It was the best(-dressed) of times and the worst...
In '08, fashion was everywhere we least expected it -- on the presidential campaign trails (Michelle Obama in Thakoon, Sarah Palin in Valentino) -- and not quite where we thought it would be. (See Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a Philip Treacy hat evocative of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors.) But as usual, it was a true barometer of our time -- patriotic in the face of war, childishly optimistic in spite of the Dow's daily roller coaster ride, escapist (thank you, Project Runway, Stylista, ANTM and the Hills) and even redemptive. (See Britney Spears' comeback makeover.) So, as we count the days till we can "dress to the '09s," we look over our shoulder at the Year of Christian Siriano, Target and H&M collabos, Sarah Palin's $186,000 makeover, Tyra Banks as Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni as the French First Lady... and we can honestly say, It's been a good year.
(left to right: First Lady-elect, Michelle Obama in Narciso Rodriguez the night her husband accepted the Presidency of the United States; Leanne Marshall wins the 5th (and last?) season of Project Runway; Sarah Jessica Parker rocks a Philip Treacy hat at the London premiere of the long-awaited Sex & the City Movie; model and singer Carla Bruni marries French president Nicolas Sarkozy)
April: Lawsuits abound: Woody Allen sues American Apparel for using an unauthorized shot of him dressed as a Hasidic Jew on a billboard. Louis Vuitton sues plucky art student, Nadia Plesner for creating an image of a naked child holding a tiny pooch and Murakami-esque bag, in an effort to prove that people are more likely to respond to an image reminiscent of Paris Hilton than one that draws attention to the victims of war torn Darfur. Naomi Campbell has legal troubles of her own, after a spat with a British Airways employee causes the airline to ban her from flying with them.
May: The Sex & the City movie finally hits the red carpet and the big screen -- and it's a hit at the box office, which is apparently a big deal since chick flicks supposedly don't have a history of opening to big numbers. Bluefly makes a cameo.
June:
*Yves Saint Laurent passes away leaving a dream closet of Le Smoking jackets, trapeze dresses, and trouser suits for women as a lasting fashion legacy.
*Hillary Clinton's pantsuits become the subject of a fake letter from Anna Wintour and a fake exhibition by an artist.
July:
*Project Runway Season 5 returns with the judge cast intact, in spite of speculation that Nina Garcia's departure from Elle magazine might mean a departure from the show as well.
*Bluefly launches (and promptly sells out of most of) Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano's exclusive capsule collection.
*Vogue Italia's all black issue challenges the long-regurgitated fashion editor excuse that black cover models can't sell magazines. (This issue of Vogue Italia sells -- and sells out at most newsstands from SoHo to Harlem -- for $20 a pop.) Though some (ok, me) feel some of the images regurgitate stereotypes, most (me too) are delighted to see diversity in fashion, and the lack thereof, being addressed in a substantive way.
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