My Absence

I have been absent for some time now, and it is not because I am being lazy but more that we are opening up a 7,000 square foot two-floor free standing store and I have been spending many countless (half sleepless) nights getting it ready for business for today's grand opening. It was a grand feat and a great accomplishment. I feel like I neglected this blog (and I did) and I have so much to say and write about, so please be patient while it all trickles in. I also feel so out of the loop with the shows in Milan, which ended today, so in the meantime I will be catching up on style.com.

The Dark Side of Agyness

Agyness Deyn rocks a dark do for Burberry Prosum. I think she wears dark hair well but I love the way she stands out with her striking platinum crop.

Photo: style.com

The Golden Age of Couture

The Golden Age of Couture, London's Victoria & Albert Museum's dinner gala kicking off the museum's latest exhibition highlighting the Golden Age of fashion in Paris and London from 1947 to 1957. Perhaps it is not the Met's Costume Institute's annual gala but it still brought out the fashionites in full force.



Photos: style.com

Mario & Kate

I love this image of Mario Testino and Kate Moss, I think that this image truly represents the epitome of style. One of the industry's most fevered photographers hand-in-hand with one of the industry's most influential models both dressed impeccably attending what else but a fashion party.

Photo: style.com

Milan Fashion Week Spring 2008

The spring shows have commenced in Milan, running from September 22nd to the 29th with Monday through to Thursday's shows being the biggest days on the schedule.

18th Amendment

Rachel Rose in her 18th Amendment high-waisted flares.

After seeing (and speaking to Ms. Rose) and spotting the denim collection in some of the most popular haunts throughout the city, I most definitely will make my next denim purchase an 18th Amendment one. I really like the fact that it is uber trendy but not as mainstream as some of the other premium brands.

I love how designer Rebecca Dawson describes her customer (see denimology) - She knows what she's about; comfortable in her skin. She is popular culture aware and loves fashion but she's not a slave to it. Her sense of style is individual. She's not interested in fashion for the masses.

My favorite style would have to be the wide leg Colbert or even the Bacall. Both available at NET-A-PORTER.COM.

Besides Fashion Week...

Besides the hustle of the international circuit and post NY fashion week, New York is still seeing their share of fashion action with the Coterie trade show going on at the Piers until Thursday. Perhaps not as exciting or energetic as Bryant Park but interesting nonetheless. I just spoke with David Neville of Rag & Bone, as well as Rachel Rose of 18th Amendment, both are showing their spring collections and both their booths are busy & crowded, which is definitely a good thing. I will post more information and pictures later tonight.

The London Fashion Scene

With every fashion week come the parties, and what better way to kick off a fashion fete than with no other but British supermodel Naomi Campbell, whom looked ravishing at The Moët Mirage Evening. I loved the short mini, the feathered fringe and I adored that playful head piece. She truly is a fashion enthusiast who is not afraid to step out of "the box" and try new things. It has been of late that I have my style eye glued to Ms. Campbell. She definitely knows how to play, and successfully at that, with the fashion rules.

Other fashionites from the night.
Photo: wireimage.com

Best & Worst Up Close & Personal

I loved Eva Longoria's classic and elegant hair style and soft make-up, she gets my vote for best up close and personal award for effortless beauty. On the other hand Ellen Pompeo's hair creation was very questionable. I do not like to bash anyone or their choice of dress but all I could say is "huh"...oh and that rope necklace...once again...questionable.

Photos: wireimage.com

The Best of the Red Carpet

I would have to say that Heidi Klum had the most stunning red carpet appearance. I almost did not recognize her. She looked radiant. Her look - ruby gown slit up to there, dark make-up and curly swept over hair had a very forward look, very unique and very stylish. This is what I love most about these awards' red carpets, the women who surprise and don't follow the cookie cutter style of perfectly groomed hair and simple gowns.


Photo: wireimage.com

The 59th Primetime EMMY Awards Red Carpet

The 59th Primetime EMMY Awards red carpet was overall one of the better red carpets I have seen of late. I think, with the exception of a few (like usual) the dresses were specatcular, all in their own way. I loved the navy gowns, the black gowns, Eva Longoria's embellished knee-length (one of the only ones who went short), and Katherine Heigel's white number.


Photos: wireimage.com

Fashion Rocks

With all the excitement and hoopla of fashion week I completely by-passed one of the biggest nights for fashion and music. Fashion Rocks, the annual concert honouring the special relationship between fashion and music and produced by Conde Nast, kicked off fashion week last Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall. Yes I know I am way late in posting this, but I felt that the red carpet deserved a mention, it is after all two of the best, most creative, industries converging. I think the music industry is one of the few industries that truly appreciates fashion. It is an industry that understands the power within a single item of clothing. Be it on stage, in videos, on album covers or in their daily lives, fashion is what helps define a singer's public persona and is vital to their careers. There is so much fun to be had when these two industries collide, where else could you get away with wearing gold lamé leggings but on a concert stage.




Photos: wireimage.com

Style Spotlight: The Long Gown

Long gowns were commonplace on the red carpet at Entertainment Weekly's 5th Annual Emmys Celebration in Beverly Hills. I think that all these women look quite elegant but nothing beats a long black satin gown. Heidi Klum looks outstanding in her second skin fitted gown with ever the slightest embellishment. I also thought Eva Longoria's gown was very classy and sophisticated. It's nice to see her in a long gown as opposed to her short frocks, however, I am not sure if she forgot to steam it or not but the wrinkles on her gown are almost unforgivable. There is no reason her gown should be that wrinkled at the onset of the evening. Unless she slept in it, even after sitting, standing, dancing, or doing whatever other exercise an evening entails, wrinkles of that nature are quite impossible to achieve. Did Eva Longoria take a power nap in her gown before walking the red carpet?

Photos: wireimage.com

Ralph Lauren Exclusive

Check out the exclusive coverage of the 40th Anniversary Ralph Lauren Show and After Party it is a great little inside peak into the world of this great American fashion legend.

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week starts today through the 20th, with Matthew Williamson and Luella on the schedule, and Anna Wintour in attendance, this season, London may actually get the attention it deserves.

Marc Threatens to Go to Paris

The complaints from editors on Marc Jacobs' two-hour late start to his show Monday night has gotten him all riled up, so much so that he has threatened to move his show to Paris. Read more...

Rumors have spread that Marc Jacobs was at the Mercer Hotel having drinks whilst his loyal patrons were sitting, patiently, waiting for the show to begin. Read more...

The editors, buyers, and fashion insiders on how they felt about the two hour wait. Click to read...

Marc Jacobs

Different. I think that is the best way to describe the Marc Jacobs spring 2008 show - just different. Different from other Marc Jacobs shows - yes of course, different from the other shows in the week - yes definitely, but different in a sense of way out there.

Unlike other designers, sellability and wearability were not key factors in creating this collection. Forget about stepping out of the fashion box, Jacobs created his own box, one in which he sits alone. Well, at least in New York. What Jacobs produced on Monday night was something you might expect from Galliano, not typically from a New York designer.

If I speak of this collection in terms of how much I adore it and would wear it, I wouldn't have much to say. However, if I speak about this collection in a subjective open-minded manner, I would have to say I love it, simply because, with this collection Jacobs is not really selling clothes, but more an idea.

Think of it as a Broadway production, with not so much the clothes being the main character but the underlying theme being the core of it all.

Besides the fact that the show started two hours late (maybe done purposely), it started with Jacobs taking his show bow first, then the finale pieces and then ended with daywear.

Without delving further, what does this say really? Maybe something along the lines of how we live in a backwards society, how maybe sometimes it feels like we are going backwards in our own lives instead of forward.

The clothes were really a mis-mash of ideas, done purposely of course. From mini numbered t-shirt dresses to boxy '40s-inspired suits and layered looks. There were granny florals mixed with polka-dots, red mixed with turquoise, slits on everything including pants, sheer revealing fabrics and underwear exposed.

It almost looked as if some of the pieces were about to fall off, like someone got dressed in a rush in the dark and had no sense of what they were putting on. Or maybe, someone who was about to get caught having an affair and had to throw on their clothes in a frantic hurry. Yes, this is what most of the show felt like, like everything was just thrown on.

Was the Jacobs show about sex? Well, if you consider my previous statement, as well as the fact that most of the models had exposed underpinnings and there were background screen shots of women with nothing but their skivvies, I would think so, but not that in-your-face brash kind of sexiness.

There was also a sense of confusion about the show and the clothes. Above and beyond the backward presentation, the looks were extremely varied; it went from a woman in pearls to a woman in peril of running out of clothes that she had to wear everything at once (the final look). I think that this points to the fact that women today are confused about who they are and what they wear and are constantly trying to change their look to fit in or stand out.

As much as this show had depth of character, when choosing looks for myself to wear I prefer last spring's PLTs (pretty little things). Like I mentioned in last spring’s show report, love it or hate it, we just can’t get enough of Marc.

Some of the more "normal" looks, and I guess some of my more favorites. And they are only favorites beacause I could actually see myself wearing them as opposed to the rest of the collection.

To view the collecion, visist style.com.

Photos: style.com