exhibition Overview The exhibition features approximately 250 objects, including womenswear and menswear, as well as sculptures, paintings, and drawings dating from the 17th century to the present. The show’s opening section positions Versailles as a “camp Eden” and address the concept of se camper—“to posture boldly”—in the royal courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV. It then focuses on the figure of the dandy as a “camp ideal” and traces camp’s origins to the queer subcultures of Europe and America in the late 19thand early 20th centuries. In her essay, Sontag defined camp as an aesthetic and outlined its primary characteristics. The second section of the exhibition is devoted to how these elements—which include irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration—are expressed in fashion.
Designers whose work is on view in the exhibition include Virgil Abloh (for Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh); Giorgio Armani (for Armani Privé); Manish Arora; Ashish; Christopher Bailey (for Burberry); Cristóbal Balenciaga; Thom Browne; Sarah Burton (for Alexander McQueen); Jean-Charles de Castelbajac; Antonio del Castillo (for Lanvin-Castillo); Dapper Dan (for Gucci); Christian Dior; Salvatore Ferragamo; John Galliano (for Maison Margiela, House of Dior, and John Galliano); Jean Paul Gaultier; Nicolas Ghesquière (for Louis Vuitton); Odile Gilbert (for Jean Paul Gaultier); Edda Gimnes and Manuel Vadillo (for EDDA); Molly Goddard; Bertrand Guyon (for House of Schiaparelli); Demna Gvasalia (for Balenciaga and VETEMENTS); Johnson Hartig (for Libertine); Deirdre Hawken; Pam Hogg; Marc Jacobs; Rossella Jardini (for House of Moschino); Stephen Jones (for Giles Deacon, John Galliano, and House of Schiaparelli); Christopher Kane; Patrick Kelly; Ada Kokosar; Christian Lacroix; Karl Lagerfeld (for House of Chanel and Chloé); Mary Katrantzou; Rei Kawakubo (for Comme des Garçons); Tomo Koizumi; Bob Mackie; Martin Margiela; Stella McCartney (for Chloé); Alexander McQueen (for Givenchy); Alessandro Michele (for Gucci); Edward Molyneux; Erdem Moralioglu (for Erdem); Franco Moschino; Thierry Mugler; Alejandro Goméz Palomo (for Palomo Spain); JiSun Park and KyuYong Shin (for Blindness); Marjan Pejoski; Phoebe Philo (for Céline); Paul Poiret; Gareth Pugh; Richard Quinn; Traver Rains and Richie Rich (for Heatherette); Zandra Rhodes; William Dill-Russell; Yves Saint Laurent; Elsa Schiaparelli; Jeremy Scott (for Moschino and Jeremy Scott); Hedi Slimane (for Saint Laurent); Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren (for Viktor & Rolf); Anna Sui; Jun Takahashi (for Undercover); Michael Travis; Philip Treacy; Giambattista Valli; Walter Van Beirendonck; Patric DiCaprio, Claire Sullivan, and Bryn Taubensee (for Vaquera); Gianni Versace; and Vivienne Westwood.
Exhibition Credits The exhibition is organized by Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute; with Karen Van Godtsenhoven, Associate Curator; and Amanda Garfinkel, Assistant Curator. Theater scenographer Jan Versweyveld, whose work includes Lazarus with David Bowie as well as Broadway productions of A View from the Bridge and Network, created the exhibition design with The Met’s Design Department, and consulted on the gala décor with Raul Avila, who has produced the décor since 2007. All headdresses are specially created for the exhibition by Stephen Jones.
Related Content A publication by Andrew Bolton with Fabio Cleto, Karen Van Godtsenhoven, and Amanda Garfinkel accompanies the exhibition and includes new photography by Johnny Dufort. It is published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and distributed by Yale University Press.
A special feature on the Museum’s website, www.metmuseum.org/Camp, provides further information about the exhibition. Follow us on Facebook.com/metmuseum, Instagram.com/metmuseum, and Twitter.com/metmuseum to join the conversation about the exhibition and gala. Use #MetCamp, #CostumeInstitute, @MetCostumeInstitute, and #MetGala on Instagram and Twitter.
About Gucci Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands, with a reputation for creativity, innovation, and Italian craftsmanship. Gucci is part of Kering, a global Luxury group, which manages the development of a series of renowned maisons in fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and watches.
About The Met The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world in three New York City locations—The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters. Since it was founded in 1870, the Museum has brought art to life in its galleries and through exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and cultures.
Adidas and Beyoncé have announced a multi-layered partnership that will include inspiring and empowering the next generation of creators, driving positive change in the world through sport, and identifying new business opportunities.
“This is the partnership of a lifetime for me,” said Beyoncé. “Adidas has had tremendous success in pushing creative boundaries. We share a philosophy that puts creativity, growth and social responsibility at the forefront of business. I look forward to re-launching and expanding Ivy Park on a truly global scale with a proven, dynamic leader.”
Beyoncé and Adidas are natural partners, both with a deep respect for and commitment to creativity, equity and creators. Neither ascribes to the typical stereotypes of athletes and what athleisure clothing and footwear should be, and instead, will bring to life a shared vision of inclusion that will forever alter the opportunities and landscape for all.
The partnership will result in the co-creation of exciting new products – from performance to lifestyle – and a unique purpose-driven program focused on empowering and enabling the next generation of athletes, creators and leaders. Meaningful and rich storytelling will be the foundation for both Beyoncé’s collection with Adidas as well as the re-launch of her Ivy Park brand. This partnership respects Beyoncé’s ownership of her company which continues her journey as one of the first black women to be the sole owner of an athleisure brand.
“As the creator sports brand, Adidas challenges the status quo and pushes the limits of creativity through its open source approach. Beyoncé is an iconic creator but also a proven business leader, and together, we have the ability to inspire change and empower the next generation of creators,” said Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member – Global Brands, Adidas
Adidas is excited to welcome Beyoncé to the family!
About Adidas Adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry with the core brands Adidas and Reebok. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs 57,000 people across the globe and generated sales of around € 22 billion in 2018.
About Parkwood Entertainment Parkwood Entertainment is an entertainment and management company founded by entertainer and entrepreneur, Beyoncé in 2010. With headquarters in New York City the company houses departments in music and video production, management, marketing, digital, creative, philanthropy, publicity and a newly formed record label. Under its original name, Parkwood Pictures, in 2008, the company released the film Cadillac Records (2008), in which Beyoncé starred and co-produced. The company also released the film, Obsessed (2009), with Beyoncé as star and executive producer. Parkwood Entertainment produced The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013-2014) and The Formation World Tour (2016), and co-produced the On the Run Tour (2014) and On the Run II (2018).
Models at the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show in New York City (Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC)
Victoria’s Secret is experiencing a very public meltdown. The world’s most famous lingerie brand is closing up to 53 stores in North America in 2019, due to a decline in sales. According to Business Insider, most of the stores are located in shopping malls, which have been experiencing their own major financial problems in recent years. Although Victoria’s Secret has swimwear and sportswear, the company’s core business is still lingerie. In November 2018, Victoria’s Secret Lingerie appointed John Mehas its CEO. He replaced Jan Singer, who was with the company for two years.
Meanwhile, PINK—the Victoria’s Secret brand targeted to millennials—has become a big flop. Jefferies analyst Randal Konik told investors that sales for PINK in fell in the “low double digits” for the fourth quarter of 2018, according to Business Insider. Konik gave investors this bleak view of PINK after he attended a PINK consumer event at New Jersey’s Rutgers University on March 29, 2019: “Our visit to Rutgers University on 3/29 shows the PINK brand without fans and rudderless. We believe PINK sales may be cut in half or more within the next 12-24 months.”
So why has Victoria’s Secret been losing so much business? In December 2018, Business Insider reported that it’s a combination of reasons, such as complaints about bad customer service, the declining quality of the clothes and the company’s alienating image that women are “sexy” only if they look like the thin women who are hired to be Victoria’s Secret models. It didn’t help that L Brands chief marketing officer Ed Razek told Vogue in 2018 that there were no plans for Victoria Secret to have plus-sized on transgender models, and that Victoria’s Secret was not going to add plus-sizes because L Brands already has retail brand Lane Bryant, whose specialty is plus-sized women’s clothing. (What he didn’t mention in the interview is that Lane Bryant is also experiencing financial difficulties and store closures.)
Simply put: In an era where consumers are demanding more inclusive representation, Victoria’s Secret has been increasingly perceived as old-fashioned, out-of-touch and over-priced.
TV ratings for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show have also been on a rapid decline. The show, which debuted in 1995, wasn’t televised until 2001, when it got 12.4 million U.S. viewers on ABC. It remains the highest-rated Victoria’s Secret show for a single TV network, according to Nielsen. CBS televised the show in 2002, 2003 and from 2005 to 2017. During those years, the ratings ranged from 10.5 million U.S. viewers (in 2002) to 5 million U.S. viewers (in 2017). ABC picked up the show in 2018, when it had 3.3 million U.S viewers.
Here’s a partial list of the Victoria’s Secret stores that are confirmed to close in 2019, according to Business Insider:
Astoria, New York: 31-35 Steinway Street
Clay, New York: Great Northern Mall, 4155 NY-31
Washington, DC: 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW
Reston, Virginia: Reston Town Center, 11929 Market, Suite 50
Richmond, Virginia: Stony Point Fashion Park, 9200 Stony Point Parkway
Glen Allen, Virginia: Virginia Center Commons, 10101 Brook Road
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Myrtle Beach Mall, 10177 N. Kings Highway
Knoxville, Tennessee: West Town Mall, 7600 Kingston Pike
The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced today that Tom Ford will be the next Chairman of the CFDA, effective June, 2019.
Ford was ratified by the CFDA Board during a meeting at the CFDA offices earlier today. He succeeds CFDA’s current Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg.
Tom Ford is an award-winning fashion designer, film director, screenwriter, and film producer. In April 2005, the American born designer announced the creation of his eponymous luxury brand, beginning with menswear. Today, the TOM FORD brand offers a complete collection of Menswear, as well as Womenswear, Accessories, Eyewear, Beauty and most recently underwear and timepieces.Ford previously served as the Creative Director of Gucci Group, where he designed for luxury houses Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent until 2004.
Ford, who began his career as a design assistant for CFDA Member Cathy Hardwick, has been a member of the CFDA since 2000. He has won a total of seven CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year (2015, 2008), Womenswear Designer of the Year (2001), Accessory Designer of the Year (2002), Board of Director’s Tribute (2004), International Designer of the Year (1995), and the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (2014). Ford has shown his collections in London, Los Angeles, and New York.
“I have had the privilege of being a member of the American Fashion community for many years and have experienced what the CFDA does for its members and the industry as a whole,” Tom Ford said. “Having lived and worked in each of the global fashion capitals of the world, I look forward to working with the Board of Directors to further the voice of American Fashion and its designers. As the Chairman, I look forward to continuing the incredible work Diane has done over the last 13 years. Diane is a true force and her contribution to the CFDA and to American fashion is immeasurable. We all owe her a great deal.”
“I am so excited that Tom Ford has agreed to come and lead the CFDA,” Diane von Furstenberg said. “American Fashion could not wish for a better visionary to further grow its impact in the global landscape. Tom is a role model for all of us, and we are very lucky to have him as the next Chairman of the CFDA.”
“Diane has been an incredible partner who helped build CFDA into a world class organization,” CFDA President and CEO Steven Kolb said. “I’m excited to now work with Tom to further strengthen the organization and support American designers with new creative and business opportunities.”
Von Furstenberg was named President of the CFDA in 2006 and became Chairwoman in 2015. Past CFDA Presidents were Stan Herman, Carolyne Roehm, Perry Ellis, Mary McFadden, Bill Blass, Herbert Kasper, Oscar de la Renta, Norman Norell, and Sydney Wragge.
About the CFDA The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962 with a membership with 500 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, the organization owns the Fashion Calendar and is the organizer of the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule. It also offers programs which support professional development and scholarships. Member support is provided through the Strategic Partnerships Group, a group of high-profile companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes and engage in civic initiatives. For more information, please visit www.CFDA.com, facebook.com/cfda, instagram.com/cfda, twitter.com/cfda, cfda.tumblr.com, and youtube.com/cfdatv
About TOM FORD In April 2005, Tom Ford announced the creation of the TOM FORD brand. Ford was joined in this venture by former Gucci Group President and Chief Executive Officer Domenico De Sole, who serves as Chairman of the company. In that same year, Ford announced his partnership with Marcolin Group to produce and distribute optical frames and sunglasses, as well as an alliance with Estee Lauder to create the TOM FORD beauty brand. In April 2007, his first directly owned flagship store opened in New York at 845 Madison Avenue and coincided with the debut of the TOM FORD menswear and accessory collection. In September 2010, during an intimate presentation at his Madison Avenue flagship. Ford presented his much-anticipated womenswear collection. Presently there are over 100 freestanding TOM FORD stores and shop-in-shops in locations such as: London, Milan, Zurich, Munich, Rome, New York, Toronto, Beverly Hills, Puerto Banus, Moscow, Osaka, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Baku, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Montreal, San Francisco, Beirut, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Dehli, Kowloon, Beijing and Sydney.
Check out what these celebrities were wearing on the red carpet and who some of them brought as their dates.
Lady Gaga at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Olivia Colman (pictured at right) and husband Ed Sinclair at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Christian Bale and wife Sibi Blazic at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Christine Lahti at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Terry Crews and wife Rebecca King-Crews at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Bradley Cooper (center) with mother Gloria Campano and girlfriend Irina Shayk at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
John Mulaney (pictured at right) and wife Annamarie Tendler at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Holland Taylor at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Krysten Ritter at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Dana Carvey and wife Paula Zwagerman at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Laura Dern at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Emily Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Caleb Deschanel and May Jo Deschanel at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Samuel L. Jackson at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Viggo Mortensen (center) with son Henry Mortensen and girlfriend Ariadna Gil at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Brie Larson at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Javier Bardem at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Mike Myers and wife Kelly Tisdale at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Alfonso Cuarón (center) with wife Annalisa Bugliani and son Olmo Cuarón at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Amy Adams (pictured at right) with husband Darren Le Gallo at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
David Oyelowo (pictured at right) with wife Jessica Oyelowo at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Jennifer Hudson at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Glenn Close at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Kacey Musgraves at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Linda Cardellini at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Trudie Styler at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Jenifer Lewis at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Billy Porter and husband Adam Smith at the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (Photo by Rick Rowell/ABC)
Karl Lagerfeld (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Karl Lagerfeld—the iconic fashion designer who was the longtime creative force behind Chanel, Fendi, Chloé and his own Karl Lagerfeld Paris label—died at the American Hospital of Paris in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine on February 19, 2019. The cause of death has not yet been officially revealed, but several media outlets are reporting that he had pancreatic cancer. Although his age at the time of his death has been widely reported as 85, the Associated Press reports that Lagerfeld had two birth certificates—one that lists his birth year as 1933 and the other as 1938—and it has not been verified which one is authentic.
Karl Lagerfeld and Nicki Minaj in Elle’s July 2018 issue (Photo by Karl Lagerfeld)
What is known for sure is that Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg, Germany, to a successful industrialist father and a violinist mother. He went to school in Paris, and apprenticed at Balmain before joining Patou in 1965. Lagerfeld joined Fendi in 1965, and later became the Italian design company’s creative director. He then made his mark at French label Chloe, followed by his career high point as creative director of the legendary Chanel company, beginning in 1983.
Lagerfeld started his own eponymous fashion label (Karl Largerfeld Paris) in 1984, and remained its creative director after it was sold to the Tommy Hilfiger Company in 2005. In addition to being a fashion designer and entrepreneur, Lagerfeld was an author and photographer. At the height of his fame, he became known for his eccentric personal fashion style, which included wearing a ponytail, mostly black clothes and always wearing sunglasses and gloves in public. Even though he was widely admired in the fashion world, Lagerfeld also had his share of critics and made statements that were considered racially or culturally offensive. In August 2018, the New York Times published a blistering critique of Lagerfeld that questioned why more people weren’t boycotting his work because of offensive comments he has made over the years.
Lagerfeld, who was openly gay, never married and did not have children. However, he famously treated his Birman cat called Choupette as if she were a human child. Lagerfeld’s health had been the subject of speculation after he did not take his traditional final bow at Chanel’s fashion show in Paris on January 22, 2019. Chanel’s studio director Virginie Viard walked in Lagerfeld’s place instead. Chanel announced after Lagerfeld’s death that Viard has been promoted and will replace him at Chanel. Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld Paris have not yet announced who will replace Lagerfeld at their respective companies. Lagerfled’s last Fendi collection will be shown in Milan, Italy, on February 21, 2019.
