Vanity Fair's Fashion in Film Festival

Do you prefer the glamour of the silver screen to the chaos on the runway?  Vanity Fair Magazine (of Oscar party fame) and Simon Doonan (Barney's creative director/auhor of "Wacky Chicks") is hosting a three-day film festival of fashionable films.  


The events are held at the Museums of Arts and Design in NYC and will offer the opportunity for discussions or mingling with fellow fashionistas, editors and designers.  In addition to the screenings, enjoy the Vanity fair “Fashion in Film” lounge for complimentary refreshments. Guests are also invited to explore the interactive BMW “Spotlight on Innovation” installation and strike a pose in the L’Oréal Paris digital photo booth.


Tickets are available here.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
8:30 p.m. “Qui Êtes-Vous, Polly Magoo?,” with introduction by Simon Doonan

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Vanity Fair “Fashion in Film” Lounge, open to the public 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
3 p.m. X, Y, and Zee
5 p.m. Hearts and Crafts
7 p.m. Umbrellas of Cherbourg, presented by L’Oréal Paris, followed by reception in “Fashion in Film” lounge
9 p.m. Eyes of Laura Mars

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Vanity Fair “Fashion in Film” Lounge, open to the public 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
3 p.m. “Spotlight on Innovation: Creative Inspiration from Cinema” panel discussion presented by BMW, moderated by Simon Doonan, and followed by reception in “Fashion in Film” lounge
5 p.m. Diva
7 p.m. Rick, Michele and Scarlett (Rick Owens Documentary)
9 p.m. Faster Pussycat, Kill! … Kill!

The Museum of Arts and Design is located at 

2 Columbus Circle # 1

New York, NY, 10019

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Tracy Reese - Fashion Fights Cancer

How meaningful can a handbag be? I learned the answer to that at an event given by Fashion Fights Cancer.  Designer Tracy Reese led a design and therapy session for cancer patients to personalize a tote bag.  The multi-week workshop was held at the designer's studio.  She and her team opened up their facilities to demonstrate dying techniques, embellishments and her library of inspiration books for the participants.  The group started with sketching on the first workshop, then got to explore all different skills for the next classes for their finished bag.

This class was one of a series organized by Ty Canty, founder of Fashion Fights Cancer.  Previous workshops were led by Byron Lars and another coming up with Jason Wu.  The non-profit will host a fundraising gala this September to provides services to survivors and those suffering from cancer.

To donate or volunteer your own stylish skills, learn more here.

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5 Tips for Surviving Barney's Warehouse Sale - NYC

Ok Label Whores...Gird your loins...The infamous sale starts today in NYC.  

Tips for surviving New York's Best Warehouse Sale:

1: Know your measurements.  You might not have access to a dressing room.  Then bring a measuring tape to the sale.  Often, fabulous items can be looked over because they are mislabeled or the brand sizes different than others.

2. Have a mental picture of your existing wardrobe.  In the heat of the moment, the Barney's sale can be the fashion equivalent of a drunken night at a tattoo parlour (but more expensive).  Make sure you know what you have, and maybe what you're looking for.

3. Bring a friend (with a different size or style from you).  You cover more ground, she can act as your mirror if there isn't one.  She'll give you the thumbs up or "I can't believe you want to spend $800 on that" verdict.  Think of the friend as the Alexander Wang-clad angel on your shoulder.

4. Hydrate! Do this before you enter the sale.  You don't want to crash out just as you reach that Balenciaga gown do you?

5. Bring an umbrella.  Hurricane Irene is headed our way.  It would truly suck if a thunderstorm destroyed your newly acquired Proenza Schouler because the rain turned the paper shopping bags into mush.  If you're a New Yorker, you know how tough it is to get a cab when it's wet.

Barney's Warehouse Sale is located at 

255 West 17th Street (between 7th/8th ave)

212-450-8400

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Look of the Day: Jennifer Lopez

It's official—tie-tops are back! This weekend Rihanna performed in a denim crop top and scandalous hot pants, while Jennifer Lopez filmed her new music video in a pair of high-waisted pleated shorts and a knotted chiffon blouse.

JLo's day chic ensemble was paired with two pendant necklaces and a white leather hobo bag. Stacked ivory Gucci platforms with ankle wrap straps and black piping made us take note of exactly why she is the Gillette Venus spokesmodel.

Thick highlighted waves and neutral makeup topped off the diva's subdued style. We're eager to see what show-stopping style Jennifer has in store for the next season of American Idol.

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Steampunk Fashion at Webster Hall

Take a step back in time to an alternate universe…A very elaborate one at that.  Legendary NYC nightclub Webster Hall (once home to Surrealist balls with Salvador Dali) hosted The Anachronism’s Steampunk: Visit to Edo event Sunday. 

Steampunk started as a literary movement blending historical time periods with science fiction.  It quickly spread to a fashion movement too, encompassing corsetry, tailored pieces, intricate brass ornamentation and vintage mechanical gears.  The movement is very inclusive and for this event, incorporated the culture of Japan.

Outfits of guests ranged from courtly Renaissance, to studious spectacled gentlemen.  Corseted kimonos were popular, with many ensembles made by hand by artists and crafters themselves. 

My favorite of the day had to belong to Genevieve of the band, Psyche Corporation, who co-sponsored the event.  She had a fantastic outfit crafted from vintage spindles and spools. 

The event had a fashion show, music and even a cosplay burlesque showcase.  (Though to be honest, the actual talent level varied greatly).  The cocktail menu was appropriately themed, ranging from the "Tesla Coil" and "Clockwork Lotus" and an entire section devoted to Absinthe.

In a city of strict fashion trends, wouldn't it be nice to step into fantasy?

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Wacoal's How to Fit Yourself for a Bra

Does your cup runneth over?  Do they ride up, shift, make you uncomfortable, or make you yearn for the braless days of your ancestors?

Wacoal hosted a bra-fitting event at the penthouse of the London Hotel to coach women into outfitting their tatas for maximum appeal.  Most women already wear the wrong sized bra because they are unaware of their own proportions.  Almost all women are not symmetrical from one breast to the other.

I always assumed as a fashion industry professional, I had my girls in the right sized bra.  Every measurement chart appeared to confirm this.  After a fitting with Wacoal's regional manager Dawn Kenney, I discovered I was wrong.  With one glance, she informed me that the band was too large and the cups too small.  Now, my cups never did run over, and the band didn't slide up (the obvious signs of the wrong size).  She measured several points and confirmed that while the numbers said one thing, her expertise directed her to have me try on another size.  

I was pleasantly surprised to find that a bra size that I never thought I would wear instantly felt more secure and tailored under my clothes.  Ms. Kenney confirmed that having the right bra lifts your chest into fitting the proportions of clothes and can take ten pounds off your overall look.  

Her advice for fitting the lopsided rack?  Find bras with good stretch along the center front edge of the cups.  The helps to support and fit different sized breasts.  Another tip?  Look for seamed cups and lining along the side of the cup for tailored shape.  

One of the most perplexing things about attending events like this is that I end up spending lots of money afterward.  Due to my fuller sized bra requirements, it is very difficult to find delicate pretty underthings to fit me well.  I was ecstatic (my wallet begged to differ) to find that they had a huge selection of gorgeous lingerie to fit me the way I needed to.  I ended up buying five new sets of bras the day after!

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Top Fashion Designers of Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live has been a trendsetter in comedy and pop culture.  However, the late night stalwart of drunken, frat-boy humor isn’t where most people look to find sharp satire of high fashion.  

In 1985, Richard Avedon directed a ground-breaking concept commercial for Calvin Klein’s fragrance, Obsession.  Artsy, sexy, it didn’t follow typical television advertising.  Saturday Night Live created their version of the ad for fictional fragrance “Compulsion”.

In a rare moment in 1993, designer Giorgio Armani made a cameo on the variety show playing the Italian Prime Minister.  While I geeked out at the appearance, clearly no one else recognized the fashion legend.  He spoke in beautiful Italian, but ended with a touch of the lapel, complimenting “nice suit”.

Maya Rudolph, one of my favorites on SNL made a big impression on the show as Donatella Versace.  Her performance embodied the decadent lifestyle that many of us fantasized the designer might have.  Perhaps her portrayal was spot due to the help of its biggest fan, Ms. Versace herself.  The designer told the ladies of The View that she called Ms. Rudolph with pointers on how to play her.   The both of them even appeared together onstage at the VH1 Fashion Awards in 2002 in a hilarious art-imitating life moment.

Most recently, one of couture’s contemporary stars was disgraced in a drunken rant.  Saturday Night Live withheld judgment on the alleged bigotry itself, but mocked designer John Galliano’s flamboyant style and kooky public behavior.  Galliano was played by comedian Taran Killam  with the memorable quote “I have no ugly friends, I dress like a meth-ed out Musketeer and I’ve got a mustache that whispers ‘I’m a bad person!’”

Is the fact that top designers (or their comedic counterparts) have inspired great laughs a testament to their pop icon status?  Or does that mean that even the highest arbiters of taste understand not to take themselves too seriously? 

Photos courtesy of NBC/Saturday Night Live, Kevin Mazur, Corners Magazine, Calvin Klein Inc, London Evening Standard

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Melissa Shoe Launch with Lorenzo Martone and Michelle Levy

It wasn't all bikinis and babes in Miami. Stylish, swim-friendly footwear was served up as well.  PR maven Lorenzo Martone and creative director Michelle Levy hosted an al fresco brunch to present the upcoming season of Melissa Shoes. Formal waiters served a multi-course "meal" of shoes on silver trays.  They were a high-fashion update to the jelly shoes of yesteryear.

Ms. Fab spoke to Lorenzo Martone and asked about the design advantages of plastic over leather.  The dapper Martone explained that intricate open lace patterns would never be possible in leather the way they are in plastic.  Colors and finishes are limitless in plastics, but the same is not true of leathers.

The plastics are also highly recyclable and wearers are definitely encouraged to do so with their footwear.  At the presentation itself, an artistic re-purposing of Melissa Shoes was demonstrated in the tribal masks made from shoe parts from a local artist.  The company makes sustainability a high priority in its business and campaigns.

Lorenzo also spoke about past designer collaborations as well as upcoming projects with designer Jason Wu.  Previous partners include Vivienne Westwood and Paco Rabanne.  

The heat was almost unbearable that day at noon, but it made me realize the most practical aspect of Melissa Shoes.  They are perfect for running straight into the pool.

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: LUXE by Lisa Vogel 2012

How do you bring luxury to the beach when one doesn't wear that much?  Lisa Vogel answered that question in a tent and on the runway at Miami Fashion Week.  The fashion show contained a beautiful watery prints in multiple shades of blue.  An elegant group of delicate paisley-inspired prints also in a blue palette also strutted down the catwalk.

The "luxe" part of LUXE by Lisa Vogel was seen in the upscale details probably not meant for the chlorine of a swimming pool.  Pretty crystal details anchored shirring on some suits and bodices on others.  Silhouettes themselves were simple and flattering.  Twisted straps gave interest in halter form or as an asymmetrical single strap.

If you want to want to show maximum sophistication with minimal actual coverage, Lisa Vogel is the one to dress you in style.

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