MICHELLE OBAMA
Listen. We love culture as much as the next guy. The editors here at Joonbug enjoy rolling out of bed at noon on a Saturday (or one, or two) and heading to our favorite fine art institution. But we are not about to waste our hard-earned weekends on New York tourist traps. And as it turns out, staring at paintings is a favorite activity of the Times Square-loving, Ray's Famous Pizza-eating, crisp white tennis shoe-wearing museumgoers...so the MoMA and Guggenheim will have to wait. Rather than shelling out to bump shoulders with a stroller-toting family of four, consider some of these exhibits that have been happily forgotten by the fannypack crowd:
When someone says "Prabal Gurung" what comes to mind are most likely the glamorous red carpet dresses that have landed on everyone from Hailee Steinfeld to Anna Paquin, even Michelle Obama is a fan; but his latest line proves that he is capable of much more.
There is something for everyone in the variety of ensembles that came down the Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear runway, including georgette dresses and tailored suits printed with a design inspired by photographer Nobuyoshi Araki’s Sensual Flowers series. Taking a closer look it is possible to see that the floral decorations have all wilted slightly, adding an eerie feel to the beauty.
It's time for a birthday shout!!! Barak Obama and Louis Armstrong share August 4th birthdays. Both born Leo's, no wonder they reached maximum succession in their lives. One could only imagine how the prez s partying it up tonight- one fantastic cake, a spot of tea, and the first lady Michelle Obama...recipe for one hot night, perhaps?
If you too wanna have a birthday so hot you're on a presidential level, Joonbug we can help you heat up your special day...
Our First Lady of Fashion is about to get an offer that we think she can't (or rather, shouldn't) turn down. 12-year-old Grant Mower of Texas constructed a gown especially for Mrs. Obama, inspired by an orchid he saw during a trip to the Smithsonian. Mower will travel to Park City next week for a chance to schedule a fitting with the First Lady while she visits Utah for a fundraiser.
The boy has got some serious cred, too. Mower has beat out high school and college students alike in a fashion design contest, and is an apprentice of Michael Faircloth. He has also made an appearance on the Nate Berkus show and has been mentioned in the New York Times as an rising "kiddie couturier".
In an industry where people go out of style quicker than last month's trends, it's hard to keep track of who's who (and more importantly, who's no longer a who) in the fashion world. Here's a look at 5 new, and some not so new, designers that look like they're here to stay.
I’m one of those people who don’t really get star struck. OK let me rephrase that -at least I don’t jump when I see a reality TV star walking down the street or pull out my blackberry to tweet a picture when I spot a celebrity shopping. But I do feel my throat drying up when I meet a talented designer. Especially one I admire -like Rachel Roy! So when I found out she and Karina Petroni were doing an event at Macy's in Boca Raton, FL to introduce their limited edition footwear capsule collection, I knew I had to be there.
New York-based fashion designer Jason Wu is one of today's fastest rising designers. Beginning as a doll designer at age 16, Jason Wu has gone on to design for Ivana Trump, January Jones, and Amber Valletta. He is also coming out with a line of nail polish this May. But perhaps Wu's biggest claim to fame is that he is one of the favorite designers of First Lady Michelle Obama. Or at least he seems to be. She has worn his designs on the cover of Vogue, a segment on a Barbara Walters Special, and countless other appearances.
In no hurry to slow down, Jason Wu launches his long-awaited handbag collection this spring! Before it's available in stores, there will be trunk shows at a few locations around the country. You can see Jason Wu's designs firsthand on January 28, from 10am to 4pm at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. Get ready to make a super-long mental list of the bags you'll buy when the collection FINALLY hits stores. And the best part? You don't have to spend ANY money- yet!
Fall is mocking us, reaching it's cooler claws into our closets, forcing us to don trenches, and causing us to call our nightlife quits. Just wait one minute! Toss that take out menu back in the drawer, close out the DVR menu, because summer is still here and Chicago floral designer, August Bloom, is celebrating it's inaugural year with enough designs to turn back the clock.
With a knack for custom made haute designs, August Bloom specializes in all the above: small intimate affairs, weddings, and full on enormous affairs. Thursday night's, "The Reception" at the The Zhou B Arts Center, will transform the center's Life Garden with a unique collaboration between photographer Geraldine Rodriguez and pastry chef, Jessica Ashley for a live exhibition of Trash the Dress.
As the New York weather rises in temperature by the week; New Yorkers embark on traveling to the Hamptons (some singing the lyrics to Money Can’t Buy You Class by Countess Luann of The Real Housewives of New York); summer island wedding trekkers are eager as Cynthia Rowley prepares to unveil her bridesmaids bevy (June 3rd) and I’m en route to my hometown of San Francisco for a short vacation. The challenge: considering the chaos of events, meticulously packing not only a few of the belongings I arrived to New York with, gifted garments from fashion shows, vintage shop finds and exceptional sales that will accept my developing New York stance. What began as a floor filled of clothes never worn, ended in a pile petite enough to fit into a Manalo Blahnik shoebox.
Something tells us there's a strong force of energy coming from Anna Wintour, Michelle Obama and Diane Von Furstenberg when we speak about the new fashion caucus that Washington lawmakers recently approved. The fashion caucus is called the Congressional Apparel Manufacturing and Fashion Business Caucus, or CAMAFBC if you're feeling fabulous and swanky in a fur coat.
Christine Brooks-Cropper, Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce president, formed the group that will aim to save New York's garment district, secure fashion incubator funding, and create more fashion scholarships for students. Oh, and let's not forget, they will aim to make create jobs in fashion as well. Paying jobs, at that.
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