FashionClub.com Daily

Drapey, Dark, and Eco-Chic in New York

It was Day 1 of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York.  Here are highlights from the shows.

BCBG Max Azria
There were no body-conscious, figure-hugging dresses at this runway show; just drapey, fluid pieces in dark neutrals.

 
  
  
Organic
John Patrick's eco-friendly collection was modern and fresh with ladylike silhouettes and, in a departure from the usual fall palette, pastel florals.

 
  
  
Vena Cava
Fur trim, dark sunglasses, and fishnet tights lent a noir feel to this collection.

 
  
  
L.A.M.B.
Always a favorite, Gwen Stefani once again nailed her runway collection with the perfect balance of edgy and feminine.

 

NY Fashion Week Kicks Off

New York Fashion Week kicked off on Wednesday with a group of amazing designers who showed their collections before the main event at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week tents. Here, some of my favorites.  --Angel

Rebecca Minkoff
Minkoff's biker jackets, flirty skirts, skinny jeans with exposed zippers, and a touch of fur made for a collection befitting of the ultimate Parisian cool girl.

 
  
  
  
Geren Ford
Geren Lockhart's collection had a smart, retro feel, featuring a mix of metallic leather, flouncy collars, and ruffled peplums.

 

Norman Ambrose
I loved this collection for its posh, high society aesthetic. Fur coats, silk day dresses, and polished denim gave it a decidedly luxurious feel for fall.

 
  
  
  
John Bartlett
For his RTW Fall 2010 collection Bartlett did not differentiate between male and female, sending both genders out in riding pants, vests, and ties.

 

Fashion Photographer Irving Penn Dies at 92

Irving Penn, one of the 20th century's most beloved fashion photographers, died today at age 92. The longtime Vogue photographer -- who was known for his portraiture as well as his fashion images -- has an exhibition, "Irving Penn: Small Trades," on view at the Getty Center in Los Angeles through January 10, 2010.

Read Irving Penn's full obituary in the New York Times.

Crocheting for a Cause at FIDM

FIDM students are passionate about giving back to the community. This month our Orange County students volunteered some time to crochet scarves and beanies that will be donated to a homeless shelter this winter.  

It was a fun way for FIDM students to get to know each other by working together for a great cause!  ––Harriet

L.A. Accessory Crave: Jelly Watches

     Cruise the streets in Neon accessories! This summer's L.A. crave is the Jelly Watch from Toy Watch. They are available online for $175.00, (except for the $275.00 diamond pave face). Additional straps are $65.00 for more color options.

    Even the fashionable first lady, Michelle Obama was caught wearing a Jelly Watch during her visit to the Eiffel Tower recently. She wore a bright purple Toy Watch to accent the purple design in her scarf.

 

Image courtesy of toywatch.com

- Arali

Fashion Blogs: Another Dimension

I love blogs. I love the immediacy of communication. I love the reciprocal relationship of writer/reader. I love the personal voice. I love the story it can tell from a human perspective. And I love the dimension it can add from a marketing perspective. Take for example the Planet Blue blog. (For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of shopping there, Planet Blue is a must-shop boutique with stores in Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice.) Their blog has posts on everything from new collections arriving in their stores to what trends to shop for to really personal things like photos of their buyer at the Mart. It tells the fashion story, and specifically their store’s story, which makes you feel connected, which makes you want to shop there. Brilliant.

I could go on and on about fashion blogs, but why not just share with you one of my favorites: The Sartorialist.

The Sartorialist is a blog about regular people on the street looking fashionable. It was started by Scott Schuman, a veteran of the fashion industry, who used to work in sales and marketing for high-end women’s designer collections like Valentino. He started photographing people on the streets of NY, posting the photos and making comments on them. Viola. It is now a fantastic resource for people who work in fashion.

Let me know your thoughts (and what fashion blogs you like).

--Gigi Hooghkirk

"Project Runway" Will Be Back On Air This Summer!

Fashion fans everywhere are celebrating! The sixth season of "Project Runway" will finally see the light of day this summer on Lifetime. The show, which has moved on Los Angeles, has a new home at FIDM! We can't wait to see what the new crop of designers have to offer. We've missed Heidi, Michael, Nina and of course Tim "Make It Work" Gunn! -- Victoria

Despite the Desperate Measures...

N.Y.C. Fashion Week: Fall 2009

    Despite the challenges of the weak economy, Bryant Park was filled with fashion at its best. Many designers moved away from the conventional runway shows and have used other measures to help keep the cost down for their shows. Some used the Internet portal as a new way of unveiling their seasonal designs. Gareth Pugh's, along with a couple other designers presented their collections in video with a rather futuristic feel. Betsy Johnson even steered away from her famous catwalks and cartwheels to no runway show at all. She invited a small group of attendees to her "Betsey Crocker's Kitchen" showroom where her collection was featured.

    With the optimism and upbeat red, white, and blue fashion of the Spring 2009 collections, fashion week was a bit still when Fall 2009 rolled around. When it came to the amount of money being spent at Bryant Park, everyone was taking it a bit more seriously. Many designers returned to their roots and were much more focused on their smaller collections. There were more ready-to-wear collections rather than the avant garde pieces we tend see. Marc Jacobs told Fashion Television that he decided to keep the cost down this year by taking different steps, including deciding to opt out of celebrity showings this season. Guest were giving a round of applaud to the designers getting rid of the celebrity hype, along with all the after show parties and enjoyed seeing them really focus on fashion. 

    "Fashion can't change the world, and it can't change the situation we are in right now, but it can make us feel good..." said Allure editor Linda Wells. It is not only a turn of events for the White House, but a new age for the fashion world today. 

- Arali Melendez

Betsy Johnson Fall 2009

Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images North America

Fashion Week: Before the Shows

It's officially Fashion Week and designers are scrambling, some literally at the last minute, to get their collections ready.  Here's a peek at what they've been up to all week.  --Angel

Models take a break at 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Adam Lippes (Adam + Eve) checks out some fabrics.

 
Rehearsal time at Calvin Klein.

Diane Von Furstenberg makes some last-minute adjustments.

It's all fun and games for Jason Wu.

Etsy Thursday: Celebrating Obama

While opinions obviously differ, the whole country seems to be united in the excitement surrounding the Barack Obama inauguration.

Today on Etsy Thursday we're going to check out a few items that individuals have made to show their support for America's new president.

The first item, above, is an red and white striped Obama tank.

Instead of a standard t-shirt, you can wear this, show your support, and still stay girlie.

The most interesting thing about this tank is that it was created by penninah in Gottingen, Germany to wear to an Obama speech in Berlin, Germany last July. (She never wore it, so it's new.)

The whole world seems to be celebrating with us!

penninah only wants $12 for the shirt. A steal! Or steal her idea and make one for yourself!

Here's a necklace that makes a statement.

It's called the Barack Obama Memory Frame and it's 1.5" x 1.5", with one side containing an inauguration photo and the other side containing the number 44, for 44th president.

It's suspended from a 24 inch silver-tone chain. blinkphoto is selling it for $18.

 

Signed and numbered, this Obama Bag is one-of-a-kind and made out of leather, with a collage of the headlines from the day after the election.

It's pricey at $200, but it's a true collector's item.

12"x5", with removable strap and magnetic closure, it's the creation of ArmandoJavierDesign and his post says it will appear in the March issue of Ebony magazine.

 

Let your dog carry the message!

Nothing would be cuter than this Labs For Obama 2 1/4" badge/pin affixed to man's best friend's harness.

Even better, seller thedogcoatlady has individualized Obama buttons for Westies, Afgans, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Corgis, Pugs -- and I'll bet she'd make one for your breed or mutt if you say the word.

Best of all? They're only $1!

 

Above is a pretty-in-pink political statement that will keep you fashionable as well as socially aware.

It's the 3/4" Obama Girl Scrabble Tile Pendant Necklace that comes with a free 24" silver-plated ball chain which can be cut down to your desired length.

Bumblebeadzzz2007 is selling them for $6.75. That's a deal!

 

Matching Obama tees for you and your honey or BFF!

What we like about this tee is that it comes in both unisex and girls' styles from blackbirdtees.

This limited edition shirt is hand-illustrated in layers of vintage black and white ink, and printed on American Apparel 50/50 heather black tees. It's $23.

Goes with everything!

That's it for Etsy Thursday. While you're enjoying the re-runs of the We Are One Obama concert, don't forget to surf Etsy -- and make plans to open your own Etsy store.

Why not, you crafty princess? --Belissa