FashionClub.com Daily

GenArt Kicks Off LA Fashion Week

GenArt hosted an event poolside at the legendary Roosevelt Hotel Tuesday night to kick off LA Fashion Week. Celebs, fashion designers, and celeb fashion designers were out and about looking fabulous.

The event was organized to honor GenArt Alumni—each presenting a signature look from their collection. Former Ford model and emerging style icon Amber Rose hosted the party. 

Fashion designers in attendance included: Brigid Catiis, Eduardo Lucero, Elmer Ave, Endovanera, Erik Hart, Freddie Rojas, Geren Ford, Grey Ant, Jared Gold, Jeffrey Sebelia, Jovovich-Hawk, Katy Rodriguez, Kit Scarbo, Louis Verdad, Orthodox, Rami Kashou, and Society For Rational Dress.

GenArt VP of Marketing Jen Egan poses with Host Amber Rose.

 

Project Runway: Season 3 Winner Jeffrey Sebelia poses with model and Host Amber Rose.

 

If you look closely, you'll notice...

 

...there's no mistaking this is Jeffrey Sebelia.

 

Fashion Designer Kit Scarbo with her model (holding the sign).

Fashion Designer Freddie Rojas with his look...

 

...Rami Kashou...

 

...and the fabulous Jared Gold.

 

The step and repeat was jammed packed with photographers, videographers, and, of course, starlets.

 

Across the pool, sponsor Clean & Clear set up their own photo shoot area!

 

 

 

Guests were encouraged to use their Prom props and get their pic taken.

 

Clean & Clear was promoting their new product line—full size product was included in the gift bags!

 

Fashion blogger Clint Catalyst was there. BTW he also came to Opening Night of FIDM's Ruby Slipper Collection Exhibition commemorating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz.

 

It was a festive night of fashion and fun. You can see it on the faces of the stylish guests!

Grace's London Fashion Report: Cath Kidston

Hi. Grace here, reporting from London.

Cath Kidston is a British designer who has changed the whole British teen look towards vintage florals and wellies. She opened her first shop in 1993 in Holland Park (east London). She started by selling vintage wallpapers and fabrics. Since then her fashion empire has grown considerably. She now has just under 30 small stores in England.

Each store has the warm countryside feel that Cath tries to get across in both the merchandise and the store itself. She is best known for her bags and purses but also does a range of clothing. I love most of her bags and purses but her clothing isn’t really known very well over here.

I personally prefer the rucksacks and shoulder bags (book bags) over her clothing. I think that Cath Kidston is a very important company because I feel that it reflects youth in England and she has changed the way that the modern British girl wants to dress. She has started a new fashion and I think that she has influenced and inspired a lot of other people to go for their dreams.

Grace is a thirteen year-old fashionista who writes sporadic posts for FashionClub.com Daily from her home in London.

Paris Fashion Week

When the fashion capital of the world has Fashion Week, we pay attention!  There were far too many fantastic collections to list here, so we've featured just a few of our favorites. --Angel

Louis Vuitton
Designer Marc Jacobs channeled the '50s to create fit-and-flare silhouettes in tweeds, printed wool, and chiffon, along with red carpet-worthy evening gowns.

 
  
  
  
Chanel
Karl Lagerfeld's models looked like something out of the Ice Age in head to toe "fantasy fur"-- Karl-speak for faux fur. The designer brought in an actual 265-ton iceberg for the show, but the reception was anything but frosty.

 
  
  

Lanvin
Heavy beading, feathers, and bold, tribal-inspired jewelry made this collection stand out.

 
  

Giambattista Valli
Swingy coats and shift dresses gave this collection a retro vibe, and of course there was plenty of luxurious fur--ubiquitous on the Fall 2010 runways.

 

 

Martin Grant
It was all about classic silhouettes with a few origami details at this show.

 

Rochas
Another retro-inspired collection, but this time more playful and youthful, yet still posh.

Jean Paul Gaultier for Target in Stores Now

Target pulls off another designer collaboration, beautifully. Jean Paul Gaultier for Target is in stores now—the perfect mix of feminine looks with an edge. The collection includes high-waisted pants and shorts, mini skirts, cool jackets, cropped tanks, and swimwear. See for yourself!

 

Don't you love the tattoo print mesh tee ($26.99) layered under the halter dress ($59.99). It's like a second layer of skin.

 

Can't go wrong with a versatile khaki trench ($59.99), especially when styled over something super feminine like this lingerie green dot dress ($34.99).

 

Vests are so hot this spring, especially a cropped style like this one ($29.99). It adds a touch of tough to this adorable eyelet halter dress ($59.99).

"My collection with Target pays homage to the wide range of personalities that make up the diverse styles of American women," said Jean Paul Gaultier. "From ingenue to rock 'n roll, this collection celebrates women of all ages and a host of distinctive, iconic American styles."

This exclusive collection will only be available for the next month (through April 11, 2010), so be sure to check it out. As a student of fashion it's important to take notice of these designer collaborations. They're getting more and more popular. It's a great way for top designers to get widespread visibility with a new audience.

Also, be sure to visit FIDM Fashion Design Student Michelle Smith's review of Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring/Summer collection and more on her blog!

-Gigi Hooghkirk

Interview with FIDM Grad Michael Abe of Issue Collection

Michael Abe and Business Partner Jon Rhinerson in WWD

Name: Michael Abe

Hometown: Pasadena/ Los Angeles CA

FIDM Major: A.A. Apparel Manufacturing/ B.S. in Business Management

FIDM Grad Date: Mar 03/ Oct 08

Company Name: Atlas Collective/ Issue Collection

Title: Creative Director

URL: Issue Collection

Describe a typical day? Wake up, Meditate, Read the Trades (WWD, blogs, ect.), Start emailing. Check in with Contractors, Runaround factories, Conf calls in the Afternoon, Check in with consulting clients/ projects, more emails. go home relax for a bit, maybe do some emails and design concepts or other catch up work. 

Who is your typical customer? Strong modern women. Someone who is starting to take risks with her wardrobe but not looking too over the top. Wears a fair amount of black or mostly neutral colors.

From the Issue Collection Lookbook

Where can your line be purchased? Eva in NY, Dish in SF, Isetan in Japan

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? Doing what I do and making a living.

What was your first job after graduation? Assistant to the Owner of Private Label co.

What did you learn at FIDM that still helps you today? To not dismiss any aspect of the industry and learn as many elements as i can. Whether it be pattern making, design conceptualizing or cost analysis.

What did you like most about attending FIDM? The teachers are very supportive of the students' ideas.

Anything else you'd like to add? Disclaimer- Overnight successes are hardly realistic, there's always a real story and history to a new brand's success. Coming out of FIDM I felt like I knew everything, today I feel like I'm still trying to learn as much as possible.

Interview with International FIDM Student Junie Kim

Name: Junie Kim

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

FIDM Major: Fashion Design

Previous college experience: Acting (in Korea)

Tell us a little about yourself: I'm an international student from Korea in my 5th quarter at FIDM. I'm interested in fashion and music. I cook very well, especially Korean food :)

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? 3rd quarter when I got straight A's!

Who are your favorite fashion designers? Halmut Lang, Balmain, Coco Chanel

Runway Looks from Balmain

How did you know that FIDM was the right college for you? First of all, I needed to go to a good 2-year college because I can't be in LA for a long time--I have things to do in Korea after graduation!  Secondly, my friend suggested that FIDM would be the right college for me and once I found out more, I agreed. FIDM's California location also played a part in my decision. I love the beautiful weather!

How did you choose your major? I just love fashion!! There was no other option for me!

What do you expect to gain from attending FIDM? I expect that as a student at FIDM I can learn more about fashion and receive more inspiration from my instructors than I would be able to do in Korea.

What is your ultimate career goal after graduating from FIDM? I want to be a worldwide fashion designer.

Anything else you'd like to add? I hope I'm getting straight A's next quarter!! :)

London Fashion Week Fall 2010

Britain's top designers showed off their Fall 2010 collections this week so we headed across the pond to see what's hot in Londontown.  Here are just a few of the designers we loved. --Angel

Burberry Prorsum
We would be remiss to leave out Burberry -- the ultimate British label.  Designer Christopher Bailey went with a chic, military-inspired aesthetic for fall.

 
  

Christopher Kane
At first glance Kane's designs had a dark, almost Gothic feel, but after a closer look we found sweet details, like lace and flowers, mixed in with the tough fabrics.

 
  

Matthew Williamson
Williamson is keeping it fresh this fall with pretty ruffles and pleats in  bright, bold color palette, including electric blue and shocking pink.

 
  

Vivienne Westwood
Westwood's fall collection is as eclectic as ever, with a melange of tartan, stripes, military details, and eye-popping colors.

Sass & Bide
Designers Sarah-Jane Clark and Heidi Middleton presented a collection that was full of feminine details --lace, embroidery, and body-conscious silhouettes.

 
Twenty8Twelve
The sisters Miller (actress Sienna and sister Savannah) kept it boho-glam with long skirts, denim shorts over tights, and metallics.

Vince Camuto Shoe Design Contest!

Vince Camuto is holding a design contest that let’s aspiring designers submit a sketch of their dream shoe, for a chance to get it produced and sold in the fall 2010 Vince Camuto collection and be featured in the September issue of Lucky! The sketches will be posted on the website where visitors can vote on which designs they like best.

The top 10 voted designs will then be judged by designer Vince Camuto (one of the founders of Nine West) and President Louise Camuto along with an editor from Lucky. The best shoe design will then be highlighted in the September issue of Lucky and the designer wins a trip to New York City to meet Vince himself!

Submit design to shoedesigncontest@vincecamuto.com by April 15. Good luck!

The History of Mannequins: More than Just Dummies

Walk through any department store, and you'll pass countless mannequins modeling the latest fashions. While we've come to take these visual merchandising staples for granted, mannequins have a rich and storied past that dates back to ancient Egypt.

 

When King Tutankhamen's tomb was opened in 1922, one of the treasures found was a lifelike torso believed to be the first dress form. Mannequins continued to perform the functional role of dress form for kings and queens for centuries, allowing tailors and dressmakers to to create clothes without having to bother the monarchs with fittings.

 

In the 18th century, France was the fashion capital of the world, and "fashion dolls" were created to show off the latest styles. These dolls were sent abroad so people could see what the French were wearing and copy the styles.

 

During the Industrial Revolution, mannequins made a huge leap forward with the invention of large glass-pane windows, which every retail store wanted to display its wares. People began window shopping, gazing at the fantasy worlds displayed in the windows. The first mannequins created for this purpose were made of wax and wood. Weighing between 200 to 300 pounds, some had real hair, glass eyes, and false teeth. By today's standards, they were a little creepy.

In the 1930s, mannequins began to be produced with plaster and reached a new level of realism. Sculptor Lester Gaba even created a mannequin named Cynthia for Saks that became a pop culture sensation. He took her to nightclubs and the opera, Cartier and Tiffany lent her jewels, and Life magazine immortalized her in a photo spread.

 

 By the 1950s, plaster mannequins were being replaced by plastic and fiberglass models. When women's roles started changing in the 60s, mannequins depicted the shift. The housewife mannequin with a bouffant was joined by the casual, confident woman. 

 

 

The 70s saw the introduction of Black, Asian and Latino mannequins, reflecting the growing ethnic mix in the country. Today, mannequins are different colors, crystal clear, ethnic, headless, backless, and every form of abstraction. And those old, vintage mannequins? They're selling for thousands on eBay.

- Jonathan

 

Liberty of London for Target

Chalk another one up for famous collaborations with Target. This time it's Liberty for London. The company has an amazing legacy, dating back to 1875. It started out as a shop selling ornaments, fabric, and art pieces from Japan and the East, and by 1885 it was the most fashionable place to shop in London. Their iconic fabrics were used for clothing and furniture.

Over the last fifty years, Liberty has worked with many fashion brands and and designers, including Cacharel, Louis Vuitton, YSL, and Nike...

 

The Liberty of London for Target collection launches March 14th! Cute fashions and home decor pieces in gorgeous floral prints. They even have a bike in the collection! Check it out...

Bike, $199.99

 

Ruffle one-shoulder maxi dress, $34.99

Smocked top, cross-strap maxi dress, $34.99

2-pc. PJ set, $19.99; Chiffon robe, $17.99

-Gigi Hooghkirk