New York City has an incomparable mix of cultures, people, and traditions. It is a city that never sleeps. If somebody claims that everything happens in New York City, virtually no one will dispute it. Thus, your plans to visit New York City should not just be about touring and hopping from one subway station to another. Your vacation plans should also include seeing some of the most popular New York City Events.

The New York Film Festival

Film fanatics are a dime a dozen but great films are rare. The world’s greatest films are showcased and honored during the New York Film ...continue reading]]> New York City has an incomparable mix of cultures, people, and traditions. It is a city that never sleeps. If somebody claims that everything happens in New York City, virtually no one will dispute it. Thus, your plans to visit New York City should not just be about touring and hopping from one subway station to another. Your vacation plans should also include seeing some of the most popular New York City Events.

The New York Film Festival

Film fanatics are a dime a dozen but great films are rare. The world’s greatest films are showcased and honored during the New York Film Festival in October. It is one of the New York City events that are anticipated by the whole world. To see this event, you must obtain tickets months ahead.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is one of the New York City events that are broadcasted on national television. Reputed to be Broadway’s longest running show, the parade features famous blown up balloons of Disney characters and intricately designed huge floats that carry singers, dancers, and film stars. It is free to see this event but you need to come in early because of the big crowd that this New York City event draws every year.

Cinema Village

If you are looking for New York City events that feature foreign films and films produced by independent filmmakers, the place to go is the Cinema Village. Located at 22 East 12th Street, this building features films that will never be shown anywhere else. So what’s so special about the Cinema Village? You need to attend an event during opening weekends so you will also meet and get to talk to film directors.

The New York Philharmonic Concert

The New York Philharmonic orchestra provides the world’s best musical performances. This is why the concerts are one of the most sought-after New York City events. The orchestra usually performs from September to June at the Avery Fisher Hall located in the Lincoln Center. If your family could not manage to get concert tickets, it is a good idea to visit the Big Apple during summer, when this world-class orchestra plays for free at different parks around New York.

The Nutcracker

No other performing group can produce a more memorable version of The Nutcracker than the New York City Ballet. Considered as one of the most anticipated and most popular New York City events during the holidays, the Nutcracker can be seen at the New York State Theater at 155 West 65th Street. Tickets are often sold out so make plans to buy these several weeks ahead. For actual performance dates, see the official website of the New York City Ballet.

The Carnegie Hall Concerts

Located at 881 Seventh Avenue, the Carnegie Hall hosts the world’s most incredible musical performances. The concerts primarily feature classical music and feature international musicians. A musician who gets invited to play at the Carnegie Hall is recognized as one of the most successful ones. If you wanted to experience classical music at its best, see one of the concerts at the Carnegie Hall.

Have you ever been on vacation and realized, as you are going home, that you haven’t really seen the most important tourist attractions? This type of experience will most likely happen during your New York City vacation.

The Big Apple simply has too many attractions and events. To experience them all, you might need to come back again and again. But during your first short visit, here are six New York City attractions that you must include in your itinerary. Even if you missed other New York City attractions, visiting these six places means that you’ve made it here.

The Statue of ...continue reading]]> Have you ever been on vacation and realized, as you are going home, that you haven’t really seen the most important tourist attractions? This type of experience will most likely happen during your New York City vacation.

The Big Apple simply has too many attractions and events. To experience them all, you might need to come back again and again. But during your first short visit, here are six New York City attractions that you must include in your itinerary. Even if you missed other New York City attractions, visiting these six places means that you’ve made it here.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is the ultimate New York City attraction. This 305.5-feet monument embodies the love for freedom shared by the United States and France.

Designed by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculpture was finished in June 1884. A year later, crates that contained the pieces of the statue started arriving in the US. Then, with the leadership of chief engineer General Charles P. Stone, the statue was put together and finally unveiled on October 28, 1886. Today, tourists need to ride a ferry to reach Liberty Island and must conquer 154 steps from the pedestal to reach the head and get a unique view of the city.

The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is probably the most romantic of all New York City attractions, thanks to the popularity of the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Similar to many New York City attractions, the Empire State Building provides a panoramic view of the city. But only the Empire State Building offers an unforgettable scene of New York City at night.

World Trade Center Site

The World Trade Center, before the terrorist attacks, was simply the site of the Twin Towers, two of the tallest buildings in the world. After September 11, it became “Ground Zero.” The Twin Towers and five other buildings were destroyed. Today, it is has become a symbol of a free civilization’s quest for equality and freedom – including the freedom of fear. It is also a symbol of hope and healing.

American Museum of Natural History

Located on Central Park West at 79th Street, the American Museum of Natural History is the city’s center for scientific research and education. Several exhibits change, depending on the organization’s chosen themes, but the permanent ones include dioramas of wildlife habitats, fossil halls featuring dinosaurs, a meteorite collection, and the life-size model of a 94-foot-long blue whale.

Rockefeller Plaza

Located at 630 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Plaza is the leading entertainment hub of all New York City attractions. Every year, a gigantic Christmas Tree is ceremoniously lit. There is a Skating Rink that allows everyone to skate or learn to skate all year-round. And lastly, there are hundreds of shops, restaurants and architectural landmarks.

Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central is one of the most iconic New York City attractions. Located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, it is considered as the busiest train stations. But beyond the bustle of trains coming and going, the Grand Central also showcases the artistic prowess of sculptors. Don’t forget to look up the vaulted ceiling and find your zodiac sign.

NYC yellow taxi cabs.

Fortunately, there are several methods of getting around New York City. There are buses, taxis, and the world famous subway. Tourists may want to consider renting their own car but for very short distances, walking is highly recommended.

Here are several important tips to remember when you use any of these methods.

New York City Travel On ...continue reading]]>

NYC yellow taxi cabs.

Fortunately, there are several methods of getting around New York City. There are buses, taxis, and the world famous subway. Tourists may want to consider renting their own car but for very short distances, walking is highly recommended.

Here are several important tips to remember when you use any of these methods.

New York City Travel On Foot

If you are not ready to walk for more than a couple of blocks, then your New York City travel plans need to be changed. Walking is inevitable in New York City. Even when you ride in subway trains or buses, you will still need to walk a few more blocks to get to your ultimate destination. Happily, you will be walking with many other New Yorkers and the sidewalks are paved and wide.

To stay safe, especially in crossing streets is to look both ways, even when it is a one-way street. Chances are, you will find one or two bicyclists who will not obey traffic rules.

New York City Subway

The most popular mode of transportation in New York City is the subway train. It charges the virtually same right at all destinations. For New York City travels with tight budgets, the subway is the most affordable way in getting around the city.

The one thing to remember is to have a MetroCard with enough credit. Metrocards can be conveniently purchased from token booths and vending machines and you can use a credit card. You could enjoy discounts if you would buy Metrocard’s One-Day Fun Pass and the Seven-Day or 14-Day Unlimited Pass.

When using the subway, it is also important to pay attention to the letters and numbers of the subway line. A good guide is the free subway map available at token booths.

New York City Travel By Car

With New York’s traffic, getting your own rental car may not make sense at all. But if you must have your own car, the first thing to remember is that New York City’s traffic rules about right turns are different.

Right turn on red is generally not allowed. Private cars must give way to fire engines, police cars, and public transportation. With expensive rates, it is not recommended to drive a rental car in New York City.

Buses and Taxis

When riding a bus, it is important to have an exact amount for the fare because the bus drivers will not give you change. In fact, many bus passengers prefer to use MetroCards. To choose the right bus, remember the letters and numbers. The letters indicate the borough while the numbers indicate the street. Therefore, the M72 bus operates in Manhattan on 72nd street.

When riding in a taxi, you should look for yellow cars with a medallion on the hood. Hail only taxis that have lit taxi numbers, which indicates that the driver is on-duty. Make sure that there is a special taxi license plate, stickers on the windshield, and a divider inside.

If you plan on using your credit card, ask first if the taxi’s credit card machine is working. Fare information can be found at the NYC.gov website but remember that passengers must pay all toll fees and there is a rush hour (4-8 PM) surcharge of $1 and a night surcharge of $0.50. Tips are between 10-20%.

Fashion Week Tents at Bryant Park

It has been rumored that organizers of New York fashion week are going to announce that next year, Fashion Week will be moving from Bryant Park (where Fashion Week has been held for the last 15 years) to Lincoln Center.

Apparently, park management has been complaining for years about the invitation-only shows had grown too large and were restricting access to the park. Although Fashion Week was welcomed in 1993, when it started, there have been many clashes between Fashion Week organizers and the park’s management company.

The problems escalated in 2006 when the Bryant Park Corporation ...continue reading]]>

Fashion Week Tents at Bryant Park

It has been rumored that organizers of New York fashion week are going to announce that next year, Fashion Week will be moving from Bryant Park (where Fashion Week has been held for the last 15 years) to Lincoln Center.

Apparently, park management has been complaining for years about the invitation-only shows had grown too large and were restricting access to the park. Although Fashion Week was welcomed in 1993, when it started, there have been many clashes between Fashion Week organizers and the park’s management company.

The problems escalated in 2006 when the Bryant Park Corporation announced it would no longer allow the shows to take place in the park because the shows were interfering with plans to operate a skating rink in the winter and public use of the main lawn in the summer. Designers and editors (including Anna Wintour) then begged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to intervene and allow them to hold the shows there, at least temporarily.

Plans for the move to Lincoln Center are not finalized however, as we do not know if they plan to have tents in Lincoln Center as well. One such proposed idea was to put tents on either side of the theatre, with a corridor between them. However, that corridor means that guests might have to walk about a block between each show.

About 63 designers are expected to present their fall 2009 collections in the park starting on Feb. 13, although hundreds of other shows are scheduled at galleries and event spaces around Manhattan. The event generates $466 million in visitor spending each year, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Lacoste at fashion week 2010

Peter Som Peter Som was once a cocktail and evening man, but if the last three collections are any indication, the designer is hell-bent on becoming a day dresser. The term “quirky,” though overused, is an apt way to describe Fall, which is governed by a mish-mash of brights and prints and textures and sparkles and even fur. It’s a complicated look, even for Margot Tenenbaum. But daring sophisticates are sure to love the neon furs, floor-grazing chiffon skirts and slim-fit cardigans, which are best worn belted. But this is one designer who can really cut ...continue reading]]>

Lacoste at fashion week 2010

Peter Som
Peter Som was once a cocktail and evening man, but if the last three collections are any indication, the designer is hell-bent on becoming a day dresser. The term “quirky,” though overused, is an apt way to describe Fall, which is governed by a mish-mash of brights and prints and textures and sparkles and even fur. It’s a complicated look, even for Margot Tenenbaum. But daring sophisticates are sure to love the neon furs, floor-grazing chiffon skirts and slim-fit cardigans, which are best worn belted. But this is one designer who can really cut a dress–not to mention the wonders he can work with a gown–and the social darlings he dresses could potentially be left in a lurch.

Vivienne Tam
This collection, themed The Year of the Tiger, featured extremely detailed pieces all inspired by animals from the Chinese Zodiac. ‘Snake’ prints, ‘Rooster Feather’ sequins and even a ‘Rat’ appliqué were invoked. Intricate patterns were visible on every pair of lace tights under the garments and hand folded, red origami animals served as pendants on select pieces. Models with clean makeup strutted inside a jam-packed Mercer Street gallery, where the looks ranged from feathered dresses to the strapless origami Tiger finale.

Karen Walker
Bob Dylan meets the Von Trapp family was Karen Walker’s focal point for her Spring collection, appropriately titled “Salzburg, USA.” And though you may have trouble picturing Dylan in lederhosen made from window dressing, Walker pulled off a collection perfect for her quirky-cool customer. On the Sound of Music front? Chunky knits, uniform-esque skirt and short suits, and a series of prints based on the aforementioned curtains. Tying in the Bob Dylan were not only a new slew of sunglasses for Walker’s successful eyewear line, but skinny suits and boyish tailoring. Neither inspiration, luckily, was taken too literally, party frocks and a slew of great coats (often with plush oversized sheepskin scarves and trim) made for a collection of separates that will work whether you’re in Austria or America.

Diane von Furstenberg indulged her masculine side, honing in on menswear elements and revamping the silhouettes so that they flirted with androgyny but ultimately arrived at femininity. Blazers, cardigans and trousers championed unfussy comfort, while rows of ruffles, feather knit sweaters, and lamé jacquard dresses all underscored the strength found in pretty. The classic wrap dress was updated in a jersey butterfly print; the nature theme was referenced again with a beetle-emblazoned satin dress. “This collection is titled ‘Metamorphosis,’” the designer explained. ”The shapes are based on a man’s wardrobe, but the femininity is seen in high heels and then beautiful chiffon and feathers.” The fusion of elegance and “manliness” realized von Furstenberg’s objective, which she cited as, “living a man’s life in a woman’s body.”

Thakoon
Thakoon Panichgul delivered a buffet of designs rooted in the rawness of nature. The designer favored a sooty palette, and gray rumpled velvet jackets and black silk and twisted yarn pullovers injected the collection with an edgy energy. Pops of yellow chiffon felt airy and weightless against the denser fabrics and hues. Pom poms punctuated the fanciful nature that Panchigul cited as integral to his collection. Inspired by an image of a half-shaven sheep, Panchigul saw the beauty it what many would have written off as alarming. “There was something quite beautiful about that image, and it captured everything that I wanted in my collection,” he explained. “It was raw, primitive and soft all at once.”

Alexander Wang
How do you know if you matter in the fashion world? By whether you were at Alexander Wang’s runway show obviously. Opting for a celebrity-free front row, Wang packed the house with It-girls and every high-profile editor and buyer a young designer could dream of. Everyone else was forced to watch the show live-streamed on SHOWstudio or broadcast in Times Square.

Wang delivered to his powerhouse audience a reinterpretation of the suit he refers to as “Berlin schoolboy meets velvet du jour.” And by reinterpretation we mean completely ripping a suit to shreds and putting it back together in the subversively hip way only Alexander Wang could. Many of the suits, if you could call them that after they were given the Wang treatment, were cut to reveal stomachs and backs and short enough to show skin above thigh-high legwarmers.

Beyond the suiting, there hasn’t been this much velvet and chenille in a collection since the 90s—crop tops, skirts, jackets, wraps, leggings—but if anyone could bring it back it would be Alexander Wang and his horde of loyal followers. And no Wang collection is complete without a few perfect party dresses, which closed the show. A few girls looked ready to snatch a Grecian-inspired, asymmetrical gold jersey mini straight off the runway.

Lacoste
The color kings at Lacoste once again showed they could color block with the best. Dubbed ‘Sportswear Stretched,’ the collection was another step in bridging the gap between sportswear company and fashion heavy-hitter. The front end of the collection showed off pieces from the brand’s Club line which was primarily neutrals in order to let the form do the talking. Then the crowd got the vibrant sport-inspired pieces they were accustomed to. Few of the women’s looks were without ‘longjohn leggings’ which extended over the better part of the models’ shoes. Designer Christophe Lemaire described the leggings as his answer to sweatpants. Sportswear Stretched was about stretching form, and stretching a brand toward a new realm.

source: http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/the-fix/article/runway-reviews-lacoste

A model walks wearing Vera Wang

Vera Wang Dark was light and airy at Vera Wang’s runway show as the designer celebrated the midnight hour. The collection was an exploration of black as more than just a color, but rather its inherent texture, volume, composition and sensibility. Wang illustrated a dark romance, roughing up her scalloped organza and wool crepe gown with a slight, disheveled touch. Jet black tulle and feathers felt playful, while long gloves and bold, detailed shoulders were sophisticated and powerful. While glamorous to the end, Wang did tone down the opulence, opting for black twill jackets and ...continue reading]]>

A model walks wearing Vera Wang

Vera Wang
Dark was light and airy at Vera Wang’s runway show as the designer celebrated the midnight hour. The collection was an exploration of black as more than just a color, but rather its inherent texture, volume, composition and sensibility. Wang illustrated a dark romance, roughing up her scalloped organza and wool crepe gown with a slight, disheveled touch. Jet black tulle and feathers felt playful, while long gloves and bold, detailed shoulders were sophisticated and powerful. While glamorous to the end, Wang did tone down the opulence, opting for black twill jackets and baggy trousers. Clean lines, blazers and wool pants never once felt over-masculine, but rather echoed Wang’s signature super feminine style. Rows of pearls messily tossed on grounded the looks, illustrating Wang’s delicate film noir.

Max Azria
Max and Lubov Azria focused on minimalism last season, and they have done it again–this time delivering a subtle, quiet collection characteristic of gentle beauty. The thirty-six looks were darkly sophisticated, and aubergine and beige hues injected movement into the much more simplistic, toned down designs. A taupe wool boucle coat paired with a taupe silk dress was seemingly simple in its structure, but very bold, all at once. Azria described that the goal was to highlight a woman’s strength and sensuality, while taking pains to create garments that are utterly unfussy. Azria noted, “It is a minimalist collection and it’s less formal. In that sense, it’s very architectural and it makes a woman extremely strong, sexy, and ready to go anywhere.”

Rodarte
“We wanted the girls to look like they were walking on the moon,” said Kate Mulleavy after the dramatic, black-lit finale of the brand’s Fall 2010 effort at Gagosian. In the process, they’ve send their captive audience over the moon with a masterful and euphoric display. Like Marc Jacobs this season, the CFDA winning sisters ignored the seasonal palette clichés and instead illustrated their ‘sleepwalking’ theme with sensuous whites, personality-driven florals, and intricate knits. The Fall Rodarte was all about imaginative draping, haunted pearl details, and airy fabrics. But more importantly, this collection served as almost a polar opposite to the duo’s last line and evoked a completely contrasting–but very enticing–set of emotions.

Narciso Rodriguez
Once again Narciso Rodriguez honed in on the importance of detail and clean, soft lines, resulting in a collection that was effortlessly sexy. Black and charcoal gray spherical hats sliced and diced the separates, giving the designs a distinctly geometric feel. Cut-outs and shoulder detailing were delicate, while charcoals, steely grays and pewter hues were the perfect backdrop for shots of gold and emerald. Body-wrapping details and asymmetry provide injected the eveningwear with movement–and promised to flatter the figure. Rodriguez knows just how to reveal, without ever disclosing too much. His successful cocktail of crisp, clean silhouettes, luxurious silk fabrics and surprise detailing hit all the right notes.

Marc by Marc Jacobs
Marc by Marc Jacobs gave his military-themed collection a thrifty and youthful spin for Fall 2010. Combat khaki twill coats and belted army red jackets were made charming and child-like with mid-calf dress socks, patent leather oxfords, striped nubby knits, and over-the-shoulder bags appropriate for platoons and pep squads alike. If you’re looking for something a bit more feminine, hone in on the Bronte lace blouse with high-waisted wool trousers, the balsam gilded numbers, or any of the ultra-girly A-line little black dresses.

Donna Karan
For her 25th anniversary show, Donna Karan emphasized the bare basics (black, that is) and told her quarter-century story through powerful, architecturally-inspired pieces created out of wool organza, tweed, and opulent shearlings. The lack of color was a surprising creative choice for such a significant show, but dramatic gowns with spiral-cut layers and sculpted jackets are certain to satisfy her core costumer’s cravings. It felt like a confident and assured master display, though seldom colorful numbers (like Sasha’s magenta showstopper) had us itching for more.

Badgley Mischka
Mark Badgley and James Mischka truly outdid themselves this year by putting on two runway shows in one. First, 15 Badgley Mischka looks culminating in the traditional wedding gown followed by twice that number of looks from contemporary line Mark & James. The gown line delivered exactly what Badgley Mischka is known for—high wattage eveningwear. Several show-stopping pieces were covered top-to-bottom in sparkle with a subtle ombre effect. The contemporary line was not without its own brand of glamour. Fur, metallic fabrics, beading and glittery trim made it clear this was not intended to be your average grocery-shopping attire. But for designers all about outrageously over-the-top glamour, they exercised ample restraint to make the contemporary line wearable yet special enough to treasure.

Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham greeted each guest attending the intimate showings of her new collection personally, discussing the fabric, concept, color, fit and construction of each piece. Inspired by Dick Tracy and the film noir femme fatale, Beckham’s pieces mixed structure with draping, achieving a series of elegant silhouettes for both day and evening. The models sported round sunglasses from the recently-relaunched Victoria Beckham eyewear collection. Red, black, and white platforms produced in collaboration with Brian Atwood were striking as well, mostly for their skyscraper height.

source: http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/the-fix?page=3

Models walk for Haiti

(NEW YORK) As Fashion Week rolls on, so do the efforts to support the people of Haiti. Last night, the tents were buzzing with excitement and anticipation, as it was clear that Naomi Campbell was in the house. The super’s massive charity fashion show, Fashion for Relief, promised to feature a slew of chicsters in designs which will all be auctioned off at Net-A-Porter beginning March 15th. Campbell spearheaded the show, as friends and supporters including fellow models, fashion designers, actors and musicians stomped down the runway in designer looks put together by Rachel Zoe.

Agyness Deyn ...continue reading]]>

Models walk for Haiti

(NEW YORK) As Fashion Week rolls on, so do the efforts to support the people of Haiti. Last night, the tents were buzzing with excitement and anticipation, as it was clear that Naomi Campbell was in the house. The super’s massive charity fashion show, Fashion for Relief, promised to feature a slew of chicsters in designs which will all be auctioned off at Net-A-Porter beginning March 15th. Campbell spearheaded the show, as friends and supporters including fellow models, fashion designers, actors and musicians stomped down the runway in designer looks put together by Rachel Zoe.

Agyness Deyn must have been having a major wardrobe malfunction in the shoe department though—the seasoned model took not one but two spills on the runway. Other famous catwalkers faired a bit better. Donna Karan and Diane Von Furstenberg took to the runway with ease, as well as Karen Elson, Helena Christensen, Tanya Dziahileva, Selita Ebanks, Chris Brown, Alan Cumming, Lorenzo Martone, Kelly Osbourne, and Estelle. Runway tumbles and all, the night was a smashing success. “Naomi did a fantastic job!” raved Georgina Chapman. “We’re all so thrilled to be here and support her and efforts for help in Haiti. It’s really amazing.”

Source: http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/scene/article/heart-for-haiti

Designer Alexander McQueen, RIP

The associate press reports:

LONDON – A bereaved Alexander McQueen left a note, then hanged himself in his apartment on the eve of his mother’s funeral, a coroner’s inquest said Wednesday, giving the cause of the fashion designer’s death as asphyxiation and hanging.

The inquest has yet to formally deliver a ruling of suicide, but police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Coroner’s official Lynda Martindill told the inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court that the body of 40-year-old McQueen was found in an armoire at his London apartment on Thursday. In the dispassionate language of the inquest, she referred to ...continue reading]]>

Designer Alexander McQueen, RIP

The associate press reports:

LONDON – A bereaved Alexander McQueen left a note, then hanged himself in his apartment on the eve of his mother’s funeral, a coroner’s inquest said Wednesday, giving the cause of the fashion designer’s death as asphyxiation and hanging.

The inquest has yet to formally deliver a ruling of suicide, but police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Coroner’s official Lynda Martindill told the inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court that the body of 40-year-old McQueen was found in an armoire at his London apartment on Thursday. In the dispassionate language of the inquest, she referred to him as “a single man, a fashion designer.”

Days before he died, McQueen had left several messages on the social networking site Twitter revealing his grief at his mother’s recent death.

Police detective inspector Paul Armstrong told the inquest there were no suspicious circumstances. He gave the note found at the scene to coroner Paul Knapman but did not disclose its contents.

After a five-minute hearing, the coroner adjourned the inquest until April 28. Full details of the autopsy also will be available in a few months.

McQueen’s family, who are now free to hold the designer’s funeral, issued a statement through their lawyers appealing to the media to respect their privacy following their “grievous double loss.”

They have not released details of the funeral.

In Britain, inquests are held whenever someone dies violently or in unexplained circumstances.

McQueen’s death has cast a shadow over London Fashion Week, which opens on Friday. A spokeswoman said the event would feature a tribute to the designer, whose attention-grabbing designs helped re-energize British fashion after a fallow period following the punk explosion in the 1970s.

“There will be something simple and tasteful,” she said. “The time for memorials will be later in the year.”

She spoke on condition of anonymity because organizers are waiting for McQueen’s family to approve the tribute.

Known for his dramatic statement pieces and impeccable tailoring, McQueen dressed celebrities from Cameron Diaz to Lady Gaga and influenced a generation of designers.

He was named British Designer of the Year four times and awarded the title of CBE — Commander of the Order of the British Empire — by Queen Elizabeth II.

Unlike many fashionistas, he came from a working-class background. The son of a cab driver, McQueen grew up on a public housing estate in London’s East End, left school at 16 and entered the fashion world the old-fashioned way, as a teenage apprentice to a Saville Row tailor. He later studied at Central St. Martin’s art college in London and was discovered by fashion guru Isabella Blow, who bought his entire graduation collection. She became a friend and mentor; her suicide three years ago shook the designer, who wept openly at her funeral.

McQueen was a private man who avoided the limelight, but his Twitter postings show emotional turmoil after his mother’s death on Feb. 2. McQueen had posted messages four days before his death about his “awful week,” and said he had to “somehow pull myself together and finish.”

His mother’s funeral was held the day after McQueen died.

Friends also said he might have felt under pressure to outdo himself at the unveiling of his new collection in Paris next month.

“I don’t think success was easy for him,” friend Plum Sykes wrote in the Sunday Telegraph this week. “He told me he was driven by his insecurities, and he believed that all successful people were.”

McQueen became chief designer at the Givenchy house in 1996, but was best known for his own label, in which Gucci bought a majority stake in 2001. McQueen retained creative control, and became famous for his dramatic and often uncategorizable creations: sculptural cocktail dresses in psychedelic patterns; headwear made of trash; 10-inch (25 centimeter) heels shaped like lobster claws.

His shows were highly theatrical events, incorporating film and historical references and innovative technology — including, at one memorable 2006 show, an appearance by Kate Moss in hologram form.

His outrageous pieces never sold in great numbers, but he became one of fashion’s best-known brands. He designed the outfit Janet Jackson was wearing when she had her breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Outrageous chanteuse Lady Gaga — dressed in a lacy white ensemble and towering Marie Antoinette-esque wig — paid tribute to McQueen at the Brit music awards on Tuesday. “Thank you to Lee McQueen,” she said after winning one of three prizes, using the designer’s given name.

Onstage she performed a somber tribute song beside a mannequin wearing those signature lobster-claw shoes.

In an era where politicians happily take bribe money from special interests in the form of campaign contributions (or in the form of bribes) and in an era where no media source, mainstream or otherwise, can be trusted more than any blog on the internet, there is a serious need for serious people to get serious about where they get their news.

In a world where facts have been put aside in the interest of being the first to break a story or where career journalists sacrifice major stories because their employer won’t run them or because it ...continue reading]]>

In an era where politicians happily take bribe money from special interests in the form of campaign contributions (or in the form of bribes) and in an era where no media source, mainstream or otherwise, can be trusted more than any blog on the internet, there is a serious need for serious people to get serious about where they get their news.

In a world where facts have been put aside in the interest of being the first to break a story or where career journalists sacrifice major stories because their employer won’t run them or because it will prevent them from getting an exclusive interview with the subject in question later on, you need to be able to be sure that the news source isn’t as corrupt as the politicians they report on.

Here is a list of places where you should be getting your news:

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Is the premiere source of news for anyone that is tired of watching or listening to morning news shows (which are the most awful form of “entertainment” ever devised). Hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, the show is available online as soon as it airs and is simulcast across television stations and radio stations all around America. Check it out for yourself at DemocracyNow.org. Highly recommended.

The Gothamist

For your New York City news, you need not go farther than The Gothamist, an independent newspaper that covers the greater New York City area. The website finds the most important news in other sources and does their own stories as well, check it out at Gothamist.com.

BBC/PBS

For television news, forget for-profit news channels and overpaid anchors, BBC and PBS are publicly funded (unlike PBS, however, BBC does not need government funds to survive) and do not need to go with the “juicy” stories like John Edwards and Paris Hilton to boost ratings. The journalists employed at these stations are true pros and really cover the news well.

PBS is available on every TV set in America, be sure to check out News Hour with Jim Lehrer nightly but even more importantly: check out Frontline, the best documentary series on television bar none, as well as Bill Moyer’s Journal and Charlie Rose. You can see past shows at PBS.org.

BBC is available on most cable and satellite television packages as well as on their website at BBC.co.uk.

Another underrated news source is Al-Jazeera English. The station got a bad rep because its Arab world counterpart was linked to terrorists even though they were just covering terrorism in their coverage. The English version is based out of Britain and does a great job of covering the stories no one else will. I’m not sure if it is available on cable and satellite packages here in the US but you can check it out at http://english.aljazeera.net/.

The Daily Show

For a fake news show, it certainly covers the facts of the story much better than anyone else in the mainstream media. While under no circumstances should Jon Stewart be your main source of the news, the show does great interviews and a great job of weeding out the B.S. From the actual story. The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central and all episodes available at TheDailyShow.com.

Also, don’t forget to check out Real Time with Bill Maher, Fridays on HBO.

ProPublica
An organization focused only on in-depth investigative reporting, they do a phenomenal job and their stories end up in major newspapers all across America: check them out at ProPublica.org.

Top Journalists

There are a lot of top journalists who do phenomenal work that aren’t in the mainstream media. Here is a list of journalists whose stories you need to be following:

Seymour Hersh, The New Yorker: He has been a top investigative journalist for decades and is the man who broke the My Lai Massacre story. He has a ton of insider sources within the Pentagon and the government and The New Yorker has one of the strictest fact-checking policies in the business. You can take a look at his previous work here.

Greg Palast, BBC/Freelance: Palast writes for all sorts of publications and does reports for the BBC. He does an amazing job of getting his hands on documents and sources that no one else can or seems to try to. You can follow all of his reports at his website, GregPalast.com. Don’t forget to donate!

Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone Magazine/Web: The Rolling Stone has a rich tradition following big stories going all the way back to Hunter Thompson. The best part of the magazine and Taibbi is that they don’t pull any punches when it comes to sorting out the truth. Check Matt’s work out here.