Vena Cava

Burn. Vena Cava has called out Alice + Olivia over Instagram for ripping off one of its prints. The image the brand posted to its Instagram account features a dress from Vena Cava's fall 2012 collection (left) next to a print from Alice + Olivia's pre-spring 2013 collection (right). The caption? "@alice_olivia Please stop being "inspired" by our prints from last season. Get a library card." Wowza. Nothing subtle about that.

Literally the best fashion film ever.

Name: Chloe Callahan Occupation: Model What was the last thing you bought? A Reed Krakoff mini bag. What would you never be caught wearing? Anything with bows on it.

Part of being a style icon means wearing exactly what you want. Rachel Bilson does just that, saying, "All men hate harem pants, but I don't give a s—t." {Us Weekly} Nordstrom will open CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund pop-up shops in six locations around the country this spring--so you'll have access to a selection of designs from finalists like Wes Gordon, Suno, Giulietta and more. Yay! {WWD} Tonight she'll don wings for Victoria's Secret, but Alessandra Ambrosio has her own angel stealing the spotlight. Her daughter Anja stars with her model mommy in the latest London Fog ads. {HuffPo}

Now that it's fall, we're starting to see the needlepoint trend that emerged on the runways in February all over again--and close up they aren't much fancier than, say, a needlepoint pillow. So how about a game?!

Anyone who works in the industry has had ‘em: A fashion week related nightmare. We asked designers, editors and stylists to share theirs with us, and

Karlie Kloss has been hanging out with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, even telling Style.com she would "walk in his [fashion] show for sure." Yeah, we d

Name: Leemor Rhodes Occupation: Publicist What was the last thing you bought? This bag by C. Wonder. What would you never be caught wearing? Bicycl

Carey Mulligan Got Married in Prada... and Pink Wellies: Raaain on your wedding day... will force you to wear galoshes. Carey Mulligan eschewed bespoke Christian Louboutin blue-soled bridal pumps, opting for a pair of pink Wellies due to inclement weather. {Fabsugar UK} Vena Cava Talks LF USA Partnership, Cat Food: The folks over at Refinery 29 sat down with Vena Cava designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Maycock to talk about how LF USA saved their brand, and future plans for their label, which could include cat food. {Refinery 29} Lady Grantham Lost Her Luggage: The Downton Abbey star says that on her way to the premiere of her new movie, Cheerful for the Wedding, her luggage (which included her dress for the event) got lost. Thankfully, Project Runway alum Daniel Vosovic was on hand to lend Ms. McGovern an LBD for the occasion. {Page Six}

Good news for Vena Cava fans: The struggling label has found a lifeline. After reports surfaced last winter that the label had lost a key investor and was laying off employees, things were looking pretty grim. WWD was reporting that the financial state of the company was "drastic" (whatever that means). Today Vena Cava announced their partnership with LF USA, the US subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Li & Fung Limited. Designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai "will continue to oversee the creative vision for the brand," a press release reads, "while LF USA will contribute its extensive global resources and deep retail relationships to support the growth of the brand." So what does this deal mean for Vena Cava, LF USA, and for us as shoppers?

Vena Cava, the label designed by indie fashion darlings Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock, might shutter, a source tells us. Though the label garnered a cult following among a certain set of Brooklyn girls since its debut in 2004, the loss of a major investor has reportedly put the label at risk of going under. This probably also explains why Vena Cava didn't put on a spring runway show this September as they have in seasons past. According to a source close to the situation, the label moved out of their Soho headquarters this week and laid off a lot of staff. Vena Cava hasn't shuttered yet--they've moved their offices home--and we hear a deal with TJ Maxx is still in the works. Still, things seem grim, which is sad news to hear about a label we've always been fond of.

More Chung for Madewell: Watch the campaigns video lookbook and be prepared to swoon. {The Cut} No surprise here: Kim Kardashian's People cover was newsstand gold. {WWD} On your marks, get ready, GO! Barney's infamous warehouse sale starts today. {Racked}

The Museum of Art and Design played host to Monday night’s Rare Earth’s Fluorescent Ball, and dare we say it was a full on fashion prom complete with art nerds, wannabes, music geeks, and those ever-present popular kids. Throw in some fluoro outfits, (some good, some bad) and you have a Prosecco-filled Monday evening that certainly boggled Tyson Beckford’s mind. We spotted him observing the room from its sidelines with puzzled awe. Although the evening’s weather wasn’t up to par, energetic DJ sets by scenesters like Paul Sevigny and Chrissie Miller certainly lightened everyone's mood, especially the cork-wedge clad group of (probable) financiers whose bump-its and fist-pumping skills proved to be an unlikely start to a wild dance party. The event served as the museum’s young patrons gala with a sale of one-off fluorescent works including a light-up noose—any takers? Always Mister Popular, Paper's Luigi Tadini favored the video installations on display, “its always nice to see movement,” he attested. Aesthetic technician and designer Christian Cota--there to co-chair and cheer on contributing artist friend Anne Grauso--said, “You need light to make fluorescent come alive, it doesn’t always work with fashion.” Rather fitting as this was evident in a few choice attendees’ ensembles, though we won’t single out offenders.

We already knew Vena Cava was designing a capsule collection for Uniqlo--designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock let that juicy tidbit slip at Fashion Group International’s panel on entrepreneurship back in February. But today brings word that New York designers Charlotte Ronson and Costello Tagliapietra will also be among the nine collaborators taking part in the Japan-based retailer's Designers Invitation Project (the others are Zechia, Tiny Dinosaur, Suzuki Takayuki, Theatre Products, Nine and Double Standard Clothing). Each designer will produce a six-piece capsule collection for Uniqlo, with each item retailing for just $29.99 WWD is reporting. Costello Tagliapietra's collection hits stores on April 21, Charlotte Ronson's on May 5, and Vena Cava's on May 12. The collections will be available through May 21. Ronson's collection--the only collection we've seen glimpses of--has a casual nautical feel that's making us crave warmer temps.

Remember how the '90s are back (ahem, Vena Cava, Alexander Wang)? Let's just hope these '90s never ever come back. Some photographs taken by Michael Galinksy at a mall in the summer of 1990 are making the rounds on the interwebs. Unfortunately some of this early 90s fashion has crept back: overalls, acid wash, cropped bombers, sigh...as long as full weekends devoted to hanging out at the mall and mullets don't come back into fashion maybe it will be OK. Check out the photos.

Japan Skips Fashion Week: The tragedy-stricken country cancels its Fall 2011 fashion week. {WWD, subscription required} Vena Cava Digital: Now you can buy all of Vena Cava's clothes on their website. While you're there, don't forget to checkout their awesome blog and the for-sale collection of excellent vintage tchotchkes. {Vena Cava} 17 Things You Didn't Know About Jean Touitou: The APC designer muses on Samuel Beckett, Metronomy, and crappy French restaurants. {WSJ}

Vena Cava's Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock announced Wednesday at Fashion Group International's panel on entrepreneurship that they will be collaborating with Uniqlo. It's a juicy little tidbit of news that we nearly missed because the designers mentioned it so offhandedly (luckily Fashion etc., didn't and reminded us). Collaborating with brands is nothing new for Vena Cava. They've partnered in the past with Gap, Aqua for Bloomingdale's and Converse. The Gap collab was a struggle, Sophie said, because "Vena Cava is not a khaki brand", and she and Lisa are "pretty far from preppy." The design duo went on to weigh out the pros and cons of doing collaborations--one the one hand, lower-priced collaborations with big brands are a great way to reach the mass market and a new audience, and bottom line, make money, but they would never want work on a collaboration that wasn't true to their brand.

Less than two weeks after showing their fall collection at Milk, Vena Cava’s Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai took center stage at the fashion week hub once again as part of Fashion Group International and consultant Karen Harvey’s panel on entrepreneurship. The Vena Cava girls, along with Rent the Runway co-founders Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, and Opening Ceremony's Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, came together to share their own “How I’m Making It” stories. The editors, designers, and consultants who circled back to Milk to hear them speak last night were well-rewarded, not with swag or a tote bag or any of the other requisite fashion event handouts, but with proof that while Milan may be the center of fashion news this week, these determined and ambitious New Yorkers have a lot of knowledge to drop if you're looking to make your way in the fashion industry. Like how to find a factory, how to tap your customer base as an invaluable (and free!) resource, and why you should trust your gut instincts. The take-home lessons:

Name: Connie Wang Age: 24 Occupation: Global Editor at Refinery29.com What are you wearing? A Vena Cava tee, a vintage flannel, silk trousers from Wilfred by Aritzia, Born boots, a Theory jacket, Madewell purse, and a hat from Lauren Moffatt.

So we’re only halfway through New York Fashion Week, but there have been enough interesting beauty looks that a recap is in order. It’s a bit early to call trends yet, but orangey lips and strong eyes (not together!) are still having a run. As far as hair, we’ve seen just as much textured, messy hair as we’ve seen middle parts with stick straight locks. And nails are all over the place, but an early prediction is slate grey and deep burgundies will rule next fall. Click through to see our favorite beauty from NYFW so far. We’re not suggesting that all these looks are wearable, but they’re definitely cool.

It was clear Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock were in a 90s mindset before the models even set foot on the runway. While we waited for the show to start (it ran about 40 minutes late) staffers passed out 'Zina Cava, Vena Cava's 'zine. They got their fashionable friends to contribute--Andy Spade, Kate Young, Ariel Shulman and Shipley & Halmos, to name a few--and whipped a nostalgia packed treat that kept me more than occupied during the 40 minute delay. I cringed when I saw a photo of a Contempo Casuals tag and chuckled at the page where Buhai and Mayock slapped their faces on ever model in that iconic CK One ad. The first page of Vena Cava's 'zine read, "all content inspired by the 90s"--and so was their fall 2011 collection. Like, very literally inspired. Not grunge Seattle '90s like we saw at Nicholas K or even at Charlotte Ronson last season but the glammed-out power suit, "working girls," supermodel (we're talking Cindy, Linda, Christy, Naomi here) '90s. There were boned corset tops, structured bodices with cutouts, and maxi skirts in a crinkled chiffon that reminded me of the crinkled floral print broomstick skirts I used to wear from the Limited Too. And to really hit you over the head with the '90s theme, models were wearing bronze structured necklaces by Dannijo that looked like chokers and berets by Yestadt Millinery.

When we last saw Jodie and Danielle Snyder, the sisters behind jewelry line Dannijo, we were interviewing them for our "How I'm Making It" series. Well it certainly seems like the girls have "made it." On Tuesday night the Snyder sisters made their New York Fashion Week debut, presenting their fall 2011 collection, "Aboriginal," at a packed gallery space on West 22nd St. Perfectly-styled models in tousled finger-waves done by Sally Hershberger (and one older gentleman smoking a cigar) posed in meticulously constructed vignettes that recalled the wild west--old wood cabins and pelts on the walls. Tinsley Mortimer (yes, really) was also inexplicably floating around.

Tucker 
Deal: 50% to 80% off the label's floaty dresses and print tops, with sale prices ranging from $35 to $188 When/Where: Thursday, December 2 through Saturday, December 4. Thurs 11am—7pm, Fri 9am—7pm, Sat 10am—6pm. 413 West 14th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves, suite 403 (212-938-0811) Alexis Bittar
 Deal: 50% to 70% off chunky jewelry. Cash only. When/Where: Thursday, December 2 through Saturday, December 4. Daily 9am—6:30pm. 300 W. 22nd St at Eighth Ave (877-680-9017)