NY FASHION WEEK: Christian Siriano - Spring 2011

Project Runway’s most successful alum presented his show yesterday at Lincoln Center.  The majority of the collection consisted of very wearable (retail-bait) dresses.  Many of the looks had his signature one-shoulder flourish.  There were the mass-appealing whites and tans for spring.  There was a beautiful collection of artful brush prints.

However, Christian Siriano fans did not come to the show for saleable clothes.  You could almost hear the sign of satisfaction (or relief?) when the over-the-top ballgowns came down the runway.  The drama queen of “fierce” did not disappoint.

The young designer is collaborating with Payless shoes.  I’m not sure what that partnership has done creatively, but the shoes on the model got pretty wild.  The avant-garde heels suited the flamboyant personality of the collection

Spotted in the front row: Veronica Webb, Maggie Grace, Alan Cummings

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Kara Ross Holiday and Spring 2011

When you think you can't improve upon something like a simple clutch, where do you go from there?  Designer Kara Ross always manages to surprise me with new treatments of leathers.  For this season, her team showed me some highly dimensional python purses.  The scales had been dyed in an innovative two-tone technique, making it look like it glowed.  A similar technique had been employed with a foil metallic, looking like a platinum serpent had sacrificed itself for a fabulous bag.

This chic bag had a soft leather texture, but the animal was unrecognizable...Turns out it was made of a sueded cork (eco-friendly!) with jet metallic accents.  The price point was accessible and offered a great option for those who did not with to buy skin.

Of course, Kara Ross' roots are in jewelry design.  The stone accents are a signature touch on the bags and belts.  She brings her unique touch with leather back to her jewelry in several interesting collections.

Kara took inspiration from a vintage Navajo piece she found and translated the feather motif into an abstract modern pattern.  She embedded snake skin into the metal as a luxe twist on enamel.

Another new technique for jewelry, was this collection of leather, resin and glitter.  The collection had an icy, organic look.  The sparkles gave the pieces the look of 'jewels', the resin had a vintage quality.

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Fashion's Night Out - The Show and Party

No doubt, you have heard about Fashion's Night Out around the city... 

It's the biggest fashion party on Earth, where anyone can mingle with the celebrities, sip cocktails with the designers, score some swag and shop till they drop. Retailers and designers are collectively hosting events offering freebies, entertainment, celebs, refreshments to entice you into shopping...  The event started with a bang, with Fashion's Night Out - The Show.  Gisele Bundchen modeled, founder Anna Wintour presided over the presentation with Gossip Girls, designers, SNL cast members and other NYC notables.

If you want to get in on the action for Friday, there is an event to cater to whatever style or activity you can think of (make multiple stops for the full treatment!)  

In NYC, hands-on activities could include styling ballerinas from the NYC Ballet at Chanel, taping you confessional at Diesel, creating your own jewelry at Oak, competing in a fashion-themed Pictionary with designers Chris Benz and Brian Reyes.  

If rubbing shoulders with celebs is your thing, you could sing karaoke and be judged by the Olsen Twins and Prouenza Schouler designers.Multiple boutiques will be serving up cocktails, cupcakes and other treats.

In Los Angeles, some of your options include mingling with Justin Timberlake who will represent William Rast at Santa Monica Place.  You can participate in burlesque and cupcakes at Coco de Mer, enjoying a set by the Dandy Warhols at Ron Herman's and runway shows from West Third Street boutiques. 

London's big fashion party starts tonight (Wednesday) and includes free manicures at Smythson's on Bond Street with champagne.  Gwyneth Paltrow with host an event at Stella McCartney, Christian Louboutin will have a 'Mad tea party' with a DJ.

Check out the Fashion's Night Out site for a full listing of parties in your country/city (you'll find something you like!)  Photos by Getty Images

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FAB Exclusive: Daisy Knights

As part of our spotlight series on designers, accessories guru Ritika W. snagged an interview with the talented, young Miss Daisy Knights in her studio. Daisy is part of the prestigious design alumni of the Central Saint Martins  College of Arts & Design.


Ritika is an Anglophile and has a weakness for all things British. It was perfect timing that her friend, Kaley, introduced her to the work of young British designer, Daisy Knights. Daisy's work has been featured  in Vogue, Tatler and In Style magazines  and is worn by the bright, young ingenues of the London smart set.

MsFABulous : We love your designs for men and women especially the collar stiffeners and the tiepins with skulls (Kit collection). How do you come up your design ideas
for your collections?

Daisy Knight: Thanks! I use friends and family as muses for each collection so all my collections are all really different but have my signature look running throughout. My
best friend Kit who inspired this collection is a gentleman and a surfer, he is trendy but traditional so hence the tiepin (traditional) but with a skull
(modern/trendy).

MF:  As a child, were you always inclined towards the fashion world and esp. jewelry design? Why did you become a designer?

DK: As a child I was into fashion and clothes, but I was way more into jewellery. I learnt how to make jewellery in my fathers workshop when I was 11 and since that moment I knew I wanted to design jewellery.

MF: You have such a range and breadth of designs from skull tiepins to the most delicate feather designs rings. Do you receive custom orders for your work? If so, what was the most challenging piece you have worked on so far?

DK: I do receive custom orders and they are my favourite part of my job! seeing someones face when they see their engagement ring grow from a sketch to the  real thing is the best part!

I did a pre-engagement ring which was challenging because the groom-to-be wanted a ring to propose with but not an engagement ring as he wanted his wife-to-be to pick out the real engagement ring. So i came up with a ring that had "will you marry me?" engraved around the band and a diamond as the dot on the question mark. She absolutely loves it, and now has a lovely custom made Daisy Knights engagement ring and wedding ring to go with it!

MF: After you won, the Bright Young Gem award in 2009, what was the first thing you did to celebrate? And, on a serious note, how did that award impact you professionally?

DK: The first thing I did to celebrate was call my boyfriend John, and tell him! Then we went out to dinner at my favourite sushi place in London.

It really helped me transition from being a student stocking shops to being a brand to be taken seriously. As I am only 23 it helped with the transition into the industry.

MF: It’s wonderful to know you are so eco-conscious and want to keep your designs as British made as much as possible. What are some of the challenges you face?

DK: There are a lot of challenges, if someone wants a specific colour gem for an engagement ring and I can't find one where I can trace it back to where it came from and all along its journey to my work bench then I won't use it.  Also, I use recycled metal because it is the best thing to do right now, but I would love to be able to support the mining community and get ethically mined silver. Recycled silver does not help these communities but as soon as there is another option I will use it.

Keeping it all British made means I can promise quality as everything is made by talented craftsmen, I also still make quite a bit of the jewellery myself as I never want to lose the connection between designing and making.
Even our packaging is made in the UK!

Daisy's designs are carried Stateside at Net-A-Porter.com and for a custom design of your own, please contact her at her studio.

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Dubrovnik Fashion Week

Everyone is scrambling in New York for Fashion week starting in the next few days.  With all of the chaos leading up to the big events, did anyone notice that Croatia just hosted a sophisticated Fashion Week of their own?

Dubrovnik was host to over 25 up-and-coming designers in their UNESCO-listed heritage site.
The historical location made a dramatic backdrop to the collaboration of art and fashion.  The event attracted notable personalities from all over Europe.

To see slideshows from all of the designers, click here.
 Photo Željko Tutnjević

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Fashion Fights Cancer

Last week at the Audi Forum, non-profit organization Fashion Fights Cancer hosted a super-chic event.  The soiree included top designers Tadashi Shoji, Byron Lars, Lotusgrace, Thuy among others who donated items for the sample sale.  Cocktails flowed, guests nibbled on Pop Chips and sweets.  Plenty of models were on hand to sell and pose in the garments.
Host Suzy Malick and other speakers spoke passionately about the cause as well as cancer survivor stories. While having a good time, they also shed light on the higher purpose of the stylish soiree. Proceeds from this event will benefit the I’m Too Young for This Cancer Foundation and The Cancer Research Institute. 

Photos by Mariana L and Ritika W

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Amanda Dolan's Dress Up

Fashion is art.  Art becomes fashion.  In Amanda Dolan's world, the lines get blurred pretty quickly. She is a mixed-media artist who worked as a stylist for Betsey Johnson.  She channeled that experience into her new series of paintings examines the desire to look good, and the sacrifices one makes to achieve that.

Images of vintage corsets, shoes and measuring tapes are depicted as instruments of fashion and also torture devices.  The dripping paint could be seen as artistic flourishes or dripping blood.  Ms. Dolan also examined how similar art and fashion collections could be when one plans the color palette, textures and imagery.

The “Dress-Up” exhibit runs until September 14, 2010 at the Ward-Nasse Gallery in New York City.

Photos courtesy of  Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR

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