The Soapbox | Where South Africans Speak Out

BY GREEN EYES

Forbes.com has published it’s annual list of the most powerful fashion editors. It’s no surprise who is topping that list. Despite the fact that her new contract is unsigned and Vogue’s advertising sales are down 26% from last year, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief is still number one. Wintour knocked off last year’s number one, Glamour magazine’s Cindi Leive. Other prestigious editors include Elle’s Robbie Myers, More’s Leslie Jane Seymour and Allure’s Linda Wells.

Ms Wintour is in the news again — this time for her brainchild Fashion’s Night Out and its success. The concept of the event, which took place last Thursday was for over 700 clothing stores to stay open for a night of fabulous late-time shopping pre-fashion week . This was a bid to boost the ravaged retail sector after all the economic problems. Many designers like Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors and celebs like Sarah Jessica Parkers pledged their support for the event but insiders started to wonder. Weere people going to turn up for the freebies and a glimpse of Justin Timberlake or were they really going to shop? Retails figures are yet to come in but it was said the event was a huge success in turnout alone. There are even calls to make it an annual pre-event to New York Fashion Week.

Kanye West was not the only thing making headlines at this year’s MTV VMAs. The new trailer for the eagerly-awaited sequel in the Twilight saga, New Moon was introduced by the movie’s stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (rocking a Valentino mini, pity about her hair) and Taylor Lutner. If you’re a Twihard, you have to watch it now. Fashion was also a hot talking point with both reality TV star Kristin Cavallari and musician Katy Perry working the metallics. Shakira and Pink wore the same dress. Both tried different looks but I think Shakira wore it better. In the worst dressed category, Kanye’s girlfriend Amber Rose tried to make a snake-skin catsuit work. It didn’t. Leighton Meester, whom I love, and Jennifer Lopez also took some risks with short numbers and fabulous, albeit mismatched, shoes. Ladies, we do not enjoy.

I’m not completely sold on the idea of celebs designing clothes. It seems like a career fallback. They’re so desperate to stay in the spotlight so they try to add slashes and as many career options as they can. For goodness sake, the girls from The Hills have their own lines, with one debuting at NFW. Saying that, there are the ones like Gwen Stefani who actually make some fabulous pieces. And I completely loved Madonna’s line for H&M. I’m a sucker for a leotard. But when a celebrity more famous for her lovelife and rehab stints is made artistic adviser for a haute couture line, I get mad. Lindsay Lohan has been named as the face of Emanuel Ungaro. This decision was speculated weeks ago and even caused head designer, Esteban Cortazar to threaten to resign if that happened. A couple of weeks ago, Cortazar did resign his post. A move, in light of new developments, he might be really happy about.

Our fashion columnist, the incognito Green Eyes, blogs about life, love and fabulous fashion at her must-read blog: Skinny Bitches – In The Making.