The September Issue: The Salvation of Anna Wintour?

‘The September Issue’ is the highly anticipated documentary movie that takes a look behind the scene of Vogue magazine and its infamous Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. The documentary chronicles the events leading up to the September 2007 issue of Vogue, September being the beginning of the fashion year. Accurately and interestingly depicted in the trailer below, not only does The September Issue gives Vogue readers and fashionistas alike the unique opportunity to see the inner workings of the popular publication, but more importantly it gives them the chance to watch the magnificence that is Anna Wintour beyond perceptions of her behavior depicted in movies such as The Devil Wears Prada.

Directed by R.J. Cutler and recipient of the Excellence in Cinematography Award for a US Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008, the film takes us behind the scene of fashion weeks, on photo shoots, and in the most sacred of closed door meetings at Vogue.  Being slated as the real The Devil Wears Prada, the movie shows us exactly why Anna Wintour is “like Madonna” as designer Thakoon Panichgul says in the trailer with obvious reverence.

With appearances by Anna’s colleagues Andre Leon Talley, and super stylist Grace Coddington The September Issue is loaded with designers, models, and clothes that would put a tear in any fashionistas eyes.  R.J. Cutler hit the nail on the head with this one ladies, he offers us a privileged peek into a world many dream of but rarely ever see. I for one, can’t wait!

We tipped you off to the Dust La Rock event last week and we hope you didn’t decide to Netflix instead….because this event was off the meat rack!

After a fast-moving line at the Christopher Henry Gallery on Elizabeth Street, we checked out the first floor of Dust La Rock’s “Best of the Beast” (BOTB) exhibit and were greeted with some cold Red Stripes. Good way to butter us up. The night got exponentially better from there, because by the second floor the art got pretty boss.

Continue the read to see more of Dust La Rock’s work and some of the par-tay people!
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Here at M.I.S.S., we love to shake our bootys, so in honor of International Dance Day we’re showing you some of our favorite dances EVA. Much love goes out to Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Ballet companies worldwide, Gregory Hines, Bob Fosse, and Fred & Ginger. And, we can’t forget some of the ground breaking music videos that created dance crazes like Madonna’s Vogue, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation, Kid ‘n Play’s House Party Dance-Off, MC Hammer’s U Can’t Touch This, the Macarena and Digital Underground’s The Humpty Dance.  Oh, one more, I had to add the best dance scene from a movie ever made - the last scene of Girls Just Want To Have Fun (SJP waaaay before SATC)! Comment and let us know what your favorite dance / dance music video is!!

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Illustrator Share Harrison posted a great feature on Fiorucci and it’s amazing promo posters and postcards. For those not familiar with the name, Fiorucci is an Italian fashion label founded by Elio Fiorucci in 1967.

In the late ’70s, the name became synonymous with the FABULOUS new-wave boutique opened on 59th Street in Manhattan. From 1976-1984, it was known as the “daytime Studio 54.”

Picture this: It was the go-to place for Madonna’s rubber bracelets, Andy Warhol launched Interview Magazine with an event there and Klaus Nomi performed in the store window. BUH-NANAS!

Check out the rest of the feature on Shane’s Blog!

I grew up in a pan-Africanist house listening to Arabic and African music, and naturally music from the West Indies… As a result, my music is as different as my upbringing; it’s unique and I’ll continue to make music that can’t fit into a box because I can’t fit into a box. -Empire Isis

Empire Isis is a Canadian self-proclaimed gangtress of British and Moroccan descent. Truly a woman of the world, she grew up across the globe in places such as Canada, the UK and Morocco. This cultural diversity is apparent in her music, branded as World Pop, but of course très á la Isis.

An avid traveler, at the age of 16, she bicycled through 7 countries from Panama to Mexico picking up the pulsing rhythms of Central America. She also got further acquainted with Dancehall and Reggae vibes while filming a documentary about an isolated group of strict Rastafarians, the Bobo Shanti of Jamaica. Fire ignited, she discovered her true calling and sought out to make conscious urban music. And that, she did.

She received 11 Award Nominations for her debut LP “Sound Trumpets” in 2008, several accolades such as Best New International Artist of Canada at the SOBA awards, Best International Artist at 2008’s Underground Urban Music Awards in NYC among others, and her songs have been featured on various shows such as MTV’s The Hills. Her sophomore album “Brand New Style”, released in January 2009 and recorded between Montreal, Kingston, Tel Aviv and New York, could be described as feel good, with deep, oftentimes militant messages, which in all her musical prowess, do not weigh down the tracks. Impassioned, energetic and simply genuine, Empire Isis’ brand new style is here to stay.

Below: Empire ISIS - Get Up On It featured on MTV’s The Hills:

More, including a Q&A with Empire Isis, after the jump!

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Prolific females fill a void when deemed necessary and a revolutionary movement is born. Enter breakout clothing designer Erin Magee, a New York City transplant who left Toronto, Canada at 18 to do just that with the creation of her feminine streetwear label, MadeMe.

Combining an array of edgy garments with the iconic sass of Madonna, Erin serves the glam and gritty feminine set with a collection that is not limited to graphic tees, acid wash denims, hooded leather jackets and geometric leggings. The streetwear aficionado earned her designing credentials while at Umbro, heading up special collaborations with Kim Jones and Supreme.

Her eye for quality and innovation led to the current position she holds as Production Manager for Supreme, a brand focused on epitomizing the skate culture of downtown NYC. In 2007, Erin broke the mold to satisfy women looking for street-inspired garments with a feminine touch by forming the MadeMe label.

In 2009, the MadeMe label is stocked in over 35 stores throughout the world including cities like New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Sydney and Los Angeles. Erin has shown her collections at Las Vegas’ Magic Tradeshow, Barcelona’s  Bread & Butter Tradeshow and “Ladies First”, an independent tradeshow in Tokyo, Japan.

With four collections in tow, features in magazines such as Complex, Missbehave, GIANT, New York Post and NYLON, and attention garnered from female recording artists like Alicia Keys, there’s no need to scour the Internet and fashion stores for a reputable brand that embraces sexiness and edge; Erin Magee has the answer.

If you’re not already familiar with Erin, you’re sleeping! But don’t worry we got you! More after the jump!

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Every once in a while a boost of energy could be used especially after a hard day of work.  Being in the midst of all this recession fiasco, purchasing a drink to keep you awake for 5 hours isn’t always in your budget’s best interest.  Lucky for all lovers of the electronic sound there is Automatic Panic; refreshing musical creators here to enhance the joie de vivre all day, everyday, at any time (oh and I forgot to mention, FREE download!!)

A part of the latest collection of remixes from Automatic Panic vs DJ Cat NYC is Madonna’s Burning Up. I have to say their spin on the original song gets me in the mood to do the D.A.N.C.E.

Although baile funk currently influences my mood for the night life, the Burning Up remix maintains a house vibe similar to a techno trance that can make anyone move and shake regardless of their genre preferences.

If you happen to be looking for a song that gets you ready for the night or you just need a song that gets you through the rest of the evening (hey, or even to start your day!) I highly recommend you listen to and add this track to your playlist now! It will do your ears some amazing kind of good.

Click here for download.

If you’ve spent any time on M.I.S.S., then you know how we feel about the choice of Madonna for the Louis Vuitton campaign, and her range of poses.  That said, we always love a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a photo shoot and product campaign.  You get to see Madonna and Marc Jacobs interact, hear about how Marc chose Madonna, and see the gorgeous array of Louis Vuitton bags and accessories just waiting to be plucked for use in the shoot.  “I Die!”  Read the full story to see more stills.

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Last month I gave you “My Two Cents” about the Madonna for Louis Vuitton campaign.  Guess what?  I have more “cents.”  Did you honestly think I would see the picture above and NOT have something to say?  In my first post, I was over Madonna in leotards.  Now, not only am I over Madonna in leotards, I am over crotch shots.  It’s so vulgar.  Why does one of the most iconic luxury brands need a money shot to sell its product?  I didn’t get her as a choice for a model, and I do not get this photo.  Madonna please stop.  I want to remember you in all of your Everybody, Borderline and Holiday glory.  You’ve gotten older.  Please age gracefully.  Madonna, please put your choo-cha away . . . I’m just sayin’.

Image Source

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Vintage Blue is a new eco-friendly, vintage-inspired women’s sportswear line that holds the exclusive license to The All American Girls Professional Baseball League featured in the movie A League of Their Own starring Madonna and Tom Hanks. The line consists of organic tees and totes printed with graphics inspired from the 40’s and 50’s. Vintage Blue not only uses eco-friendly products but uses only chemical free printing methods, and uses sustainable methods in all business practices including print material (when necessary) and hang tags and promotional products. Not only are these ladies reducing their carbon footprint (and yours!) they also donate 5% of each online sale to kiva.org, an organization that supports entrepreneurs in developing countries.

I just found out about Vintage Blue and I’m totally impressed. The styling is adorable and the hair and makeup is a great interpretation of how it was done back in the 1940s. Everything they do is thought out and planned - nothing is left to chance. They’ve considered every detail and I love that they do their research. Their website gives you a great glimpse into their design process and you can see mood boards, sketches and inspiration. On top of all that they have a conscience and are all about female empowerment, and present it all in a positive way. If you look through their “magazine” you’ll see some sneak peaks of the cut & sew collection coming this Spring. I can’t wait! The pieces are so cute and in the video below there’s even talk of “wide-leg trouser sweatpants”! I can already see the new “sweatpant diaries” post.

Video and more photos after the jump!
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