There’s a serious explosion of color going on in our most recent batch of shows. To see the rainbow, go to our Fashion Week page and check out Nanette Lepore‘s highlighter-hued dresses, Phillip Lim‘s loose pantsuits in violet and tangerine and Milly‘s ’60s-inspired puzzle prints. They’ll have you crying for summer already.
Nanette Lepore’s vibrant Spring collection can be summed up in one word: electric. “I took a break from color last season and had a very white show, so I was recharging my batteries,” the designer told us backstage. Thus, Lepore showed 32 looks in cheerful, neon hues including yellow, tangerine, and pink. Live music by Sam Bisbee’s band added to the energized atmosphere.
While the color palette was strong, Lepore created a perfect balance with soft, feminine silhouettes inspired by the 1950’s. “I love the way Cybill Shepherd was dressed in The Last Picture Show,” the designer said, recalling the classic film. “We’re moving out of that period where everything is super draped and sexy and into a more conservative era,” she added.
The Fall 2011 shows are 75% over, and we’re pretty comfortable calling braids a world-wide trend. Can we blame/credit Alex Wang‘s S/S 2010 collection for the current plaitmania? Hard to say, but you couldn’t go more than 50 feet without seeing a braided model.
They were loose and boho at Rag and Bone and Erdem (and Mara Hoffman topped hers with turbans). Rachel Roy and Erin Fetherston were channeling the St.Pauli Girl (or yodelers). Alexandre Herchcovitch and Nanette Lepore got complicated with their braided updos, and Etro flirted with cornrows.
K-Stew’s Vogue Cover Leaks: We told you yesterday that Kristen Stewart was Vogue‘s February cover girl and now the good people at The Fashion Spot have scanned it in. She’s wearing Proenza Schouler and looks every bit as angsty and miz as we expected. Thoughts? {The Fashion Spot}
Miss Piggy, French Vogue Editrix: In Jason Segal’s (swoon) new Muppet Movie, set for release in February 2012, Miss Piggy will be an editor at French Vogue. Wait, I thought Emmanuelle Alt was the new editor? {Vogue UK}
Marc Jacobs 16 Fresh Faces to Watch: For Louis Vuitton’s spring jewelry collection campaign, Jacobs chose to feature 16 up-and-comers spanning the globe, from actresses to athletes to scenesters, instead of going with established models. The line up? Mary Charteris, aristrocrat and fashionista from London; Daria Schieferstein, tennis player; Nathalie Love, actress; Charlotte Lebon, French TV presenter and illustrator; Camille Rowe-Pourcheresse, actress and top model from Paris; Mahini Geisweiller, Parisian singer; Lina Esco, Actress; Billie Porter, reporter and party girl from London; Clara 3000, DJ from Paris; Rinko Kikuchi, actress from Tokyo; Alka Balbir, singer; Hailey Gates, actress. {Telegraph}
Nanette Lepore
Deal: Dresses are $145 (were $398), jackets and coats are $195—$275 (were $448—$698), skirts, pants and tops are $95 (were $298). Oonagh by Nanette Lepore cardigans are $95 (were $298), knit dresses are $95 (were $228—$298).
When/Where: Tuesday, November 9 to Friday, November 12. Tues—Thurs 9am—7pm, Fri 9am—5pm. 225 West 35th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, fourth floor (212-594-0012)
Escada
Deal: Up to 95% off sportswear, gowns, shoes and handbags
When/Where: Sunday, November 7 through Tuesday, November 9. Sun—Mon 10am—7pm, Tues 10am—5pm. The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-852-5446)
Just two weeks ago, Nanette Lepore held another rally to save the garment district. For decades, the garment district has been shrinking and struggling to survive as production goes overseas. Today brings word that Bloomberg might just save it. The Mayor’s office rolled out six new initiatives to grow the city’s fashion industry and ensure its place as a fashion capital.
“New York City is the fashion capital of the world, and the factors that drive that success-–the creativity and expertise of our talented workforce–-present us with competitive advantages we want to capitalize on,” said Mayor Bloomberg in a release. “Industry leaders like Diane von Furstenberg, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren and others helped us develop these seven initiatives to nurture the next generation of fashion talent in New York City and to help make it easier for fashion entrepreneurs to make turn their ideas into reality.”
For the past year, FashionNYC2020, a city-funded initiative chaired by LF CEO Richard Darling, Diane von Furstenberg, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren, Theory CEO Andrew Rosen, and Gilt Groupe CEO Kevin Ryan, examined the challenges facing the $55 billion industry. With the help of fancy consulting firm Bain & Company, the New York City Economic Development Corporation conducted surveys and interviews with more than 500 industry professionals to determine the best strategies to develop and keep new talent in NYC. Unsurprisingly, FashionNYC2020 “identified New York City’s fashion industry as a potential area of growth over the next decade.”
As per the release, here are the six strategies the city has come up with to grow the fashion industry in NYC:
A motley crew of people from all walks of fashion life attended a rally today to support NYC’s ever-shrinking Garment Center.
MC’ed by artist Robert Savage, otherwise known as Mr. Nanette Lepore, the rally’s speakers included politicians, designers, students, union workers, and factory owners. In the lively and supportive audience, I spotted fashion students sporting bedazzled signs and seamstresses with years of hard-earned callouses on their hands. Anna Sui was roaming among the crowd, too.
Congressman Tim Ryan started off the rally with some inspirational quotes about America. Then Jerry Nadler, a congressman from New York, said that when he attended a rally to save the Garment Center back in 1985, there were about 500,000 garment industry jobs in NYC; today there are only about 100,000. Rather sobering statistics, to say the least.
Scott Stringer, the Manhattan Borough President, was up next and made the excellent point, “You can’t have Fashion Week in New York unless you have the designers here. It’s like having the Academy Awards in a place where they don’t make movies.”
Over the last couple days I (along with some Real Housewives of New York), took in the shows of Tory Burch, Rachel Roy, and Nanette Lepore. I think we can agree that these three ladies have a similar customer base. Click through for descriptions and pictures, then get dressed and off to that important lunch!
