Downe With Fashion with Jessica White for NDSS

Down in Soho Tuesday night, I watched thirteen girls live out their dreams of being a high fashio n model.  They were ladies who were challenged with Down syndrome, but had spent the day living like a VIP, getting their hair and makeup done, strutting their stuff and modeling the Hania collection by Ana Cole.

Hosted by ’It” girl model Jessica White, this was a project conceived by Fabrizio Babino to honor his family and raise money for the National Down Syndrome Society.

While the fashionista crowd sipped Moet and bid on fabulous silent auction items, one couldn’t miss the infectious joy on the faces of the evening’s stars.  Helping to bring some extra paparazzi to the event were  Alex and Simon from Real Housewives of New York and June Ambrose.

Care to make a donation?  I certainly did:  www.ndss.org

Photos by R. Loud from wireimage.com and mannyzoom of zoomyork.com

Rebecca Minkoff’s Spring Kick-off at Henri Bendel’s

On this cool afternoon in Midtown NYC, Rebecca Minkoff is making a personal appearance at my favorite department store. Celebrating the debut of her Spring handbags, shoppers are sipping champagne and nibbling on rainbow colored cupcakes as they take in the new purses. The handbags span the colors of the rainbow and feature a huge range anof treatments. There are handmade tie-dyed bags with Italian lambskin. There are sweet and edgy bags in Easter Egg colors with hard-zippered edges along girly ruffles. Rebecca Minkoff’s personal favorite is the deep lapis blue bag with a collection of different shaped studs. Very rock and roll…

Are you in the neighborhood? Come any join me! You can enter to win a Rebecca Minkoff handbag every hour and score a sweet giftbag (like I did!) with each purchase. Peeking into my bag, I spot a “Bada Boum” tote, some beauty goodies and a best friends 2-part key chain to share.

Hacker Fashion for Geeks and Dreamers

A week outside of the mainstream NY Fashion week, a Season 2 Project Runway alum presented her high-tech project to the world.  Diana Eng, self proclaimed “Nerd” has been working on her “Fairytale Fashion” project at Eyebeam Atelier.  The audience was noticeably absent of self-absorbed editors, preening socialites and all of the usual Garmento suspects.  Instead, it was filled with students, brainy crafters, and the mathletes that would be Diana Eng’s supportive fans.

The show itself was creatively inspiring.  I’m happy to say that after a week of seeing the same color palettes at Bryant Park and Milk Studios, I was witness to something truly different.  Diana Eng applied scientific principles, wiring and LED lights as embroidery and hems to cocktail dresses.  A chic wedding dress inflated into a dramatic oversized bow. A whimsical ballgown was filled with balloons that were released into the air, with twinkling lights as anchors.  There were jackets with geometrically calculated pleating that collapsed onto itself for a hood or collar.  Origami pleated sleeve adorned another jacket.  One dress had roses projecting to the surface from within.

Instead of a pretentious DJ doing the soundtrack, four hackers created digital music with a wired felt pillow, hacked sewing machine and a bunch of laptops.

The only thing I miss from regular fashion week are the cocktails…Guests here were served fruit punch and honey tea.  So much for giving up sobriety for Lent…

Photos by See-Ming Lee

Elle Magazine/Guess by Marciano Party to Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Last Thursday, Hubby and I attended a cocktail party at the Guess boutique in Soho.  The event was hosted by Eliza Dushku and Joe Zee from Elle Magazine to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer research.  If you have ever worn a pink ribbon, it was most likely to support this cause.

Petite Eliza Dusku looked beautiful, though almost lost in a sea of other black-clad fashionistas in the room.  The taller Rick Fox and Whitney Port of The Hills were much easier to spot.  Mark Indelicato, the youngest of the Ugly Betty clan was romping around the party with his friend, along with a couple of reality tv staples, singer Mitsue and me.  At the beginning of the party, it almost seemed that the guests were outnumbered by media (MTV, Bravo, NBC were all filming).

I must say, the Guess by Marciano collection has really stepped up their game, as there were some very cute party-worthy dresses.  The handbags (I attended the party for the Purse Page) definitely had some edgy, designer style.  They have come a long way since the Shopping Mall staples of my youth.

For a $5 donation, you received a 20% discount of any purchase, as well as a big goodie bag.  Champagne and refreshing cocktails of vodka, Ginton and white grape juice made shopping that much more enjoyable.  Nibbles of turquoise-frosted cupcakes, lobster/mango skewers kept the lightweights from getting too tipsy…   (Hubby declared, “I LOVE fashion parties…No one eats, and there’s more for ME”).

Missed the party? Shop the  Susan G Komen online store to support the cause.

http://www.shopkomen.com/?itc=centerhpban:39

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 were not burnt out and had 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.

2-Hour Statement Necklace

The hottest trend this year in jewelry has undoubtedly been the “statement necklace” or bib necklace. Every upscale jewelry and fashion house has produced some form of this with escalated price points. I originally had a few made in India based on some of my favorite embroidery designs, but realized you can easily make your own ‘couture’ creation whenever you need an accessory fix.

To start, grab some ribbon pieces, (the standard is satin or grosgrain ribbon, but anything that won’t scratch your neck will do). Next, find some fabric scraps and start cutting out flowers, shapes, obscene motifs, whatever you wish. Then, embellish them with  jewels, buttons or trims that you have on hand.  Stitch them together or thread them like beads and add a side of ribbon to each end… Voila!  I made the necklace above as a gift to my Mom.  I cut some tulle into tiny squares and threaded them with loose pearls and glass leaves.

Not a fabric flower type? If you have a pile of beads, you can string them together between the ribbons for another variation. Old chains from belts, ribbons made into bows, all work as well. Just stagger the lengths of each strand for the ‘bib’ effect.  The necklace above was made from different lengths of chain samples I had on hand attached to grosgrain ribbon.  I used two loose, Swarovski crystals to attach the bows where the chains connect to the ribbons.

Holiday DIY: No-Brainer Gourmet Gifts

There are plenty of pretty cookie and confectionery recipes online for making foodie gifts. If you are Martha Stewart and have all the time in the world, my favorite is chocolate.

However, if your peeps have discerning palates, and your kitchen consists of half a wall and a toaster oven, fret not, for there are a few DIY gifts for budget-watching, cooking-inept food snobs…

Luxe Granola:

Granola is a great gift. While everyone else is receiving an abundance of desserts, rarely do people receive healthy breakfast goodies. This gift has a long shelf life (compared to baked goods) and a large margin of error.

I like to use variations of  Alton Brown’s granola recipe. This recipe is brilliant; you can switch out almost every element to suit your preferences. Need less sugar? Substitute brown sugar for Splenda blend, or use raw agave syrup instead of maple syrup, etc. Like a more intense flavor? Add some almond or maple extract. Just remember that any nuts or grains, you toast with the oats, and any dried fruit, you add at the end…

Making this stuff makes your home smell wonderful, and since you need to let it bake for awhile, the timing is forgiving.

Package your granola in nice little cellophane baggies and tie with ribbon, raffia, etc. Don’t have those? Grab some extra coffee bags at the nearest shop that sells caffeine by the pound.

Gourmet Spice Mixes:

Ok, if you don’t have a kitchen at all, you can still impart some chef-worthy gifts. Make your own spice rubs for cooks, or cocoa or cider mixes for those who are equally incompetent in the kitchen as you. Buy herbs and spices in bulk (those giant containers at the grocery store will do).

Find some recipes online like these for spice rubs or these for cocoa and cider. Copy/paste the recipes and print in some pretty font on cardstock.

Mix the ingredients for the dry ingredients and put them in a tin or jar. Decorate the lid with a nice label, raffia or just your recipe. (If you’re crafty and broke, wrapping paper and empty Altoid tins work too).

Holiday DIY: Greeting Cards

At the end of the year, I often panic and realize how many good friends and family I have neglected to be in touch with.  I then neurotically think about my annual holiday card as a last chance of redemption.

I have made my holiday cards every year since high school.  I know this just seems masochistic to those with busy schedules (A.K.A.  Everyone I know…) but I do have my reasons.   A) I find it impossible to find anything to purchase that is special enough for the people I care about. B) I don’t have children (yet) so I feel it would be silly for Hubby and me to send those photo cards that everyone else sends and C) I have a huge ego that tells me that the only person that can create what YOU deserve is ME. 

If you find yourself as ego-maniacal as me, let me assure you that it is NOT difficult or nearly as time consuming as it sounds to create your own cards.  Granted, before I was fully employed, I would make elaborate origami, or fiber embroidered beaded greetings.  These days, I take a decidedly more minimalist approach.

The internet and printer are your friends… If you are not graphically inclined, there are images online that you can grab and manipulate from the web.  Google images are great for this.  Right click and it’s yours.  If you have any skill with editing software, you can personalize things to make it your own.  Print on cardstock with a holiday message and you’re done.

Bonus points: If you want to take it a step further, you can embellish your home printed cards.  Craft punches are fabulous, and are an economic way to make use of fancy paper (especially scraps and damaged pieces).  Add these as a 3-D element to your design.  If you have a partner, child or  trainable pet, you have yourself an assistant.  Anyone can help you punch pieces out and even glue them to your cards.  If you have loose sequins, jewels, metallic dust bunnies these also work to “bling out” your cards.

Now, if only locating the right postage stamps was this easy…

My Path to the Broomstick – Happy Halloween

As a New Yorker, specifically a Manhattan-dwelling, fashion industry drone in a cosmopolitan setting, the color black figures prominently in my wardrobe.  Outside of my island of residence, this is not a typical dress philosophy.  As a result, I have been labeled “Goth” on numerous occasions.  I dismiss it as ridiculous until longtime friends and family insist that I have always been one.

Baffled, I tried to examine what could probably have caused them to come to this inaccurate conclusion.  After hours of self-reflection I determined that the fault (consistent with all types of psychological studies) lay with my parents.

The first Halloween that I remember celebrating, I was three years old.  My father, in an afternoon of creative inspiration made the decision to make my first costume.  I watched him with fascination, not knowing what he would make.  I was in awe of his craft as he duct-taped a construction paper cone to my head.

He created a witch’s cloak out of stereo speaker fabric with a hole cut out for my face. I wore it all without understanding what a witch actually was.   As my parents normally did not permit me to have candy, the concept of strangers handing me sweets and being allowed to keep them was monumental.

By the time I yelled “Trick or Treat” to the second house we visited, I was emotionally overwhelmed by the events and ended the night.  My father was quite disappointed. He had waited three years for an excuse to have neighbors reciprocate free treats, and had expected to return with a bigger haul.

The next day, I got over the initial shock of free candy as a concept, and was properly motivated to collect bonbons again.  I understood the ‘witch’ outfit was key. I was confused and saddened when my father informed me that we would not be going back out that night.  I didn’t understand why.  Undaunted, I continued to wear a hag’s attire  every day in the hopes that today would be the day the quest would continue.  I thought the costume was a candy-collecting uniform.   I wore my pointed hat each afternoon and played “trick or treat” alone with my teddy bear. I travelled from couch to couch, panhandling to stuffed animals for lollipops.  Alas, this was probably the reason why neighbors thought I was an infant priestess of the occult…

At five years old, my parents decided expand my cultural education and take me to the opera.  They selected Hansel and Gretel as the most child appropriate production.  The story depicted the abandoned and starving children of a broken marriage trying to find their way home. The showstopper was when the siblings were tricked into a scheme of cannibalistic intent by a sorceress with a confection-fortified house.  The decision to choose this particular piece to introduce a child to the performing arts was obvious.

After the opera ended, I was brought backstage to meet the sorceress, legendary Canadian opera contralto Maureen Forrester.   She was a vision in black velvet, violet lace and satin.  She was covered in elaborate bijoux, her nails and eyelashes sparkled with glitter.  After a lifetime in the suburbs wearing my male cousin’s hand-me-downs, this woman in costume was the most glamorous person I had ever seen.  The fashion icon forever made an impression in my head.

I suppose my parents were lucky that I associated her style with being a ‘witch’. At least it saved them from having to watch their daughter grow up to be a failed drag queen.

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?