Accessories

Photo: Getty
Accessories

Fern Mallis Is Launching a Jewelry Line for QVC–Just Don’t Call Her a ‘Designer’

When we first heard that Fern Mallis, who ran New York Fashion Week at IMG for almost a decade, was launching a jewelry line on QVC, our initial reaction, we must admit, was: really? Mallis is a fixture in the New York fashion scene, having gone on to host a series of talks with fashion icons at the 92nd St. Y as well as a SiriusXM radio show called “Fashion Insiders With Fern Mallis” after she left IMG. While Mallis obviously knows the fashion biz in New York inside and out, we never suspected she was into making fashion. But she is.

Mallis has just announced that she’ll be launching a jewelry collection for QVC called Fern Finds: by Fern Mallis, which she’ll hawk live during New York Fashion Week (obvi), starting on Friday, February 10 at 10pm (EST). We chatted with the former Fashion Week head honcho to find out just what inspired this move to design, whose style she looks up to, and which of her fashion friends she consulted with before starting her line.

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Accessories

Meet Jason Wu’s New Signature Bag and His Adorable Kittens (Yes, At the Same Time)

Target is basically attached to Jason Wu’s name right now: the hype for the February 5 launch of his collection for the mass retailer has reached fever pitch with a celeb-filled pre-shop party that went down last night. The Target buzz it’s almost enough to make you lose sight of the lovely work his does for his eponymous line–that is until he shows his fall 2012 collection next month.

We checked in with Wu to find out what’s going on outside of the Target hysteria. He’s excited about his new “it-bag” called the Daphne which he unveiled as part of his pre-fall collection. We found out why it’s called the Daphne, learned about his design process for accessories, and used this interview as shameless excuse to make him show us his adorable pet cats Jinxy and Peaches (perhaps the inspiration behind Milu, the muse for his Target collection?).

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Accessories

Watch: Kim Kardashian Shills a Shoe She ‘Created’ In Honor of Kate Middleton’s Birthday

By Dhani Mau Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 / 10:30 AM

It was about time Kate Middleton and Kim Kardashian collaborated on something. They have so much in common: their names start with a K; they’re both in their 30′s; they both got married last summer and they’re both subjects of worldwide obsession.

Okay, so technically they didn’t collaborate on anything, but Kim is promoting a Kate Middleton-inspired shoe for Shoedazzle, the membership-based shoe shopping site she founded. In the above video, Kim wishes the Duchess of Cambridge a happy 30th birthday and shows off the “The Duchess,” a “special shoe” that Shoedazzle created “just for Kate” that you can buy “um..here…at Shoedazzle.co.uk.” Read more »

Accessories

Here Are All of Prada’s Drool-Worthy Spring 2012 Shoes and Accessories

By Leah Chernikoff Thursday, Jan 5, 2012 / 12:08 PM

As soon as those ’50s hotrod stilettos and colorful boxy leather handbags hit Prada’s spring 2012 runway you could fairly see the wait lists forming, visualize them getting scuffed in the gravel of the Tuileries and photographed by every street style blogger. Even the generally unamused Cathy Horyn was tickled by them, and suggested wearing the “purely silly” heels on your next Match.com date. She praised the collection for its “machismo” against a sea of tired ’20s frocks.

So here are all of Prada’s delightfully quirky, insanely awesome, spring shoes and accessories, up close and personal. Read more »

Accessories

First Look: Karl Lagerfeld Shoots Alice Dellal for New Boy Chanel Bag Campaign

By Cheryl Wischhover Monday, Dec 19, 2011 / 9:00 AM

Photo: Courtesy Photo via WWD

Those recent rumors that Alice Dellal would be the newest face of a Chanel campaign are true. Chanel just released an image of her shoot with Karl Lagerfeld to WWD. Read more »

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Accessories

Click Your Heels Three Times: See Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz Right Now at Solange Azagury-Partridge

There is arguably not a single pair of shoes that has more legend or nostalgia surrounding them than the famous ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, courtesy of Glinda the Good Witch. They were ill-begotten (the Wicked Witch of the East was smashed by Dorothy’s house), not practical for roaming around a forest full of scary flying monkeys, and magical (or horrifying, depending on how you feel about going home).

The ruby slippers will be available to the highest bidder courtesy of auction Profiles in History on December 16, but you can see them now–up close and in person–at the Solange Azagury-Partridge boutique in NYC (809 Madison Ave). It’s fitting that the jeweler should play host to the glittery kicks–she’s well known for covering her jewelry in rainbow-colored gems (and she even has a rainbow carpet at her store).

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Photo: Getty
Accessories

Manolo Blahnik Is Still Trying to Create the Perfect Shoe

Last night I stopped by Manolo Blahnik‘s 54th Street boutique where the shoe designer was on hand with author Camilla Morton to sign copies of their new book, Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves & the Shoemaker (Morton wrote it, Blahnik did the illustrations). I only had four minutes to talk to the man whose creations threatened to send Sex and the City‘s Carrie Bradshaw into debt, as the crowd of extremely posh Blahnik-shod women waiting to have the master sign their shoes and books was growing larger by the second.

It makes sense that Morton chose to create a fairy tale of Blahnik’s life since it seems to have played out that way. “Everything in my life is an accident,” he says, downplaying his talent and intense work ethic that has led to his 39-years long successful career. And as the protagonist of a fairy tale, Blahnik–whimsical, witty and utterly charming–fits the bill.

Here’s how my four minutes with Manolo Blahnik played out.

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Accessories

Brian Atwood On Why Platforms are Here to Stay, Working with Miss Piggy, and His New Campaign

Along with making ridiculously sexy heels that pretty ladies love to wear–from both his main line collection and his B Brian Atwood diffusion line–shoe designer Brian Atwood has entered the mini-movie business. Well, sort of. Unveiled in November, the B Brian Atwood “Vibrant Tears Killer Heels” video basically represents color-blocking through, well, a model crying candy-colored paint tears all over her smoking hot and unclothed body, to finally drip onto a diabolical Resort ’11 platform pump. Now the dishy designer is at it again with a racy new vid promoting another pair of come-hither fringed strappies for his Spring ‘12 B collection.

We were lucky enough to receive an exclusive invitation to drop by the steamy video shoot at Triad, a teeny burlesque-style theater located above a Turkish restaurant on W. 72nd Street (who knew?). We arrived as a very leggy model was in full rehearsal mode, shaking her groove thing in killer heels and lingerie for the directors. All in a day’s work. Then we headed upstairs to the balcony overlooking the action for a nice chat with the dreamy Atwood (honestly, his handsomeness is distracting). Keep an eye out for the completed video in January 2012, but in the meantime, here are the designer’s thoughts on his B line, Manolo Blahnik’s well-documented hatred of platforms, and that notorious Hollywood diva – Miss Piggy:

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  • Fawnia Soo Hoo
  • Thursday, Dec 1, 2011 / 3:15 PM
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Accessories

Peep Vera Wang’s Affordable Wedding Ring Collaboration With Zales

While the world waits with bated breath to see how Vera Wang’s Kardashian-inspired David’s Bridal collection will fare after Kris and Kim’s union predictably unexpectedly flamed out, the famed bridal designer isn’t worrying about it. Instead, she’s unveiling her diamond engagement and wedding ring collab with jewelry retailer Zales in another inspired (and thankfully non-celeb related) nuptials-themed pairing. The Vera Wang LOVE collection was announced a few months ago and we dropped by the preview Tuesday morning and found the accessible bling to be quite celeb-worthy.

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  • Fawnia Soo Hoo
  • Wednesday, Nov 16, 2011 / 6:55 PM
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Accessories

Skechers Could Pay As Much As $75 Million for False Claims About Its Toning Shoes

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cracking down on false advertising claims, and toning shoes have been its latest target. Back in September, Reebok had to pay $25 million in refunds to consumers for making false claims about the benefits of its so-called toning shoes.

Skechers is next up for scrutiny, and the company is bracing itself for having to make a large payout. Footwear News reports that the FTC and agencies in other countries are still investigating claims made by the company about its ShapeUps toning shoes. And even Skechers acknowledges that it may be in trouble.

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Accessories

Tamara Mellon Leaves Jimmy Choo

Big changes are afoot at Jimmy Choo. The company is celebrating a milestone 15th anniversary this year–but in a surprising turn of events, Choo co-founder and chief creative officer Tamara Mellon–who was also the face of the brand–is leaving the company.

Mellon isn’t the only one leaving, either. Joshua Shulman, the CEO, has also resigned, WWD is reporting. This all comes in the wake of the footwear company’s acquisition by Labelux last May.

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Accessories

Here Are 10 Great Bags That Cost Less Than $300 (We Even Found an Alexander Wang)

Sometimes it feels like everyone in New York City is carrying either a Proenza Schouler PS1 or a huge Chanel bag. While dropping $2,000 on a bag is an “investment” for some people, for others it’s just plain out of reach. We were convinced that there had to be fantastic, high-quality, well-designed bags out there for less than $300 (which don’t make you resort to buying Kardashian knock-off bags.) And we were right!

From the high street stores to some of our favorite designers–like Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs–we found 10 bags to fit most budgets (we’re talking $300 or under here) and pretty much any style.

Click through to see our finds.

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