Clogged!

  Folks, clogs are on this Spring-Summer. Since they are by far not flattering, woe is us, how should we look for the best for us without looking like we belong in Riverdance?

   I’m always amazed when clogs resurface as a fashion trend. Noisy, uncomfortable, clunky—clogs are downright ugly if you look at them for more than a second. They’re an affront to any finely trained gait and make women walk like donkeys instead of thoroughbreds. Men both straight and gay cringe at the sight and sound of them. Clump-slide, clump-slide. My most recent argument for not wearing clogs? The kilt-clad hoofers at the Olympics’ opening ceremony in Vancouver: Plump, hairy, and pierced one and all— who could tell the girls from the boys?
 
  I do remember one clog moment that I didn’t find utterly offensive: during the ’90s, when Dansko horse clogs were the perfect complement to the longish, loose-cut CDG and Yohji Yamamoto dresses people were wearing.
 

 Unfortunately, not everyone shares my disaffection with the clog, especially people young enough never to have worn them before. The eye is always looking for something new, and sexy stilettos and dainty footwear don’t have the proper heft for spring’s shorter skirts and dresses. No surprise, then, that this season’s clogs are turning up as a youthful alternative to wear with the sporty and frilly minidresses and shorts that went down the runway. Alexander Wang paired jaunty leather mules with zippered bloomer shorts and striped polos, while Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton grounded his frilly campsite party dresses with horsehair-covered low-riders. The only incarnation one might consider wearing in hoity-toity circles would be Lagerfeld’s high-heeled hoofers at Chanel, but considering how skimpy his dresses were, they certainly weren’t meant for the lady who lunches. And that’s the point: Clogs aren’t meant to be taken seriously, but neither are the clothes they’re worn with.

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2010 Highlights

My Factory
My Factory is the new Pitti Uomo project that will be featured in the Lyceum this coming June. Embodying the new sensitivity that has developed from the busy intersection where fashion, youth culture, music, graphics and the new media meet, My Factory is a new trade segment linked to today’s metro culture where the passwords are experimentation, eclecticism, eco-sustainability and modernity. The focus will be on full and capsule collections by young creatives and products from international brands sold in trend stores and online.Settings by Oliviero Baldini.

Design by Patricia Urquiola
After its successful debut last January, Patricia Urquiola’s new design for the Main Pavilion is making another step forward
and up. With a strategy based on an approach of advanced experimentation in fashion and how it is distributed and used, Ms. Urquiola has gone to the Upper Level involving the Classico Italia exhibitors and has created a sort of department store with more open stands to facilitate dialogue among the products. Like the Lower Lever, the Upper will feature Pop-Up Stores, special areas dedicated to lifestyle and accessories – from jewelry to footwear, from fragrances to pocket technologies – that combine artisan skills with contemporary styling.
Pitti Woman Precollection
The sixth edition of Pitti W_Woman Precollection, the Pitti Immagine fair-event devoted to women’s collections will be held in Florence from 15 to 18 June 2010 concomitantly with Pitti Uomo 78. A selected group of 75 international brands will present exclusive previews of their 2011 spring-summer collections in the Dogana on via Valfonda.

Jill Sander
Pitti Immagine has invited a major name in international fashion – Jil Sander – to present a show on the Pitti Uomo 78 catwalk. Thursday evening 17 June, Raf Simons the house’s creative director will stage the première showing the 2011 spring-summer Menswear Collection “starring” the brand’s unmistakable look.

Who is on Next?
In June, Pitti Immagine will proudly present the second edition of WHO IS ON NEXT? A PITTI UOMO the
competition organized by Pitti Immagine Uomo, Alta Roma and L’Uomo Vogue, that seeks – and finds – new talents – Italian or based in Italy - in men’s fashions. During the fair an international panel of buyers, fashion journalists and opinion
makers will judge the collections submitted by the 8 finalists. Then the panel will announce the winners in the two categories - prêt-à-porter and accessories.
I FINALISTI / THE FINALISTS:
AI_
CAMO
DEAD MEAT
FQR, MAURIZIO MIRI
OZONA
PIERRE-LOUIS MASCIA
YUJI MIUR

C.P. COMPANY
Emotional event for C.P. Company. The event will take place on Tuesday 15 June from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Sala Ottagonale at the Fortezza da Basso and will celebrate the featuring of C.P. Company at Pitti Uomo. The soirée, organized in cooperation with L'Uomo Vogue and Pitti Immagine, will be an emotional event enriched by images, light and music with a performance by the guitarist Maurizio Solieri and his band. Inside the Sala Ottagonale there will be the screening of moving images featuring the history of the past advertising campaigns by C.P. Company and on this occasion Enzo Fusco, FGF Industry's owner, will present the updated version of the legendary Goggle Jacket.

Sundek by Neil Barrett
Sundek, the historic beachwear brand is expanding its range with PE11, urban wear to complement the beach items that are an integral part of a total look: a new version of the rainbow short, t-shirts, polos, jackets, walkshorts and accessories characterize a collection that combines tradition with research and innovation through new and interesting partnerships.

Harmont & Blaine
Bassotti Inside: a site-specific performance of Luisaviaroma conceived by Felice Limosani for the launch of the "Harmont & Blaine" woman collection. A limited edition - created for the event - will be available exclusively on luisaviaroma.com.

Eco Gucci

Gucci is going green.

  Delivering on the brand's promise last November to reduce paper use and its carbon footprint, Gucci says its signature luxury packaging now conforms to FSC Certified paper standards and is 100% recyclable.


  It's the latest luxury brand to make good on a Rainforest Action Network-backed pledge to reduce paper in packaging, a commitment that has already signed up Valentino, Versace and Prada.


  Gucci Group now joins those ranks, with a commitment that also extends to its Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga brands.


  It’s a major change for Gucci. Bags, boxes, and tissue paper will no longer contain plastic laminate; ribbon and garment bags will change from polyester to cotton; and bags will be labeled: "This shopping bag is FSC certified and made of 100% recyclable material."


  That’s not all: gift boxes will now be given only upon request; and shoes will be combined in one flannel, not two. But perhaps most startling, all Gucci mannequins will be replaced with eco-friendly, shockproof polystyrene versions, 100% recyclable raw material, made in Italy and completed with water-based paints.


  François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO, PPR, Gucci’s owner, stated: “If we wait for customers to make sustainable development a condition for purchasing, then nothing will happen. It's as if green products were somehow not normal. They are normal, it is the other products that are not normal. It's up to us to work out how to make green products the new normal.”

  Gucci has set energy-saving goals in its stores to reduce by year’s end: 35 tons of plastic waste; 1,400 tons of paper consumption; 10,000 tons of Co2 emissions; and 4 million liters of gas oil consumption.

  Mimma Viglezio, Gucci Group EVP of communications, commented, "We hope our actions will also raise awareness inside the fashion industry that it's possible for our industry to make a difference for rainforests and for the climate."

Another trend-setting brand steps up. Go Gucci. Go green.