Archive for September 2010

Shopping

We Need, We Want, We Have to Have: Tweed and Texture

By Fashionista Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010 / 1:00 PM

Women’s fashion is cyclical, and this cycle is dedicated to menswear-inspired designs. As suckers for any type of boyfriend blazer, trouser pant, cargo or button down, this makes us happy. What also makes us happy are the rich fabrics and textures associated with menswear. Camel blazer? Yes, please. A tweed mini? Hand it over. We’ve roundup up a selection of our favorite tweedy, textured pieces for fall. What nubbly item are you after?

The Skirt Suit
We love suits, but a skirt suit is particularly special—it’s sexy and authoritative at once. Rebecca Taylor’s ode to Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel—aptly named her “9 to 5” jacket and skirt—is made from a rich bouclé wool tweed. The twist? It’s trimmed in black lace and chiffon, adding something soft to something structured.

The Boy Blazer
Now a wardrobe staple, the boy blazer balances out a flowing blouse or dresses up a pair of skinny jeans. Ralph Lauren Black Label’s “Daryn” Tweed Hacking Jacket is the most perfect, refined boyfriend blazer for fall 2010. We’ll wear it with a pair of dark denim jeans and boots, or lace-up oxfords. Our favorite part? The patched elbows–so old school.

The Rain Boot
Wellies are a tricky item. They are functional, but not always very pretty. However, the minute one begins experimenting with crazy colors or patterns, they become a burden, not a joy, to strap on. Enter Chooka’s signature herringbone rain boot. A standard, can’t go wrong black with herringbone tweed detailing. They add interest without clashing.

The Sweater Jacket
We invested in leather leggings for fall, and the only thing we really want to throw over them is a long sweater jacket. DvF’s “Setta” version has a bit more shape than most, with a nice big collar and lovely leather trimming. We’ll wear it with our leggings and a soft t-shirt.

The Short
Shorts were a huge story for spring and summer, and that trend will continue on through fall. What’s better than the tweed version? We’ll pair ours with thick tights and lace-up brogues. Or maybe a pair of boots. Sanctuary’s version boasts rolled, tabbed, hems–just like your favorite summer khakis.

Viva la tweed!



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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: A Closer Look at Gaga’s Meat Dress, Tavi in the New Yorker, and Nordstrom (Hopefully) Comes to Manhattan

An Expert Analysis of Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress: There may not be a designer name behind it, but these two real life butchers can tell you exactly what types of meat were used. “‘It’s the cheaper end cuts – not including her. You got about $100 of meat there,’ said Mark Cacioppo, 30, of Queens.” This must have been the least expensive outfit Gaga has ever worn–although, the Hello Kitty and Kermit the Frog dresses might have been comparable. {NY Daily News}

Kate Moss Plays a Hindu Goddess: KM3D-1 (which stands for Kate Moss in 3D, we guess) is a film directed by Ballie Walsh that will premiere in London tomorrow. Based on these few behind-the-scenes snapshots, it seems to be a film about Kate Moss looking amazing, in 3-D. {NOWNESS}

The Constant Analysis of Tavi Will Not Stop: There is an eight-page profile on Tavi Gevinson in the New Yorker. {New Yorker}

A Real Nordstrom in Manhattan? Nordstrom is probably opening a Manhattan flagship within the next two years. As a Seattle-native and life-long Nordstrom devotee, I am freaking out and need this to happen. {WWD}

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Vanessa Bruno’s Daughter Lune, 14 going on 20

Name: Lune (French for Moon)

Age: 14

Occupation: High school student.

What are you wearing? Abercrombie jeans, a coat by Athé by Vanessa Bruno, and a vintage Vanessa Bruno bag and top.

What are you interested in? Fashion of course, but also theater on my dad’s side, art, graphic design. I live in a very visual world and I’m attracted to culture and the arts in general.

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Fashion Week

Live From New York, It’s Saturday (& Sunday) Night at Milk

This weekend at Milk was jam packed, with shows from a plethora of talented designers. Gary Graham showed a strong collection on Saturday, as did Isabella Tonchi.

Sunday was busy with a show from Erin Fetherston with Kelly Osbourne front row, and a presentation from Pamela Love complete with mixtape goody bags, and a colorful and joyous presentation from Peter Jensen.

Click through for more on Milk’s weekend offerings.

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Reviews

SUNO’s Elephantine Presence

SUNO, a breakout star of AW10 and a member of the Fashionista 15, had a lot of expectations to meet for their sophomore presentation. Last season they created the largest buzz of NYFW with their African textiles and clunky platform shoes.

For SS11 the label forged on, with a more global outlook on fashion. Inspired by the Ballets Russes, Japanese prints, and Swahili writing, SUNO branched out far beyond the borders of Kenya, now producing their looks in New York and India as well.

So how has this globalization of sorts affected a brand best known for it’s African imports?

Well, it’s proven that SUNO is no one trick pony. Able to synthesize design concepts from around the world, Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty developed SUNO into a label filled with wearable and fun pieces. Standout looks ranged from a miss-matched bathing suit (SUNOs first foray into swimwear), a sequin dress over a plaid button-down, and a flowing white dress fit for a hip bride.

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Fashion Week

Simon Spurr: Handsome as F*ck

I have three words to say about Simon Spurr’s 2011 Spring/Summer collection: So F*cking Handsome.

But here are some more words, just in case: Spurr has found that enviable place between high-end British cutting and a cool American feel. The cuts of his jackets, jeans and shirts are razor sharp, and tight like a vice, but there’s nothing restricting about them. And nothing too austere.

There are leather gloves here and leather bombers, to remind us men that we’re men. The striped and plaid suits that are damn near playful, while maintaining confidence (Spurr has gone with three-pieces for many of his looks, to my great delight) and some pink trousers to go with the dapper, leather travel bags his boys took with them down the runway.

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  • John Ortved
  • Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010 / 10:00 AM
  • 2 Comments
Fashion Week

The Models Looked Miserable At Rebecca Minkoff, But the Bags Were Cute

Rebecca Minkoff presented her Spring/Summer ’11 presentation yesterday afternoon at The Box at Lincoln Center. Maybe there was something bad in the food backstage (or there wasn’t any) or the lights had gotten hotter since Timo’s presentation a few hours earlier. For whatever reason, Minkoff’s models we’re dropping like flies half way through the hour-long presentation. Every few minutes, a model would step down from the platform and go backstage and sometimes be replaced by another model. They were all sweating and looked absolutely exhausted and miserable. A woman spent the entire presentation handing thirsty-looking girls cups of Fiji water.

The most miserable-looking of all? Style blogger-of-the-moment Rumi Neely, who looked like she would have rather been blogging about the show than modeling in it. However, she happened to be wearing my favorite outfit: a long, flowy nude dress with a black waistband and these amazing black shoes that were like a clog-ankle boot combo. The clothes, wearable and ’70s-inspired, were pretty, but the bags and shoes were definitely the most covetable. Click through for our faves.

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Sneak Peek: Lanvin, Alex Wang, Givenchy, Proenza, and Balmain T-Shirts Honoring Style.com

Happy birthday, Style.com! The granddaddy of all fashion sites turns 10 this week, and its celebrating with a limited edition run of t-shirts created by ten top designers. We got a sneak peek of the first five tees, made by Lanvin, Alex Wang, Givenchy, Proenza Schouler, and Balmain.

Nicole Phelps, one of our favorite runway show reviewers and executive editor of Style, says that the staff wanted to give the designers “a blank canvas to work with. Plus, people love tees. Ours are a nice, affordable $45 and a portion of the proceeds go to Computers For Youth.” The common denominator? Each designer used the roman numeral X in their work.

We’re partial to Lanvin‘s iteration, mostly because we’re partial to Alber’s sketches. But you know, Proenza‘s isn’t bad either. Nor is Givenchy’s. In reality , they’re all equally fantastic.

Want one of these slouchy stunners for yourself? They’ll be for sale at Style.com’s mobile pop-up shop in Madison Square Park on September 15, on the site September 16. Click through to see the designer’s work.

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Reviews

Wes Gordon’s Uptown Girls

There’s no doubting Wes Gordon, one of our Fashionista 15, likes the ladies. Who lunch. But this year, the designer told me he wanted his look to be a little younger. Lighter. “She’s undoubtedly uptown,” said Gordon before the noon installment of his presentation. “But this season, I wanted her to be a girl, too.”

The baby-faced designer, whose proud parents looked on as the models stepped out into a room at the Empire Hotel, implemented his vision quite nicely. While editors were sure to love his hipper designs, from the grey short suit (a favorite of mine) to the wide-leg romper trimmed in baby pink, the buyers and clients sprinkled across the room must have appreciated the last look, a gold lame gown, as well as a floral skirt matched with a sheer white blouse. Personally, I loved it all. And while I’m not a lady who lunches or an uptown girl, I’d be delighted to run around in one of these gorgeous looks.

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People Are Talking

Love is Blind. We are Not. Beauty Queen of Mean.

What pageant winner refused to take a picture with a little girl at Lincoln Center yesterday? The darling asked nicely, but the queen ignored her request.

Tom Ford Show Photos Have Leaked

We got you a first-hand review of Tom Ford’s super exclusive show, and now photos from that show, photos that we thought weren’t supposed to get out as we heard everyone had to sign a nondisclosure agreement (the same agreement that forced us to pull our audio of the show), have leaked. Here is everyone’s head shot before the show–from Julianne Moore to Beyonce to Daphne Guinness to Lauren Hutton–they’re all present and accounted for.

And now it seems OK to post photos from the show, as Cathy Horyn has posted photos she snapped while at the show on the NYT‘s website. Or maybe it’s just OK if you’re the Grey Lady. But Horyn’s photos do look kinda stalker-y right?

Click through to check out Horyn’s photos of the show and the rest of the headshots.

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Fashion Week

Marc Jacobs: Swinging ’70s Satin

Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Cheat Sheet:

  • 1940s by way of the 1970s.

  • Berry bonanza.
  • Satin.
  • Natural, frizzy waves.
  • Sparkle.
  • Poufy bows.
  • Orange.
  • Missoni.
  • Fall 2007.

Marc Jacobs Spring 2011, The Unabridged Version:
For me, there was a strong connection between Marc Jacobs Fall 2007 and Marc Jacobs Spring 2011: While Fall ’07 was about primary colors and the 1930s and ’40s, Spring ’11 was about sunset hues and the 1940s as it was interpreted in the 1970s. It was as if one began where the other left off.

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