Gagathon at the Guggenheim

 

By Franklin Melendez

New York Fashion Week came to a close as Lady Gaga took over the rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum for the launch of her new fragrance, Fame. The piece of performance art found Gaga up to her usual ‘original’ and ‘provocative’ antics, with a lavish masquerade ball providing the backdrop.

To a pap crush, the lady arrived fashionably early, only to encase herself in a large-scale version of the bottle, where she proceeded to snooze until well into the festivities. Guests soon followed, including Marc Jacobs with Brazilian BF Harry Louis, Alexander Wang, Rachel Zoe, Yoko Ono, and Lindsay Lohan, who managed to show up to this opening, if not Richard Phillips'.

Everyone gallivanted about and approached a sleeping Gaga, who rose from her slumber and treated the gathered monsters to the night’s big moment. She was stripped to her lacy underthings by assistants and the back of her neck was shaved. Attendees were then treated to a live tattoo session that was televised throughout the museum. Passing out and getting a tattoo? Maybe she’s a Jersey Girl at heart.

Supermodels Glam Up the Olympics

Proving yet again that supermodels are the center of the universe, as if contractually obligated, eight exemplary British specimens strutted down an Olympic-sized catwalk in the Closing Ceremony last night in London. To a snazzed-up rendition of David Bowie's Fashion, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Tennant, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, Karen Elson, and soon-to-be supes Jourdan Dunn and Georgia May Jagger, plus male model David Gandy, appeared on pedestals before taking to the runway in the likes of Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, and Christopher Kane—all gold, silver, and bronze, naturally.
Any time the fashion world ventures outside the domains of Fashion Week or a fashion magazine, it's sure to get censured, and sure enough this parade was roundly criticized in the Twitterverse for the usual reasons (unhealthy body image, sports and fashion don't mix, Kate's history of drug use, etc.). But here's what we think. Since the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are all about celebrating the host country's cultural achievements, and since the walk took all of three minutes, let them have their fun.

FRED BUTLER SS13 "A Bee In My Bonnet with a Honey Haircomb"

Fred Butler brings her inimitable style and unique brand of creativity back to the heart of London Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2013 in her third On-Schedule live presentation. Working again with Red Bull and The Catwalk Studio Project, Fred Butler and Two Inch Punch debut an original track – “A Bee In My Bonnet” accompanying the SS13 collection and Fashion Film directed by Elisha Smith-Leverock evoking life within the hive, both made possible through Red Bull’s support. This season Fred Butler’s unlikely inspiration came from bees, with Two Inch Punch creating a crackling, buzzing, humming soundtrack. Marian Newman contributing razor-sharp sting-like talons whilst exoskeleton influenced undergarments in latex and rubber are in collaboration with William Wilde, costume director at The Box and known for dressing celebrities including Kelly Brook, Alek Wek, Daisy Lowe and Rihanna.

The Red Bull Catwalk Studio enabled Fred Butler to collaborate with Two inch Punch, the alias of London based produced Ben Ash who has made beats for the likes of Lil’ Wayne and has been proving a favorite in Diplo’s mixes, pioneering a new genre called “Lovestep”. The track will be previewing exclusively during the SS13 presentation and be available for complimentary download along with Fred’s Fashion Film at www.redbull.co.uk/catwalkstudio, bringing the catwalk directly to your playlist. Fred Butler is working with The Bumblebee Conservation Trust in support of the declining number of Urban Bees within our cities. A special edition key ring by Fred Butler will be available exclusively through her blog and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s homepage with all proceeds going to the trust.
 


This season pieces are constructed from patchwork hexagons, heavily embroidered in gold-work referencing Fred Butler’s previous piece for Kim Howells’ “House Of…” project celebrating extraordinarily talented designers and asking each to contribute one piece under a central theme. In a departure from past collections, “A Bee In My Bonnet” brings a fresh street and sport inspired edge to the designer’s quirky craft-inspired aesthetic. The muse of a “Hip Hop Honey Bee” is both urban and feminine, softened with ethereal touches and a gold iridescent colour palette. Luggage also makes a debut within Fred Butler’s work with bumblebee backpacks, bee-stinger bum-bags and money purses. Other key pieces include worker-bee baseball caps, honeycomb headphones, hexagon hoop earrings, bangles and flower fobs on daisy chains. Fred Butler continues to collaborate with Rosy Nicholas on bold statement footwear this season presenting itself through architectural art-deco wedges in gold echoing honeycomb and the interior structure of the hive.
 
Since graduating from The University of Brighton in 2003, Fred Butler has amassed an enviable industry following after involvement in countless projects and commissions for editorial, journalism and corporate clients. Fred Butler’s ever expanding portfolio of clients includes celebrities such as TEED, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Beth Ditto and corporate clients including Swatch, MTV, Nike, Adidas, Samsung, Havaiana, Mini, Vauxhall and BT.
 

WATCH FRED BUTLER'S SS13 FASHION FILM HERE
 

CREDITS

Music in collaboration with Two Inch Punch (@TWOINCHPUNCH)
 Enabled by the Red Bull Catwalk Studio (@RBStudiosLondon)

Fred Butler and all those involved in her presentation and fashion film would like to thank the team at Red Bull and The Red Bull Catwalk Studio for all their help and support throughout the season, without which none of this would have been possible. Fred Butler would also like to thank Two Inch Punch and everyone who worked in The Red Bulls Studios to make their collaboration possible.

Fred Butler x Red Bull Catwalk Studio Official After Party
 Salon Club London (@SalonClubLondon)

Stylist and Consultant: Kim Howells (@Kim_Howells)

Hair: Bianca Tuovi (@Biancatuovi) and team @ CLM Hair & Make-up (@clm_uk_ny_la)
 for Bumble and bumble (@Bumble)

Makeup: Yin Lee @ Premier using Melvita (@MelvitaUK) and AOFM Pro (@AOFMakeup)
 Nails: Marian Newman (@MarianNewman) at Streeters for Nail Rock (@Nail_Rock)

Casting Director: Paul Isaac (@MRPaulIsaac)
 Shoe Collaboration with Rosy Nicholas (@RosyNicholas)

Latex in collaboration with William Wilde (@William_Wilde_)
 Presentation Creative Production Curator: Ryan Lanji (@RyanLanji)

Styling Assistants: Daisy Newman (@Daisy_L_Newman) & Isabella Sumner (@IsabellaSumner)
 Studio Assistants: Keely Hunter, Emily Beard, Phoebe Simpson, Emily de Vale, Charlotte Bruton, Ruairi McInerney, Risa Mitsui and Lisa Watson

 WWW.FREDBUTLERSTYLE.COM
 
 
Nail Rock has collaborated with British designer Fred Butler for her SS13 London Fashion Week show. Models donned bespoke nail wraps with beautifully crafted 3D bumble bee designs to complement the bee elements of her new fashion collection.

The designer nail wraps were unveiled at Fred Butler’s SS13 presentation held at the iconic Somerset House.

Nail Rock Creative Director, Zoe Pocock said, ‘Fred Butler is such an exciting designer and I absolutely love her collections. Both brands have a British connection and the collaboration felt natural. The designs we’ve chosen really emphasize her bee theme and give the models a fun and unique edge. I’m absolutely delighted to have worked with the iconic Marian Newman for this show’.