NY fashion: politics, celebs, and unsexy clothes

nice article!

"Hi there! I hate you." "Hello! I hate you too." Photograph: Peter Kramer/AP

Perhaps because the most important runway this season at New York fashion week wasn’t in the city’s traditional venues but on CNN, as the country became increasingly obsessed with Michelle Obama’s shift dresses, Cindy McCain’s wardrobe expenditure and, of course, Sarah Palin’s glasses, the shows themselves often felt a little limp in comparison. Fashion designers reacted by trying to outdo the competition, with a combination of glitzy parties, celebrities and canny, publicity-seeking timely references, thus making this New York fashion week, dull clothes aside, one of the more memorable for years. Here is a guide to everything you need to know.

Political support

As the rest of America obsessed over Sarah Palin and lipstick-sporting pigs, New York designers showed their love for Obama. Diane von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs were prominent Clinton supporters, but both loyally – or disloyally, depending on your point of view – stuck with the Democrats and bigged up Barack. Anna Wintour hosted an Obama fundraiser, but her enthusiasm might have waned after the Obama team sent out invitations on which they referred to their host as “Ann Wintour”. Yet the runways told a different story. This week’s fashion icon was Cindy McCain, with stiff hair and Mad Men-style 1950s dresses becoming increasingly popular. The asymmetric hemlines on dresses indicated a similar confusion: are we optimistic about the economy or not? Who knows? The most politically sensitive moment happened at the 3.1 Philip Lim show when actress Elizabeth Banks, who plays Laura Bush in the upcoming Oliver Stone film W, was seated opposite the president’s daughter, Barbara. No wonder the fashion world’s confused.

Celebrity attention-seeking

Imagine you are a celebrity going to a fashion show. How to guarantee grabbing attention amid all your fellow celebrities? If you are Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez, you turn up to the Marc Jacobs show arm in arm. And if you are Beckham and want to make extra sure, you sport a new haircut. Bringing a dog was another favourite tactic, adopted by British model Daisy Lowe among others. The American fashion website, gofugyourself.com, was not impressed, demanding to know: “Seriously, what kind of ass brings a dog to a fashion show?” But perhaps recent New York arrival Peaches Geldof should have followed Lowe’s example: she was almost ignored by the paparazzi at the Preen show who were shockingly unaware of Geldof’s renown. Oprah Winfrey got attention for all the wrong reasons when her stylist told a reporter at one show his client has to wear “miracle clothes – whatever gives the slimmer look” and that some designers don’t lend her clothes because “they won’t do the clothes in her size”. Just for good measure, he added that she always needed “long or at least half sleeves”. And Winfrey pays money to this man?

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New NY fashions appeal to stay-at-home traveler

my computer broke down ,sorry for the delay ,but i´ m back

Imaginative styles evoking journeys to far-off lands dominated New York fashion shows this week, with experts saying the spring lines reflect consumers’ economic woes and desire to escape uncertainty.

Travel-inspired slouchy trousers, trench coats, dreamy chiffons and exotic prints filled the runways, where hundreds of designers showed spring 2009 collections to buyers, media, trend-setters and critics in the semi-annual Fashion Week.

“With the recession and with the uncertainty of the presidential election looming, I think everyone wants an escape,” said Tim Gunn, creative director at Liz Claiborne and a star of Bravo television’s popular “Project Runway” show.

“I do,” he added.

Fashion arbiter Anna Wintour, editor in chief at Vogue magazine, said designers were showing optimistic styles and focusing on their signature looks.

“No one’s trying anything too insane,” she told Reuters. “We’re not going to see a lot of dark, dreary clothes.

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“Sex and the City” fans can shop Carrie’s closet

so if you fancy Sex and the City this one is for you

Fans of “Sex and the City” rejoice — Patricia Field, stylist for the hit television series and movie, has created a clothing collection based on the wardrobes of characters Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte.

And Field says breaking to the closets of the “Sex and the City” ladies won’t break your bank. Prices range from $39 to about $200. “You don’t have to get a mortgage to afford them,” she told Reuters . “Money doesn’t make style.”

Field showcased her Destination Style New York collection, which will be available on the Home Shopping Network, at a catwalk show during New York Fashion Week.

“Sex and the City” chronicled the lives of four single women living in New York City and ended in 2004 but returned with a blockbuster hit movie this year.

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Fashion Week designer barred from U.S.

The world truely became flat,you can show your designs at the Newy York Fashion Week and never ever set a foot into the USA before appearing at the fashion landscape.Love this!

Young fashion designer Ali Khan made his debut at New York Fashion Week with male models strutting down the runway in his avant-garde menswear designs.

One of Ali Khan’s designs: black and white baseball jacket, white cotton shirt and gray cotton-blend pants.

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But Khan wasn’t behind the scenes to enjoy the show, because U.S. officials wouldn’t let him into the country.

“It’s really disappointing to not be able to be there with my classmates, but even if I can’t be there, I’m still so excited my collection is showing on the New York runways,” Khan said.

Khan created his runway high fashion not from one of the fashion capitals of the world but from his home in Lahore, Pakistan.

The young designer describes his spring collection as a mixture of classic elements with a newer silhouette. It is versatile and can be worn easily from day to night.

Khan studied fashion design in online classes from San Francisco, California’s Academy of Art University School of Fashion.

“Ali is a star here at the Academy and possesses superb talent,” said Ian MacKintosh, spokesman for Academy of Art University.

A few outstanding new graduates are chosen to present their thesis collections every year at glamorous Fashion Week.

For young designers, this is a chance to showcase their creations at a potentially career-launching venue.

Khan was notified in June that he’d made the final cut and that his collection was going to fashion week.

“I was out of this world excited when I found out. You can’t even dream of something like that,” Khan said. “I have wanted this ever since I was a kid!”

The Internet made it possible for Khan to study at Academy of Art University, which in addition to a regular classroom environment provides Internet classes through video and audio links for students who are unable to attend the university in person.

Some classes are “live” one-on-one conferences between professor and student, and others are pre-taped lessons with a professor.

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Goddess-like one shoulder stars at NY Fashion Week

Do you fancy that greek like dress?

At New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, the designers weren’t just looking to their muses for inspiration — they were raiding the muses’ closets.

The draped, asymmetrical Greek goddess look dominated, complementing the one-shoulder styles that have been so popular on the runways.

The look was strong and sexy without being revealing, and popped up with a sexy ’70s spin at Halston, in a fresh gingham at Michael Kors and in a flowy drape at Max Azria. Nearly every designer had an interpretation of the look — quite a feat with more than 100 designers showing at New York Fashion Week over eight days.

However the look is achieved, it’s clear: The bare shoulder, which emerges and retreats depending on the fashions of the times, has reclaimed its starring role.

MICHAEL KORS

With a yellow polka-dot bikini on the runway and a soundtrack that included the Beach Boys and the Go-Gos, even a crowd growing weary of New York Fashion Week — now in day six — couldn’t help but get into Michael Kors’ cheerful, bouncy show.

Kors, in his notes, described the collection as “Triple A … architectural, athletic and American.”

The sporty touch came in scuba-style neoprene, which can make a remarkably stylish skirt suit especially in royal blue. There also was a zip-front, tech-fabric surf dress in royal and black that was flattering and ready for anything. For men, there were cotton trousers in a floral print you’d expect to see on board shorts worn with a yellow sailcloth blazer.

The catwalk oozed red, white and blue, with pops of yellow, and there were a lot of classic Kors outfits: a chunky white, turtleneck sweater dress with long cardigan, a crisp navy and red macintosh coat with a cashmere pullover and a hemp-crushed gabardine clamdigger, and a red and blue sheath worn with a shiny white patent leather belt.

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Luxury Shoppers’ Behavior Is Bending But Not Breaking

never forget the economy !

The economic downturn that has hurt sales at luxury retailers such as Saks Inc. (SKS) and Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) may have forced shoppers such as Damasa Doyle to watch budgets and scale back shopping trips, but it hasn’t caused Doyle to renounce designer labels.

“Now I go to stores and ask, ‘When do you have a sample sale or a sale?’ and ask to be put on mailing lists” to be notified of such promotions, said the model from Chicago, adding that she’s cut back on her forays into New York’s Soho district. “Now I won’t buy full price. Clients are paying less. I look at my stock portfolio and see its performance. I’m looking more at the bottom line.”

As more than 200 designers showcase their collections during New York Fashion Week, many luxury shoppers are reporting that they’re keeping a tighter rein on the purse strings and looking for creative ways to get the designer styles they still desire. They resort to high-end consignment shops, seek out sample sales or factory outlets, and rely more heavily on high-low mixing and matching — pairing designer labels with, for example, items from cut-rate fashion retailers such as H&M.

“I just need to be more patient,” said Madeleine Russell, a Manhattan painter and actress attending New York’s Fashion Week shows, referring to the wait for bargains such as Manolo Blahnik’s twice-a-year sample sale. “I rationalize more. Now for frivolous things I go to H&M or thrift stores. I still go to Saks and browse, but, unless it’s on sale, I won’t buy them.

“I’m a part-time luxury shopper.”

This summer, Russell said, she bought $10 to $13 bikinis at H&M, instead of shelling out $150 at Saks for a clothing article that she’d typically use only for a single season.

For designer labels, she scoured high-end consignment shops, where she found more items to choose from more than ever, with some of Russell’s fellow luxury- goods fans having unloaded previous purchases to fund the next ones.

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Peonies set the tone at Vivienne Tam show during New York fashion week

i love gadgets

Vivienne Tam is throwing a garden party. And she’s only inviting the young pretty things that love pink and peonies. Lots of peonies.

For the Hong Kong-raised designer’s spring 2009 collection that was attended by US Open winner Serena Williams and Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, Tam was inspired by the heavily petalled flower that she said in show notes “are beautiful and symbolize prosperity, good fortune and happiness.”

Peonies showed up in nearly every look, some embroidered in heavy bead or transformed into graphic prints that seemed at times Asian, tropical or camouflage-like. Other incarnations were more literal, as in floral cutouts or dresses and silks covered with fabric petals. And in keeping with the flower’s traditional colours, the collection’s palette were brilliant shades of pink, purple or white.

She also debuted a “digital clutch” created with Hewlett Packard – a purse-sized special edition notebook with a peony design, expected to be available in early 2009.

Tam stayed mostly true to her chic and modest silhouettes, sending out conservative pinstriped skirt suits paired with floaty chiffon blouses in, of course, peony prints. She even offered a look with competing yet complementary purple patterns on a silk T-shirt tucked into a pencil skirt, grounded by a purple belt.

Her sleek sheath dresses, either calf-length and embroidered in floral patterns with beads or pleated in knee-length floral satins, were tasteful and classy as always. She took a risk with a cotton sheath dress and a cutout overlay, but the daytime cream colour failed to give the garment the dramatic effect it needed

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Designers say “green” fashion sustainable

well maybe they are right…

Fashion trends come and go, but “green” is here to stay, say designers and sponsors at New York’s fashion shows this week.

Scores of lines boasting biodegradable fabrics, recycled thread or organic materials are sashaying down the catwalks and, if sales of the often more-costly clothing meet expectations, designers and labels will have profitable new revenue streams.

But fashion is fickle, and any hot fad risks being pushed to the back of the closet like 1980s’ shoulder pads.

Still, companies such as cosmetics powerhouse Aveda and designers such as Abi Ferrin are banking that the sustainable approach to style has staying power.

“To characterize the environment as a ‘trend’ is extremely shortsighted,” said Aveda spokeswoman Ellen Maguire. “Going green is good business.”

Backstage at the Rodarte, 3.1 Phillip Lim shows and others at the semi-annual Fashion Week sponsored by Mercedes Benz, Aveda stocked steel bottles filled with New York tap water.

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The Sun Never Sets on the Runway

they are sooooo right

(via: Volodymyr Shuvayev und CC-license )

It cannot have escaped anyone’s attention that Fashion Week in New York keeps getting bigger (9 days and 264 shows!) and more frequent — five times this year, if you count the pre-fall shows in January, the resort shows in June and a men’s Fashion Week that went mostly unnoticed in July, in addition to the more obvious spring and fall Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks. But in answer to the question, yes, it was just Fashion Week, at least somewhere in the world. (Actually, it was in Tokyo, where Fashion Week ended on Sunday.)

Fashion Weeks have so proliferated, and not just in the capitals of style, that it is now possible to attend them year-round. This is not an exaggeration. A fairly exhaustive survey revealed a calendar year that included no less than 152 Fashion Weeks, from Rio de Janeiro, Milan, Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin, Sri Lanka, Antwerp, Rome and Stockholm — in January alone — to Fiji, Atlantic City, Colombia and Liberia in December, the slowest Fashion Week month of the year.

“I just came back from Copenhagen Fashion Week,” Mickey Boardman, a columnist for Paper magazine, said at the Sue Stemp show on Thursday night. “I really want to do a book called, ‘It’s Always Fashion Week Somewhere in the World.’ The ones I’ve had to turn down have killed me.”

Yes, it’s true that many aspiring fashion capitals will pay for New York editors to travel to their shows, and Mr. Boardman is always a gracious guest. He did decline to attend shows in New Zealand, Spain and, most recently, the Caribbean. “I didn’t think they’d want all this,” he said, gesturing to his sequined sweater.

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Weak U.S. dollar could be a hit at NY Fashion Week

It’s the economy, stupid…

A weak U.S. dollar may be the hit accessory at fashion shows in New York this week, luring British and other European buyers and offering newer designers a chance to impress U.S. retailers hoping to buy locally.

U.S. consumers are tightening their purse strings in the face of lost jobs, home foreclosures and surging food and gas prices but some designers and analysts say that may not necessarily spell doom and gloom for the fashion industry.

“We have gotten a lot of confirmations from the European buyers and editors, so I think they are all in town ready to use their euros,” Raul Melgoza, creative director at Luca Luca, a regular at New York’s semi-annual Fashion Week, told Reuters. Luca Luca’s Luca Orlandi showed his collection on Monday.

Although the U.S. dollar is firming, hitting a one-year high against a basket of major currencies on Monday, the euro is still worth nearly $1.41 and the British pound is about

$1.75.

Just as foreign tourists have been shopping in New York with their strengthened euros, yen, francs and pounds, designers hope buyers from European and British department stores will follow suit.

Maria Luisa, a trendy Paris boutique that sends buyers to Paris and London fashion shows, ended a six-year hiatus by returning to New York to see several young designers.

“With the dollar being so low, it becomes interesting to go check it out,” said Robin Schulie, who looks after purchases for Maria Luisa, which also has a Hong Kong boutique and is opening one in Qatar this year.

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