Ralph Rucci Discusses the Opportunities and Obstacles of 40 Years in Business

A design from Ralph Rucci’s fall 2019 haute couture collection.

After 40 years in business, Ralph Rucci still prizes uncompromising quality and the seriousness of fashion.

The New York-based designer’s fastidious approach to design hasn’t waned through the decades. In July, he returned to Paris for his ninth visit to couture and work is underway for another appearance in January. His first couture show took place in July 2002 because of an invitation from the Fédération de la Haute Couture. By his account, that postshow bow remains his greatest moment in fashion.

Rucci said, “That was major. I saw the most important press in the world sitting there, and clients that you only heard about. The reviews the next morning were startling. I knew my life had changed and my criteria for the work went even beyond. I think that’s when my psychotherapy went into full blast to allow myself the calm to be able to be creative without self-consciousness. But that’s been the lifelong work, I think.”

His company morphed into Ralph Rucci New York in 1984 and then the more luxurious Chado Ralph Rucci in 1994. The name refers to the ancient Japanese ceremony of taking 331 steps to present someone with a cup of tea. Over the years, Iris Apfel, Martha Stewart and Deeda Blair were regular front-row guests at his New York Fashion Week shows. Even his mentor James Galanos occasionally made an appearance.

During an interview, Rucci reflected on the opportunities and obstacles of weathering the fashion industry for much of his career as an independent designer. Nearly seven years ago, he exited his namesake company and parted ways with Nancy and Howard Marks, who invested in the company in 2012. Uninterested in rehashing the dregs of that fallout, Rucci spoke of how that “separation, time and not producing collections that are prescribed for you has allowed me to enjoy the work and my life, and not feel that either one is mutually exclusive.”

Until seven years ago, he said he had never thought in his career that the work was good enough, holding fast to the idea that the next collection will always be better. But looking back at the body of work, he said, “I’m so proud that I have been allowed to do this with my life for 40 years.”

Preferring to keep a low profile and focus on the work, Rucci has been the subject of a few documentaries and books, as well as the recipient of numerous awards including the Cooper-Hewitt Museum’s National Design award for Fashion and the Fashion Group International’s “Lifetime Living Legend” award.

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Naomie Harris Speaks On Her Memorable Michael Kors 007 Premiere Look

Naomie Harris has had some time to consider what to wear to the Bondtastic premiere of No Time To Die. Several agonizing pandemic-induced postponements later, Daniel Craig’s last 007 film is finally hitting cinemas and the British actor who plays Miss Moneypenny is raring to go.

“I’ve always thought of myself as someone more comfortable in casual attire, but one of the many surprising things I learnt about myself during the pandemic was that I love dressing up!” Harris says on premiere day. “I think we’ve all been secretly living in our dressing gowns, so it’s great to now be out, dressing up and enjoying the world... and even walking the red carpet.”

For her turn in the spotlight, there was only one designer she trusted to make her a dress synonymous with the dynamism and mystique of the 007 franchise: Michael Kors. “The classic silhouettes and sophisticated elegance that Michael Kors is known for worldwide are a perfect marriage with the ultra high-end glamour of the Bond world,” notes Naomie. The pearlescent hand-beaded, sequin-studded look is as exquisite as the fashion in the films and, she says, it “makes [her] feel like a million dollars”.

It turns out that Moneypenny also has a penchant for Michael’s fashion. “We share a love of traditional style combined with [contemporary], quirky elements,” says Harris, who has helped modernise the straight-talking private secretary since taking on the role in 2012’s Skyfall. “The MK Bancroft handbag [which Moneypenny carries] is the perfect embodiment of that mixture of classic elegance and a bit of edge.”

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Delaware County 2-Year-Old Walks In New York Fashion Week

A two-year-old from Delaware County is home after walking in New York Fashion Week. We caught up with Aria Duffield after her big debut.

Now, many little girls love to play dress-up, but Aria Duffield doesn't just dabble in tutus and glitter.

You could say her path is a little different than most 2-year-olds. Duffield's headed down the runway.

Mom, Shantel Duffield, said last week Aria took the stage for New York Fashion Week at the Gotham Hall in NYC.

"This was huge because I don't come from a rich family, or you know somebody that's way up there," said Duffield.

We're told Aria wore Charjean Couture at 'Prestige' New York Fashion Week. It is Charjean couture. The designer had to take every measurement imaginable to make sure that it fit Aria just right.

Duffield said her daughter got the gig through Facebook. She told us about 400 girls were considered and Aria was one of about 20 who were chosen.

"I can't stop smiling. I can't stop smiling," said Duffield.

Duffield believes representation matters and is proud that her daughter can represent her Hispanic and Native American heritage.

"The fashion show lady had told me she chose Aria because Aria's look was different from everyone. Aria has an exotic look to her," said Duffield.

Aria also got to walk by Victoria Henley who was a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2012. After walking the runway, the models went to go take pictures on the Red Carpet. Aria showed up for the picture but had other plans for the big day.

"This girl was back on the runway trying to walk back on the runway," said Duffield.

She will be back on the runway in December where Duffield said Aria will be featured in another fashion show at Disney World. Duffield said this is just the beginning for her daughter.

"Anyone, even from small town Eucha can be what they want to be," said Duffield

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Balenciaga and Fortnite Are a Match Made in the Metaverse

The collaboration spans virtual and physical clothes, as well as a marketing campaign that will appear on billboards in cities like New York and Tokyo, as well as in Fortnite itself.

When Kim Kardashian appeared at the Met Gala last Monday night sheathed in an all-black gown by Balenciaga, she inspired a number of memes and comparisons—​​including, as a number of Twitter users pointed out, a likeness to an unlocked character in a video game, inaccessible and shrouded in gray until a player reaches a certain level.

Now, at least theoretically, the Balenciaga and video game connection is fully unlocked. On Monday, the French luxury house and Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, announced a collaboration that brings the brand’s clothing and signatures into the game. This is the launch of an ambitious push into fashion for Fortnite, and the partnership includes a number of components that exist both inside and outside the game, foremost among them a “fit set” that puts four beloved Fortnite characters in looks from previous Balenciaga collections—dressing Doggo with a Balenciaga x Fortnite hoodie yanked over his head and a pair of the brand’s futuristic cat-eye sunglasses, for example, and Knight in the armor boots from the Fall 2021 collection. (Examining the uncanny renderings of the looks, it’s hard to imagine that designer Demna Gvasalia didn’t have these virtual characters in mind as much as the flesh and blood Kardashians and Biebers of the world.)

“Our partnership with Epic didn’t start with Fortnite, actually,” Demna Gvasalia, artistic director at Balenciaga, said in a statement. “It started with our own first video game, Afterworld, which we built using Unreal Engine to debut our Fall 2021 collection. From there, we have continued to be inspired by the creativity of Unreal and Fortnite communities. It made total sense, to me, that we collaborate further by creating these authentic Balenciaga looks for Fortnite and a new physical Fortnite clothing series for our stores.”

That history made Balenciaga a natural choice for Epic’s first luxury fashion collaboration; the company has partnered with brands like Nike before. “We were very inspired by how Balenciaga has leaned so heavily into pushing the boundaries of tech in fashion, innovation in fashion,” Epic Games’s Senior Manager of Partnerships, Emily Levy, explained. Levy was quick to point out that fashion already has a natural home in the game. This is the year of the “creator economy,” with everyone from Facebook to Snapchat announcing initiatives intended to encourage their users to monetize content, and Fortnite is starting to emphasize the community side of the game, rather than the solo Battle Royale mode that made it a phenomenon.

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