 Talk To Us! The Look On-Line Inc. I am in total agreement with you guys when it comes to Ralph Rucci. Robin Givhans gave him four lines in the Washington Post and used those four lines to slam him. Cathy Horyn became a late-stage fan two seasons ago but since he didn't blow her away with magic fairy dust when he showed his haute couture line in Paris (apparently she was waiting for major miracles when he rightfully stuck to his knitting and outshone a lot of the European designers), she has gone back to the other camp. The man is a freaking genius. Who else blew my mind besides Rucci, Toi and Blue Khaki? It was a flawless collection and yet another rung in his plans to quietly take over the fashion world.
What are these people going to do when Klein, Karan and Lauren isn't around anymore? Whose ass are they going to kiss? Who is going to be left standing to kiss editor butt, should he choose to do so? RUCCI. I have always been a fan and not only is he a master at his craft, he is a class act among generally classless people. I still have that letter he wrote to me two seasons ago after he saw my review of his collection. he took the time to acknowledge the work and the praise. TOTAL CLASS BEYOND COMPARE. He is up there in the class department with Carolina Herrera. He even took the time to personally sign his own name. His day is coming and the true believers who doesn't need our asses to be smooched to know talent when we see it will be there to wish him well.
Abigail Chisman of Vogue.co.uk and Anne-Marie Otey of Fashiondish.com Responds to our Editorial: 'Fashion & Celebrity Gossip - A Cheap Substitute For Original Content'
Abigail Chisman the Editor of Vogue.uk.co writes:
I would like to stress that we do not re-use stories seen on other British sites. And we always cite our sources. If it appears that we have not, it is because we have generated the story ourselves concurrently with competing journalists - just as happens in the national press each day. And the idea that we think it's OK to "take" US stories, because they take ours, or vice versa, is also skewed, I would argue. We will follow up interesting stories, as I say, because we believe they are worth reporting to our UK readers.
Having said that, I would also like to add that each of those sites you mentioned also offers unique stories. We write four stories a day, a total of 20 a week - and we intend to continue to do as we claim, to break fashion news daily... No hard feelings - and keep up the biting reports.
Anne-Marie Otey the Editor of Fashiondish.com writes:
That's the only way we'd run it at this point. We do all our own reporting and post only that. We're in LA, so it may be a little easier for us to avoid the everyone's-repeating-themselves fishbowl. It's hard to be 100 percent original all the time--but it's much more fun for readers.
In response to our feature article on top model Maggie Rizer is a letter from her mother Maureen Breen:
"I truly enjoyed the well written article by Vivian Kelly about Maggie.
I appreciate the fact that you captured Maggie's essence. She truly IS a sweet, caring, intelligent person. Well over a year ago Ernest, you told me it was your opinion, that Maggie would change and become one of "them". We chose to disagree then. I am delighted to see that you have now had the opportunity to see for yourself the fine young woman Maggie has always been. I trust that you realize now that fame can never change a person. Personal behavior is a matter of choice. I have read other so called "interviews" of Maggie. Frequently, not all the time - but frequently, I have had to laugh at them , as it is obvious to me that she never said what they are attempting to portray her saying. In this interview for Look on Line, I could hear Maggie's voice.Congratulations on yet another well written article with integrity."
- Maureen
In response to our report that 7th
on Sixth was planning on competing with the SOS Shows next season is an
email from Fern Mallis, The Executive Director of 7th on Sixth:
Dear Ernie, It is always a treat to read your comments, or
'commentary' since they are usually your biased opinions and not quite the
facts.
In response to your "gossip" about the upcoming 7th on Sixth
shows,,,,yes, we are holding and intending to offer the Altman space as a
7th onSixth 'off-site' venue. This is to replace the "Celeste " space at
the New York Public Library which will not be available next season. This
was always a popular venue because the size fits between the very large
"Pavillion or Tent" and the small "Avenue". We will have the same number
of venues next season that we've always had.
In order to accomodate younger designers, 7th on Sixth has always had a
smaller, inexpensive venue to offer...and has so since the very beginning
of 7th on Sixth. For the past few years it has been the "Avenue" located
inside the Bryant Park tents.
Our use of the Altman building will be concurrent with 7th on Sixth not
during S.O.S, .....to suggest that 7th on Sixth is "competing" with S.O.S.
is a bit delusional.
Last but not least, 7th on Sixth works tirelessy to make the NY
Collections as easy and accessible as possible, both for the designers
showing and the worldwide media attending....and is proud of its' record
after some 600 shows. We are pleased to be able to copperate with and
offer help to S.O.S., but making sure that their agenda is accomplished is
not 7th on Sixth's responsibility.
I must go now as we have an Awards Gala to put on tomorrow evening.
All the best,
Fern Mallis
In response to our news/editorial item on who might
replace the late Liz Tilberis as Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar is one
of our own contributors:
Ernest, You're going straight to hell. To jump into gossip at a time
like this is just wrong. I'm not laughing this time. Don't you have a
sense of humanity, Ernest? Shame on you! God bless her soul. I hadn't even
heard about it. Why are you so hateful? Fashion has really gotten the
better of you. I know you can do better morally. I just know it. I am so
shocked and saddened. I heard only wonderful things about her. In respond to our editorial on PaperMag winning the
1999 "Webby Award" for best fashion site is Paper Magazine publisher Kim
Hastreiter... You also have obviously never read PAPER Magazine or at least do not
know what PAPER is about. PAPER Magazine is a 15 year old style, arts and
entertainment *monthly*, (NOT a weekly, as a weekly as you state in your
editorial).. Our four year old site,PAPERMAG is a daily updated site of
original content that does not appear in our magazine. In fact,the site
and its editorial are produced by an entirely separate staff from PAPER
Magazine. There is rarely any redirected content from our magazine's
fashion or news coverage. We have a different copy written about the shows
than for the magazine. We have a different photographer covering the shows
than for our magazine. We are also not entirely a fashion site. We cover
daily news,arts and entertainments, including fashion news, advice and
shopping. We also have a rather opinionated searchable guide as well as
quite active message board community. Thank you, Kim Hastreiter Making Friends and Influencing
People... "Thanks for all the info, since you must be right
about good sites being able to afford advertising and that no good sites
create any quality relationships that are mutually beneficial. Hey I've
got a really good idea. Go to your bathroom, take the plunger there
sitting in the corner and shove it up your ass."
- Timothy Hutton We just photograph their shows... "Another Victoria's Secret magazine came in the mail
today and promptly met the trash can...that's where I put garbage. I don't
remember the magazine being so sluty years ago. I used to like Victoria's
Secret, I thought it was tasteful, far above Frederick's Of Hollywood. Now
it seems that Victoria's Secret is on the same level with all the other
lingerie magazines and I won't stoop that far down. Why is it that a large portion of society excepts the
fact the women aretreated like objects? Just something pretty to dress up
and show off. I'm sorry, but there is far more to me than that. I'm not
some shallow bimbo who cares to flaunt herself to the world, nor am I a
wife who needs to wear some see-through negligee to earn her husband's
affections. As a matter of fact, my husband hates negligees and threw away
a few lacey things I had stashed in a drawer from years ago. . So, you're probably thinkng that anyone who's this
opposed to the glorification of flesh and bimbos must be some 300lb.
housewife who sits around eating cookies all day. That couldn't be further
from the truth. I'm the wife who gets upset when another man tells my
husband, "You sure are lucky....she's so beautiful." Yes, my husband is
lucky because I haven't met a meat-grinder head first, not because I'm
intelligent, creative, compassionate, and have a great sense of humor.
That's absurd! Please, rethink your ads. Real women want to see real
women in clothing that won't make them feel like they should be posing for
some pornographic centerfold! We just want to feel comfortable and
feminine. Is that too much to ask for? Thank you, - name withheld Not enough intellectual horse-power... It's a shame you have neither the intellectual
horse-power to follow through with your ideas, some of which are okay, nor
the financial backing to show how much better you would do things given
the chance. As it stands, your efforts seem undergraduate and underfunded.
There was a good story there about Liz Tilberis's grandstanding and the
decline of Harper's Bazaar as the front-runner in fashion publishing but
instead we get the inane grumbling of someone who probably didn't get
invited to the book launch. I'm certainly not a fan of Tilberis -- who is?
-- but she deserves the respect that a well-balanced, intelligent piece
would have afforded her. Meanwhile, don't you think it's a bit rich of you to
talk about "visual aesthetics" (by the way, aesthetics can only be visual)
when your site is such an eyesore? I wish you the best, but it's time for
you to rethink what you're doing. Why not restrict yourself to a well
presented and useful set of links? At least then your site will have a
purpose. I'm sorry to sound harsh, and by the way I'm on the side of the
underdog, but at the moment I have to agree with the dude from Hurricane.
Horatio Silva
Out of the mouth of babes... An email regarding The writing in this magazine JEES
you guys..! dont you have any money to hire GOOD Writers!!! your writers
are HIGHLY unprofessional. JEEZ, i think that even my baby sis can write
better! Please do something about your magazine. I am not the only one who
feels this way. i think your WRiting and your editorial time SUCKS BIG
TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -Mellisa Gabriels
- name withheld - Adriana Velez Concerning our editorial on "7th on Sixth" barring
links to other fashion sites are comments by the CEO of Hurricane
Interactive who put up the site... "My name is Jordan Harris and I am the CEO and
President of Hurricane Interactive. Get it right or you will look even
more idiotic! Ernie, if you are trying to be a "business man", you should
learn to choose your fights wisely. I am not your enemy, I own a company
that makes a profit. I am not in the business of "non for profit" the way
you are. Maybe if you learned how to deal with people you would actually
gain some credibility and make some money. No one gives a crap about your
little Website, do your self a favor and go back to doing whatever it was
you did before you decided to self promote yourself through a front-end
called Shnook On Line". - Jordan Harris May I just say as an Adelaide based Suzy Menkes -
alias a freelance fashionjournalist for magazines around Australia - what
a welcoming surprise it was tosee your credit of Mastroianni's departure
from this lifetime. Indeed heepitomised a style of which will no doubt
remain in our memories for a long timeto come, inspiring many. From
Fellini through to Altman - Marcello not onlystole out heart's as the
journalist in LA DOLCE VITA but also close to fortyyears later graced the
big screen in Pret a Porter with sex siren Sophia Loren. I am thankful for
your mention & feel that it proves you are indeed awebsite on the ball
& in it for all the right reasons - keep up the goodwork! I will miss
Marcello very much but feel that he is at this moment on cloud9 looking
down. - allen@adelaide.on.net A comment on the state of world
fashion... I'm 40 yrs. old and subscribe to several women's mags,
and am very interested in fashion, beauty, etc. I am appalled at the
fashions I see right now....they're soooo ugly.....mismatched, too-short,
too tight pants and tops...horrible colors...I can't believe anyone would
want to wear this stuff. Fashion designers seem to be in it for shock value and it
seems they arealways trying to outshock one another. Real women are
looking for classic simple pretty clothing that looks feminine and basic
at the same time. I'm really tired of what seems to have been a trend for
some time now, and cannot believe people are making money on this stuff!!
Some of it is nice, but most of it is trash. -jill@alaska.net An e-mail regarding our editorial on Marc
Jacobs: All I can say is, "Right On!" For years I have wondered why is Marc Jacobs, soooo
important to the American Fashion Scene? And, for years, it has seemed as
though I am one of the only people who has felt this way about his
talents. Just as it's been time for Yves St. Laurent to retire,
can we please send Marc out to pasture as well? He may have had that
glimmer of talent when he was a fresh face out of fashion school. Now we
know the real deal and it's about time he find his seat next to Christian
Roth on the boat that's setting sail for the end of the earth. -YvonneRTW@aol.com (Editor's Note: We hear that Christian Francis Roth is
starting up a new company and may be sailing back from the ends of the
earth!) Regarding Kate Bonn's story on Hollywood and
fashion... "Unzipped" on the other hand, did just that; however,
the movie's real attraction was Isaac Mizrahi's charm, without which,
"Unzipped" would have sat in the theaters like an bland chemise. Please
realize that the film industry needs fashion about as much as Cindy
Crawford needs breast implants (they both can live without them and still
make millions). - Michael P. In response to Michael's letter Christine
wrote: I really liked Michael P's comments about the film
"Unzipped."Believe me, I love fashion, but films of models trying to get
into dresses and shoes at the last minute are very boring. Give me Ingrid
Bergman in a beautiful gown any day! But Mizrahi comes across as a real person, very caring
about life and people, and his personality tantalizes and attracts because
he is not portrayedas a 'star' but as someone who is trying to express
himself and live life asbest he can. Maybe what Michael doesn't know is
that- if they are like me- many women who saw that film would love to meet
and spend time with Mizrahi- becausehe is sincere and because he seems to
understand us so well. If a film can arouse that sort of interest, it is,
in its own way, a cinematic success. -Christine
Shear |