Happy Fourth from StopTalking!, Reserve- Public Bikes (!!!), The Real Royal Wedding, & Givenchy/Dior (without Galliano) Couture 2011.

Happy Belated Fourth!!!

First, let me start off by saying Happy Fourth to all the American readers out there! I had my first Fourth with a roommate. We had a great time getting used to a new place and having an all around good time whilst enjoying good drinks and food!

Made burgers on the grill...all by myself!

Relaxing with a reptilian guest a get together in an amazing Man-cave!

Clarissa's hardwork on her firework cookies!

Clarissa and I

My room...still under creative construction.

Public Bikes x Reserve29

This deal from Reserve|Refinery29 showed up on my Twitter feed yesterday, and I could not wait to share it with StopTalking. The bike company out of San Francisco, Public Bikes, is coming together with Refinery29 for an exclusive deal ending on July 12, 2011. The deal gives members on Reserve $200 with Public Bikes for the bike of their dreams for spending $100! Now, you too can have the perfect summer vintage looking bike without spending a fortune to fix one up with fresh paint and parts. This is a deal that must not go overlooked! Check it out!

(Photo cr.: Public Bikes)

A Real Royal Wedding

Just 3 months ago people could not stop talking about "The Royal Wedding" of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and now a wedding that I consider to be royal has just passed. The wedding of Jamie Hince of the Kills and Kate Moss took place on July 1, 2011. With Kate being a longtime friend and companion/muse to recently ex-designer to the House of Dior, Mr. John Galliano, it was perfect for him to be the designer of her wedding gown. Forbes reported that Moss' gown and ring were inspired by wife of author, F. Scott Fitzgerald's, Zelda Fitzgerald. I consider this to be a real royal wedding because of the long line of rocker/model weddings in the past. Jamie Hince and Kate Moss are two of the most influential contenders in the worlds of music and fashion and I hope they are very happy together!

(Photo cr.:Terry Richardson, Terry's Diary)

Dior Couture 2011- Moon Mobile headpieces and Pastel Disappointments

I've been trying to catch up with Couture week and I have decided to pick one of my favorites and one of my...not so favorites. It's no secret that the fashion world has been holding its' breath until the next collection for Dior withOUT Galliano in charge was to be presented. It shows without Galliano at Dior that holding our breathes was no understatement. The complete aesthetic that Galliano tried to return the House to under his reign is no longer existent with Dior Couture 2011. I'm not really sure how to describe the collection other than that I was overwhelmed at the neglect to style in the past that has been (in a way) thrown out the window. Palettes inspired by pop patterns from the 80's and geometric shapes and (galaxy mobiles) on the models heads, the collection was disappointing to me.

(Photo cr.: VOGUE)

R.I.P. Galliano x Dior

(1996-2011)

Givenchy Couture 2011 - Structure/Flow and silhouette of a Powerful Woman

Riccardo Tisci seems to never disappoint me when it comes to presenting Couture or RTW, & Couture 2011 did not change my feelings with that statement. Keeping with the structure in length of the designs of the past few Couture shows and powerful aspect of a woman with exposed shoulders and precise detailing keep Givenchy classic and rising. Tisci, rumored to have been approached to come to Dior after the split of Galliano and Dior in March, he recently made it known to readers in Interview magazine, interviewed by Donatella Versace in the June 2011 issue-that he was happy at Givenchy and it will take him a lot for him to leave the House.

(Photo cr.: VOGUE & Interview Magazine)

Art of Androgyny

Androgyny : (an.drodg.a-knee) -

simply means having the physical or natural characteristics

of both a male and a female.

(ALSO: the word androgyny is derived from the Greek words,

'andros' meaning man, and 'gyne' meaning woman.) WEBSTER

Fashion is all about form and how a vision is expressed from the artist's/designer's mind and translating it onto their canvas or in most cases their muse or model. In the real world there seems to be a pretty defined line between what is appropriate for the male and female sexes to wear and be 'expected' to wear to fit the social norms.

Over time this art form has been accepted more and more and well understood in the artistic community and those in the world of fashion. The appeal behind this interesting idea is based on the art of beauty and marketing. By using a form that can be viewed as both male and female it is more likely to be drawn to by more of those who see it other than eliminating the gender line. In 2010 and into 2011, two have taken the runway and ad campaign world by storm, House of Givenchy transsexual model, Lea T, and very pretty boy, Andrej Pejic.

Lea T was featured in Givenchy's FW10 ad campaign and has become a muse like for Riccardo Tisci the past few seasons. Andrej Pejic more recently walked in Jean Paul Gaultier's Couture show and in his Menswear FW11, (both in heels)! He also is in the SS11 Marc by Marc Jacobs & Jean Paul Gaultier SS11 ad campaigns.

Lea T in GIVENCHY's FW 10 ad campaign.

(L to R) Andrej Pejic finale-ing out the JPG FW 11 Menswear show with JPG himself - Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 11.

(Top to bottom : Andrej appearing in JPG SS11 ad campaign, Andrej again in Marc by Marc Jacobs SS11 ad campaign.)

The androgynous look is so different and hard to forget that it has become iconic over time and has brought some models into the mainstream light and famous because of their intriguing and gender bending look. Such as Cole Mohr, who Marc Jacobs snagged to wear some dresses for his FW08 ad campaign or Agyness Deyn, who can pull off just about anything from a dress to a suit - even channel Michael Jackson in Harper's Bazaar's Sept 09 issue.

Cole Mohr in Marc by Marc Jacobs FW08 ad campaign in drag.

Agyness Deyn in Harper's Bazaar Sept. 09 tribute to the King of Pop in both masculine and feminine looks just like Michael Jackson himself who was a lover of the marching band/military jacket that has made its mark on Menswear and Womenswear over time.

Probably the most recognizable model who became a large influence on androgyny in the industry is Linda Evangelista, who is still modeling ever since she started in 1978. A favorite of the 1990's Chanel shows and campaigns of Karl Lagerfeld and even during his years at Chloe'. Evangelista brought her short hairstyle to womenswear and added a powerful and strong hold onto the top spot during her prime. She gave herself an edge with that bob and now it is all over the fashion world!

Linda Evangelista in 1990's Chloe and Chanel ad campaigns under while Chloe was still under the reign of KLag and Chanel was very on 90's trend electric and Cher Horowitz-like.

Is it too soon for a Michael Vick joke?! - A LOOK AT MENSWEAR FW11

MENSWEAR FALL 2011

"Ten Hut!"

"Let there be light?"

"Who Let the Dogs out?

Bruce Weber for YSL Menswear F11

Gaga for MUGLER Menswear F11

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

The collection was full of military trends with structure and fit, but also in color. Deep red, white, and black. Also ending with some nice suits, (not shown) which looked like they had actual tailoring done to them. Is Sarah Burton reworking the McQueen suit from 'boxy' to 'fitting'? Either way, a nice change that might do very well for the Menswear business of McQueen. The McQueen abstract textured prints are still working their way into Burton's so far collections, and I'm sure that is exciting to see for all of the followers of the McQueen brand name.

JIL SANDER

Am I going to have to wear color next Fall? I sure hope so if I could make the pops of color like the looks form this show did. Color blocking at its best. Very simple in fit and color with most all looks including black or white pants, but also a splash of a full-on Salmon suit. The textures of the simple shirts and jackets are a nice touch.
DOLCE & GABBANA

If you know me then you know I love it when fashion and American culture "Americana", pop culture or Iconic figures come together. Hi, Warhol. Bringing 'Coca-Cola' and MICKEY together with a twist to give a modern twist on the hipster American look is genius. The look is smart for style and the brand itself because it gives the look no age...it is relatable to all those who Dolce and Gabbana's market tends to relate to. Can you tell I want that 'Coca-Cola' sweater??

GIVENCHY

WOOF!

Is it too soon for a Michael Vick joke?? Okay...I'm kidding, but not really. Leather, lettermans, fur, plaid, knee-high-high-tops, and even a dog fight. The Letterman trend is here to stay. The look is very relaxed in fit, but full of attitude in the styling. The thing I love about Riccardo Tisci is that the extremities of his collections whether it is the use of color or an excessive amount of a print such as the FULL-ON leopard print (Spring 2011) or the rottweiler dog fight, it adds character and power. Isn't that what fashion is all about? -Having fun with your personal style?

Bruce Weber shot the Yves Saint Laurent Menswear F11 short film. I mean, what's better than watching a show...watching a short film with vision, a script, director of photography, and nude male models dancing to Marvin Gaye, of course!

Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing | Bruce Weber for YSL from VGL Men on Vimeo.

Lady Gaga featured her remix from her upcoming album 'Born This Way' for the Thierry Mugler Menswear F11 & Nicola Formichetti's first Menswear show ever.

The short film was released the day after the show on the Mugler website.

The video is an artistic dark dream...full of raw and natural anatomical theme, oh yeah, and head to toe tattoos.

MUGLER Fall/Winter 2011-12 from DEPESHA on Vimeo.

ALL photos from GQ.com

UPDATED on JANUARY 28, 2011.

- PLEASE TELL ME KARL DIDN'T PAY FOR THIS...

BAPTISTE GIABICONI'S NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR HIS SONG 'SHOWTIME' (=/)