Fashion on The Huffington Post

Michael Kors: It's Appropriate To Look Rich Without Looking Obnoxious

2009-11-25T12:57:28Z

Recession, shmecession. In Michael Kors's opinion the economy shouldn't keep any woman from looking luxurious. In an interview with the Independent UK, the designer explained his obsession with glamour even in the face of the crisis:

"You could say 'but I don't understand, we're in a recession'. The economy isn't at its strongest so why are we so attracted?" he asks. "But if you watch films from the Thirties, it's all Katharine Hepburn as a mad-cap socialite, and the world was in its worst-ever economic state. We're intrigued by young, beautiful people. We might have to get up in the morning, but does Serena [in "Gossip Girl"]? No, she doesn't. And that's intriguing."

He noted he's never had a collection about "poverty deluxe" and that it is appropriate to look rich, if you do it without looking obnoxious:

"It is, if you do it without looking obnoxious," says Kors. "If you're wearing something colourful, keep the line simple. If you're wearing something ornamented, keep the shape sleek. Right now, to have over-the-top hair and a beaded dress and an over-the-top shoe and a lot of jewellery all at once, it's too much."

Perhaps Kors's sense of balance is why his aesthetic has appealed to First Lady Michelle Obama, who wore one of his dresses in her official portrait and has donned the designer's duds on other occasions.

"I was coming out of the theatre," he remembers, "and I turned the Blackberry on and there were about a hundred emails congratulating me on dressing Mrs Obama. We had no idea! She wore" - with a little moue of an aside - "I mean, talk about modern, a black racer-cut matte jersey dress. Some people say she was channelling Jackie O, but Jackie O was never in matte jersey with an athletic cut. This is a very different world."

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Ferragamo CEO: Fashion Needs To Return To Boring!

2009-11-25T09:57:28Z

By Colleen Barry, AP

MILAN--It's back to the basics for the Italian fashion scene.

Major players gathered here Tuesday for an industry summit say the world economic crisis has pushed the fashion industry to the brink, and called for -- gasp! -- a return to normal, an embrace of the boring.

Participants including CEO Andrea Guerra of the Luxottica eyewear company and Ferragamo CEO Michele Norsa said the key to survival is to concentrate on the core product after industrywide cost-cutting.

"We need to return to being more boring. That means if we are good at eyewear, we need to make eyewear and thank goodness for 49 years we have made only eyewear. Others thought the time was ripe to do everything, and they now see that doing everything was a disaster."

More than anything, the crisis has defined a new normal, he said.

"There is no going back. We think that this is the critical moment, but I am convinced that 2005, 2006 and 2007 were the years of unreality," Guerra said, with unchecked growth and free spending. "This is a new world, it is not about declines and crashes. It is normal growth."

Norsa said the industry must reckon with permanent shifts in spending patterns.

"We have lost consumers who spent without looking at prices," Norsa said.

Sales growth will fall 5 percent in 2009 after a modest 4 percent growth last year, according to a study by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch.

In general, the biggest companies with annual revenues above euro300 million are doing the best, said Paula Durante, a luxury analyst at Merrill Lynch.

Apparel is being especially hard hit this year, because most orders are made months in advance, while accessories are the most resilient category, Durante said.

Mario Boselli, head of the Milan Fashion Chamber, said the Italian government has not yet formulated a response to help the fashion industry.

"There is a slow recovery, but that is a problem. You can't recover so slowly and without energy or you risk losing a lot of this country's wealth," Boselli told the gathering.

Boselli said he expects to see the worst when full-year earnings come out in the winter with revenues dropping on average of 15 to 20 percent. He expects more small companies to close and others to seek bankruptcy protection.

"An intervention has to be in the interest of the government in terms of costs and benefits," he said.

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Marissa Bronfman: Fabulous Fundraisers Use Fashion For a Good Cause

2009-11-24T12:45:07Z

The Frocktail Party

Fashionphiles flocked to the first annual Frocktail Party on November 12th, eager to bid on a bevy of designer dresses up for auction in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Held in the penthouse loft of the fabulous Burroughes Building, supporters were promised "an evening of frocktails, flirting and fun" and were not disappointed! Delectable frocks from Canadian darlings Greta Constantine, Jeremey Laing and Ashley Rowe were on hand, as were designs from Diane Von Furstenberg, BCBG, Dior and more. As ladies sipped their drinks and circled their sartorial prey, a surprisingly bountiful and handsome herd of men balanced out what could have been a fearsomely feminine soiree. This sold out event raised an incredible $23,000 for JDRF and definitely put the fun in fundraiser. If you missed the Frocktail Party don't fret, a fantastic frock with your name on it will be waiting for you next year, but be sure to get your tickets early because this fundraiser is sure to become one of Toronto's hottest annual parties.

(Photos courtesy of Jon Howcroft)

The Zareinu Fashion Show

The 6th annual Zareinu Fashion Show held at the Royal Ontario Museum on November 17th put a passion for fashion with compassion back on the runway with a fundraiser in support of the Zareinu Jewish Day School and Treatment Centre. Hosted by Fashion Television host and Canadian style maven Jeanne Beker, the night showcased fashion shows by design darling NADA, Thien Le and popular children's store Little Ones. While NADA and Thien Le sent models down the ROM runway in stylish looks from their FW09 collections and previews from their SS10 collections, the Little Ones show was the real star of the night, featuring children from the Zareinu school who receive treatment for a wide range of physical and developmental challenges. Decked out in sweet and funky garb these kids, flanked by children of Zareinu school supporters, stomped and sashayed down the runway to fun music and great cheers from the audience. It was an utterly inspirational night that raised money and perhaps more importantly, awareness, for the incredible work Zareinu does for Toronto children with special needs who are able to overcome so many tough obstacles thanks to the specialized education, care and love that the Zareinu staff and community provides.

(Images courtesy of ImpressionsPR)

(See my exclusive interview with Jeanne Beker during Toronto Fashion Week here; see my review and pictures from the NADA show at Toronto Fashion Week here.)

R4 Fashion

Nestled atop glistening Lake Ontario in the Atlantis Pavillion on November 20th, students, fashion industry insiders and green advocates came together for R4 Fashion to celebrate up-and-coming Canadian fashion designers who are passionate about stitching for sustainability. Featured on the eco runway were designs from AIME by Monica Mei, CARRIE by Carrie Hayes, Thieves by Sonja den Elzen and Rachel Jasmine Chan, all of whom aimed to prove that "going green doesn't leave style behind." Hosted by the Sustainable Technology Education Project at the University of Waterloo, the night also screened an original documentary about sustainable technology, the fashion industry and public policy, and invited as guest speaker Aiden Abram, a community catalyst and youth organizer passionate about climate change. Eager to move past the ubiquitous three environmental R's - reduce, reuse, recycle - R4 is meant to represent an ambitious but necessary next step and new dimension for the fashion industry. As with any nascent movement, R4 Fashion certainly has some hurdles to overcome but the evening represented a gloriously green foray into a new world for fashion in which style and design can be sexy and sustainable.

(Photos courtesy of BlogTO)

Dutch Designer's "Fragmented Textiles" Are Like Legos For Fashion

2009-11-23T17:16:16Z

Here's another eco-fashion innovation that is both puzzling and promising: "Fragmented" clothing that features customizable snap-on pieces, requires no sewing, and reduces textile waste.

Tony Sachs: Luxury Travel For Budget-Conscious Big Shots? Fame Route Has The Answer

2009-11-23T11:58:59Z

What do you get when you combine luxury travel with carpooling and membership discounts? A new company called Fame Route, a company aimed at execs and celebs who want to travel in style but without busting their bank accounts or pissing off their shareholders. And what do you get when you fly me in a private jet with a bunch of celebrities to attend a fashion show in Miami? One very confused writer. But more on that later.

Fame Route was started up by venture capitalist Gil Peter, who also happened to be a frustrated frequent flyer. "My homes are in New York and Florida, so I shuttle back and forth," he told me. "And the funny part is, I did this a little out of selfishness, because I was so fed up with flying that I said, 'Man, this is a good idea, because it's going to preserve my life a little bit.'" Fame Route outsources its entire business. Other licensed carriers provide the planes and pilots; Peter says, "We don't have any middlemen. We buy hours in bulk so we get a great deal." And their Concierge 360 service has alliances with hotels, salons, car services and other swanky service providers -- everything a well-heeled traveler needs for a fancy-shmancy trip.

This may seem like a weird time to launch a company that flies private jets, given that last year at this time the American public was ready to tar and feather the Big Three auto execs who winged their way to DC to beg for billions. Ah, but Fame Route has a recession-friendly angle -- they provide luxury travel on the cheap. I don't mean they fly you in a 1930s biplane and then schedule your dinner at Roy Rogers. You still get the goods, you just get it for less than you would if you had your secretary, lackey or manservant charter a jet and book your hotel and entertainment for you.

What's the catch? Well, it's twofold. First of all, you have to be a member. And that membership will cost you a cool thousand bucks a month, plus a $550 one-time application fee. And of course you still have to pay for your flights, car service, hotel, etc. Like any well-run club, Fame Route plans to make its money from the members who don't use the services very often or at all.

The other catch is that Fame Route doesn't want your private jet to be 100% private. By matching up members with similar itineraries, they divide the cost among more people, saving them money to the point where, they say, a flight won't cost much more than flying first-class on a commercial airliner. It's like carpooling for the jet set. As Gil Peter puts it, "You just tell them, you're going to fly with them because the cost is lower, and when you do get on the flight, that the social networking is almost as important as the flight itself."

Which is where I got stuck. Really? Would CEOs, sports stars and other assorted privacy-cravers really want to fly with total strangers? Couldn't they do that on a commercial jet?

I suppose that's why Fame Route invited my skeptical self to check out the concept in action. I can't really think of any other explanation for my presence on a seven-seat Hawker 800XP winging its way to Miami, along with fashion designers Nicole Miller and Richie Rich, singer/actress Deborah Cox, and Fame Route founder Gil Peter, among others. I know nothing about jets or fashion, and very little about Miami. But I wasn't about to pass up a free overnight trip to Florida, either. So I showed up at New Jersey's Teterboro airport with an open notebook and closed mouth, prepared to not give my ignorance away.

Teterboro, if you've never been, is probably best known for being mentioned as an alternate landing spot for the US Airways jet that "Sully" Sullenberger wound up landing in the Hudson River last winter. It's off the radar for most travelers because it serves small private planes exclusively. Try to wrap your head around an airport with no lines, no security personnel from hell and no need to take your shoes off. That's Teterboro. Show your ID and you're good to go. Everyone's ready to roll a half hour early? No problem. Get on board and take off. All that was missing was a masseuse kneading my shoulders as I walked across the tarmac. And I'll bet that could have been provided, too. For anyone with the means who needs to fly frequently, this is an amazing alternative to flying commercial.

This was Fame Route's maiden voyage, and our mission was to fly the aforementioned celebs and their assistants/companions to Miami for the city's Funkshion Fashion Week. We were also transporting some red dresses designed for a fashion show to benefit for the American Heart Association (Fame Route hopes to lend its services to at least one celebrity-laden benefit event per month). Between the dresses and our luggage, the seven of us didn't have a whole lot of room -- we had to climb over each other to get to the bathroom -- but the plush, swiveling leather seats were damn comfortable. Deborah Cox, who's starring in an upcoming Broadway musical based on Josephine Baker's life, drew my attention to the cashmere throw blankets which were there in place of the plastic-wrapped scratchy faux-wool jobs you get flying coach -- "You have to mention these!"

The food, inevitably, was pretty lame except for the packaged stuff like potato chips and candies, but we did get a lot of it, and the fully-stocked bar was ours for the drinking, which most of us did with gusto (at 9 AM -- celebs know how to party). The bathroom was described by one passenger as "a Mile High Club bathroom," and indeed, it seemed best suited for lovemakin'. To use the toilet, you had to lift up a leather-padded bench that wouldn't stay up, making things somewhat difficult for the gents who had to pee. But still, the soft lighting and real sink with real faucet and handles were a big plus.

As I mentioned before, none of the celebs on board knew each other. Club kid-turned-designer Richie Rich, classy mainstream fashion designer Nicole Miller, and R & B singer/actress Deborah Cox don't have very much in common with each other. Each one could have opened up a book, gotten out a laptop, or caught some shut-eye and it would have been like a more posh version of a commuter flight. But I've gotta hand it to Gil Peter and Fame Route -- the social experiment worked. The 2 1/2 hour trip was like an airborne cocktail party, with stories traded, jokes told, many snacks and airline bottles of booze consumed, and email addresses and phone numbers traded at flight's end. Did everyone become lifelong friends? I have no idea. But it was definitely an enjoyable way to spend the morning.

At flight's end, Gil Peter was ebullient: "What you saw today was seven people who really didn't know each other at all, right? But by the end, they were all friends, they were all trading numbers, emails, and you know, I see that happening with business people. Five, six people go in, and they've got ideas, and I think it will perpetuate good business relationships. And that's what we see as a really good part of this whole thing." Um, sounds good to me.

In the weeks since the flight, Fame Route has started to get the word out about its services and rates, and according to their publicist, they've now got more than 400 members, including "roughly about 100 celebrity members. We can't release names for obvious reasons." Not even a hint? Alas, no. And suppose that if I were a member, I wouldn't want my name bandied about by publicists, either. So I guess we'll just have to take their word for it.

Once we landed in Miami, I tagged along with the Fame Route team to catch Richie Rich's fashion show at Miami Beach's Setai Hotel, along with the pre- and post- show festivities. The show itself, from what I remember, lasted about 15 minutes, climaxing with the inexplicable appearance of Pamela Anderson, wearing her old Baywatch one-piece and sporting a derriere as firm as it was two decades ago.

Much of the rest, frankly, is a blur. Before I knew it, I was flying back to New York -- on a commercial jet. In coach, no less. And landing in a rainstorm and and going home from JFK on the subway. And while I shivered on the outdoor platform waiting for the A train to arrive, I thought to myself that a Fame Route-arranged limo would be infinitely preferable. So if any big corporations need a CEO, hey, I'm available. If nothing else, at least I'll be able to cut down on the travel expenses.

American Music Awards Best-Dressed 2009: See Who Stole The Show (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-11-23T09:43:56Z

On the red carpet for Sunday's American Music Awards, some stars dazzled, and some (quite literally) fell flat. (See J. Lo FALL and Adam Lambert FALL.)

Check out our best-dressed picks below. Who aced it and who should have been left off the list? And who did we miss? Weigh in below. And, of course, see who made our AMAs worst-dressed list.

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American Music Awards Worst-Dressed 2009: See Who Was A Fashion Flop (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-11-23T09:32:19Z

Sunday night's American Music Awards proves that a star can have all the money and talent in the world, but that doesn't guarantee you a good stylist. While some celebrities stole the show (see our AMAs Best-Dressed List), some normally fashion-forward folks (ahem, Nicole Kidman, Rihanna, and Kate Hudson) surprised us with major fashion flops. Here's hoping they do better next time. See our worst-dressed list, vote, and let us know what you think below.

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Tavi, 13-Year-Old Fashion Blogger, To Travel To Tokyo

2009-11-20T13:26:11Z

Thirteen-year-old fashion blogger Tavi already skipped school in September to attend New York Fashion Week, but WWD reports that the talented teen's next adventure will take place slightly farther away than the Big Apple. She's slated to be the guest of honor at Comme des Garcons' holiday party on November 27 at the 10 Corso Como store in Tokyo. Tavi has expressed her extreme adoration for Rei Kawakubo on her blog, saying she "scatters black petals on her doorsteps and serenades her in rap." We can't wait to read all about their meeting of the minds.

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Victoria's Secret Fashion Show PHOTOS: Boobs, Lace, And Balloons (POLL)

2009-11-20T08:40:06Z

By Samantha Critchell, AP:

NEW YORK -- Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road.

The lingerie retailer inducted five more women into its "Angel" ranks - a designation reserved for top models - in front of a packed house Thursday night at the Lexington Avenue Armory. They are Emanuela de Paula, Chanel Iman, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lindsay Ellingson and Candice Swanepoel.

WATCH VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW VIDEO HERE.

But Klum, who gave birth to a daughter five weeks ago, was the audience favorite in her purple corset covered with a half gown with poufs of tulle. She emerged from the huge, castlelike set to applause.

Musical guest The Black Eyed Peas - especially Fergie, its only female member, who wore a black, jeweled bodysuit - was another crowd-pleaser. Fergie came out later in a green corset gown.

Of course, fashion really is secondary here. Victoria's Secret always puts on an elaborate production (this time with a choir, acrobatic dancers and a giant polka-dot dog balloon) and fuels hype about its models. An online model search started earlier this month and is now down to two contestants, one of whom will be chosen by the public to appear in the televised version of the fashion show that CBS will air Dec. 1.

"I could watch this online, but it's a fun scene," said Russell Simmons from his front row seat. "This show is always fun and a great production."

"It's always a spectacular," agreed costume designer Patricia Field. "Victoria's Secret does that extra thing I like."
Story continues below

Klum, who normally wears the most elaborate outfits, only appeared once, so it was former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl Marissa Miller who had the honor of wearing a $3 million, diamond-encrusted bra.

Splashy jewels, it seemed, were one of the themes of the show with many models dripping in diamonds, crystals and other bling. Others wore faux fur stoles over their bras and panties. Thigh-high boots were the other must-have accessory.

Outfits fell into one of four themes: Star Trooper with breast plates and body armor; Pink Planet, which had a hippie vibe; the ethereal Enchanted Forest; and Romantic Journey that featured a lot of lace.

Compared to previous years, the overall collection didn't seem as skimpy, although Miranda Kerr wore an itsy-bitsy black thong get-up that might have to be edited out of the TV show.

__

On the Net:

Victoria's Secret: http://www.victoriassecret.com

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Taiwan Firm Crafts Stylish Shoes From Recycled Paper

2009-11-20T07:53:29Z

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Confronted with an ever-growing pile of old newspapers, Taiwanese fashion designer Colin Lin came up with the idea of using them to make shoes and tote bags for her environmentally friendly footwear company.

Lin, 50, says they are now hot items in Taiwan as well as markets from the United States to Europe, finding a niche with green-minded customers who have a fondness for novelty.

Read more: Colin Lin, Fashion, Style News

Gemma Ward To Continue Modeling, Might Enroll At Yale

2009-11-19T11:08:33Z

"She's been doing some great drama theater courses and is considering doing a three-year course at Yale, which is a great possibility. She's making one step at a time," Ward's mother said of her daughter, whose break from modeling was spurred by the death of Ledger in early 2008.

Green Model Competition

2009-11-18T11:11:16Z

Meet Project Green Search winner Rachel Avalon and the other stunning contestants, who show how we can all be fabulously green.

National Blouse Week Was 1919's Fashion's Night Out

2009-11-18T10:24:46Z

Four score and ten years ago, a significant event took our nation by storm: National Blouse Week! WWD remembers the precursor to Fashion's Night Out quite fondly, as retailers "from Boston Light to Golden Gate," held six days of special sales centered on women's shirts beginning on November 10, 1919.

The dominant bargains were nearly 50 percent off in most cases. A standard crepe georgette blouse, complete with ornamentation-like beading and lace went for $8.95 at most stores. In Chicago, prices dipped as low as $6.95, and in Boston, some stores sold items for $5.00.

The week resulted in a 76 percent increase in sales from the previous year.

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Alexandra Sinderbrand: Don't Do the Choo

2009-11-17T12:22:41Z

Before discussing the individual offerings of Jimmy Choo for H&M, I'm going to attempt to rationalize the pricing scheme behind the line. To be fair, no trace of blue blood entitlement seems to have resulted from company Founder and President Tamara Mellon's upper crust upbringing: She's a kickass businesswoman who clearly didn't view marrying into a highbrow family as an excuse to stop working. Respect, for reals.

She's also never been broke a day in her life. And when you're designing for the masses, that's a serious problemo.

Mellon describes Jimmy Choo for H&M as "a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection -- the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!"

Firstly: Most twentysomething urbanites don't have hordes of holiday parties to attend -- we're too strapped for cash to rent out a space, and our apartments are too small to service a soiree.

Nextly: While some of the individual pieces are more Wet Seal than high fashion (jewelry and belts, specifically), most of Mellon's assessment holds true... except the part about them being accessible. That's a PR-friendly way of saying affordable, and the collabs - on the whole - is decidedly not.

Peruse the itemized price list with corresponding images and it's easy to see why. Yes, over a third of the collection falls into the $24.95 - $49.95 range, but it's all jewelry, scarves, belts and coin purses - most of which are trashy as hell, but that's to be expected of cheaply made accessories.

What's unexpected is that piece of blue fabric masquerading as fifty dollar neckwear. You want a trendy, jersey-knit scarf, go to a fabric store and buy a $6.00 yard of t-shirt material. Doneskies.

The $50.00 - $99.00 section is the realm of the not-cool-enough-to-be-featured-in-the-ad-campaign shoes and bags. It offers some kinda meh, Tory Burch-wannabe flats for around $70, laughably overpriced things like $99 sequined t-shirts and $60 studded belts (please - you can DIY that shit for ten bucks), and animal-print shoulder bags of questionable taste level.

It also boasts cotton-blend leggings which, somehow, retail for $49.95. If you specialize in legwear a la American Apparel and/or Members Only, maybe, MAYBE, you can get away with that. But H&M? Don't even.

Now we move to the $100.00 - $199.00 block, where some of the refreshingly un-stripper-like shoes start to appear, and I mean that sincerely. They're def more sexy than slutty. They're also, from the looks of it, completely un-walkable.

If I hadn't broken my ankle in a stilletto-related incident years ago, I might not have a problem paying $149 for a pair. But I still trip up flights of stairs in flat boots, so I'm not about to tempt fate by blowing my dough on blister-inducing five-inch heels.

Admittedly, I'm bonkers for the studded snake boots, which are technically part of the men's line (the very metro men's line, as it were). I'm not quite so nuts about the $199 beaded, drapey debacle below them. This dress appears to be inspired by Forever 21. Weird ... and not in a good way either.

Onto the $249 fringey suede dress ... what happened? Did someone try for Stevie Nicks and end up with a Melba toast version of goth rock instead? Sadface. The cowgirl uncool number brings us to the last and most abhorrent rung of merch: The $200 - $299 group.

At places like Bloomingdales or Saks -- places where you walk in prepared for the numbers -- $300.00 buys you one pair of over-the-knee boots, or one pair of leather leggings, or one handbag, or one weekender tote. But at H&M? COME ON.

As I understand it, this line is inspired by the holiday season -- a time when we're supposed to buy gifts for others, and then scrape together whatever's left to buy something for ourselves. I'm sorry, but a $200 piece of festive, mass-produced party garb isn't a satiating material fix; it's a rip off that will inevitably leave you feeling like a Scrooge for having spent that much on one item.

If you're used to wearing $900 stilettos and $3000 dresses, then yes, $129 strappy sandals and a $249 dress seem like a steal. Alas, for the other 98% of the population, an outfit costing upwards of $400 isn't a throwaway purchase. It's a splurge, an investment ... a number that possibly puts us into credit card debt. Shocking, I know.

To be fair, the boutique-esque price points of Choo for H&M are a byproduct of the over-enthusiastic use of real leather; unfortunately, this collection needed a hearty helping of perspective more than an abundance of cowhide. My hunch is the bulk of us don't give a rat's ass about material authenticity -- we're shopping fast fashion, for fuck's sake. We just want to know we're browsing things we can realistically buy.

Jimmy Choo for H&M will probs sell out in select stores carrying it, if only because 'select' tends to mean 'in or near major shopping cities.' I'm south of New York at the moment, and was planning on viewing the collabs tomorrow at the chain's Atlantic City location. Turns out they're not even carrying it.

Good decision, H&M. Us Jersey girls are too fiscally savvy for sartorial scams.

Who Is The Top Fashion Partygoer?

2009-11-17T10:07:16Z

No surprise here--actress and fabled Ungaro advisor Lindsay Lohan is the top fashion partygoer in New York, says Page Six, and with 1,318 photographs of La Lohan on Patrick McMullan's Web site, it's somewhat hard to argue with this not-so-scientific study. Writer Derek Blasberg came in second and Karl Lagerfeld took third place. Other famous fete-faces include Marc Jacobs' beau Lorenzo Martone at #7 and designer Alexander Wang at #9.

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Sophie Theallet, Michelle Obama Favorite, Wins CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

2009-11-17T08:36:32Z

Designer Sophie Theallet took home one of the fashion world's top honors on Monday night: The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, pocketing $200,000 and a year of mentoring.

Theallet, a French transplant, has been worn by Michelle Obama several times in the past year. (See below.) In 2008 Theallet made news by casting an all-black cast of models for her first runway show at a time when models of any color are still few and far between.

Below, designer Alber Elbaz and actress Nicole Kidman present Theallet with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award on Monday night in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Vogue)

WATCH:

Michelle Obama in Sophie Theallet on April 28th:

Michelle Obama in Sophie Theallet in Ghana on July 11th:

Want more Michelle Obama style? Visit the Michelle Obama Style Big News page.

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Read more: Michelle Obama, Video, Fashion, Sophie Theallet CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund, CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Michelle Obama Sophie Theallet, Slideshow, Sophie Theallet, Michelle Obama Style, Style News

M.C. Hammer: Too Legit To Talk About Harem Pants

2009-11-16T11:58:33Z
Call this season's baggy trousers what you will--harem pants, genie pants, parachute pants, "looks-like-you-might-need-a-diaper-change" pants--but definitely don't call them 'Hammer Pants,' at least not to the former musician's face. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on the saggy style, and the king of the side shuffle refused to comment:

The billowy style re-emerged with M.C. Hammer in the club scene of the late 1980s. For those who grew up listening to the rapper's music, the pants evoke an automatic association with Mr. Hammer, whose given name is Stanley Burrell. Fabiola Beracasa, a New York fashion consultant who was an early adopter of harem pants, was wearing a pair while admiring a painting at an art auction when a stranger tapped her on the shoulder. "Hammer time!" he shouted, before they both began dancing "the M.C. Hammer side shuffle," she recalls.

Mr. Burrell declined to comment. His publicist said he's trying to redefine himself as a social-media expert, and, as such, is distancing himself from the pants.

However, that hasn't stopped harem pants from parading down fall fashion weeks' runways or selling off the shelves at H&M and Zara. What do you think of the trend?

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Read more: Harem Pants, Fashion, M.C. Hammer, Hammer Pants, Poll, Style News

Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers Bring Fashion To Fencing

2009-11-16T10:14:48Z
En garb! Two professional fencers are bringing some unlikely style to their sport, Page Six reports. Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers have been championed by Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Saks Fifth Avenue...and Rogers even flew to Paris to model for Louis Vuitton. Morehouse explained, "Fencing is a sport of power, grace, intelligence and style, and it really reflects the values of New York City. You have to be passionate, gritty and unique. And carrying a sword never hurts when you're riding the subway."

Check out this sharp pair:

Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers on November 15, 2009 in New York City.

Barack Obama fences with US Olympic Fencer Tim Morehouse with a lightsaber during an event on Olympics, Paralympics and youth sport on September 16, 2009.

Tim Morehouse and designer Chris Benz attends the Saks Fifth Avenue celebration of Fashion's Night Out at Saks Fifth Avenue on September 10, 2009.

All photos by Getty Images.

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Read more: Jason Rogers, Fashion, Tim Morehouse, Fencing, Style News

Karl Lagerfeld Will Never Retire

2009-11-16T09:24:50Z
Karl Lagerfeld, the man behind the sunglasses, the scowl, and most notably, Chanel's designs, has announced that retirement is not on his leather-covered and studded radar. Handbag.com quotes him as saying, "Retirement is not one of the topics with which I deal. Why should I? I still have so many projects that I sometimes don't know where to begin. Chanel will still need some clothes when I'm 89."

But will you still want to wear Karl's clothes when he's 89? We're imagining a line of couture jogging suits and thousand-dollar orthopedic shoes.

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Read more: Karl Lagerfeld Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld Retirement, Karl Lagerfeld, Fashion, Style News

Charlotte Hilton Andersen: Curing The Obesity Epidemic One Beatdown At A Time

2009-11-13T15:05:00Z
In a shocking display of honesty or hubris (both?), the immensely likable Robert Verdi recently said, "A lot of women say 'I should've been alive when Ruben was because I'm Rubenesque.' So times have changed. There are different cultural norms and values and beauty identities, and the fact that thin is in -- who cares? It's why I stopped eating. I think food is for fat people and poor people. Rich people don't eat. They get dressed up and go shopping." [Emphasis mine.]

Dear Robert,
I adored you on Trading Spaces. And The Fashion Police was a guilty pleasure of mine for quite a while. I've heard (though not seen as I have a policy of never watching the movie version of a book I have enjoyed) that you were utterly charming on The Devil Wears Prada. If there was ever a man I would want to give me a much-needed makeover, it would be you! You are the rare makeover artist who can transform a person -- or their personal space -- without making them feel bad about themselves. That's a gift, sir. But even all of that love for your spunky knits and weird headware cannot make me overlook this.

Because this is a serious problem. See: Food is for people people. All people. This attitude that eating represents a loss of self control and is only for the déclassé is abhorrent. With one fell swoop you hurt poor people, fat people, eating disordered people, normal-weight-but-afraid-of-becoming fat people and pretty much everyone else within the sound of your voice that isn't part of the pill-n-party LA culture. As a woman of normal -- sometimes even "low" -- weight, I must tell you that your statement makes me sick to my stomach. Not from revulsion. From fear. I live in constant terror that were I to gain weight, I would no longer be deserving of love. It's was a primary factor in my eating disorder and remains a great source of income for my therapist. (That's me, stimulating our economy one mental health professional at a time!)

You may think you are just stating the facts ma'am but the problem is that we have created a culture where people would rather die than be fat. Why? Because it has become acceptable, praiseworthy even, to abuse, belittle and humiliate people for their weight. Take the recent case of Marsha Coupe, a British woman who was beaten to a bloody pulp by another woman for the crime of taking up two seats on a train. There are so many horrible things about this incident: First, that the attacker was another woman; Second, that the train was practically empty; Third, that the motive for the attack was clearly and specifically targeted to the victim's weight as evidenced by the attacker screaming, "You big fat pig" before kicking Coupe in the face.

Coupe explains, "The government and the press have created an atmosphere where people think they have a legitimate right to go up to an overweight person and tell them how to live their lives. To them we are all the anonymous pictures of fat people they see in the papers and are the cause of all society's ills, as well as a drain on the NHS. We deserve what we get. We're not people with feelings."

So back to you Robert -- your statement that fat people are not deserving of one of the most basic human rights, food, is exactly how we get to thinking that overweight people deserve whatever abuse people see fit to heap upon them because in the end it's "for their own good." If only we all had the self control to just blithely give up food like you! Psychologist Ros Taylor takes on this sadly prevalent attitude saying, "There is true aggression towards overweight people and it comes down to fear and a complete lack of understanding of the issue. People think 'I can control what I put in my mouth so why can't they'. But we're not all the same, we don't all start from the same point."

I'd like to think you were just being glib and silly, in the way that you so often got people to laugh at the silly and unflattering clothing they were hanging on to. Except that your statement and the attack on Marsha Coupe are two sides of the same soul-destroying coin. This time people are getting hurt, really hurt and it's not entertainment anymore. So I say with love: Please shut up.

Sincerely,
Charlotte
Read more: Woman Gaining Weight, Obesity Crisis, Women and Weight, Gaining Weight, Health, Robert Verdi, Food Obesity, Food, Fat, Fashion, Obesity, Marsha Coupe, Living News

Daphne Guinness Dares To Wear 10-Inch Stilettos (PHOTO, POLL)

2009-11-13T12:08:06Z
In her new video, Lady Gaga dances in what we considered unwearable 10-inch stilettos by Alexander McQueen. But now another fashion-forward woman has dared to wear them: Daphne Guinness. On Thursday night the socialite and Marc Jacobs co-hosted a party for NARS 15X15 in New York.

Take a closer look at the couture collector's outfit and tell us what you think of the footwear.

Photo by Patrick McMullan

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Read more: Fashion, Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueen 10 Inch Stiletto, Poll, Daphne Guinness, Style News

Una LaMarche: Project Runway Finale Recap Part One

2009-11-13T10:07:12Z
Yes, the season is almost over, but the finale is cruelly a two-parter, so we've got to power through. Don't worry, I have visual aids and Jello shots. Are you ready? Let's finish what we started.

Previously on: The Getty Center was a crappy fashion muse that led Christopher to dress his model up like an algae-covered rock. Then again, he finally got auf'ed so maybe we should be thankful. Irina and Althea shunned one another so of course both made it to the Final Three (the producers hope, I assume, for fistfight on the Bryant Park runway). Gordana's lovely--if rather vaginal--gown sadly got her sent home and the increasingly rundown Carol Hannah rounded out the winners.

Here they are, the final three:

Heidi tells them that they have to create a 12-piece collection to show at Bryant Park and that they get $9,000 for materials.

Tim comes out on the runway. He says that he is more proud of them than he can adequately express. Oh Tim--that's what hand gestures are for! He reminds them that he'll soon be riding Tim Gunn's Rock of Love bus around the country to check in on their work. Heidi wishes them luck, and then she and Tim get a little humpy in silhouette as they exit. Very sadly, the Lifetime website has no photos of this.

Althea interviews that there is still tension between her and Irina, and that she can forgive but she won't forget. She's totally going to beat Irina with an olive branch. Meanwhile, Irina thinks that the other two are intimidated by her. "They're expecting me to take the big guns to Bryant Park," she says. "But I'm bringing the tank! I've got the whole army." Suddenly I see her riding a missile, laughing maniacally, like at the end of Dr. Strangelove. Shudder.

We flash forward a few weeks. Tim is on the road to scenic Huntington, Long Island, where Carol Hannah has recently relocated (from South Carolina) to work on her collection. It's a bleak, snowy landscape, of course, because this season was filmed during the last Ice Age.

They should totally have Tim take over the Publisher's Clearinghouse check delivery. How excited would you be?

Carol Hannah shows Tim her half-finished collection, which includes an interesting violet dress with a poufy, ballet-inspired skirt. Tim likes it, but balks when CH tries to add a sparkly belt.

The inspiration for her collection was a nighttime visit to Duke's campus, so she's constructed her entire collection out of Budweiser labels. I kid, I kid.

In addition to the cupcake dress, she's made a few gowns, some shorts, jackets with an evening flair...

But Tim does not like the capelet she's made. He thinks it ages the long dress.

Tim's "The Thinker" pose is so hard to read.

But in this case, I think his viscera is definitely saying uh-oh. I like the dress, but capes can be a bit matronly.

Carol Hannah also shows Tim a silk tank embellished with the ropey details she used in the Getty challenge. Apparently she's finally made some pants to go with it.

"I swear, Tim, I really did make pants."

After the critique (Tim seemed mostly impressed), Carol Hannah announces that her family is in town and that they are going to treat Tim to a a traditional Southern meal. And in the South, everybody helps to cook said meal. Which means...

Tim in an apron! A floral apron! With a bow! Making biscuits! OMG cuteness overload.

(After Broadway produces my idea for a Western-inspired musical about Tim's life called Annie Get Your Gunn, I think he should do a cooking show called Project Popovers. Watch your back, Paula Deen!)

During dinner, Carol Hannah and her family reminisce, and we get to see l'il CH:

Those glasses! That vest! She's almost as awkward as I was.

Tim is clearly moved, because after dinner, Tim and Carol Hannah reenact the snow scene from Love Story.

Tim: Love means never having to say 'Make it work.'
Carol Hannah: You don't say that anymore.
Tim: Duhvsies, because I love you.

And then Tim bids our heroine adieu to travel to the far away land of Upper East Side and pay a visit to the villain Mean-a Irina.

"Oh, hi, Tim, come on in. I was just in the middle of stitching some voodoo dolls and securing a patent for sweaters!"

I think the editors are telling us something when one of the first things we see in Irina's apartment is her dog's ass.

(At least, I think that's the ass. Not very princess-like.)

Tim contemplates the collection, which is full of knits and furs, unsurprisingly. (If you look behind him you can see more of her sketches.) The inspiration is actually Coney Island, which we only really see in a screen-printed tee shirt depicting the boardwalk.

Irina has hand-knit the sweaters, and I do really like the patterns she's doing. There's a fur vest that Tim takes issue with ("It looks like a sisal rug!") but overall he's encouraging. Afterwards, Irina is upset that her review wasn't all positive.

Then it's off to dinner at Twenty One, the Shabayeva family's favorite restaurant (and a place the New York Times calls "imperturbable and impervious," much like Irina herself.) Ties are no longer required at lunch, but bitches are on the menu for dinner!

Tim's face is stretched into a grotesque mask of forced merriment.

That subtitle, by the way, is spoken by Irina's mother. Her parents are pretty cute. Spolier alert: her dad is Antonio Banderas! And judging from this photo, the Shabayevas emigrated to the US circa 1908:

Maybe they're vampires! Anyway, somehow Tim escapes, and before we know it he's on the road to Dayton, OH to see Althea.

To get to her apartment, Tim has to take a freight elevator and actually exclaims "Egads!" I love Tim.

"Oh my God, it's Ed McMahon!"

Althea says that she's happy he's here because she's been stuck in a bubble and needs an outside opinion. She tells Tim that her collection is inspired by sci-fi movie women. She's made pants, knits, and this long coat, which Tim isn't overly fond of:

We see a shot of this gown. I like the color, though the bodice is obviously unfinished. Tim's overall critique is that Althea shouldn't lose sight of who she is and that she needs to edit, edit edit.

They walk in the snow to Althea's parents' house...

...but it's not nearly as romantic as his snow frolic with Carol Hannah. It's for the best, since we find out Althea has a BF named Stuart.

I don't know what's happening in the above photo, but I love how blank Althea looks and how concerned/annoyed Tim looks. It's like he's thinking, "Just get the fucking words out, blondie!"

In her defense, Althea has been generally confused from a young age:

She's just distracted by bright lights.

The visits are over, but a few days later, we see Tim call Irina. "We have an issue," he says. Apparently the Coney Island images Irina was working with are trademarked and she can't use them. Irina is understandably freaked out. She says she's been busting her ass for a long time and now she has to redo the look. My husband Jeff does the Nelson laugh from The Simpsons, reveling in her misfortune.

Flash forward 10 days. Finally we're back in New York, where this show belongs. Althea is is the first to arrive at the Grand Hyatt. Then Irina arrives, and the meeting is awwwwwkward.

It reminds me of last Halloween when my friend Amy's daughter Erin went as Annie and had a run-in with another Annie in Greenpoint.

We thought there was going to be a rumble, but the promise of candy finally sent them on their separate ways.

Anyway, Althea interviews that she lost a bit of respect for Irina when she accused Althea of copying her droopy sweater. Irina asks "Is Carol here?" Althea says no, and they stare at their nails. Tumbleweeds blow by.

Althea tells us that she doesn't trust Irina any farther than she can throw her (TRY! TRY! How far can you throw her?! Sorry, I'm instigating) and is not letting her guard down. Irina admits that she distanced herself from the other designers but that she still likes them all.

Carol Hannah still hasn't arrived by nightfall and the others worry that something's happened. Right on cue, Tim knocks on the door to tell Althea and Irina that CH is sick and that it's contagious, so she couldn't make it on time. In other news, there's champagne in the room accompanied by a note from Heidi. Tim and the girls toast to fashion week, and Irina says that she feels bad for Carol Hannah while she laughs. Althea interviews that getting sick during the final challenge is the worst thing she can think of happening. Later, drunk, Irina tells Althea that they'll either end up best friends or worst enemies.

The next morning they settle into their new workroom digs:

Althea notes that blue is a calming color. She and Irina awkwardly start working. Seriously, this whole finale could have been one episode if they edited out all of the footage of Althea and Irina being awkward around each other. But finally the tension is broken by the arrival of Carol Hannah!

"Are we allowed to hug you?" Irina asks. "I wouldn't," Carol Hannah croaks. She does kind of look like death, and not even the warmed-over kind. More like freezer-burned death. Carol Hannah interviews that Althea and Irina were probably secretly pissed that she showed up.

Tim comes to check in on them. First up is Althea. Tim says that she's done a lot of work, but thinks a sparkly jacket looks matronly.

Is he calling Liza Minnelli a matron?

Tim thinks parts of Althea's collection are older-looking and parts are youthful, i.e. they don't look like they're for the same client. "This is borderline Hilary Clinton," he says of one jacket. Jeff translates this Tim-speak as "You should just kill yourself."

Next up is Carol H1N1-annah. Tim asks, "How are you feeling? Comme ci comme ca?" and Carol Hannah looks like she's going to vomit. Tim gives CH a critique similar to the one he gave Althea: that her collection is uneven and doesn't seem to be all for the same woman. They discuss a simple gold sheath--Carol Hannah contemplates getting rid of it but Tim thinks that among all of her more embellished pieces that simple is good. Althea interviews that she's not intimidated by Carol Hannah's work.

All of a sudden, Tim spots a giant cockroach!

Oh, nope, that's just Irina's collection. Why the stinkface, Tim?

He doesn't like the lack of color, first of all. Too much black. He doesn't seem impressed by the new silkscreened tee-shirts. He also doesn't like her leather pants, which he says look like chaps. Finally, Irina's big statement gown needs a lot of work.

Althea listens, relishing the smack-down. That dress she's working on looks kind of Malvin-esque--which is to say, egg-sling-y--right now but I think it will be pretty once it's finished.

Then there's a whole segment on model casting which is uneventful. No fighting or hair-pulling. Once it's over, Delia Deetz and Otho stop by for a tour!

Seriously, Nina, what is that jacket? It reminds me of Balenciaga's aboriginal football uniforms from a few seasons ago. Anyway, she and MK are here to sit and drop some knowledge on the final three.

MK tells them to pay attention to the order in which they send their looks down the runway. It should be like taking the audience on a ride, he says--"down, up, down, up." And I know he's referring to the energy of the looks, but suddenly my thoughts turn sexual and I have to go and burn my mind's eye out with lye. Nina says, rather pointedly (ahem, Irina) that they need to think about color, and getting editorial coverage. MK assures them that self-doubt is part of design process, and says that he tweaks and edits down to the last minute. The basic gist of the whole pow-wow is, "Don't suck." Got it, designers? Got it. Moving on.

Irina interviews that she disagrees with Nina about having an all-black collection. "Color doesn't fit in with what Ilm doing," she says. Is this Mean-a Irina's death knell? You can ignore Tim's advice honey, but you do not fuck with Nina Garcia, Fashion Director of ~~Elle~~ Marie Claire magazine. ("I wonder if next year it'll be even more down-market," Jeff says. "Like, Czech Cosmo.")

It's three days to the Bryant Park show, and Carol Hannah says she's tired and is running out of adrenaline. Althea is feeling super stressed about the fittings.

Tim comes in and tells the ladies that he's sending in their models, and wants to underscore that the most important thing they need to do is to decide which look their "muse" model will be wearing, as that look will be going in front of the judges during the final panel.

Irina outfits her model in an Aspen-y look...

While Althea tries a leather jacket on her model, who seems to think she has replaced a certain someone who is very close to my heart.

Do not take Bitchface's face in vain, girl!

Tim and Heidi come back with a surprise. They have to create a final look!

Um, duh. Have they never watched the show? This is about as surprising as Kors wearing a black turtleneck. To their credit, Althea, Irinia, and Carol Hannah don't pretend to be shocked. They just look tired and beaten down. Amen, girls. We are all with you on that. Heidi adds that their muse model will be casting a model to wear the 13th look. Right, because you have to give the Models of the Runway something to do this week. Can that show please die? I need to watch 30 minutes of models casting other models like I need another season of Breaking Bonaduce, okay?

A secondary surprise that is also not really a surprise seeing as it's happened every other season is that the finalists will have help in the form of...

Jordan Knight from NKOTB, Rosanna Arquette, and the eldest Hanson! The velvet bag will determine who gets to pick first.

Althea gets dibs and chooses Logan, and Carol Hannah makes a sad face. (P.S. I love how they've given so much screen time this season to a romance that is not even happening.) Irina is next and chooses Gordana. "Come to mama!" she cries. Carol Hannah gets Christopher, but it's OK because they're buddies.

Heidi peaces out and Tim escorts the designers to the REAL Mood, noting that "we're walking to Mood. We're using out feet. This is New York." Althea envisions some sort of jacket for her final look, while Carol Hannah feels she needs a "wow" gown. Gordana interviews that she wants to give Irina confidence. (Oh, I don't think she's missing that, G.)

Back at the workroom, CH immediately gets to work on her 13th look, which is something flowy and blue...

While Chris gets to work on a bedskirt. Typical.

We see bits and pieces of the other designers working, but not much because the real action is back at the hotel later on, where Carol Hannah retches into the toilet. "I want to crawl into a corner and die!" she says. And that, my friends, is where Finale Part One leaves off. Wanting to crawl into a corner, vomit, and die.

Next week it's all over, for reals. Althea and Irina keep fighting about copying each other! Carol Hannah cries in Christopher's arms! Heidi wears a hot pink suit! Tim says "This is crazy!" CAN YOU STAND IT? Lifetime's website has a countdown clock to the finale (as of this writing, 6 days, 8 hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds) and I know they're trying to build suspense but at this point I feel like that clock is just mocking us: "It's not over yet, suckers!"

I'm going to go ahead and say Carol Hannah will win it all. She's gotten the best edit throughout the season, plus Tim had the best response to her collection and now she has an 11th hour obstacle to overcome. My official prediction: CH for the win, Irina second runner up, Althea the first one out. Thoughts?

I'll see you next week for the final farewell to Season 6. Thanks, from the bottom of my black little heart, for sticking with me and keeping me going!

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Read more: Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Project Runway, Style, Comedy, Michael Kors, Style News

Liu Wen To Be First Asian Model In Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

2009-11-13T09:02:19Z
Liu Wen will reportedly strut her (skivvy-clad) stuff as the first Asian model to appear in a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, according to Modelinia.
Read more: Asian Model, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Liu Wen, Victoria's Secret, Fashion, Style News

Alexa Chung Cites Cybill Shepherd As Style Inspiration

2009-11-12T13:46:47Z
"I watch a lot of films, looking at someone like Francoise Hardy or those '60s actresses, like Jane Birkin," Chung explaned. "Cybill Shepherd in The Last Picture Show is amazing."
Read more: Cybill Shepherd, Alexa Chung Style, Alexa Chung, The Alexa Chung Show, Fashion, Style News

The 1890s Are SO In Again: Men's Fashion Reaches Way, Way Back

2009-11-12T13:15:27Z
Not long ago, big brass-buttoned military coats looked a bit extreme. So did high-button, high-lapel vests and slim tweed trousers. And so did guys who tucked said trousers into high, old-fashioned hunting boots. Now these clothes (along with those ever-present beards and mustaches) look like downtown defaults compared with fall runway looks like cardinal-red tailcoats at Ralph Lauren, capes and bowlers at Alexander McQueen and knee breeches at Robert Geller.
Read more: Nineteenth Century Fashion, Men's Fashion, Fashion, Style News