On the Campaign Trail: Yves Saint Laurent

Stefano Pilati serves up another clash of the titans for YSL's fall 2010 campaign featuring Christy Turlington, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Who else could follow up the veteran glamour of Claudia Schiffer, bleached and resplendent under the Hollywood sun? Looking toned and timeless (and not in a plastic kind of way), Christy's otherworldly beauty offsets the hard elegance of fall and its slightly sinister edge. You can never go wrong with leather bustiers and biker jackets—and the bags aren't half bad either. Get ready to start fawning over Christy in your fave glossies come August.

—Franklin Melendez


courtesy YSL

Hint Tip: Yves Saint Laurent

Stefano Pilati has recruited French director, actor and writer Samuel Benchetrit to create a moody short film (pictured below) for his Yves Saint Laurent men's show on Wednesday, following a similar cinematic gesture from Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin last season, featuring Michael Pitt. This time around, the star is none other than Benchetrit's 11-year-old son, Jules. The three-fold presentation will include the fashion show, film screening and a private after-party for friends of the house...

School Crossing

This is a little like a collision of the sun and moon—both of which we love and need, but for very different reasons. On April 2, Jon Stewart of the Daily Show will host a fundraising gala for the Blue School, honoring Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin for their commitment to the school's educational vision and its mission to nurture "children as creative, joyful and compassionate inquirers." We never imagined our dual yet distinct interests in scathing political comedy and high-concept fashion photography would ever converge like this—or ever. But if our heads don't explode, we're down with it.

A Stylish Samedi

In New York, front-row celebrity seating is not to be tampered with, but the French like to keep things mysterious, such as putting Kanye West in the second row at Comme des Garçons. While we waited for an outburst, ever-contrary Rei Kawakubo sent out blankets moonlighting as parkas. Earlier in the day, her protege Junya Watanabe had similar thoughts with swirling black parka dresses and oversized collars in a Victori-goth meets space-age presentation.


Junya Watanabe

Greece-born Sophia Kokosalaki pampered guests with champagne, strawberries and chocolate. Bubbly was a perfect way to start a sunny Paris afternoon at the Jardins des Tuileries. Kokosalaki presented her signature draping as well as a collection of party-favor hits, ranging from sheer and sculptural minidresses to bedazzled rocker-chic pants and jackets.

Later in the afternoon, Colette was a madhouse. Not only were the weekend crowds milling about among the new Alexander Wang handbags, but there was a roster of events that deserved a fashion calendar in itself. Designers Emily Current and Merrit Elliot were on hand for a trunk show, and Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin were signing their new work for Stern magazine. Meanwhile, Erin Wasson for RVCA pieces were up on mannequins and the stylish Texan model herself made an appearance.

Jeremy Scott kept his show lighthearted and childlike with color, polka dots and Mickey Mouse. The Disney motif will surely spill over into his after-party tonight at Regine's.

—Bee-Shyuan Chang

More Grimm News

And the fallout continues. Andreas Grimm, the gallery based in Munich and New York, will now be based in Munich only. It was one of few spaces to introduce new works by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Thomas Palme, Lisa Tan and Vito Acconci, who most memorably created a video installation in which he ate (and gagged on) a woman's hair. Here's hoping it'll grow back—the gallery, that is.


Vito Acconci


Inez van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin & Eugene van Lamsweerde


Katharina Sievering

Thanks, YSL!

A messenger just dropped off an early Valentine's Day present, Yves Saint Laurent's latest Manifesto, the one with a USB drive (and it's heart-shaped—cute!). All of Inez and Vinoodh's images of Claudia Schiffer vamping under the Hollywood sign are neatly filed on it, but better still, a video...