Sprout-ing Artists?

Sprout’s holding a design competition – not Sprout in Williamsburg that sells seeds but Sprout, the committee of artists and designers dedicated to finding new talent.

They’re looking for photographers, painters, illustrators, scupltors and any other kind of artist who feels they have something important to say.

If that’s you, you’ll enter the competition and be judged by a panel of judges hailing from the Met, the Guggenheim and Vanity Fair among others.

Ten semi-finalists will be presented in an on-line gallery from which they can sell their work and one winner will be given a solo exhibition at the Rebecca & Drew store in the Meatpacking District – the brand is sponsoring the competition.

So grab your hot neighbor, your stylist friend, take pictures and let us know when you win.

Richard Chai to Take Over at Bill Blass?

>> Last we heard, Bill Blass was sold after Peter Som left and the new owners Peacock International Holdings filed bankruptcy, with eventual plans to start the line back up.  Then, last week, the search for a new creative director was revealed to be on, with plans to relaunch later this year.

Several industry sources are now indicating that Richard Chai may be the man to take over — he is supposedly in talks with Peacock.  ”I’m afraid we can’t comment at the moment,” was a Chai spokesperson’s response to the rumors, and Peacock’s executive vice president of licensing and sales also declined to give any information: ””We can’t comment on who we’re interviewing for the position.”  He did, however, confirm that the new creative director would be announced in a month or so.

Chai definitely has the right look for the brand — modern American sportswear — plus the support of retailers and editors, particularly Anna Wintour, so it won’t be a surprise if he’s chosen for the job.
*image: source

Richard Chai to Take Over at Bill Blass? originally appeared on fashionologie on Tue, 03/31/2009 – 1:23pm Please see fashionologie for terms for use of feeds.

Fashionista 2009-03-31 20:06:21

”En ce moment, je regarde Shakira et Beyoncé. Je vais sur YouTube à 2 – 3 heures du matin, je mets Single Ladies de Beyoncé et je fais danser tout le monde. Je monte sur la chaise et je danse pour me doper. Souvent, je ne me couche pas. Alors, je vais me brosser les dents, je me lave la figure, comme si je me réveillais.” – Alaia, on his adorable late night pick-me-up routine, in Vogue Paris Avril 09.

(click for English translation)

The Freja & Catherine Experience

Did you know Freja and Catherine made a movie together?

Well, sort of. The short film helps promote the work of designer Mads Nørgaard, and includes Freja walking around like she’s in a music video until she runs into Cat and they play sexy eyes at each other for about a minute.

The second, and much more official, installation can be found here.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see if the girls get a happy ending.

Luella Gets in on the Pre-Action

There’s a little gem tucked into the new Lula – well there are actually a lot of gems but we’re sharing this first:

An interview with Luella Bartley reveals that she’s working on her pre-Spring collection – her first ever pre-collection and an indicator, to retailers, that she’s thinking more seriously about the commercial prospects of her brand.

While runway shows breed excitement and creativity, it’s the pre-collections that actually do best with customers which is why Resort and pre-Fall have become so important the past few seasons. They give designers a chance to transition into new seasons and new ideas without a major production.

And while we love, love, pretty much everything Luella Bartley makes, it’s always been a bit commercially difficult. This pre-spring collection she’s working on could finally be the way to get her clothes to America (without Net-a-Porter’s help).

Accompanying Ellen Von Unwerth pics of her regular Spring 09 collection – after the jump.