New York Fashion Week Fall 2011: Bright Spots

Jenni Kayne Fall 2011, Photo: Monica Feudi / Feudiguaineri.com

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011, Photo: Carola Guaineri / GoRunway.com

Costello Tagliapietra Fall 2011, Photo: Filippo Fior / GoRunway.com

BCBG Fall 2011, Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

Phillip Lim Gave Christmas Bonuses Last Year!

From The Cut, nymag.com

0Comment 00Comments

Philip LimPhoto: Getty Images

Phillip Lim presented a rock-and-roll-inspired collection in the tents this afternoon. Whereas designers like Betsey Johnson and Vera Wang are showing off-site to save cash, Lim showed in the biggest (and most expensive) tent space with live musical act Lissy Trullie. Lim told us backstage after the show that he "can't complain" about business these days, noting "no one's immune" to the economy. Indeed, Lim's line ought to thrive in these times. Like Alexander Wang, his price points are lower than most high-end designer pieces — something Bergdorf women's fashion director Linda Fargo told us she's especially looking for this season.

He's not laying people off. "We actually gave Christmas bonuses. Celebration!" he trilled. He said spending the cash for the space in the tents was worth it, because IMG makes life easy and he can do things like have a live band. "There’s so many different variables that can go wrong and you’re just adding more layers to it. Fern Mallis and IMG — they make it so easy," Lim said. "I’m like, 'I want to do this,' and I’m thinking, ‘No way.’ But they’re like ‘do it!’" Nothing went wrong in Lim's show. Model Hyoni Kang had to take off her shoes to complete her walk, but barely tripped. "She picked herself up and dusted herself off and pretended like nothing ever happened — is that rock and roll or what?" Lim said. How would he have felt if she fell? "Falling is a different story. I’d be mortified. Because I can’t even imagine everyone looking at you, you know?"

Behind the Scenes: Alexander Wang

Off the Runway: Jason Wu

Yigal Azrouel Fall 2009

A peak or a valley in fashion’s increasingly pathetic celebrity obsession? Depends upon one’s viewpoint. From this end, the presence of Ashley Dupré, the world’s most famous has-been hooker, suggested that Yigal Azrouël couldn’t get star power of a more reputable sort to grace his front row, somebody like Chris Brown, perhaps. Why he went with a tabloid toots is curious, because it only made her, rather than his excellent collection, the focus. Azrouël, like many of his peers, is fixated on the hip downtown type who tends toward stovepipe pants and strong shoulders. He had that angle covered with legging-like cotton and leather pants and romantic washed-silk blouses done with a level of sophistication that sets his clothes apart. Indeed, the voluminous top/skinny bottom silhouette often skews young and sometimes sloppy — likewise for the short-and-tight conceit. But Azrouël managed to show both with a controlled edginess that works for women and girls — and you know there’s a difference. Colors were moody, heavy on black, gray and blue. For day, he emphasized texture with a terrific, oversize Fair Isle cardigan that flew away over stretch wool pants, as well as tough, as in a studded cropped leather jacket. As for the dresses, a painterly print on a languid silk gown didn’t flow, but a black, relaxed-Morticia version perfectly captured the “dark yet romantic” tone Azrouël meant to set.- WWD Staff

The Decelebrification of Fashion Week

Photo: Patrick McMullan
As Fashion Week ballooned over the last decade to World’s Fair size, it became a magnet not only for celebrities but for those who want to be seen with, and treated like, celebrities. What was once a (glamorous, to be sure) trade show turned into a spectacle of entitlement. But this year that came to a halt. Calvin Klein and Zac Posen canceled their postshow dinners. Vera Wang moved her show to her boutique. And, in the most austere move of all, Marc Jacobs cut the guest list for his show from 1,800 to 700 and completely eliminated his notorious celebrity quotient. If you think that’s hard on Posh Spice, pity longtime Jacobs PR woman Kate Waters. “I’ve been getting texts all week saying, ‘Poor you,’ ” she said wearily. “Is there an I Hate Kate Waters blog yet?” Still, “only a handful of people have been really awful. The real irony is that they’re the ones who really have no reason to be there anyway—the real borderline people who you see at the show and you’re like, ‘Why are you here?’ ” And company president Robert Duffy has her back: “No one gets a plus-one. I made an exception for one person, and one person only—and that’s Anna Wintour. Anna gets to bring a guest because she got us our jobs. Anyone else who wants to get us a job, they can have a plus-one, too.” - By David Colman for nymag.com

Small stature, Big style- New York Look Book

Tiqon “T.J.” Lediard Jr., First-Grader

“I’d like to wear purple-and-silver gym clothes all day.”

(Photo: Spencer Heyfron)

By Emma Rosenblum

Hi, T.J. Thanks for talking to me on the phone. How are you?
Good.

That was a nice uniform you had on today. Do you like wearing it?
No, I like gym clothes. I like purple and silver. I’d like to wear purple-and-silver gym clothes all day.

What games do you play in gym class?
You mean gym sports? I like playing volleyball. I’m good. And I’m a good snowboarder already. I can snowboard all the way down when I’m older.

How much older?
When I’m 13. But I’m not 13, I’m still 6! I’m going to get older soon, I think.

What other sports do you like?
We played relay race, and I won. I’m fast; I can catch them. I’m the fastest in my class. I’m super-fast. I’m super-super-super-fast.

Do you like watching TV?
I don’t like the Cartoon Network. I like to watch Noggin. You can see shows like Blue’s Clues or Franklin—everything!

Why don’t you like the Cartoon Network?
Umm … Bye!
[Dial tone]

Net-a-porter does New York

Some lovely stylish ladies from Net-a-Porter, came to town for the shows and the New York fashion crowd took notice:






Holli Rogers and Natalie Massenet from Net-a-Porter
photographed by Scott Schuman for The Sartorialist

New York Magazine: Lookbook

The Man Skirt is Here

Originally posted on Nymag.com

Man skirts for Spring 2009, from left, John Galliano, Comme des Garçons, and Etro

Photo: imaxtree Originally posted on Nymag.com

How do you know men's lib is in full swing? When men start wearing skirts. On the street. In everyday life. The Sartorialist, Scott Schuman, snapped two men wearing skirts on the streets of Europe, and it caught us off guard — it's not like these guys were heading to a Scottish wedding in ritual dress. No, they evidently woke up that morning and decided that instead of putting their pants on one leg at a time, they'd slip a skirt over both legs. We thought we weren't ready for mirdles, but this is a whole new level.

Photo courtesy of The Sartorialist

We admit, we find the looks Schumann shot stylish. But we can't get past the fact that they're men wearing skirts, and something about that trend catching on just doesn't look or feel right. Don't get us wrong — we're all for equality of the sexes, and if Yves Saint Laurent can put women in pantsuits, there's no reason other designers can't put men in skirts. We expect to see them on the men's runways from time to time. And we find it delightful when we do, but in a non-serious way. But now that it may be getting serious, we're a bit unsettled. We don't know if America is ready for her men to be traipsing around the streets in skirts. And if they're just barely catching on in Europe now, how long before they're popular here? Five to ten years?

Commenters on the Sartorialist are smitten by these men in their skirts. One writes, "I'd do it myself (in ten years maybe)." Another writes, "There was a great Met Costume Institute show of men in skirts a few years ago — it took about 5 seconds inside to realize that the West has missed an opportunity for beautiful tailoring and sexy knees." And yet another writes, "I love both looks — I was struck by the usage of the belt on the guy with the tie — these looks are hot." Hot? As in, Damn, that outfit compels me to get that guy's number? Hm. Dunno. But that's not to say that in several years we won't find a hot man in a hot skirt to be the sexiest thing since Brangelina. For now, though, so long as they're off the runway, we can't help but prefer to see guys with that extra bit of fabric between their thighs. But maybe we're just behind. So we'll ask you: How do you feel about men in skirts? Is the world ready for it? Or do you think it will take another decade or so for the planet to prepare?

New York Magazine Video Look Book- FASHION WEEK

New York Magazine Look Book

Bergdorf's window on 57th street celebrates the release of New York Magazine's "New York Look Book: Gallery of Street Fashion" It contains just a few of the hundreds of photos taken of the stylish and stylishly outrageous New Yorkers during the past 3 years. The magazine has become well-known for its weekly feature of ecclecticly-clad city folk and has included shots of celebrities such as Parker Posey, John Waters and Helen Mirren.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Parker Posey, photo from Nymag.com

For a great book of street fashion photos from around the world, check out Nylon's "Street: The 'Nylon' Book of Global Style"

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com