A special edition of Picture this by GPP featuring the drawing used for the 2012 Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony.

This is an illustration of Junya Watanabe’s S/S 2001 hat and dress, drawn for the March 25, 2001 issue of U.K. Sunday Times Style.

Watanabe, under the patronage of Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) had a space in the back of her Paris showroom on the place Vendôme.

He was a quiet, gentle person always supremely polite.

Unlike the Sunday Times Style team that was noisy, aggressive and manipulative. The late Isabella Blow was our leader. Colin McDowell wrote about fashion. I drew.

We had a car that became a chariot of contention. Isabella wanted to see the newest, weirdest designers. Colin wanted to be seated in the front row at the most important shows. Frequently he fell in love with the driver, who took his side.

We had strict instructions (from the London office) that the limo was strictly for the team, no-one else. Naturally, Isabella invited French countesses and generally changed her outfit in the car in order to arrive at any show dressed in the designer’s creation.

Frequently, Colin would announce in a loud voice, “Oh, Gladys knows Paris so well, she can take the Metro…”

One day, Isabella whispered, “I want you to draw me in a Junya Watanabe, but don’t tell Colin.” We met at the showroom. I did a drawing. While Isabella was chatting up Junya, I tried on a black gazar jacket.

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Photo Courtesy of Philip Treacy/Kevin Davies.

Philip Treacy was born in County Galway in the West of Ireland, and grew up with his parents and seven brothers and sisters across the street from a small church. As a young child, he was inspired by churchgoers in their Sunday best, and began making clothes and hats for his sisters’ dolls.

As a teenager he moved to Dublin to study fashion at the National College of Art & Design, where he made hats to compliment the clothes he designed in his classes. When he had to arrange for an apprenticeship, he chose to spend six weeks with the London hat designer Stephen Jones. He then went on to the Royal College of Art in London, where he pioneered their millinery program. During his time in London, he met Isabella Blow, who took an immediate liking to Treacy and his hats. They shared an affinity for the eccentric, and she asked him to design a hat for her wedding, in keeping with the medieval theme of her dress.

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Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Net-a-Porter, simply titled Karl, launched yesterday with pop-up stores and parties in Paris, New York, Sydney, Berlin and London. In an interview with Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, Lagerfeld explained that the collection was an expression of his style and taste – he designed clothes that he likes.

The collection of mostly black and white sleek separates flew off shelves yesterday, and several designs are already sold out online. The price-point is much more accessible than Chanel, but it will still set you back a few (average price for an item is around $250). Proving that the line really is all about Karl, he even interviewed himself in a promotional video.

Which items are you coveting? Tell us in the comments below!

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In today’s edition of Monday Morning Photos, we bring you some of our favorite looks from the Pre-Fall 2012 Collections! It is amazing that designers even have the time for Pre-Fall – but these looks certainly do not disappoint. Lots of color, cropped pants, swing coats and more! What were your favorite looks from the Pre-Fall collections? Tell us in the comments below!

3.1 Phillip Lim

Zac Posen

Alexander Wang

Burberry Prorsum

Chanel

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Name: Je’nea Marie Thomas

Where do you live? Louisville, KY

 Area of study: MFA Fashion Merchandising

Day job / occupation: Humana Insurance Company; Grievance and Appeals Specialist

What qualities do you most value in others?

Honesty, Integrity, Commitment, and Self-respect

Name three of your favorite designers, journalists, bloggers, stores, etc:

My all time favorite designer would have to be Coco Chanel. She embodied so much more than just being a designer. She was one of the first to do what she did in Fashion, and she was such a classy lady. One of her quotes that I also say is “A woman should be two things, classy and fabulous”. I also really love Jessica Simpson. Her collections are really unique and everything fits me! Fit is everything when you’ve got a few curves . If I had to choose a favorite store, it would have to be H&M. I can go in H&M and find anything! What’s even more crazy is there isn’t one in Louisville, so I have to travel an hour and a half away to the closest one lol. When I’m not planning that shopping trip, I’m living in Target. I absolutely LOVE Target and there is never an experience when I go in there and spend less than $50!

List a guilty pleasure:

SWEETS and SHOES! I am a junk food junkie. I love a really good dessert. An ideal Saturday would consist of a Strawberries and Champagne cupcake while shopping for shoes. I have a ridiculous amount of shoes in my closet.

What is your present state of mind?

Though I live in the present, I am always excitedly anticipating the future and what there is in store for me.

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Astrid Andrea Orantes; Academy Fashion Design Major

Style Point: Blackout

Black is always in style. It’s clean, coy, professional, and simply chic. Think Chanel or Audrey Hepburn in Funny face. A ‘blackout’ leaves you looking posh, polished, and ready to vogue.

- Melle

Members of the Academy of Art University student fashion club, Beyond the Front Row, pose backstage with models wearing Chanel’s Resort 2012 collection. The student club members happily accepted an invitation to dress models for the private Chanel show last week.

“It was a really amazing experience that we were able to help with the private show of Chanel’s 2012 resort collection so closely. The collection was filled with so many beautiful elements and details and looked magical on the models.”

- Sharon Lu, Board Member of Beyond the Front Row

To see more from Beyond the Front Row, click here.

Yup. That is Karl Lagerfeld.

Looking back on early fashion shows is always fascinating and it shows us how far fashion has come — but this particular video is extra special. It transports us back to a time when models like Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, Helena Christensen, Linda Evangelista, Nadja Auermann, Naomi Campbell, Shalom Harlow, Eva Herzigova, Kirsty Hume and others ruled the runway.

Ah, the memories.

Now if only we can find a complete version of this video. I’m sure we can find it on VHS somewhere.

[Source: vsmagazinelive.com]

Last year, Karl Lagerfeld showcased Chanel Cruise 2011 with his short film, Remember Now. This year, Lagerfeld continues to hone his filmmaking chops with The Tale of a Fairy which gives us a look at Chanel Cruise 2012. The short is a cornucopia of models which includes Amanda Harlech, Kristen McMenamy, Freja Beha, Bianca Balti, Baptiste Giabiconi, Brad Koening, Jake Davies, Mark Vanderloo, Oriol Elcacho, Sebastien Jondeau, Seth Kuhlmann and the shining star of the film, French actress Anna Mouglalis.

Take a look:

What are your thoughts?

The Grand Finale

Chanel lives. Vive Karl Lagerfeld!

Today I saw the most exquisite Haute Couture collection in years.

And flat shoes (maybe a nod to Carla Bruni who towers above her husband, President Sarkozy of France?)

Show opened with Stella Tennant and closed with Kirsten McMenamy.

In between every classic Chanel line and shape now completely modern and embroidered with the lightest touch – from the atelier of François Lesage.

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