Jean Paul Gaultier Accepts First AmfAR Inspiration Award

We already know he is a wicked and brilliant designer… The Paris-based Jean Paul Gaultier will be feted June 3rd, 2010 in New York for his achievements in mens fashion and fight against AIDS. The award is for lifetime achievement and will be hosted by Kylie Minogue, along with guests like Lady Gaga at a formal soiree for at the New York Public Library.

This being a Gaultier night… The evening’s theme is “Black Tie/Black Leather” and guests are encouraged to “Dress accordingly”. (Cone bras and insect corsets anyone?)

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Downe With Fashion with Jessica White for NDSS

Down in Soho Tuesday night, I watched thirteen girls live out their dreams of being a high fashio n model. They were ladies who were challenged with Down syndrome, but had spent the day living like a VIP, getting their hair and makeup done, strutting their stuff and modeling the Hania collection by Ana Cole.

Hosted by 'It" girl model Jessica White, this was a project conceived by Fabrizio Babino to honor his family and raise money for the National Down Syndrome Society.

While the fashionista crowd sipped Moet and bid on fabulous silent auction items, one couldn't miss the infectious joy on the faces of the evening's stars. Helping to bring some extra paparazzi to the event were Alex and Simon from Real Housewives of New York and June Ambrose.

Care to make a donation? I certainly did: www.ndss.org

Photos by R. Loud from wireimage.com and mannyzoom of zoomyork.com

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Paris Fashion Week – Louis Vuitton RTW Fall 2010

In the age of digital speed, Avatar and cyber-shopping, it seems like everything is racing for the future. Marc Jacobs on the other hand, brought Louis Vuitton’s Fall Ready to Wear collection back in the other direction. The clothing had very conservative silhouettes. Super-elongated jackets, hair pulled back, faded vintage florals. A few country plaids. The style evoked Chloe Sevigny’s character in HBO’s “Big Love” or a depression-era schoolteacher. Colors were muted, dusty. The shapes were still quite feminine, and a few pieces looked like the schoolmarm wanted to break out in the vintage patterned corset styling.

The handbags had some of the muted mustards. Some of the quilted monagram pieces had dusty pastels that worked back to the clothing. Some bags had very luxurious fur worked into the bag (I’m seeing a big comeback in fur across most of the Paris collections). Dark appliqued blocked florals were also seen on many of the handbags as well, with lace and hand-painted crocodile texture.

Spotted in the front row: Daisy Lowe, Alexa Chung, Corinne Bailey Rae

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Paris Fashion Week – Chanel RTW Fall/Winter 2010

Karl Lagerfeld is predicting that next winter will be supremely chilly. Based on the snowfall from this past season, that’s not much of a stretch. He demonstrated this with a giant iceberg at the Grand Palais Paris this week. The collection itself was a mix of everything luxurious you could find cozy…Fuzzy tweeds, cashmere knits, leather and (faux) fur… While the concept was amusing, many bordered on abominable snowman or ‘Wookie’ territory. Bulkier versions of the classic Chanel tweed suit were present, with extra fur and occasionally, ice-like chunky quartz embroidery. While the looks were interesting, I had to imagine that most women in the world would not find these outfits particularly flattering on themselves.

The handbags in the collection received the same treatment. They were equally fuzzy, furry and embellished. The familiar signature quilted Chanel bag was also updated in chunky tweeds and the chain handles were often accented with feathers or fur.

Spotted in the front row: Alexa Chung, Vanessa Paradis, Yi Zhou

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Paris Fashion Week – Alexander McQueen’s Final Collection Fall RTW 2010

n a gilded salon in Paris, the designer label presented a sad and majestic collection for Fall 2010. The talented Alexander McQueen ended own life, but left a legacy of impeccable tailoring and beauty. The pieces that were shown had elaborate swirls, ornate embroideries and sweeping brocades The classics of Byzantine art and rococo influences also contained eerie motifs of angels and skulls.

Some guests viewed the show with tears in their eyes. The notes from the show said it best, “Each piece is unique, as was he.”

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LIVE: Rebecca Minkoff at Henri Bendel's

On this cool afternoon in Midtown NYC, Rebecca Minkoff is making a personal appearance at my favorite department store. Celebrating the debut of her Spring handbags, shoppers are sipping champagne and nibbling on rainbow colored cupcakes as they take in the new purses.

The handbags span the colors of the rainbow and feature a huge range anof treatments. There are handmade tie-dyed bags with Italian lambskin. There are sweet and edgy bags in Easter Egg colors with hard-zippered edges along girly ruffles. Rebecca Minkoff’s personal favorite is the deep lapis blue bag with a collection of different shaped studs. Very rock and roll…

Are you in the neighborhood? Come any join us! You can enter to win a Rebecca Minkoff handbag every hour and score a sweet giftbag (like I did!) with each purchase. Peeking into my bag, I spot the famous “Bada Boum” t-shirt from fashion week and some beauty and makeup goodies…

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Rebecca Minkoff's Spring Kick-off at Henri Bendel's

On this cool afternoon in Midtown NYC, Rebecca Minkoff is making a personal appearance at my favorite department store. Celebrating the debut of her Spring handbags, shoppers are sipping champagne and nibbling on rainbow colored cupcakes as they take in the new purses. The handbags span the colors of the rainbow and feature a huge range of treatments. There are handmade tie-dyed bags with Italian lambskin. There are sweet and edgy bags in Easter Egg colors with hard-zippered edges along girly ruffles. Rebecca Minkoff’s personal favorite is the deep lapis blue bag with a collection of different shaped studs. Very rock and roll…

You can enter to win a Rebecca Minkoff handbag every hour and score a sweet gift bag (like I did!) with each purchase. Peeking into my bag, I spot a “Bada Boum” tote, some beauty goodies and a best friends 2-part key chain to share.

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Milan Fashion Week: Versace Fall 2010

Donatella Versace, muse to her late brother, as well as several brilliant Saturday Night Live tributes. The Versace collection always brings to mind, brightly draped Roman Goddesses, golden Medusa heads and an opulent Italian lifestyle. For next Fall 2010 however, the house of Donatella seemed to take some notes from her American counterparts.

The runway displayed a lot of very tailored pieces, in dark colors as well as some bright blues, yellows and oranges. To off-set the more classic look of the tailoring, there were some rock n’ roll touches of slashed shoulders and cutouts, as well as body conscious zipper details. It seems like the continental diva likes to rock out like those of us Stateside.

The handbags were shiny, reptilian and had shadows of brightly colored accents that worked back to the clothing.

Spotted in the front row: Rachel Zoe, Mario Testino

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Milan Fashion Week: Emilio Pucci Fall 2010

I purchased a Pucci beach bag last year, it’s bright blue, pink and white in terry cloth. The busy print was exactly what I came to expect and love from the iconic design house. Then comes hot young thing Peter Dundas and turns that all around. The Pucci collection for Fall 2010 showed a decidedly darker edge. The multi color prints were reinterpreted into black, tonal patterns. The muse seemed to be a luxe bohemian, but with a cosmopolitan edge, perhaps Bianca Jagger?The handbags were missing their signature prints. Instead I saw dark, edgy colors with long dramatic fringe. I saw haute hippie feathers hanging off another, and big messenger bags with wide straps befitting a chic nomad.

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