Christian Cota

From Anna Wintour and Michael Kors chilling at Macy's to Sarah Jessica Parker vogueing it at Fred Leighten, there was no shortage of mega-watt stars

more Jessica Biel has gotten real fashiony lately. We're not sure how we feel about all the lacey Valentino and Giambattista Valli frocks she's been s

Happy Weekend! Father's Day is fast approaching, and what better (erm, belated) gift to give your old man than the news that you have a new job?! Ch

People have been predicting the death of nail art (at least on runways) for a few seasons now, and this is the first time we've been worried it may ac

Could this be Naomi Campbell's way of atoning for all those alleged temper tantrums? The supermodel and her boyfriend Vladislav Doronin will be recognized for their extensive charity work at Denise Rich’s Angel Ball in NYC on October 17. The gala, which will benefit Rich's Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, will include a performance by Patti LaBelle. {NY Post} Christian Cota makes affordable boots for Aldo that you can shop today! You can never have too many pairs of boots. Christian Cota's new line of flat boots for Aldo are fierce, affordable (under $250!) and available now. {Catwalk Queen} Dita Von Teese releases a sexy capsule collection: The retro-glam burlesque artist has released Dita Von Teese Muse, a collection of four dresses and one trench coat, featuring--surprise!--corsetry details and body-skimming silhouettes. {Racked}

The CFDA has just announced those 10 promising young designers who will be moving into the CFDA's garment district Fashion Incubator studios next May, WWD is reporting. The program launched in 2010 with a $200,000 grant from the city and is now underwritten by Target. Chosen designers are provided with several hundred square foot studios priced well below market value ($1,500-$2,000). It's a major help for a designer just starting out, allowing them to take the exorbitant amount of money they may have been spending on rent and put it into their business. It's also just a great way for a young designer to get on the CFDA's radar. This year, however, the program will do more than just give designers a place to work, starting with the program's first members, which include Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Waris Ahluwalia and others. They are the first beneficiaries of a new partnership with NYU's Stern Consulting Corps., a selected group of NYU Stern M.B.A. students who will provide full business mentoring to the incubatees. They'll help the designers develop "full financial statements, cash flow projections and investor-ready business plans." This added business incubation component may prove even more beneficial to the designers in the long term--especially in a time when even the most talented designers can fail as the result of poor business practices. So, who are the lucky 10?

This week, our girl Elle Fanning made magic in Marc Jacobs, Karen Elson wowed in Valentino, Diane Kruger glowed in Alessandra Rich with Joshua Jackson at her side, and Rose Byrne let her hair down in Christian Cota.

For Christian Cota's fall 2011 collection he strayed a bit from the bias cut, painted print evening gowns he's become known for, and drew on his own experience hiking as the inspiration for this more practical, technical collection. (He also cited "seventies-era rock climbers in California, Alpine ski style, Colonial explorers, early twentieth century female mountaineers conquering the great peaks of the Andes and Himalayas, and Traditional Tibetan costume," as influences.)

We love Christian Cota, mostly because he cuts a gorgeous dress, but also because he's a lovely person. His Twitter musings most certainly confirm the latter. That's why, if you're not following the CFDA Fashion Fund-nominated designer, you should be. Here's another reason: The chance to win two tickets to his Fall 2011 runway show, taking place February 16 in New York. From Monday, January 31 through February 11, Christian will Tweet a special word every day. The words will create a phrase, and the first person to Tweet the correct phrase back to Christian will win two tickets to the show. So start following @christiancota asap. And good luck!

CFDA Fashion Fund Nominee Christian Cota picks out his five favorite gifts to give for the holidays. Click through to learn why Christian chose what h

When designers are selected as finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, they compete in a set of challenges to win the grand prize--$300K and mentorship for the year--which this year went to Billy Reid. One of these challenges was presented by Ann Taylor. The 10 finalists--Joseph Altuzarra, Billy Reid, Christian Cota, Eddie Borgo, Gregory Parkinson, Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow of Loden Dager, Moss Lipow, Pamela Love, Prabal Gurung and Robert Geller--were each given a box of images from Ann Taylor campaigns from the '50s, when the brand launched, through to today, and asked to create a look that would "rejuvenate, redefine and modernize the concept of wear-to-work dressing and set the next major career style trend." The results? Pretty amazing. Last night, to celebrate the opening of their new concept store on 5th Ave. and 21st St., Ann Taylor revealed all the challenge looks. Winner Billy Reid created a look that paired high-waisted houndstooth-print pants with suspenders and a magic trench coat--the lining comes out and turns into a bubble hemmed shift dress. Pamela Love created a leather bag with a horn handle and a matching necklace and cuff. The color combination of Loden Dager's aqua blazer and blush pants was spot on. You can check out the looks modeled by the incomparable Karlie Kloss below.

The Savannah College of Art and Design’s fashion students are in some very good hands this school year. Designers Chris Benz, Christian Cota and Rachel Roy are serving as the school’s 2010-2011 fashion mentors.

Christian Cota says he drew inspiration for his Spring/Summer 2011 collection from the "depths of the Yucatan jungle" where he spent some time hiding out in a "high-tech eco-cabin." I've never been to the Yucatan jungle, but if it inspired Cota to create this elegantly tailored collection, a reflection of the juxtaposition of the high-tech against nature at its purist, I'd like to go to there. The show opened to the sounds of a bird cawing and feathers flapping, fitting as feathers in pale pastels showed up in Cota's hand painted prints. Cota, a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, sent down a mix of structured, tailored separates--crisp white shorts paired with silk cropped or trapeze tops with sheer inserts--and soft tiered gowns, appropriately fluttery given the avian inspiration. Stand out looks include a blush dress that was essentially a backwards blazer with a plunging back, and a short evening gown with a draped train for added drama.

For the first time since 2007, Gap will have little to do with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. J.Crew is sponsoring this year's scholarship, which surely means that by next summer, J.Crew stores will be stocked with special items designed by the winners. Ann Taylor, a brand that's tried to mimic J.Crew in its styling, will fund an October fashion show in Los Angeles, where models will show off designs created for the retailer. (Remember, nominees this year include Prabal Gurung and Christian Cota, so expect to see some fabulous holiday party dresses on the runway.) It's clear that J.Crew has forked over plenty of cash to be this year's marquee sponsor. (We're talking on top of the scholarship fund.) But is it worth it? Despite the great press and great clothes that came out of the Gap/CFDA collaborations, the world's biggest retailer is struggling more than ever with its branding. (Patrick Robinson is trying to change that, and we hope that he succeeds.) However, for J.Crew, it's less about building momentum and more about sustaining it. This will only strengthen the prestigious reputation it already enjoys among fashion-savvy consumers.

Ten American designers just got a lot happier. The CFDA and Vogue announced their ten finalists for the seventh annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund initiative, and we're pretty pleased with the results (as we're sure they are as well). Though the process is far from being over--the winner and two runners-up will be announced on November 15--having the list in our hands is enough to make us sit on the edge of our seats. The finalists are as follows:

While we usually work with clients for at least two months before fashion week, this presentation in particular went from first contact to final execu