Margiela’s Olfactory Time Capsules

There is a distinctive chill in the air every morning that signals that summer is slipping away and school, layering, and latte specials like pumpkin spice are upon us. While I wish I could dig my proverbial heels in and hang on to the steamy nights and my beloved K. Jacques sandals, I know it’s high time to slip into literal stilettos and leather boots as fall rapidly approaches. However, I’ll be keeping Maison Martin Margiela’s trio of Replica fragrances that launched this month—Flower Market, Beach Walk, and Funfair Evening—close at hand to remind me of the warm weather. Based on the label’s Replica fashion line (a capsule collection inspired by vintage clothing and accessories from around the globe), these distinctive scents are meant to capture moments in time.

Sweet Spots

I recently confessed that I don’t pack shampoo when I go on vacation, which as a beauty editor seems like a sin. But the Four Seasons’ customized amenities program—which tailors the pint-sized products you find in their immaculate bathrooms to a few of their select properties—is exactly why I don’t risk spillage when I travel. The luxury chain is using these bespoke lotions and potions to evoke a sense of the locale (with packaging and scents designed to reflect the city you’re in) and enhance the overall experience of your stay. Currently, you’ll find these collections if you’re lucky enough to land at a Four Seasons in Toronto (shown above), Maui, Florence, or the Hotel Pudong in Shanghai. Up next is a collaboration between Etro and the Tokyo Marunouchi property set to launch in November. In addition to swiping the smaller and complimentary containers from your room, you can take home a full-sized reminder of your trip after you check out, as many locations are selling the specially made products in the hotel gift shop. Such a better souvenir than an I Heart Tokyo T-shirt.

Your Body is a Wonderland

Since it’s the Friday before a holiday weekend, I thought we should celebrate early with a bit of inked-up eye candy.

Dennis Klaffert (left)—who has walked for Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani—has twenty-three tattoos that he’s had done in various countries around the world. In addition to a family crest of his own making and a compass (both of which his dad also has permanently stamped on his body), Klaffert has a heart on every finger except for one. “My wife has the missing heart; it’s her only tattoo,” he says. “We got them when we were in Germany. We were married, but we didn’t have rings then. She got the one heart that I don’t have.” As if marrying a model wasn’t enough, the girl also nabbed a man who knows the meaning of (badass) romance.

Lady Gaga, Let Down Your Hair

News flash: We found Beyoncé’s blonde mermaid waves. She might have sheared them off in favor of the cropped cut that lasted about a millisecond in the fast-paced world of social media, and then magically reappeared with a slightly longer bob days later. But in case you were wondering where those long locks went, you can find them on none other than Lady Gaga, who was spotted wearing oddly similar-looking chest-grazing strands yesterday, outside her hotel in Soho. Bey, if you’re still on the hunt for your hair, consider the mystery solved. You’re welcome.

Beauty Import: Turning Japanese

As far as skincare is concerned, the women of a Japan have a long-standing history of knowing the secrets to a flawless complexion (geishas, anyone?). And if you’ve ever been to a drugstore in Tokyo, you know there is no shortage of adventurous beauty products lining the shelves—from dual-purpose patches that promise softer nipples and lips (yes, these are a real thing and are sold like Chapstick at the checkout) to a bevy of paper face masks that do everything from lighten dark spots to increase blood circulation. So when Hada Labo (one of the most popular brands in Asia—its Clear Liquid Hydrator is sold every two seconds) recently made its way stateside, I was ready and willing to get on board. After all, I feel like here in the U.S., we’re always a few steps behind the East in terms of skincare innovation (i.e., the BB and CC cream craze didn’t hit our shores until long after it was standard practice in places like South Korea and Japan).

Designers Come Out Swinging—Just In Time For The U.S. Open

The U.S. Open’s top-tier tennis matches are a chance for the fashion set to celebrate the last days of summer, as we prepare for the month-long marathon of runway shows ahead. Back in June at the Resort collections, we witnessed an uptick in kicky skirts and stretchy sheaths that would fit right in at the tournament. For our date courtside, we’d like to be wearing a deep green pleated leather mini from Alexander Wang or Viktor & Rolf’s flouncy thigh-grazer. As for the courts themselves, we could imagine trendsetting players like the Williams sisters, Ana Ivanovic, or Caroline Wozniacki (sadly, Maria Sharapova withdrew from the tournament last minute due to a shoulder injury) sporting Opening Ceremony’s sporty set or Preen’s fit-and-flare frock during a pre-match warm-up. Positively smashing.

What Do Lady Gaga And Michelle Obama Have in Common?

Prabal Gurung got the call on Friday. Lady Gaga was looking for a dress for the VMAs on Sunday night; could he put something together? A 48-hour turnaround in the middle of fashion week prep sounds like a pretty big ask to us, but not for Gurung, who is a self-described “huge, huge, huge fan” of the pop icon. “I think she is one of the most important artists of our time,” he said on the phone this morning, explaining that the gown was fit on Saturday. “I love her music and what she stands for. She is one of the most vocal celebrities on gay rights.” Gaga wasn’t Gurung’s only dressing coup of the weekend; First Lady Michelle Obama wore a blouse from his Resort collection to the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.” They are at opposite ends of the spectrum,” he said, “yet very similar in what they believe.” But what really counts for the designer: Dressing Gaga will ensure his status as the “cool uncle” with his nieces and nephew in Nepal. The black technical satin dress is a riff on a gown that will go down Gurung’s runway at the end of next week. He gave Style.com an exclusive look at the sketch. Don’t miss our complete coverage of the VMAs here.

Rocker Liza Thorn Is Fashion’s “High Priestess”

Somewhere between psychedelic, street, and old-school grunge lies High Priestess, a collaborative limited-edition capsule from Lindsey Thornburg (a bohemian New York designer known for her sumptuous cloaks) and streetwear label Obesity and Speed’s Lyz Olko. “We’ve known each other a really really long time,” said Olko about her partner in sartorial crime, adding that it dawned upon them to collaborate while sitting around a bonfire at a friend’s wedding in Santa Barbara earlier this year. “We have really similar aesthetics and this was the perfect merging of our styles. I guess she’s a little more ‘witchy’ and I’m a little more ‘urban street,’ but together, it really works.”

The resulting range comprises hand-shredded denim shorts and jackets, destroyed T-shirts and tanks, printed “Don’t Exist” tops that have been dipped in water so the lettering runs (one of Olko’s favorites), and a raw silk bomber jacket with “High Priestess” embroidered across the back. “We just thought it made sense,” explained Olko when asked about the title. “It’s definitely kind of trippy, but at the same time, it’s super feminine and regal.”

According to Karen Walker, the Kids Are All Right

Never work with animals or children, or so goes the showbiz adage. That old warning didn’t seem to phase New Zealand-based designer Karen Walker, who debuted the second half of her Spring ’13 eyewear campaign, “Karen Walker Forever,” today. The first installment, lensed by Advanced Style‘s Ari Seth Cohen, featured women between the ages of 65 and 92 wearing Walker’s graphic, quirky, and often electric-hued shades. The second’s cast, however, comprises four cute-as-a-button kids ages 3 to 5. “We always wanted to do sort of a bookend campaign about optimism,” Walker told Style.com. “The first shoot was based on eternal optimism, and the second part is about the open-eyed, playful optimism that kids bring.” Shot by Derek Henderson, the snaps debut four new black, white, and silver styles (including cat-eyes, rectangular frames, giant spheres, and ovals), some of which feature filigreed trim and mirrored cobalt lenses.

Alex Mill Moves Into Nolita

Nestled in a former bakery on Elizabeth Street in New York City’s Nolita is Alex Drexler’s first freestanding boutique for Alex Mill, the line of men’s and boy’s wares he launched in 2012. “I always wanted to start something on my own and have a store,” the 35-year-old Drexler, who previously worked behind the scenes in garment production at brands like Steven Alan and Gryphon, told Style.com. The new shop opens its doors for the first time today.
It may also be pertinent that Drexler’s father, Mickey Drexler, is the CEO of J.Crew and the former CEO of Gap. But don’t let that disenchant—Alex is working to forge his own path. “No matter what connections you have, it’s really difficult to start a business, and this business is about the product,” he says. “The extent of [my father's] involvement is just him giving me fatherly advice.”

Ohio School Places Ban on Afro-Puffs and “Braided Twists” By Jihan

Just when you started to have faith in humanity: Black Girl Long Hair got their hands on a document from the Lorain, Ohio Horizon Science Academy, in which styling (read: having) natural hair is listed as a dress-code violation.

The letter in question was sent home to Horizon Academy parents, outlining proper school attire. In attempts to “help students resist peer pressure” and “create a sense of belonging and school pride,” the school named “Afro-puffs and small twisted braids [box braids? Senegalese twists? regular twists?], with our without rubberbands,” on a list of unacceptable hairstyles. Hair beads were given the ok, “as long as they do not pose a safety risk.”

Beauty News: Nicki Minaj Unveils New ‘Minajesty’ Fragrance By Cliche

Are you ready for a new Nicki Minaj fragrance? The rapper turned mogul took to her Instagram mere moments ago to reveal her latest perfume: Minajesty.

Much like her Pink Friday fragrance, the bottle is a gold faced bust, complete with her signature pink wig.

J Brand Plans First Shops

J BRAND has announced it is to open its first stand-alone shops in 2014, first in LA, then New York. Famed for its denim and laid-back ready-to-wear lines, the brand is expanding its portfolio after a $290 million (£185 million) investment from Japanese company Fast Retailing Co. earlier this year.

"Profitability is very important to the equation," said J Brand's CEO Jeff Rudes. "We're about profits. We're a very profitable company. Our partners at Fast Retailing are very profitable."

Revealing his vision for the new shops, Rudes revealed: "It's a little bit off the beaten path. We're around very cool brands that have profitable stores. We don't believe you have to be on a cool street like Melrose Place to create an image and make money."