Tommy Hilfiger Holiday Shopping Party

Do you remember the big striped polo knits, the baggy, low-hanging jeans that Tommy was known for in the 1990's?  Get ready for a spruced up, glammed up new Tommy.  

Tommy Hilfiger's Madison Avenue boutique hosted shopping party last week to make holiday gift giving as festive as possible.  Sequins, cashmere and fur made appearances to lend some luxury to the season.  Vintage handbags revamped with updated hardware and handles were displayed.  Crushed velvet evening pumps with grosgrain ribbon details finished off grown up outfits.

How do you get people to enjoy gift-shopping?  Ply them with ginger cocktails and champagne.  Have them nibble on prosciutto wrapped pears and reward them with oodles of gift wrapping...  I wish more boutiques would take note.

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Flag Fashion - Happy Birthday America!

In the U.S. and feeling patriotic? There are certainly designers out there that feel the same...

In the Garment Center's Sidewalk Catwalk exhibit, Tommy Hilfiger eschewed traditional fashion for his mannequin and opted for an artistic sculpture. His entry into the outdoors fashion/art show was a flying flag made from fluid plastic.

The flag motif knitted sweater has been a Polo Ralph Lauren signature for years now. Older versions are collectible, and the brand issues variations on this motif every year. This season, the flag is on a t-shirt and several sports-themed knits.

For shoes, Guiseppe Zanotti has created some cute peep toe pumps with a vintage flag print, hidden red platform and wooden heel for $296. A little more budget-friendly is the tongue-in-cheek Icon Women's Glory mule for $162. It features a repeated flag print with the now classic "Yes We Can" slogan.

Sidewalk Catwalk photos by Adam Weinstein

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Designer Dads - Fashion's Top Father Figures

There are plenty of well-known mothers in fashion. Some of the top were spotlighted on Mother’s day. What about the Dads?

Oscar de la Renta lavished love on stepdaughter Eliza and designed her hand-embroidered wedding gown in 1998. She is a VP in her father's firm, and often consults on what styles will appeal to the younger client. I remember watching adopted son Moises do his homework in Dad’s office back in the late 1990's. Grown up, he took after Dad's creative side, designing a rock n' roll themed shirt for Oscar's 2005 collection and launching his own denim line. In 2010, he designed a collection for Mango.

Ralph Lauren and wife Ricky had three children who made their mark. Son David is an executive at Polo Ralph Lauren in Dad's organization. Daughter Dylan is the famous Dylan's Candy Bar founder. Son Andrew is in the film industry.

Tommy Hilfiger, head of the mega American brand of the same name was seen consulting with daughter Ally in MTV’s Rich Girls in 2003. Now, she is a hands-on employee for Dad's company, doing everything from styling, to unpacking boxes. She hopes to follow in her father's footsteps and launch her own line some day.

Photos by Janet Mayer, Michael Edwards and AP

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