#TBT Fashion and Food Diary of 1994

I recently unearthed my precious Fashion & Food Desk Diary published by DIFFA as a fundraising project. I loved this calendar. It was my first year studying fashion at Parsons School of Design and my second year living in NYC.

1994's Fashion and Food Desk Diary was the perfect time capsule of 90s Fashion

The calendar was beautifully printed with a collection of the contributions from the top fashion designers of that era. Between weekly entries were fashion sketches from different designers with a culinary theme.

NY Fashion Week was called 7th on 6th then. That year, it took place in April for Fall 1994. The  ones I attended included Nicole Miller, Todd Oldham, Norma Kamali, Prada, Anna Sui and Bradley Bayou. Some names in the calendar and that year's NYFW lineup are still going strong. Some are no longer in the spotlight like they once were, like Richard Tyler and Pamela Dennis. Some took a step back briefly and came back with a roar, like Nicole Miller and Byron Lars. Some have gone on to become mega-brands. Some, like Carlos Falchi, have sadly passed away.

What is amusing to me is looking back at my personal diary entries of that time in my life. It reads  like the perfect time capsule of a fashion ingenue cliche in NYC/Paris during the 1990s.

Using a mix of student discounts and Times Square TKTS booth, I went to see Broadway shows Kiss of the Spider Woman and Angels in America. I had dinner dates at Gotham Bar and Grill and Lucky Cheng's. I went clubbing at Tunnel(studios), The Limelight (now a mall) and Club USA. I had movie dates with boys or girlfriends at Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Interview with a Vampire. I attended exhibition openings at Exit Art and dressed up for Wigstock. 

At the beginning of the calendar, there are photos of many fashion icons looking young and fresh. The fashion sketches represent an era when designers still had the time and passion for creating full sketches in the industry. Now, fashion illustration seems to be a pastime of elite artists and bloggers. DIFFA (Design Industries for Fighting Aids) was more involved with fashion then while they are more famous for their Dining By Design events now.

The recipes contributed by the designers in the book (it was also about food after all) also show a more innocent time. There are multiple dessert recipes, pasta, polenta and pizza entries. This seems unusual now in today's carb-fearing fashion climate.

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's lookback into 90s fashion and a personal, somewhat embarrassing glimpse of my life as a new New Yorker. Enjoy the fashion illustration and the history lesson my friends.

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Cynthia Rowley's Sporty Spring 2015

Designer, Cynthia Rowley, presented her Spring/Summer 2015 Collection at NY Fashion Week to a packed house. A who's who of guests were in attendance to see the new collection including second-generation fashion royalty China Chow, and ex-reality TV star turned designer, Whitney Port.

Drawing inspiration from a variety of fashion eras, spanning from the sixties to the eighties, Rowley put her signature on every piece. Chic and sporty tanks, leggings, and shorts were perfect for casual days in the city or at the beach. Modern crop tops, ankle length pants, A-line dresses, and chic swimwear offered something for everyone.

Rowley's collection included feminine & flirty looks, in lace and applique fabrics, for the daytime. Vintage inspired tunic & pant sets resembled sets worn by wealthy women on summer holiday in the sixties and seventies. But, the stars of the show were the large-scale "Pucci-esque" print dresses and gowns perfect for cocktails in the city or warm weather gala's in the Hamptons. The collection started with a color palette of black, cream, gold, and red that to quickly moved into a pastel palette of baby pink and blue, which complimented the oversized prints and eyelet fabrics.

My favorite looks were the bright red floral lace sleeveless shift dress,  the long print A-line maxi dress and the tunic and matching pant suit in cream, black, and gold print.

Cynthia Rowley's show was by far one of my personal favorites during #NYFW.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the entire collection.  Bravo Cynthia!!

xo, Elaine Fioravanti of Best Dressed Ginger, Guest Blogging and photos for MsFabulous.com

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Cynthia Rowley Dresses - Resort 2015

Do you love dresses like I do?  One of my favorite sportswear designers just launched a sweet dress collection.  Cynthia Rowley dresses are the answer to the questions I constantly receive of what to wear to a wedding, prom, formal garden party...

The dresses are pretty, sure.  There is more than meets the eye of course.  The designer has a great eye for embellishment.  There were edgy metallic star-burst beaded shoulders, crystal florets and sparkling neckline.  Cynthia Rowley is a stylish surfer.  She translated that sport into some fantastic neoprene styles with a trompe l'oeil print.  See that dainty blue and white "embroidered" group on the right?  At first glance, it looks like a delicate floral sequin embroidery.  Take a closer look, and you see a printed scuba dress.

Are you ready to dress for a special occasion? Just find your way to a Cynthia Rowley dress.

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#Unselfie Style - #GivingTuesday

It’s the morning after  Cyber-Monday.  I thought I would take a break from the holiday shopping and gift guide planning to focus on giving.  The #Unselfie and #GivingTuesday campaign is a social media initiative most active on Instagram to take away from your own narcissism and instead raise awareness of a cause that is important to you.  The point is to post a photo with information on your cause instead while obscuring your own face.

The project was launched with the 92nd Street Y, Mashable, the United Nations Foundation and over 2,000 partners, big and small, across America.  Do you have a charity that you regularly donate to?  What about an organization that you volunteer for?  This is the perfect opportunity to give them a shout-out.

I can’t say I am particularly loyal to one specific cause.  I have volunteered my time over the years for DIFFA, Fashion Fights Cancer and many seasons with the CanadianCancer Society.  I am happy to give blog space to promote pretty much any good cause one of my fashion industry peeps are passionate about.

The general public has an image of the fashion industry as a vain and shallow community, but in my 20 years in it, I have found it to be the exact opposite.  I can’t name any prominent fashion brand or designer who doesn't devote a good percentage of time and resources to a great cause. 

To name a few:

Cynthia Rowley and Lauren Bush have worked together for F.E.E.D.

Betsey Johnson is a huge advocate for Breast Cancer Awarness with programs for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, Iris Cantor Center, Pink Ribbon products, etc.

Donna Karan founded the Urban Zen Organization to provide comfort and wellness where the health care industry fails, but also to preserve and support diverse cultures.

Josie Natori was in her native Philippines right after Typhoon Haiyan hit.  She rallied a large number of fashion brands to donate aid to the country and has channeled visitors to her site to organizations that provide the most help to the victims of the tragedy.

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Trendspotting: Scuba Evolution

I have spent my first days at the beach. I watched surfers and plan on doing some scuba diving later  this summer. Clearly, the wetsuit inspiration has attracted many fashion designers in recent seasons as I keep seeing the aquatic staple hit the runways.  Here is how scuba chic has evolved...

The first time I saw neoprene interpreted for street fashion was at Parsons. One of my teachers invited a former student to describe her first job out of school, designing for  Donna Karan.  She showed us her sketchbook which included early versions of a 1994 dress which became an iconic look for the label. The scuba dress was immortalized in the book, Fifty Years of Fashion: New Look to Now:

Wetsuit-inspired fashion popped up in the resort collections of many designers in 2012. Herve Leger updated their signature bandage dress look to emulate the seams of a wetsuit. Derek Lam took the color blocking look of wetsuits and designed a graphic collection around it.  Michael Kors took the traditional neoprene and made it a dress.

For 2013, designers have quickly brought this look further into the mainstream by treating the neoprene fabric itself, (see first photo). Cynthia Rowley, a surfer herself, created some terrific dresses and top using digital printing on neoprene.  At her Montauk store, there are lace prints, jewel and botanical prints that I loved. In turn, she brought high fashion into surfing gear. She offered a special collection of functional wetsuits with her trendy clothing prints. Designer Byron Lars created an elegant Fall 2013 collection bonding brocade and glen plaids to neoprene to use the bright color as a pop lining or unexpected texture inside traditional fabric.  He also used laser cutting to create flattering shapes of applique on the dresses.  He also relied on supportive nature of the fabric to create a sexy silhouette.

For the multi-tasking gal, it's great to know you hit the runway or the ocean and never have to change!

Photos from Nick Verreros, Irving Solero, Mariana Leung

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Black Friday Round-Up

Gift shopping? Treating yourself?  Make sure to wear good footwear and your warrior face for this year's Black Friday sales mission:

Mara Hoffman will be 50% off current fall ready to wear and 15% off sale merchandise.

Modcloth has 50% off new styles.

Tibi is discounting up to 60% off their current season downtown chic .

Cynthia Rowley has 60% off selected styles.

Ted Baker - 30% off in-store and online

Edun is 30% off.

Diesel - 30% off in-store

TopShop - 30% off select merchandise from Topshop online and in store. Plus if you spend $30 you get $10 off, if you spend $50 you get $20 off, and spend $100 to get $50 off your purchase.

H & M is promising crazy deals like $5 dresses.  Will that include the Martin Margiela collaboration? Let's hope.

Hipster heaven Opening Ceremony is discounting 30-40% off designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott and their private label collection.  

Trina Turk will be 20-60% off in the Meatpacking District.

Looking for bling? Swarovski will be 30% off their sparkly baubles.

Woodbury Commons will have additional deals at designer boutiques like Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, but be forewarned, a good friend of mine drove out there at 4 AM and never made it past the highway exit.  Timing and the level of desire is everything.

Tory Burch nemesis, C. Wonder is discounting 50% off sale items until 8 AM, 25% afterwards.  

Henri Bendel has big deals before 11 AM on Friday, and $25 off every $100 spent afterwards.  

For gentlemen, Ben Sherman coats, knits, boots will be 40% off.

James Perse has a private 40% off sale.

Photo from nydailynews.com behring/AP

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Giveaway! Cynthia Rowley Beach Sport Kit

Happy Friday Fab readers!  The Fab team is heading down to Miami today to cover all that is sexy and sunny in swimwear for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim.

In honor of the time we will be spending at the beach, we are giving away 5 Limited Edition Beach Sport Kits from the new Cynthia Rowley collaboration with Band-Aid.  As you recall, the fashion designer previously launched limited editions of the fashion-themed Band-Aids printed with sequins, beads and fashion figures.

For summer, the surfer and designer created a set of 8 designs ranging from sharks, jellyfish to sunsets and surfboards.  Along with the band-aids, the kit includes Neosporin single use packets to prevent against infection from your summer fun injuries.  all of the above comes in a resealable plastic pouch to keep things like your cell phone dry on the beach!

To win, leave a comment below or on our Facebook page, describing your favorite summer fashion item.  Our 5 favorite answers will win!  (Winners will be chosen on August 5, 2012)

Cynthia Rowley Beach Sport Kits are available on CynthiaRowley.com and Amazon.

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Sales Alert! Cynthia Rowley, AllSaints, Barneys, Manolo Blahnik...

In NYC:
AllSaints Spitalfields is having an amazing warehouse sale right not through to January 16th.  I am ashamed to say I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on this brand in the past two weeks.  Their regular stores have current stuff 50% off and now this warehouse sale is 70% or better.  I went a little nutty on their edgy, (but more comfortable than they look) shoes.  They were around $75 (down from $250).  I picked up a few dresses that were all under $80.  If you're looking for outerwear, there was plenty of stock in different sizes.  There was one floor for women's, one floor with men's stuff (one of the few sample sales where the hipster guys actually equal or outnumber the girls).

Where: 76 Wooster Street, New York NY
When: Now through January 16th, 12pm - 8pm.
Credit cards accepted, but the shorter line was for those paying in cash.


Cynthia Rowley's current Fall 2011 and Resort 2012 collections are up to 80% off retail prices downtown. For a preview of what might be at the sale, check out the Fall 2011 show.  I remember a lot of rich velvets, silk, pretty pretty stuff.

Where: 376 Bleecker Street, 212-242-3803
When: Thursday, January 12 - Sunday, January 15, 10 AM - 8 PM

Haven't stopped partying since the holidays?  Need new cocktail frocks?  Rosa Pusher is making a soiree out of their sample sale.  They will be serving up cocktails and cupcakes to shoppers at the end of month while they shop sexy dresses.

Where: Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Avenue
When: January 27th, 12:30 PM - 6 PM

Online:

 

Barney's New York has added further reductions to many of its sale items, including gifts from the Lady Gaga Workshop.  A candy bow ring is now $9 (down from $28).  Manolo Blahnik shoes are down to $309 from $775, 

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NY FASHION WEEK: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

All that shines here is gold.  Cynthia Rowley brought her tongue-in-cheek contemporary dressing to Lincoln center yesterday with a gilded flair.  It started with a shiny gold runway that was being polished by multiple people prior to the show.

Silhouettes were fit and flared with skirts and dresses above the knee.  There was a black and gold grouping with graphic Aztec-inspired prints or more Baroque gold embellishment prints.  There was a lighter gold and cream grouping with more solid knits.

My favorite was the abstract, painterly floral print that looked like it was splattered across charmeuse and satin.  The florals were a mix of bright spring colors against a black or cream backdrop.

Cynthia Rowley not only gave good "runway", she was there to service her fellow fashionistas.  Parked outside the fashion week venue was the "Glambulance" to fix fashion malfunctions, cover up blisters with embellished band-aids and rescue beauty emergencies.

Spotted in the front row: Lindsay Lohan, Hamish Bowles

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Cynthia Rowley Glambulance

Any situation that requires a band-aid is never a pleasant one.  Even worse, a bandage incident is never an attractive one either. 

When Cynthia Rowley came out with her limited edition collection of glammed-up first aid kit staples, I rushed out to grab a set.  While the sequin and jewel printed band-aids don’t take the physical sting out of your wounds, at least they soften the emotional ones. As you can see, I have already performed a fashion malfunction by blistering my ankle with a pair of Rodo Shoes that were not properly broken-in.

The once-limited edition set is now being offered en masse, with a “Glambulance” rushing to the rescue for fashion emergencies all through the upcoming NY Fashion Week. 

When Band-Aid asked me to post on this event, it brought back to mind the part they played in my family.

My sister-in-law was always really sweet to me since the early awkward days of first dating my husband.  We bonded on mutual loves of fashion and style.  She is a big fan of Cynthia Rowley’s boutique in Montauk, NY and also loved the band-aids when she saw my post on them on this site.

Well, unfortunately, she has had a really rough year.  She was in a brutal car accident right before Spring 2011 NY Fashion Week.  I heard about it while seated at the Cynthia Rowley show.  By coincidence, the show souvenir was the special tins of band-aids in little satin pouches on the seats.  I was able to gift these to her in the hospital after the shows.  She later sent me a photo of the band-aid bling covering pins in her leg at the hospital.

I was also very flattered to hear that she continued to read my reports of fashion week to keep up with the outside world while she recovered in the hospital.  Since the accident, she has also had several more trips to the hospital for a collapsed lung, cancerous cyst, etc.  What I was amazed by, was that even as she could be nodding off from drugs, 20 minutes out of surgery, she still looked like she just stepped out of a salon.  And, no one rocks a hospital gown like it was Haute Couture better than she does! 

Now for YOUR fashion emergencies, you can catch the Glambulance today and tomorrow.  Cynthia Rowley will make a personal appearance from 4:30 - 6:00 pm on Thursday.

• Thursday, September 8th, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. (Fashion’s Night Out)
• Glambulance stationed at 5^th Ave. and 57th St

• Friday, September 9th, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. (Date of Cynthia Rowley Show)
• Glambulance stationed at 65th Street and Broadway

 Have a story of your personal fashion malfunction?  Post it on the Cynthia Rowley Facebook page to win a $2500 shopping spree and styling session.  To enter, click through here.

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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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Cynthia Rowley's FEED Shop

Fashion feeds the world...At least some designers try to.  Cynthia Rowley and Lauren Bush hosted the opening of their FEED pop-up shop last Thursday in the back of Ms. Rowley's Soho boutique.  The shop sells products like eco-friendly bags, pouches and clothing to benefit FEED Projects.

The FEED Project's mission is to feed and reach hungry children around the world through the sales of their collection.  The line uses fair labour practices and uses organic cotton and burlap when possible.  

The designer and colleagues were on hand to sip champagne and answer questions.  Her Fall 2010 collection looked chic accessorized with the FEED totes.  My personal favorite was the Jack o-Lantern tote made in collaboration with Unicef.  It was a nice Halloween update to the change-boxes I carried around trick-or-treating in my childhood.  It is available on HSN and in the boutique.

The pop-up shop is available at 376 Bleecker Street in NYC until October 21st.  The FEED merchandise is available online and at Whole Foods indefinitely.

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NY FASHION WEEK: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011

This is always one of the shows I look forward to.  Cynthia Rowley has always represented girly, flirty fun clothes with a sense of humor.  This collection did not disappoint.  The major theme for Spring 2011 was circles.  This came in three-dimensional cabochon appliqués in different sizes or the opposite; perforated circular holes.

The color palette reminded me of licorice all-sorts which fit the candy-dots effect of the cabochons.  The circular holes in the garments also reminded me of the old Lollipop building that used to be across from Columbus circle (now the Museum of Arts and Design).  Was this a nod to the show's Lincoln Center location?

Cynthia Rowley paid a more direct tribute to the new Fashion Week location's performing arts roots in using sets from the NYC Ballet's "Swan Lake" and "Romeo and Juliet".  Ms. Rowley is a fan.

Wouldn't you know it?  Just as klutzy Ms. FAB sat down, she cut her wrist on her own jewelry and had to use the dress-up band-aids that were placed on each seat...

Spotted in the front row:  Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn

For more looks, see the slideshow below:

Photos by Mariana L.

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Cynthia Rowley Dress-Up Band-Aids

Ok, I am ashamed to admit that I am susceptible to marketing.  I couldn't resist this set of "bling-for-boo boos".  Cynthia Rowley's limited edition of dress-up band-aids features sequins, jewels and signature prints.  This is brilliant...Injecting style to take away the sting... This is a great addition to a back-to-school list, stocking stuffer, humorous hostess-gift.  

 

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LIVE: Cynthia Rowley Resort Goes Mobile

What are you doing this afternoon? If you are strolling the streets of New York this lovely afternoon, catch the Cynthia Rowley bus for one of their mobile presentations. Servers are keeping onlookers comfortable with bottles of water and mimosas.

The designer herself is on the sidewalk with a bevy of models to present the looks for early next year. According to Ms. Rowley, the main direction for this collection was to give a relaxed vibe for the customers. Layered denims, flowing silks with retro-inspired prints attired the models.

The accessories are whimsical. The shoes were woven from busy prints and denim. A paillette covered hat adorned one model while another model held a bright floral pattern bag. My favorite piece is the segmented antique-look goldfish necklace.Care to catch the next presentation? Run on down to the Time Inc. building between 5pm – 6pm today.

Photos by Mariana Leung

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FAB Sales Picks: Betsey Johnson, Rock & Republic, Cynthia Rowley...

NYC:

Betsey Johnson accessories and apparel are 50% -80% off at the sample sale.

Through 4/16/10: Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 W. 44th St., nr. Sixth Ave., sixth fl.

(212-993-9251); W–F (10–10).

Elie Tahari Menswear, womenswear, shoes, and handbags are 70 to 80 percent off at their sample sale. The black jersey jeweled halter dress is $129 (originally $698) and metallic leather sandals with beaded detailing are $99 (originally $498).

Through 4/17/10: 510 Fifth Ave., nr. 43rd St. (212-398-2622);

T–F (8:30–7:30), S (10–5).

Rock & Republic is having their first warehouse sale! All denim is only $80. You'll also find men's, women's and kid's, denim, tops, outerwear, cosmetics and accessories.
4/16/10 - 4/18/10: 123 W. 18th St (Metropolitan Pavilion) 4th Floor, (212) 463-0071
Fri 4pm-9pmSat - Sun 9am-7pm

Online:

Cynthia Rowley and Clinique cosmetics on Gilt.com Wednesday 4/14/10,

Marc by Marc Jacobs on 4/15/10, alson on Gilt.

Earnest Sewn for men and women on Ruelala.com on Thursday 4/15/10.

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NY Fashion Week: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2010

The dramatic and palatial Gotham Hall was the setting for Cynthia Rowley’s Spring presentation Friday. The gilded soaring room was draped in muslin, giving it a vintage, forgotten museum quality. The show began with stagehands dramatically pulling down a drop cloth from the lighting rigs to drape the runway. Spooky, Tim Burton-esque music opened the show, and then transitioned into yearning rock and roll.

The clothing had a certain dark, Stepford Wife meets Alice in Wonderland quality. The light, flowing dresses had lots of slashed details and prints that looked like watercolors left to run in the rain.

The handbags had a 1960’s look with pieced leather stripes and folded clutches. The purse silhouettes showed retro trapezoid and triangle shapes

Spotted in the front row: Jill Hennessy, Lauren Bush

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