05.17.2013
News From Cannes: Gowns, Films and Heists
Cannes is by far the glitziest film festival on the circuit (Sundance is great, but you can’t wear a custom gown with snow boots), so there is no more apropos film to open this year’s festival than Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby. The red carpet was ablaze with well-heeled talent, as shared beautifully by Vogue.com. As usual, starlets are bedecked with baubles and dripping with diamonds, however this year, the latest trend is jewelry gone green. Led by festival sponsor, and Palm D’Or designer Chopard, jewlers are creating pieces that are not just showstoppers, but first and foremost ethically sourced and produced. But perhaps the most cinematic news of all broke early this morning: On the very night Sophia Coppola’s The Bling Ring premiered, a Chopard employee’s hotel room was cat burgled. Around one million pounds worth of jewelry, to be lent to starlets, was taken in the heist, but sources say the coveted award scultpture is safe and sound. All this and we're only two days into the festival.... — Erika
05.14.2013
Out of the Blue
Went to bed last night and woke up to something mysterious outside my apartment on 49th Street. 40-50 grey and metallic stands back-to-back lining the street in front of my apartment. What could this be? Blockades? A new art installation? No, this was the brand new Citi Bike Project.
At the end of the month Citi NYC Bike Share will have over 6,000 bicycles installed throughout Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. These rental bikes will be set up and available at hundreds of locations and can be rented per hour or annually for less than $100. Eco-Friendly, Healthy, and cost-efficient, sign me up! — Mikey
05.06.2013
The Greatest Gatsby
The countdown begins for the most highly-anticipated films, soundtracks and costumes of 2013. There’s nothing else I could be talking about, except Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. The film features a star-studded cast including Carey Mulligan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tobey Maguire; the soundtrack boasts Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lana Del Rey, Emeli Sande and Florence + The Machine; and the costumes were a collaboration between Baz and Miuccia Prada and Catherine Martin. The grandeur of the cast, music, and costumes is a true testament to the plot and story of Gatsby, and the lineup of talent makes my head spin. The film premiered last night in NYC and EVERYone from the worlds of Entertainment, Fashion and Music was present including Conde Nast fashion royalty, Anna Wintour, dressed beautifully in Chanel Couture + Manolo Blahniks.
All in all the cinematography of the film, the music, and the brilliant visuals will make this a MUST-SEE. I can’t remember the last time I’ve obsessively watched trailers in anticipation for the film. Mark my words, this will be one the highest grossing films of the decade, perhaps even usurping Leo’s previous ahem, titanic record. — Mikey
05.03.2013
Met Mania
The biggest fashion event of the year is only days away. I'm talking about the one and only Met Gala. This year's theme is "Punk: Chaos to Couture" which is an open invitation to go absolutely bonkers on the red carpet, fashion-wise, of course. To satisfy fiendish fashion devotees, Vogue.com has launched an official countdown (yes, to the second) and has preempted our soon-to-be-full-on Punk mania with an insanely-chic video homage to this mohawked movement starring none other than Daria Werbowy. Rocking six different looks, each edgier than the next, Daria works it like only a true It Girl can: cartwheeling, guitar-strumming and tongue-flaunting for director Cass Bird. If you're anything like me, then you're awaiting the Met Gala with baited breath and — this year — maybe even a studded leather jacket. — Marissa
05.01.2013
Art Agenda: Miles Aldridge
Congratulations to one of our favorite photographers, Miles Aldridge — who shot Kim Kardashian for her MODCo-created perfume launch campaign — on a very exciting, and busy, 2013. Not only will his solo show, I Only Want You To Love Me, open at the Steven Kasher Gallery next week, but he is also releasing two books of his work. Running from May 8th through June 8th, the exhibition will feature 20 oversized prints in Miles’s signature cinematic style. Rich hues and methodical compositions set the backdrop for a gently humorous social commentary; gorgeous, well-dressed women look “perfect” in Stepford-esque landscapes, but the cracks are beginning to show. The book that accompanies the exhibition has been published by Rizzoli, while Editions 7L/Steidl have released his second publication, Other Pictures. — Erika
04.24.2013
You Go Girl!
As women’s rights continue to come under attack in the public arena, MODCo would like to add their voice to the many who are openly praising a brave young woman in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Teenager Katelyn Campbell spoke out against ridiculous claims made by an Abstinence-Only educator who was brought into her school, “educating” the students on how taking birth control can lead to becoming “sterile or dead.” When Katelyn fought back, speaking with her local newspaper and even CNN, her principal tried to shut her down. According to NARAL, “Katelyn says George Aulenbacher called her into his office to berate her, even threatening to call her future college to tell them she has ‘bad character’ and is a ‘backstabber.’” Beyond this, area religious groups bombarded her with hateful, bullying messages. There aren’t enough exclamation points to put after an aghast WTF! to fully express our disgust with these so-called educators. Nor are there enough ways we could express our support for this strong and admirable young woman. NARAL has given us a few ways though…. Click here to read more about this story and to lend your voice of support to Katelyn in sending a message to the Kanawha County Board of Education. Katelyn – You Go Girl! Principal Aulenbacher – Shame on You!
04.23.2013
Vera Unveiled: Spring 2014
Black and white graphics, structured silhouettes, sheer panels and peek-a-boo cutouts make Vera Wang’s Spring 2014 collection her edgiest to date — and one of MODCO’s favorites! Decidedly architectural and modern, the looks were completed with above-the-elbow leather gloves for their catwalk debut at Friday’s NYC Bridal Market. The collection still boasts the romanticism that Vera is known for, and there is ample use of her signature draping and voluminous layering. The line will be available for purchase in December.
04.09.2013
FB... Phone Home!
Like it or not, Facebook unleashed its latest offering to the mobile world last week in the form of Facebook Home. Facebook Home is essentially a top layer over the Android interface, bringing a more ingrained social UI to your mobile. The main benefits are a unified messaging system titled Chat Heads, Coverfeed, which implants the newsfeed front and center on your main display, and better background multitasking while being as social as possible. Facebook Home will be available to download for a few (but not all) Android devices on April 12th. This has major implications regarding the way a social network with over 1 billion users is able to gather data and directly advertise. It has yet to be proven if everyone wants to be connected to Facebook but Gizmodo does an amazing job at giving a no-BS approach to reviewing the new the new tech. — Mikey
