Fashion, Music and Hollywood Elite for CFDA Awards

The CFDA awards used to be about hardcore fashion industry insiders celebrating their achievements.  Last night's awards though, brought out the top names in music (Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Estelle), Hollywood (Jessica Alba, Olsen Twins, Kirsten Dunst) and journalishm (Andersen Cooper).  Designers, merchants, retailers still ruled the carpet and took home the trophies.

Designer of the year for womenswear was awarded to Proenza Schouler's  Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.  For menswear, Michael Bastian took home the designer honors.  Alexander Wang won the award for Accessories Designer of the Year.

While it seems that the fashion crowd has been aware of Prabal Gurung's achievements for quite some time, he won the Swarovski award for emerging talent.  The forever-hot Marc Jacobs won the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award, (even though he has yet to hit middle age). 


A turquoise-wigged, Thierry Mugler wearing Lady Gaga own the (least surprising, yet highly deserved)  Fashion Icon award.  
photos by  Larry Busacca

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WWD at 100 Exhibit

Across the street from Lincoln Center, a quiet fashion presentation is taking place.  Womens Wear Daily has installed an exhibit featuring iconic looks from the last 100 years re-interpreted by today's hottest young designers.  Marilyn Monroe's iconic white subway dress, Bruce Springsteen's denim, Audrey Hepburn just to name a few.

Gilt.com will auction the one-of-a-kind looks at the end of the exhibit.  The exhibit runs until September 16th and is open to the public.

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NY FASHION WEEK: Prabal Garung Spring 2011

Design talent Prabal Garung's show on Saturday was highly anticipated by every editor in the front row.

Prabal started his collection off with classic cream and whites punched with pale coral prints than switching to bright saffron, crimson, turmeric with slashes of aquamarine. Black, figure hugging satin jackets had unexpected slash and cut techniques.

Long, floor length silk dresses were trimmed with cascading asymmetrical ribbon.  Fabric cutouts accentuated slim figures and tiny waists. For those who love black, there were refreshing takes on the LBD.  My favorite was a long black number with an asymmetrical cascading mother of pearl appliqué over the shoulder. The crowd favorite was the transparent top with strategic textured black appliqué work.

Pencil skirts in lengths below the knee seemed to be the key separate for this collection.  Other pieces were memorable for details such as rubberized silk/organza fringes on dresses.

Prabal had it all.  Modern updates on classic silhouettes.  This is an investment collection. What that means to me is that if you can only afford one thing for Spring 2011, it would be a piece from from Prabal. I plan to skip my cocktails for a chance to buy that heavenly top.

Spotted in the front row: Rachel Zoe, Robert Verdi

Photos and reporting by Ritika W.

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CFDA's Fashion Incubator Ready to Cook...

Last week, 12 independent designers put their personal touches onto their new digs. The CFDA's Fashion Incubator program set forth to help develop promising talent with mentors and subsidized studios in the garment district.

The Council of Fashion Designers in America worked with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on the initiative. The local industry has recognized the need to save the garment industry in the Big Apple, as well as nurture emerging talent. This project aims to tackle both.

For some designers this is a big leap for their business, many of whom are working outside of their owns for the first time.

Who are the lucky labels? The list of incubator designers include Alice Ritter, House of Waris, Prabal Garung,Dao-Yi Chow, Maxwell Osbourne, Bibhu Mohapatra,Grey Ant, Gemma Redux, Jolibe, Sang A, Subversive jewelry, Tom Scott and Ruby Kobo.

Photos by Kyle Ericksen for WWD

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Sak's Showcases Young Designers with Cocktail Couture

Sak's Fifth Avenue is the classic, elegant department store where many a young girl aspired to shop upon maturity. I never thought of it as a fashion forward pioneer of young talent though. That all changed Tuesday night when the store hosted an eventto show off exclusives from the hottest young labels of the industry.
Designers Doo Ri, Prabal Garung, Erdem, Christian Cota among others all presented cocktail dresses that were commissioned from the legendary retailer. 10% of the sales will benefit the Whitney Museum of American Art, another NY institution that acts as a patron for new talent.

Photo by George Chinsee

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CFDA Announces Nominees

Last week held a lot of news for the Council of Fashion Designers of America. First, Diane Von Furstenburg was elected president for a third time (a first for the organization). Second, the designer held a soiree at her studio to announce the nominees for the CFDA awards.

Prabal Garung, Joseph Altuzarra and Michelle Obama favorite, Jason Wu were nominated for the Swarovski Award for emerging talent in Womenswear. Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Alexander Wang are competing against each other for Designer of the Year. For accessory design, nominees include Alexis Bittar, Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs.

Project Runway’s staple, Michael Kors will be receiving the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award. The awards will take place at Lincoln Center June 7 in NYC.

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