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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

FAB Exclusive: Byron Lars - First Lady Favorite

Byron Lars is one of Ms. FAB’s fashion idols. He is also on the FLOTUS short list of go-to designers. Our most fashionable First Lady, Michelle Obama, wore Byron Lars Beauty Mark to a high profile concert event held at the White House in June. PBS will air Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House" tonight on your local PBS station.

FAB Ritika got lucky and snagged an exclusive interview, a studio tour and a top secret peek at the 'First Sketch’ of the dress.

Mrs. Obama sketch in Byron Lars Beauty Mark
Byron at work in his studio
MsFABulous: What were some of your inspirations as you were designing the Fall 2010 collection?


Byron Lars: My inspiration for the Fall Collection was primarily color and texture based. Any fabrication that had either color which I couldn't get off my mind or that had a texture which compelled me touch it was included in this collection.
The themes involve vintage hybridization. For instance, a bulky cotton tweed boxy jacket that your grandma might have worn gets crossbred with a zip-front hoody, resulting in something that both a skate punk and your grandma could rock.

MsF: How do you develop your collections? Do you have a specific muse in mind as you design?
BL: Each collection is developed from many points of reference at once. Construction alone may inform some of the pieces while the attitude of a particular customer might inform others.
The one thing that I always try to keep in mind while developing new collections is to make sure that I’m providing clothes that help my customer look better. This is why so much attention is paid to proportion and detailing.

MsF: Do you think a great designer piece is a luxury or a necessity?
BL: I’m not so lost in fashion as to think that any designer piece is an absolute necessity. I am fairly certain however, that anyone who has once experienced wearing a designer piece that really fits properly and is made out of superior fabric might see things differently.

MsF: For design aficionados who can't always afford designer pieces, what is your suggestion to update their Fall 2010 look. Is there one piece you feel is a must have?
BL: I would have to say that the one must-have fall update item is a great fishermen cable sweater. Paired with a super dressy bottom that you already own (for instance that seldom worn beaded or sequined skirt that you got for your cousin's wedding), this staple becomes fashion that be worn for day or evening.

MsF: What sacrifices did you have to make to have this career? Would you have changed anything looking back?
BL: I haven't really had to make any sacrifices for this career that wouldn't had to have been made for any other career. Of course in fashion, as in any career that you are passionate about, there are many long hours and working weekends however, I would love it if I didn't have to be away from home as much as I am.

MsF: Michelle Obama wore your dress to a recent white house concert. What would be the perfect dress you would suggest for her from your fall collection? Or are you working on a super secret design project for the white house that you can’t talk about…..yet?
BL: There are no super secret design projects for the First Lady...at least not for me anyway.
It was of course a great honor for me to see that Mrs. O chose to ware one of my dresses.
I always have so many dresses in each collection that I think Michelle Obama could rock splendidly that it's hard for me to narrow it down to just one.
If, however, I had to choose just one dress for her from the Fall collection it would be this simple scoop neck black sheath that has a lace tank under pinning. it's classic, has a touch of the unexpected and is super chic...just like Mrs. O.

MsF: Can we get a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
BL: There won't really be anything to sneak a peek at until I make my next sample development trip to China, which is coming up in the next couple of weeks.

MsF: The last question comes from one of our readers. She wanted to ask if you plan on working with Vogue patterns or designing another Barbie in the future?
BL: At present, I don't have any future plans to work with vogue patterns but, anything is possible down the road.
My relationship with Barbie and Mattel is ongoing so, there will be more dolls...a new one every year in fact.
The most recent series is designed around the idea of a sister from Harlem traveling the globe and putting her fashion spin on the culture that she has experienced abroad.
Working with Barbie is probably one of the funnest parts of my job! This is one item that you can always afford at every price point.
Byron Lars at work
The "First Dress" for Mrs.Michelle Obama
If you have never worn a Byron Lars dress before, you are missing out. One can rarely find an outfit that combines unique construction, quality and artful design in the same piece.

To find a dress similar to Mrs. Obama’s, shop on-line at Carina New York. The dress comes in Dove and Blue and retails for $316. Tip: Shop now as anything Mrs. O. wears usually sells out within hours.
Isn't it nice to know that First Lady style is democratically accessible?
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Sharise Neil's Rock n' Roll Kandy Wrappers


The artsy Sagamore hotel in Miami beach was host to the Kandy Wrappers cocktail party for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim. Designer Sharise Neil was on hand to present the sexy collection to the Ms. FAB team.

The vivacious Neil told us that the line took inspiration from imagining the progeny of a rock star and a surfer girl. Of course, that is more than a tag line. Sharise Neil was married to and toured with Motley Crue’s Vince Neil. She spent much of her school life in the ocean and on a surf board. Her designing experience started with styling hubby’s outfits on tour. She collaborated on an intimates line for low-cut jeans to follow friend Daniella Clark’s denim line.

Fans of Sharise Neil’s collection include Heather Locklear, Fergie and Kate Hudson. This year, Kandy Wrappers was also the official swimsuit supplier for the Miss USA pageant.

The Kandy Wrappers collection for 2011 featured fun, feminine details like ruffles and novelty prints. The bright colors were designed to make you stand out on the beach or backstage. The Brazilian cuts are meant to flatter the fit ‘booty’. Many of the suits were reversible, giving the customer multiple options. The rock n’ roll touches included pyramid stud embellishments and animal prints.

View the full video interview below:
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Kim Kardashian, Kelly Ripa in Disguise for Cancer Research


Kelly Ripa, Kim Kardashian and QVC have collaborated on a fashionable way to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer. The celebrity fashionistas are putting out a PSA wearing fun disguises to educate women on the very serious way that the illness has of disguising it symptoms. QVC is presenting Super Saturday on July 31st.

Donated designer items from Theory, Jacqueline Kennedy and others will be on sale to raise funds to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Prices will be half off the retail price.To make a difference, fans can shop or participate in the campaign by posting their own ‘disguise’ photo on the Facebook Page. Participating can win you invitations to the celebrity-filled QVC party in New York and tickets to the Fashion Week runway show.
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Monday, July 26, 2010

FAB Sales Alert: Alexander Wang, Dolce and Gabbana,Kooba,Diesel...



In NYC:
Kooba's stylish handbags. A favorite of young celebs and socialites.
When: Tuesday, July 27 - Thursday, July 29, 2010. 11 am - 7 pm
Where: 261 West 36th street, 2nd floor
Diesel Warehouse Sale! Slick designer denim at binge-shopping prices
When: Tuesday, July 27 - Thursday, July 29, 2010. 10 am - 6 pm
Where: 220 West 19th Street (between 7th/8th ave), 2nd floor

Online:
Alexander Wang is HOT all over the world. Devoted fashionistas declare themselves "Wangsters". Erin Wasson, Courtney Love are fans.
When: Monday, July 26, 2010
Where: Register or shop immediately HERE
D & G Dolce and Gabbana. One of Madonna's favorites.
When: Tueday, July 27, 2010
Where: Where: Register to shop here.
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The Dressmaker's Art - Bruce Museum, Greenwich CT





In a world of fast fashion and mass market distribution, where is the craft of dressmaking?



The current exhibit at the Bruce Museum in Connecticut showcases an edited collection from 1820 to the ‘modern’ 1920’s. Meticulous garments show the progression of technology and trends during this period, and how it influenced the speed of fashion trends. In addition to the show, there is an information lecture series, ranging from the Science of Dressmaking to Re-inventing Glamour.



Elaborate underpinnings, embellishments and accessories are also on display. An example would be the Brussels lace wedding veil once worn in 1903. Charles Worth, one of the first 'famous' fashion designers has a gown in the exhibit from the 1890's.



The exhibit runs until September 15th, 2010.



Photos courtesy of the Bruce Museum

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Saturday, July 24, 2010

MIAMI SWIM WEEK: True Religion Preaches American Style 2011



The True Religion Swimwear show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week looked great on Saturday. The Americana motifs were translated into swimwear in the form of horseshoe prints, denim styling and surf silhouettes. Western-style hardware like antique brass studs or rings gave a bit of equestrian influence. Corset tops and lacing added to this look.

Props included surf boards, guitars and cowboy hats. My favorite accessory were the long fringed vests paired with bikinis.

Donald J. Pliner of shoe design fame was sitting in the front row with his wife Lisa. Jasmine Sanders walked the runway, though missing boyfriend Chris Brown in the front. America’s Next Top Model contender Anchal Joseph looked summer elegant.

Slide show and video coming soon...
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Friday, July 23, 2010

MIAMI SWIM WEEK: Mara Hoffman Spring 2011 Swim

Mara Hoffman chose iconic American rock songs evoke a cool bohemian feeling for her 2011 Swim Resort collection show in Miami during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami. Ms. Hoffman is a New York based designer with schooling from Parsons School of Design and the renowned Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design

Pretty looks at Mara Hoffman Spring 2011 presentation

The theme of California girls with international rock hippie flair came thru brilliantly in a fantastic collection. The show channeled her travel inspirations of far flung places like Goa and beyond. The runway pieces were effortless with printed dresses, hooded shorts, après sun robes and cowl-neck cover-ups.

The models were prettily styled with bandannas, messy braids and sun-kissed makeup. Ms. Hoffman designed her suits with African-inspired prints and tie-dye details in fresh, light colors. The palette included soft aqua, pink and magenta with the requisite slimming black. There were so many wearable looks that looked comfortable and flattering on non-model bodies that I could see the audience mentally checking off on their 'to buy' list.

Hoffman's white bikinis featuring pops of print at the bandeau and side of the bottoms looked very relaxed and ‘chill’ as they say in Goa.

Fittingly Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" finished up the finale and it's easy to imagine any girl wearing these suits hearing a boy plead "Let me stand next to your fire."



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Michelle Obama Awards Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award to Rodarte







Championed by Anna Wintour, the CFDA and now the White House, the talent of the Mulleavy sisters is being recognized at the highest levels. Rodarte won for fashion design. Other awards included prizes for interior design, architecture, landscape design and product design.



Wearing a two-piece Isabel Toledo ensemble, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the awards luncheon at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design museum. She delighted in being seated next to Project Runway's Tim Gunn, acknowledging they were mutual fans. Guests were able to view Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Charles Harrison on retro viewfinders.



The Rodarte designers were unable to attend the awards due to family obligations, but were praised as "some of our country's most talented, most visionary, most public-minded designers" by Mrs. Obama.



Looking to inspire the next generation, the designers honored at the luncheon met with students at the Teen Design Fair. The creators and teenagers exchanged ideas and provided advice for the future.



Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton, Rodarte photos by Marcio Madeira
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

MIAMI SWIM WEEK: Boys! Naila at Swell Suits Spring 2011




For all of you who have seen enough svelte female models at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim, I present the very buff, very tan boys of Miami.

The Naila collection is handmade in Italy and designed with an eco-conscious slant. The cuts were decidedly more European than the urban board shorts of the other shows. Shorter shorts with bright color palettes and smaller geometric prints flattered these toned bodies. They also launched a recyclable, environmentally friendly trunk short.

Accessories? Unless you count tanning oil and hairspray, none to speak of. Why distract from the physical perfection?
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MIAMI SWIM WEEK: Boys! Parke & Ronen Spring 2011


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim gave guests a treat with the Swell Suits group show of men’s swimwear. Anyone who needed some eye candy were satisfied by the end of the presentation.

Designers Parke Lutter and Ronen Jehezkel came from different backgrounds (One from Parsons School of Design in NYC, the other from Italy’s Instituto Europeo Di Design). Together, they created Parke & Ronen, a men’s swim collection inspired by 1950’s silhouettes.

Not for the shy boy, the runway had everything from skimpy rainbow-striped briefs to flattering European cut shorts. The prints were bold and graphic; the color palettes had a retro 50’s to 80’s feel.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

FAB Sales Alert: Proenza Schouler,Helmut Lang


In NYC:

Proenza Schouler started today and reportedly causing mass hipster hysteria (at least according to Racked NY) Prices are actually starting at $20 for tissue tanks, $125 for bandage dresses
When: Wednesday, July 21 through Thursday, July 22. Daily 9am—6pm.
Where: 495 Broadway between Spring and Broome Sts, eighth floor
Theory and Helmut Lang is doing a second run of an earlier sale. The samples and irregular pieces are being sold off at heavy discount for anyone who wants them. Women's clothing from all seasons will be available as well.
When: Wednesday, July 21 through Thursday, July 22. Daily 11am—7pm.
Where: 261 West 36th Street between 7th and 8th avenue (2nd floor)
Online:
Avant-garde designers Ann Demeulemeester and Rick Owens will be onsale with Morgane Le Fay and Haider Ackerman. Sexy rocker-chic or hipster revolutionary? Get it all...
When: Thursday, July 22
Photos from Racked.com and Gilt.com
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MIAMI SWIM WEEK: Beach Bunny and the Kardashians Spring 2011



The Kardashian sisters, in collaboration with Beach Bunny Swimwear’s Angela Chittenden, debuted their swimsuit collection - Kardashians for Beach Bunny in Miami at the elegant Raleigh Hotel Friday.

This was a collection where it was easy to imagine the Kardashian ladies wearing. Some unusual color combinations were saffron yellow V-cut suit with a plunging navel neckline held with a gray toggle belt. There were Missioni-esque prints paired with toggle belts. The collection offered hot bikinis with the fun details like little sparkly ‘bling’ embellishments, candy colored side tie bottoms and lots of shine.

These suits are amped up for sexy, fit bodies and were not geared for the shy of heart. The presentation featured dangerous V-cuts and teeny monokinis on the models that resembled the Kardashian body type, (as in ‘booty-flattering’). Bottoms with shirred seam down the middle of the back accentuated their signature assets.

If you are a beach bunny, this is the line to get for your next stop in Miami, Vegas or Ibiza - fun, sexy, and just enough coverage on the bottom. This collection screams HOT but may not be suitable actual swimming! It’s perfect for lounging on the pool decks of hotels like the Gansevoort (where the FAB team stayed) to take in the sun with a cocktail in hand.

The line also had a series of black lace suits with strategically placed flesh toned cutouts. MsFAB and I had to do a double take on a few of the models as they walked down the runway. But, it did the job. It got our attention.

The Beach Bunny show was a showstopper. The cavalcade of press, photographers, celeb gawkers almost crushed the Kardashian sisters who sat front row for the presentation nearly causing a riot. Selena Gomez of Disney fame was also seen with the famous siblings.
Photos and Story by Ritika W.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

MIAMI SWIM WEEK: Dolores Cortes Spring 2011





White, grey, blue and purples defined the colors of the Dolores Cortes collection presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami. The suits were smart and one of the few we saw that had a variety of silhouettes from bikinis to the one-piece. She kept the designs of one-piece silhouettes exciting with artful, asymmetrical cutouts and a shot of neon thru a standard leopard print. The designer used white as the backdrop for her prints and evoked some of great retro looks reminiscent of Charlie’s Angels. Great cover-up pieces easily doubled as elegant summer dresses for beach side dining and dancing.



Ms. Cortes has been a successful swim designer in Spain and chose Miami to present her debut in the US. This collection was one of the standouts shows. We think a Dolores Cortes is the suit to buy and keep, as her pieces were elegant and chic standouts in a sea of disposable swimwear.

From Dolores White Sand Beach Bunny Friday Miami Show


Photos and Story by Ritika W.

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