Chinese Homeless Fashion Icon, Blacklisted from Balenciaga

“A homeless man in China has developed an Internet following of thousands who admire his “good looks” and “bohemian dress sense,” the Independent reports. The man lives in Ningbo, and is referred to on the net as “Beggar Prince,” “Handsome Vagabond,” and, most commonly, “Brother Sharp.” One commenter wrote in response to a picture comparing him to a look from the latest Dolce & Gabbana” [the Cut]

“He is 5ft 8in, around 35 years old, and always has a cigarette between his fingers. He also appears to have a fondness for women’s clothes, which has only served to fuel his status as a fashion icon. His good looks are reminiscent of popular Asian actors like Takeshi Kaneshiro or the Oscar- nominated Ken Watanabe.” [The Independent]

Carine Roitfeld Blacklisted by Balenciaga ??!

“In other Balenciaga news, noticeably absent from Thursday’s front row was French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld and her team. They were barred from the show. “We’re blacklisted,” Roitfeld said with a shrug at Nina Ricci later in the day. “It’s too bad, it’s a beautiful house and it’s French. I hope that it’s not forever.” She noted Balenciaga no longer advertises in the magazine or lends it clothes, but stopped short of giving any reason for the rift. “Ask them,” she offered. A Balenciaga spokesman declined comment.” [WWD]

…Fashion journalists walk a fine line between doing their jobs and not pissing off designers…
The latest high-profile ban is rather shocking. Balenciaga has severed ties (undoubtedly temporarily) with French Vogue. Carine Roitfeld and her editors did not attend yesterday’s fall 2010 show in Paris…[The Cut]

Indeed, fashion is the only creative field that attempts to bar the news media…What being banned tells me is that fashion has entered a borderland between the old and the new [Nytimes]




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