CFDA

The Fashion Statement: Obama Weathers Storm, Book Praises Style

Michelle Obama has weathered the sartorial storm.

Late last week on Good Morning America, she faced her critics: "Look, women, wear what you love. That's all I can say. That's my motto. I wear what I like because...I gotta be in the dress, so..."

Next week, she will be lauded for connecting with everyday Americans by her attainable style in a book by Kate Betts, Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style (Clarkson Potter, February 8, 2011).

If you haven't been keeping track, here's what all the fuss was about: Weeks after the First Lady wore an Alexander McQueen gown (pictured above) to a state dinner honoring Chinese president Hu Jintao, her fashion choice had grown into a full-blown kerfuffle. Some blogs were even calling it McQueengate.

From a fashion point of view, most critics agreed it was a slam dunk (the color red is auspicious in Chinese culture). From a political viewpoint, several U.S. designers-Oscar de la Renta and Diane Von Furstenberg, in particular-voiced disapproval that she donned a British, instead of American, label on an evening that was supposed to promote American Chinese trade.

Tags: Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, CFDA, Diane Von Furstenburg, Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style, Kate betts, Michelle Obama, Oscar de la Renta

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Moss Lipow, Genius of Eyewear Design

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Moss Lipow (above), the avant-garde eyewear designer whose celebrity fans include David Bowie, M.I.A., Elton John and the Olsen Twins, was recently named a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, the first eyewear designer to be so honored. He appears in the November issue of Vogue photographed by Norman Jean Roy with Victoria's Secret stunners Jessica Stam (left) and Caroline Trentini (right) sporting his unique creations. "Moss really found a way to make eyewear and sunglasses creative again," Stam tells Vogue in a video documenting the shoot, "and for that he's really a genius." Describing Lipow's innovative designs Vogue notes their look "suggests the wearer is shielding superpowers from mere mortals." The New York-based designer is also working on an authoritative history of eyewear, replete with 1200 images from his museum-quality collection of vintage and antique pieces, as well as examples of his own incredible custom creations, to be published by Taschen next year.

Tags: Caroline Trentini, CFDA, designer, eyewear, Jessica Stam, models, Moss Lipow, sunglasses, Vogue

Inside the Homes of American Fashion Designers

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Decor, Books, Celebrity Design, Architecture & Design

Assouline has released the latest luxe edition in its American Fashion series, dedicated to the top-drawer designers who are members of the prestigious CFDA. American Fashion Designers at Home showcases the personal spaces of more than 100 fashionistas, including Diane von Furstenburg, Oscar de la Renta, Cynthia Rowley and Kate Spade. While some designer dwellings are extensions of the sensibilities embodied by their apparel collections, others exhibit a marked contrast. The domiciles range from studio apartments to sprawling estates, but all are linked by a keen aesthetic sense. Included are Carolina Herrera's grand Louis XV–influenced New York apartment; Betsey Johnson's girly glamourpuss garret; Ralph Lauren's luxuriously rustic Colorado ranch; Donna Karan's tranquil Turks & Caicos getaway; Tommy Hilfiger's over-the-top Greenwich mansion; Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa's ultra-modern Manhattan aerie; and Johann Lindeberg's converted Greenwich Village factory (on the book's cover, above). Check out the gallery for a preview of Randolph Duke's Hollywood spread (which he recently sold for $5.3 million), David Chu's chic digs and more.

Gallery: American Fashion Designers at Home

Tags: Assouline, books, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, CFDA, coffe table books, Colorado, David Chu, decor, designer, Diane von Furstenburg, Donna Karan, estates, fashion, fashion design, fashion designers, Greenwich Village, interior design, Kate Spade, New York, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Randolph Duke, Turks Caicos

Vogue CFDA Sunglasses Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry

Summer is starting and it's time for some new sunglasses. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Luxottica have teamed up with designers Devi Kroell, Kara Ross and Matt Murphy to create a limited edition Vogue Eyewear Collection. The collection marks the first time that each of these designers has designed sunglasses. The collection is launching this month exclusively at Sunglass Hut and each style will retail for $129.95.

Shown above are the Devi Kroell Whip sunglasses. The Whip has a modern safari look with a snakeskin texture in a creamy ivory shade with gold-toned mirrored lenses and metal accents on the nose bridge. Two more designs and a video after the jump.

Tags: CFDA, Devi Kroell, EyeWear, Kara Ross, luxottica, Matt Millen, summer, Sunglass Hut, vogue

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The Fashion Statement: International Women's Day

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Big names in fashion and music are hoping to bring more attention to International Women's Day that- although a United Nations-supported holiday-gets less PR than Columbus Day. IWD falls on Monday, March 8, which is a designated time to celebrate the social economic and political achievements of women.

Diane von Furstenberg, fashion designer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), is putting out Proud to be Woman, a compilation CD to benefit Vital Voices, an organization dedicated to empowering women worldwide. The CD features female artists such as Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige, Estelle, Bebel Gilberto, Christina Aguilera, Angelique Kidjo, Mozella and Annie Lenox, among others. The CD goes for $15.99 (proceeds will benefit Vital Voices) and will be sold at DVF boutiques worldwide, dvf.com and on iTunes at itunes.com/dvf.

DVF boutiques will also host two events: Estelle is expected to attend the March 8 party in New York. Another event will be held on March 16 in Los Angeles with Mozella slated to appear. There will also be a Proud to be Woman tote bag, for $35. From March 8 to March 15, some10 percent of the sales will go to Vital Voices.

What's better than shopping and doing some good along the way?

Tags: CFDA, Diane von Furstenberg, DianeVonFurstenberg, International Womens Day, InternationalWomensDay, Mary J. Blige, MaryJ.Blige, Proud to be Woman, ProudToBeWoman

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Bid Now on Designer Customized Barbies!

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity

Mattel has come out with a new concept for Barbie, teaching little girls early on in life that what every woman really needs is the perfect little black dress. Most women would agree with the company and most likely the all new Barbie Basics™ Collection will be a resounding success. Mattel has paired up with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to celebrate the launch of the dolls which are wearing little black dresses and come with accessory kits.

Who better to inspire budding pre-teen designers than some of the big names themselves. Twelve of the CFDA fashion and accessories designers have created one-of-a-kind Barbies that showcase their unique talents and tastes. These Barbie dolls are currently up for auction on eBay and all net proceeds will go to support CFDA's educational initiatives and scholarship program. The designers include Issac Mizrahi, Betsey Johnson, Rachel Roy, Justin Giunta, Lorraine Schwartz, Alex Bittar, Monica Botkier, Deborah Lloyd of Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Albertus Swanepoei, Philip Crangi and Devi Kroell. The dolls went up for auction on January 28th and will be available to bid on through February 7th.

As of January 31rst some of the bids were up to as much $3,500 for Lorraine Schwartz's Barbie with Diamonds followed by the Kate Spade Barbie at $800. For those who don't have the funds to bid on the designer e-bay Barbies, Mattel will be giving away one of the new Barbie Basic dolls and accessory pack on Twitter from February 1st - 16th.

Gallery: CFDA Barbie Auction

Tags: Auction, barbie, barbie basics, barbie doll, BarbieBasics, BarbieDoll, CFDA, eBay, Issac Mizrahi, IssacMizrahi, Mattel, Tory Burch, ToryBurch

The Fashion Statement: Book 'Em!

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

What do you get people who have everything? A very stylish coffee table book, of course! A bevy of beautiful tomes have been published in 2009 on everything from fashion designers' favorite recipes to those who've been accused of Russian espionage. Here are a few that caught our eye.

American Fashion Cookbook: 100 Designer's Best Recipes (Assouline, $45). The Council of Fashion Designers of America book of cooking recipes with a forward by Martha Stewart and text by Lisa Marsh. Check out Isaac Mizrahi's Mushroom Truffle spaghetti, Mark Ecko's "Adults Only" Chocolate Chip Cookies and John Varvatos' Calaloo Soup.

Resort Fashion: Style in Sun-Drenched Climates by Caroline Rennolds Milbank (Rizzoli, New York, $65) with a forward by Amy Fine Collins. From Chanel's beach pajamas to sailor stripes, this is a visual history of color, ease and playfulness that resort fashion is all about.

Russian Style by Evelina Khromtchenko (Assouline, $60). From Erte and Faberge to Lolita and Anna Karenina, leaf through photographs and witty stories about the elements of Russian style and culture that have influenced the world.

Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity by Kohle Yohannan (Rizzoli, New York, $75) with a forward by Harold Koda and preface by Phyllis Magidson. Some 250 photographs and research tell the rags-to-riches story of the Ukrainian-born beauty by the same name who shot to the top of American fashion design (pictured above). Valentina is a forgotten part of American fashion history but her stories are incredible. Some said she was a Russian spy. Others claimed she arrived in the U.S. as a dancer in Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. She herself maintained she was a duchess in exile. She apparently lied about everything but was devastatingly chic and brilliant at capturing the public's attention.

100 Contemporary Fashion Designers by Terry Jones (Taschen, $59.99). Perfect for the Project Runway addict in your life, this is a two-volume compilation of today's fashion superstars, up-and-coming talents and the stars of the future.

20th Century Fashion: 100 Years of Apparel Ads by Alison A. Nieder (Taschen, $39.99) Full disclosure: I used to share an office with Nieder when we both wrote for fashion news trade California Apparel News in Los Angeles. Nieder now heads up the paper and has come out with a very fun, nostalgic look at the ads of modern fashion-from high-end to mass market.

Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour by Louise Baring with contributions from Grace Coddington and Jerry Hall (Rizzoli, New York, $65). Not exactly a household name, but Norman Parkinson was one of fashion's most influential taste-makers from the '30s to the '80s having served under Alexander Lieberman and Diana Vreeland at American Vogue among other publications. This is a must for photography and fashion legacy enthusiasts.

Tags: CFDA, coffee table books, CoffeeTableBooks, Norman Parkinson, NormanParkinson, Valentina

American Men's Fashion, Then & Now

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books, Men's Style

Luxury publisher Assouline and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have come out with a new book called American Fashion Menswear, billed as "the most authoritative and exciting book to date on the evolution of menswear in the United States over the past century. " The book begins by noting that the individualists and adventurers who settled America required garments that were functional and well-designed in order to survive the challenges of a new environment; those qualities continue to endure at the very heart of American menswear. Author Robert E. Bryan has divided the volume into seven different sections based upon the diverse identities of the American man, covering everything "Levi Strauss to the Ivy League, lounge suits to Zoot suits, and cowboys to counterculture," with cameos from the likes of Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Ralph Lauren and more.

Tags: Assouline, CFDA, designer, fashion, menswear

Jason Wu's Night Out at Satine

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Tuesday night designer Jason Wu presented his ladylike Spring collection at L.A.'s Satine Boutique, the one West coast spot to score exclusive designs from Wu.

Co-hosted by Lucy Liu and MySpace Fashion, the evening teemed with Wu fans including Kate Mara (at right with the designer), January Jones, Erica Christensen, Rachel Zoe and China Chow -- a host of chic stylesetters eager to praise the young designer.

And no wonder -- Wu explained to us where his inspiration comes from: "I love working with young actresses who are just on the verge. It's always good to have a muse."

Jason Wu is a CFDA finalist whose collection can be found at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, and of course Satine.

Source

Tags: cfda, jason wu, JasonWu, kate mara, KateMara, lucy liu, LucyLiu, satine

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