MS. FABULOUS

Design Diet Coke's T-Shirt for Taylor Swift

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:30:03 PDT

Fashion designers, graphic designers and stylish soda fans... Diet Coke is announcing season 2 of its hunt for young designers to design their next t-shirt to be sold at Target. The winner nets $10 000 in cash, sees their design in Target stores and travels to Nashville to meet music star Taylor Swift.

One of my favorite designers, Rebecca Minkoff is judging the finalists. You can check their site for inspiration and investigate what past winners have done.

Hurry! You have 9 days to enter!

David Bowie Is

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:55 PDT

A pop icon, a trendsetter in fashion, design... The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a comprehensive exhibit into the David Bowie archive to explore his creative process. He may primarily be known as a musician, but his influence in style reaches far beyond that.

In the 1970's and 1980's he was known for his androgynous, futuristic and avant-garde aesthetic. His Ziggy Stardust bodysuits were designed by Freddie Buretti and gave direction to activewear. Dramatic makeup looks were imitated by both men and women. All are on display in the exhibit. The rockstar's personal sketches, artwork for his albums, storyboards and intimate diary entries offer insight into his artistic process.

Yves Saint-Laurent, Jonathan Saunders Spring 2013 and Alexander McQueen's Resort 2013 collection were all clearly influenced by the Bowie's style. My first memory of his style was his role in 1986's Labyrinth. His spiked hair, tights and ruffled shirt as the "Goblin King" was my first encounter with his Rock n' Roll style and the 11 year old me found it incredibly sexy.

The exhibit runs until August 11, 2013.

Photos by Frank W Ockenfels,Duffy Archive,John Robert Rowlands and V&A Museum

Atlantis Style - Resort Merchandising

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:30:02 PDT

What is the difference in planning a vacation shopping experience and one in your regular city? Do people shop differently when they are near the beach? I explored the glamorous Escape Boutique at The Cove at Atlantis to find out.

In chatting with Atlantis public relations manager Megan Marchesini, she expressed the luxury resort's major demographic guests were mostly from the Northeast of the United States. Sounds like a bunch of New Yorkers to me. When you factor in their restaurants mirror the top celeb chefs of NYC (they have an outpost of Mesa Grill and Nobu in the resort) you might be inclined to think that The Cove is Gotham South.

With that in mind, does the New York fashion sense travel to the islands as well? Lots of black and tailored looks? Absolutely not. The more color the better. While fashion designers known to New Yorkers like Kara Ross and Matthew Williamson are carried at the shop, what sells is anything bright, embellished and probably shiny.

Buyers for a luxury resort boutique know that guests are in a fantasy mind frame, so the merchandise must reflect that. A fun cowboy hat or dancing shoes need to represent the indulgent experience that is a contrast to the every day routine of home (and the every day look of home). Like the name chefs of the restaurants on property, there is the assurance of designer names on the products, but also co-branded with the Atlantis resorts name as well, as it is in itself a prestige name. When you get the bright pink or coral necklace home, it is your souvenir of the fun you had and a calling card for you to return to the party that was.

So what fashion item did YOU buy on vacation?

Glitterrings Gatsby Jewels

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:18:22 PDT

A little eye candy for the weekend. Were you inspired by the opulent style of The Great Gatsby? Affordable jewelry company Glitterrings certainly were. They launched a pretty collection available now that is styled with intricate vintage patterns in a rosy gold or silver metal. Like their name, tiny crystals have an antique pave look.

While I love this style anyway, I admit I do get sucked into film fashion excitement (I bought a dalmatian print top after watching Glenn Close's fabulous turn as Cruella De Ville). I checked out the showroom for Glitterrings and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of their pieces considering their wallet friendly price point. Rings were under $40, the elaborate pendant necklaces about $85. You can find them online.

Have you ever been inspired to add to your wardrobe from a movie's style? Which movie and what look?

Your Most Stylish NYC Summer Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:18:10 PDT

Has winter finally left? As we inch towards Memorial Day weekend, I am lining up my plans for the months to come. I had a crappy winter, so my resolution is to enjoy summer in my city in style.

I am looking forward to bunch of nights out with my girls. The first one is courtesy of Smirnoff Sorbet next week. I can’t imagine a better way to expose my toes in summer appropriate footwear than a pedicure and massage. New York City has become an expert at offering up combo spa/lounge/nightlife destinations for the woman who wants the full package and has no time… TenOverTen is the one I’ll be checking out next week. I’ll let you know how it measures up!

I plan on chic weekends by the beach. I have a few dates already set to head east to the end of Long Island. I start by shopping for pretty things along Main Street in East Hampton. Catherine Malandrino, Tory Burch and Calypso are my go-to shops for colorful style. My go-to lunch stops are Levain bakery and the Seafood shop in Wainscott. I end the day curling up with Hubby and a bottle of wine on a quite beach in Amagansett to watch the sunset.

In between weekends, there are of course the warm days in between. Luckily, New York keeps the staycation vibe going with tons of free concerts, movies and cultural events. Bryant Park is host to much of the fashion crowd with their film series on Monday nights. It has become one big gourmet picnic for my colleagues and me over the years.

If you need to chill, there are fashion related exhibits in the air conditioned buildings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (check out Punk: Chaos to Couture) and the Museum at FIT (RetroSpective opens next Wednesday). Don’t forget museum parties… The MOMA opens late on Thursdays with live music starting July, The Met has a martini bar on their rooftop garden and the Rubin Museum turns into the K2 lounge with tapas, culture and cocktails on Friday nights.

Ready to heat things up? What are YOUR favorite plans in the city?

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle. Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. ©2013 The Smirnoff" Co., Norwalk, CT. Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g.
* 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

Bryant park photo by Eddy

Design for Fab.com and Michael Bastian

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:02:42 PDT

Design talents! Two new opportunities for you. First, super design-savvy marketplace Fab.com is on a hunt for great new designers. They have a jury seeing people at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Bring your samples, your portfolio, your plans or ideas for this competition. You need to impress judges like Fab's founder and chief design officer Bradford Shellhammer or Dan Rubinstein, editor in chief of Surface magazine among others. They want to see things that are "high quality and be a functional object made through handcrafted, high-tech and/or experimental processes."

To register, send your name and country to designforus@fab.com. Then show up at the ICFF show at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Center (must be registered to attend) on May 21st, 1 PM to 3 PM. If you register for the show today, you can skip the $60 fee.

BOFFO is a project that brings fashion designers, architects, artists and other disciplines together for pop-up collaborations. The latest a competition to design and produce a retail installation in collaboration with fashion designer Michael Bastian. Your base is a shipping container on Pier 57 near the Hudson River.

Enter the competition here.

Chris Benz is EPIC

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:39:11 PDT

Many fashionistas swoon at the costume designs in our favorite movies. How often are fashion designers inspired by an animated film and vice versa? Last week, fashion designer Chris Benz sat down with the art director of Epic the Movie, Michael Knapp to discuss their creative process.

Both projects were deeply inspired by nature. The movie is an animated tale of a teenage girl transported to the magical world of the forest. The warrior community she meets are very small and are seeing the forest from the viewpoint of the ground looking up, so much of the surroundings were drawn with this in mind. A lot of thought went into the costumes of the characters, even if they weren't actual clothing that would be worn be live actors. The costumes were based on textures inspired by materials found in nature or would be suited to whatever creature the character happened to be. Some great costume design sketches and fashion boards were on display so you could see the aesthetic.

Chris Benz, after meeting up with a publicity person from the film, was also inspired by nature. After seeing creative ideas for the film, it made him review pieces from his Spring 2013 collection. He put together a mood board based on the film and rethought a green gown he designed in terms of patterns and color found in nature.

To all the creatives, how does fashion influence your work? For the fashion designers, how has a film affected your creative process?

Epic the Movie comes out May 24, 2013.

Wine Enthusiast's Red & White Ball

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:52:03 PDT

Before the roaring 20's of Gatsby, there was the Belle Epoque. Wine Enthusiast Magazine celebrated their 25th anniversary with a decadent Red and White Bash for a good cause. The event was held at the Hudson Hotel's basement re-imagined as a romantic circus.

Red and White was a reference to the over 30 wineries offering tastings of their wines. The colors were also the theme of the night for event designer Adam Aleksander's decor and dress code. Both the gents and ladies decked themselves out in vintage party style with hats, fascinators, pearls, jewels and dresses in the spirit of the event. There were festive makeovers offered to people who wanted some extra flare in their hair or sparkly makeup.

An old-timey big band set the soundtrack for the evening on stage with Parisian lampposts. A sexy burlesque aerialist glided into her moves on a crescent moon overlooking the guests.

While the wine flowed freely, the true reason for the celebration was that proceeds from every ticket sold went to benefit the Wine to Water organization. The non profit heads up projects in countries like Uganda, Sudan, Cambodia and many others to provide clean water to communities that struggle to have access to it. Some of their projects have included digging wells, distributed ceramic or bio-sand water filters and constructing a water system to an orphanage.

You can donate or host your own event on their behalf here. If you were planning your next big bash, what theme would YOU go with?

How to Dress for the Gatsby Era

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:16:02 PDT

No doubt, every fashion magazine and blog will tell you how to dress in flapper style with today's styles. Prada produced some drool-worthy fashion for the film The Great Gatsby, but what designers did the Daisy Buchanans wear IN the 1920's?

Roaring 20's fashion was the decade of Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Jeanne Lanvin. Erte's theater costume illustrations set the tone of sleek art deco patterns. Flapper dresses were embroidered in Asian florals or Art Deco patterns reflecting the trends in architecture at the time. Chanel pioneered the concept of comfortable sportswear, opposite the whimsical embellishments of her Italian rival, Schiaparelli. As a parent, Lanvin's intricate work was coveted by other mothers, leading to coordinated outfits for their children as well.

Fashionable ladies were just as enamored with shoes as we are today. T-strap shoes and embellished heels were the coveted styles of the era. The prestige designers then were Salvatore Ferragamo and Andre Perugia.

The 1920's was radical in that fashionable women cut their hair short en masse for the first time in history...ever! It was quite the milestone for a socialite to march into a salon and ask for the chic bob. I love this vintage advertisement that you could bring to your stylist:

Ok, now rouge your knees, roll your stockings down and see the damn movie already!

photos from oldrags.tumblr.com/, jildorshoes.com,

Nanette Lepore Fall 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:30:02 PDT

Utilitarian chic was paired with shimmering iridescent accessories for Nanette Lepore's fall 2013 runway. Based on the designer's posts on social media, the inspiration for the collection was the Mars rover landing. Nanette is one of the most prominent advocates for saving the Garment Center in New York City. She produces much of her collection locally, which in itself is eco-friendly.

There were pretty prints in shades of olive and green that gave a hint of a camouflage pattern. Sequinned tops and skirts also had an enlarged version of these motifs that also hinted at military inspiration. While the models did not sport crew cuts, the rigid posture of their walk complemented constructed jackets. Handbags had prominent industrial hardware, but were made in brighter iridescent shades of khaki, red and green. Shoes also had the galactic, shimmering finish in the heels or entire platform shoes. The contrast between the clothing and accessories kept it fun and young, but reflects how women dress today... You're on a mission (work) but want to escape far far away.

Punk: Chaos to Couture

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:10:13 PDT

The city of New York roared a sartorial rebel yell last night with the opening of Punk: Chaos to Couture. The legendary Met Gala thrown by the Metropolitan Museum of Art brings the most elite of the fashion crowd up the red carpeted steps to see the exhibit.

The punk movement was born in the mid 1970's both in New York at clubs like CBGB's and in London with Malcolm McLaren and then girlfriend, Vivienne Westwood. The first section of the exhibit had reproductions of the gritty CBGB bathroom (I’m sure the socialites and Anna Wintour can relate to this) and simulation of iconic punk fashion boutique Seditionaries’ from Great Britain. Degraded t-shirts with subversive messages, bondage inspired outfits held together with safety pins were in full display from Westwood and McLaren .

Speaking of safety pins, it’s hard to imagine punk fashion without the metal hardware. If you haven’t overdosed on the volume of spikes in the retail scene the past two years, prepare for another onslaught. Pins, studs, spikes, grommets, staples and logo embossed metallic trims were showcased on the designs of Balenciaga, Gianni Versace, Victor & Rolf, Givenchy, Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana.

Doesn’t sound very anarchistic? This exhibition is the ultimate example of street style influencing haute couture. There is a room of graffiti influenced fashion from the likes of Stephen Sprouse to Ann Demeulemeester. The Alexander McQueen dress that was famously spray painted with robotic air nozzle guns on the runway was on display as well.

There was always the basic culture of DIY and artistic expression in punk fashion. There was an interesting gallery, “Bricolage” that focused on style that was created from found objects, fashion from garbage from designers like Martin Margiela, John Galliano and Prada. While scholars referenced this as punks’ “violent” tendencies in the cutting up of materials, I saw this as contemporary and eco-friendly. The dresses made from garbage bags, broken dishes and postage fashion is very “green”. To me, I interpreted this as a message against mass consumption.

The last gallery was “Destroy”. Imagine it being screamed from the Nick Knight-made films all over the show featuring Sid Vicious. I thought it would show lots of fashion and prestige labels being torn down from social upheaval throughout the decades. Nope, designers like Balmain, Chanel and Yohji Yamamoto were displayed showing outfits with different techniques of distressed fabrics or deliberate sabotage in embellished holes.

“Destroying” incredibly expensive clothing with intent with the idea that it will appeal to the young market is not very punk to me. The youth culture that started the movement was poor and was protesting the elite establishment. However, the designers curated for this show are all incredibly successful, prestigious global brands that the 99% of the Occupy Wall Street movement cannot afford. This also reflects the entire guest list attending the evening’s gala.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved this exhibit and these are all designers that I grew up idolizing. In the spirit of the subject though, I would have liked to see representation from modern unknown fashion labels or designers who truly DID do business in a way that went against the grain since McLaren and Westwood.

The couture “punk” references the themes of the 70’s and 80’s aesthetic but doesn’t ask what today’s “punk” is? Would that be a coat made of Guy Fawkes masks? Would it be a sculpted dress made of melted water bottles? Is it just a naked person wearing the ashes of their pink slips? What is YOUR idea of punk?

The exhibit runs until August 14th, 2013.

See the rest of my photos here:

(All photos by Mariana Leung)

Badgley Mischka Fall 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:51:04 PDT

I have covered husband/wife duos, sister acts, mothers and daughters... Now I am happy to profile the fall 2013 collection of newlyweds Mark Badgley and James Mischka. Before the aisle, came the runway, and it was a gorgeous one.

There were many dresses of black and gold metallic, two colors that I came to associate with Badgley Mischka over the years. They were pretty of course, but I have to say I love the blush and raspberry colors more. The bright white had an almost retro feel to it, being executed in slim, column silhouettes that looked rather Grecian. The beading and crystal embroidery was a cross between art deco and Aztec geometric patterns. The large motifs in bugle beads, the waistband, neck or shoulders in crystal.

The footwear included velvet peep toe heels with cute bows. They didn't exactly match the clothes, but they were pretty all the same. Handbags included square and oblong clutches in color block mixed with houndstooth or metallic. The hair was pulled up in vintage Hitchcock glamour with classic Hollywood beauty makeup.

Whether it's Mezo-American, Greek or Gatsby, there's a Goddess in all of us and we have every right to dress like it.

Future of Fashion 2013 - Knitwear Design

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Sun, 05 May 2013 06:30:01 PDT

Amazing things can be done in the twisting of yarn. The 2013 class of F.I.T. proved that in spades. The knitwear designers were my favorite (and largest) section of the Fashion Institute of Technology's graduate fashion show this week.

The designs ranged from sculptural art pieces from designer Jong Suk Park and Marines Padilla to the brightly colored work of award winner Tae Kyung Kim. There were slinky, sexy fitted dresses with light weight patterned stitches. Innovative textures were created in the knitting techniques or achieved with dimensional yarns. Critics overseeing the knitwear students were Tom Scott and Lars Andersson.

Other designers included Sowon Yoon,Jiin Yoo,Jing Jing Xu,Marta Weber, Tamara Taylor , Jin Young Suh, Jennifer Seung Yeon Sim, Isadora Scimeca, Olga Santiago, Julie Urania Rovelo, Danielle Ridarick, Noa Rennert, Sanja Radulovic, Hannah Park,Yoshie Muranaka, Desiree Cadman Mendoza, Morgan Maxwell, Claire Lung , Katie Lewis, Wonhee Lee, Hee-eun Lee, Ida Lamberton, Kathy Hweryung Kwon, Sijeo Kim, Mashal Khan, Kinjal Katakia, Elizabeth Joyce, Samantha Ince, Jelena Ibrishimovikj, Soyeon Hwang, Katharine Gray, Victoria Clemente, Andy Chan, Aimee Ciancarelli, Aisling Camps, Blake Burnett, Yuliya Bondarenko, Heidi Bischoff, Chelsea Maxine Agawa and Nora Abdelwahed.

One thing we can be assured of, the new generation of fashion will keep you cozy and in style.

FIT Fashion Show 2013 - Special Occasion Graduates

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:33:55 PDT

The recent crop of fashion design graduates from F.I.T. are ready for the red carpet. Under the direction of famed bridal designer Amsale Aberra and Maggie Norris, the students presented innovative options for evening wear dresses.

Fashion design graduates Alyssa Collura, Kenneth Anderson,Alexis Raia, Manuela Ocampo, solih Lim, Brenna Simmons, Jasmin ruiz, Soo Kim and award winners Elle Loow and Trung Vu created looks that set themselves apart from the classic special occasion labels by using unusual patterns and textures on their gowns. They favored sexy seaming dimensional embellishments and innovative twists on traditional silhouettes.

Will they dress the celebrities of award shows to come? Will you see their work adorn the next Met ball? I'm sure they hope so, and have create a convincing argument that they deserve to... Congratulations graduates!

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:30:03 PDT

I attended a screening of stylish new documentary, “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s” last night. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a movie about a store at first, but quickly came around.

Every woman in New York or visited the city who loves fashion aspires to shop at Bergdorf Goodman. As a fashion designer at Parsons School of Design, every student aspired to be sold at the luxury department store. What I loved about this movie was that it did indeed interview designers who are sold (or were rejected) from the store and their own story of what Bergdorf’s meant to them. Parsons alumni Marc Jacob and Jason Wu were featured as were the European designers’ stories of coming to their ideal of American prestige.

My personal memories are of writing "shopping reports" in school to sketch and note the trends we saw in the store. Later, as a design assistant, I would have to buy (and often return) pieces that would be used as inspiration. When I worked on 57th street, I would pop in for an escape during my dreary day of plebeian apparel to look at something glamorous. I may not have been able to drop a few thousand dollars on a single clothing item, but would indulge with some cosmetics or treats so I could walk away with my pale purple bag...

The person that every designer needed to impress is Linda Fargo. The power she holds in the livelihood of a fashion designer’s career is often compared to Vogue editor Anna Wintour. However, the film makes a point of showing Linda’s warm smile and her approachability. Ally Hilfiger and Nari Manivong were showing them their new collection in hopes of being carried by the store. While Linda decided not to pick the label up, she gave encouragement and constructive advice. Whether any new designer would receive this level of attention (if they were not the offspring of Tommy Hilfiger, and cameras were not recording the event) is doubtful, it gives some insight into the process.

The eye candy segment of the movie came in the form the 2011 holiday windows. I remember gazing at these windows at night and losing myself in the glamour and art. The documentary followed creative director David Hoey’s process of bringing luxurious fantasies to life. One got to see the workshop, the sketches and the artisans who painstakingly created props by hand to accompany the fashion in his vision. I always love seeing the process of creativity. See close up detail of what went into the windows was a treat.

Celebrities like Joan Rivers and Candice Bergen recalled their shopping experience. Superstar personal shopper Betty Halbreich discussed her sales techniques, though when asked what she would be doing if she didn’t work at Bergdorf’s she comically replied “drinking”.

Clips from Sex and the City, old Woody Allen movies and vintage Barbra Streisand woven into the film showed how much the luxury retailer has inspired generations of style for fashion. With any luck, it will be a place my future generations will enjoy too.

cartoon by Victoria Roberts for the New Yorker, photos from.bergdorf-movie.com and butterflydiary.com

FIT Fashion Show - Lingerie Design

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Thu, 02 May 2013 06:47:59 PDT

The next generation of boudoir designers sent some hot stuff down the runway. Last night's FIT fashion design graduate show had an extensive list of lingerie designers. Mentored by Flora Nikrooz, designers Yamil Flores, Yie Sung Lee, Caroline Argirokastritis, Erin Brennen, Victoria Roth, Natasha Wilson Nina Trimble, Judy C. Yang, Angenille Barredo, Jennifer Campagna and award winner Alina Kulik showed the most beautiful sexy, silky looks on their catwalk.

If this collection is an indication of intimate apparel to come, then super contoured seaming, corset lacing, delicate straps and lace will be what heats up the bedroom for the next few years. The models definitely evoked the glamour of old Hollywood with the modern attitude of today's power women.

Good luck graduates! More of the FIT Fashion later...

Fashion and Technology Exhibit

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:30:04 PDT

The FIT future of fashion graduate show is tonight. However, what can you expect of fashion in the actual future? The Museum at FIT presents theories to that question in their Fashion and Technology exhibit which runs until next week.

The show examines innovations in technology over the years in textile manufacturing, the sewing machine through to the possibilities of digital and 3D printing. It also explores how the internet and social media has changed the way fashion labels market and brand themselves.

The fashion on display represent examples of how designers, independent and established have adapted and used high-tech treatments for fabric into their designs. (The pink dress above is made of three dimensional molded shapes by Pierre Cardin in 1968, the optic patterned jumpsuit on the right is Jean Paul Gaultier's cyber graphic print from 1996).

The exhibit also shows how current culture of the times could influence day to day fashion. The art deco movement in architecture reflected in the new use of geometric designs clothing. The 1960's space race of politics and science manifested itself in astronaut-inspired bodysuits as if civilians were ready to head out to the moon themselves.

If you can't make it to the exhibit (it ends on May 8, 2013) then you should definitely check out the show website. It has a thorough glossary to bone up on all the new garment technology terms. It has a fantastic illustrated timeline of fashion technology and a great reading list to explore. Need more? There is also a page of weblinks that leads you to more sites that cover all the futuristic fashion bytes.

photos by the Museum at FIT

Shoe Fetish! Samples Sales for Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:29:12 PDT

To the well-heeled ladies of New York...Gird your loins... Three epic shoe sales hit Gotham this month. Get your energy up, your queuing skills in order and the claws sharpened for stiletto hunting:

Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale:

Shoe fetish? Ladies get ready for the sale of the season... Shoes $100-$150. Boots $250. Cash only. Lines get insane, so block off a good chunk of time and arrive early!

When: Thursday, May 9, 2013, 9 AM-4 PM
Where: The Warwick Hotel, 65 West 54 Street (Corner of Sixth Avenue) 2nd Floor

Christian Louboutin Sample Sale:

International pop stars write songs about these gorgeous shoes. The red sole in itself is a modern fashion icon...
When: Monday, May 13 through Friday, May 17, 2012, Daily 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday. 9 AM to 3 PM
Where: 306 W. 38th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.)

Jimmy Choo Sample Sale:

This shoe label became a household name after being worshiped on Sexy & the City...

When: Tuesday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 8. Tues 2pm—6pm, Wed 9am—6pm.

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, fourth floor

Marchesa Bridal Spring 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:30:00 PDT

Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig's gowns are always the dresses of dreams. The red carpet staples look even better going down the aisle. The Marchesa spring 2014 bridal collection had classic, traditional silhouettes, but the construction or fabrication had a bit of a twist.

What looked like a fishtail strapless gown was actually taffeta twisted and spiraled around the body. A high/low ballgown shaped dress was actually a detachable taffeta peplum giving the bride multiple options.

Lace was a big feature, delicate, romantic beading on fitted corsets were shown. An ankle length dress had a circle lace that had dimensional tulle embellishments.

I'm hoping that Hollywood meets the chapel and I'll see some of these dresses on my favorite celeb in the next gossip magazine. With any luck, it will be a respectable event and sans naked crotch shot.

Photo by George Chinsee

Pratt Institute Fashion Show 2013 - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:14:46 PDT

Designers of avant-garde fashion will be my focus for the third part of the Pratt graduate fashion show. Raya Kassisieh designed an all-white collection of sculpted shapes that distorted the shape of the body. It looked futuristic, like they could be part of Princess Leia's wardrobe out of Star Wars. The clean lines and construction were beautifully executed.

Jefferson Musanda designed a very clean, graphic collection of black, grey and white. The collection of separates had a sporty, space aged look that was very wearable as a modern sportswear line. The trousers and peplum details was a nod to more traditional silhouettes with a updated execution.

A crisp, stiff shield was the accessory of choice for Simone Kurland's collection. The basic ivory and black collection featured easy, classic shapes in the jackets and dresses that included an asymmetrical overlay piece. The stiff piece was a contrast to the softer, more fluid garment underneath.

The big winner of the night was Madeline Gruen. She won the school's big award of $25000 and an additional equivalent in space, supplies and mentorship. Her collection featured a blue and cream palette with an antique toile print.

What made this collection standout was that she used very old, artisan techniques and applied them into new silhouettes. You can see an Elizabeth ruff used as a skirt in one look. Mens suits were hand embroidered with crystal and another woman's suit was embellished with fabric poufs along the back shoulder. The use of the toile print in modern silhouettes was also a fresh take on an old pattern.

Pratt Graduate Fashion Show - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:13:35 PDT

Part two of my coverage of the Pratt Institute's graduate fashion show focuses on the designers who brought ethnic influences and sculptured texture to their collections.

One of my favorites of the show had to be Debra Lin's group. There were some beautiful, elaborate prints mixed with the fur, exotic skins and the dramatic shoulders of a samurai. While the tribal and Asian influences were clear, they weren't literal. Individually, the tops, outerwear, pants, etc. were very wearable, chic pieces. Loved this!

Alleen Garboushian mixed beautiful prints together with crochet and knit embellishments for texture. The transparent tops mixed with thick, woolly loops and embroidery had an African vibe with the earth toned palette.

Paola Ricardo's sexy, body conscious looks were a showcase in all types of dimensional knit techniques. The sculpted shapes that followed the contours of the body in many ways had the effect of an Amazon warrior wearing the trophies of her kills (but in a chic way!)

Keep an eye out for these names, soon to take over a closet near you...

Pratt Graduate Fashion Show - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:14:44 PDT

The Pratt Institute celebrated its 114th graduate fashion show last night with an innovative fashion show. It was presented in the round with theatrical lighting. Vogue editor Hamish Bowles presented Pratt's Visionary Award to menswear icon Thom Browne.

Designer Macy Smith showed a witty collection in candyland colors. Big faux fur handbags and jackets were shown with wavy waisted pants. The embellishment of choice for dresses looked like eyeballs.

Hannah Ross had a contemporary global chic vibe to her collection. She used prints that looked vaguely tribal but had a marbleized effect. The basic pieces looked like comfortable knits. The jackets, capes and outerwear however had a very interesting modular quilted effect.

Kindall Almond had a serene color palette of grey, mint, silver and white. The designer had a sporty look, playing with sheers and cutouts.

Emma Hastil had the most colorful collection in the first third of the show. She mixed lots of bright prints together in easy, comfortable silhouettes for both and women.

photos by Mariana Leung

From Canvas to Costume

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:40:10 PDT

What a treat it was to listen to some of the top costume designers discuss their craft last night. Mad Men's Janie Bryant, Lion King's Julie Taymor and Catherine Zuber, 5 time Tony Award winner spoke at a lecture hosted by my alum from Parsons, Tim Gunn, better known as the mentor from Project Runway.

The discussion opened with Tim Gunn and the designers discussing the role the Metropolitan Museum of Art played in their lives and inspiration.

Julie Taymor recalled how she explored the African art galleries in the museum in doing her research for The Lion King. She loved the big tribal masks and seeing the bead work on the native costumes influenced her decision to use authentic bead techniques and real beads (as opposed to plastic costume beads) in the costumes for the Broadway Musical.

Both Catherine Zuber, Tim and Julie stressed the importance of seeing art and your inspiration in person. Don't fall victim to "Google-itis" warned Ms. Taymor. An internet image is no match for seeing the scale and being face to face with the "visual history of mankind".

Janie Bryant has influenced how many people dress today with her work in dressed the period drama Mad Men. She started as an art history major but found she was obsessed with fabrics. Her favorite painting is Jacques Louis David's The Coronation of Napoleon, (mainly for the fabulous ermine cape). She veered into fashion design then ended up as one of the most influential costume designers today. She describes her process for period dressing as starting with the script, the time period, dialogue first. She then researches shopping catalogs of the time period because they reflect what people actually purchased over fashion editorials. She loved the Metropolitan Museum's costume exhibitions as you can see significant clothing up close.

Tim Gunn also loves using period advertising when he researches fashion history for his books. He also expressed his appreciation for shapewear a la Mad Men for making people look great. His quote "Rocky foundation, rocky house" and "Comfort is overrated" made the audience laugh.

An interesting point that both Catherine Zuber and Julie Taymor both made was that limitations in designs equal freedom. That could mean anything from restrictions in budget to restrictions in movement. Julie sited an example about a traditional kimono sleeve only allowing the arms to raise to a certain level, or corsets to posture. This in turn added to the movement and behavior to a character for the performer. Catherine noted that the bigger the budget, the more people you had to answer to.
While the opening of The Lion King was a grandiose, big budget number, one of the most effective images from the show was a very inexpensive effect of a mouse shaped shadow puppet with a light on the wall...

So how has costume evolved into the fashion of today? Tim Gunn noted that my alma mater Parsons School of Design first opened the costume design department in 1906. At the time, the word "fashion" was not a noun, but a verb, "to fashion". People adorned themselves in a costume for the role they played in life. Now fashion design is what people wear, an seemingly, costume is what people see as art or theatre.

What do you think? How does art inspire YOU in what you wear?

Carolina Herrera Bridal 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:31:11 PDT

This has got to be one of my favorite wedding gowns of bridal week. This Carolina Herrera dress has a beautifully sculpted skirt that is fluted in in multiple cones, giving a new look to the popular fishtail silhouette. It reminded me of the famous clover gown of Charles James back in 1953 (I'm not that old, I just worshiped that gown in fashion history class). The gorgeous lace? An illusion. This was all hand-painted onto silk organza...

The clover fluted hem continued into a more flower shaped hem in another gown. There were several short dresses that had dramatically shaped seaming. If you like a menswear tailoring vibe in a feminine dress, there was a gown that was strapless, but had a lapel/jacket bodice that buttoned down the middle.

I usually don't think of Carolina Herrera as designing avant-garde fashion. She usually represents the regal, elegant choice. However, I believe the brides that came down this runway aisle will be leading the trends for weddings to come.

Photos by John Aquino

Theia Bridal 2014 - Blushing Brides

noreply@blogger.com (Mariana Leung) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:25:51 PDT

Romance is in the air from Don O'Neil's Theia Bridal Collection last week. The lovey dovey theme was shown in a very pretty use of the color blush pink. The color was worked in with delicate laser cut petals, frothy tulle, fabric flower embroidery and ostrich feathers.

There was one gown with a embroidered plaid that was fashion forward and a departure from your typical lacy bridal dress. Don has a great way of designing a wedding gown that is thoroughly feminine, but very modern where the woman looks like she is taking command and strong.

Not surprisingly, the dramatic bouquets the brides were carrying complemented the fashion perfectly. Why? They were created by longtime partner and collaborator Fleur de Pascal. An ideal marriage in every way!

photos courtesy of Theia Couture