Made in Brazil

Fashion Week In New York Is Over And...

You can always count on Michael Kors to turn up the chic volume, to drive Peta insane, and to cast many Brazilian top models.

You can always count on Mr. Kors to have the hottest male models backstage (watch him talk about his menswear collection).

You can always count on Brazilian Francisco Costa to take Calvin Klein to the next level.

You can never count on Marc Jacobs to start on time, but last Friday he did it.

Is it just me or was the Marchesa collection inspired by Balenciaga?

Brazilian Carlos Miele is still making an effort to be more Oscar de la Renta than Cavalli, and I give him credit for it. The only problem is that he is better at doing a gold digger in a beaded dress with a major side slit than a Park Avenue girl.

Victoria Beckham was a guest judge at the Project Runway runway show. Five remaining contestants presented collections last Friday, but only three of them will air on the two-part season finale on February 27 and March 5. If you are curious about the five collections shown, head over to New York magazine to check them out.

Already a veteran in Brazil, Aline Weber had a strong first season in New York, with bookings at Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, and Calvin Klein. Oh, and did I mention she opened for Jonathan Saunders?

There were great clothes on display, but nothing got me more excited than the Made In Brazil madness at Oscar de la Renta provided by my friend JD Ferguson. Below are two takes with Carol I had not posted before.

Carol has an important message to her Brazilian fans.

Where the f*ck were Evandro and Michael Camiloto? With the recent wave of skinny male models, could they now be considered too buff?

It's Fashion Week In New York And...

Alexandre Herchcovitch scored only mild reviews from Style.com. I liked the collection when I saw it in São Paulo last month, but agree that it never actually took off. If all the cocktail dresses on parade had been paired with outerwear the story could have been different.

Brazilian label Iodice made its New York debut on Monday night, but I have not found reviews for it online yet. Considering the (extremely distasteful) collection I saw in São Paulo last month, it is better off unreviewed.

Raquel opened the Halston show, which looked to me like one of the worst investments Harvey Weinstein ever made. Rachel Zoe is going to have a rough time convincing celebs to wear those dresses.

I am digging Patrick Ervell, especially because of the gold section that closed his rather somber presentation. Unlike so many of the new menswear designers, he does not seem inspired by an indie rocker who has never seen the sun, which is refreshing.

The men's collections confirmed the need for plaid and tartan next fall.

Shorts for fall? Sign me up. I loved everything from Michael Bastian.

Sexy Brazilian Bruno Santos returned to the runways at the Nautica show.

Southern Brazilian Kees Hattem is having his best New York season ever.

Newcomer Daniela Borges has already scored bookings for Narciso Rodriguez, Monique Lhuillier, and DKNY.

For my favorite candid coverage of the New York shows, check out Ford Models TV. My friend Matthew is doing an amazing job.

Now do yourself a favor and read what Cathy Horyn has to say about the shows.

Dear Thom Browne

Flipping through the pictures of your fall 2008 show on men.style.com almost makes me want to wish I were in New York to watch your menswear circus live. As much as I would never be caught dead in a tailored jumpsuit, gaucho pants, in shorts worn with a bolero with tails, or in anything with feathers, I must confess that I have a deep level of appreciation for your sense of humor and for the fact that you just don't f*cking care.

I could never pull off flood pants as well (they do not look right with my proportions), but I can work shorts in the middle of winter, so there is something for me there and I thank you for it. The only thing I still wish is to one day see you wearing one of the outfits from your show walking down the street (and no, it does not have to be the siamese ensemble).

I Just Sh*t My Pants: Brazilian Takeover At Oscar de la Renta

I have just died and gone to supermodel heaven: Raquel, Bruna, Flavia, Isabeli, Caroline Ribeiro, and Caroline Trentini, backstage at the Oscar de la Renta show in New York.

It is going to be pretty hard to top what my friend JD Ferguson accomplished here. I am freaking loving it.

For more backstage pictures of New York Fashion Week, head over to V magazine (and make sure to check out this sexy picture JD took of Parker Gregory and Garrett Neff).

New York Fashion Week Is On

The fall shows at Bryant Park started this morning, and I am using that as an excuse to post yet another picture of David Jensen (the Brazilian model was part of the CFDA/GQ Designer Showcase this week).

Even though I am not in New York, expect some coverage of Brazilian models, designers, and trends. Ale Herchcovitch shows his collection tomorrow at 3pm, Iodice makes its New York debut on Monday night, and Carlos Miele shows on Wednesday at 1pm. And for those Project Runway addicts like myself, the final showdown takes place a week from today at 9am.

A Semana: André Ziehe, Fashion Rio, Santoro, And Gay Rights

Armani Exchange partnered with Tiesto to design a limited edition Remix The Future t-shirt. 100% of the profits from the sales will support Mercy Corps. and its mission to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive communities. Model Andre Ziehe can already be seen in the ad promoting the t-shirt at AX Style Traxx. He is also going to be on the upcoming AX campaign shot in Ibiza with fellow Brazilians Izabel Goulart and Miro Moreira.

Another Brazilian label has conquered a slot on the New York Fashion Week line up: Iódice will present its fall collection in the Big Apple for the first time ever this February.

The line up for Fashion Rio has been unveiled. The shows start on January 8, and the complete schedule is after the jump.

The Golden Globe nominations have been announced today.

Brazilian actress Alice Braga attended the premiere of I Am Legend sandwiched in between Tom Cruise and Will Smith.

Rodrigo Santoro attended a party celebrating the 65 years of chocolate popsicle Chicabom in São Paulo last night.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that he is organizing the first national conference of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transexuals, to be held from May 9th to 11th in 2008. The conference is expected to propose the guidelines for the implementation of public policies and the national plan to promote the citizenship and human rights of LGBT people.

The Brazilian Supreme Court suspended yesterday the law that made sex change operations obligatory by the public health system. According to minister Ellen Gracie Northfleet, from now on each request for a sex change operation will be examined separately in order to cut down government costs. Transexual organizations around the country classified the measure as a violation of civil rights.

Surprisingly, according to Folha Online, 18 out of the 20 most watched movies at For Man, the only gay erotic channel in the country available on cable, had something to do with a transexual theme.

I was sad to read that three establishments in São Paulo requested not to be included in journalist Sérgio Ripardo's new gay guide to the city because they did not want their names associated with any gay media. They were hotels Formula-1, patisserie Ofner, and cafe Santo Grão. From now on, I guarantee you that I will not be spending my money at any of them. Call me silly but I don't want to endorse any establishment that is homophobic.

Speedo Break: Evandro At Michael Kors

Front and back, courtesy of Models.com.

Dear Boys From Heatherette

Not only you had Chanel Iman open your show yesterday, but you also sent out a parade of shirtless boys down the runway (including Mr. White in a swimsuit). Every fashion week needs a moment like that. Thanks.

Backstage At John Bartlett

Just when I was starting to wonder what had happened to John Bartlett this season, I received these pictures from his backstage on my mailbox. I like them so much that I am posting them in large size.

Glad to finally see Leo Peixoto (in a swimsuit). There are more pictures after the jump.

It's Fashion Week In New York And...

Since I am not in the city, my friend Matthew texted me every two minutes from the Marc Jacobs' show last night, during the two hours it took for it to begin. It almost felt as if I were there, watching Marc's parade of sheerness live. If reviews from Style.com mention that the show was about sex, that is probably because Mr. Jacobs is looking better than ever and no longer afraid to step into a more overtly sensual territory. Raquel Zimmermann, Bruna Sottili, Viviane Orth, and Daiane Conterato were in the casting.

Marc's surrealist take on shoes and bags was genious.

Jennifer Lopez managed to sing live (and dance at the same time) at Vogue's Fashion Rocks concert. And she did it well.

Like Thom Browne, Narciso Rodriguez also offered short sleeve (and even sleeveless) jackets for men.

Mr. Herchcovitch scored some good reviews with his more subdued ode to Helmut Newton and the tuxedo jacket.

Brazilian designer Carlos Miele sent out the exact same collection he redesigns every season, but at least some of the tacky elements and hand-embroideries were left out.

Count on Amir Slama with his Rosa Cha to raise the temperature at the tents. It is a shame the collection is no longer shown in Brazil, even though this was my least favorite Rosa Cha show in a long time.

Question: why wasn't Carol Trentini booked for the Rosa Cha show when she is on the new ad campaign?

Proenza Schouler sent out one of my favorite collections so far, with some pretty amazing shoes and gold sequined cocktail dresses. Btw, watch out for gold dresses as they are on every New York runway this season.

Flavia de Oliveira is having her strongest season in New York to date, with bookings at Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and even closing for Badgley Mischka without her heels on.

What did I tell you about Chanel Iman exactly a year ago? A Vogue cover later, and she booked every major show in the city, from Marc to Michael.

Thank Michael Kors for making sure all the Brazilians got a swimsuit entrance (including Evandro Soldati). Thank him also for putting together one of the best and chicest collections seen in the city.

Thank Diane Von Furstenberg for having Samira open and close her show. The girl has one of the best Naomi walks I have seen in a while.

Thank Models.com for backstage pictures like the ones below.

Eat Your Heart Out (Fashion Week Edition)

Needless to say, this picture of model Evandro Soldati made my weekend.

Thanks to photographer JD Ferguson and V mag.

Dear Mr. Thom Browne

We go through this every season, and yet you keep on amusing me. I though you had gone too far in the past, but I was obviously wrong, and I only wish I could have attended your spring show in person to be delighted by the sight of men in short sleeve blazers, jackets and trousers with rose appliques, tailored hotpants, and shrunken v-neck sweaters. I could easily get into the crotch pieces on the pants which opened the show, but a picture is worth a thousand words in this case.

As feminine and slightly appropriate to a 5-year-old gay boy from Nantucket as the whole thing was, I actually like that the surfer trend from Milan made its way to your runway. The surfer shorts in madras plaids are the first Thom Browne items I may be able to wear next spring. As for your venture into swimwear, leave it to the Brazilians or the Italians.

Gratuitous Evandro Moment

At the Rag & Bone spring 2008 show yesterday in New York.

Backstage At Perry Ellis

The shows at the tents at Bryant Park have just started, and Made In Brazil already has some backstage shots of models Andre Ziehe and Michael Camiloto at Perry Ellis.

Pictures courtesy of JD Ferguson and V Magazine. More after the jump.