I Rocked the Runway For Express…for a Minute
Yesterday as part of the Lucky Magazine FABB conference, Express allowed us to walk the runway and get it videotaped. Here is mine…I’ve got real potential!
2011/09/08
Yesterday as part of the Lucky Magazine FABB conference, Express allowed us to walk the runway and get it videotaped. Here is mine…I’ve got real potential!
It’s a bit of an oxymoron right, but there’s so much to do without ever hitting a show (believe me I know). Here are my top to-do’s to enjoy Fashion Week without ever going (or being invited) to a runway show: Fashion’s Night Out: I’m not a personal fan because of all the madness, but if you participate you’ll think you’re int he middle of everything! Department Stores: the majors like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Barneys will be showing a
What are your plans for FNO? (Fashion Night Out is next Thursday September 8th for anyone that has been living under a rock!) Click here to see what’s going on in your city and across the entire country. And for the curvy fashionista, FNO will feature plus-sized events in LA, New York, Chicago and even in my hometown, Alexandria, VA this year! Check out Coco Hilton’s (a.k.a. Perez Hilton’s) pep talk to all the plus-sized divas. These tights are making a statement. Period. This week’s LUST
Just two years after presenting his first collection, Prabal Gurung has made a true name for himself in the fashion industry. His latest collection focuses on bright colors, a mix of draped silk, wool, and furs, and flowing dresses – pairing full-skirted party dresses with over-the-top fur coats and a loose, flowing silk chiffon paired with a silk chemise in gray was one of the more romantic looks of the show. Going “back to [his] roots”, chiffon skirts, rich red
Rachel Zoe Even though she works with high-profie clients and has a remarkable sense of style, she does not have any formal fashion training ♥ She became the pioneer of the ‘boho chic’ look, embodying oversized jewelry, loose fitting dresses and shirts, paired with a slim frame ♥ For NYFW Fall 2011, Zoe officially showcased her first collection, which she intends on turning into a full lifestyle brand ♥ The contemporary collection was sneak-previewed to stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus,
I wanted to share my favorite designer from New York Fashion Week…..so here you go and I hope you enjoy it as much as I love Oscar de la Renta! Greatly influenced by his childhood in the Dominican Republic and his apprenticeship at Balenciaga in Madrid and couture assistant at Lanvin in Paris, Oscar de la Renta is today one of the world’s leading designers. Two words for the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011 collection–“Trés Riche!” Yes, the collection
Always remaining true to herself and her vision, the New York designer Betsey Johnson has done it again! Betsey Johnson’s Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection called “He Loves Me … He Loves Me Not” consisted of two distinct lines, her more expensive “Black Tag” line and then her newly launched, lower-priced “Pink Patch” line. Johnson’s “Black Tag” line was an edgy hodgepodge of loud animal prints (even sheer unitards–how awesome!), fanciful prints, plaid, velvet, corseted coats, poppy flower pins on the
With over 30 designers showing their fall collections at NYFW 2011 across the last week, it can be hard to decipher what’s what, but one of the best questions to ask is simply, “what will translate from the runway to everyday, and what about me?” My answer this year is Ralph Lauren and let me share why right here!
Tracy Reese didn’t surprise us this year; she stuck to her more traditional 70s, boho theme. You saw quite a bit of accordion pleats and lots of black, but some curvaceous-woman friendly pieces. I can appreciate that she stuck to what she knows but do wish she could have ventured off the beaten path a bit more… Photos: Alessandro Garofalo
I have been anxiously awaiting the photos and looks from Olivier Theyskens show! His capsule collection at Bloomingdale’s has flown off the shelf and as the new Artistic Director for Theory, wonderful things are in store. The predominant themes from his show were pants and everyday wear. Just about ever item could walk right off the runway into the street and you’d be fine — the designs and overall styling seem to be workable for lots of shapes, so yay!!
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row is very nice. While a bit of their persona lives in the designs, the overall styling is very haute if not somewhat couture. The pricing of their items will be haute couture as well with their new handbags being priced in the Celine and Hermès range!! The collection which was only shown privately featured lots of furs, crocodile and warm colors. The collection is for those who love the smooth tailoring but not those
Marc Jacobs said the new collection was a reaction against the loose, fluid feeling of his Spring outing. “I wanted something strict and severe,” he said. Prepare your eyes for a smorgasbord of textures, fitted silhouettes, lurex, deep muted colors and black, and patterns and prints (polka dots!). I’m ecstatic about this collection! Photos: Monica Feudi
When you think Prabal Gurung, you think fitted silhouettes so this collection of lace embellishments, feminine if not softer silhouettes, sheer pieces and a stable of black and white with mixes of red and soft pink was wonderfully unexpected! Also well known for his midi-lengths, this show saw slightly shorter and then very long for red carpet and evening glam. Prabal is a relative newcomer but his designs hint of classics to come!! Photos: Carola Guaineri
Tory Burch summed up her collection as “English country dressing translated through American sportswear“. She deconstructed her tweed, showed much less skin and more restraint, and embraced the seventies. Most importantly, this is the collection that will represent the first collection in her flagship Madison Avenue store. I like just about everything in this collection, but do see how it’s not going to be too friendly to the woman with more curves. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo
Yigal Azrouël The Studio (9:00 AM) VACCA The Box (9:30 AM) Michael Kors The Theater (10:00 AM) Nanette Lepore The Stage (11:00 AM) Herchcovitch;Alexandre The Studio (1:00 PM) Adrienne Vittadini The Box (1:30 PM) Each woman epitomizes a distinct personal style and influential career. In 2010, Carol Alt, one of the top five models of all time and author of four books, launched her skincare line, Raw Essentials. This month marked the opening of a tribute to the Models of
Diane von Furstenberg kept it true-to-form with some great splashes of colors but didn’t do too much minimalism. She named her fall collection American Legends and embraced prints, patterns, and contrast tipping. And, yes, fur! Overall, it was a little outside the norm of Diane so I wouldn’t make it my mainstay but I found a few pieces I covet! Photos: Alessandro Viero
Thakoon is one of Mrs O’s favorites and this collection, meant to mix the costumes of Versailles with garb from Kenyan tribes, created quite a buzz. Although I wasn’t in love with it, I appreciated the use of bold colors and how Panchigul managed to take runway show items and create a very tactile and foundational use for the everyday fashionista. Coolness! Photos: Alessandro Garofolo
Catherine Malandrino‘s collection used black as the base color but spiced it up with jewel toned evening dresses. The overall collection was very real-woman friendly with ruching, empire waists, and sashes that revealed just enough shape or open decolletages. I loved it….including the fur and chinchilla bomber with a leather waist! Photos: Filippo Fior
This group (among others) has done a few stints at NYFW, so here’s what they have going on this year! Alex Casertano: designed for Yigal Azrouel menswear and J. Crew before launching his own womenswear…..which will be “something very American and very soulful.“ Wes Gordon: did internships with Tom Ford and Oscar de la Renta….so it’s “Amazing metallic tweeds and beautiful cashmere treated with beading and handpainting.“ Whit: started with Kate Spade so sher knows preppy but Pozgay’s combo of preppy
A New York based magazine, Manhattan, asked five seasoned veterans to talk about their 2011 collections in five words or less… “Structured ease.” Yigal Azrouel “A dark, mysterious energy.” Chris Benz “Hazy imagery with deceptive fabrics.” Lela Rose “Luxe and ladylike.” Stacey Bendet, Alice & Olivia “Eileen Gray meets junior high.” Sophie Buhai & Lisa Mayock, Vena Cava I’m getting more excited as the day grows nearer….Yigal Azrouel is one of my favorites!
Here are our insights on Labor Day sales, a useful (utilitarian trend) for fall, and NYFW.
For the last week or so, I have been getting questions about NYFW (aka New York Fashion or Mercedes Benz Fashion Week [they get very particular about receiving proper credit]) — in particular, the questions center around why, as a personal stylist/fashionista/style maven, I am not at the premier event of the season. The answer is simple and perhaps disappointing to some: my goal as a stylist has very little to do with NYFW runway fashion. Truth be told, there
While in New York for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I was invited to attend an evening mixer hosted by Style Coalition and ideeli at the W Hotel- The Tuscany. The gift bags were fabulous and chock-full-of-treats, the bubbly was flowing freely, and the conversation was lively. I had the chance to meet and talk with an up-and-coming style fashion blogger, Sharon Laufer. Sharon is a native Floridian but has lived in New York City since 2004. She has a wonderful spirit
While in New York for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week activities, one can become overwhelmed with all of the “fashion” and “beauty” and I am no different. I have mentioned previously that eyes can make your face ‘pop’ and it’s the eyelashes that help to make that happen. I even took it so far as to have a well-attended Eyelash party last year so that other ladies could learn the secret to making your face ‘pop’. It occurred to me in NYC
Washington, DC Metro Area
barnettm@blueprintforstyle.com
(209) STY-LISH
If you have general questions, feel free to use the form below to send us a quick message.