Lady Gaga, who fronts the September issue of Harper's Bazaar, has finally been confirmed to perform at the magazine's launch party for its September issue at New York City's Plaza hotel on Sept. 5.
The rumor mill went into overdrive when it was reported the Sultan of Brunei was thinking of buying The Plaza. The king also owns the Dorchester Collection of hotels, which many individuals and brands, including Hedi Slimane and Yves Saint Laurent, have vowed to boycott due to the newly introduced Islamic laws in Brunei that punish homosexuality and adultery by stoning. For crimes of theft, the punishment is dismemberment.
According to a WWD report, "save-the-date" e-mails were sent out Aug. 4, but a location for the soiree was absent from the e-mail. Last week, the sultan denied his interest in purchasing The Plaza, which for now allows Harper's to stick with hotel for its party.
Harper's September issue also features a portfolio by global fashion director Carine Roitfeld. Earlier this month, Roitfeld's first shoot as global fashion director of Harper's Bazaar was unveiled and was all about diversity. For her first major assignment in her new position, the French stylist called upon Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld - her longtime partner in crime - to shoot a slew of celebrities representing a wide range of ages, sizes and nationalities, the Telegraph reported.
Actress Scarlett Johansson starred in the shoot wearing a gold leather pinafore dress by Prada. Zoe Kravitz, Dakota Fanning and Lily Collins also modeled for Roitfeld for her third Harper's Bazaar fashion portfolio, "Singular Beauties."
What makes this shoot unique is that although it features beauties such as Johansson and Fanning, it is not dominated by young, thin models and actresses. Eighty-two-year-old, white-haired model Carmen Dell'Orefice and curvaceous actress Gabourey Sidibe also posed for Roitfeld, making this shoot unlike anything we've seen from a mainstream magazine in a long time.
"Carine's verve and spirited take on fashion reflects the great tradition of Harper's Bazaar," UK editor Justine Picardie stated.
