Tag Archives: Fashion Week

Win Two Invitations to a Show During Fashion Week & a table at Ardesia Wine Bar

Leave a reply

Ardesiadaniel kriegerCharity Buzz just listed an auction where two lucky winners can join fashion’s elite with 2 invitations to a show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center in New York City on either September 7 or September 8. Each season at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, established American labels like Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, and Carolina Herrera, and well-known designers like Luca Luca, Rebecca Taylor, and Tracy Reese.

The package allows the winner to cap off their fashionable weekend with a wine and food tasting for two at Ardesia Wine Bar in NYC, where they can sample three wine pours and dishes at the bar, located in Hell’s Kitchen in New York City and inspired by the neighborhood’s historic past and vibrant present.

The auction’s proceeds benefit Society Ties to Benefit LLS of NYC.

Nicholas and Christopher Kunz’s Men’s RTW Fall 2013

Leave a reply

MBFW_FW13_NicholasK_JKratochvil_7358Nicholas and Christopher Kunz’s fall collection was very black and white. The first half of the show featured paper-white monochromatic tops and cozy coats layered over sweatpants for women and men, while the second half focused on to head-to-toe black ensembles.

The duo drew inspiration from intrepid Arctic explorations during the late 19th century, so we were treated to an impeccably styled masterful lesson in layering. The models came out wearing clear utilitarian goggles on their foreheads like headbands, while we’re all for the avant garde, we thought they were a bit much.

Among the standouts for women was a plaid jacket with a fur collar as well as diaphanous dresses with sweetheart necklines that came either one-shouldered or with full sleeves. For men, the feel was technical meets utilitarian centering on classics with optical depth such as nylon parkas and scoop-neck knits.

Check out the full gallery from Jane Kratochvil after the break.

Continue reading →

Betsey Johnson Won’t Show at Fashion Week

Leave a reply
Photo by Jane Kratochvil

Photo by Jane Kratochvil

New York Magazine’s The Cut, reports that although Betsey previously told the Wall Street Journal that her spring 2013 retrospective wouldn’t be her last season showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Johnson won’t be showing next month for the fall 2013 runways, instead she is trying “to focus on her brand expansion” — including her “dress thing” and a perfume — according to a press release. Frankly after last week’s talk at the 92nd street Y, I’m not sure Betsey and the word focus belong in the same sentance. “But she will be cartwheeling through Lincoln Center at an event for her new reality series, The Betsey and Lulu Show.” We can’t wait, every time we see her do a cartwheel, our heart melts, just a little!

CH Carolina Herrera American Express Cardmember-Only Fashion Show

Leave a reply

B_11317_06_crp_a_230x385[12783]American Express announced an exclusive Cardmember Only Show featuring the CH Carolina Herrera collection in collaboration with the editors of Harper’s BAZAAR will take place during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 14th at The Stage in Lincoln Center/Damrosch Park. For the first time ever, American Express Cardmembers and all CH Carolina Herrera fans will be able to shop select looks from the runway show exclusively on ShopBazaar.com immediately following the show.

Tickets are available now, and can be purchased using an American Express card here, for $100-275 depending on section and row preference.

The show will feature 50 looks from the Spring 2013 Men’s and Women’s Collections. Hailed as “Fashion’s First Lady”, Herrera was named the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2004 and honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Acting as a mentor and critic to graduating design students for years, Herrera recently received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition, she was also awarded the 2012 Fashion Group International Superstar Award.

Continue reading →

Rihanna Launching a Collection in London

Leave a reply

rihanna-victorias-secret05Rihanna will make her design debut in London at a special event on Feb. 16 during London Fashion Week. The collection, created in collaboration with British high-street brand River Island, is made up of clothing and accessories that will go on sale online and in store on March 5.

“Launching at London Fashion Week is a dream come true for me,” said the singer. “I have wanted to design my own collection for a long time and to present my collection for River Island alongside all of the other great design talent at LFW is a real privilege. I can’t wait to see the reaction from my fans and the fashion press.”

“We are [pleased] to present our Rihanna for River Island collection at London Fashion Week,” River Island chief executive officer Ben Lewis told us in an interview. “This is the perfect platform to showcase Rihanna’s design talent and ambition.”

Fotini Spring/Summer 2013

Leave a reply
MBFW_SS13_Fotini_JKratochvil_2854

Photo Credit: (c) 2012 Jane Kratochvil for Coup d’étage

Photo Credit: (c) 2012 Jane Kratochvil for Coup d’étage

Born in Athens to an Egyptian father and a Greek mother Fotini was raised in Canada.  Initially, Fotini embarked on a career in finance and marketing at the direction of her father, but could not ignore her passion for the creative and design that she dreamed of as a little girl.  Today, the New York based designer, has been building a brand that combines luxurious fabrics, corsetry, a true love of Fotini’s, while adding intricate details on the garments.   Fotini, spent 3 years traveling abroad to Italy particularly in the areas of Bergamo, Bologna and Como studying the construction of corsetry beside old world ateliers.  This has enabled Fotini to design the feminine, sensuous and chic pieces that she felt were missing from her own closet.  Fotini understands her customer’s needs.  “A woman designing for women” is a quote from her.

The FOTINI Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection paid homage to her heritage, drawing inspiration from Egyptian queens and Greek goddesses.   Fabrics in this collection ranged from chiffon, jacquards and laser cut leather.  The special touches of feathers, embroidery and modern day beading were some of the beautiful finishes.  “I love shiny things, a sexy fit and rich fabrications, a woman should not be afraid to show her femininity” she stated when interviewed about her brand.

Fotini is a woman that is proud to have a background in business before she decided to switch careers after getting inspired by working by a fashion house. “I have always wanted to be a designer but my family wanted me to take an education in business.” She believes having an education in business is helpful to her in the fashion industry.

While she showed us her collection for Spring/Summer 2013 she had time to tell me a bit about her inspiration for this collection: “The clothes are inspired by French countrysides landscapes and 18th century paintings,” she said, “like you can see on the little details on this dress the beading are little flowers closely beaded together.”

Continue reading →

Falguni and Shane Peacock Spring 2013

Leave a reply

MBFW_SS13_FalguniShanePeacock_JKratochvil_0661For their Spring 2013 collection, married designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock decided to take fashion into the future, far, far into the sci-fi future sending glamorous Martians robotically strutting down the runway. They started their show with models in clear space helmets adorned in an embellished sequins cat suit, a deep V-neck printed body suit and plastic transparent light up dress with fire red details.

Known for their audacious, theatrical aesthetics and body conscious silhouettes, Falguni and Shane Peacock kept to this tradition for spring 2013. The collection, somewhat similar to past season designs, was full of embellishments; hand beading, feather accents, original prints, and laser cut detailing.

The bright colors of the collection were a pleasant surprise from the nude subdued tones on other collections. The colors shimmered and sparkled radiantly on the runway.

Psychedelic prints, planetary plastic transparent trims, sequins, and feathers take the collection’s classic ladylike shapes to a surreal state. The extraordinary graphic fabrics in a vibrant and sophisticated color palette provide a sexy intergalactic update. Metallic fabrics with reflective silver pieces, outrageous patterns against sheer and sparkling textures all of this was a part of the story Falguni and Shane told.

Continue reading →

Vivienne Tam Spring / Summer 2013

Leave a reply

MBFW_SS13_VivenneTam_JKratochvil_4168Earlier today, Vivienne Tam presented her Spring / Summer 2013 collection.

Backstage before her show, designer Tam told us Chinese cosmology is the inspiration for her latest Spring collection. “It’s about the five elements,” she said. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as they were listed in the show notes—all materials we wouldn’t usually consider for a fashion line.

The shapes and energies associated with the five elements made Tam’s collection really impressive. There was a geometric twist to almost everything. Sheath dresses were layered with intricate octagonal cutwork, and other frocks, including a printed column gown, had hexagonal peplums. A classic trenchcoat, cropped gaucho pants, and a miniskirt also got the graphic cutout treatment. And the knits, the most commercial pieces in the range, were of the burnout variety.

Check out our full review and photos after the break.

Continue reading →

Carlos Miele Spring 2013

Leave a reply
MBFW_SS13_CarlosMiele_JKratochvil_7652

Photo by Jane Kratochvil

A trip to the zoo prompted Carlos Miele’s two-year-old son to draw pictures of the animals he observed. A blue giraffe emerged, and for Miele, inspiration struck. “I wanted to create a hallucination jungle,” the designer said before his show. Lightness in the jungle’s tropical heat was important, so Miele incorporated movement into his looks, using lots of chiffon and borders of fringe. His son’s blue giraffe appeared; a tiger in oxidized yellow was also part of the menagerie. Layered together, as they were in the opening look’s giraffe caftan and long leopard dress, they did look hallucinatory and like an animal lover’s trippy dream. It would have been fun to see more prints in the mix (what else did Miele’s son come up with?), but instead black dresses with Deco beading and dripping sequins pulled you out of the jungle. The beading, and the turquoise stones on necklines and shoes, served as a grounding element amid all the frothy chiffon but at times felt unnecessarily heavy. Fantastical and acid-hued, this was a collection for dreamers.

Check out our full gallery after the break!

Continue reading →

Sachin + Babi Spring 2013

Leave a reply

MBFW_SS13_SachinBabi_JKratochvil_0388Sachin + Babi drew inspiration for their Spring 2013 collection from a photo taken by Ryan Holden Singer of his backpacking trip through Mongolia. Both Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia have dreamed of taking this trip together, and their collection was indeed dreamy.

The duo showcased their signature embroidery expertise jazzed up with some rock-n-roll chic pieces like a Sgt. Pepper inspired jacket and printed skinny jeans. Vertical ruffles added new movement to chiffon gowns and skirts, some of which were paired with crocheted bikini tops.

The collection was fun, festive, and destined to be a best seller next season. Kelly Framel, Miss Universe was spotted in the front row. More photos from Jane Kratochvil after the jump.

Continue reading →