Manish Malhotra's Design for Radha-Krishna - Let's Discuss

"Admist the controversy on the existence of Lord Rama, our designers have now taken to designing apparels for them. Apparently the file image attached is the outfit designed by Manish Malhotra for Lord Krishna and Radha at the ISCON Temple. "

Deglamed Fashion Photography

Marilyn Minter depicts beauty's underbelly. For the past 30 years, her photo-realist paintings of dirty feet in diamond-studded stilettos, eyelashes clumped with glittery mascara, and teeth chomping down on a glittering tennis bracelet have been among the art world's most direct and dynamic engagements with fashion. On Friday, she'll be at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York to discuss her work (and celebrate the launch of a new monograph of her art) with Karen Marta, the U.S. founding editor of Parkett. But first she talked to us about fashion, art, and Tom Ford. What is your fascination with flawed beauty?I wonder if "flawed beauty" is an entirely accurate description, since entropy is the state of the universe. Disorder rules, nails chip, hems come undone, humans sweat. Maybe perfection is the flaw, since it doesn't exist except for maybe a few seconds or the click of a shutter. Fashion photography has gotten so retouched, so contrived that maybe the eye longs for some humanity. So are you criticizing or satirizing fashion photography?Neither. Who am I to moralize or criticize? Fashion photography is too difficult for me. I am amazed that fashion photographers come up with new ideas every month on how to shoot clothes on the human figure in a fresh way. It's way too daunting. My interest is in so-called "beauty" and accessories. I've only done two fashion campaigns, and that's for Tom Ford menswear and Optical/Sun. He let me do whatever I want, and all my shots are close-ups. He's probably the only designer that would hire me. How do you think what you do works with Ford's vision and aesthetic?Tom and his boyfriend, Richard Buckley, are art collectors and aficionados. They actually knew my work from the art world. In the very few editorial jobs that I've done in the past, the pictures that were chosen were always the most conservative, whereas Tom and I liked the same images for his campaign. We heard you went to some of the fashion shows in New York recently. What did you see that you liked?I know very little about fashion. Fashion is so consuming and my paintings take way too long for me to do to devote the time to understand its intricacies. I've only seen two shows in my life. Both were Cynthia Rowley and that's because she and her husband, Bill Powers, are my friends. What is your beauty or glamour ideal?I don't have an ideal. That has never even entered my mind. As more artists and designers start collaborating and finding inspiration in each other's work, do you think art and fashion should stay separate or do you believe they're essentially related? Roberta Smith, the art critic, once said that "Art is simply a form of light used to illuminate life." I think the most interesting artists make work that illuminate the times we live in. Ana Finel Honigman Stepping Up (2005), enamel on metal. Image courtesy of Salon 94, New York

VALENTINO: BOWS OUT OF READY TO WEAR

Valentino took his bow for the last time on the ready to wear catwalk. The legendary designer will present one more couture show here in January before hanging up his golden scissors and retiring. His farewell ready to wear show was a celebration of the chic, expensive, feminine aesthetic that he has perfected over his 45 year career but it wasn’t, as many had predicted, a greatest hits collection. Valentino wasn't in the mood to look back and instead presented a contemporary collection aimed squarely at his modern super rich clients. Fondant coloured day dresses, and colourful coats quickly gave way to a parade of sassy little cocktail dresses that all stopped mid-thigh. Then came the long dresses that have made him a favourite with the glitterati. They came in sheer flesh toned lace, liquid silk and printed chiffon. There were frill hemmed mermaid gowns, strapless pink columns and only two of his signature red evening dresses. The variety was overwhelming. And if it all looked a little random, then so be it. Valentino has never gone in for over the top themes or motifs. His clients - celebrities, royals and the international jet set - are foremost in his mind. They (and their wardrobes) will certainly miss him. Claudia Croft