MAN AND MUSE

LAST NYFW I PLAYED MUSE FOR AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER MICHAEL LO SORDO SHOT AT THE CROSBY STREET HOTEL BY THE AMAZING NICK HUDSON FOR RUSSH MAGAZINE! IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST FUN SHOOTS I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF, I HOPE YOU LIKE! MUST BE OFF NOW AS I JUST LANDED IN LONDON TO SEE MY PARENTS AND IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE PUB. KISSES!

MAN AND MUSE

Michael Lo Sordo is one of Australia’s most gifted young designers having recently hurled his latest Spring/Summer collection down the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia this month. Alexandra Spencer is a model/blogger with brains and a following that may one day, very soon, rival the Beatles. We got cozy with the man and his muse during New York Fashion Week to snap some pics, chat about all things dark ‘n’ stormy, and maybe even raid the mini bar…

How did you meet Alexandra, and why is she your ideal muse?I had been following Alexandra and her blog, 4TH AND BLEEKER, for quite some time now. I really admired her aesthetic and thought what she was doing was completely innovative and unique. Her personal take on fashion and lifestyle is new and refreshing, and her libertine spirit and edgy sense of sensuality had me hooked. I reached out to her before my NY Fall press showings and immediately I received a warm response. A week later during the NYC snow storm, we were to meet at my hotel so I could take her through the collection. When I opened the door on her arrival not two minutes had passed before she gravitated towards everything that was black and sexy, undressing as we sipped champagne. From then onwards it was the start to a new friendship.

Talk to me about your latest collection. What were your inspirations?

Michael Lo Sordo: There was a significant change in the way I was feeling in my approach to Spring/Summer. I wanted get to the core of the MLS woman and look to moving her forward … But not before she had to turn back to her dark side to find the light. Infusing the collection with a dark and stormy marble print, done by hand, to represent strength and a real focus, which is also the essence of the cut. I really wanted to be strict with tailoring, but still remaining classic and modern. More and more I find that when designing, the thing that most influences and inspires me is the woman herself.

WEARING MICHAEL LO SORDO SHOT BY NICK HUDSON AT THE CROSBY STREET HOTEL

WHO WHAT WEAR X FEKKAI

TODAY, WHO WHAT WEAR, FEKKAI AND I ARE TALKING GOOD HAIR AND HOW TO GET IT. THESE DAYS, MOVING MY CENTRE PART 3MM TO THE RIGHT IS AS ABOUT AS CREATIVE AS IT GETS FOR ME DUE TO MY INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL BLOW DRY. I GAVE UP ON STYLING AFTER ONE DISASTROUS ATTEMPT WITH A CURLING IRON MANY YEARS AGO WHERE MY HAIR WENT FROM ZERO TO JONBENÉT RAMSEY FASTER THAN YOU COULD SAY "FREDERIC FEKKAI". IT WAS A SCARRING EXPERIENCE AND ONE THAT LEFT ME WITH A STRONG DISTASTE FOR THE CURLING IRON. THANK GOD FOR FEKKAI'S HEAD STYLIST ERIC SEBBAG WHO EASED ME INTO TRYING OUT NEW THINGS WITH HIS VERSION OF THE "MODEL OFF DUTY" LOOK, WHICH IS WHAT I WISHED MY HAIR REALLY LOOKED LIKE WHEN I'M NOT WORKING! CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO GET A STEP BY STEP TO M.O.D HAIR! KISSES!

LEOPARD JACKET BY ZARA. TANK BY ETOILÉ ISABEL MARANT. JEANS BY TOPSHOP. SHOES BY ALEXANDER WANG.

LOST IN TRANSLATION PT. I

LAST WEEK I FLEW TO TOKYO FOR 60 HOURS FOR THE OPENING OF PLANET BLUE WORLD JAPAN! THE STORE IS AMAZING, AND I MUST SAY I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A PACKED OPENING! DIAGO THE MENTALIST BLEW EVERYBODY'S MINDS AND ALSO DISPLAYED WHY METAL FORKS SHOULD STAY ON THE NO FLY LIST. CHECK THE VIDEO'S BELOW TO SEE HIM DO HIS THING! OUT OF THE 60 HOURS IN TOKYO, I BELIEVE 7 OF THOSE WERE SPENT SLEEPING AND THE REST DRINKING WHISKEY HIGHBALLS, SINGING KARAOKE OR SHOOTING ON THE STREET'S OF TOKYO WITH MY GIRLFRIEND ILONA AS WE STRUGGLED SILENTLY THROUGH OUR ENORMOUS HIGHBALL HANGOVERS. BIG THANK YOU TO PLANET BLUE FOR HAVING US AND KENTA- OUR FAVOURITE JAPANESE FRIEND!! 

1. SHIRT BY MIU MIU. 2. JEANS BY LEVIS, SHIRT BY ISABEL MARANT, JACKET VINTAGE. 3. DRESS BY MIU MIU. 4. JACKET BY ISABEL MARANT, CROP SWEATER BY FRIEND OF MINE, SHORTS BY PRADA, BAG BY PUCCI. 

ALL IMAGES SHOT BY ILONA HAMER WWW.YOUARENOTILONA.COM

A BEAUTIFUL ODYSSEY

TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JAMES FRANCO'S NEW CAMPAIGN "A BEAUTIFUL ODYSSEY" FOR 7 FOR ALL MANKIND'S SS13 COLLECTION. BASED ON A POEM BY WILLIAM BLAKE, THIS THREE PART STORY IS A REALISTIC LOOK AT LOVE, TEMPTATION AND VERY GOOD DENIM.

PART II SEE'S US IN A MENAGE TROIS OF REALLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE AT A ROMANTIC CROSSROADS. DOES SHE CHOOSE THE BAD BOY EX- LOVER PLAYED BY ATHLETE TURNED AD MAN SEAN AVERY OR THE LONG HAIRED LOTHARIO WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO PUT A RING ON IT PLAYED PERFECTLY BY ACTOR PETER VACK? FRANCO, HAS NOT MADE IT EASY ON HER. SHE NEEDS A LITTLE HELP, THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! GO TO 7 FOR ALL MANKIND'S FACEBOOK AND VOTE TO HELP THIS WOMAN OUT OF HER POETIC SNAKE PIT. WHEN FACED WITH A TOUGH DECISION I THINK IT'S BEST TO JUST TAKE YOUR TOP OFF, SLIP INTO A PAIR OF SNAKESKIN JEANS AND MAKE A GIF. I WON'T TELL YOU WHO I VOTED FOR- BUT LET'S JUST SAY IF I WERE HER, I'D RATHER BE SKATING ON THIN ICE. 

 

SNAKESKIN JEAN BY 7FAM. SHIRT VINTAGE.

VOTE NOW! AND LET ME KNOW WHICH BABE YOU WOULD CHOOSE!

THE BUSINESS MEETING

THE BABY GHOST SHOT THESE POLAROIDS ON A BALCONY ROOFTOP ON WEST 45TH STREET BETWEEN SHOWS DURING FW. THE COLD WAS NOT A BIG SURPRISE.  THE ONE I GAVE SEVERAL PERPLEXED BUSINESS MEN IN A MEETING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS WINDOW HOWEVER, WAS A BIG ONE! I CAN'T BE SURE, BUT I THINK WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN I MENTIONED BY WAY OF AN EXPLANATION THAT DION LEE DOES LEATHER REALLY, REALLY WELL! THAT AFTERNOON STEVIE DANCE CAME OVER TO INTERVIEW ME FOR SHOPGHOST, HERE IT IS. KISSES!

BUSTIER AND PANTS BY DION LEE. COAT BY MIU MIU. SHOES BY ALEXANDER WANG.

"JUST TRY TO LOOK FRENCH."

[Ed. Note: Alexandra Spencer is the founder of 4th and Bleeker, a blog that chronicles her personal style and her sunny life in Los Angeles. Originally from Australia, Alexandra has collaborated with brands like Louis Vuitton and J Brand and appeared Vogue Australia andHarpers Bazaar. What sets her apart from the online masses is her sense of daring, seen in her self-produced editorials that would be at home in i-D or Dazed.]

I'm from Sydney, Australia.

Favorite designers: Nicolas Ghesquiére's Balenciaga, James Perse's menswear, Calvin Klein, Givenchy.

Style mantra: Just try to look French.

I admire Vanessa Traina, Ilona Hamer, Carine Roitfeld.

Always do whatever makes you the happiest.

Never willingly go to an escort bar.

It's the worst when you have to leave people that you love.

Sometimes I wish that Paris Hilton would release another music video.

I want to be like myself on a good thinking day.

I'm upset I threw out a Louis Vuitton duffle that my brother spilled an entire bottle of cough syrup in.

I'll always picture myself in New York.

I regret wearing most of the outfits I wear to get coffee in the morning.

Stripes: will always be great.

White jeans: go well with Tracy Anderson's work out routine.

Vintage is for people with more patience than me.

Men's shirts: with black jeans and the Saint Laurent Jane sandal.

Sneakers:  I wear them to the gym, That's it.

Heels are for giving short men complexes.

Platform shoes: I can't.

Dots go with anyone trying to achieve Julia Robert's polo look in Pretty Woman.

Lipstick: makes me feel uncomfortable.

Center parted hair: is perfect.

My favorite color is navy blue.

Suits are for everyone, all day, everyday.

The best outfit I ever wore was a black YSL suit. Or the Celine Dion Hockey jersey.

I like when boys wear a suit. Or their birthday suit.

I hate when girls wear kitten heels.

Everyone should wear more sunscreen.

Barney's: is where I spend a lot of time and money.

Bergdorf's: is where I buy my Tom Ford make up.

Opening Ceremony: I love it, I'm hoping one day I will be cool enough to walk in without feeling absolutely ridiculous.

                    Steal from your father watch, advice, Campari!

I'm secretly addicted to Law and Order: SVU, I have watched so much I think I'm a detective with a law degree.

Don't listen to your mother about drinking too much Campari and stealing your fathers watch.

Uptown is where I go to see people rollerblade in the park to Massive Attack.

Downtown is where good things happen.

Screw: Midtown!

The band with the best style is Kate Moss with a tamborine or anyone dating Kate Moss.

I wish I could afford a yacht and a full time driver.

The best thing I ever bought was a 1970's Mercedes.

Everyday I'm hustlin'.

MIAMI ON 6%

"Wait, Do you have any charge?" "Nah" "Oh, Fuck I'm on 6%" "Me too." - Phoebe, Alex, Ilona.

When Phoebe, Ilona and I flew to Miami over New Years we didn't know what we were going to expect. Phoebe and I had met each other just three weeks before and decided after a few Hot Toddy's (Her) and Moscow mules (me) that we should most definitely NOT be in, or anywhere within 20 nautical miles of Los Angeles. I am not sure who's idea Miami was? But as I'm the appointed writer, I give myself full creative liberties (like all good bloggers do) and will tell the story in a way that allows me to take full credit for all excellent ideas (Florida, Negroni's, Sunbum sunscreen) and perhaps write out the faux pas (I am many things, A patient travel agent is not one of them). None the less, The plan was set in motion. We would be flying to Miami to post up at The Standard for a week to celebrate the end of a very long year and the beginning of a new one. A Bruce Weber start to 2013, If you will! 

Our next and final step was calling in Ilona from NY, Who had just moved to NYC and was experiencing her first winter. Let's just say.... It was an easy sell. After weeks of snow and pavement salt on her Balenciaga boots she was more than ready to switch her North face for her Lisa Mariee Fernandez. She like Phoebe and I are Australian and our idea of winter is a flimsy cashmere scarf and a leather jacket. Not ten layers, Long underwear and a jacket that promises below zero insulation. To say the least, She was a little cold. Something for which I will forever be thankful as when I asked her in an email to fly in, Her reply was almost instant. It was a resounding "YES!!!" She would be coming. We were so excited we didn't stop to be surprised at the spontaneousness. You see, This was a risky move for Lone doggy as even though she had known both Phoebe and I for years, Our contact had been few and far between. It was Ilona who started me out in this business, 5 years ago by putting me in a Vogue editorial that changed my career path forever and had shot over the course of Phoebes career from a young Phoebe J Tonkin to Phoebe J Tonkin, CW network star (Thanks Lone!) Although since then, our contact was limited to a few hello's and air kisses at fashion week until by sheer luck we shot a week before we both moved to the states... which is how we got to emailing. (Have I lost you guys yet?) Anyways, The point is she was in. And as I said, Risky. 

December 30th, We checked in and by that afternoon we were well on our way to being drunk and tanned. The fun had begun. We met a hot tattoo'd guy. Who as it turns out, was the only straight man at The Standard. We counted down to 2013 with Champagne "Drake" Papi. We renamed Phoebe Hot Toddy Papi. We played a very strange albeit dangerous game of truth or dare on a yacht anchored somewhere in the middle of the ocean. We drank a lot of Negroni's. We (Upon Phoebes request) watched something called "Genki porn", We listened to "Breezeblocks" by Alt J over and over. We also listened to a lot of A$AP Rocky's fucken problems. We had all our bath's outdoors. We rarely bathed alone. We were harassed by a pedophiliac psychopath on the beach, We witnessed an insane amount of action in the "Hamam", We bought matching Proenza tee's at the Webster whilst chatting up basketball players. We extended our flights. We went to a Steakhouse. We became best friends. 

Here is our Miami. Shot By us, Of us on The 5D, G12, Disposable cameras and iPhones. 

Ilona Hamer's site www.youarenotilona.com Phoebe Tonkin's site www.yourzenlife.com Illustrations by Madeleine Carroll  www.madeleinealicecarroll.tumblr.com

A huge thank you to The Standard, Miami! Kisses from suite 608!