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| English: Marc Jacobs (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Image Source: forbes.com |
The departure of Marc Jacobs from Louis Vuitton easily takes the cake. Jacobs announced his departure immediately after his spring 2014 show for Louis Vuitton, a show he dedicated to his many muses with a set that featured many of his iconic props from his past 16 years at the maison.
Jil Sander left the house she founded for the third time leaving many to question the future of the well-loved brand. Personal reasons were reported to be the impetus for her exit.
In early 2013, Alexander Wang showed his first collection for Balenciaga. Unsure of what to expect from the designer largely known for his stylish take on t-shirts and sweats, Wang surpassed expectations with his confident first showing which featured constructed separates, coats with that Balenciaga cocoon effect, peplum skirts and a marble print.
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| Balenciaga, fall 2013 Image Source: runway.blog.nytimes.com |
In April 2013, Dolce & Gabbana were reported to have been found guilty of tax evasion and were handed a fine of roughly 343 euros and a jail sentence of under two years. The design duo protested the ruling by closing its stores. In a statement, they maintained that they “live in Italy, we pay taxes in Italy.”
Working conditions in clothing factories, especially those in Bangladesh, were exposed after a couple of tragedies including a deadly fire and the worst of all, the collapse of a factory building which killed over 1000 workers.
H&M launched its collaboration with French designer Isabel Marant. Reed Krakoff, the designer and visionary who made Coach the behemoth that it is now, announced in April that he wasn’t going to renew his contract with Coach when it expires in June 2014 because he wants to concentrate on his eponymous label.
First Lady Michelle Obama picked one of Krakoff’s designs for the official swearing-in for her husband’s second term. Throughout the inauguration events, she wore pieces from Thom Browne and Michael Kors. For the inauguration ball, she chose a gown from Jason Wu, the same designer who made her first inauguration frock.
Across the pond, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was the epitome of impeccable maternity style. She opted to wear beautifully cut A-line dresses and coats while she carried her first born.
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| (Source: WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe, Newspix/Bauer-Griffin.Com, Gf/Bauer Griffin) Image Source: stylebistro.com |
The Metropolitan Museum of New York was invaded by punks or at least by those who tried to channel the punk culture with the Costume Institute exhibit from Punk: From Chaos to Couture. Paris held a retrospective of Azzedine Alaia’s work at the Palais Galliera in the Musee de la Mode, which rivaled Paris Fashion Week. And the Brooklyn Museum staged a well-received exhibition of Jean Paul Gaultier’s body of work.
Fashionista Elizabeth Rehnke likes to step out in style all year round. Follow her on this Google page for news on fashion trends.
