• It seems Nicki Minaj‘s stylists have committed the ultimate affront towards a designer. Jessica Rodgers, famous for her use of “puff balls,” (a term she coined) in her designs says the rapstress’ outfit at the Carolina Herrera show was a copy of one of her designs. “When I saw the photos, I was in tears. I’ve worked very hard to make my dream of being a fashion designer come true. I have built contacts with Teen Vogue, Gaga, Katy Perry, and Marina and the Diamonds has worn my garments. [Now,] I feel like everything has crumbled down…I am very upset by the fact that she was sitting next to Anna Wintour. I admire Anna Wintour very much and I was hoping that one day she would see my garments and it would be the first time that she would see Puff Balls used as I use them.” Rodgers says she sent Minaj’s stylists photos of her work before, and they never got back to her. So you can imagine her surprise– and devastation when she saw Minaj’s highly publicized look. Do you think Nicki should right this wrong? Or do you feel she has no such obligation? You can check out Rodgers’ work here. Support! (The Cut)
• Carine Roitfeld might be weary of fashion’s corporate predilections, but there are some insiders who don’t think it’s been such a bad thing for the industry. Robin Givhan says: “The industry long ago stopped being this sort of charming, mom-and-pop world, and became much more corporate. But the corporate gave us Marc Jacobs, and it gave us Tom Ford, so I think it’s just sort of a gut reaction to say that because it’s become more corporate it’s somehow become more sanitized. I do think, at least here [in New York] there’s far more new, younger designers who have the ability to show because of corporate sponsorship than we ever see in Milan or Paris. I mean, seeing a new designer in Milan is a rare thing because it’s just that much more difficult.” (The Cut)
• After Nancy Upton, winner of the American Apparel XL Model Search, admitted her entry featuring photos of her shoveling food into her mouth was done to lampoon the questionable tone of the operation, she was stripped of her title and sent a strongly-worded letter from creative director Iris Alonzo. “It’s a shame that your project attempts to discredit the positive intentions of our challenge based on your personal distaste for our use of light-hearted language, and that “bootylicous” was too much for you to handle. While we may be a bit TOO inspired by Beyoncé, and do have a tendency to occasionally go pun-crazy, we try not to take ourselves too seriously around here. I wonder if you had taken just a moment to imagine that this campaign could actually be well intentioned, and that my team and I are not out to offend and insult women, would you have still behaved in the same way, mocking the confident and excited participants who put themselves out there?” I think the bigger shame is American Apparel’s lack of self-awareness. (Village Voice)
•It’s the last day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week! If you’re not going to the shows, here’s what’s going down:
Ralph Lauren, 10-11AM, Sergio Davila 12:30-1:30PM, Calvin Klein 2-3PM, Naeem Khan 4PM, Made in Africa: By Arise Magazine, 5PM, Elene Cassis 6PM.
It’s been a crazy but amazing week! Can’t wait for next season!
~Jihan
September 15, 2011 8:15 am
Nicki should right her wrongs. I think she uses these barbaric fashion choices just for attention with no true meaning or inspiration behind her choices. She seriously makes a mockery of the fashion world. It’s sad she feels throwing on anything like a child playing dress up in mommy’s closet is true expression of individualism and personal style. I used to like her, but now I don’t because she has been trying to be somehing she is far from. Smh. She’s probably a joke to the whole Vogue office, and maybe a stunt they pulled on NYFW SS’12 to bring humor to Lincoln center LOL.
September 15, 2011 8:40 am
Who ever is the original designer of those Puff Balls should me ashamed of creating such foolery.
September 15, 2011 8:43 am
Never mind the puff balls, why the hell is she front row with anna? When the hell did dressing like a clown become hot in the streets?
September 15, 2011 9:01 am
uh….i see the puffballs, but definite not a knockoff of the actual design. So no one can use puffballs now…it’s a HAM anyway…
and WTF? at the whole AA issue…I’m so confused…so did she win or not…she won but now they are taking it back…what..someone please explain…especially their quote.
September 15, 2011 9:09 am
Nicki gets lambasted and Gaga gets kudos? Don’t get it….I could only imagine how the designer feels….BUT one thing I’ve learned from an indie designer who chooses to remain indie is that PEOPLE STEAL. tsk tsk tsk……(but seriously…puff balls??- GAG)
September 15, 2011 9:10 am
Not a fan of the puff shirt .
September 15, 2011 9:33 am
Really? Are they seriously going to beef over something that looks like a pre-school craft project?! I doubt puff balls will ever be hot in the streets, unless Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are in town.
September 15, 2011 9:44 am
I’m not a fan of the design, but that doesn’t change the fact that Nicki isn’t wearing an original. She needs to fix that.
September 15, 2011 9:53 am
The puffball concept is no where near new. I was.wearing them when I was in elementary school (hey my mom thought they were cute). Nicki makes it known that she only wears designer clothes anyway so who’s to say this chick didn’t take someone else’s idea?
September 15, 2011 10:05 am
lol at the gaga comparison, half the time we are saying that gaga looks a mess as well. At least gaga has one some couture, or she is reaching and finding some highly sought after vintage stuff. Nicki just throws on whatever these people tell her and she runes with it, Gaga has nothing to do with this. This is about Nicki and her freaking antics! BTW I made a pompom skirt in grade school for a project should i know be in tears.
September 15, 2011 10:14 am
I agree with Jaida. The puff balls are a no for me, but Nicki Minaj’s stylist should be ashamed of using a knock off especially as the designer sent her designs to them previously. Something is amiss there (puts monocle on).
September 15, 2011 10:16 am
Those puffball design is shit. Be in tears about how horrid it looks.
September 15, 2011 10:17 am
It’s very possible that Nicki didn’t know anything about the designers work, her stylist on the other hand may have very well known. Whatever the case Nicki and her team should at least acknowledge the designer and her work.
September 15, 2011 10:25 am
That’s the best name you could come up with, puff balls? Anna Wintour is so wack to me, I much preferred Carine Roitfeld and Franca Sozzani (although me and Franca are beefin over the term “slave earrings” right now). American VOGUE is nothing but a parade of super skinny celebs wearing uninspiring haute couture. High fashion and those that chase it are passe. Street style is the new couture. Quote me. (Mizrahi voice)
September 15, 2011 10:50 am
Yea, um puff balls? Who should I sue bc my santa in 3rd grade with the puff ball beard and puff ball trim around his red cap was killin the game!! Ok the shirt no matter who came up w i is an instant atrocity. When I grew up fashion was glam, seriousness. Once again I need Ms. Minaj to take into consideration that she is representing young black women. Stop with the buffonery. We need more fashion icons. Agreeing with Michelle, atleast GAGA has couture. And with the AA they need to get it together, with thier failing stock, sexual harrassment charges, regime change, and slightly pornographic ads, who are they to criticize? Hell I thought the pic was an acutal ad! lol But I do see how it can be deemed unsensitive. And American Vogue is dead.
September 15, 2011 11:08 am
BTW The Blonds had some puff balls in their show..lol
September 15, 2011 11:27 am
Oh Nicki, why didn’t you just wear the original design if you were going to have someone knock it off so poorly?
September 15, 2011 11:28 am
And how does Miss Rodgers think she coined the term puff balls? I’ve been saying that since been saying that…
September 15, 2011 11:35 am
lmao. puff balls… as clothing. here’s a shovel…BURY IT. enough said.
September 15, 2011 12:07 pm
We all know Nicki is a Lil Kim Clone Clone she like a collage of other artist. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the rip off artist Would you?
September 15, 2011 12:34 pm
i’ve actually appreciated some of lady gaga’s looks. i understand what she’s doing even if i don’t agree with it. she has a purpose. nicki is just a bunch of tom foolery. her clothes, music, her personality..it’s all laughable. when i heard her first song, i thought it was a joke (i still wish it was). the puff balls however are ugly all around so the nicki may have done this designer a favor.
September 15, 2011 1:47 pm
yes I agree with Necia.
I hope Nicki writes her wrongs bc that is NOT cool. How would she feel if someone plagiarized one of her lyrics?
comme-coco.blogspot.com
September 15, 2011 5:27 pm
Whaaa??? Ok, over the whole puffball ish——->NEXT. I too would like a little more clarification with the AA issue. So, the winner of this contest was actually mocking it? They couldnt pick up on her sarcasm from the photo above? IDK, I dont wanna comment til I fully understand. In the meantime….AA get it together.
September 15, 2011 7:29 pm
How wack of Anna Wintour to be with Nicki?… I’ve lost a ton of respect for Ms. Wintour. Anna is no longer Anna.
September 15, 2011 8:08 pm
That designer should be kissing Nicki Minaj’s feet right now. The day Nicki Minaj walked in wearing that outfit was the best day of that designer’s life to date. She is getting her shine based on this manufactured scandal, and needs to dry her tears and start capitalizing on her five minutes of fame. People that cry that they’ve been ripped off need to grab that Kleenex and just grind harder.
September 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Every designer gets knocked off…it should taken as a
September 15, 2011 10:05 pm
Most credible designers are knocked off; shoe designers. Actually, it should be accepted as a compliment…except in the puff ball case (still scratching my head)
September 15, 2011 10:08 pm
*especially shoe designers*
September 15, 2011 10:38 pm
the puff balls((sic)) look ridiculous…but Nikki’s version looks better than the chick screaming rip off version..just sayin.. Oh-kay, someone owes me some money,because back in the day I sure did do a puff ball jean jacket,and I did a mini dress too.It was for a drag club,but hey..her idea is not original like most fashion styles.
September 16, 2011 2:32 am
Well, Jessica Rodgers is somewhat delusional because I had a skirt when I was 6 years old that was simply covered in puff balls. It would seem that Rodgers is attempting to attach her name to Nicki’s in order to build publicity. I really don’t think that Nicki Minaj needs to ‘right this wrong’ because while Rodgers may be an innovator in the questionable ‘art’ of puff balls, she is not the creator and therefore some kind of thief herself if that’s how she wants to play it.
And more power to Nancy Upton, she has pipped AA’s ‘shock value’ ideology at its post, and to me she has come out the conceptual winner. AA’s attempt to mock her in response through their statement fails by comparison. She’s a ‘real woman’ not because of size, but because of her refusal to bow to commercial stereotyping of what a ‘big girl’ is.
September 19, 2011 2:42 pm
Chanel looks so pretty.
Nikki shouldnt be sitting next to Anna in that horrible outfit.
September 24, 2011 6:42 pm
I’m so late but come on!! She invented the term “puff balls”…really? And how do we know that someone else somewhere wasn’t using these things before her? Maybe Nicki didn’t like her puff designs so went with someone else. It’s not always about a knockoff. Few “designs” are rarely authentic.
October 6, 2011 8:08 pm
[...] With not a chicken wing necklace or puff ball in sight, Nicki Minaj takes us back to her “Itty Bitty Piggy” days in all black with [...]