VIKTOR & ROLF
Considering the Northeast had one of its worst winters in decades, I'm more happy than ever to break out my spring/summer clothes. In fact, I've never been so happy to see my circa '03 denim cut-offs. Ever. As a native Californian, my first winter in NYC was brutal and had me asking myself repeatedly, "Why did I leave California for this?" Now that the weather is warming up, I remember why: rooftop parties. The Hamptons. Cape Cod. Sailing. Pool parties. 8pm sunsets.Suddenly, the hideous memories of slopping around in 4 feet of soot-covered,snow and living in a wool coat for 6 months started to fade away.
Ann Demeulemeester: Ann didn't seem very "Ann" to us - which we blame on the feathers shown above. But, we will say that her drastic contrast between black and every other color designers didn't use this season red was strikingly approachable. Though, once dissected and sans styling expertise, will we still be in love with the bevy?
Junya Watanabe: Ridiculous hair set the pace at Junya Watanabe. Everything was chic military and green, but Junya differentiated from the rest though lengths and annoying technical detailing (that we actually liked). There was an extreme lack of femininity all around, but it served to intrigue us.
Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day? Not Viktor and Rolf.
Winter white is a chic way to express your style in the chilly months—accessorized with their shoes and handbags. Their knee-high, loose-fitting boots work well with a trench coat—however, let’s leave out the white face paint. We don’t want to get too swept away with the white theme. The suede, drapery clutch provides attention-grabbing detail, perfect with a tailored suit and simple stiletto. Go a little more edgy with their flocked alligator clutch. This will make for an eye-popping accessory with skinny jeans and the trendy white-collared shirt for fall. Be sure to add a little Winter Wonderland to your closet this fall, even if it is in small quantities.
Pair them with a short (or shorter) hemline, shorts, or tuck them into some loose, waving highwaisted harem pants. Whichever way you choose to do it, the tall tall boot is hot this fall.
They can be paired up with men’s wear (one way to pull off the oversized blazer), or with a simple shift dress in the softest of cottons. Designers have done it every which way. They sure beat the average pump when it comes to outfitting sophistication.
The Alexandra Neel version conjures up images of gallant men or pirates. Pair that with a sash belt or a ruffled shirt made from the softest silk.
Some things in fashion are, shall I say, a bit...Strange: guys in Uggs, acid washed jeans, fur bikinis. But when it comes to wearing black and white, the rules are pretty, black and white. This high-contrast color scheme seems to be a trend that never goes out of style; black and white still looks sophisticated and fresh for spring and summer. This year's black and white prints are more likely to be stylized than floral, but don't get rid of last summer's black and white florals yet because you can still wear it this year.
This trend is not only for clothing, this season designers are using the color scheme for accessories. Chanel , Viktor & Rolf and Manolo Blahnik all do superb jobs at using black and white in their shoes. Chanel does a classic white lace up boot with a black toe, while Manolo Blahnik does a black and white cutout, lace-up pump. Viktor & Rolf takes a different route and does an all over black and white striped pattern with ‘bulls eyes’ up the center lacing.
I don’t know of anyone who liked math in high school; however this season geometry seems to be back in our lives and we are not afraid. Then again, you’re not stuck in a classroom with a less than exciting math teacher. Geometry of today features bold shapes and funky patterns. From dresses to handbags, shapes have found their way off the pages and into runway. Designers like Kai Kühne and Karl Lagerfeld use simple yet sophisticated shapes and colors this season to call our attention.
While Chris Kane and the designers at Marchesa took the more feminine route, using floral prints and bright intoxicating colors. Both labels took the regular shirt, skirt and dress and revamped into geometric artwork.
Fashion designers are constantly thinking outside the box and this season Viktor & Rolf and Comme De Garcons prove that theory. These two labels take the geometric trend and make it their own.
Alright ladies, it's time to get off Match.com and get into stores for the latest matches between high-end designers and lower-end retailers! Guys can get in on the fun too, Karl Lagerfeld is lending his talent to Ruby motorcycle helmets to create some limited edition designs. In the upcoming season, look for everything from J Brand jeans by Hussein Chalayan to Mykita sunglasses by Bernard Willhelm. There will even be a line of limited edition 'couture bottles' produced by Baccarat, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, made for Evian (which are probably not on the lower end of the price scale). Valerie Steele, director and chief curator for the Museum at FIT in New York, explained the appeal of high-low lines: "People are going to want to a lot of fashion for their buck."
Architecture has always been a source of inspiration for fashion designers. For his fall 2008 collection, Gareth Pugh truly put on a show with architecture as the underlying inspiration and has been impressing us ever since. A line of very extreme and warrior-esque pieces using innovative materials such as PVC pipe, safety pins, goat hair and polyhedra in leather paraded down the runway. Hard lines and a somber color palette paired with standout elements such as extreme epaulets extending past the natural shoulder evidenced the architectural influence. Then there is Swedish designer Sandra Backlund. Her use of heavy wool collage knitting allows her to create sculptural garments that exaggerate, highlight and distort different parts of the body. She considers herself a sculptor before a designer, and her inventive designs only serve to reinforce that belief.
- 7:00 PM
School of American Ballet's Winter Ball, NY State Theater at Lincoln Center, NYC The event features a one-time-only performance by the advanced students of the School, choreographed specifically for this event by a noted artist. Proceeds from the Winter Ball are used to award scholarships, maintain world-class studios and residence halls, and offer vital student programs beyond the classroom. The Encore is the Winter Ball's after-party. *After dinner, 200 of the city's philanthropic chic young professionals join the Winter Ball for dancing and dessert. Dinner tickets include admission to The Encore and after-party only tickets are also available.
- 3/9–3/15 Mon – Sat 10:00AM to 8:00PM & Sun 12:00 to 7:00PM
Shop the spring 2009 Stuart Weitzman collection and receive a complimentary pair of signature Jellystone flats with your purchase of two pairs of shoes. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., nr. 49th St. (212-940-4676)
- 3/9–3/31 Daily 12:00 – 7:00PM
Get $20 off your $150 purchase at Msg when you shop the stock of local and international designers like Enshallah, Isola, Mimi Golzer, and Face Too. Msg, 66 Kenmare St., nr. Mott St. (212-334-4032)
- March & Ongoing
Prive Salon is capitalizing on the jobless hopefuls by offering clientele the Interview Prep Package. Get a hair cut, blowout, and manicure or eyebrow shaping for $95. After every mini-makeover Prive will forward résumés to job placement specialist John Warren. 310 West Broadway, nr. Grand St. (212-274-8888); S, M (11–6), T, W, F, S (9–7), Th (9–9).
- 10:00 AM - STELLA MCCARTNEY F/W 2009, Carreau du Temple - 3 rue Dupetit Thouars, Paris 3e
- 11:00 AM - BARBARA BUI F/W 2009, Couvent des Cordeliers - 15 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, Paris 6e
- 12:00 PM - LÉONARD F/W 2009, Le Carrousel du Louvre - Salle Le Nôtre
- 1:00 PM - GUY LAROCHE F/W 2009, Le Carrousel du Louvre - Salle Soufflot, Paris
- 2:00 PM - GIAMBATTISTA VALLI F/W 2009, Espace Ephémère Tuileries - Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1er
- 3:00 PM - ZUCCA F/W 2009, Les Beaux-Arts de Paris - salle Mélpomène - 13 quai Malaquais, Paris 6e
- 4:30 PM - VIKTOR & ROLF F/W 2009, Halle Freyssinet - 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol, Paris 13e
- 5:30 PM - MANISH ARORA F/W 2009, Garage Turenne - 66 rue de Turenne, Paris 3e
- 7:00 PM - YVES SAINT LAURENT F/W 2009, Palais de Tokyo - 13 avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16e
While many luxury retailers are cutting back costs, Temperley London opened up a new retail store in Dubai last week. The global recession has had less influence on the oil-rich region where luxury retail remains stable (and ski resorts in the middle of the desert remain popular). The 2,500 square foot space is outfitted in grand décor including an elaborate marble floor, 19th century French antiques, custom-made chandeliers and Temperley London fabrics. The Dubai store will offer ready to wear collections, including Black Label, accessories, a bridal boutique and a VIP area.
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