Jewel & Jewel

For one night, Berlin could safely claim that it was the center of the fashion world. It was just about the only time that the city, an aspiring fashion hub and perennial economic also-ran, could make such a claim.

A rare dash of ostentation arrived for Berlin’s fashion week, which ended Sunday, in the form of a new fashion award sponsored by the German edition of Elle magazine and Mercedes-Benz. The event had been brought “quite consciously” to Berlin, the capital of Germany, according to Sabine Nedelchev, the magazine’s editor in chief.

“Germany needs a fashion capital,” she said during her presentation.

With the German supermodel Claudia Schiffer handing the top prize to the top German designer Karl Lagerfeld on Saturday night, it was easy to imagine that Berlin had arrived at just that point. That is, until one remembered that the German edition of Elle is based in Munich, that Mr. Lagerfeld works in Paris and that Ms. Schiffer lives in England.

The city has been something of a paradox since reunification, known for its creative energy but also for its high debt and unemployment. Dubbed “poor but sexy” by its mayor, Klaus Wowereit, Berlin hopes that creative industries like fashion could be the solution to its chronic economic woes.

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STUTTGART / BERLIN - July 14, 2008: As part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring/Summer 2009, the ELLE Fashion Star award, the ‘Mercedes,’ will be conferred for the first time on July 19, 2008. The new award will honour exceptional personalities in the international fashion scene in three categories: Platinum, Best Collection and Newcomer. In an extraordinary fashion show, top international models will present fashions exclusively designed for ELLE as well as selected favourites of renowned designers including Chanel, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Jil Sander.

“We’re delighted to be able to add another highlight to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin as part of the ELLE Fashion Star event,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice-President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Our aim with the ‘Mercedes’ award is to honour extraordinary contributions to international fashion design while emphasizing the perfect match of Mercedes-Benz and fashion.”

“I’m proud of the fact that these great designers are appearing together on one runway in our honour,” says Sabine Nedelchev, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE Germany.

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Givenchy couture took a tour of the Andes this week in Paris, as the house’s creative director Riccardo Tisci sent out a phalanx of models in alpaca en route on a motorbike tour of Peru.
These were Chez Guevara’s wealthy grand nieces in perfecto biker jackets lined in alpaca and hefty tobacco hued pants, ideal for riding sidesaddle on the revolutionary’s Norton 500 motorcycle La Poderosa, or The Mighty One. Incan princesses in sleeveless mink blousons, waxed leather redingotes and lambskin shirts; tough romantic chic at its best.

Models dispaly the creations men`s spring / summer 2009 fashion collection by fendi.

Models display creations as part of the Gucci Spring/Summer 2009 men’s collection during Milan Fashion Week in Italy.

Model wear outfits by Calvin Klein, as part of the men’s Spring/Summer 2009 fashion collection, at Milan fashion week in Milan Italy.

Models wear creations as part of the Emporio Armani men’s Spring/Summer 2009 fashion collection. Giorgio Armani presented his second line Emporio collection at the show.

We got a posh pastel moment at Versace in Milan, when the Medusa headed label staged their spring 2009 men?s collection before an eclectic audience of music, movie and mode greats.
The three big star invites made an unlikely combo ? from music came Janet Jackson; from movies Jerry Butler and from la mode Tom Ford, in the midst of major campaign to re-establish himself as a major Milan player.

Highlighting the Sergeant Pepper mood in Milan, the show featured military tunics. Slimly cut, unadorned of medals they summed up the increasingly slim-line silhouette of Italian men?s fashion and the current obsession with pastels.