Fashion Designed Football Helmets

How many of you fashionistas are Superbowl fans? Bloomingdale's is unveiling a special collection of 48 helmets designed by the CFDA's top fashion designers.  The "Couture" helmets by designers Betsey Johnson, Alice + Olivia, Marchesa, Diane Von Furstenburg and others will be auctioned off to benefit the NFL Foundation.

The helmets will be unveiled in Bloomingdale's 59th street NYC windows today, the launch of the auction.  The NFL Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of their fans through health initiatives and grants to youth and school programs.  

You can place your bid at the CFDA Bloomingdale's Superbowl auction before February 4, 2014.

Other participating designers include Alejandro Ingelmo, Alexis Bittar, Ovadia & Sons,Billy Reid, Blake Mykoskie for Toms, Bloomingdale’s, Catherine Malandrino, Cynthia Rowley, Cynthia Vincent for Twelfth Street, Dana Lorenz for Fenton/Fallon, Danielle Snyder and Jodie Snyder for Dannijo,  Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, Dennis Basso, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan ,Eugenia Kim, George Esquivel, John Varvatos, Junkfood,  Kenneth Cole, Lela Rose, Badgley Mischka,  Mark McNairy, Michael Bastian, Monique Lhuillier,  Narciso Rodriguez for Narciso Rodriguez Studio, Nicole and Michael Colovos for Helmut Lang, Nicole Miller, Olivier Theyskens for Theyskens Theory, Gela Nash & Pamela Skaist-Levy for Pam & Gela, Pamela Love, Rachel Zoe, Rebecca Taylor, Richard Chai, Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn for Loomstate, Rogan Gregory for Rogan, Rozae Nichols for Clover Canyon,  Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos for Shipley & Halmos,  Stephen Dweck, Steven Alan, Tadashi Shoji, Todd Snyder, Vince Camuto, and Yigal Azrouel. 

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CFDA Award Winners - 2013

Last night at Lincoln Center, the fashion industry's elite came out with the celebrities who love them.  The occasion was to honor the achievements of their peers across multiple categories at the CFDA Awards.

Thom Browne won the award for Menswear Designer of the Year.  He was recently honored at the Pratt fashion design graduate show and Michelle Obama wore his coat on the day of the last inauguration.  I guess this win should not have been much of a surprise.

Philip Lim won the award for Accessories Designer of the Year.

Swarovski awarded honors in emerging talent to Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty for Suno for women’s wear, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School for men’s wear, and Pamela Love for accessory design.

The most coveted category, Women’s Designer of the Year went to Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler for their fifth win in the history of these awards.  It’s a wonder that we aren’t all issued the PS 1 handbag when we step onto 7^th avenue at this point.

The non-competitive awards that honored established figures in fashion included Oscar de la Renta for the Founder’s Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert.  The award was presented to him by longtime friend/fan Hillary Clinton.

The CFDA Board of Directors’s tribute honored my favorite costume designer, Colleen Atwood (Snow White & the Huntsman, Chicago, etc.)

The committee awarded Vera Wang the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award to bridal/lifestyle/eveningwear juggernaut, Vera Wang. 

While I believe every major designer is “International”, the CFDA gave their International Award to Richardo Tisci of Givenchy.

I grew up following “Toronto Life Fashion” on local television.  I was very proud to hear that the host I watched for years, Tim Blanks receive the Media Award in Honor of Eugenia Sheppard.  Canadian in ‘da house!

Photo collage from cfda.com instagram round-up

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BOCA: Shooting Fashion and CFDA in Florida

Boca Raton, Florida may not be the fashion capital you are expecting, but the Boca Museum of Art has three stellar fashion exhibitions running simultaneously.  

The first, is Draw and Shoot: Fashion Illustrations and Photographs which shows a collection of images from artists and photographers like Rudolf Bauer, Carl Erickson, Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, and John Rawlings.  The show examines the evolving aesthetics of style and beauty in how different artists depict fashion through the decades.

Jody Culkin: Refashioned is a show dedicated to the quirky artist and her reinterpretation of iconic fashion items.

The big exhibit however, is IMPACT: 50 Years of the CFDA.  Surprisingly, this is actually the first museum retrospective of the organization and its members itself.  The Council of Fashion Designers in America, over the past 5 decades, has supported and promoted its roster of over 600 designers of the fashion trade.  In this show, living members of the CFDA like Geoffrey Beene, Diane Von Furstenburg, Donna Karan and Vera Wang have selected one item that best represented their contribution to fashion history.  

I'm ready to get out of the cold and immerse myself in some culture in a sunny location...How about you?

All three shows opened this week and will run until April 21, 2013.

photos from bocamuseum.org,jodyculkin.com,fitnyc.edu

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Sales Alert: CFDA/Tory Burch for Sandy Relief, Rebecca Minkoff, Theory

Fashion for Sandy Relief:
The Tory Burch foundation, along with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue are holding a huge sale where the net proceeds will go towards those in need of help following Hurricane Sandy.  So much of the Northeast was devastated and is still suffering.  Here are fashion stars doing what they can to help.

Besides Tory Burch, look for almost every other designer you could want, from Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Diane Von Furstenburg, Coach, Versace (to name only a few) at 50% off retail.

When: TODAY, Friday, November 16, 2012, 10 AM - 8 PM
Where: Metropolitan Pavillion, 123 West 18th street

Theory Sample Sale:
If you are a fan of the sleek, cosmopolitan sportswear that is Theory, you're in luck.  Both The Prive and ClothingLine have sample sales for this label
For Men's and women's clothing at Prive:
When: Today, through November 18, 10 AM - 7 PM
Where: Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue (between 15th and 16th street)
Women's Only at ClothingLine:
When: Today through November 18, 10 AM - 5 PM
Where: 261 West 36th street, between 7th and 8th avenue

Rebecca Minkoff:
The Rebecca Minkoff Mini-Mac has a huge cult fan base.  The sample sales are one big party (treats, cocktails, giveaways).  This collection is always a good time.  Look for 75% off retail

When: Today, 10 AM - 8PM, Saturday, November 17, 10 AM - 3 PM
Where: 260 5th Avenue, (between 28th and 29th street)

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Ten Ways to Green Your Closet

Earth Day is coming up on Sunday.  It started in 1970 during a time of anti-war sentiment and concerns about the environment.  Sad to say, those concerns are just as prominent today as they were back then.

Historically, the environment hasn’t been a priority among the fashion set.  The luxury industry is forever linked to conspicuous consumption.   That said, designers today are becoming more eco-conscious.  Zac Posen, Lauren Bush, Derek Lam and Behnaz Sarafpour among others gathered in Manhattan to support Clean By Design, an initiative with the Council of Fashion Designers of America with Vogue Magazine that aims to reduce the negative impact fashion has on the environment.  The initiative wants to educate fashion designers. 

The current state of pollution was a major inspiration in the designs at Qinghai Design School’s graduating class for Shanghai Fashion Week.  Outfits included turtlenecks that converted into facial protection and color coordinated face masks.

So what can YOU do to green your own wardrobe?

1)  Be a locavore.  Buying food from local sources has gained momentum in recent years.  Apply the same principles to clothes.  Support designers like Nanette Lepore who manufacture domestically, which provides employment to the local economy or designers from your home town.  Items that don’t need to be shipped via boat or plane obviously have a smaller carbon footprint.

2    2) Buy vintage.  Tailoring, construction and design details rocked in decades past.  Television shows like Mad Men have made wardrobes the real star.  Buy the real thing from great vintage shops or find a bargain at reputable thrift stores like Salvation Army.  Believe or not, they are a stylist’s secret weapon and actually partner with a lot of high fashion sources to manage their chic offerings.

3   3)    Recycle to upcycle. If you find that great vintage or thrift find, perfect.  If not, get creative and transform a castoff into something fabulous.  Need ideas? Great sites like Threadbanger  have a lot of DIY instructions.  Not crafty? Seek out designers who do it for you.  BabySteinberg out of Canada transforms garbage into couture creations.  Designer  Christopher Raeburn  updates older pieces for the modern hipster.

   

     4) Style swap.  Broke?  Clothing swaps around the country are a hit.  Find your fashion soulmate and trade your favorites for new favorites.  Find some in your hometown with swap groups on Meetup.com.

5      5)     Eco-friendly fabrics. Clothing made from green materials aren't the granola, harsh fabrics of the early days.  Bamboo knits come in amazing color palettes and are super soft.  Hemp silk bridal gowns have a luxurious look and texture.  Warm fleece made from discarded water bottles help reduce a bit of the landfills.  Lyocell, tencel and other new plant-based fabrics are gaining popularity.  Technology is constantly bringing new materials to the industry as well.  Learn more about these at Ecouterre.com.  

5   6) Planet-friendly accessories.  There are a huge range of accessories that can be made from eco-friendly materials that might not work in clothing.  Nahui Ollin’s bags made from candy wrappers have been seen on the arms of hipsters, television stars and fashion icons.  Vegetable tagua is a great alternative to make beads.  Craft fairs are full of jewelry made from everything from soda can tabs, vintage book covers to scarves felted from old clothing.  The handbag design competitionawards top prizes to Best Green Handbag and Best Socially Responsible Handbags, proving that style with a conscious can also be super-chic. 

  

     7) Pass on packaging.  I know part of the thrill of the shopping experience is the tissue paper, glossy bag and pretty box.  Truthfully, the pleasure of that only lasts a few seconds.  Packaging costs a lot of money to produce and has been factored in to the cost of your item.  Taking your goods home in your fabulous handbag is more glamorous and creates a lot less garbage.

     8)     Multi-task your items.  Put your stylist skills to use.  Find items that can be worn in different ways…Imagine a dress that can be worn as a top, cardigan, tunic and skirt, then folds into a bag.  Look for convertible garments that are designed to be worn different ways so you have several styles to choose from.  We like the 5 in 1 dress from Thieves Boutique. This also makes packing for a trip a breeze!

9   9) Buy better, not more.  Invest in better pieces.  Having a ton of cheap, crappy clothes doesn't impress anyone.  What’s more, cheaply made mass market duds are more likely to be made at factories with less standards for the environment, worker safety and quality.  

1. 10)   Support good companies.  Research and buy goods from companies that you know to have good practices.  Eileen Fisher  produces a pretty Eco collection with their own employees as models.  At their headquarters, they practice every day polices like a central garbage disposal for the floor that encourages employees to produce less waste if they have to travel to get rid of it.

Happy Earth Day!

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CFDA's Celebrity Fashion Auction for Japan

Have you shopped or donated to help Japan?  If now, a huge score of top designers and fashion-related celebrities have put together experiences for auctions to help the tsunami victims.  

If you love NY Fashion week, you can bid on front-row tickets and meet & greets with almost every designer involved.  Some designers have donated very intimate experiences, like a paradise vacation at Diane Von Furstenburg's Harbor Island home (in addition to a shopping spree).  You can shop the Olsen Twin's collections right in their studio aided by Mary Kate and Ashley personally.  You and your friends could lunch with Project Runway's Tim Gunn or attend Elton John's Academy Awards Party.  

If you are stylishly inclined, you will find at least one of the 100 auctions to tickle your sartorial bone.  Bid at CharityBuzz today!

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Strut the Sidewalk Catwalk on Broadway

A lot of attention has been paid by the media in saving New York's Garment Center. Local Organizations like Save the Garment Center, the CFDA and Made In Midtown have been fighting to keep New York’s fashion industry intact with local manufacturers.

This week through the September 3rd, New York designers are taking this fight to the streets. The pedestrian-friendly parts of Broadway between 35th street and 42nd street will be home to the Sidewalk Catwalk.

Thirty top American designers and student teams have created original mannequins attired in a signature look. The lineup includes icons like Diane Von Furstenburg, Isaac Mizrahi and Donna Karan. New guard designers, Prabal Garung and Jason Wu are represented as well. Many of these designers, like Nanette Lepore manufacture their clothing in New York as a vital part of their business.

In addition to the exhibit, the original artwork for the mannequins is being auctioned to benefit Materials For the Arts. The organization donates supplies and support for arts programs in schools.

Care to take home a piece of garment center history? Bid here.

Sidewalk Catwalk

Click for Full Slideshow Photos by Adam Weinstein

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Made In Midtown - Keep Fashion in NYC!

Yesterday afternoon, the Design Trust and CFDA launched Made In Midtown, a program focusing on reviving the local garment industry. In a press conference and exhibit, Debra Martone voiced the mission of the non-profit organization, "A study of the fashion industry, how the Garment District works today, and why it’s an integral part of New York City’s economy, identity, and sense of place."

The exhibit itself consisted of examples of locally made garments, patterns and videos. Designers who produce locally were featured, like Jason Wu, Nanette Lapore and Anna Sui. While I was underwhelmed at the exhibit itself, I am really rooting for this program to succeed.

Any designer who doesn't have the huge numbers to produce mass market overseas, or just cares to keep your team and industry close to home should be invested in the findings. In the early part of the 20th century, 95% of garments sold in the U.S. were produced in the Garment district. While that may not be possible ever again, there are many manufacturers who still do produce locally and many who wish to.

Photo from Made in Midtown

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CFDA's Fashion Incubator Ready to Cook...

Last week, 12 independent designers put their personal touches onto their new digs. The CFDA's Fashion Incubator program set forth to help develop promising talent with mentors and subsidized studios in the garment district.

The Council of Fashion Designers in America worked with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on the initiative. The local industry has recognized the need to save the garment industry in the Big Apple, as well as nurture emerging talent. This project aims to tackle both.

For some designers this is a big leap for their business, many of whom are working outside of their owns for the first time.

Who are the lucky labels? The list of incubator designers include Alice Ritter, House of Waris, Prabal Garung,Dao-Yi Chow, Maxwell Osbourne, Bibhu Mohapatra,Grey Ant, Gemma Redux, Jolibe, Sang A, Subversive jewelry, Tom Scott and Ruby Kobo.

Photos by Kyle Ericksen for WWD

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NY Fashion Week Plans for Lincoln Center - First Peek

Rigoletto and Ralph, Carmen and Calvin, Donna and Divas... Much talk has been generated about Mercedes-Benz Fashion week moving to Lincoln Center this fall. The CFDA revealed the first look at the plans for September.
Instead of two main tents and a room at the library from Bryant park, the new plans have four main areas. The Theatre, The Stage, The Studio and The Box Presentation Space. The Theatre venue will have seating for 969 people and the option for a straight or U-shaped runway. The Stage venue, in white with gray carpeting, can seat 740, with stadium-style bench seats. The Studio will be the smallest runway venue, for 369 people, and The Box space is designated for presentations and events. There is also an additional venue called The Courtyard, a glass-encased outdoor space that could be used for informal presentations.
Fashion GPS will partner with IMG to allow designers to manage invitations and RSVPs online. It will also help guests be able to check themselves in via kiosks and bar codes.

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Anna Wintour's Master Class

Monday night, an intimate group of fashion students, the style savvy and curious industry vets were privy to a master class at Pratt Institute given by legendary editors Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles.

The evening started with Ms. Wintour’s remembering of iconic fashion photographer Irving Penn. While many people know her as the muse for a certain Prada-wearing Devil character, it was actually touching to hear her get choked up about her friend. Media insiders smirked when she recounted several anecdotes where Mr. Penn took her to task for making Vogue too commercial. The editor also reminisced about his gracious manner and how he dressed formally to walk 5 blocks to work, only to dress down into jeans again at the office.

The dapper Hamish Bowles next led a discussion about other notable contributors that shaped the magazine. He described Mainbocher as a “Truffle hound for talent”. Under his direction came striking images by Horst. Diana Vreeland brought movement and energy along with photographer Richard Avedon. Mr. Bowles presentation led up to contemporary work by Annie Leibowitz, Bruce Weber and Mario Testino.

In the Q&A portion of the event, Anna Wintour was asked what she was doing to help young designers. That particular person was verbally spanked as she replied that the student had not done her homework. She explained that her Vogue/CFDA fashion fund had developed, promoted and financially aided many talents like Alexander Wang and Rodarte.

On the subject of sustainable fashion, Ms. Wintour noted that there was a new style ethics column, and green fashion designers that were helped by the fashion fund as well. She was also supporting an eco-collection by Michael Kors.

On the touchy subject of fashion bloggers, Hamish Bowles and Anna Wintour graciously noted that all coverage of fashion was a good ting. They embraced it, but pointed out that Vogue’s own website had it all and their professional experience made the difference…

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Fashion’s Night Out in NYC (and the UK, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, etc.)

Did your Fashion Week show invitations get lost in the mail? No worries. All of the top designers and stores are having fabulous parties, designer and celeb appearances to give you the VIP treatment on Thursday night. Vogue magazine, the CFDA and the city of New York have collaborated to bring you, the stylish fashionista you are all sorts of spa treatments, goodies, champagne and hors d’oeuvres to make a shopping for your Fall wardrobe as fabulous as it can be. You won’t be missing anything on the runway, as the designers and models are breaking for this event.

In NYC, Henri Bendel will have appearances by Carlos Falchi and Trish McEvoy. You can be styled by Gossip Girl costume designer Eric Daman while sipping cocktails and nibbling fancy snacks. At Sak’s Fifth Avenue, say hello to Kooba designer Abbe Held while checking out the awesome new bags and chatting with Rihanna’s stylist. The Ralph Lauren store on Bleeker Street will be dishing out Magnolia cupcakes and possibly a secret Blake Lively appearance (shh!). Macy’s will have Tommy Hilfiger and free jazz performances.

Of course, it’s not all about shallow shopping. Many of the participants are involved in a clothing drive for the needy and are offering limited edition items, where the proceeds benefit charity.

Not in NYC? Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills will give you the New York vibe with cheesecake and Nathan’s hot dogs while you shop, Los Angele’s Fred Segal will host several designers. More on L.A. here.

Cities around the world are also joining the fun. To check out International events, click here.

Look up your favorite designer for how they plan to party Thursday night here.

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