"A BAS LE RITZ..., VIVE LA RUE" ("DOWN WITH THE RITZ..., LONG LIVE THE STREET!" YSL - 1965

In 1965 Yves Saint Laurent proclaimed:

'DOWN WITH THE RITZ..., LONG LIVE THE STREET!' 'Beyond the provocative tone, this heartfelt cry was the indisputable and sincere expression of an ever-growing conviction within him'. (The FONDATION).

SAINT LAURENT rive gauche "LA REVOLUTION DE LA MODE" current exhibition at The FONDATION in Paris!

The collections being shown there are incredibly amazing and bewitching to look at! Such great designs and craftsmanship!

If in Paris, please check out this incredible exhibition (www.fondation-pb-ysl.net)

QUOTE: Actress LENA HORNE

"IT'S NOT THE LOAD THAT BEARS YOU DOWN...IT'S THE WAY YOU CARRY IT!" Actress LENA HORNE

LEA T WAS NOT THE FIRST...BOY TO MODEL AS A GIRL

LEA T is beautiful!

GAKU was also stunning!

Andre J is bearded and less femme as Lea T or Gaku!

All have something in common, they’re MEN!

And all have modeled as WOMEN!

Lea T (Brazilian) is the latest guy to model as a girl in the high stakes world of fashion and makes the grades with campaigns such as GIVENCHY and the pages of FRENCH VOGUE! Gaku from Japan kept tongues wagging in the JIGSAW campaigns in the late 90’s, fashion magazines such as ID and television crews including E Entertainment and the English tabloids such as The INDEPENDENT gawking over his stunning lithe Japanese body as he saunters down the catwalks in Europe. Then in 2007, ANDRE J an African American stunned the fashion world when he graced the cover of FRENCH VOGUE in a blue dress, heels and Louise Brooks wig (with beard intact – and every other part)!

Then there are the others such as Amanda Lepore, Connie, etc who’s modeled for star photographer David LaChapelle and numerous lens men!

Then, there is a famous judge on a fashion program that is rumored to have walked the catwalks in the 80’s to early 90’s for Paris top fashion designers as a woman regale and all in every designer collection on the catwalks.

Now the world media celebrates LEA T also (but not as the first known guy to do so), let’s acknowledge those that were around before that held their heads high (make-up and hair also), heels intact and everything tucked away while prancing down the catwalks smiling like a Cheshire cat giving buyers, editors and Joe public a jolt of joie de vie!

Photo of LEA T by Inez Van Lamsweerde (Sept 2010)

Photo of ANDRE J by Bruce Weber (2007)

GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!! A PENALTY KICK BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 2011 Cover Girl IRINA SHAYK

GGGOOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!

Portugal's soccer star CRISTIANO RONALDO'S babe IRINA SHAYK scored the biggest GOAL of her career not only as a model but as a 'WAG' (def 'Wife and Girlfriend') on the cover of America's favorite sport's mag, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED!!!

Who wouldn't have loved to be the goalkeeper when IRINA took that SHOT?!!! We certainly would have fouled her every chance we could just to have her take that penalty shot!

From our angle, it was definitely a penalty shot!

Next up, Cristiano himself; we hope he can continue to score just as great on the field as he does with IRINA off field!

Photographer: BJORN IOOSS

'TWILIGHT' Actress ASHLEY GREENE Avon MARK Spokesmodel - shoot produced by BARRINGTON

Actress ASHLEY GREENE of 'TWILIGHT' & Spokesmodel for Avon MARK line photographed by PATRICK DEMARCHELIER.

Shoot produced by Tyron Barrington / BARRINGTON Group.

A MUSE(ing) ARIZONA; "America's Next Top SuperModel?"

The temperature in America's desert land of Arizona can go as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but could it get any hotter with fashion's new darling named, ARIZONA MUSE!

No kidding, that's her real name and she is from Santa Fe!

As fast as the heat can soar in the desert, so is the rise of this new American star on the International scene. The new (super ?)model and mom (with a nineteen month old son), has been the talk of the industry when she was granted one of the most coveted spot (for a new model) by opening and closing the PRADA show in Milan last season.

Now from PRADA to VOGUE, you can see the DESERT STORM in the February issue of American Vogue and all the many others to come!


Photo of Arizona Muse by Peter Lindbergh (VOGUE - USA)

DAVID GANDY..."MICHELANGELO'S 'DAVID' COMES ALIVE" Reviving the Male Supermodel

When famed artist Michelangelo created the statue of DAVID maybe he had a vision into the future of what his David would look like today, in the form of DAVID GANDY; a 6'3" Adonis with deep sea blue eyes, body as tight as the statue and looks to rival any movie star, yesterday or today!

Michelangelo was not the only one who thought our modern day Adonis would one day come to life, I did too!

About six years ago, David walked into my apartment for a meeting his agents in London (SELECT Models) had arranged but the words that came out of my mouth upon meeting him was, "wow, you're going to be a MAJOR supermodel"!

But, he laughed, not taking me serious!

But, I was!

And as fate would have it, I was blessed to use him in a series of campaigns for LEVI'S.

The design team of DOLCE & GABBANA saw the same and gave him the incredible break that is now making him possibly the first big male supermodel in ages since Mark Vanderloo, Tyson Beckford, Werner Schreyer, Richard Elms, Alex Lundquist (guys who dominated fashion in the '90's), etc.

David was the medicine needed in fashion to bring sexy, beautiful male models back to the spotlight that was lost for awhile from all the skinny, waif 'high school' looking skateboard kids 'with no sex appeal or expression in their eyes' that kept sauntering down the catwalk, season after season!

Now, fashion is realizing that there is a place for these young kids but most importantly, women love looking at a beautiful man!

Likewise, men aspire to look or just be like, DAVID!

FASHION'S BIGGEST BREAKOUT STAR 2010: JOAN SMALLS

TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE RISE OF FASHION'S BIGGEST BREAKOUT STAR FOR 2010, JOAN SMALLS OF THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF PUERTO RICO!

JOAN'S METEORIC FAME CAME ABOUT IN 2009 AFTER SIGNING WITH TOP MODEL AGENT KYLE OF THE SUPER AGENCY IMG MODELS (SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED BY ELITE MODELS) WHICH ALSO REPRESENTS KATE MOSS, GISELE, NAOMI, LARA STONE (OUR MODEL OF THE YEAR), ETC.

SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY SIGNED TO AN EXCLUSIVE FOR DESIGNER RICCARDO TISCI'S DESIGN LABEL "GIVENCHY", WHICH LED TO HER SCORING NUMEROUS APPEARANCES IN VOGUE AND IN CAMPAIGNS FOR BOTH GUCCI & GIVENCHY!

BUT, BY YEAR'S END, SHE FINALLY SCORED ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRACTS IN FASHION, AN EXCLUSIVE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DEAL FOR COSMETIC GIANT, ESTEE LAUDER, MAKING HER ONE OF THE FEW MODELS OF COLOR TO EVER DO SO!

WE LAUD HER AS SHE PERSONIFIES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S LEGACY OF "I HAVE A DREAM"!

HAPPY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr. DAY: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech

THANK YOU DR. KING FOR INSTILLING DREAMS IN ALL OUR HEARTS!

SOME DREAMS NEVER DIE; YOUR DREAM STILL LIVES ON IN OUR LIVES, HEARTS, MIND & SOUL!

FASHION Q&A: DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know, that IAN FLEMING the writer of the sexy, fashionable and exciting JAMES BOND films, wrote many of his wonderful spy thrillers at his aptly named 'GOLDEN EYE' home (above) in Oracabessa, JAMAICA?

The property is now owned by CHRIS BLACKWELL founder of ISLAND RECORDS and has been transformed into a luxury 22 unit hotel!

Totally a writer's getaway or a fashionista's way to escape the cold!

Photo: Island Outpost

"GIVE US THIS DAY..." by DREW TAL

A compelling and beautiful shot by Fashion & Art photographer DREW TAL (one of the most humble and beautiful photographer I have ever worked with) reminds us to give THANKS in "ALL THINGS!"

This image has been shown in Art galleries and at Art shows all over the world including ART PALM BEACH!

"FRENCH VOGUE" FASHION MAGAZINE OF 2010

FRENCH VOGUE is our Fashion magazine of 2010 and CARINE ROITFELD, it's ingenious editor in chief, 'Editor of the year'!

Unfortunately we will not be seeing much of her editorial stories after the April issue (the last one she will edit) as this exciting and controversial editor announced in December that she would resign her post at the magazine.

Her sudden resignation caused speculation that she was unceremoniously 'let go' but no matter what may have caused this incredible editor to 'walk away' from this prestigious and most coveted post at French Vogue, we will forever remember the beautiful and exciting stories she presented each month.

We wish her great success as we look forward to her next venture in life.

September French Vogue cover of actress MARION COTILLARD shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

"HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2011"

A HAPPY & BLESSED 2011 to each and everyone!

Have a blessed, healthy, prosperous, joyful and giving New Year!

May this year be one of love and servitude to others - loving each other as we would 'ourselves' (even those we do not understand or care to; that should be our "fashion statement" for 2011)!

"REMEMBER, 'IT'S ONLY FASHION AND WE'RE NOT SAVING LIVES!'"

GOD BLESS & KEEP SMILING! :-)

Cover shot produced by BARRINGTON Group.