High Fashion Hits the Tony Awards Red Carpet 2015

Did anyone else think last night's TONY Awards red carpet looked like an extension of the CFDA Awards? That was not a coincidence. In the past, the awards ceremony celebrating live theater was barely watched by television fans. Unlike the Academy Awards, it was not the destination for celebrity fashion inspiration.

Legendary costume designer for Broadway, William Ivey Long (hell, even my Hubby knows his work) reached out to Anna Wintour for help with all of the above. Together with Vogue staff and the team at PR company KCD Worldwide, they made sure to give the stars lots of styling and designer help for the evening.

Like your typical Anna Wintour fest, many fashion designers attended with a celebrity as their date. Bernadette Peters arrived with Zac Posen; Joseph Altuzarra escorted Vanessa Axente, and Francisco Costa had Kendall Jenner on his arm representing Calvin Klein.

Some of my favorites on the red carpet were slightly biased because I am a big fan of performer's talent and performances first. Just off of Mad Men and nominated for The Heidi Chronicles, Elisabeth Moss wore a flower embroidered Oscar de la Renta column dress. Vanessa Hudgens, who starred in Gigi on Broadway, wore a beautiful floral print gown by Naeem Khan.

Kelli O'Hara, whom I loved way back in her Jekyll & Hyde days was the big winner last night for Best Actress in a Musial. She also wore a gold Oscar de la Renta dress. Jennifer Lopez wore Valentino, Canadian singer Kiesza wore a stunning if unconventional dress from Aluzarra. One of my favorite actresses on Broadway (Wicked) and tv (Pushing Daisies) Kristen Chenoweth hosted the Awards in a slinky silver, Zac Posen.

Congratulations to all of the talent, both dramatic and sartorial this week. Bravo for making the Great White Way the great red way with amped up TONY Awards red carpet fashion.
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

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Pratt Fashion 2015 - Laboratory

Congratulations to Pratt's fashion design class of 2015. Last Thursday, designer Sophie Andes Gascon took home the Cotton Inc. award and Claire McKinney won top honors from the senior class' prestigious Liz Claiborne award. Actress Rose Byrne attended the event to present Calvin Klein's design director Francisco Costa with the Visionary Award.

Pratt fashion design graduates executed experiments in the laboratory of style

The theme for this year was "Laboratory". You could see this interpreted in each of the student collections. There were exercises in fabric manipulations or treatments from designers like Giovanna Flores and Shani Starinski. Avant-garde materials and surface embellishments were used by designers like Lauren Nahigian and Chantal Galipeau. Creators tested different draping techniques and pushed the boundaries of clothing silhouettes as seen in the collections of Landry Low and Katya Reily.

Liz Claiborne winner Claire McKinney's collection was a study of denim. Perhaps a response to all of the surface treated skinny jeans dominating the industry in recent years, her group were filled with big, easy silhouettes. Some were boxy, more masculine or loose and comfortable. Accessories and unique garments showcased the interior construction details as exterior design elements.

While FIT's graduate show showcases the Future of Fashion in terms of the designers, The Pratt Fashion Show 2015 approach was to show it through the clothing execution itself. Both design philosophies show a lot of promise. Good luck graduates!
Photos courtesy of Pratt Institute

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WWD 100 Years, 100 Designers

If you're in the fashion biz, or just a fan of the apparel industry, you already read Women's Wear Daily.  It's the newspaper for this crazy business of fashion.  The publication is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a book honoring 100 top designers.

WWD: 100 Years, 100 Designers launched Thursday with an elegant party at Bergdorf Goodman's BG restaurant.  It was hosted by executive editor Bridget Foley and attended by many of today's top designers.  Vera Wang, Isaac Mizrahi and Francisco Costa mingled with muses like Bianca Jagger.  Everyone was in Manhattan chic (meaning lots of black, but exquisitely accessorized).

The book itself is gorgeously illustrated with photos of the best of fashion through the years.  If you missed your chance at Bergdorf Goodman's, WWD is holding another bash at Cipriani on November 2.  Otherwise, you can pre-order your copy on Amazon.com.
Photos courtesy of pmk.bnc

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