Humor Chic Paris gossip couture - Pierre Cardin, a prophet from times gone by

"Inspiration" is the terrifying term which many fashion designers nowadays use to define their bad habit of stealing eagerly from the historical archives of great couturiers of the past. But the issue becomes even more embarassing when these bad copies end up being praised by a bunch of literally incompetent journalists who end up unsettling the already unstable equilibrium of the entire system. At the Paris Haute Couture catwalks this type of inspiration eclipsed everything and true creativity was nowhere to be seen. At the good old age of 87, the great Pierre Cardin was watching the Dior show when he came to know that Armani for his new collection Privè had declared that he was inspired by the "future fashion" which defined Cardin..."I'm flattered, however the compliment should be passed on to Courreges, he is the true Father of the Space style" Mr Cardin stated with lucid sincerity. Truly a great lesson..from times gone by.

Humor Chic Paris Haute Fashion - Dior, Armani, Chanel, Valentino, Gaultier...a very special front row

The Paris Haute Couture shows were not particularly exciting. We think fashion badly needs a good dusting down and not just a makeover, because everything has been seen before and is behind the times... We love you Galliano but you didn’t astonish us at Dior. You could really put more into it instead of turning out a collection worthy of some high class museum of history of costume. However we understand. Armani went to the moon but we hope he won’t stay there too long. It was luxurious and well done but terribly tedious, however excellent for the marketing department. Chanel, it’s time to quit offering bouclé in a whole range of sauces...and as for Karl, what did I send you into space for? You just have to do better! Let’s forget about Valentino...it’s time you came back, dear Vale! Gaultier, well we can forgive him anything! We were forgetting about dear Sarkozy, who continues his struggle to pass a law banning Muslim women from wearing the Burqa and Niqab in France...but it looks like hard times ahead! Very hard!

Humor Chic special release - Tina Turner, seventy years as a lioness

It’s not easy for a great rock star to remain on the crest of the wave and even more difficult to reach the tender age of 70 and still be an undisputed lioness. But I’d like to remind you of someone who has always succeeded with the same grit and the same ardour: it’s Tina Turner, the roar of the great lioness...who kindly posed for us at Humor Chic to remind us all to love life to the fullest but and never to forget to protect it!

Humor Chic society & manners - Barack and Michelle Obama, comfortable in jeans

"For those of you who want your president to look great in his tight jeans, I'm sorry - I'm not the guy," is what the adorbale president Barack Obama answered a while ago to those who had criticized him for turning up on the field of the All Star Games in baggy jeans, a model which some considered too homely. However it turns out dear Obama had a good premonition considering the times, and the latest men's fashion shows also decreed the return to a TOTAL normality. It's always best to be comfortable and at ease...you never know!

Humor Chic Paris Haute Couture - CHRISTIAN & YOHJI, an anti crisis label

The five-day Paris haute couture event starts today, an increasingly small and limited kermis due to the crisis. There is another fashion house which is currently paying the harsh price of the crisis...that of the Japanese stylist Yohji Yamamoto which has ended up in receivership with the consequent closure of the various boutiques located in the world's fashion capitals, starting with New York. Another harsh blow following that suffered by the Maison Christian Lacroix. At this point we honestly wonder if it isn't the moment to start forming new creative and strategic alliances. Maybe by creating new labels, such as CHRISTIAN & YOHJI...what do you say Monsieur Lacroix and Mr Yamamoto?

Humor Chic communication - A METRO with Humor Chic

From 5th February in your city you will find a special edition of METRO - Fashion month supplement with Humor Chic.
Metro is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. Metro International publishes 84 daily editions in 23 countries around the world in 100 major cities across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated, metropolitan audience of over 23.1 million daily readers and more than 42 million weekly readers.
From New York to Toronto, Mexico, Paris, London, Stockholm, Milan, Rome, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, Seoul, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Athens, Lisbon, Hong Kong...here is a link with a complete list of the Metro worldwide editions.
An issue not to missed! All fashion addicts in search of strong metropolitan emotions have been warned!

Humor Chic Paris Haute Couture - Christian Lacroix, original shopping

The next few winter days at the upcoming French Haute Couture fashion shows will probably turn out to be sizzling hot, partly due to the controversies which are already causing turmoil on the scenes between some of the Fashion Houses but also due to a notable absence, that of dear Christian Lacroix, an exquisitely original talent who was forced to close down his Maison due to bankruptcy. We sincerely hope an elightened investor will quickly come forward to buy it...Masoin Christian Lacroix, on sale only in the best supermarkets.

Humor Chic Paris Haute Couture - Giorgio Armani attacks Dior, John Galliano retorts

On Monday we talked about Armani’s attack on French creativity. Now, as if that was not enough, yesterday at the end of the showing of his men’s collection he took issue with Maison Dior, culpable of wreaking havoc in the schedule of its women’s shows in Paris. Armani was compelled to present his collection in the evening at an awkward time slot for TV and newspaper coverage. On the subject Armani declared: "Dior wanted at any cost to reschedule their couture show. They’re fighting and defending themselves with schedule changes, I’m doing it with my garments!" Good Grief! The French Maisons had better watch out because it’s not easy to defend themselves from his twenty-year-old jackets à la Richard Gere! Will you please quit making Mr Giorgio blow his top? He’s not a young man anymore! Now, now, dear John, you’re a true creative with a sympathetic soul...so please return a soft answer!

Humor Chic - Alexandra Shulman: chubby chic is beautiful

In 2009 the delightful Editor of Vogue UK Alexandra Shulman declared: "The garments the fashion houses send us keep getting smaller, we’ve reached the point where well-known models and even skinny Kate Moss can’t fit into them. We’re being forced to use models with no breasts or hips, with jutting bones and nothing feminine about them. Now I regularly have to ask photographers to retouch the photos to make the models look bigger and healthier. Besides, our readers are saying plainly they don’t want to see super skinny women in our magazine. In recent years the female population has got bigger." Do you suppose her appeal was welcomed by stylists? Not at all, but finally the tenacious Shulman has found a solution...by putting herself on the cover of Vogue. Now we’re positive the dear designers will toe the line!

Humor Chic alert - Giorgio Armani launches an attack on French fashion

In an interview to the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, 75-year old Giorgio Armani declared "I can't stand the arrogance of our French cousins any longer. Their self-gloating is over the top compared to the actual substance of things and they end up putting fashion in general under a bad light. This is no time for excesses." Armani went on to add "Now I like to spend my time with young people, to understand their world, even though sometimes they make me a little angry." Watch out Giorgio because when you present your new collection at the upcoming French Haute couture week you will certainly have to come up with a new soundtrack for your final exit...a wonderful fake applause!

Humor Chic the viewpoint - Anna Wintour, fashion in 3D

Dear Anna,

Italian fashion has hit a really bad patch, in some ways it’s scandalous. Unfortunately fashion houses keep collapsing, though from their first day and for years they were acclaimed and boosted by the press, as usual in cahoots with them. Now those few Italian fashion journalists whose idea of fun is to identify and rubbish great young talents just to please the same old lobby (goodness knows why - perhaps you could tell us?) are scurrying around like worker ants who’ve lost their queen. I assure you it’s not a pretty sight. Hey – don’t tell me they’re all worried they’re going to miss out on the usual perks? What a shame! So watch out, because at next Milan Fashion Week a lot of people will be offering you a pair of very special spectacles. Don’t put them on if you really want to continue to see things the way they are!

Yours, Mr Humor Chic

Humor Chic - René Préval, solidarity for Haiti

Today Humor Chic has chosen as its symbol Rene Prèval, President of Haiti, and would like to remind all friends to support the victims of the devastating earthquake. You will find the list of the numerous associations to which you can send you contribution on the information websites online. Beware of frauds.
Our deepest affection goes to the people of Haiti.

Humor Chic - Sidney Toledano, a lion of a manager

It’s never a simple decision when the manager of a fashion house has to pick his team, and it’s even tougher when he has to relate to creativity and identify the right designer to bring new life to his group. For many, making this choice when one is the leader of a company working on a tight budget becomes risky and a single mistake can compromise the success of a brand, as happened lately at Ungaro which, regrettably and with immense sadness, one has to say is looking increasingly like a dog’s dinner, though we still have faith they will come to see the light! So thank goodness there are managers capable of making real choices. One of them? Monsieur Sidney Toledano, CEO of Christian Dior.

Humor Chic manners & society - Nicolas Sarkozy, a great social educator

It seems that France (whose motto is Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité) is set to approve a law banning the burqa and all other kinds of veils as well as the niqab in public places. This law comes six years after the one in 2004 banning veils and religious symbols in schools. The concrete objective is to slap a fine of 750 euros on anyone found wearing a veil in public, meaning in streets, shops or offices. And an even heavier fine for husbands who compel women to wear a veil. Oh, and I was forgetting –watch out because it seems they may also want to sock a heavy fine of 1000 euros to anyone who has not yet learned how to eat ice cream on a cone...

Humor Chic - Pierre Alexis Dumas, a real thoroughbred

One of the kindest and most lovable men that the luxury sector has ever known is certainly Jean Louis Dumas, a rare thoroughbred entrepreneur, great-grandson of the founder and representative of the fifth generation of the Parisian Maison Hermès, founded in 1837 when Thierry Hermès, a saddle-maker, opened a shop for horse tack and harness in Paris. Some years back Monsieur Dumas stood down in favour of the sixth generation. Today the artistic direction of the brand is run by his grandchild Pascale Mussard and his son Pierre Alexis Dumas, who carries on the family tradition with success and passion, as only a true thoroughbred can do.

Humor Chic - Desiree Rogers, a rigid selection at the door!

Dear Desiree,
we all know you are not going through one of your happiest moments due to those aspiring starlettes who managed to sneek in through the door, getting by strict checks despite not being invited at the State dinner offered by the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Singh, at the White House. It is not a pleasant dispute and as you are considered by many the White House's «Social Secretary» you should reply. I don't think you should be the one penalized, but neither should those three poor agents, as is the case unfortunately; on the other hand, I would be happy to send Mr Mark Sullivan (the President's Head of Security) to Italy to make pizzas.
Dearest, do not worry, if the worst comes to the worst you can always find a job in the fashion industry, these days infiltrators are the norm and always welcome!

Humor Chic - Vladimir Putin, a chic Santa Putin

Today the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas (Rozhdestvo) and we would like to extend our warmest wishes to our dear Santa Putin...С Рождеством (Merry Christmas)

Humor Chic - Oscar de la Renta, a sprint of great elegance

Dear Oscar,
please forgive me if I trouble you but there is something I just can’t understand and that perhaps only you, who are an intelligent man and a great American designer with a lot of experience can explain. Soon the international Marathon of the various fashion weeks will get under way again and in Milan we’ll be hearing the declarations of those who describe themselves as the spokespersons for Italian fashion, screaming to the press that our delightful and sweet Anna Wintour (your dear friend) is seeking in every way to destabilize Milan fashion week, to take away its sceptre as world leader, because they say you American designers are not and will never be the equal of the Italians. But why? Excuse me, but this puzzle is giving me sleepless nights and a lot to do and I would like to sleep a bit longer. Could we provide an answer? But please remember, as always with your usual and adorable stylish sprint of eternal elegance!
My warmest regards,
Mr Humor Chic

Humor Chic special shoot - Robert Polet, the secret for long life luxury

When Mr Robert Polet became leader of the Gucci Group, a lot of people turned up their noses at him and the usual detrimental rumors had it he wouldn't last. The reason? Simply because he had a past as an executive in frozen foods and so knew little about the so-called realities of the luxury sector. But as always these idlers and hangers-on were wrong. In fact this polite and very intelligent manager proved really special. He has not only kept rigorous control of the budget, despite the crisis, but he is about to celebrate the 10 years of the Gucci Pole. His secret? Cutting costs and inflated salaries, doing more with less, innovation and a forward-looking policy with an eye to the web and social networks, to protect the values of excellence - and we were forgetting...to equip himself with an excellent freezer!

Humor Chic trend alert - Bernard Madoff, Italian fashion's future trend?

The financial earthquake that ravaged the landscape all through 2009 was terrible and continues to reap victims. One of its great creators was the good Bernard Madoff. Italian fashion is also reeling and the usual old talking crickets are heaping all the blame on markets. So why are those Italian businesses and designers being investigated by the tax man for alleged fraud, market rigging and tax evasion, that seem to have been the real trends that enriched a lot of people in recent years? And what if the stripes on convict uniforms became the new fashion trend? Doesn’t it look chic?

Humor chic - Barack and Michelle Obama, Louis Armstrong wish you a Humor Chic Happy New Year

The chicest way to start 2010.