TREND I-SPY

According to Vanity Fair , Elizabeth Taylor took her first and only trip to Iran in 1976 with the photographer Firooz Zahedi in tow. The trip resulted in a series of captivating, exotically colorful pictures. In the photograph above, Taylor donned an ensemble that Zahedi says is typical of those worn by tribal women. the actress added coordinating hot-pink lipstick.  Elizabeth Taylor takes a tourist’s snapshot in Persepolis. The actress beams upward at the sunlight in the city of Shiraz at the tomb of Hafez, the controversial 14th-century poet.  Taylor appears covered outside the Shah Chirag Shrine in Shiraz, top left, in this assemblage of four black-and-white photos.  A close-up outside the Shah Chirag Shrine. “Note that there is a man and a woman entering the mosque together,” Zahedi says of the photo. “[That is] no longer possible under the Islamic regime—women have to enter through a separate door and sit in a separate section.”  

Proenza Schouler As the Pre- Fall shows for 2012 continue a new KEY ITEM emerges, the matching two piece suit, often with a boxy jacket and short skirt or skinny pant.  Diane von Furstenberg Oscar de la Renta Pringle of Scotland Reed Krakoff Carolina Herrera

As I've often said, I am rather obsessed with head coverings . I found this wonderful editorial story from the Carine Roitfeld-era of February 2010 French Vogue. Vogue-À-Porter was shot in Morocco by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.  Another great fashion editorial featuring headscarves.   On the new reality TV show, All American Muslim , which follows the lives of Islamic families living in Deerborn, Michigan, three sisters have different opinions about the necessity of wearing the hajib.  On a recent trip to Dubai another reality star, Kim Kardashian tried on the traditional Muslim garb!

I just visited the Brooklyn Museum's current show, Youth and Beauty: Art of the American Twenties and was struck by one of the paintings on display, Dressing Room by Walt Kuhn (see below), so I did some research and here is what I found.  According to art blog, Tartuffe's Folly ,  Walt Kuhn (1877–1949) was an American painter  best known for his poignant and slightly eerie portraits of circus and vaudeville performers, reminiscent of the commedia dell'arte actor portraits once popularized by the French masters. The magic and intrigue of the circus fueled his imagination and directed his career.  His figures and use of color are so wonderfully bold and brash, imagine the impact they would have had on early twentieth century audiences.  Kuhn was also one of the principal organizers of the landmark  Armory Show   of 1913, which introduced the American public to avant-garde European art and helped change the course of

Recently I've been obsessed with the Middle East and with the style of Muslim women who manage to be stylish and yet "sharia-compliant." Although this editorial story from Marie-Claire was staged, it was set in Dubai and the models were all of Middle Eastern or Asian descent.  The juxtaposition between the black abayas and head coverings with the exotic beauty of the models and their luxurious accessories is remarkable. Even though the shoot was back in 2006 it looks completely current and relevant. Models: Narsis, originally from Iran, Navine Khalil from Lebanon, Jenai Kavarana born in Mumbai and half-Palestinian, half-Armenian Samar Breitem from Dubai Photographer: Neil Kirk, Fashion editor: Eric Nicholson.  Originally published in US Marie Claire December 2006