Serena Lost in the U.S. Open and it's Definitely Drake's Fault
Beyoncé's New York Fashion Week Style Evolution
2005:
Beyoncé at Oscar de la Renta: Head-to-toe Spring Princess Phase
Wearing what can best be described as a "fun Easter top," Beyoncé really goes hard af on the fresh, spring sprite tip. The skirt is the sartorial equivalent of the mid-aughts cupcake phenomenon and all we can say is, we're glad Bey's moved on and so have we (donuts 4-lyfe).
Beyoncé at Marc Jacobs: The Funky Necklace Phase
Peak-mid-aughts accessorizing happening here from the layered medallion chain thing happening to the chunky chain handbag to the ruffle sandal, oh boy. This is definitely House of Deréon's influence.
2007
Beyoncé at a GQ party featuring a performance by Kanye: The Delta Force Bangs Phase
Boy, what a difference eight years makes. That camera would have been broken by Julius the Bodyguard in a second. We miss side part-heavy Yonce, tho.
2008
Beyoncé at Fashion Rocks: The Blonde Flatiron Phase
In which Beyoncé proves she's the ne plus ultra when it comes to rocking the hairstyle copped by every girl at any southwestern state school sorority both then and now. Flatirons aren't forever.
September 2011
Beyoncé at Vera Wang: The Beige Phase
LOL to Kim K. sitting five seats down from Bey-longe.
Beyoncé was pregnant so we will say nothing but that we're pleased the nude patent leather heels-with-sparkly-nude-dress phase is over.
Beyoncé and Solange at Rodarte: The Bey-ge Phase Pt. II: Return to Beige Island
She was realllly feelin' beige this season.
Beyoncé at Tory Burch: The Grecian Cut-Out One-Two Punch Phase
Here's a little nugget just for you all Beyoncé pregnancy truthers. While she's only five months pregnant, it wouldn't be a Knowles-Carter pregnancy without making you question all sense of what you know about reproductive physiology.
Beyoncé at Kanye West's Adidas Show: The Nailing It Phase
All hail the one true queen.
All photos by Patrick McMullan Company/patrickmcmullan.com
The Best, Worst And Weirdest Of The Week
Least Sanitary Festival Experience: Because it's not like your average Burning Man gathering is known for being squeaky clean, but this just takes the gross, communal festival experience to a whole new level. -- SS
myself & the genius @VisualQue would like to officially announce CHOSEN ONE: ACTAVIS STATUS pic.twitter.com/Y6woAiJwUl
-- ZESTY DUDE (@meaghan_garvey) September 11, 2015
Best Sia Cover: FKA Twigs' ethereal take on "Elastic Heart" for BBC's "Live Lounge."--Elizabeth Thompson
Best Parade: New York City's annual West Indian Day Parade, held on Labor Day. It makes all other parades look like Mickey Mouse Club amateur hour. Check out Rebecca Smeyne's awesome photos of this year's festivities. --Elizabeth
Here's Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake dancing in the stands to Beyonce on the arena screen pic.twitter.com/QTU8QsPl9T
-- CJ Fogler (@cjzero) September 10, 2015
Best Dancers: Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake doing "Single Ladies" at the U.S. Open. -- Elizabeth Fashion Site of the Week:Semaine, a just-launched site that merges content and commerce and lets you take a peek into the lives of some of your favorite celebrities and creative people, who share their go-to picks for things like food, travel, fashion and more. -- Abby Schreiber
Public Art of the Week: A new mural by Mr. Brainwash commemorating 9/11. You can see it outside Century 21, who collaborated with the artist on the project. -- A.S.
Trend of the Week That You Should Definitely Bust Out During NYFW: Sproutcore, a hair accessories fad sweeping China in which people wear beansprout clips or handbands on their heads. -- A.S.
Do-Gooder Collab of the Week: The one between Faircloth & Supply and Verve Coffee Roasters. Phoebe Dahl's clothing line, which donates two school uniforms, school supplies and scholarship to send a Nepali girl to school for one year for every dress purchased, teamed up with LA's Verve Coffee Roasters on a new t-shirt line. -- A.S.
Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Favorites Day 1
Jason Wu seems to get chicer every season. I flipped for this pink ruffled number.
Nobody does fun, splashy color like Betsey Johnson. I interviewed her for Paper recently and am more in love with her than ever!
Teenaged heart throb Brooklyn Beckham made an appearance at the Polo Ralph Lauren presentation. Cute clothes and a cute boy under one roof? YES please.
Kate Spade is always a bright, festive explosion of color and this season was no different. We were cuckoo crazy for the accessories like this straw doggie purse.
Riccardo Tisci came to NYC to show his Givenchy collection and the show was a love letter to NYC and a pageant of unity and harmony featuring performances drawn from all the major religions. This outer space ingenue, captured on Simon Doonan's instagram, was my favorite.
Meanwhile, we've never seen Kanye happier. (Well, except maybe when he saw his Paper cover for the first time!)
Ranking the Top 13 Celebrity Fashion Lines of All Time (The Good, the Bad, and the Really Meh)
Described as a "youthful contemporary clothingbrand," Moore was inspired by never being able to find t-shirts that fit her wiry frame/height (5'10). Ugh!!! It plateaued hard for four years, despite being sold in most major department stores. I'm missing you like...oh, never mind.
12. Ashlee Simpson for Wet Seal (2008-???)
Wet Seal, possibly the worst name for a clothing store chain, sold Simpson's line at locations around the country when she attempted to follow, yet again, in her older sister Jess' fashion-designing footsteps. Simpson said of her T-shirt and "rock 'n roll"-esque collection, "I was inspired by so many fun things." :/
11. Heidiwood, by Heidi Montag (2008-2009)
Surfing the success swell of The Hills, tragi-hero Heidi Montag released her own brand (Spencer, I blame you), which was an attempt to rival Lauren Conrad's now wildly successful everything. Anchor Blue launched the endearingly affordable line, including tank tops, and booty shorts. As The Cut described, "at least she knows her demographic."
10. 6126, by Lindsay Lohan (2008-2009)
During the LiLo Dark Ages (2006-roughly 2011/12 and kind of 13) the starlet attempted to become a maven of leggings, naming her line after the birthday of her idol, Marilyn Monroe... June 6, 1926. The absurdly overpriced pairs legwarmers were (not surprisingly) unsuccessful; Lohan was eventually sued by her manufacture for $5 million, blaming her messy reputation as the reason for the line's failure. "I still think the legwarmers could've been somethin'," said Dina Lohan, smoking a cigarette in her car in a 7-11 parking lot.
9. Dear, by Amanda Bynes (2007-2008)
Launched by Steve and Barry's as the youthful counterpart to Sarah Jessica Parker's bomb "Bitten," Bynes' layer-inspired brand faded into oblivion following the bankruptcy of Steve and Barry's...like everything else in 2008. According to a somewhat unsettling Facebook page (that, for all we know, is managed by Bynes herself), the clothes are still sold on eBay.
8. The Katherine Heigl Collection by Katherine Heigl (2007-2007)
After winning an Emmy for Grey's Anatomy in 2007, Heigl paired up with Scrubs and Beyond to launch a line of medical scrubs for 30 days only. Yep! This is a thing that happened in history! You wanted scrubs on that 31st day???? Sorry!! None for you!!!!! JK... the colorful scrubs are still available on eBay. I'll see you all in hell.
7. Sweetface, by JLo (2003-2009)
Jenny from the Block launched her line, initially as the streetwear spinoff to our current cover star's classier Jennifer Lopez Collection. Eventually, Sweetface got fancy with chiffon mini-dresses and fur chubbies. In 2008, S-Face burned out faster than the shame I have for only knowing 1/3 of the lines from JLo's seminal classic "Enough."
6. Abbey Dawn, by Avril Lavigne (2008-present)
The Canadian pop-rocker launched a mall punk-inspired line, described as a reflection of her own "rock'n' roll lifestyle" -- aka clothes that look like they smell like a Spencer's Gifts. Lavigne is laughing all the way to the bank, though -- she continues to make a killing off it. Also, A.D. was responsible for the first time Kylie Jenner walked on a New York Fashion Week runway, way back in 2011...when Avril and Kylie's big bro Brody were open-mouth kissing all over Los Angeles.
Kendall was there, too.
5. Sean John, by P-Diddy/Puff Daddy/Sean Combs (1998-present)
P-Diddy's massive brand has been rattling around every major department store since the late 90s. It's won a CDFA Award (in 2004), been the subject of scrutiny for its violation of Honduran safety lines where its factories were based, but still remains solid today. The line makes $250 million a year. Slay that Kohl's, Didz!
4. L.A.M.B, by Gwen Stefani (2003-present)
Initially started as a passion project (that's when you have a project that you're also passionate about), Stefani's line is still popular today. It was initially inspired by Guatemalan, Japanese, Indian, and Jamaican fashion. According to Wikipedia, it's been worn by celebs from Nicole Kidman to Teri Hatcher. The line makes $90 million a year, thanks to Gwen's ingénue, and Teri Hatcher.
3. Victoria Beckham, by Victoria Beckham (2011-present)
The Spice Girl/sentient clavicle bone is doing the damn thing in the fashion world, with her line exploding over the past few years. Initially just dresses, the brand has expanded to other merchandise since '11 (like handbags worth 18,000 pounds). V.B. made $95 million in its first year alone. I <3 you, Vic.
2. The Jessica Simpson Collection, by Jessica Simpson (2006-present)
J-Simps may not be doing much of the music thing anymore, but that is just fucking fine, as evident of her unfathomably successful fashion empire. Simpson's line, including shoes, handbags, dresses, makes $1 billion a year. Guess whose pickin' up Papa Joe Simpson's tab for a staycation with his latest male companion at the Marriott Courtyarddddddddddddd?!?!
1. Every-fucking-thing, by Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen (from the beginning of time to now)
Since their inception in Full House/literally just being born, the Olsen twins have dominated, launching Wal-Mart lines as pre-teens, into their super chic clothing lines today, including The Row, and Elizabeth and James. The two have been praised for their legitimate fashion genius, showered with CDFA awards, and are also lauded for their commitment to the rights of their employees. With one ruffle of a wool shawl, their companies generate billions a year.
Honorable mention: Liza Minnelli's HSN Clothing line.
Inspired by Liza!!!!!!!!!!! The clothing line launched in 2010, including statement jewelry, "velvet halter jumpsuits," and most importantly, sequined boyfriend blazers. Her appearance on HSN, immortalized by Rich Juzwiak of Gawker, features Minnelli repeating to the viewer, "Wear the clothes...don't let the clothes wear you." Her line is at various department stores.
Scenes from the Star-Studded Givenchy After Party
Take a look at photos by BFA, below.
Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci flanked by models Lily Aldridge, Doutzen Kroes, Joan Smalls and Peter Brant Jr.
Kim Kardashian
Frankie Rayder and Brooklyn Beckham
Kendall Jenner
Sky Ferreira
Steven Tyler with daughters Chelsea and Liv
Carine Roitfeld and Hamish Bowles
A model atop one of the party's car installations
Laverne Cox
Erykah Badu
Soo Joo Park
Becka Diamond and Ladyfag
Hanne Gaby Odiele, Veronica Smiley and Brian Grazer
Angel Haze
Joey Badass
Amare Stoudemire and Victor Cruz
One of the night's performers
David Copperfield and Chloe Gosselin
Courtney Love
A performer
Outside the parking garage
Hailee Steinfeld
Nicki Minaj's New York Fashion Week Style Evolution
See Beyonce's NYFW evolution here.
It all begins in 2011.
In town for the spring 2012 shows, Miss Minaj was the unofficial Clown Princess of 2011 NYFW with her Rainbow Brite-meets-troll-doll look. In what is now an iconic front frow picture, Minaj chats with Anna Wintour at Carolina Herrera, who she famously called out in her song 'Muny' rapping "Hey, yo, Anna Wintour, I'ma need that cover baby girl,....", we're pretty sure she got her attention. The New York PR's must have been in cahoots to snag Minaj a Vogue cover (which is is yet to grace, though she did Teen Vogue in 2013) as they were again seat mates at Oscar De La Renta.
2013: Come see the softer side of Nicki
A few seasons later she would appear a bit more understated, relatively speaking, in bleached-blond hair with exaggerated roots and slick, body hugging looks from Herve Leger and runway showman Jeremy Scott, and later twerking with Alexander Wang when she was the surprise guest at his after-party.
Performing at Alexander Wang's after-party, September 7th, 2013. Photo by Rebecca Smeyne.
2014: Getting Real
The following year she would lose the theatrics all together and up her fashion cred, rubbing elbows with the queen herself, Donatella Versace, at the VERSUS show and take in Alexander Wang's spring 2015 collection next to fashion royalty, Lauren Hutton.
At the Versus Spring 2015 Fashion Show with Donatella Versace. September 7, 2014. Photo by Patrick McMullan.
At the Alexander Wang spring runway show with Lauren Hutton. September 6, 2014. Photo by Patrick McMullan.
2015: Threat Level Nicki
This past February, Minaj channeled her best gangster moll in buttery fur, python boots, and dolce vita hair and makeup at Marc Jacobs. Then at Alexander Wang she looked incredible as she kiki'd with the Kardashian-Wests, no doubt comparing notes about what it takes to land that Vogue cover. Some day, Nicki. Wake up, Vogue.
Talking to Comedian Ryan Raftery About His One-Man Musical About Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour is an untiring powerhouse, seemingly untouched by the mundane realities the rest of us plebians face. Her impassive, shaded eyes and stern expression could kill (or at least destroy careers), but in comedian Ryan Raftery's one-man-musical, "Ryan Raftery is the Most Powerful Woman in Fashion," we see a more human side of the icy editor -- one where she fears losing her job, suffers from chronic constipation and hides booze beneath her desk.
Dressed as Wintour in drag, Raftery lampoons the stalwart fashionista, singing and dancing about Vogue and what will happen now that she put Kimye on the prestigious magazine's cover last April. We caught up with the comedian ahead of his final show at Joe's Pub tomorrow and heard his thoughts on the show's origins and that time Wintour's daughter came to his performance.
What sparked the idea to create a show centered on Anna Wintour?
I've been doing one show a year for the past six years, and when it came time to think of the next one, I just happened to be in Midtown and was standing on a corner waiting for the lights to change. I looked to my left and Anna Wintour was standing right next to me. It was summer and she had on her usual uniform: the sleeveless dress, a necklace, helmet hair and sunglasses -- it was too much. Instinctively I said, "Good morning, Anna" and even behind her sunglasses, I could tell she was grimacing and she walked away as soon as she was able to realize she didn't know me. She didn't say a word, but it really got me thinking.
Do you have any insider experience with Anna?
I used to work at Coach in the PR department as an Executive Assistant. Anna's name was always being mentioned because we were then just introducing our runway collection; people would say, "Anna won't come to this," or "She'll probably send someone else if we do this." I remember thinking about the way people spoke her name with such reverence. One day, we were bringing the entire collection to Vogue for Anna to see and the way she's treated at Vogue is like she's the Pope, the way she disturbs the air. I realized that she's Darth Vader -- everything about her: the helmet hair, sunglasses and way people are terrified of her and the huge amount of power she wields.
How'd you develop the show's storyline?
I started writing in December 2013, and Stephen Trask, who wrote the music and lyrics for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, told me over dinner to put my own fears into her -- to find some parallels between us or make her be afraid of something I'm afraid of. I don't know anybody who at one point didn't think they were going to get fired from their job, so as soon as Kim and Kanye were put on Vogue's cover, I knew I had a framing device for the show because there was huge social media backlash against Anna.
How does your Anna cope with this fear?
My Anna has chronic constipation because of the stress and she gets an attack on stage. I wanted the audience to see her vulnerable, but it also needed to be funny. It was important for me to have someone on stage with Anna that she sees on her level -- someone she can talk to and admit she's afraid she's going to be fired -- so André Leon Talley is in my show. She needed to be humanized, so she's also a secret drinker. In all her real life interviews, she says she doesn't drink, but in my show, she has a bottle of vodka underneath her desk and she downs it whenever she hears negative criticism. She sings, "Drunk in Vogue," instead of Beyoncé's "Drunk in Love."
Anna's daughter, Bee, came to your opening performance. How'd she react?
My opening night was my first time doing the show and I found out three days before the performance that she was going to be there. I normally don't like to know who's in my audience, but this way I was able to control where she sat because I didn't want her too close in case her face registered some kind of disgust. I give her credit because she had no idea what she was walking into, but she came backstage after and we took a thousand photos together holding the Anna wig and sunglasses, like I was holding her mother's head. She said she 'felt like she was at home.' She showed her mother a video of my show and said Anna smiled, but I heard from a source that she also said I 'didn't get the fashion right.' As a result, I upgraded my jacket to a more Chanel look.
How do you think your Anna would wake up and prep for NYFW?
My Anna wakes up at the crack of dawn to the chirps of her pet cockatoo, Manolo. She then dutifully lines his cage with the latest Harper's Bazaar cover, dresses and heads downstairs where she's briefed with her schedule for the day, while enjoying a smart cup of Crystal Light.
Speaking as your Anna, whom would you refuse to sit next to at a runway show?
That fashion designer, her name escapes me -- the fat one that smiles too much. Oh! Victoria Beckham.
Speaking as your Anna, what trends do you anticipate becoming hot this season?
I really see that Kentucky clerk Kim Davis as being the next muse in fashion and beauty. Have you seen that woman's eyebrows? Books could be written on their mystique.
Scenes from Alexander Wang's 10-Year Anniversary Party
As has become tradition at Alexander Wang's NYFW after parties, there was a series of impressive performances -- clearly the team spared no expense to celebrate the milestone -- that included sets by Tinashe, A$AP Ferg, Lil Wayne (Tunechi!!) and Ludacris, who capped the night and left everyone singing "how low can you go" and "face down ass up" all the way home. Take a look at pics by BFA, below.
Zoe Kravitz (second from left), Alexander Wang and Miguel
Alexander Wang poses with Kylie Jenner and Tyga
Lil Wayne
The Weeknd and Bella Hadid
Lady Gaga
Nicki Minaj
Jourdan Dunn (right)
A$AP Rocky
Makonnen
Behati Prinsloo
Tinashe
Amandla Stenberg
It was all about the Wangs
Molly Bair
A$AP Ferg
Ludacris
The Sunday Funnies
:/ [FYouNFMe]
Watch to the end: It just keeps getting better and better. Is this what you see when you die?[Socialistexan]
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake perform the History of Rap Part 6. It's too bad that they're so low-energy, lacking in charm and bad at rapping. "Oh cool" and "sorry, just saw this" sold separately. [Henteye]
You watch TV on an EKG monitor. [FYouNFMe]
Pug drives a boat is our new favorite video on the internet. He's coming to rescue you, baby girl! [TastefullyOffensive]
NYFW. [BurtReynoldsMustache]
Seriously. [ThatsSoModeratelyRaven]
Enjoy with eggy sawdust dip. [Mlkshk]
TFW when it's Sunday and you don't want to work Monday but you're still feeling cute and enjoying what's left of the weekend. [ThatsSoModeratelyRaven]
Eartha 4-lyfe. [Mlkshk]
Classic! [Mlkshk]
Great work, boys! [CrusoeCelebrityDachsund]
Free wedding vow. [BurtReynoldsMustache]
Bag check. [Mlkshk]
Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Favorites Day Two
A highlight of any Alexander Wang show is Alex taking his running bow, and he was more adorable than ever on Saturday.
Joseph Altuzzara's show was full of chic separates but the standout for us were the handbags inspired by whips from the Basque Country.
In just a few seasons Baja East has established itself as the go-to brand for relaxed luxury. This season we were obsessed with the aqua knits.
Lacoste always brings a splash of sports to their runway and this season a standout was the print made by bits of international flags.
In the modeling business girls come and go but Hanne Gaby Odiele has been our favorite for years and years. We fell in love with her all over again at Rebecca Minkoff with her new platinum blonde hair.
Photos from voguerunway.com
Introducing Madeline Stuart, A Model With Down's Syndrome Making Her NYFW Debut
Lindsay Lohan's New York Fashion Week Style Evolution
2006: The 'Oh this? It's Marc..." phase
Like any good label queen around 2006, Lindsay dutifully carried her quilted Marc bag wherever she went, including the designer's fall 2006 show.
2009: The Supportive Girlfriend Phase
Pictured here with her then DJ girlfriend and mother Ann Dexter-Jones, Lindsay attends the Charlotte Ronson Spring 2009 show. A show of support is always a good move to please the in laws and that is quite the 'meet the parents' look to say the least.
2011: Peak Blonde/Peak Lohan Phase
Was there anything more Lindsay Lohan than rakishly cocking your wrist to avoid the paparazzi glare as you dash from a fashion week party, a cascade of flaxen extensions swooshing against a crumpled mini dress? I don't think so.
2012: The Victoria Gotti phase
In 2012 the actress went through a few weeks showing up on red carpets looking uncannily like the mafia heiress and reality show star, reportedly campaigning for a role in a Gotti biopic. The twenty something starlet's likeness to the 50-year-old crime family queen was spot on, if not a bit troubling.
2013: The Sister, Sister Phase
In an ongoing bid to launch her younger sister, Ali's, burgeoning catwalk career, Lindsay generously donned a matching crown to attend Wendy Nichol's Fall 2013 presentation where her sister was modeling. In a family with as notoriously fraught relations as the Lohan's, you can't say they don't have each other's backs (or heads).
Liz Taylor Snow Bunny Phase
At the 2013 AmFar Ball during the New York collections, Lohan channeled the screen legend on a chilly evening since what could be more Liz Taylor than fur and bugle beads at an AIDS charity?
"Thigh Brows" Are The Newest Celebrity Instagram Trend
Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Favorites Day Three
Three of my favorite moments of day three came from the Diane Von Furstenberg show. DVF is a true style icon and here she is kiki'ing backstage with Kendall Jenner and Karlie Kloss. #LifeGoals
Here's Diane's gorgeous sixteen year-old granddaughter Talita von Furstenberg. They say she's being groomed as DVF's successor. She's currently on the cover of Tatler Magazine and is obviously a future superstar.
Finally here's Karlie Kloss in the opening look from DVF. It was Diane's strongest show in years and that's because it was so DVF. Sexy, fun, prints, disco styling. I loved it.
Shayne Oliver showed his Hood By Air collection and it was a major reminder that when it comes to out there, cool, wild street fashion, no one can beat NYC. In a fashion week filled with pretty department store clothes this show was a mind-scrambling inspiration. It was sexy, sophisticated, gender-fluid and modern. He's a genius.
Another 'only in New York' moment was Nicola Formichetti's Nicopanda presentation. Shown in a fancy Wall Street club, the "Hello Kitty street punk concept" collection was clubby, sex and modern. The casting was incredible and the presentation attracted the cutest kids of fashion week. It felt like the coolest party in town that also happened to be a fashion show.
We loved this Opening Ceremony dress that was very Big Love on top and go-go girl on the bottom.
Public School went high-fashion, making us think their debut as creative directors of DKNY will be more funky. This was our favorite look of show.
If I were a girl, I'd wear this Derek Lam cotton shirt dress with big bell sleeves.
One of our favorite shoe designers ,Chloe Gosselin, showed her sexy stilettos with a little help from fiance David Copperfield.
Tracy Reese showed lots of sparkle and debuted her shoe collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker.
LGBT Icon Peter Berlin On Cruising Culture, Facebook and His New Photo Exhibit
In addition to his films, his series of self-portraits furthered his sex god status and could be argued as a pre-cursor to the selfie, if fully produced and knowing in their Narcissus quality. These images are now the new subject of an exhibition at ClampArt gallery in NYC, which opened last week, an occasion that provided the chance for us to talk to the man behind them. Now preferring to live a quiet life in San Francisco, coincidentally among the streets he used to prowl so famously, Berlin, now in his 70s, talked to us about the personae he created, his brief return to New York, and his first few weeks on Facebook.
What made you decide to do an exhibition after all these years?
It was the brainchild of a friend of mine who tried to convince me to do something with my life. I'm not that Peter Berlin [anymore] that was doing the pictures that one will find on the walls in the gallery, right? So it's sort of just a very weird feeling for me where I am grateful in a way that there's an interest. On the other hand, I'm sort of over it, you know?
It doesn't sound like you're taking it all too seriously. But did you take it seriously then when you were taking the pictures?
I didn't see it as [seriously as], for instance, my friend at that time, Robert Mapplethorpe, who took his stuff very serious and he had a goal of wanting to be a good photographer, a known photographer, a successful photographer, and a rich photographer. I just did photographs, self portraits. You know, yeah, that's how serious I took it. Like the people today with the selfie and an iPhone. That's what I did. Only that I had to sort of go through a little more difficult procedure.
Do you see at all any narcissism in your self portraits, especially since you were so known for your beauty?
Being narcissistic, I'm so against labels. So you know, I am a pornographer, I am a narcissist, I am, you know, whatever people think I am or what I do. I realized of all the people I met in my life, not one person has seen me as I am. There's an assumption especially with me, with having done what I have done. It's a point of discussion.
If people weren't seeing you as you were, can you talk about the character of Peter Berlin you created?
At the time it was so unusual that a man was doing what women have done for centuries, you know, with the tight dress and the breasts showing. But then when a man is doing it, and that's exactly what I was doing, then it is something like 'oh my god.' So what I realized was, I'm living in a very stupid world, a very frustrated world, a very twisted world. And the older I got, you know, I said, get away from people because it is, you know, not great pleasure to encounter negativity. But I realized how quickly I had to separate that what makes Peter Berlin 'Peter Berlin,' that people assumed certain things about me and I realized I had to separate me, Armin, from Peter. But I look back and I say, OK, that image I created there is a nice image. I did a good job, right?
You were emblematic of a period -- '70s, sex, and hedonism. Tell me about when things changed.
What surrounded me then changed in a very, very, very sad, tragic manner because of AIDS. So all my friends died in that era and that made me change. Not so much what I did, but sort of slowly I realized that the world around me changed, the places where I used to have a good time changed. Now it's a whole different approach to sex. Now it's happening on the Internet. It started with phone sex and I never was into that. So it was a natural way where I said, OK, thank god that I lived. And was sexually sort of aware in the '60s '70s, and '80s. I had 30 years of great, great expression and great time. And then it just ended -- and now I'm thinking about all that.
Could you talk more about the change happening to cruising culture now that so much of it is done online or on apps?
Now I tell you, when I was cruising in the '60s and the '70s and '80s, there were tons, thousands of other people doing exactly the same. I only did it maybe a little bit more effectively. And I was standing out. I created something that was blatantly sexual. Wherever I went, to the parks, to the streets, to the everywhere, people were cruising and I saw all kinds of exciting people. Now it's over. I can't even believe I'm sitting with my friend Eric here in San Francisco in a café, more or less every day we have lunch, and I look at the picture on the street and I just can't believe it. I say, what is happening?
But you're not totally against the Internet. You recently joined Facebook?
Yes, as of three weeks ago, but I still don't understand it sort of. But it's another phenomenon where I see where the world is going to. There's that illusion. I think now in the short time I already have nearly 3,000 friends. So the whole thing is the young people feel now, oh my god, you know, 'I'm connected', 'I belong.' And then they wake up one day and see there's nobody there.
It contrasts so much with the persona of Peter Berlin who was so physical -- very sensual.
The feeling, what I had as Peter Berlin, what I was always trying to get, was to find a partner and then to create a good time. I believe this is not happening to too many people now. To me it's the highest form of being. I took it to an extreme where I went so high and excited that I think, my god, if I could get a little higher, I would drop dead. And that is what the whole thing was, what I was striving for. And I succeeded many times. When I say many times, really many times.
Getting back to the exhibition why do you call it "Wanted"?
The way it actually came about is that I can say, "Oh, Peter Berlin is wanted." I used to get all these letters with people telling me, "I want you, I want you." And when I was running around as Peter, I realized how many people wanted me. So there is that part, but the way it came about also is when I went for my green card [in the '70s], I had to get my rap sheet and I saw sort on the other side of the police station, you know, I saw that picture. The profile. I said, "Oh my god, I think I look quite good on that!" And then when I went again, went in for something else, I asked that nice lady, "do you have that picture?" And she gave it to me and then we came up with that idea.
Are you looking forward to being in New York for the show?
I dread it if you really want to know the truth. There was even a time when there was talk about the exhibition a year or two years ago that I actually thought, Oh, I hope it doesn't happen. And that's terrible to say. There will be a lot of people there. And especially now the new friends, you know? From Facebook.
Wanted: Peter Berlin runs through October 10th at ClampArt, 531 W. 25th St., NYC
Premiere: Watch a Live Take on The Mynabirds'"Hanged Man"
9/15 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/17 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/18 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/19 Chicago, IL @ Schubas w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/20 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/23 Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/25 Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade w/ Bad Bad Hats & Stranger Cat
9/26 Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall w/ Bad Bad Hats & Stranger Cat
9/28 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/29 Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 w/ Bad Bad Hats
9/30 New Orleans, LA @ Siberia w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/1 Austin, TX @ Mohawk w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/2 Dallas, TX @ Three Links w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/5 Tucson, AZ @ Flycatcher w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/6 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/7 Las Vegas, NV @ Sayers Club w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/8 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall w/ Bad Bad Hats
10/9 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo w/ Bad Bad Hats
Lady Gaga Is a "Fuktard Parasite Biter Bitch" According to Die Antwoord
The 5 Most Scandalous Fashion Shows In Recent History
1. Rick Owens Mens' Fall/Winter 2015 Collection, "Sphinx'(aka the Peen Peek)
One of the most talked about shows of the Fall/Winter 2015 season was Rick Owen's Sphinx, which featured male models wearing garments with cut-outs designed to show off their genitalia. Though by now the fashion world knows that Owens doesn't shy away from controversy, nevertheless the stunt still ignited a frenzy of shocked online posts. Of the collection, Owens explained that the focus put on the model's genitalia was an effort to incorporate a childish or juvenile aspect to the presentation.
2. Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 2000 Collection, "Eye"
Alexander McQueen presented his Spring/Summer 2000 collection in New York on the night of Hurricane Floyd. The show, entitled Eye, dealt with the theme of Western fears of Islam and many of the clothes in the show directly referenced traditional Islamic dress. The show was particularly controversial because it featured sexualized versions of the niqaab and featured models in burqas flying over a bed of nails that had risen from the floor during the finale.
3. Alexander McQueen's Fall/Winter 1995 Collection, "Highland Rape"
McQueen was one of the greatest provocateurs in the fashion industry, so it's no surprise that another one of his shows makes this list. For his Fall/Winter 1995 show, Highland Rape, McQueen sent out models bruised and battered wearing tattered clothes of tartan and lace. With some thinking that McQueen was promoting violence against women, the backlash was swift. But, in McQueen's eyes, the show was meant to represent the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish Highlands by British soldiers during the 18th and 19th centuries and the ensuing controversy upset the designer, especially since he cared so much about designing clothes that empowered women.
4. John Galliano's Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2000 Collection, "Haute Homeless"
For John Galliano's Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2000 show, he created a collection based on the homeless Parisians he encountered while running along the Seine. To that end, he presented a bricolage collection of shredded and tattered couture garments that had found objects like mini whiskey bottles and kitchen utensils strung along the models' waists. Many found homelessness to be a distasteful theme for a haute couture collection where dresses can go for upwards of $50,000 and the resulting criticism prompted Galliano to apologize for upsetting so many, stating that it was not meant to offend but rather celebrate the style of the homeless people he encountered in Paris.
5. Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall/Winter 1993 Collection, "Chic Rabbis"
"Chic Rabbis" was what Jean Paul Gaultier labeled his Fall/Winter 1993 show because it was inspired by a trip to NYC where he encountered a group of rabbis leaving the New York Public Library. The designer said he loved the elegance of their dress with their hats and huge coats flapping in the wind but the collection came under fire for being culturally insensitive with specific complaints from Hasidic groups concerning female models in the show wearing traditionally masculine hairstyles and clothes.