#NYFW: Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief

photos by David TW Leung

This was the hottest ticket of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief event last night at Lincoln Center brought out the top celebrities of music, fashion and entertainment to raise money for Ebola Survival Fund.

The supermodel strutted her famous walk down the runway herself multiple times, along with actresses like Rosario Dawson, Michelle Rodriguez, socialite Paris Hilton, fashion police squad Kelly Osbourne and Brad Goreski, stylist June Ambrose and editor Joe Zee. Diva Mary J. Blige was in full glamour along with actor Bryshere Y. Gray from Empire came out with Naomi Campbell for the finale. Guests in the audience included Justin Beiber. There was live music and a silent auction making this show the best party of the night.

Designers who lent their clothes and time for this event included everyone from Diane Von Furstenberg, Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, Roberto Cavalli, Calvin Klein and Thom Browne. 

New York Fashion Week can be exhausting. It was a lot of fun to see this many creative people using their fame to collaborate on a fashion event for a good cause. Thank you, Naomi Campbell for Fashion For Relief at New York Fashion Week

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Fashion Institute of Technology - Class of 2012

The Fashion Institute of Technology had one of the most flamboyant shows of the design school grads around town this month.  Those who could not attend the show live were able to stream it in 3-D at home.

Categories from lingerie, womens wear, menswear, and childrens were interpreted in a variety of techniques and looks.  Students worked under designer critics like Victor Alfaro, Josie Natori and Michelle Smith to create their collections.  The clothing then went through a rigorous judging process to be included in the show by fashion industry bigwigs like Elle Magazine's Joe Zee, VH1's Alana Kelen and Harper's Bazaar editor Laura Brown.

Learn more about the students, the judges and mentors at their site. 

Photos by Mariana Leung

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Ken and Barbie Get An F.I.T. Makeover

The Fashion Institute of Technology crowned student designers of multiple disciplines as winners of their "Play With Fashion" competition this week.  Their challenge was to give iconic Mattel characters Barbie and Ken an entire makeover, including their stylish home, bling and a photo shoot.  Winners included Veronica Zhou for jewelry design, Maor Tapiro for fashion design, Jessica Mazur for interior design, Loreal Prystaj for photography, and Elyse Falato for visual presentation and exhibition design.

Elle Magazine's creative director, Joe Zee guest judge.  Daily Front Row interviewed him about what he learned at Mattel's headquarters and what his dream Barbie Doll would be.

Damn, that doll always got the good stuff...
Diane Bondareff for Barbie via Daily Front Row

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Elle Magazine/Guess by Marciano Party to Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Last Thursday, Hubby and I attended a cocktail party at the Guess boutique in Soho. The event was hosted by Eliza Dushku and Joe Zee from Elle Magazine to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer research. If you have ever worn a pink ribbon, it was most likely to support this cause.

Petite Eliza Dusku looked beautiful, though almost lost in a sea of other black-clad fashionistas in the room. The taller Rick Fox and Whitney Port of The Hills were much easier to spot. Mark Indelicato, the youngest of the Ugly Betty clan was romping around the party with his friend, along with a couple of reality tv staples, singer Mitsue and me. At the beginning of the party, it almost seemed that the guests were outnumbered by media (MTV, Bravo, NBC were all filming).

I must say, the Guess by Marciano collection has really stepped up their game, as there were some very cute party-worthy dresses. The handbags (I attended the party for the Purse Page) definitely had some edgy, designer style. They have come a long way since the Shopping Mall staples of my youth.

For a $5 donation, you received a 20% discount of any purchase, as well as a big goodie bag. Champagne and refreshing cocktails of vodka, Ginton and white grape juice made shopping that much more enjoyable. Nibbles of turquoise-frosted cupcakes, lobster/mango skewers kept the lightweights from getting too tipsy... (Hubby declared, "I LOVE fashion parties...No one eats, and there's more for ME").

Missed the party? Shop the Susan G Komen online store to support the cause.

http://www.shopkomen.com/?itc=centerhpban:39

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