Karl Lagerfeld is 83 today!

Karl Lagerfeld Turns 83 Today! 9 Times He Schooled Us in All Things Fashion

Karl Lagerfeld celebrates his 83rd birthday today, and throughout the six decades he's spent in fashion there's been no question that he is among the world's most highly skilled and well-known designers. Lagerfeld has long been the creative genius behind Chanel, as well as Italian fashion house Fendi. He is not, however, just a fashion designer. The creative force is also a photographer, publisher, and film director—but, he's said, he wouldn’t go so far as to call himself an artist. Many fans would likely disagree.

Lagerfeld has strong convictions about how to live, work—and dress, of course—which, when coming from the man who's steered the fashion industry for decades, has us all ears. In honor of his birthday, we decided to reflect on some of his words of wisdom, including everything from his take on the selfie to why he doesn’t see any reason to stop designing now.

1. On His Fashion Philosophy:
"There’s no faraway future, it’s no futuristic thing. Fashion is something people are supposed to consume immediately, not in 10 years." (nytimes.com)


2. On the Selfie Phenomenon:
"We live in a world of selfies. I don’t do selfies. But other people do, and they all want to do selfies with me. No, no, no." (nytimes.com)


3. On Why He's Not Counting Down to Retirement:
"If you like what you do, you don't count." (theguardian.com)

4. On Why Photography Fulfills Him:
"You finish the collection and you are isolated until the time to get to the next one. That would be very boring. It’s very bad and unhealthy to get isolated. Already I don’t walk in the street, so I have to do something, somewhere." (nytimes.com)


5. On His Creative Process
"I don’t believe in waiting for inspiration. The French say, l’appétit vient en mangeant, the ideas come when you work. I work a lot for the garbage can. I have huge bins next [to me], for whatever I do, 95 percent goes to the bin." (nytimes.com)


6. On Never Looking Back After Creating a Collection
"What I like is to do—not the fact that I did. It doesn’t excite me at all." (nytimes.com)

7. On Not Taking Things too Seriously
"I don’t think that most of the designers have a very quick sense of humor. They take themselves very seriously because they want to be taken as artists. I think we are artisans. It’s an applied art. There’s nothing bad about that. If you want to do art, then show it in a gallery." (nytimes.com)

8. On Whether He Worries About His Designs Selling:
"No, thank god, because then it becomes marketing. I hope it will, but I don’t formulate it. I think that’s a very unhealthy thing. I am a commercial designer. As Carrie Donovan used to say, 'Fashion is what people wear,' and I don’t think that’s changed." (nytimes.com)


9. On Following Trends:
"Trendy is the last stage before tacky." (businessinsider.com)

Is Karl Lagerfeld retiring at 83?!

Karl Lagerfeld could be retiring after Chanel's cruise show in Cuba in May, Page Six reports. The 83-year-old designer, who is creative director of Chanel and Fendi in addition to an eponymous line, is reportedly "really tired," a friend told Page Six. "He's not doing well and he's ready to stop."

Lagefeld has helmed Chanel since 1983 and Fendi since 1965. In 2012 he told the press he'll retire when he dies: ""If I do [retire], I'll die and it'll all be finished … I can do what I want in all kinds of areas. The expenses are not expenses. I would be stupid to stop that. Work is making a living out of being bored."

Billy McLarnon in sexy Gay Music Video!

RAPHAEL BRINGS TROUBLE TO THE DANCEFLOOR AND THE BOXING RING WITH “BOYS ARE TROUBLE”

The soulful electro-pop singer Raphael releases “Boys Are Trouble”, a dark, seductive track. Written by Raphael, the song ? with its moody piano, beautifully sad strings, and raw vocals that exude vulnerability ? is being compared to ballads by Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd.  

“Boys Are Trouble is a song about addiction, whether it is love, sex, or the human body,” explains the artist. “I often find that just when I think I’m in control of my emotions, a sexy guy comes along, carnality takes over and I fall to pieces.” “Boys Are Trouble” is the second single from Raphael’s upcoming album, The Dark of My Mind.  The single is now available on iTunes and Spotify, along with its brand new club remix by superstar DJ Joe Gauthreaux. The “Boys Are Trouble” music video is available on YouTube.

“I tend to fall for guys who are aloof and ridiculously overconfident. I become so consumed in vying for their attention that I completely lose myself,” explains Raphael from Downtown Music Studios in Manhattan. He is there mixing his album with multi-Grammy award winning mixer Tony Maserati (Beyonce – “Crazy In Love”).  “It would be easy to blame it on the guys, but what I’ve learned from my experience is that I am the one who brings the trouble upon myself. I want who I want at that moment, and I don’t really care what happens as long as I get the guy.”

The music video for “Boys Are Trouble” takes place in a seedy fight club. We see Raphael, trying to escape his loveless and abusive relationship with  Cash, the rich and violent fight club organizer. He finds solace in a boxer named Max, a loser with a winning heart. “Being in an abusive relationship in the past, I felt it was important to show how domestic violence also exists in LGBT relationships, which is something that is rarely discussed.”

Raphael chose to cast male models for the music video as a nod to Friday Night Throwdown, New York City’s true life amateur boxing matches that pit male models against local boxing talent. He picked  Taylor Harris, who plays Cash, for his irresistibly dangerous looks and William McLarnon, who plays Max, for his boy-next-door qualities.

“I’m fortunate to always find the right guys for my videos.  It’s finding the right ones off-camera that gets tricky,” he laughs.

Raphael was born in New York and raised in Miami Beach, listening to ‘90s pop and Miami hip-hop.   He describes his style of songwriting as stream of consciousness and views his songs as a representation of himself as a person and an artist.

In his music, Raphael aims to bring back the love. According to the young singer, most songs today emphasize independence and an “I’m too cool” attitude towards romance. He misses the desperation and vulnerability in songs from the past where vocalists unapologetically gushed over someone.

He calls his upcoming album, “The Dark of My Mind”, his journey through modern love set to sexy, moody trip-hop and electro-pop sounds that are at times ethereal and dreamy and at other times flow over the listener with a wave of sexual urgency and romantic longing. “It’s about those things that you tuck in the back of your head and you don’t necessarily want to talk about or want people to know,“ explains Raphael.

“Boys Are Trouble” is his first song to be remixed for clubs.  “I felt a remix was needed for those late night seductions on the dance floor,” he says, adding,  “When I heard Joe Gauthreaux’s remix of Justin Beiber’s “Boyfriend”, I knew he was the perfect remixer for the song. He brings a hypnotic feel to his remixes that works perfectly for ‘Boys are Trouble’.”

“Boys Are Trouble” is streaming now on Spotify and is available for purchase on iTunes. Raphael’s debut album, “The Dark of My Mind,” releases soon. For more information visit www.officialraphael.com.

Parke & Ronen Fashion Show: Spring Collection!

Parke & Ronen fashion show at the annual New York Fashion Week 2016 showcased this inventive brand’s smart and subversive new Varsity Collection. The day and the Parke & Ronen event were no doubt a smashing success for the New York based brand and its fans, and the behind-the-scene photos and video footage from the show below give you access the Skylight Clarkson Square where the event was held, if you were unable to attend or if you want to relive the affair and see how the Varsity Collection wore on the models.

Playing on the epitome of collegiate prep style, the sharp Parke & Ronen Varsity Collection was on full display as several models showed us the colorful briefs, trunks, swimsuits, and accompanying activewear that embodies the Parke & Ronen aesthetic in this particularly fun iteration, a take on the refined styles of the Ivy league, but with more pop and character than you associate with the typical stuffiness of such a crowd and their requisite attire.

The show even included varsity jackets, and with ocean and sea life prints peppering the entire collection, the mood was relaxed and exciting. Parke Lutter and Ronen Jehezkel’s brand has always been about inspiring confidence and promoting individuality, while simultaneously embracing a undeniably clean and polished look.

 This show brought these dimensions of their line into clear focus, and also included the announcement of an additional collaboration with Lodinatt, the Korean handbag brand.

Parke & Ronen Casting Call!

In the underwear industry, scouting agents are always on the look out for models, who will best show off sleek and sexy brief and boxer pairs to the best of their ability. 

I got a chance to witness this process first hand at the Parke & Ronen offices to check out the latest line up of svelte models. With their shirts off and jeans slung low, these models try to embody the Parke & Ronen philosophy of simplicity and sensationalism in a minimal, white room.

In these behind the scenes photos, different models try on brief cuts and loungewear in uncomplicated fabrics, which are the hallmark of the Parke & Ronen look that also includes a focus on impeccable fit, and polished details.

The showroom has racks of Parke & Ronen product that is a marriage of European haute couture and the New York edginess of Seventh Avenue, which leads to an explosive union of high fashion elements.

 Fortunately for us, we got the inside scoop to check out the Parke & Ronen casting call. Join us for a secret peek!

Strut Your Stuff: Parke & Ronen Fall 2016 Runway Shoot

Parke & Ronen came to the underwear industry with a creative vision to infuse simplicity with sensationalism which is lovingly displayed in all of their apparel collections which include, but are not limited to: menswear, sportswear, swimwear, footwear,
accessories, and underwear collections.

 The two founders wanted to focus on crafting chic looks while combining a refined taste with today’s current trends. Every Parke & Ronen customer can expect to find elegant details, high-quality supple fabrics, and a stunning fit whenever they slip on these items. 

The swanky campaign is shot against a grey background so the photographer, Ronen Jehezkel, can really focus on the individual models in their hot, fashion looks. The grey-washed backdrop is a great way to show off the smoldering dark fabric colors, bold patterns, and versatility in the Parke & Ronen Fall collection.

The knit crews, mesh long johns, and turtlenecks pair perfectly with each other to show off a quintessential fall look. While some of the models sport a complete outfit, other models have deconstructed looks without an essential item so that they can show off their abs, legs, or Parke & Ronen’s Meridian bikini swimwear. The fresh-faced, handsome models communicate a high-end fashion vibe in this trendy fall collection look book.