Fashion Exhibits Paris, NYC & London - Museum Roundup

Haute Couture week in Paris has just ended. The garmento glitterati are now bracing for upcoming NY Fashion Week and London Fashion week the storms to come. I invite those of you who are not attending the shows (or have lost too much sleep preparing for them) to take a break and get some inspiration from fashion’s cultural greats. (Remember those days when you weren't burnt out and had some creative drive?)


In Paris, check out the Mme Vionnet exhibit and the upcoming tribute to Animal print and motifs at Les Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts). Also in the City of Lights, pay homage to the great Yves St. Laurent at the Petit Palais.



In New York, admire "American Beauty" at the Museum at FIT. This exhibit explores the "philosophy of beauty" and how it applies to the craft of dressmaking by American fashion designers. Also at the museum, check out "Scandals, Sandals & Lady Slippers" for all the foot fetishists out there. Over at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, the work of the Mulleavy sisters is on display in a retrospective of the Rodarte Label.



In London, look for Grace Kelly: Style Icon at the Victoria and Albert Museum. After admiring the past, look ahead to Future Fashion Now, an exhibit of the graduating designers of the Royal College of Art. At the Fashion and Textile Museum, relive London's cultural revolution with the Foale & Tuffin: Made in England exhibit.

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Fashion Designers For Haiti

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and its members have come together to produce a t-shirt campaign that benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

“The tragedy in Haiti has affected everyone and most of us individually have given money for relief,” said Diane von Furstenberg, president of the CFDA. “However, I think it is now important to send a message and create a channel for funding from fashion as an industry.”

The Peter Arnell-designed tee features a black and lime green logo with the tag line “Hope Help Heal Haiti”, and will be sold at retailers nationwide as well as online starting February 12.

Fashion Delivers is a charitable organization that distributes excess clothing to needy individuals and families all around the globe. Its board of directors include the likes of Russell Simmons and Sean “P Diddy” Combs. The group issued a call to designers, retailers and anyone else to donate items that the people of Haiti can use. To give or obtain more information, go to www.fashiondelivers.org

Individual designers have also created their own charitable projects. Ralph Lauren has created a Haiti Relief Polo collection sold online. Kooba is donating 15% of its online sales to Doctors Without Borders. Independent boutiques like Bird are also donating a percentage of sales to their charities of choice.

Trends may come and go, but generosity and humanity never go out of style.

You can always donate directly to organizations themselves.

Click here for a list of charities helping Haiti.

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Win a $1000 Shopping Getaway to NYC and View InStyle in 3D!

Talk about interactive magazine experience… This month’s InStyle holiday issue has a few added features that you don’t usually find in print media. The special gift giving section is set up so you can participate in an interactive three-dimensional experience with the help of a webcam and internet. Click: InStyle Gifting in 3D to download the plug-in and immerse yourself into their most stylish picks for gifts. You’ll find messages for deals, tips, and you can even make your favorite items go viral!

Once you are sufficiently wowed by this new technology (think Matrix meets Neiman Marcus, or Lawnmower Man made over by Chanel). You can be really nice to yourself and a girlfriend … Enter to win the trip for two to NYC with a $1000 shopping spree. Click through to InStyle’s sweepstakes here and when you get to New York, I’ll share my best brunch spots over a cocktail!

Good luck, shop chic and beware the blue pills!

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Designer Insider: At the Studio of Kooba's Abbe Held

I was invited to visit the design studio and showroom of Kooba and designer Abbe Held to take a peek at this season’s hottest handbags:

The design room walls were draped in colors upon textures of leather swatches. Lauren, a member of the design team was applying antiqued studs by hand to a leather piece at her desk. Photos were not allowed as the concepts being worked on in this room were in the very early stages for next season, and many of the staff had not even been allowed in the design studio yet! While some of the staff apologized for the messy state of the room, it actually had a gloriously creative, busy quality. (It was also much neater than my design studio).


I was led into the showroom upstairs. The collections of bags were artfully arranged in a well-lit room to show off their textures at their best angle. Abbe Held, the design director of Kooba entered the showroom looking refreshed, if a bit camera-shy.

The fall collection showed studded styles in rich, deep hues of forest green and eggplant. Abbe’s personal favorite of this delivery was the Alex Bag in Eggplant. For holiday, she liked the bags in brighter colors of red.

My personal favorite out of this group were the Jagger pieces. Well placed zippers allowed the bags to open up into different silhouettes in unexpected ways, and adding practical additional volume to boot.

The Kooba startup legend describes the relationship Abbe and her mother Bonnie. The two of them founded the company together. She warmly describes her mother as muse, partner and “best friend”. What most people don’t know is that her eight year old daughter is also starting to inject her creative input, but she is Mom’s biggest fan.

What is ahead for spring 2010? The Kooba team is working with neutrals, ruffle details and fabric treatments for when the weather thaws out.

Thanks for inviting Ms. FABulous to visit Abbe!

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NY Fashion Week Wrap-Up: The Indies

There were plenty of publications, tv stations and blogs that provided explicit coverage of all the major shows during Fashion week. I attended many of them myself, and collected many hair products, designer totes and refreshing beverages in the process.

I covered the bigger names of course, the ones with paparazzi stalking the front row (and blinding me in the process) the ones whose after-parties made more press than the clothing itself. For my thoughts of these shows, you can check out the runway reports on the Purse Page.

For this blog however, I decided to cover the lesser known designers.. These are names I did not know before the festivities of last week, but I'll remember them now for their artful outlook, delicate craftsmanship and inspiration for me to keep trying to continue my creative path.



At the Arise African Promise Collective show, there were a few paparazzi-bait guests like Amerie, Chanel Iman, and a bevy of beautiful boys. Despite this, the actual talent of the designers did show through. Eric Raisina is a Cambodian-based designer who mastered the arts of his native country's silk weaving and dyeing. The bright hues and contemporary uses of traditional techniques lit up the runway. (Of course, the end of the show, Tyson Beckford lit up the female audience for reasons other than fashion).

 

How lovely it is that the Academy of Art spent the time and money to promote its star students during Fashion Week? (One would think that FIT and Parsons would do the same, but they don't, and no, I am not bitter). Richelle Valenzuela's gorgeous silk organza creations above were inspired by the facets of gems. Richelle was definitely the favorite among the crowd at this show.



At the Argentine Designers collective, this presentation was sponsored by their government to spotlight the stars of their country. The gift bag on each guest's seat contained a pictorial map of the country and a giant back of Argentinian toffee. I can only assume they are also trying to promote the nation's dentists as well.

Of course, it may only be appropriate that the standout designer in this show was Fabian Zitta. A licensed anesthesiologist (!) ;You can insert your various jokes here. > His label is coveted by Argentinian socialites, and the likes of Katie Holmes and Pink on this side of the border. It was not clarified if this was a collection of bridal looks or not, but the creamy fabric manipulations would like as good down the altar as they did on the runway.

My very favorite look for Spring/Summer 2010? Ok, I'm not exactly practical, but I spotted these floral creations by Niels Van Eijk/Miriam Van Der Lubke. They were sponsored by the Floral Council of Holland to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the country. These all-bloom gowns were at the lobby of the Museum of Art and Design on my way to the Bespoken Men's fashion show. Does anything declare "Le Printemps" more than this?

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NY Fashion Week: Tory Burch Spring 2010

Tory Burch, whose flats bearing the signature double ‘T’ logo made her brand one of the most coveted (comfortable) shoes of recent years, presented her first showing at NY Fashion Week Wednesday. Opting for a more intimate ‘party’ setting, she helmed the front of the stage, greeting guests. Models stood and posed together along the length of the runway. Her previous Bryant Park showing was as part of the Barbie 50th anniversary show.

The clothing was a mix of preppy and tribal prints. Some ladylike rock n’ roll was also evident. The style was comfortable, chic and upscale casual (think party next door in the Hamptons). I always think this is a great way to present a collection, especially in a smaller venue. Rather than a 20 second runway strut, each guest has a chance to get up close to the clothing to appreciate each detail. Models can respond, turn for better views and offer the amateur photographer the opportunity to take great photos. The designer has a chance to discuss and explain her inspiration, the work she put into the collection and answer questions.

Some of the handbags were leopard, to carry on the tribal theme. Details included chain handles, tie-dyed patterns, braided trim and studs. A couple of larger clutches were represented. Pouch bags with extra long skinny chain straps and oversized business bags were also on display. The big gold double ‘T’ logo was more discreet in this collection, allowing the pieces to speak for themselves.

Front Row (mingling): Toni Braxton, Anna Wintour, Tory Burch

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NY Fashion Week: Mulberry Spring 2010

Tuesday evening, “It” bag brand, Mulberry presented its Spring/Summer 2010 collection at the Soho House. Guests walked into a fantasy of candy apples, carousel horses and walls imprinted with the season’s signature “Crazy Horse” print.

What followed were very pretty, feminine takes on a schoolgirl theme, with a decidedly grown up edge. Classic leather jackets and flirty skirts were interpreted in candy floss colors. Oversized bows and darker floral appliques were a tongue in cheek styling detail on traditional ladylike motifs. The vibe was fun, like a rock n’ roll tomboy who wanted to dress up for a day.

The handbags were the stars in this show of course. The famous Mulberry Bayswater bag was re-invented in sugary colors, as well as punk-inspired neon pink haircalf cheetah. A ‘bluberry’ ostrich Hayden shoulder bag, ‘cookie’ leather shoes and ‘gingerbread’ fringed nappa leather Daria satchel were standouts in the sweet-themed collection. The signature mulberry tree logo plate in antiqued brass of ‘glammed up’ for this season in a shiny, oversized nameplate on some purses as well.

Front Row: Stylish fans of the Mulberry and the mascot dog

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