Olivier Theyskin's Cinderella vision for Nina Ricci Fall '09
While all doom and gloom about the economy is obviously warranted, I love designer Olivier Theyskens comment to a fashion reporter yesterday morning after showing his pre-fall collection for Nina Ricci in New York: “When the economy changes, it’s not like you want to start eating bad-tasting chocolate.”
Or, for that matter, be an absolute bore in dress. I'm all for saying ta-ta to much of the grotesque conspicuous consumption we've witnessed in recent years. But that should not mean an end to fantasy and frolic. Thankfully, clever boys such as Olivier realize this, too, and the proof is in this Cinderella slipper.
Rose Apodaca is a pop culture and style journalist and the co-owner of A+R, the design retail lab in Los Angeles, and its online sister http://www.aplusrstore.com. She contributes to Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, Paper, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Style.com, Preen and other publications, and consulted on the launch of Image, The Los Angeles Times newest style section. Her first book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty & Everything Glamour, an all-encompassing lifestyle guide written for celeb stylist Rachel Zoe, is now in paperback and hit The New York Times bestseller list in September 2008. She is currently wrapping up a biography on Fred Hayman, co-founder of Giorgio Beverly Hills and marketing architect of Rodeo Drive, as well as co-authoring a beauty book with neo-burlesque queen and style icon, Dita Von Teese.
A+R is located in Silverlake and on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA.
Rose helmed the west coast bureau of fashion-industry bible Women's Wear Daily and was a contributor to W for six years until March 2006, when she left to join partner Andy Griffith in A+R and focus on related projects. She has long championed Los Angeles and California style and design, from the streets and runways to interiors and food. She is the first recipient of the Los Angeles Fashion Awards Communications Prize for bringing global attention to the region's fashion industry and style culture. With A+R, she continues to showcase rising and undiscovered talent from around the world.
In addition to co-owning Beauty Bar Hollywood and Las Vegas, she is a conspirator-in-camaraderie with several artists and designers showcased under A+R or related projects. Rose and Andy, who tied the knot in September 2007, live in Silverlake.
* All photographs appearing on this blog were snapped by Rose with her Leica D-Lux 3, unless otherwise noted. Please credit all photographs accordingly.
