Archive for May 2011

Royal Wedding

Report: Kate Middleton and Sarah Burton Collaborated “50/50″ On the Dress

Sarah Burton continued one of the most triumphant weeks in her career with a stop at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship in NYC yesterday where she did a meet-and-greet in the McQueen shop there. Despite being told not to ask her about the royal wedding, human nature got the best of people.

One attendee spoke to Burton and told WWD afterward of the conversation, “She said the princess was one of the most lovely women she has ever met and she was really low maintenance. She said the palace called her and the collaboration between her and Kate was 50-50.”

After that, Burton tried to avoid the topic, with mixed success.

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Would You Rather?

Would You Rather…? The Sequin Pasty Edition

By Steff Yotka Tuesday, May 3, 2011 / 8:00 PM


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Beauty

Kate Middleton Smelled Like White Gardenia Petals on Her Wedding Day

Why has no one been talking about Kate Middleton’s wedding perfume? A scent can be the ultimate accessory (though obviously it’s difficult to take a picture of someone’s smell). If you want to be very thorough in knocking off Kate’s wedding, one must know these details.

Basenotes, a very comprehensive and brainy fragrance blog, broke the news that Kate wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum. Never heard of Illuminum? The line’s English founder, Michael Boadi, is a former celebrity and runway hair stylist. He launched a first line of perfumes (with the questionable name of Boadicea the Victorious), which currently has 35 fragrances. Michelle Obama purchased three of them back in 2009.

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Fashion Is Fun

The Top Ten Most Stylish Mother and Daughter Pairs; My Mom the Style Icon Weighs In

Ever come across an old photo of your mom–you know, a photo from before you even existed–and thought, “Damn, my mom looks good” and then “OMG I want that whole outfit”?

Piper Weiss did, so she started a blog called My Mom the Style Icon where she posts photos of stylish moms that date from the 1920s through the 1980s, tells the stories of the moms in the photos, and offers up hilarious commentary on their outfits. That blog is now a book, and last night Coach threw a party to celebrate its release–just in time for mother’s day. (Seriously, buy it now for your mom).

True to her mom-style obsession, Weiss, who by day is an editor at Yahoo! Shine (you should read her stuff there because it’s hilarious), wore a vintage Pierre Cardin dress that was her mom’s in the 70s that she gave what she calls a “a shoulder pad-ectomy” and had shortened. Mama Weiss, the inspiration for the book, was there too, looking stylish as ever.

There are exceptions to every rule, but it seems style is more often than not passed down from mothers to child. So we brainstormed with Weiss to come up with the ten of the most fashionable mother and daughter pairs (and one mother-son pair), and she offered her two cents on each stylish duo. What other stylish mother daughter pairs did we leave off?

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  • LEAH CHERNIKOFF
  • Tuesday, May 3, 2011 / 6:31 PM
  • 9 Comments
Events

Want to Find Out How Chris Benz Went from Waiting Tables to Designer? Come to Our Panel!

Designer Chris Benz is one of the darlings of the New York fashion scene–loved by critics and customers alike. But he didn’t get there overnight. And his path might surprise you.

The job he describes as his “favorite and most important” in his career?

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Fashion Is Fun

How Many Attendees Wore McQueen? How Many Pro Athletes Attended? The Met Ball By the Numbers

Here are some trends and interesting tidbits that we took note of as the celebs, models, and designers made their way up the Metropolitan Museum’s steps at last night’s Met Ball honoring the the work of the late Alexander McQueen and celebrating the Costume Institute’s retrospective of his work.

13:
McQueen gowns spotted on the red carpet

16:
Guests wearing event co-chair Stella McCartney’s designs

4:
Pro-athletes who traded in their jerseys for tuxedos (or, in Serena Williams’ case, Oscar de la Renta–the others were Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Tom Brady)

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Reviews

A Review and Reflections on ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ at the Met’s Costume Institute (Plus a Full Gallery of the Exhibit)

Fashionista contributor Long Nguyen is the co-founder/style director of Flaunt.

One of the 100 dresses featured in “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” the Met’s Costume Institute retrospective of designer Alexander McQueen, is an ice blue and khaki lace dress, sliced to reveal nude underwear below the waist. It’s a dress I’ve always remembered from my first exposure to Mr. McQueen’s work.

In March 1995, during my first year as a magazine editor, I went to London to attend London Fashion week. Late in the afternoon, on the third day of fashion week, I ducked into a tent to see the collection of a recent Central Saint Martins graduate who had been making waves.

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  • LONG NGUYEN
  • Tuesday, May 3, 2011 / 3:45 PM
  • 4 Comments
Beauty

Met Gala Beauty Analysis: The Best and the Not-So-Good

The Met Gala is all about the dresses, but as we know, fashion and beauty go hand in hand. There were some spectacular looks and some, um, interesting ones. We’ll break it all down for you here.

Some trends emerged, and we can say this: if you’re still wearing boring lip gloss everyday, now’s the time to run out and get some bold lipstick. Nude, dewy faces were also popular, so you have options for those days when you can’t bear a red lip.

Click through for the best and, we’ll just say “questionable” looks from last night’s Met Gala.

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Streetwalker

Street Style: Sadie’s Style is a Mish-Mash of Laundry Day and Transitional Weather

Name: Sadie Stein

Occupation: Editor at Jezebel.com

How would you describe your style? It’s a mish-mash of laundry day and transitional weather.

What is your favorite vintage store in the city? Portia & Manny–they have the best shoes selection.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: A Peek Inside the Met Ball, John Galliano Fired his Lawyer, and Amazon Cashes in On the Flash Sale Craze

Amazon Launches a Flash Sale Site: The new members only site–a la Gilt and Rue La La–called Myhabit, will host four to six sales each day beginning at noon at up to 60 percent off retail price. The site launches today and scheduled brands include Elizabeth and James, Vena Cava, and Betsey Johnson. {WWD, subscription required}

Inside the Costume Institute Gala: You’ve seen all of the red carpet photos, but Vogue‘s WIlliam Norwich takes you inside the Met for the exclusive party. {Vogue}

Giorgio Armani Designed Vestments for a Bishop: Monsignor Domenico Mogavero wore his designer robes to a church inauguration on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria where Armani has a home. {Telegraph}

PPR Acquires Volcom: The California skate and surf company joins Puma as part of PPR’s growing mass market division. {WWD, subscription required}

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: What Designer Thinks Kate Middleton Is a “Vanilla Whore”?

By Leah Chernikoff Tuesday, May 3, 2011 / 12:00 PM

“Kate Middleton is a vanilla whore!”

–According to a blind item in Page Six, some designer deigned to slam Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, on the eve of her wedding (the Post surmises that the designer was bitter that he/she did not get the royal commission). Read more »

Beauty

New Nail Color Alert: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Releases Spring Patterns!

When Sally Hansen launched their Salon Effects nail polish strips back in January, I was instantly smitten. It turns out that a lot of other people were, too, because the brand cannot keep them in stock anywhere. I’m currently hoarding two boxes of Misbehaved, the fishnet stocking pattern, which I’m saving for a special occasion. (Because fishnets on your nails are surprisingly versatile.)

Sally Hansen is offering five new patterns–available this month–and they’re perfect. The best of the bunch is Ay Ay Captain (a blue nautical stripe) which is going to look snazzy with all the striped knockoffs you’re buying from Zara. There’s also: Don’t Get Catty (hot pink leopard), Check, Please! (black and white checks that bring to mind old school Vans), Show Your Stripes (a black and silver chevron pattern), and Wicked Bamboo (neutral stripes). Look for the new styles to hit drugstores everywhere over the course of May.

Click through to see the other patterns.

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