Amy, Amy, Amy

Last week on Bravo's Project Runway, Ricky won the Levi's denim challenge with the dress pictured above. Now, I could get into a rant about my distaste for Ricky (how the hell is he still in the game is beyond me), but I'll refrain because this post is not about that, instead it's about his styling choices for his model, which judge Michael Kors likened to none other than Amy Winehouse.

"I love Amy Winehouse and honestly, you must, too," Kors said to Ricky, whose model donned, what else, a bee-hive pomp and black cat-eye makeup.

Even though Amy's usually blasted by the media (whether it be about her drug problems, her turbulent marriage, or her fashion choices), designers seem to be keen on her. And Kors is not the only designer who "loves" her.

German-born designer, Karl Lagerfeld drew inspiration from Ms. Winehouse's look for Chanel's pre-fall Maison d'Art show in London.









At a little more than two minutes into the clip (above) Lagerfeld himself appears and raves about Amy as his muse. Even going as far as to compare her to 1950s/60s sex kitten Brigitte Bardot.

Lagerfeld goes on to describe Amy as, "the greatest talent coming out of England... for the moment."




Check out more designers below who appear to have taken a cue from Amy for their Spring 2008 ready-to-wear lines: (Photographs courtesy of style.com)


Chado Ralph Rucci

















John Galliano

















Givenchy


















But if do you plan on copying Amy, at least refrain from the crack pipe.

He goes by the name of Lupe Fiasco

Last spring when I was studying in Madrid, I missed SU's Block Party. I didn't really miss it, per se, because really, Ciara and Lupe Fiasco? Eh, let's just say that I wasn't exactly drowning my sorrows with chupitos (re: shots) over that one. Lupe was still touring for his "Food & Liquor" album, and though I loved his first single, "Kick Push," I hate to say that I was disappointed by the rest of the album.

So, when I heard the first single, "Superstar"off of his sophomore effort, "The Cool," I was pleasantly surprised. Since the album was released in December, they played his album a lot at my work, and I fell in love with whole album -- and that's a lot of love, considering there are 20(!) songs on the track list.

I'll admit the album is a bit ADD because every track is so distinctive from one another, that you'll find yourself wondering if it's possible that you're listening to a different album with each song. But no, Lupe being the genius that he is, managed to pack this smorgasbord into one album. And that's what I love about it.

Lupe goes from spitting rhymes at rapid fire speed (think Twista; remember him? Me, neither) on his song "Go Go Gadget Flow," proclaiming his resurgence in the hip hop scene, to "Paris, Tokyo" where he raps in a slow, sing-song pace about the guilt he feels for leaving his mom behind while he's touring the world (aw!).

Seriously, though, if you want to take a break from listening to hip hop/rap songs about Applebottom jeans and fur boots, check Lupe out. In fact, I'll do you one better, you can check out my favorite songs here:







Now you have no excuse.

Fafi + MAC: French Graffiti Artist Goes Mainstream?

MAC Cosmetics is coming out with a new line of products imprinted with the French graffiti artist Fafi's signature tags and drawings. Her sketches of gamine girls in adorable, dominatrix-like outfits cover sticks of lipstick, makeup bags, eyeshadow palettes and lip glosses. It's brilliant -- we all want cute things and we all love MAC, so it's a match made in heaven!

But I worry that this will be Fafi's final push into the mainstream -- I've already had to suffer through her limited-to-Japan-and-France clothing line and her illustrated covers of XLR8R, and I want her all to myself! We've all seen Shepard Fairey's downward spiral with his graffiti/propaganda empire, Obey...he's now doing corporate work for companies like BMW. The idea that Fafi's drawings will be seen by teenage girls in malls across America really disgusts me, but I guess that's not stopping me from forking $45 over for eyeshadow at the MAC counter.

Flashing Lights

I hate Kanye West. OK, I don't hate him but his arrogance annoys me... A LOT. But, I cannot deny, Kanye always manages to deliver.

His latest effort, Graduation, is not my favorite album, but "Flashing Lights" (featuring R&B singer, Dwele) is definitely my favorite Kanye song. Kanye's smart rhymes ("like Katrina with no FEMA/ like Martin with no Gina," (anybody who can seamlessly reference current events and early 90s sitcom, Martin, is OK by me)) mixed with Dwele's soulful delivery of the chorus equal another hit for Kanye.

If you haven't heard it yet, do yourself a favor and download it here
or just listen to it here



I guess I'm not the only fan of this song. Canadian artist, Colin Munroe samples "Flashing Lights" on his song, "I Want Those Flashing Lights."


Colin does it justice. What do you think?

only the good die young.

Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon at his apartment in Manhattan by his masseuse and housekeeper. According to news reports, sleeping pills were found at his bedside; his death is being treated as a possible suicide. Gawker.com posted a video of Heath in a body-bag, exiting the apartment building on a gurney. He was 28 years old.

I had a fair-weathered crush on Heath when I was in junior high school, and saw him in 10 Things I Hate About You. He was the flavor the week during the teen film explosion, and I'm sure I replaced him with another, "love of my life," soon after. But unlike the Freddie Prinze Jr.'s of the time, Heath turned his career around and began to gain respect as a serious actor. His role as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain earned him an Oscar nomination, and he recently wrapped up his role as The Joker in the upcoming, much hyped-up, The Dark Knight.

Heath's star was definitely rising, and despite rumors of his struggle to keep clean, his death came as a complete shock. Regardless, it's always tragic when someone so young goes before their time.

Allow me to introduce myself.

Pop-tarte is an all inclusive blog that will review/critique/love/hate/praise/rant about everything and anything that is pop culture... so, won't you please, follow me down the rabbit hole.