THE WINDOW WATCHER:

Go Behind The Scenes Of Bergdorf Goodman's Spectacular "Crimson Peak" Windows

It's pretty rare for a premier luxury store like Bergdorf Goodman to participate in something as commercial as a promotional movie tie in, but director Guillermo del Toro's "Crimson Peak" has proved to be a welcome exception. Billed as a gothic romance, the film's lavish production design has been an inspiration to the store's visual team, a group that has demonstrated time and again that no concept is too complicated or ornate for them to take on. While the folks at Bergdorf's haven't yet posted crisp photos on the store's blog 5th at 58th, they have released a behind-the-scenes video (embedded above) that shows the team creating and constructing the film's takeover of the Fifth Avenue windows in all of their macabre splendor. The movie opens this Friday, but you have all week to stop by Bergdorf's to check out another in a series of spectacular windows.

UPDATE:
Click HERE for a slideshow of the full windows plus many production stills form the film that provided inspiration.


MOVIE TIE-IN DU JOUR:

Warby Parker Meets Superman With Limited Edition 'Man Of Steel' Frames

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Now that we are pretty much finished with the epic "Gatsby" hype, it's on to the next summer blockbuster. Warner Bros.' Superman reboot "Man of Steel" opens in a couple of weeks or so, and we can all expect the promotional frenzy to start ramping up right about now. While most of the films marketing is aimed at traditional superhero-themed product like action figures, t-shirts and the like, the film has looked beyond the Comic-Con crowd by teaming up with burgeoning eyewear brand Warby Parker to offer two styles of eyeglass frames for men and women inspired not so much by Superman, but by his mild mannered alter ego, Clark Kent. The squared-off Chamberlain and more rounded Percey models are suitably classic (though interestingly not made of steel at all) and feature discreet slices of color at the temples that reference the colors of Superman's classic costume (both pictured above). Like most of the brand's other frames they are available through the brand's website as well as, presumably, at its new SoHo flagship for $95 each including prescription lenses. As per company policy, Warby Parker continues to donate a pair of glasses to someone in need for each frame of any kind it sells, but for these two limited edition styles, the company will also add to that an additional $15 donation to 826NCY, a not-for-profit organization that helps students from age 6 to age 18 to develop their writing skills —so perhaps they too can one day write for the Daily Planet even if they don't happen to have a secret, superpowered sideline in heroics.

Warby Parker x Man Of Steel (Official Site)


FASHION FILM PREVIEW:

Keep An Eye Out For "A Quiet American: Ralph Rucci & Paris"

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About a month ago, The Shophound and a bunch of other folks were disappointed when a showing of the upcoming documentary "A Quiet American: Ralph Rucci & Paris" was abruptly canceled at the last minute on the eve of Fashion Week. Director C.S. Leigh made up for it over the weekend, when a rough cut of the film finally screened at Scandinavia House for a select audience of invited guests including the designers' friends and well known customers like Deeda Blair, Tatiana Sorrokko and legendary model Carmen Dell'Orefice.

The documentary, filmed over a period of four years, follows Mr. Rucci (pictured at left) as he presents his couture collection in Paris for the first time. It features interviews with prominent clients like Mrs. Blair, Ms. Sorrokko and Lee Radziwill as well as key figures like embroidery master François Lesage, Andre Leon Talley, Cathy Horyn and others as they trace the celebrated American designer's development. Still waiting for its finishing touches, the film will be a must-see for fans of Mr. Rucci and fashion fans in general, so look for it when it finally gets released later this year.


Avon Sends Jennifer Hudson to Beauty Icon Status in Record Time

Jhud1_1It wasn't so long ago that winning an Academy Award meant gaining the respect of your peers and the opportunity to play better roles and get paid more for it, but no longer. Today, winning an Oscar means getting a big fat cosmetics contract. Today, Avon announced that the latest Oscar winner to put a model out of work is none other than instant-icon Jennifer Hudson. The "Dreamgirls" star will represent the beauty giant's Imari fragrance line including a new scent, Imari Seduction, to be launched in August.  This trumps fellow Avon spokesperson Salma Hayek, who is merely a former Oscar nominee. Hudson joins the ranks of Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton and Hilary Swank in the makeup biz. One wonders what is taking Cate Blanchett so long to secure a deal. Even recent nominee Keira Knightley has been readying a beauty campaign with Chanel. Hudson has done an impressive job ingratiating herself with the beauty and fashion crowd in spite of the furor over that gold snakeskin jacket (people, it was just a jacket). She is one of the few women of color to have graced the cover of Vogue, and, it must be noted, the only proud size 12 of any race to have achieved that honor. The possibilities look endless for J.Hud. Oh, and she's going to make an album and probably more movies too.