Barbie Goes GAGA

Image from pipeline.refinery29.com

Move Over Mattel, Viek is doing Barbie bigger, and dare we say better, than you are. Veik, a 29-year-old doll “player” from Beijing has made over several of his barbies into none other than Lady Gaga, in some of her most memorable outfits. Whether you’re a Lady Gaga fan or not you can’t help but appreciate his work. He has even gone as far as creating a perfect miniature replica of the infamous McQueen ‘Armadillo’ shoes.

Kudos to you Veik.

- Alexa P Gray

Image from pipeline.refinery29.com

Image from pipeline.refinery29.com

Prada In Serious Debt

Image from dailytarheelfashion.wordpress.com

Many of you are probably feeling the strain of the holidays on your wallets. But there’s debt, and there’s 1.5 billion dollars worth of debt, which is unfortunately Prada’s current problem.

We certainly do not want to see the company go the way of Christian Lacroix (click here for the details), so we were happy to hear rumours that Miuccia was thinking of selling one third of the brand to Richemont, the Swiss based luxury goods group that owns Montblanc and Cartier. If the sale goes through, Richemont, the second largest luxury group in the world, would become a worthy rival of LVMH.

Now however, both parties are denying any such talks.

Since debt that extreme can’t go ignored for too long, we’re curious to see what happens. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.

- Alexa P Gray

LiLo Hits the Design Studio

Well hello 2010, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. It’s a new year and we are looking forward to all the new possibilities and opportunities, collections, art, music you name it. But one thing we wish would have stayed in 2009 are Lindsay Lohan’s fashion aspirations.

Image from WWD.com

It seems the tabloid darling is expanding her legging ling, 6126, into a full on apparel collection, with the hopes of adding lifestyle pieces in 2011. Yes, yes, the collective groan around the international fashion community is not a silent one.

We are sure you all remember the disasterous collection LiLo over saw as artistic advisor at French label, Ungaro—complete with pasties.

Unfortunately it looks like 2010 has not brought the end of celebrity “designed” fashion. Well at least it will provide some humourous fodder…There is always a bright side.

Image from WWD.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! BRING ON 2010!!

Well everyone, we have about five hours of the first decade of the 21st century left and it has most certainly been a wild ride!

So much has happened, so much has changed, good and bad. BUT we here at CHEEKMagazine.com are VERY excited for all the new adventures and stories that are to come in 2010. It’s going to be a big year and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.

Happy New Year to all of our readers, contributors, team and everyone in between! Onwards and upwards for the New Year! Only five hours and 10 minutes to go…

More Reasons to Love Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood has been a busy lady in 2009, and we get to reap the wonderful fruits of her hard labour.

Lady Westwood has not one, but two collaborations we are excited to report back to you.

First off the feisty Brit is joining forces with Lee Jeans and her Anglomania label to create a nine-piece capsule collection. But these won’t be just any jeans: we are talking about Vivienne Westwood here. Prepare for punked out super-skinny jeans and micro-shorts for women and bondage style and skinny jeans for men. But lady Westwood doesn’t stop there, they will all be in metallic gold and copper washes and screen-printed with trompe l’oeil lace details.

Keep your eyes out for these little gems in Westwood boutiques in 2010; prices will range from $130 to $320 USD

Image from Style.com

As we said before we have two Westwood collaborations to tell you about. The second will have the interior design and fashion junkies giddy with joy. Westwood teamed up with Cole & Son to create her own wallpaper collection. The prints are based on past and present designs from her ready to wear collections.

Westwood’s autumn 1981 Pirate collection inspired the Squiggle pattern and her spring 2007 I Am Expensive collection inspired Cut Out Lace. If there was ever any doubt, and there NEVER should have been, Westwood has proven time and again, she is one of the best designers of our time.

Image from WWD.com

Prices range from $87 USD, for a standard roll $298 for a trompe l’oeil design that looks like a ruched tartan fabric

Rodarte hits the Target

Rodarte @ Target image from nymag.com

It’s all true. Rodarte is the latest in the realm of high end designers, including Anna Sui, Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier among other to sell its wares at Target.

As of Sunday December 20, 2009 fashion lovers who may not be heavy in the pockets can enjoy designs from the talented sisters  of Rodarte. The collection consists of a variety of dresses, jackets, separates, tights, and of course the much coveted accessories.

And the Rodarte ladies, did not play it save with this one. There is plenty of sequin, tulle, animal print and lace.

Rodarte @ Target image from nymag.com

Rodarte @ Target image from nymag.com

This is a collection any fashion fan will be happy to wait in line to get their hands on. Rodarte has gained some much deserved notoriety over the past year for it’s innovative and youthful designs, especially with the spiderweb type tights and garments. The ladies of Rodarte also ventured into a little film making, which you can see and read about in the latest issue of CHEEK.

Rodarte @ Target Image from nymag.com

So fashion fans, we encourage you to run, not walk to the closest Target store. The collection will only be available until January 31, 2010, and with prices in the lower end of the spectrum, $10-$100 USD, it’s sure to fly out the door, especially in the holiday season.

Our suggestion, treat yourself to this one!

Design for the Love of Food

Food and design go together like silky chocolate and fine wine: a perfectly complementary pair.
Foodies tend to love design and vice versa. So it would make sense that treats for both flood the market. But designer Ji Hyun Ryou is out to Save Food From the Refrigerator. After doing some extensive research Ryou found that that we hand over the responsibility of taking care of food to the technology, the refrigerator specifically. We don’t observe the food anymore, and don’t understand how to treat it.

So Ryou decided it was time to take a step in the right direction for the sake of food and created a few simple but ingenious designs to better preserve or fruits of the earth…

First up the Apple and Potato holder
The ethylene gas produced by apples keeps potatoes from sprouting.

Image from http://www.savefoodfromthefridge.blogspot.com/

Next up the Night Shade Shelf with water tray,
It keeps them fresher than the fridge

Image from http://www.savefoodfromthefridge.blogspot.com/

And now the Egg Shelf
Complete with water glass to test freshness, a fresh egg will sink and remain horizontal
The umpteen tiny holes on the surface of an eggshell allows odors from other foods to be absorbed, so keeping them out of the fridge will ensure their tastiness.

And finally the root Vegetable shelf…
Storing root vegetable upright keeps them fresh and the glass funnel is used to keep the sand moist.

Image from http://www.savefoodfromthefridge.blogspot.com/

All in all we have to say this is a pretty great project for more info check out Ji Hyun Ryou’s blog where you can read her thesis.