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Thursday, March 31, 2011

L.A. Fashion Week: Gypsy 05 Fall 2011


Launched in 2005 by sister/brother team Osi and Dotan Shoham, Gypsy 05has become a line favored by celebrities like Kare Hudson, Jessica Alba, Amanda Seyfried and Miley Cyrus.  And, Gypsy 05 is not just for the girls, with a line for men that has been well received.  Their Fall 2011 line was attended by quite a few celebs, including Glee cast members Mark Criss and Dot-Marie Jones.




Epitomizing the Los Angeles life style, Gypsy 05 has gained wide appeal as a line that is easy-to-wear, comfortable and still extremely fashionable.  With an emphasis on being eco-friendly, the company produces a line of organic and natural fabrics uniquely dyed in their own dye house.
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Fashion's Elite Launches Tumi Tag Graffiti Collection

tumi graffiti


Corporate-friendly luggage manufacturer Tumi celebrated the launch of its collaboration with street savvy graffiti artist John Matos last week.  The artist, better known as “Crash” produced an edgy print inspired by street culture and a woman’s eyes for a limited edition collection.

The original artwork for the collection is being auctioned off on Artnet to benefit ACRIA, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America.  The organization was founded by physicians, activists and patients living with HIV to pioneer new treatments for the disease.
tumi tag anna sui

The event was held at Industria Superstudios.  The NYC street culture vibe was projected with Manhattan scenes, digital graffiti on the walls, taxi-cab cookies, a bucket drummer and nibbles representing the various city boroughs.  Notable fashion guests included designer Anna Sui, Philip Bloch and model Yske Strum

The Tumi Tag collection with John Matos comes in four silhouettes in editions of 1000 pieces each.  A special edition I-phone case is also available if you prefer something that fits in your carry-on.

Shop for the most street cred your luggage could ever have, or donate to ACRIA and do some good right now!

Photos by Mariana Leung
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Shop to Help Japan - Designers Save For Tsunami

In times of need, the fashion community gets together to help those who require it most.  Designers and retailers across the board have banded together to produce fundraising events.  Others have donated product for sale with the proceeds going to Tsunami victims like H & M and Uniqlo.  Shopping sites like Ideeli and Gilt have created portals to donate directly.

United Bamboo, Philip Lim body held sample sales to raise aid money.  Theory set up drop boxes for direct donations of items.

If you want to shop for a cause, some designers created a specially-designed product to help. Rebecca Minkoff is donating $100 of each red handbag sold to the Red Cross.  Polo Ralph Lauren is selling a special edition polo where the proceeds will benefit the United Way.  Lady Gaga's website is selling "We Pray for  Japan" wristbands.

The BIG shopping event is coming up from Fashion Girls for Japan.  Over 60 NY designers like Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Alice + Olivia, Derek Lam, Richard Chai, Diane Von Furstenburg (just to name a few) will have rolling racks of goodies to be sold to benefit the American Red Cross.  The event takes places this Saturday and Sunday at the Bowery Hotel (335 Bowery Street, NYC).
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

FREE EVENT TONIGHT: New York Fashion Film Festival


Join Rory Satran of uber-cool store Opening Ceremony, fashion mag star Emma Reeves and Swell's Tarik Malak for a reception and screening of curated fashion films.  The Fashion Film festival will  be followed by a panel discussion.  StyleCaster, NARS cosmetics and the School of Visual Arts are sponsoring the free film-meets-fashion festivities.

When: Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 6:00 PM (reception) 7:00 PM (screening)
Where: SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street (near 9th avenue)
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Monday, March 28, 2011

Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2011


How often do Belgians go Native?  As in Native American?  While the Fall 2011 shows in New York showed collection after collection of Americana with tribal influences.  Avant-garde designer Ann Demeulemeester put a dark twist on what was going on overseas.  The jet black feathered hairpieces were a shadow version of the ones seen at the Byron Lars show.  The corset styling gave a Gothic fetish edge. Leather and tinted fur gave some wild luxury.  A few dresses had ruffled details for a softer feminine edge.  As usual, black was the dominant color of the collection.  

Photos courtesy of Imaxtree
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Thursday, March 24, 2011

L.A. Fashion Week: Stop Staring! Fall 2011


The passing of Elizabeth Taylor this week has turned my thoughts to old-school Hollywood Glamour and how little is left of it these days.  The days of stars, perfectly coiffed in sexy ultra feminine outfits, seem to be a thing of the past.  Today, more often than not, our female stars are photographed in jeans and t-shirts with mussed hair and no make-up.  While the move to casual and relaxed is liberating in some ways, I can’t help but long for those days of yore, when a perfect image was what one strived for.

Thankfully I am not the only one who feels this way.  There are still celebs out there who appreciate the allure of sexy feminine clothing and how just the right look can burn their image into the minds of fans.  With fewer and fewer design houses catering to this look, I was happy to discover Stop Staring! at Style Fashion Week LA.


Designer Alicia Estrada’s line Stop Staring! is a vintage inspired line of dresses, playsuits and suits that evoke that old Hollywood Glamour.  The tricky thing about vintage inspiration is to not let it overwhelm the designs and turn them into costumes.  Ms. Estrada has managed to take that inspiration and create a feminine sexy line that is at the same time modern and wearable.  

The cocktail party preceding the show was evidence of her success in achieving this, with fans of Stop Staring! sporting past season’s dresses, looking sexy, feminine and completely of the moment.  These are definitely not costumes!  And the women wearing them hit the mark completely, standing out in a crowd and creating a modern day image that captivates us the way the stars of the silver screen once did.


Story by Mdivani Monroe of Ladies Who Lunch Travel.  Video and Photos by Omri Escalante
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Rebecca Taylor Meatpacking Boutique Launch

Chic designer Rebecca Taylor arrived on a glittery silver (not red) carpet for the opening of her new boutique last night.  Amid the hail and high winds, fashionistas flocked downtown to shop the feminine items for Spring 2011.  New York celebrities came out in support of the designer like Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenburg, Tika Sumpter and 30 Rock's Katrina Bowden.

The store interior had beautiful moldings on walls of off-white rose.  The clothing racks were undulating shapes to give a rhythmic flow to the boutique.  Ms. Taylor explained that she wanted this location to honor the Meatpacking District roots.  The outdoor signage includes the classic chophouse awning with rusted metal lettering.

  The designer also forged ahead to open the Tokyo boutique this week at a time when many companies pulled out from fear.  Staff at the New York event sold raffle tickets to raise money for those in need in Japan.  The prize was a one-of-a-kind gown made for the film "Beautiful Dream".

The spring collection contained lots of delicate floral prints.  Some printed on floral silk jacquard.  Washed silk pieces had thread picked edges along with pleated or ruffled embellishments. Handbags were small and rounded.  The leather was embossed with snake texture.  There were canvas fish-printed beach totes for the summer. Jewelery rounded out the accessories.  The jewelry was designed by Tory, Rebecca's sister.  A special dolphin charm was created as a fundraising item to save dolphins in the Pacific.  On another shelf, handmade bracelets were sold to benefit the victims of Haiti.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cynthia Rowley Fall 2011

People love Spring, but I just patiently wait out the warm weather until Fall clothes come back.  Otherwise, I just  wear inappropriately unseasonal fabrics to make me happy.  The Cynthia Rowley collection for Fall 2011 is the perfect example to demonstrate why...  The wooden runway was a backdrop for lots of silk velvet (one of my favorite fabrics). The silhouettes were maxi-length dresses and skirts.  Flowing as opposed to tight and skin-bearing.  The colors were dark and painterly indigo, blue, grey.  There were some lighter yellows and beiges at the beginning of the show.  A silver lame outfit made the cut in an ode to 1970's disco.  Delicate beading embellished necklines and slippers.  Leather pants and silk charmeuse round out my preferred fashion materials.  

Ms. Rowley has been immersed in fine art, her Exhibition A project promoting up-and-coming artists.  The seamed garments in tonal colors were reminiscent of Rothko.  Color-blocking by way of Mondrian?  The easy attitude of the models, whether strolling down the catwalk or passing through in their intimates between looks conveyed Bohemian muse. 

Spotted in the front row: Julia Stiles, Waris Ahluwalia, Nigel Barker, Alan Cumming


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Sunday, March 20, 2011

Daryl K Fall 2011


Downtown Daryl K.  The label was the synonymous with hipster cool in the 1990’s.  Easy, slouchy, Bohemian yet urban, the designer herself embodied the ideal customer. 

Flash forward to 2011, the designer has grown up, become a mother.  The trendsetting items she made cool are now considered basics for a NYC uniform.  Leather leggings and military-inspired utility wear were brought back into spotlight.

Daryl Kerrigan took the season of fall quite literally as inspiration.  The studio runway was strewn with dried leaves and branches.  The backdrop was a collage of leaf prints.  The back wall had a projection of autumn woods.  The digitized leaf print was also used in jackets and dresses within the collection.  The silhouettes were made for the real woman, and that was exactly who modeled the clothes.  Shoes were cute, but sensible for the Manhattan streets (rather than the 6” platforms of all the other runways).  
The designer stated that comfort was the most important thing she learned over the years of career.  Amen to that.
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Edition by Georges Chakra - Fall 2011 collection

MsFABulous had an exclusive invite to preview the Edition by George Chakra Fall 2011 collection at the designer's showroom in New York City.

George Chakra is a well established evening designer who is based in Lebanon and introduced his RTW collection named the Edition by Georges Chakra in 2009. 
We had previously enjoyed his collection in past Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks in New York.  It was a pleasure to enjoy the tactile feel of his stunning pieces in an intimate setting of his showroom. The attention to great workmanship and quality linings and deft design touches defined the Edition collection echo the hallmarks of his couture collections.
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Friday, March 18, 2011

Karl Lagerfeld Sketches Chanel for Bio

Is there a bigger fan of Gabrielle Chanel than Karl Lagerfeld?  The atelier has millions of fans around the world.  Coco Chanel's story has been played out as a pop history fairy-tale in movies and books many times over.

British journalist Justine Picardie wrote a new biography of the designer that Mr. Lagerfeld liked so much that he contributed several illustrations for the new French edition.  The new tome will be feted at a cocktail bash/signing in the Galignani bookstore (Karl's fave) on the evening of March 24th.



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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Fabric of the Garment District - 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

New York's most tragic fire, a tragedy that hits at the heart of anyone who works in the garment industry meets its 100th anniversary this week.  The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was in the Asch Building, one of the lofts specifically built for the garment industry.  Director of Historical Preservation at Columbia University, Andrew Dolkart explores the legacy and geography of the fashion industry in NYC tomorrow night at the Museum of the City of New York.

If you can't attend the lecture, I suggest you check out HBO's incredible documentary, Schmatta: Rags to Riches which also follows the history of the garment industry in New York.  I marveled at how the city and industry had changed.  I also realized more than ever how important it is to keep manufacturing in our home city.  

If you want to learn more or get involved, start with Save The Garment Center's initiative.  To attend the Museum of the City of New York's event, it will run Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 PM.  

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Richie Rich Styles Speakasy Moderne for Swiss Global

Fashion is theatrical.  How often does fashion actually elevate theater for a good cause?  Designers Richie Rich and Angelo Lambrou outfitted performers at the Midtown Lofts Saturday night for a “Speakasy Moderne” fundraiser benefitting the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation.

Guests were asked to dress in classic Broadway glamor for an event that honored theater legend Larry Fuller.  The evening was full champagne, haute hors d’oeuvres, jazz and amazing performances by up-and-coming pop artists and established theater stars. 

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation was created to assist and mentor highly talented artists in need.  The organization recognizes that talent may come from all over the globe, but it still needs support in a competitive world.

The artistic audience was blown away by Jamar Rogers’ powerhouse performance and very young Amanda Barise.  Official Hank is more recognized in his glammed up persona helming the Richie Rich shows during NY Fashion Week.  He served as part MC, organizer and champion to the evening’s tribute to Broadway. 

Several performers called in ‘sick’ to their Broadway shows to perform numbers from shows from Larry Fuller’s career.  The theater legend has performed in productions of Funny Girl to Carousel, choreographed Evita and Sweeney Todd. 

As creatives, we should all support each other in the arts.  We can elevate our disciplines together.

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Yohji Yamamoto Exhibit in London


Artist, innovator, designer.  Yohji Yamamoto's clothing blurs the line between art philosophy and functional garments.  The Victoria and Albert Museum in London launches an exhibit of the designer tomorrow.  The show focuses on his creative process.  Signature Yamamoto techniques are examined, from traditional Japanese Shibori dye process to knitwear to embroidery.

Another section of the exhibit demonstrates his various collaborations with photographers such as Nick Knight.
If you want to explore the work or not content just to view it, sign yourself up for the many events for the exhibit.

There is a lecture by the curator of the show, Ligaya Salazar about what goes into the collections.  There is an interview with the designer himself as moderated by the London College of Art's Frances Corner.  Want to really get hands-on?  There is a three-day workshop to design and create your own Yamamoto-inspired robes led by designer Juliana Sissons.

The exhibit runs from March 12, 2011 to July 10, 2011.  For more information, see the museum site.
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Gaga for Mugler Fall 2011


Were you waiting to feel too funky again? Or am I just dating myself?  I miss Thierry Mugler’s hyper-sexualized fashion rocking the runway.  Lady Gaga’s longtime fashion collaborator Nichola Formichetti was appointed creative director to the Mugler brand and brought it back to the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week.

The show was a mix of Gothic fetish evolved from the slick spirit of classic Mugler.  The backdrop was a stage of pointed cathedral arches.  Formichetti showed alien-like exaggerated shoulders, a signature look of Lady Gaga’s.  Latex-shiny fabrics, dramatic cut-outs and transparent garments that left nothing to the imagination somehow managed to look chic (over trashy).  The muse, Gaga, brought much of the paparazzi with her as she debuted new singles and strutted her body down the runway.  Also haunting the runway was performance artist “Zombie Boy”, famous for corpse-like tattoos added to the other-worldly theme.

This was the multi-media fashion spectacle of 2011.  A mix of music, video, art and fans madly tweeting is not the show of the future, it’s the mode of today.

  Photos by Giovanni Giannoni



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Custo Barcelona - Fall 2011


The attitude was wild and brash.  David and Custodio Dalmau’s show for Custo Barcelona is one of the most anticipated during fashion week for its vibrant outlook.   For me, it was the first time seeing them live on the runway.  My eyes were blinded from the swirling patterns.

There were several pieces that evolved from last Fall’s ‘it’ item, the fur vest.  For the upcoming season, there was a feathered, halter vest, looped wool jacket, layered faux fur stripe cape and stripes of bleached white.  Their signature mix of prints this season included 1960’s geometrics mixed with electric paisley for a Bohemian look.  Metallic animal prints were combined with swirling knits that took you easily from Ibiza to Goa and then back to the city again.

Fashion designers tend to have 'runway' looks that are purely editorial.  By the time the pieces trickle down to the stores, the looks are tame and less theatrical.

Seeing the Custo Barcelona shops in Madrid last month, I can attest that this is one label where that does not apply.  What you see is what you get. 

Photos by Ritika Wahal
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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Marchesa Fall 2011


Every New York Fashion Week, I attend as many shows as humanly possible.  Some designers are past favorites and some are designers new to me.  In all of these cases, I am looking for designs that will excite me and in turn be able to share that excitement with you.  Sometimes the shows are good, sometimes forgettable and sometimes they are true revelations.
One label I seek out season after season is Marchesa.  It is hands down THE show that I look forward to every season.  I wrote to them requesting an invite for their presentation, despite not knowing if and when it would occur.  I did not hear back from them and several of my colleagues told me that they didn’t think they were showing this time around.  Then almost last minute, I learned that the presentation WAS taking place at the same venue in Chelsea as last season.  Needless to say, I high tailed it down there on the afternoon of the event, determined not to miss it.  I was relieved to find that my advance request had landed me on the guest list. Lucky me!



Once inside, I was greeted by a collection that was everything I had hoped it would be.  The level at which they consistently produce amazes me and has my utmost respect.  I wandered through the presentation awestruck, my head buzzing with a sensory overload of beauty.  In describing the outfits, I struggle in calling them “gowns” or “dresses”, as these are so much more than that.  Each one is a divine piece of art, taking fashion to it’s highest level and creating wearable masterpieces.  This is truly Haute Couture...
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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Vivienne Westwood 1980's - Exhibit at FIT

She claims she never intended to go into fashion…What a thought.  One of the most original characters of the punk 70’s, flamboyant 80’s and the decadent 90’s got involved in clothing design to “help out her boyfriend”. 
Of course, the designer is Vivienne Westwood, and that boyfriend was Malcolm Maclaren, manager of the Sex Pistols.  The Museum at FIT is launching a small exhibit next Tuesday showcasing her iconic looks from the decade of the 1980’s.  That’s when dressing like a Pirate was considered chic and English tweed could actually be made edgy.
Exhibit runs from March 8, 2011 – April 2, 2011.
Museum at FIT

Photo via WWD archives
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Sachin & Babi Fall 2011


Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia are the role models of how love and work can go together.  The husband and wife team specialized in textiles together and created home décor brand Ankasa.  They then ventured into fashion several seasons ago.  Their expertise in the traditional arts of Indian embroidery had me expecting a more traditional ethnic collection.  I was surprised to find a very sleek, modernist presentation of sportswear that was desirable to any urban woman.  


Simple, wearable silhouettes had delicate embellishments that made the piece special.  There was a sequined placket here, a manipulated georgette collar there... Luxe Mongolian lamb trimmed a bolero and skirt.  The label may not be well known outside of industry circles, but they'll be on the streets of city soon enough.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Rebecca Taylor Fall 2011

Bohemian sophisticate...Or maybe just a jaunt down Paris streets?  Rebecca Taylor's Fall 2011 collection had a dark, romantic look.  From rich chocolate browns to deep bordeaux colors, muted floral patterns and airy fabrics, I just wanted to lounge in an underground salon of artists.  

The designer always has a flirtatious, but slightly edgy look that is accessible to a lot of women. I appreciate the artsy slant that her clothing projects and hope it inspires me to get back to sketching.

Am I asking too much out of a dress?  Perhaps.  Maybe I just need to get my ass back to work...
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Chris Benz Fall 2011


The David Rubenstein Atrium was packed beyond capacity on Valentine’s Day.  The occasion was the presentation of Chris Benz’ Fall 2011.  Crowds pushed their way slowly through the exhibit, frustrating photographers and celebrities alike.  Susan Sarandon was spotted swimming with the tide.  Fashion blogger BryanBoy was observing the collection while inexplicably dressed as a lion. 

The clothes themselves were a representation of two of the top trends of the season…Americana and the 1970’s.   The color palette was warm, with a mix of cozy textures.  Wool mixed with leather, some fur and georgette.  Patterns included oversized swinging plaids and hippie florals.  Longer skirts with shorter pants were layered with 70's outerwear silhouettes.  Floppy hats played a big role in accessories.  Shoes were also a standout.  The shoes had funky colors and prints that would contrast the rest of the outfit.  

The muse of this collection was the studio lady of Savannah, Georgia, where Mr. Benz acts mentor.  This was another one of many nerd-chic collections this season  that once again proved brainy is HOT!


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