New York Fashion Week is in full swing, and at the BCBG Max Azria collection, it was interesting to hear that powerful women in the likes of Hilary Clinton were among inspirations for their Spring 2009 Ready to Wear Collection. Designer Lubov Azria and her husband Max characterize this collection as ‘things that every girl wants to have’which is interesting considering these are not the first words that come to mind when you hear the word ‘pantsuit’. However, when you see the gorgeous fabrics, and *oh!* the ingenious draping happening in this collection, you will see precisely what she is talking about.
The collection embodies a work in progress almost, as viewing the glorious silky fabrics and clever drapes these pieces embody an in-studio work as a designer drapes fabric over their model and delicately but intelligently pins it here there and everywhere. And this is the outcome with the BCBG collection.
I love to see what is going on in the blogosphere, because every fashion and beauty blogger knows there is no way one blog could cover it all, as hard as we ALL try. So here is some news, tips, tricks, and updates from the fashion and beauty blogosphere…..
It’s make it or break it time on Project Runway. Jillian Lewis, Rami Kashou, and Christian Siriano are going head to head to head to battle it out to see who gets crowned winner of this season’s Project Runway. Before you dial in to the big finale, here is a sneak peek at the collections they showed just a few short weeks ago at New York’s Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Who do you think should take home the title.
Our first runner up is the ego-maniac Christian Siriano with his impressive imagination *cough* ego, construction that goes beyond impeccable, and his excessive use of the word “fierce”. Oh, have I mentioned the ego? Equally impressive. He stands a good shot here, which only means, he’s in the Top Three and it’s anyone’s game. (It doesn’t mean he’s actually won yet *cough ego*) He’s already been referred to as a ‘fashion prodigy’ (vis a vis Tim Gunn) and his collections are a little outside the box, outlandish, but have this creative romance meets warrior vibe. What do you think? If the contest was being based on ego, which sadly for him it is not, he’d have it in the bag. I’m surprised they managed to squeeze his whole head into Bryant Park to be honest. Ok, I’m supposed to be impartial and I’ve officially said too much. IF he wins, I just hope they give him a big fat piece of Humble Pie in his prize package. But who knows, have a look at his collection and make your own judgement.
Then we have the only lady in this season’s Top Three, lovely Jillian Lewis. Screw impartial, this is where my money is, as her pieces are things I could actually see myself wearing. And in Ready-To-Wear, this is what the designers need to be doing. I love love love the gown with the teensy belt. So innovative! She is the consummate perfectionist on this season, and has exhibited a flawless attention to detail which you can see in her collection here. Her dress she made out of Twizzlers is yet another example of how her creative genius works. She’s got a good shot as well. She was flattered by Michael Kors in terms of ‘wearability’ and ‘flattery to a woman’s figure’. Huh. Not too shabby to get compliments from Mr. Kors. I’ll take it.
Next up is Rami Kashou. Not sure exactly why he is in the Top Three, I have my own thoughts on who else SHOULD be there, but I don’t produce the show, so my opinion doesn’t matter. But you know every reality show has a finalist at the end that everyone questions. That’s our Rami. He did surprise at Bryant Park tho. You all know him from his pieces that are allllllll about the draping. His goddess style gowns have been winning the judges over all season long, but as the season dragged on, familiarity became a big complaint here as one goddess gown began to look like another. My favorite from this collection is the drapey black and gray strapless gown. So cute. He is probably the least likely to win in my opinion, though any one of them can take it at this point. Nina Garcia complemented him last week for stepping outside his draping comfort zone and focusing more on heavy construction.
Who do you think is going to take it? It’s anyone’s game here, really. Either way, no matter what happens, these are some pretty solid designers that will be around for a while. Project Runway and a Bryant Park showing alone are all they need to get the career mojo going.
We haven’t done a whole lot of Milan coverage just because, I find when one fashion week runs into another, you get very similar looks. So what I like to do is pick out what trend runs amongst the fashion weeks. These are the looks that are going to last through the season. This year lace seems to be big. But not too big. What we have been seeing are contemporary, edgy looks that have just the right touch of lace. Gives you that strong but soft look, who says you can’t bring home the bacon and feel your most feminine at the same time? Not our lead designers, that’s for sure.
Miuccia Prada is just one of many designers that melded this strend between strong and feminine. She found the fabric she adored and worked the entire collection around it. Lace is described by Miuccia as ‘the most important fabric in a woman’s life’ . Why? It is present at birth, marriage, death, and every other milestone in between. Lace is not just for your grandma girls, celebrate it. In typical Prada style, the lace Miuccia incorporated was not precious, but smart, and subtly suggestive. And in 2008, subtly suggestive is sexy, beautiful, and strong.
LaPerla is another fave that never seems to let us down when it comes to pretty girly things. LaPerla finessed the strong yet sexy look in her Madonna like ‘Like a Virgin’ days which she put to shame with lingerie like details that left very little, but just enough to the imagination.
Derek Lam was another who took his contemporary cues from goth women. His girls were shrouded models in black lace dresses, tops, and even sexy eye masks. I love this chic sheath with the gold toned lace and black underlay. This could even go for day if you throw a snappy black blazer over top. So pretty. And Erin Fetherstone (pictured first, above) was right on target with her girly girly feminine appeal. Not the most wearable piece mind you, but she followed suit with the trends rather elegantly.
Rumors are swirling that some celebs are taking the looks right from Milan to the Academy Awards carpets. Who do you think can dare to be this sexy? Check back Monday to find out!
One of our sister blogs over at Coutorture has snagged an interview with Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein and is sharing the love. I have to say, after his Spring Collection, I was kind of bored with the Calvin Klein line and as a result, I chose not to profile him this go around for Fashion Week. However, we did get our hands on this interview with Francisco Costa. Here he talks about a theme we saw a lot this week. Retro vs. Contemporary and how to blend the two. How do you think he did?
It is rumored that the two influences in Michael Kors collection this fall were Amy Winehouse and Alfred Hitchcock. The heroines, aka models, in his story on the runway were Kim Novak-esque complete with teased hairs that rivaled Amy Winehouse’s famous hive.
For me, the look carried much of the Sexy Librarian look. Think chic, polished, sleek, and sexy. Each look hugged the body in all of the right places, but carried an elegance and poshness that only Michael Kors could pull off. Colors came in rich fall tones, and when Kors strayed from that he used a variety of shades in lilacs and purples. Olives, balmacaans, and camel were hit shades on his runway. We saw long narrow skirts, cashmere sweaters, cropped print pants, and when adding a hint of sophisticated chic a little bit of sable and mink stoles were toss in. All of this over tweed jackets or plaid skirts.
When it was time for the Kors cocktail hour collection, metallics were his shades and fabrics of choice. Strapless gold and silvery princess dresses that came embellished stole the scene. And when it was time to showcase formal wear, it was the column gowns with the Watteau backs that really impressed.
Did Kors go too retro? Perhaps, but in this Fashion Week, who didn’t. He pulled off the retro contemporary look very elegantly, and tres sexy more than anything. A very wearable collection. I have to say, this is my favorite collection this week so far.
