The Fashion Statement

The Fashion Statement: British Fashion Awards

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Dec 9th 2010 at 9:00AM

All eyes were on the Savoy Hotel and Theatre in London this week, where the 2010 British Fashion Awards took place on Tuesday night. Here are the highlights:

Phoebe Philo (pictured above with Bianca Jagger) earned the British Designer of the Year award for her role as creative director of Celine. She is currently driving the industry with her understated take on minimalism.

The British Style award went to fashion's It girl Alexa Chung (pictured below with Bryan Ferry) for embodying the spirit of London and being and helping to establish London as a fashion capital. If you don't know who Chung is, you will. The New York Times in a story a few weeks ago called "The Making of Fashion's Latest 'It' Girl," called her the most famous person you've never heard of. She's a huge star in England -- the award was decided by public vote -- and a muse for fashion people. She's also highly revered in the blogosphere.

Victoria Beckham, who was nominated for the Designer Brand award, lost out to British handbag maker Mulberry. Jetting in from L.A., where she now lives, the spice girl said she was proud to be British and proud just to be nominated.

Tags: alexa chung, alexander mcqueen, british fashion awards, bryan ferry, burberry, fashion, lara stone, naomi campbell, phoebe philo

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Louis Vuitton Focuses On Work With Tattoo Artist Scott Campbell For Spring/Summer 2011 Fashions

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Dec 4th 2010 at 8:01AM

Louis Vuitton called upon the talents of New York based tattoo artist Scott Campbell work with the famous French brand on their June 2010 runway show in Paris at the start of last summer. That wasn't the first Campbell has worked with Louis Vuitton - but recent news points to the fact that their Spring/Summer 2011 lines will focus on the aesthetic of Mr. Campbell. As a promo to the "lifestyle" behind his designs, Louis Vuitton will be issuing a series of videos that follow Campbell around to various "secret destinations." All part of putting life into the new collection. Will there be a Scott Campbell watch? That would be interesting. Here he is seen wearing one of Louis Vuitton's rare, but quite cool Tambour collection timepieces. You can see more about Louis Vuitton and Scott Campbell's work together here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: design, fashion, louis vuitton, runway, scott campbell

The Fashion Statement: Fashion's Priciest Coffee Table Books

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Dec 2nd 2010 at 9:00AM

What to get the stylish woman who has everything? (And let's just say you've exhausted gifts like precious gems, haute couture and yacht excursions to St. Barths) Well, then, what about a super collectible, really expensive fashion coffee table book? Here, a list of some of the priciest tomes out there.

1. Couture Fashion Drawings by Hubert de Givenchy, published by the house of Givenchy, Paris, in 1980: This is signed by the late designer himself and includes hand-colored haute couture fashion sketch plates from the period of the '70s to the '80s including original fabric swatches. The book was part of the Estate of Nan Kempner, a New York socialite who died in 2005. Price tag? $9,000

2. Valentino Garavani (hardcover) by Suzy Menkes, Matt Tyrnauer and Armando Chitolina, published by Taschen in 2007: This is the coffee table book version of Valentino: The Last Emperor, a documentary film by Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer. It's an homage to Valentino's legendary career and includes images from his archives, drawings, advertisements, portraits, documentary photographs as well as newspaper and magazine articles. International Herald Tribune's fashion writer Suzy Menkes interviewed 20 of Valentino's closest collaborators and friends, including his life partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Price tag? $4,500

3. Russell James (hardcover deluxe edition with Gisele Bundchen photoprint) with forwards by Heidi Klum, Donna Karan, and Sharen Turney, published by teNeues in 2009: Who wouldn't pay big bucks to Gisele in the buff? This book highlights the work of Russell James, a photographer who is well-known for his nudes and fashion portraiture. The volume is encased in a clamshell box and contains one of only two numbered and signed limited-edition large prints that show his study of human beauty. Price tag? $3,250

Tags: Anna Wintour, giancarlo giammetti, gisele bundchen, Givenchy, grace coddington, Matt Tyrnauer, Nan Kempner, pierre berge, Russell James, Suzy Menkes, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent

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The Fashion Statement: Lanvin for eBay, I mean H&M

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Nov 23rd 2010 at 8:01AM

Yeah, I did it. Early Saturday morning, I hauled myself out of bed and headed downtown to stand outside in the freezing cold for hours...just to get my hands on a Lanvin for H&M dress. I was in Washington, D.C., and that was good, I thought. The collection was going to be in only one store in the D.C/Maryland/Virginia area. Still, I'd have better odds at F. Street, NW, than on 5th Avenue in New York or the Bev Center in L.A.

An H&M saleswoman told me that the store would open by 8 a.m. and if I got there between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., I should be okay. I arrived at 6 a.m. and was within the first 80 people. Not bad, I thought. I'll definitely get my hands on the dress I want. This is totally worth it.

Just before 8 a.m., they handed out colored wristbands and canvas gift bags containing a Lanvin for H&M scarf. Very nice. Each color wristband would allow 20 people at a time to shop the collection. They'd have 15 minutes. I was in the fourth group which would get me in by 9 a.m. Security everywhere. Very organized. Impressive.

Then the doors opened and, literally, all hell broke loose. Like Supermarket Sweep, people rushed the back corner where the collection was cordoned off, got through the metal barricades and started grabbing. The guards insisted nobody got in before their appointed time. But by the time order was restored and I got in, the collection was completely gone. I actually did walk away with a dress but only because it was too small for someone else.

H&M ostensibly enforces "a limit of purchasing a maximum of two pieces per product, i.e. not more than two sizes or pieces per product per customer." They're most likely trying to discourage people from flipping the merchandise for a profit. Lot of good that did them. I saw an army of guys walk out with armloads of dresses, T-shirts and shoes. You're telling me they're preparing for a New Year's Eve party?

Sure enough, Lanvin for H&M is a hot ticket on eBay. Page after page is filled with dresses and T-shirts. At the store, most dresses were tagged $199. On eBay, "buy it now" options are reaching $700!

As a Facebook friend put it: Lanvin should have just created a collection for eBay.

Did any of you go? Tell us your Lanvin for H&M story.

Tags: eBay, HM, Lanvin

The Fashion Statement: Google's Fashion Engine

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Nov 18th 2010 at 9:00AM

Who among us hasn't typed in "nude stiletto" in a search engine box and gotten back enough Lucite heels to make a stripper swoon? Well, things are looking up. Yesterday, Google launched Boutiques.com, and it greatly improves the search process when you're shopping for fashion items online.

Google posted the back story on its blog: "A year and half ago, our team (which at the time was part of Like.com) started to wonder if we could create a better experience for people to shop online. We jokingly called ourselves the computer nerds and fashion nerds (and a few of us were both). So, we set out to create a new way to browse, discover and shop for soft goods online."

The site uses visual search technology developed by Like.com (which Google acquired in August) using images to drive the search rather than text typed into a search box. You can teach the site your style by either taking a quiz or sifting through images while hitting "More My Style" tabs. When you're finished creating your own "boutique," it then helps filter out items you dislike and adds more of what you'd like. It's kind of a Pandora for fashionistas.

Tags: Boutiques.com, BryanBoy, Carey Mulligan, ginnifer goodwin, Google, lauren conrad, Los Angeles Times, online shopping, Susie Bubble

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The Fashion Statement: Indonesian Designer Meets First Lady

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Nov 11th 2010 at 9:00AM

This was a big week for Indonesian fashion designers. Not only did the President Obama make a stop in Jakarta, but he touched down right in the middle of Jakarta's fashion week. While the President was praising the ideals of democracy and development at the University of Indonesia, local designers were sending a parade of pieces down the runways hoping to establish Jakarta as a fashion hub in Asia. Backed by the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association, the goal is to catapult Indonesian designers to the international stage. So far they've mostly had success at home. Until now...

The Jakarta Globe reported this week that one designer hit the jackpot. Priyo Oktaviano snagged a chance to present the U.S. First Lady with one of his designs, a face-to-face meeting most stateside designers would KILL for! Oktaviano, who worked for Balenciaga early on in his career and is known for quirky and edgy designs, said he was contacted only six days prior to the meeting. He had one day to make a dress and a coat and he looked up Mrs. Obama's size on the Internet.

Tags: Indonesia, Jakarta Fashion Week, Mrs. Obama, President Obama, Priyo Oktaviano, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham Dresses

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Bertolucci Forza Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Nov 10th 2010 at 12:01PM

Bertolucci timepieces almost always amuse and inspire me. Models like this make me want to wear them as well. This automatic mechanical chronograph model in the Forza collection is a cherry in the range, and features a Swiss Soprod 2025 automatic chronograph movement. It comes with a black or silver toned dial (with other color elements as well), and is actually among the cheaper pieces available in the Forza collection.

The case is 45mm wide in steel with a PVD black coating and a unique case design that hints at something "just a bit different." This is the typical Bertolucci way of doing things. Note the "different" style of the chronograph pushers as well as the shape of the lugs. Models like this seem to imbue an organic quality into the style of traditional sport watches. On the dial I like the placement of the date window with the little red ring. It goes with the red on the chronograph subdials. On the black dialed version the subsidiary seconds dial is in silver tone, with that dial being in black on the other model.

Dagger style hands are sharply angular and provide a major visual contrast from the organic curves of the case and rest of the dial. Price for this Bertolucci Forza Chronograph is $4,250 on a rubber strap. Look for it out now.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 1394.51.42.108D7.901, 1394.51.42.508ED.901, bertolucci, chronograph, forza

The Fashion Statement: What are These Guys Doing in Fashion?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Nov 4th 2010 at 9:00AM

What is the "Fashion Capital of the World," you ask? Paris? New York? Mayor Bloomberg is leaving nothing up to chance.

This week, the New York Mayor (pictured above with Diane von Furstenberg) announced six initiatives to give the $55 billion industry a boost. After a yearlong look study, the city is starting an NYC Fashion Fund to help emerging designers get capital and support services. Another initiative, Project Pop-up, will be an annual competition to promote and foster new and unique retail concepts. The New York City Fashion Draft will recruit fashion students to get into fashion management. Fashion Campus NYC will offer business seminars to summer interns led by industry executives. New York City Fashion Fellows will honor 30 rising stars in fashion business (the business side of the business often gets overshadowed by the creative side in award ceremonies). Finally, there will be a Designer as Entrepreneur program that will help emerging designers with the business side of things by teaching them how to draft business plans, their financial management and how to participate in e-commerce.

Whew! It's a lot to take in. We can only hope it helps New York's Garment District that has been decimated by production going overseas.

Tags: Bloomberg, Chad Hurley, ForbesMagazine, Garment District, Hlaska, New York City, Silicon Valley, YouTube

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Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW Red Gold Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Nov 1st 2010 at 12:01PM

Not a lot of innovation from our friends at Jaquet Droz these days as the brand is sort of lacking in directorship at the moment. I look forward to when a new person steps in to lead the high-potential brand. Though their Grande Seconde SW (Sport Watch) gets an all gold treatment that is quite flattering to the design. The large case is now in 18k rose gold - and the automatic movement has a white gold rotor. The luxury feel of the smooth, polished golden lines of this less than mainstream faux sport watch are undeniable. It has a designer flair with a name that speaks to a different client than the majority of brands that offer such pieces. Of amusement is the original name of the watch which was "SUW" - which was meant to stand for "Sport Utility Watch." Amusing indeed. I wrote more extensively about this piece here, and (at least in steel) it comes in a chronograph version as well. Look for this 18k red gold version of the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW watch soon. Price is $26,000.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: gold, grande seconde, jaquet droz, watch

The Fashion Statement: Hells Angels V. Alexander McQueen

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Oct 28th 2010 at 9:00AM

When would Hells Angels and Alexander McQueen be used in the same sentence? Before yesterday I would have said when hell freezes over.

But Wednesday, the notoriously aggressive biker gang you see in barroom brawls targeted another enemy: the fashion industry. Hells Angels filed a suit in California federal court claiming that Alexander McQueen and retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos.com are selling four-finger rings, clutches and clothing featuring the motorcycle club's "Deathhead" skull and wings logo. The Hells Angels skull and wings logo has been around since 1948 and that's a trademark infringement, the club maintains.

Saks.com had been selling McQueen's "Hells Four-Finger Ring" for $495, but the retailer took the ring off the site when news of the suit broke. On Net-A-Porter.com, you can still find McQueen's "Hells Knuckleduster Box Clutch" selling for $2,325.

Tags: alexander mcqueen, Hells An, Net-a-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, zappos.com

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The Fashion Statement: Fashion's First Lady

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Oct 21st 2010 at 9:00AM

We know the First Lady has style. But did you know she was responsible for $2.7 billion in fashion sales at the height of the recession?

In a story published this week by the Harvard Business Review, Michelle Obama made more than 189 public appearances clothed in 29 brands between November, 2008, and December, 2009. After each of those appearances, fashionistas ran out to buy something from whatever label she wore, generating an average of $14 million in sales. This in turn affected the company's stock price which sometimes remained at an elevated level for weeks.

A celebrity's power is nothing new to the fashion world. But it turns out Michelle Obama is the holy grail of celebrity endorsements.

The HBR interviewed David Yermack, professor at NYU's Stern School, who found that following 18 of Mrs. Obama's public appearances, sales of whatever fashion brand or designer she chose to wear shot up 2.3 percent. A celebrity endorser-one like Sarah Jessica Parker for Halston, for instance-might only account for a 0.5 percent rise in sales. Not even other first ladies hold this kind of sway. The article pointed out that French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy sticks with one label-Dior-and most people can't afford the brand. Mrs. Obama, by contrast, mixes designer clothing with accessible brands like J. Crew.

Tags: carla bruni-sarkozy, David Yermack, Harvard Business Review, J. Crew, Michelle Obama

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The Fashion Statement: It's Always Fashion Week Somewhere

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Oct 14th 2010 at 9:00AM

When you think of fashion week, you think of the big four-New York, London, Milan and Paris. That's the cities where the biggies like Marc Jacobs, Lanvin and Yves Saint Laurent unveil their collections. And press from major publications jump from city to city following this glittery pack.

But did you know there was a fashion week in Washington, D.C. last month? Don't laugh. There's another one going on right now in Houston. There's even one being held this week in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. According to various tallies on the Internet, about 140 fashion weeks take place each year. From places like Omaha and Kansas City to Warsaw and Zagreb, multiple fashion weeks are going on in the world at any one time. There's always fashion week somewhere.

Houston's getting some exposure thanks to some big names, Texas style. Lauren Bush staged the first fashion show for her year-and-a-half-old Lauren Pierce collection, (pictured below) a line that uses artisan and eco fabrics. George Sr. and Barbara Bush (pictured above) turned out for the event, proudly snapping pictures of their granddaughter from where they sat on the front row.

Tags: Barbara Bush, D.C. Fashion Week, George Bush Sr., Lauren Bush, Los Angeles Fashion Week

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The Fashion Statement: Paris Wraps It Up

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Oct 7th 2010 at 9:00AM

Last but definitely not least. Paris provided the grand finale this week to a string of fashion weeks around the globe that began in New York early September.

While not quite as colorful as their Italian counterparts, Parisian designers delivered collections consistent their houses' heritages. In other words, each brands' fans will be happy. Some of the highlights:

Alexander McQueen was one of the most anticipated shows of the season. It was the first full collection for Sarah Burton who was thrust into the head designer role when the designer committed suicide earlier this year. The verdict? There were stunners such as the ombrè gown pictured above as well as white low-rise pants with two buckles on each hip and sculptural dresses. It's not quite the same anger, beauty or arty story that has always defined the label. But how can it be? I would hate to be Burton who must be burdened with endless comparisons to the late genius.

Chanel's show was darker and more deconstructed than usual. Black dresses looked they had been eaten by moths, edges were tattered, and there were much less fussy versions of the signature Chanel suit. Ines de la Fressange modeled my favorite piece-a black sheer floor-length gown with a cutaway skirt that revealed a slimmer skirt underneath. The gown's blouson featured heavy black stripes reminiscent of Maori tribal tattoos.

Tags: alexander mcqueen, chanel, ines de la fressange, Louis Vuitton, marc jacobs, paris fashion week, sarah burton, valentino, valenton gharavani

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The Fashion Statement: Italians Do It Better?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Sep 30th 2010 at 9:00AM

Milan is delivering the most exciting fashion weeks in years. Fashion critics have been giving rave reviews to Italian designers saying that, for the most part, the collections have been inspired.

One of the more subdued shows of the week, Giorgio Armani (pictured above), presented a spring/summer 2011 collection of entirely navy blue and black--not exactly the most spring/summery of colors. No matter, the fitted double breasted blazers, one-shouldered gowns and skirts over sheer leggings were stunning. Even more interesting: His models were turned out in turbans and veils.

Tags: aquilano.rimondi, chignon, dolce gabbana, etro, GorgioArmani, gucci, Milan fashion week, Missoni, prada, pucci, Versus

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The Fashion Statement: The Flock Hops the Pond

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) — Sep 23rd 2010 at 9:00AM

New York is still recovering from fashion week and, less than a week later, London fashion week has already come and gone. There's a lot to talk about.

Jude Law sat front row at Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve show because he loves her, the actor told WWD. Designer Matthew Williamson also sat front row (Miller returned the favor and warmed the front row for Williamson). Miller, who designs the line with her sister Savannah, sent out lace, embroidery, prints and color designed for a girl on a journey from Mexico to Thailand circa 1950. The collection was inspired by Joni Mitchell's "Don Juan's reckless daughter" album.

Tags: Anna Wintour, Burberry Prorsum, Jonathan Saunders, London Fashion Week, Mary Kantrantzou, Mathew Williamson, Twenty8Twelve

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