13 December, 2024

Polly Mellen remembered

Polly Mellen

Thoughts and prayers to all the fashion journalists this week. I’m not sure what’s up with the planets but it’s been a whirlwind of arrivals, departures and confirmations.

The happy news is that Chanel has confirmed Matthieu Blazy as its next artistic director (following his successful three years at Bottega Veneta) and Bottega has confirmed Louise Trotter as Blazy’s replacement. Yes, I’m delighted!

The sad news is that John Galliano (AKA Johnny G – cute!) is departing Maison Margiela after ten years. Not sure where he goes next.

But very sad is the news that the incredible stylist and one of my fashion idols Polly Allen Mellen has died at the age of 100. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Films, News, Photography Bottega Veneta, brands, Business of Fashion, Chanel, Douglas Keeve, films, Hans Feurer, Helmut Newton, John Galliano, Louise Trotter, Matthieu Blazy, news, photography, Polly Mellen, Ron Galella

24 October, 2022

The culture of fashion: Supreme Models docuseries

Lois Samuels for Calvin Klein

Oh, how I’ve loved watching Douglas Keeve’s Supreme Models docuseries on YouTube over the last few weeks. Shown on Vogue’s YT channel, it documents the story of models of colour, from Donyale Luna in the 1960s to Jazzelle Zanaughtti today. And revisits some of my favourites from the past, including Veronica Webb, Sesilee Lopez and Pat Cleveland. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Uncategorized Bethann Hardison, Calvin Klein, Donyale Luna, Douglas Keeve, Lois Samuels, magazines, models, Sesilee Lopez, Veronica Webb, Vogue, Youtube

12 August, 2020

Quote of the day: Douglas Keeve on Unzipped

Unzipped Isaac Mizrahi

“There were all these small designers who were kind of mad geniuses doing what they wanted, and it was about the beauty of [fashion]. And it went from creativity to commerce; now it’s all commerce—it’s all about numbers and [the] bottom line and focus groups. That’s what drives fashion now. It’s different worlds. It’s just different. It doesn’t mean there aren’t great people out there; it means that the business of fashion has superseded the art.” (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Fashion shows, Films, News brands, Business of Fashion, culture of fashion, Douglas Keeve, fashion shows, films, Isaac Mizrahi, quote of the day, Unzipped

23 May, 2008

A Polly Mellen film?

I could have sworn I read somewhere last week that Douglas Keeve (Unzipped) is making a movie about esteemed fashion legend Polly Mellen. But can I find any reference to it online? No I bloody can’t! Either I have false memory syndrome or I am just too ahead of the curve. Anyone able to shed light on this for me?

Update 31/5/08
Ah! I fially found the article in The FT here (go to page 2) by Bronwyn Cosgrave. Of course, spelling Polly Mellen as ‘Polly Mellon’ didn’t help with matters of a Google nature:

“Meanwhile, Douglas Keeve, the documentarist behind Unzipped, the hit 1995 portrait of designer Isaac Mizrahi, as well as Hotel Gramercy Park, which just debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival, is now turning his attention to the “Polly Mellon project.” For two years, Keeve filmed the exuberant former Allure magazine creative director and one-time Diana Vreeland protégé and recorded her phone calls.”