Archive for November 2010

Prince William and Kate Middleton Are Engaged! So What Should She Wear?

Prince William and Kate Middleton are finally engaged after eight years of dating. Wills proposed a month ago while the couple were on vacation in Kenya, and today, Clarence House officially announced their engagement. Prince William and Kate are set to wed this coming spring or summer, and the world should get a peek of the engagement ring tonight when the 28-year-old couple give their first public interview. But we’re more interested in the dress, of course, and as there’s no word yet on what Kate will wear down the aisle at Westminster Abbey (or whatever royal venue is chosen), we’ve gathered our top picks.

Middleton clearly has an interest in fashion–she’s worked as an accessories buyer for Brit chain Jigsaw and she was offered a job in PR with Tom Ford–but her style tends towards clean and simple. Will she go with Bruce Oldfield who designs for the Royals, or a younger Brit bridal line like Temperley? Will she stick with her go-to fave, Issa, or go edgier?

Here’s what we’re hoping for. What would you like to see Kate wear?

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Billy Reid Wins CFDA Fashion Fund Prize–Eddie Borgo and Prabal Gurung are Runners-Up

Congrats to Billy Reid! The industry veteran, whose story of triumph, retreat, and comeback is one for the fashion books, has been awarded the CFDA Fashion Fund Prize. He’ll receive $300,000 to put towards the growth of his already-impressive business, which includes menswear, womenswear, collaborations with K-Swiss and Levi’s, as well as several retail boutiques.

Runners up Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo received $100,000 each. The prizes were upped significantly this year–by $100,000 for the winner, $50,000 for the runners-up. All three designers also received a Rachel Feinstein-designed trophy.

This year, the Fashion Fund’s partner was J.Crew, with additional support from American Express, Appleman Foundation, Barneys New York, Coach, Juicy Couture, Liz Claiborne Inc., Lord & Taylor, L’Oréal Paris, Nordstrom, Theory, and Vogue.

A gaggle of stars, from Carrie Mulligan to Leighton Meester, were in attendance. We’ll post our picks for best dressed tomorrow morning. Another congrats to Billy, Eddie, and Prabal!

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Shopping

13 of Our Favorite Chunky, Printed Cardi-Coats

Sweater weather is here people, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s one of the best things about the temperature dropping. And since we’re puffer-coat averse here at Fashionista, this cardi-coat trend is right up our alley. They’re super cozy and thick enough to double as coats (before temps drop below freezing). The best versions are printed–Navajo, fair isle, and intarsia–perfect for adding a little interest over jeans and flat knee-boots. We’re making it our new weekend staple.

Take a look through some of our favorites.

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Sales

Racked Dealfeed: Lauren Moffatt, Creatures of Comfort, Elizabeth and James, Steven Alan, and More

Lauren Moffatt
Deal: Girlie tops and skirts for $90, dresses for $120, and coats for $160
When/Where: Tuesday, November 16th through Wednesday, November 17th. Daily 9am—7pm. 214 W 29th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 1503 (no number)

Honey in the Rough
Deal: A nine-day pop-up offering 50% to 70% off Surface to Air, Tsumori Chisato, United Bamboo, and other designers
When/Where: Friday, November 12 through Sunday, November 21. Daily noon—8pm. 129 Rivington St between Norfolk and Essex Sts (212-228-6415)

Elizabeth and James / LaROK
Deal: Sample sale. 50% – 80% off retail prices.
When/Where: Wednesday, November 17 through Friday, November 19. 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Thursday ’till 7:00 PM)

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Gabrielle’s Into Long Skirts and Having Perfect Brows

Name: Gabrielle

Age: 23

Occupation: New York Fashion Editor at FILLER Magazine.

How would you describe your style? A variation on classic, with moments of Mod and 70′s thrown in depending on the day. Right now, I’m really inspired by the long skirt trend. Every piece I’ve bought this season hits the ground or is just above the ankle bone. There is something very sexy in being covered up.

What are you listening to? The Temper Trap, Friendly Fires, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

If you were to get a tattoo today, what would it be? There’s nothing I really want permanently stamped on my body.

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Events

The V&A Celebrates Kenzo

LONDON–Usually when you turn 40 in the fashion business the only one in the know is your Mom–and you’ve got her protecting that little gem of a factoid like it’s a government secret. Those rules don’t apply though, and rightly so, when you’re Parisian fashion label Kenzo. Four decades after Kenzo Takada became the first Japanese designer to bring his sensibility and sophistication for textiles to the French capital, the maison Kenzo is celebrating its coming-of-middle-age at every chance. In London Friday, the Victoria & Albert Museum played host to free and public live catwalk shows of Kenzo’s SS 11 collection in the fittingly dramatic Raphael Gallery. Their Fashion In Motion series has previously presented shows by Jean-Paul Gaultier, Giles Deacon, Christian Lacroix and Stella McCartney.

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Fashion Is Fun

Before Gaga’s Meat Dress These Designers Created Waffle Pants And Challah Bread Epaulets

About two years before Gaga donned her famous meat dress to the VMA’s this past September, a group of 15 designers were commissioned by photographer Ted Sabarese to create looks made entirely of food. The photos and the creations, which were brought to our attention by Behance, are so good we had to post them.

Sabarese explains on his site that the photo project, titled “Hunger Pains,” was intended to explore the relationship between people and the food they eat (there’s also a making-of video). He commissioned Ami Goodheart at SOTU productions, a company that makes things like human chandeliers happen at parties for people like Richard Branson, to gather the talent to create the looks. Each model wore an outfit created solely of food depicting a meal the designer was craving. We’re partial to the artichoke gown made by Project Runway alums Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault and the waffle pants.

Which look would you like to munch on? (And is it just us, or does the waffle pants guy look like the leaf shirt guy?)

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Gratuitous Taylor Momsen Post of the Day

Taylor Momsen Is Insanely Cute. Really.

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, Nov 15, 2010 / 3:00 PM


We never said she was cute now. Momsen is a gun-toting, flashing, gothed-out, black eye-linered former shell of her adorable three-year-old Shake n’ Bake shilling self. And we know how many of you feel about her. But we just couldn’t resist posting this.
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Shopping

Lanvin is Creating a Haute Couture Version of Its H&M Collection in the Name of Charity

So the invitation wasn’t lying when it said Thursday’s Lanvin Hearts H&M runway show would feature the “haute couture” collection.

Indeed, Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz and his team have created one-of-a-kind, high-end versions of his H&M wares, to be auctioned off in the name of UNICEF. A total of 25 garments will be available for purchase via bidding on the charity’s own auction site. Alber Elbaz has also donated five original and signed sketches of the collection, also to be auctioned off.

Lanvin x H&M are also teaming up with 25 blogs–including this one!–to help spread the word. When the auction site goes live–we’re still waiting on a url as well as a specific date and time–you’ll be able to bid on the “Fashionista-sponsored” frock.

We’ll be back soon with an image of Fashionista’s Lanvin x H&M piece, as well as more details on the auction. Which styles do you want to see made into couture?

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Kerr Covers Aussie Vogue Pregnant, Lindsay’s a Plastinina, and Brooklyn Law Disgusted by Diesel

A Very Pregnant Kerr Covers Australian Vogue: Vogue Australia landed its first pregnant cover girl and it’s none other than Miranda Kerr. After being photographed preggers and nude for W, it was only a matter of time before she ended up on a cover. {Catwalk Queen}

LiLo Poses for Kira: Yeah, Kira Plastinina still exists in some parts of the world. And Lindsay Lohan is the new face of the brand. {TMZ}

Greetings From Zac Posen: The designer has sketched a dress that looks like a Christmas tree for his very own holiday card. Buy a box–the proceeds will benefit New Yorkers For Children. {Tiny Prints}

Brooklyn Law School Is Not Stupid: By now, we’re sure you’ve seen Diesel’s “Be Stupid” campaign. Well, Brooklyn Law School rented out their library expecting a tasteful shoot. Instead, they got pictures of young models running around in their underwear grinding against bookshelves, books, and other models. The dean is not happy. {New York Post}

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Entertainment

Rumor Denied: Bella Swan Won’t Wed in Zac Posen

Earlier this month, ET reported that Zac Posen would design Bella Swan’s wedding dress for the last Twilight film. The rumor swept the internet, and seemed to make sense as Stewart herself is a big fan of Posen’s designs on the red carpet.

But this past weekend Posen took to Twitter to deny the rumor. “Heard the bella/twilight rumor and it’s just that. I design for real women like Kristen Stewart and Anna Kendrick,” Posen tweeted. Hopefully Bella won’t walk the aisle in a knock off, like Fleur Delacourt’s McQueen copy in Harry Potter.

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Retail

Google Gets Into Fashion With Boutiques.com, Brings on SJP for the Launch

It seems that Project G-Style wasn’t just an intern’s dream after all.

Google will launch its very own “create-your-own” boutique channel on Wednesday called Boutiques.com, reports WWD.

The site, currently password protected, is the result of Google’s acquisition of Like.com last August. So we should have seen this coming, since Like.com and its adjoining properties are all related to online shopping.

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