Fairy Tale Fashion at the Museum at FIT

Happy Easter Weekend my lovelies. I thought I would start it off with Manish Arora's Alice in Wonderland inspired costume at the Museum at FIT's Fairy Tale Fashion exhibit. This fantasy fashion tribute is one you don't want to miss if you are in town. It is a gorgeous mix of looks both from contemporary designers and historic costume. Some are inspired by ancient tales literally while some are more in spirit.

Alice in Wonderland's loopy dreamscape has Mad Hatters, a character driven insane from his own profession in fashion. Playing card motifs, tea parties, rabbits and a host of other characters tht inspire designers. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland film inspired a bunch of designers like Haider Ackerman and Alexander McQueen to create tribute ensembles for the movie.

Cinderella is a romantic story with an epic makeover. Both her "rags" stage and ballgown stage has
served as muse to many designers. In the 1970s, designer Giorgio di Sant'Angelo created a bohemian collection of layered prints and stitch details to celebrate Cinderella's rags. Many a designer created stunning ballgowns. Christian Louboutin designed the drool-worthy Cinderella shoes to coincide with Disney's Cinderella movie.


Little Red Riding Hood is a story about a girl defined by her outerwear. There were historic red hooded cloaks along with contemporary designer counterparts. The Beauty and the Beast tale also displayed historic costumes to illustrate the story of the era of the 1700s.

The Little Mermaid and many under the sea creatures were the inspiration for some of the whimsical exhibits. Seaweed and coral motif appliques embellished a Rodarte fishnet gown. Hideki Seo created an elaborate Sea Witch ensemble for the exhibition. Nature also plays into the lore of fairies and Sleeping Beauty. Woodland creatures are a part of the Snow White and Rose Red fairy tale. The exhibit pays tribute to furry pelted looks from J. Mendel, Prada's 2008 collection with James Jean fairy illustrations and Alexander McQueen's collection of dresses with insect motifs.

The Wizard of Oz is a great story to inspire fashion designers. The hero of the day are those ruby slippers. Many shoe designers have created their own version of the famous footwear. Gingham and prairie looks, sinister black and green fashion illustrate the fashion tropes of this story. The Museum at FIT hosted their own exhibit of Tonner Doll's tribute to The Wizard of Oz movie. A huge collection of designers re-imagined high fashion updates to either the Wicked Witch or Dorothy.

While some of the fairy tale fashion is pure costume fantasy. Some of the gorgeous looks were perfect for bringing magic into real life. If you want to give your sartorial day a happy ending, get yourself to thehttp://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/ Museum at FIT's exhibit before it ends at April 16, 2016.

Photos by Mariana Leung

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SAG Awards Beading

Night and day, the gowns were at last night's Screen Actor's Guild awards.  As always, I pick my favorite embellished gowns for embroidery and beading.

Jenny Packham scored a lot of red carpet time with beading like a night sky on Jenna Fischer and edgy studded embellishments on Kelly Osbourne.  Nicole Kidman was elegant in a floral applique navy gown from Vivienne Westwood.

There were some terrific bridal alternatives to be found in the white dresses that came down the carpet.  Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka wore an off-white Oscar de la Renta dress.  Jayma Mays from Glee wore a flowering dress from  Georges Hobeika.  Kerry Washington continues to stun by wearing a Rodarte dress with a fantastic bodice that was a mix of hard studs and delicate lace.

Photos from Fashionista.com

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Rodarte Costumes the NYC Ballet Spring Gala

Kate and Laura Mulleavy designed costumes for Academy Award winning movie Black Swan with great fanfare (and controversy).  The gorgeous feathered costumes for Natalie Portman were as much the star as the Oscar winner herself.

Since then, the Rodarte designers have been on a roll with theatrical dressing.  They have collaborated with the Dutch National Ballet and just debuted the clean, modern, stripe costumes for the New York City Ballet
Spring Gala pictured above.  The team was a reunion of Black Swan creatives, with choreographer/dancer (and husband to Natalie Portman post-movie) Benjamin Millepied and the actress herself as gala chairman.

Up next?  The Mulleavy sisters are working on costumes for the opera.  Specifically, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Don Giovanni.   

I'm hoping they will tackle Broadway next...How about an update on Jekyll and Hyde?
Photo from racked.com

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Rodarte: States of Matter Exhibit at MOCA

In business for only six years, the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte have been one of the most lauded and respected fashion designers of the current generation.  Honored by Michelle Obama with the Cooper Hewitt Award, celebrated by the fashion elite, the label is now being honored at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Los Angeles.

The exhibit, “Rodarte: States of Matter” shows several tutus from their highly publicized (and controversial) gig designer for the movie Black Swan.  There are also garments from three seasons of their runway collections.

Longtime collaborator, Alexandre de Betak helped to create dramatic set pieces to display the collection.  A very noir exhibit meant to display black garments as sculpture pieces, there are mannequins suspended from the ceiling and spun slowly on whirling motors.

The theatrical “immersive” exhibit is what you would hope for from a duo who cites “Living Dead Dolls” and Japanese horror films as inspiration. 

The exhibit runs until June 5, 2011 at MOCA Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Photos by Autumn de Wilde. Courtesy of MOCA.

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Ecco Domani Fashion Designer Award Winners Announced

Good wine and fashion...A well known combination.  Winemaker Ecco Domani started a fashion foundation several years ago to award grants to up-and-coming designers in the industry.  They have a good eye, as past winners included Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang and Rodarte.  

This year, they announced winners Pamela Love for accessories and Kyle Fitzgibbons of Native Son for menswear.  For womenswear, Mandy Coon, M. Patmos, Nikki Dekker of The Lake & Stars and friend of Ms. Fab, Bibhu Mohapatra took home honors.  Tara St. James won the award for sustainable design for her label Study NY.  

Each of the designers will receive $25 000 towards the costs of presenting at NY fashion week.  Congratulations!!! You have all earned it!

Are you a designer and think you're due?  Apply for next year's grant here.

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FAB Exclusive: Elle Fanning on Fashion, Vintage and Shopping

The star of Sofia Coppola's new film "Somewhere", Elle Fanning was stunning in a Rodarte Dress.  She graced the red carpet like a pro.  The dress was crafted from embossed suede panels over gold brocade.  She wore towering sculpted gold heels on her feet.  On her wrist were delicate bracelets given to her from her co-stars.

The actress plays the complex daughter of playboy Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) in a moving, emotional film.  Ms. Fanning gave the Ms. FAB Mariana Leung the rundown on vintage clothes shopping and getting big sis Dakota's fashion approval.

MsFAB: Do you have a favorite designer now? 

Elle Fanning: Rodarte is just amazing right now.  They made this [dress] for me which is incredible.  I love them so much. I also love vintage. I lot of things I wear don’t have a specific designer. I go to the vintage stores and shop around.  I like the 1950’s. 

MsFAB: Are there certain types of pieces you like?

Elle Fanning: The real clothes, like dresses with organza fabric.  I like mixing boots with it.  I have also gotten into the 70’s as well so like everything is high-waisted that I am obsessed with.  Bell bottoms, 

MsFAB: Do you have a favorite red carpet outfit of all time so far?

Elle Fanning: I have so many different things, so they’re all tied right now.

MsFAB: Was there a certain outfit that Dakota really loved of yours that you might want to fight over?

Elle Fanning: Well, we have never really fought over an outfit before…yet.  She is older than me so she can wear other stuff that I can’t.  She’s loved all the outfits.  She’s not here in New York right now, so I sent her a picture of the dress and she approved, so that’s good! 

MsFAB: Do you usually get each other’s approval on outfits before an event?

Elle Fanning: Yeah sure!  She’s my big sister, so I definitely want her support!  With all the movies, she comes to visit me on set and everything.  She’s proud of me and I’m proud of her.

MsFAB: Where are you shopping for Christmas?

Elle Fanning: I’m looking for a lot of ornaments right.  I have a tradition where I give each of my family members an ornament every Christmas, so I’m on the lookout for any of those.

MsFAB: Do you have a favorite place to shop for ornaments?

Elle Fanning:  We look at all the different malls that have the trees set up.  Whenever we see those, we just say let’s go and scout around

MsFAB: Where do you shop for yourself for clothing?

Elle Fanning: There’s a place called Playclothes in L.A. which is a vintage store which recently moved farther away from my house which was sort of a bummer.  I went for a trip to find it and it’s a lot bigger now, so it can hold more 70’s and 50’s clothes now !

MsFAB: That's awesome, thank you Elle! 

Photos by Mariana L. and Ritika W.

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Rodarte Costumes for Black Swan

Black Swan, the dark, ballet thriller by Darren Aronofsky opened Friday.  In fashion, all of the buzz has been going to the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte.  They designed seven of the edgy, Goth-chic costumes for the stylish movie.  The theme of "duality" played out on stage and off.  

For Prince Siegfried's character, the designers were inspired by mechanical birds.  The costume is vividly detailed with floral embroidered cheesecloth and distressed velvet.  Odette's costume is a constructed pancake shaped tutu.  It was embellished with white angora wool to emulate branches growing up the skirt.  

This may be the first film for Kate and Laura Mulleavy, but the designers have previously found horror and ballet to be muses for their collection.  

Update 1/31/11: While the Mulleavy sisters received many accolades for the fashionable look of this film, one hard-working designer has been left out of the spotlight.  In an interview for film style blog Clothes on Film, Award-winning costume designer Amy Westcott noted that while Rodarte may have been responsible for seven looks, there were many other costumes that were created by herself and Zack Brown.  

Ms. Westcott also clarified the difference between a fashion designer's role and her own position.  A fashion designer may conceptualize looks for the screen.  However, a true film costumer researches every tone and color on film, wear-tests each costume and is on set every day to ensure the comfort of the actors.

Amy Westcott Sketch

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Red Carpet Recessionistas

Remember when gawking at stars on the red carpet was about drooling over unattainable couture gowns?  I don’t know if it is the recession, the Obama effect, or the general democratization of style, but celebrities are flaunting bargain finds in front of paparazzi.

The early pioneer of the high-low red carpet look was Sharon Stone.  In 1996, she was the star to dress for the Academy Awards.  She made the best fashion press of the night when she declared she grabbed a Gap turtleneck from her closet for the evening.  (She failed to mention the Valentino skirt it was paired with).  As a result Gap was elevated to a serious fashion brand and even sponsored this year’s Met Costume Gala.

FLOTUS Michelle Obama is often seen mixing young designers with mass apparel brands like Talbot’s and J. Crew.  Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men struck a glamorous pose in a very attainable Topshop dress.  

One answer to this phenomenon would be the high end designer collaborations with mass market brands.  Edgy label Rodarte and Zac Posen recently created fabulous dresses for mega-retailer Target.  Natalie Portman was seen in a $40 Rodarte, Claire Danes sported the Zac Posen on the red carpet.  Gap has hired many a young designer like Prabal Garung and Thakoon for special projects.  Isaac Mizrahi has a special collection for Liz Claiborne, sold at J.C. Penney.

With funds no longer a problem, the rest of us plebeians have no excuse not to be red carpet ready.

Photos by Jason Kempin/Filmmagic,Steve Eichner,Marc Stamas/Getty Images

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Michelle Obama Awards Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award to Rodarte

Championed by Anna Wintour, the CFDA and now the White House, the talent of the Mulleavy sisters is being recognized at the highest levels. Rodarte won for fashion design. Other awards included prizes for interior design, architecture, landscape design and product design.

Wearing a two-piece Isabel Toledo ensemble, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the awards luncheon at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design museum. She delighted in being seated next to Project Runway's Tim Gunn, acknowledging they were mutual fans. Guests were able to view Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Charles Harrison on retro viewfinders.

The Rodarte designers were unable to attend the awards due to family obligations, but were praised as "some of our country's most talented, most visionary, most public-minded designers" by Mrs. Obama.

Looking to inspire the next generation, the designers honored at the luncheon met with students at the Teen Design Fair. The creators and teenagers exchanged ideas and provided advice for the future.

Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton, Rodarte photos by Marcio Madeira

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Fashion Exhibits Paris, NYC & London - Museum Roundup

Haute Couture week in Paris has just ended. The garmento glitterati are now bracing for upcoming NY Fashion Week and London Fashion week the storms to come. I invite those of you who are not attending the shows (or have lost too much sleep preparing for them) to take a break and get some inspiration from fashion’s cultural greats. (Remember those days when you weren't burnt out and had some creative drive?)


In Paris, check out the Mme Vionnet exhibit and the upcoming tribute to Animal print and motifs at Les Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts). Also in the City of Lights, pay homage to the great Yves St. Laurent at the Petit Palais.



In New York, admire "American Beauty" at the Museum at FIT. This exhibit explores the "philosophy of beauty" and how it applies to the craft of dressmaking by American fashion designers. Also at the museum, check out "Scandals, Sandals & Lady Slippers" for all the foot fetishists out there. Over at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, the work of the Mulleavy sisters is on display in a retrospective of the Rodarte Label.



In London, look for Grace Kelly: Style Icon at the Victoria and Albert Museum. After admiring the past, look ahead to Future Fashion Now, an exhibit of the graduating designers of the Royal College of Art. At the Fashion and Textile Museum, relive London's cultural revolution with the Foale & Tuffin: Made in England exhibit.

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