Boston Fashion Industry.com - The Blog

13th Annual 2009 ACE Awards Presented by the Accessories Council - Arrivals

Accessories designers and retailers got their due as the Accessories Council presented the 13th Annual ACE Awards. Some of the top names of the fashion industry came out to the show with top designer Diana Von Furstenberg winning the Accessory Visionary Award. Other winners included Christoper Bailey who won the Brand of the Year Award for Burberry and Tomas Maier for Designer of the Year. Retailer awards went to Zappos.com and Gilt Group. V Magazine scored the Magazine of the Year Award. Even Barbie (the doll) was honored with the Fashion Icon Award.

Notable attendees for the evening included Marc Jacobs, Betsy Johnson, Nina Garcia, Agyness Deyn, Christian Siriano (sporting a bag half his size), Alexander Wang, Erin Wasson, Molly Sims, Hillary Rhoda and Lady Gaga. The talk of the evening went to Lady Gaga and her flair for fashion that won her the Accessories Council's Stylemaker Award. At the end of Lady Gaga's speech, she reminds us all that the most important accessory to have is the condom. What are the odds the "condom" will be an award winner for next year?

Chado Ralph Rucci - Runway - Spring 2010 MBFW

It was the collection that had all of the top magazine editors buzzing (that means you Mr.Talley). Chado Ralph Rucci put on a wonderful show and in my opinion, one of the best collections of this past Mercedes Benz Spring 2010 New York Fashion Week, a fashion week that seemed to lack a certain something since the departure of a few designers to the new venue at Milk Studios. The quality of Mr. Rucci's works can rival the couture houses of Europe and he's always been a favorite of the very well to do. This latest collection had so many wonderful pieces. I especially loved the dresses with prints inspired by works of classical antiquities. There's no doubt in my mind that orders were made immediately after his show.  We will most surely see quite a few of Mr. Rucci's designs being worn to the best parties the New York social scene has to offer, for next spring

It's hard to believe that this is just Christian Siriano's third collection shown at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. It seems like he's been around longer. With a new found sponsor in Payless to help pay the bills, he's sure to be around a while. For Spring of 2010, Chrisitan gives us more of the ruffled, pleated and manipulated fabric, glamorous evening gowns that have become his signature look (along with matching hats) that his fans and clients love. It's that same look that helped boost him to the top of Project Runway two seasons ago. But Christian is growing as a designer and this time around he's giving us a fuller collection with suits, separates and short dresses to go along with the red carpet gowns (there's even a body suit). He's also exploring the use of bold prints and bold colors with some stunning if not interesting results. Fans and celebrity friends alike loved the infusion of prints and colors so there's a strong possibility of seeing more of their use for the next collection.

It's no secret that Marchesa is tops on the list of many celebrity stylists; they just make drop dead gorgeous dresses, the kind that makes bold statements at say, the Oscar's red carpet. I love Marchesa. I can't get enough of their beautiful work and their gowns shown at the Chelsea Art Museum during Mercedes Benz New York Fashon Week were no exceptions. Nearly every piece was ready for a red carpet moment. It's not a question of if but when we'll see those beauties on display and on whom. I'm thinking Rachel Zoe already has an A-Lister of two lined up. I can't wait to find out who'll be wearing Marchesa next.

Taking center stage at the new fashion venue at Milk Studios, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez thrilled all those in attendance with a fun, flirty, and joyously colorful Spring 2010 collection. Bright psychedelic colors were on display in cool hues of blues and greens with touches of yellow and violet mixed in. I liken the color palette to a psychedelic ocean. The materials on most pieces were a mix of feathers and sequines creating interesting effects. Prints were reminiscent of 60's tye-dye but without all the rainbow colors. Buyers loved what they saw, so it's a good bet that you'll see a lot of Proenza Schouler in the shops next Spring if not on actresses and models first.

At the opening ceremony of the 66th Venice Film Festival, Eva Mendes delighted all the fans on the Baaria Red Carpet by wear a stunning red leopard print gown by Dolce & Gabbana. Eva is wearing a string of red carpet hits this season and this gown no exception. She kept her look simple by wearing a small diamond bracelet and an intriguing black jeweled headpiece. The dress was the center of attention and rightly so.

Eva was at the festival to help promote her latest film "Bad Lieutenant" with her co-star Nicholas Cage. The next festival will be in Toronto on Sept 15th and you can be sure that Eva will once again delight the crowds with her red carpet fashions.

Ultra hip retailer Opening Ceremony has just opened a new flagship store in Tokyo. The store will no doubt be a major hit in Japan with its unique blend of worldly and avant garde designs. It also doesn't hurt that the store will draw its fair share of celebrities looking for unique togs.

Celebrating the store's grand opening were designers Alexander Wang and model turned designer Erin Wasson, actress Kirsten Dunst and actresses turned designers Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. Ashley and Mary Kate were also there for business as their fashion line, The Row, has a space on the second floor.

Opening Ceremony hopes to be another fashion hot spot for the upcoming Fashion's Night Out event on September 10th. The Soho store in NYC will feature designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, Alexander Wang and Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders. Each designer will sell specially made products for Fashion's Night Out in front of the Soho store, out of the trunks of uniquely designed vehicles. You won't want to miss it.

New York Special Screening of "The September Issue"

The August special screening of the eagerly awaited "The September Issue", held at the Museum of Modern Art, brought out some of the biggest names in fashion and film. No less is to be expected when the subject of the RJ Cutler film documentary is Anna Wintour, the feared and revered chief editor of Vogue. Viewers were given a brief glimpse of the everyday inner workings of Anna and her Vogue team as they publish the largest issue in the magazine's history at the height of the credit and housing bubble of 2007.

Seen along with Anna at the premiere was film star Sienna Miller, the Vogue 2007 cover girl, stars Renee Zellweger and Bee Shaffer, and top designers Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Cynthia Rowley, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar De La Renta plus many others.

Models were also seen at the screening wearing Fashion's Night Out t-shirts over their cocktail dresses to help promote the upcoming uber shopping event on Sept 10th, created in part by Anna Wintour herself to help combat the negative effects of the post credit and housing bubble recession on the retail economy, not just in New York but around the world.

Fashion's Night Out on September 10th is shaping up to be biggest event in fashion.....ever!  The participation is global but New York is at the heart of the action. Nearly 700 stores will offer special shopping incentives, charity incentives and extra shopping hours for the night. A special few will offer live shows, live music, parties, special appearances and much, much more.

After going over the list of stores and events at the Fashion's Night Out website, here are few events that will make you wish you can be in three places or more at once:

• Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Herni Bendel are all vying as the top draw of the evening with a list of designers and celebs all making special appearances. In some cases, certain designers will be making appearances in two or three of those locations.
  

• For the young and hip crowd, the place to be is Opening Ceremony. The block party/sidewalk shop event will feature the designers of Proenza Schouler, the designers of Rodarte, Alexander Wang, and Scott Sternberg of Boy/Band of Outsiders. The designers will sell special made goods from the trunks of styled out cars and vans.


• For Luxury Art Lovers, check out Krizia and Ralph Lauren. Krizia will have an exhibit of paintings by Peter Opheim. Ralph Lauren will host a special Art Auction at the Rhinelander Mansion. Funds raised will go to the New York Academy of Art


• Strike a pose and get your picture taken at Lord & Taylors and at Carolina Herrera. Get photographed by Patrick McMullan himself while getting style tips from Vogue editor Lauren Santo Domingo at Lord & Taylors (must RSVP). Carolina Herrera invites you to her boutique for "Come, Be Art" and be photographed by Larry Fink. Larry Fink will also debut his limited edition book "Night at The Met" at the store.

• Want to meet, shop and party with the designers? Check out 3.1 Philip Lim, Manolo Blanhik, Marchesa, Cynthia Rowely, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Rebecca Taylor, Tory Burch, Oscar De La Renta and Roberto Cavalli. Mr. Cavalli will celebrate his Madison Avenue boutique's 10 Year Anniversary, you won't want to miss it.


• Love a great fashion show? Stop by BCBGMAXAZRIA on Fifth Ave. Check for the time of the show. Meet the designer Max Azria himself as he honors 10 women from the New York Police and Fire Widow and Children’s Benefit Fund.


• Love to party with models? Be sure to stop by Versace. You'll see I mean.


• If you need to shop and party till midnight, head over to Patricia Field. There's lots going on there.

There's more to come I'm sure, but be sure to check the list at Fashion's Night Out's webstie for updates and for changes. The only downside is that a lot of events will happen at the same time. As for myself, I don't want to miss out on all that fun so I'll be there in person with camera in one hand and credit card on the other. Who says you can't work and shop at the same time? September 10th can't come soon enough.

Angelina Jolie looked a little happier than usual at the L.A. premiere of Brad's latest film "Inglourious Basterds". It might have something to do with that hot black leather dress by Michael Kors she's wearing, not to mention those hot black heels but I'm thinking that ultimately, Brad Pitt is just too much fun to be around.

The dress fit her beautifully. The length was just perfect, right above the knee and the form fitted strapless top showed off those great shoulders among other things. Angelina also kept things simple with her hair split in the middle and hanging strait down. It gives her a younger appearance. It looks like the trend for wearing leather in the summer is still alive and well. I wonder who'll wear leather to the next red carpet?