Prada presents 'A Therapy' by Roman Polanski
Courtesy of Prada

Last night Prada hosted a surprise screening of 'A Therapy' during the Cannes Film Festival. The short film, directed by Roman Polanski and starring Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Kingsley, put a smile on my face. It's hard these days to come across fashion films that don't take themselves too seriously. But of course, we're taking about Prada here: "It's very refreshing to know that there are still places open to the irony and wit and, for sure, Prada is one of them", says Polanski.
'A Therapy' is incredibly chic, full of intense musky colours and features amazing Prada pieces like a purple fur coat and Prada's signature pyramid bag. Not to mention how major it is having Bonham Carter and Kingsley participating.

Click here to watch 'A Therapy'

It's on rare occasions that fashion films, that new genre of movie-making, which now rolls off our tongues actually produces good videos. Dior's are probably the worst films I have seen in my life and most of the rest of them out there (forgive me for not even trying to remember) are, quite frankly, a bit of a joke. The closest thing to quality we have seen in this field would probably be Karl Lagerfeld's "Remember Now", which succeeded more due to his excellent aesthetic rather than to his story-telling skills. His latest work, however, is more in the line with his cringe-ful commercial for Hogan. Keira Knightley stars in the new Coco Mademoiselle ad and, even though she looks stunning and there is something so likeable about creamy Chanel suede, the film makes absolutely no sense. I can't possibly imagine how anyone will be able to edit it into a TV version but I am positive 30 seconds of it will be more pleasant than the over 3 of the original version. Such a shame, Keira's first advert was so perfect!

I'm off.

Runaway

When I first heard about Kanye West's latest video I got very confused as to what the nature of the video was. I could not quite figure out if it would have music and be played on MTV or if he had ventured into the difficult world of short films. As it turns out, he did both. The full version of Runaway is 34:32 minutes long but it's also been edited in a video version for TV, which runs for 4:38, and an extended video version, 8:29. My advice is to watch the full length version, put it on mute and play some nice music you like on the background. From a short film point of view it is a stunning piece of work, with incredible photography and beautifully produced. I was personally blown away by Kanye's directorial skills, which just as his dress sense, exceed his musical ability. The concept is a little sci-fi with the right amount of avant-garde and I was mesmerised by the colours and landscapes just as much as I was by the art direction and the costume design (by Phillip Lim and Martin Izquierdo).

















As a music video, however, it simply sucks. Not only the song is extremely monotonous and nonsensical but the part of the film chosen to go with it has the exact same characteristics so that you enjoy those 4:38 minutes as little as possible. Which is a shame because the ballet dancing is a fantastic part of the film and it feels very current set against the worn out green inside of a warehouse.Do turn back the sound at about 26:50 to listen to the only decent track throughout the whole film. It still sounds a bit like Kanye but it's a lot more Imogen Heap than him.
I definitely think he has found his path in life with this kind of thing. As much as it pains me to admit it he has a very good eye for art. So do us a favour, give up music and make more of these.
I'm off.

[Pictures: screen caps from video]

hedonistic ode

Some say fashion is not all fun and glamour. But it can certainly be for some. Karl Lagerfeld brought all his muses, favourite models, actresses and boy-toys to Saint Tropez for a triple date of bike rides, Bocce (a pétanque variety) and movie dates.

The night before the Chanel Cruise 2011 show Kaiser Karl gathered Diane Kruger, Vanessa Paradis, Karolina Kurkova, Leigh Lezark and Garance Doré (among many others) for a game of pétanque, for which the balls had been religiously engraved with the required C's. Please, do not miss Derek Blasberg's report for Style.com.

The collection wasn't too bad for a mid-season one. There was something slightly ironic about the 60's/70's vibe of the clothes. The awkward fits of the trousers and unfinished hemlines somehow reminded me of a 90's interpretation of hippy clothes. There was something deliciously bad about some of the pieces that contrasted well with the final more chic ones. A tasteful take on tackiness that restored faith in Karl inside me after the FW10 let down.

"Remember Now", Karl's short film, doesn't have a plot but it follows a coherent chronological line through which he portrays himself. It is delightfully Warholian in a 21st-century manner that would have moistened Andy's eyes. Lagerfeld lets us in into his hedonistic world (collection of iPods included) where beautiful people wear beautiful clothes in beautiful places. A place where Baptiste is omnipresent with a meticulously messy quiff and where the Kaiser is God and wears all-white, all-Chanel.

"You asked if I liked to dance.

I don't, anymore.

Now I like...

Age makes you voyeuristic"

I'm off.

[Sources: WWD.com, TheFashionSpot.com, Style.com]