Fashion Week New York 2011

Ally Hilfiger and Nary Manivong's NAHM Reinvents the Shirtdress

One of this year's most anticipated collection, NAHM, comes from an unlikely duo, Ally Hilfiger, of fashion royalty, and Nary Mavivong, who after living homeless as a teenager, pursued his lifelong dream of working in the fashion industry, a story that is told in the new documentary Dressed. The two have proven their worth as a young power duo, with enthusiasm and love of the craft that shows vividly in their Fall 2011 collection.

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Betsey Johnson to Show Runway Dresses on Real Girls

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Last year, Marc Jacobs grabbed headlines when he picked a couple of girls off the street to walk his runway show. He just loved their style, much to the envy of wannabe models everywhere. This year Betsey Johnson takes it a step further. How much further? Luxist has the scoop.

We spoke to the amazingly down-to-earth designer at the Diet Pepsi lounge at Lincoln Center this morning, where she stopped by for a brief meet-and-greet. Dressed in her lucky studded New York belt, a draped Alexander McQueen scarf, and quintessential red lipstick, Betsey Johnson was full of a shocking amount of energy after her long week leading up to the tents.

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Raul Melgoza Shares his Inspiration for Luca Luca's Fall Collection at Fashion Week (Exclusive)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Raul Melgoza, the Creative Director at Luca Luca whose Fall 2011 Collection will debut at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York next week, is not your run-of-the-mill fashion designer. Not by a long shot.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Melgoza has a resume that would likely impress the suits on Wall Street just as much as the creative types in the fashion industry.

After earning a degree in finance from University of Southern California, Melgoza worked for American Express's financial advisory division before taking a position with the U.S. Treasury. But he has known since he was a young boy that he would one day end up in fashion.

"When I was seven or so, I remember watching an episode of the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach that featured Oscar de la Renta," Melgoza told Luxist. "Being of Latin descent, I immediately felt connected to this man and to this world that I did not know existed."

Later on, while attending business school, Melgoza took a marketing class and became aware that he could converge his interest in art and design and his knowledge of commerce. "That led me to research design schools," he recalls. "I knew that business was just a foundation and that I didn't want to do it for the rest of my life."

Gallery: Luca Luca's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Raul Melgoza, Creative Director at Luca Luca

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Fashion Next Designers Celebrated at W Times Square with Music by Alexandra Richards

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Last night, W Hotels celebrated what's new and next in fashion with an event at the W Times Square that celebrated the W Hotels Fall 2011 Fashion Next designers Tess Giberson, Michael Angel, Amanda Ross (W Hotels Global Fashion Director), Mandy Coon, Frank Tell, and Mara Hoffman (see photo above).

Alexandra Richards (seen below), daughter of Patti Hansen and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, served as the guest DJ. The statuesque blond, who is an actress and model in addition to being a professional DJ, was a great fit for the event which celebrated the rising stars of the fashion world.

Fashion Next is a program of W Hotels that fosters and supports emerging designers during fashion week and beyond. In addition to partnering with W Hotels during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Fashion Next designers will travel to W Hotels globally for exclusive trunk shoes, design limited-edition pieces for W's next Global Glam fashion and accessories collection, and collaborate with W on other fashion projects through the season.

Luxist had the opportunity to speak with a few of the Fashion Next designers about their Fall 2011 collections, including Mandy Coon, Michael Angel and Tess Giberson. Each described their inspiration, the materials and color schemes they used for their collections and much more.

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Tory Burch Pre-Fall 2011 Collection Preview (Exclusive)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Shoes, Luxury Shopping

Tory Burch's Pre-Fall 2011 Collection Preview

Luxist was invited to the Tory Burch showroom at the designer's Manhattan headquarters yesterday to preview her "Pre-Fall" 2011 collection.

In designing the collection, Burch was inspired by Parisian chic with global influences. The collection includes texture and prints mixed together. There are stripes, florals, ikat and a heart motif found throughout the line from the dresses to the blouses, jackets and shorts. The color palette of neutrals, navy, white, and pops of red, ties the looks together.

The Pre-Fall line features fluid dresses, wrap dresses, sweater dresses and lightweight blouses as well as cropped tailored pants (as seen above) and a beautiful trench coat with a detachable shearling collar. The suede collection, which includes dresses and jackets, are especially impressive, and look sharp when layered. For example, a suede short-sleeved dress is paired with a short sleeved striped blouse, with only the blouse's sleeves and collar showing.

Indeed, everything is meant to be layered, as it is a theme found throughout much of the collection. This was done to make the pieces easy to wear in the summer and then into the fall.

Gallery: Tory Burch Pre-Fall 2011 Collection Preview