Peter Philips Steps Down as Creative Director of Chanel Make-Up

Peter Phillips

PETER PHILIPS after five years at the creative helm of the Chanel Make-up division has stepped down as creative director of Chanel Make-Up as reported by a recent company statement. 

Five years of coming up with some of the beauty world's favourite nail polish colours (Jade, Particuliere and Mimosa were all the creations of this creative mind), formulating some truly one-of a kind products and coming up with some of Chanel's most fabulous catwalk make-up looks, Philips is swapping his official title for a contributing artist role.

Peter Phillips backstage, Chanel catwalk

"Peter Philips, as creative director of Chanel Make-up, has brought his talent, creativity and vision to Chanel make-up and made women dream, the world over. After five successful years, Peter Philips has decided to return to a more independent position continuing his work as an artist collaborating with the best photographers, stylists and models for editorials and projects such as Chanel fashion shows," read a statement from the brand.

Pic credit: Chanel

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Rihanna Brings High Street Fashion to London Show

Rihanna

RIHANNA launched her first clothing line with British high-street retailer River Island on Saturday, adding A-list glitz to the British leg of the international fashion circuit reported Reuters 16/02/13.

The fashion credentials of the British high street have flourished in recent years as more household clothing brands inch onto the catwalks of major fashion centres.

Models strutted in a line through a tiered catwalk of five square compartments at Rihanna's show, pausing in each to showcase midriff-bearing mesh tops and yellow shift dresses.

Denim tops teamed with slouchy jeans and monochrome dresses with thigh-high slits mirrored the Barbados-born singer's dressed-down but raunchy style.

Rihanna for River Island

"I loved it - it's so Rihanna, it's got Rihanna's name all over it," Los Angeles model Tolula Adeyemi said in the crowd.

Rihanna, a chart-topping R&B star, has already made a foray into fashion, teaming up with Armani Jeans in 2011.

With Britain facing the prospect of a triple-dip recession, many retailers have been forced to grapple for consumers facing income squeezes. The start of 2013 has seen a number of retail casualties, such as the demise of music retailer HMV.

But fashion industry and marketing experts warn A-list credentials are not always a sure-fire strategy for long-term brand success, and the haute-couture setting of the launch could even alienate Rihanna's target mass-market high-street audience.

Rihanna for River Island

Mary Ellen Muckerman, head of strategy at international brand consultancy Wolff Olins, said it was not hard for celebrities to create buzz.

"The celebrity has a built-in network to get word out and raise the profile of the collaboration very quickly, but what collaborations do struggle with is probably sustainability - how can this not just be 15 minutes of fame," Muckerman said.

STAR SELLING POWER

The boyish designs are Rihanna's first with River Island, a clothing chain that traces its history on Britain's high streets back more than 60 years and is known for its youthful clientele.

The crowd-drawing clothing line between British retailer Topshop and supermodel Kate Moss in 2007 is widely credited with initiating the burst of celebrity lines onto Britain's high street, paving the way for Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

"Celebrity dressing drives a large part of the industry. If celebrities are wearing it, there is confidence that you and I will want to wear those clothes as well," said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council.

British value chain New Look said it attributed sales of just under 3 million pounds ($4.66 million) to its Kelly Brook line in 2012. The retailer reported group sales from its 1,100 international stores at 710.5 million pounds ($1.10 billion) for the first half of 2012.

Clothing retailer N Brown said its line with former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff accounted for around 5 percent of sales for menswear brand Jacamo and had spurred a ripple effect.

"The wider halo effect is what I see as being the real benefit of using a celebrity," said Paul Kendrick, marketing director at N Brown.

HIGH STREET, HIGH FASHION

London Fashion Week, best known for cutting-edge design, is also hosting upmarket retailer Whistles, as chains increasingly share the runway schedule with up-and-coming designers such as Mary Katrantzou and Holly Fulton.

British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman said in the British press this week she viewed the high-street foray into fashion as positive, but warned there was a saturation point.

Wendy Hein, a lecturer in marketing at Birkbeck College, said there was a mismatch between London's high-fashion catwalks and the high-street label.

Rihanna Arriving In London for The Fashion show

"River Island is very much a high-street retail brand and wouldn't have that much of a connection to high fashion and couture," Hein said. "I think considering this mix, there's a danger here in terms of how this is being presented to high-fashion audiences and markets.

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Lanvin Opens Its First US Men's Flagship in US

LANVIN marked the opening of its new men’s boutique at 807 Madison Avenue with a party on Tuesday evening. The crowd, which included Theophilus London, Monique and a host of others. Designers Lucas Ossendrijver and Alber Elbaz always energise their Lanvin menswear collections with power and style and have the rappers and actors queuing up to promote the brand.

Lanvin First US Men's Flagship Store

Located in a three-story townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side, the store has a stripped-down, modernist feel thanks to MR Architecture + Decor and Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz, who worked closely with the firm on the design. The striking lighting and straightforward displays are clean, almost clinical in their presentation — a nice contrast to Lanvin's more Baroque offerings, and an equally nice departure from retail's recent exploitation of log cabin-y clichés.

LANVIN navy torsade dress shoes Fall/Winter 2012

Lanvin sneakers already have a cult following and find a perfect home to display their beauty on the entrance level, to the steely gray made-to-measure studio and V.I.P. lounge on the top floor (not accessible to passersby interested in merely browsing), to the apothecary-esque display of vitrines filled with bow ties and the inset shelving units exhibiting meticulously arranged stacks of shirts and an assortment of bags (green leather and snakeskin were in heavy rotation this season).

Lanvin First US Men's Flagship Store, interior

The 5,800-square-foot space will carry Lanvin's forward-thinking ready-to-wear collections in addition to more traditional suiting options, and features architectural details that mirror the clothing's luxurious yet restrained appeal: a chocolate-colored Macassar ebony wood staircase, an Art Deco-style chandelier, and beige suede walls, to name a few. The perfect playground for those who can afford to shop there, or those who just want to pretend they can.

LANVIN Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Fashion Week

LANVIN Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Fashion Week

LANVIN Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Fashion Week

LANVIN Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Fashion Week

LANVIN Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Fashion Week

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Lanvin men's store,
807 Madison Avenue at
68th Street, 212-812-2866;
Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m — 6:00 p.m.

Pic credit: Lanvin

Tom Ford Collaborates with Justin Timberlake

Tom Ford

TOM FORD The American designer has created a collection of bespoke suits for the singer's new song, Suit & Tie, and also styled the video.

Timberlake is no stranger to the world of fashion himself. A designer in his own right, the singer regularly tops best-dressed lists although he doesn't always wear his own label, William Rast

Justin Timberlake

Now the newlywed singer is paying homage to the fashion industry (and Frank Sinatra) with his latest tune, Suit & Tie, which features suits created exclusively for the singer by Ford.

The American fashion designer, who also styled Timberlake for the promotional artwork, is famous for his bespoke men's tailoring.

Justin Timberlake in the video for Suit & Tie

The new single is Timberlake's first musical endeavour in nearly six years and is accompanied by a black and white video that sees the singer adopt a suave 50's suited style.

Tom said: 'I adore Justin. He has innate style and enormous talent. It has been such a pleasure and honour to work with him throughout this entire creative process.'

Timberlake can be seen in a Tom Ford tuxedo with satin peak lapels, pique front shirt and oversized bow tie on the official cover art for the Jay-Z assisted track.

The 31-year-old crooner is also seen in luxury Tom Ford garb in the video, including a three-piece suit and a black lapel two-piece tuxedo.

One of Ford's tuxedo jackets is also featured on the cover of Timberlake's new single

Tom, 51, is also said to have contributed made-to-measure tailoring and accessories for the singer's artwork for comeback album, 'The 20/20 Experience', which will be released in March.

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