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Most fashion ads are so bland, lacking any aesthetic creativity: typical-looking model stretches out along velvet chaise in cleavage-bearing dress, looking into camera.

This Gucci ad, however, is captivating. At first glance it may seem like another look-at-the-bag ad, and on a basic level it is, but when you look a little closer, there is a lot more going on. And the inevitable question is: what the hell is going on? How have these two women ended up with their legs in that position? Have they bumped into one another (which would create a very awkward image up top), or is something more mischievous going on beyond the scope of the camera lens?

Speaking of mysteries and bags, take a moment to enter our One Year Anniversary Gift Bag Giveaway, whose enigmatic contents (trust me, they are good) will be divulged over the course of the month.

This May we’re celebrating our 1 year anniversary and what better way to do that than to giveaway a giftbag filled with fashion items to our loyal readers?

Simple.

2 Chances to win a giftbag filled with fashion items for our loyal readers. Throughout the month we will be posting all the goods being added to the giftbags.

Stop reading and enter now!

How exciting! WE are hosting the Carnivale of the Couture this week, and we have a terrific topic to work with!

“You’ve been given the opportunity to produce a runway show for any designer of your choosing. Which designer would it be, what location would you hold the show, who would be on your guest list
of front row celebrities, and what music would you play as the models strutted down the runway? You have unlimited budget and resources, and complete creative freedom.”

Wow, that’s a lot of creativity to whip out on a Monday. But, here goes.

As for the designer, something like Heatherette or somone super creative and kind of “out there” in their designs would be really fun. But I’d almost like to be able to bring a more creative, punk rock feel to a more staid designer like Chanel or Marc Jacobs.

But, when it comes down to it, I’d probably most like to work with Gwen Stefani. (Yes, I would also take this opportunity to ask her to please, please end this solo fiasco and go back to No Doubt, stat. Or, consider collaborating with, oh, say, HER HUSBAND or ANYONE IN ROCK. Whew, rant ended.)

I think it would be fun to produce a L.A.M.B. show because it’s just starting out and so there’s not so many expectations or “this is how we’ve always done it” attitudes to work against. I also wouldn’t feel as intimidated as I would by other, more high fashion designers. (I know this is fantasy and in my fantasy I wouldn’t be intimidated by Karl Lagerfeld, but I just can’t break down that barrier.)

I am also really into the music/fashion connection and think it would be super-fun to play that up.

I would hold the show at a Philly club. Because living in Philly can be a frustrating fashion experience - close enough to NY that no one really thinks to accomodate you as a city with sample sales or a Barney’s - but far enough that you can’t exactly go up for an evening. I’d love to bring the fashion world’s attention to our fair city.

Fashion asthetic-wise, the best place would be South Street. But the clubs there are too small. We’d have to have it at the Electric Factory, and put something fabulous on the big sign with Ben Franklin’s head on it. I wouldn’t actually do too much to the club other than put a runway down the middle, coming out from the stage. I want it to be just as skanky and smoke-filled as the No Doubt show I saw there.

Front row celebs would be music-heavy, naturally. And I think this would be just the hip location for young hollywood. I don’t have a particular penchant for Lindsay Lohan or Mischa Barton, but they’d certainly fit in. This would definitely be a young crowd.

The music would be awesome. Great female-fronted rock bands like Garbage and Sleater-Kinney could play. Gwen could sing with Institute (hubby Gavin’s new-ish band). And there could be awesome videos of live performances too, like the Ramones and Sex Pistols (Love the Vivienne Westwood connection - they hung out in her shop). The videos could be projected onto the walls, ceiling, runway. The music would be the best part and the part that would take more time and research to decide on than one fantasy will provide.

(A Vivienne Westwood design for the Sex Pistols, auctioned at Sotheby’s.)

So that would be my punk rock fashion show. Now, please, Gwen. A little less back beat a little more guitar.

Met a very good friend of mine from Baltimore now living in NYC a couple of blocks away from me. The world is truly small and flat. Loved her parties down there and she’s now doing it up here. So if you’re up for it on Thursday (and in NYC) head over to

Lava Gina (love the name)
116 Ave. C
btw 7th and 8th
7:30pm to 12am on First Thursdays