Posts with tag fashion show

So we were at Fashion Forward on November 10, 2008, loving the heck out of everything Betsey Johnson sent down the runway (as detailed in our Betsey Johnson Totally Blew Our Minds post), when this happened (above). WTF, Betsey? We didn't know you were such a big fan of Red Lobster.

L.A. designer Brian Lichtenberg is fiercely independent, beloved by offbeat musicians like M.I.A. and Santogold, and the undisputed auteur of avant-garde unitards and hologram leggings. And at his Spring/Summer 2009 show, held during Los Angeles Fashion Week, Lichtenberg expanded on his favorite themes while adding some new staples to his repertoire.

Debra Davenport's Spring 2009 collection, shown during L.A. Fashion Week, was exceedingly wearable. It was also a bit scattered. Davenport took cues from Cynthia Rowley and Nanette Lepore, featuring floral, citrus and vibrant green fabrics. But the through line was lost somewhere between 1950s Euro chic and lady pirate.

This past Sunday, Usher found himself at the Paris Fashion Week Marlies Dekkers show, but it wasn't just to ogle at the models dressed in the lingerie maker's racy designs. In fact, he was doing research.

"You might have heard that I might be launching a lingerie line for men and women," said Usher, who added, "Comfort and intimacy is very important." He also mentioned that some of his Trading Places video featured some of his own designs.

Usher wasn't the only famous face taking in the Dutch designer's show -- Mischa Barton, Kelly Rowland, and Ne-Yo were also in attendance.

Say it ain't so! After everyone one's favorite glitter-infused fashion duo Heatherette called it quits on showing under the Bryan Park tents, another fashion twosome is also backing away from presenting their stellar looks on the runway this season as well.

Avant-garde label Viktor & Rolf will not, and we repeat, will not be presenting their spring '09 collection in Paris next week. Instead, the designers will unveil their new designs in an online showcase on October 2nd.

According to WWD, "the Web presentation at www.viktor-rolf.com would employ the latest technologies and allow for "guests" to access the backstage area, to see hair and makeup, and to pop in on the designers for fittings." So now everyone can pretend like they've just scored front-row tickets to a Paris fashion show from the comforts of their home.

Everyone now: Yay!

Zulema's Spring 2009 show won't take place on a runway--it will be posted on the Internet. For the second year in a row, independent womenswear designer Zulema Griffin will eschew the traditional models-on-a-catwalk presentation in favor of a high-concept video. (The short film will go live on her site on September 9, right in the thick of New York Fashion Week.) Titled "The Revolution Will be Realized," Griffin says the live-action interpretation of her spring line will tell the story of her struggle as an African-American designer as she tries to balance tradition with innovation. (For a taste of what's to come, check out Zulema's video from Fall 2008 above.)

A former model and Project Runway contestant, Griffin's specialties include richly-hued cocktail dresses and dressed-up, suit-inspired separates. And while we love to witness fashion unfold in the flesh, we have to applaud her high-concept (and highly democratic) approach to showing her collections. A fashion show that doesn't require a formal invitation, waiting in a mile-long line and sweating under sweltering lights? Count me in.

Sure, the Victoria Secret fashion show has all of those supermodels, but it's sort of sanitized sexiness. Plus you know that everything in the show will eventually turn up a mall near you, piled on a table next to a pyramid of "Pink-scented" lotion.

If you want creativity and adventure in your underwear, you have to check out the new Triumph Inspiration Awards. An international design competition for students, this year the theme was Female Fascination. Designers from 31 countries participated and the judges included supermodel Helena Christensen, Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf, and noted sexy photographer Ellen von Unwerth.

Those wondering what Sarah Jessica Parker is going to do now that Steve & Barry's is pretty much kaput and the Sex and The City sequel won't be in our theaters for at least another two years should look no further for their answer. SJP is hi-tailing it to Bravo to produce a -- get this -- reality show!

But the real kicker, it's not about fashion at all. No, Parker's show is about the art world. American Artist, as it's being called, will follow a group of aspiring contemporary artists as they compete each week for a gallery show, a cash prize, and a sponsored national tour.

We've all seen the art inspired abstract prints that are a key trend this summer. What we bet you didn't know was that the look is also an easy DIY project. Instead of shelling out a cool thousand for a D & G dress, why not do one just as fabulous yourself?

Here's what to arm yourself with:

Who needs models when you have holograms? Super retailer Target, that once held a "vertical" runway show, is set to have another wild fashion show on November 6 and 7.

This runway show won't have actual models; instead the show will feature two-dimensional moving images that will give the illusion of having three dimensions as the clothes "dance" down a runway.

The holograms will be projected in a section of Grand Central Terminal on November 6 and 7, repeated every 10 minutes from noon to midnight the first day and from 6 AM to 7 PM the second day. Target will also post a video of the show on Facebook, YouTube, and on Target.com.

Expect to see fashions from designer Isaac Mizrahi, Mossimo, and Liz Lange, accessories from jewelry designer Dominique Cohen, and bags and shoes from Hollywould, which is Target's newest collaboration.

I have to hand it to Target. It's mighty creative and a lot less dangerous than models scaling the side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Fashion shows are always late. But what happens when fashionably late becomes disrespectfully late?

For one thing, it gets ugly. Just ask Marc Jacobs, who has had the unfortunate luck of being the guy who pushed the fashion timetable just a little too far.

When I first heard about this story, I kind of felt sorry for Jacobs. I'm usually running late, so I can sympathize with slight delays. But Readers, Jacobs was not just a few minutes late; it was TWO HOURS LATE!

The worst part of the story is Marc Jacob's excuse for the late start. He complained to WWD that the delay was due to the fact that Fashion Week was way too early. (Instead of falling in late September, the fall shows took place in early September to avoid the Jewish High Holidays.)

My guess is that Marc's cocktail hour ran a little late, and he just assumed (wrongly) that everyone loved him enough to wait around for his collection. But it turns out that the Marc Jacobs-pandering media can only take so much. As Suzy Menkes put it: "I would like to murder him with my bare hands and never see another Marc Jacobs show as long as I live."

As a new year begins, I'm always in the mood for all things clean, simple, and fresh. That could be the reason why I fell in love with these Eli & Ra bird necklaces as soon as I saw them.

The sterling silver birds are free to slide along the length of the twig they're sitting on. You can even choose from three different bird shapes, each with their own name. I especially like these necklaces because they're handmade by a husband and wife team along with just a handful of other products. The bird necklaces are available for $70 at Eli&Ra.com.

Via: Design*Sponge

On Tuesday in Jakarta, Indonesia, a group of designers exhibited the latest trends in Islamic fashion. Contrary to what most people think of when they hear the words "Islamic dress" -- black, shapeless, long -- these designs really pushed the limits of standard Muslim fashion. While all of the outfits were compliant with Koranic tradition, the clothes also managed to feel stylish and luxurious. Lace, silk and color were omnipresent, and that old standard black was almost nowhere to be seen.

Indonesia is actually sort of considered the New York of the Islamic fashion scene. Because the country is mostly occupied by a moderate Sunni tradition, the majority of Indonesian women wear a headscarf with normal western clothes. But according to designer Jeny Tjahyawati, "There are more and more women wearing Muslim fashion to parties. It can provide comfort since it is loose and it can also protect women from perverted men if they walk alone at night."

In countries like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, which tend to be more traditional and austere, women wear are expected to wear the abaya -- the black cloak that covers them from head-to-toe.

Hands down, my favorite show from Los Angeles fashion week was the Sue Wong show. Wong's embroidered fantasy gowns are the stuff that couture dreams are made of. The show began with a harp player and cycled through a variety of different fashion scenes starting with Edwardian Romance continuing through the brightly colored Mexican folkloric dresses of the Fiesta collection, the exotic silk panels of the Arabesque collection and finishing with a series of over-the-top bridal gowns. The styling wasn't particularly innovative but the overall effect was stunning. We also received the cute little beaded and embroidered purse shown here as a gift. Want to win my swag? Check out the pictures and video from the show and let me know your favorite moment from the show. My favorite comment wins the prize.

When you think of fashionable cities, Scranton, Pennsylvania is not first on my list. Okay, it's probably not on my list at all. With London, Milan, New York and L.A. to choose from Scranton seems about as fashionable as a pair of pleated pants. (Granted, this analogy is due in part to the city's unfortunate depiction in NBC's hit series The Office, which follows the disastrous office hi-jinx of a paper company located in the industrial western Pennsylvania town.)

But, for the weekend of October 20th, Scranton will be hosting a "Fashion Week-end" [sic] filled with fashion-forward events such as a cocktail hour and a catwalk fashion show. One-hundred models will be on hand, as well as a "celebrity moderator" and a special guest appearance by designer Jay McCarroll. Of course, the proceeds will benefit United Neighborhood Centers Community Program, so even if you're somewhat doubtful about the fashion offerings of Western PA, if you're in the area you should check it out.

So holla back, Scranton!