London Fashion Week: Afshin Feiz

Of all of the shows during London Fashion Week this season, Afshin Feiz was definitely a crowd pleaser. This was by far one of our favorite collections of his to date. He has shown that his work is romantic and feminine, and with this collection it was no exception, as it was utterly enchanting. He used very flirty fabrics, with airy palettes with pastel shades and fluid silks, silver chiffon's, all created beautifully. In some dresses he used chains in the back and detailing of applique to contrast the lighter shades of fabric. The collection was fun and most of his pieces were very contemporary. Like most of the shows we have seen this season, many designers used a great deal of ruffles and pleats to add a bit of sexiness to their collections. He also showed his eveningwear, with most of the dresses being very '50s inspired. This was one of our favorites from London Fashion Week!
-Desiree Masiela, UK Correspondent

Win $1000 Gift Certificate to Guerlain's Spa in New York

Saks Giveaway Details

What

$1000 gift certificate to Guerlain’s spa in New York City.

Every beautifully made up face starts with great skin. Pamper yourself at Guerlain’s new spa at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York with a fully customized facial, indulgent massage, or expert make up application – the choice is yours with our $1000 gift certificate giveaway. Spa information at www.guerlainspa.com/ and by clicking here.

How

Saks and Guerlain have chosen TheFind.com as an exclusive Want It! promotional partner. To help get the word out, we’re offering you the opportunity to win a $1000 gift certificate to Guerlain’s new spa at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

To enter, simply write a post on your blog (150 words minimum) that talks about the Saks Want It! promotion, and link the post back to the contest page at blog.thefind.com. You may want to include a mention of the exclusive Marc Jacobs makeup kit in your post, but it is not required. Then, send us a link to your post at wantitpromo@thefind.com and we will send you an entry confirmation… and you’re done! We will randomly choose a winner from the pool of qualified entrants. One entry per website, please. Click Here for more information.

About the kit

Saks Fifth Avenue has unveiled the latest iteration of its award-winning Want It! campaign, which highlights Fall 2008’s most notable trends for both men and women. Saks has chosen the Polished Face as its Want It! beauty item for the Fall and in turn Saks has created The Polished Face Kit for customers. Saks’ Polished Face Kit brings together products from top brands to get the look of the Fall season – The Polished Face.

The Polished Face is about being perfectly put together. Seen on all the Fall 2008 runways, the trend is the look of the season. All of these items come in an exclusive Marc Jacobs Italian leather clutch for the retail price of $198 and will be available in all Saks stores and saks.com beginning the first week of September.

To get that defined eye, the kit contains Guerlain’s Le 2 mascara – a two-brush mascara that enables you to get to every last lash to create the fullest lashes possible.

London Fashion Week: Penkov

The Berlin born designer, Penkov, showcased her collection during London Fashion week, proving that even the simplest of airy-fabrics work wonders. Her dresses were very flirty, just the ultimate of every girl's wardrobe. She merely focused on simplicity, except for the stunning baby-blue shorts with oyster pockets, paired with sheer transparent cotton blouse which looked very lovely on the runway. She used pleats on her skirts and cotton shirts, but some pieces kept an unfinished look. Our favorite piece was a sheer organza gown with intricate detailing of embroidery.
-Desiree Masiela, UK Correspondent

Flying Off The Shelves: The Wedge Heel Gladiator

London Fashion Week: Temperley London

Temperley has proved again that she has got it all in arms this season. It was no surprise that her loyal followers gathered to celebrate the return to the London catwalk after six seasons in New York. Among the starlets were Jacquetta Wheeler, Laura Bailey, Rosamund Pike, Mischa Barton, Lara Bohinc, Alice Dellal, Alexa Chung and Peaches Geldof, who it seems were in most of the front rows in London Fashion Week, so far this season. Her collection was stunning, oozing with sex appeal. We saw lots of party pieces, huge bows on the shoulder, very structured ornamented pieces on the hair, just simply beautiful. Temperley matched white silky tops with wide-legged trousers, which gave the look of a more romantic feel. The collection itself was breezy and easy. The use of leather and chunky leather belts with stars gave simple looks an edgy biker look.
-Desiree Masiela, UK Correspondent

London Fashion Week: Luella

One word to describe Luella Bartley's show for London Fashion Week this season was that she went for a more mature, upper royal style. We must admit, it was more suited for a lady going to a garden party. Luella likes to have fun with her clothes as the colours were bright and she splashed on florals which stood out a great deal. We saw lots of huge pearls swung around the neck, lovely cashmere cardigans and huge satin hair bows. There were also lots of frills, ruffles on both skirts and dresses. Pieces included ruched chiffon mini-dresses swung tight on one shoulder paired with very dramatic head-dresses like usual. She put back that eccentric vibe we had always known her for. The collection was very sweet and energetic.
-Desiree Masiella, UK Correspondent

London Fashion Week Squeezed in the Middle

A Look from Luella Bartley London Fashion Week 2008

On the third day of London Fashion Week, Hilary Riva, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC) held a crisis talk with rivals in Paris, New York, and Milan regarding the possible interference with London Fashion Week next year.

According to Reuters, A BFC spokeswoman said New York (which precedes London) would like to change its dates and have an eight-day fashion week. This would leave London with only four days before Milan's fashion week would begin.

"We're being squeezed in the middle,"a BFC spokeswoman told Reuters. She went on to say that New York would also like to change its dates to avoid the Labor Day holiday and late summer when Italian garment factories are on holiday. In the past this has caused making the production of samples for the spring/summer shows difficult.

With London Fashion Week currently bringing in around 100 million pounds ($176 million) in business and 50 million pounds in media advertising, this new plan could definitely impact their economy.
-Katherine Mingey

New York Fashion Week: Custo Barcelona

Custo Barcelona’s Spring 2009 collection is anything but drab. The use of 1960s style and clean lines create fun forms that will fit most any body type. The bold and playful line is all glitz and glam. Metallic brocades sparked the runway along sparkly trims and full-blown green, blue, and fuchsia pieces. The intensity of color seized a new level with bright graphics and neon tones that came to life as stretchy fabrics like acetate, nylon, and lyrcra. Audacious prints on capris, tops, and hats teetered on brilliant high heels. However, Custo Barcelona is not all synthetic. The brand is also focusing on eco-friendly fashion as well. The use of natural fibers from coral and bamboo played a big role in the lines distinctive new looks. Fun and bright for spring, Custo Barcelona fits any fun occasion. The 27-year-old brand has definitely reinvented an identity that any fashionista would be pleased
to try on.
www.custo-barcelona.com
-Jackie Medler

New York Fashion Week: Brian Reyes

Inspire your wardrobe with a little help from Mother Earth. If you are buying a piece from Brian Reyes latest collection, you are sure to do just that. In this eco-friendly world we now live, Brian Reyes has chosen to create a fashion that imitates our beautiful planet and the serene nature that springs from places like Death Valley, Arizona and Ethiopia. His collection consists of natural hues of stone and sand, and livelier hues that can be found in nature such as rusts, healthy greens, and even animal prints. Even the silhouettes look as if they have been inspired by the points and smooth lines seen in rock formations. These basic lines take us back to basic everyday wear with a striking edge. Keep your clothing as natural as your makeup with Brian Reyes latest 2009 Spring Collection. For more information, visit www.brianreyes.com
-Jackie Medler

New York Fashion Week: Custo Barcelona

Custo Barcelona has chosen to restructure the color patterns found in nature to their own liking this Spring 2009. The bright and beautiful colors only found on male species in the wild have been stripped and thrown into a kaleidoscope of color to form Custo Barcelona’s new wild female spring fashions. Bold prints and vivid colors adorn everything in the women’s collection from dresses to jackets. As if the colors weren’t enough to catch your eye, many pieces have been decked-out with jewels and gold details. However, the originality of the new men’s fashions is nothing to be ignored. The men may be lacking in color, but the unique designs are very up-to-par this spring season. In particular, one white suit covered in black flower embroidery had everybody talking. The show christened “Emotion in Motion” couldn’t have been a more appropriate title.
-Jackie Medler

New York Fashion Week: Reem Acra

On Thursday afternoon, Reem Acra transformed the Promenade into the attic of a royal palace. Each piece was an enthusiastic discovery of dazzling jewels and color. The opening piece was an intricately embroidered shirtdress with bright pink collar and cuffs, and the collection only became more glamorous.

An endless array of shimmering jeweled tops and jackets followed, paired with silk pleated skirts and charmeuse pants. Acra balanced the conservative silhouettes of the structured dupioni coats and tunics with electric colors like raspberry, tangerine, Mediterranean blue and flamingo pink. There were also caftans in subdued tans and simple cuts, and the surprising pinstriped double-breasted suit.

Acra is most famous for her bridal wear and gowns, and her latest collection did not disappoint. There was an array of beautiful, flowy dresses with plunging necklines in delicate, gold-embroidered organza; white dresses and floor-length skirts with bright watercolor design; and billowy pleated gowns in chiffon and silk. The closing piece was a beautiful pink jacquard taffeta strapless number with a fitting bodice and full skirt that drew appreciative applause from the audience.

By staying true to her affinity for exquisite embroidery, rich fabrics and jewels, Acra succeeded in creating yet another vibrant and alluring collection.
-Grace Bahk

Style360 Wrap Party with Taryn Manning

After a week of celeb-studded shows all week, Style360’s Fashion Week came to a close on Wednesday night with the Wrap Party at the Metropolitan Home Showtime House, co-hosted by Caravan and actors Taryn Manning and Tara Jane.

Attendees included stars like Project Runway’s Kevin Christiana, Jack Mackenroth, Real Housewives’ Bethenny Frankel, NYCTV host Kelly Choi and DJ Josh Madden. The party also showcased looks from the spring collection of Manning and Jane’s clothing line, Born Uniqorn.

Renowned interior designers like Jamie Drake, Laura Kirar, White Webb and Vincente Wolf recently transformed the $20-million Gramercy Park townhouse into a modern and luxurious home that features rooms inspired by six Showtime Network shows. VIP guests enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres while touring the “Tudors” living room, “Californication” study, “The L Word” boudoir, “Weeds” lounge and “United States of Tara” master bedroom.

On the top floor, mannequins lined the futuristic Media Room designed by Luca Andrisani. Manning and Jane, wearing their own Born Uniqorn designs, spent the evening discussing their favorite pieces. Jane pointed to the subtle snakeskin pattern on a long white ruffled dress with gold accents, and the 80s-inspired pyramid studs that line the pockets on a royal blue minidress.

“The more stuff hanging on the clothes, the better,” she said. “We love adding these details to our collections.”There were also jersey dresses with feather detailing on the straps, high-waist denim in dark washes, and loose cropped cardigans. “We’re so excited to be in New York right now,” said Manning. “This is one of our strongest collections to date.”
-Grace Bahk

New York Fashion Week: LanVy

The beautiful Prince George Ballroom on East 27^th Street came alive all week as over 50 international designers presented their spring collections at Nolcha Fashion Week.

Nolcha works to create a global network of design talent that allows young designers a chance to showcase their work in fashion hub cities. After the huge success of previous fashion weeks in New York and London, Nolcha returns to the Big Apple with individual runway shows for award-winning designers, an Accessory Lounge, and the NY Profile, a night of 35 emerging British fashion designers in one show. On Wednesday night, the spotlight was on 1 of 3 by LanVy and Celestino by Sergio Guadarrama.

LanVy began its show with a thunderous percussion performance by female Taiko drummers dressed in red robes and urban clothing. The line stayed true to its Japanese inspiration and packed its collection with unique, geometric prints and stripes. Most striking on the dresses were the distinct back cutouts – some draped, some in giant diamond shapes covered with bright lace, others imitating a sharp, tuxedo-lapel design. The menswear stood out through details like contrasting cuffs on dress shirts and varied lengths on the loose, bell-bottom pants. What we loved most about the show were the hats: the cute bucket hats with bows, the floppy sun hats with bright flowers, and our favorite, the low straw hat with shaded peepholes for the eyes.

Celestino wowed audiences with his ultra-feminine dresses. Models walked to serene string music wearing minimal accessories, save the occasional Japanese parasol or traditional sword (yes, sword). The dresses were cinched in all the right places to accentuate curves, yet still gave soft, flowy silhouettes. There were interesting Asian influences, like the kimono-style corseting on dresses, the use of organza sashes criss-crossed around the torso, a waist-hugging sash on almost every piece. Guadarrama’s creativity shone through his play with shapes and textures – form-fitting busts and waists that flare out into mermaid tails or full skirts, in a mix of billowy and structured silk, satin belts and creative pleating with yards and yards of organza.

Nolcha looks like it’s bound to become an industry staple.

Check out www.nolchafashionweek.com for updates from the Nolcha Fashion Week in London next week!
-Grace Bahk

New York Fashion Week: Dash & Smooch

The Metropolitan Pavilion buzzed with excitement on Tuesday morning as press and VIP guests awaited Khloe Kardashian’s curated Dash & Smooch collection and Spice Girl Mel B.’s Ultimo lingerie collaboration. The crowd waited with anticipation not just for the clothes, but also for special guest models Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard and Danity Kane favorite Aubry O'Day.

Dash & Smooch began with models walking barefoot in cotton jersey and fleece loungewear by Scanty and Lauren Moshi, Oral-B toothbrushes in hand. The collection then moved to cocktail dresses in both demure and bright colors. We liked Foley & Corinna’s black dress with plunging V and gray fringe and Black Halo’s pleated dress and thin green belt. The audience also enjoyed Aubry O’Day’s walk in a yellow tee and embellished black denim, accompanied by her dog in her arms.

Recording artist Kreesha Turner followed Kardashian’s bow with samplings of her strong vocals from her debut album “Passion.” Then it was straight onto a blaring “Sexy Back” remix as the first model walked down the runway in mile-high studded sandals and printed, lace-frill bra and bikini bottom. A series of girly printed sets reminiscent of Victoria Secret’s Pink followed – and then came the satin. Polka dots were a recurring theme, along with bustiers with plenty of lace and pleated mesh detailing. The show ended with Ultimo knit skirts in tartan and leopard prints paired with bright satin bras. Our favorite look was the cute Tartan lingerie in Scottish plaid.

But the best moment had to be Amanda Beard’s strut in black satin lingerie, which showed off her amazing swimmer abs and toned legs. She didn’t hesitate to smile, and the audience cheered her on throughout the shows.
-Grace Bahk

New York Fashion Week: Rag & Bone

Rag & Bone mixed structured suits with street-chic wear to create the ultimate urban cool for spring. Tailored menswear heavily influenced women’s clothing, such as leather jackets, neckties, tailored dress-shirts with suspenders, and a female version of the men’s suit jacket. For every male look, there was an equal female counterpart for the women’s wear that still managed to accentuate the female silhouette without being overbearingly masculine.

For a spring/summer collection, Rag & Bone covered up lots of skin and the color scheme was unusually dark. It consisted of mostly dark grays and blacks with an occasional peek of blue, yellow, metallic, or white that subtly emphasized the spring qualities of the outfits. Though the designs were masculine in essence, it was still figure-flattering enough for the female models to confidently strut their stuff alongside the big boys.
-Grace Yu

New York Fashion Week: Rosa Cha

Models “walked on water” as they strut their sexy swim suits down the runway. The runway gave the illusion that the models were gracefully walking on water. The collection consisted of typical swimwear pieces: the sexy one-piece, the body-baring bikini, and a sheer cover. It was the color palette of pretty salmon, pistachio, and white with the occasional eye-popping pattern of shapes that captures the eye. Although designer Amir Slama used soft colors and the typical swimsuit pieces, it was the detail of the designs that stood out. Slama used luxurious embellishments, such as Swarovski crystals that adorned the straps of some of the pretty-colored bikinis. Leather belts, big cuffs, and metal rings also served as great accessories that highlighted the lovely simplicity of the collection. Slama also used subtle folds that emphasized the structured swimwear of his collection. Slama used subtle amounts of sexiness from his Sao Paolo roots to create a swimwear that was both sexy and pretty and sure to be a hit on the beach this upcoming spring and summer.
-Grace Yu

New York Fashion Week: Erin Fetherston

Using white and pale pastels with occasional sequined pieces and puffs of chiffon, Erin Fetherston’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection was a light and airy take on spring. Sheer fabrics and muted cotton-candy colors created a whimsical and romantic collection that was reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe’s soft floral paintings or cotton-candy clouds drifting in the sky.

The models and the clothing were innocently beautiful. Makeup artist Bobbi Brown made the models look fresh-faced with minimal makeup showing off their luminescent skin while their hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. The first half of the collection consisted of simple pieces, such as tiered chiffon tops paired with sequined miniskirts and light-weight pants. However, the latter half of the collection was refreshingly girly with oversized fabric flowers on almost every dress that was reminiscent of Fetherston’s previous collections.

The frothy collection stays true to Fetherston’s feminine, dreamy designs of the past. Celebrity fans of Fetherston’s collections are Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Dechanel.
-Grace Yu

New York Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs

The Marc Jacobs 2009 Spring Fashion Show proved that like us, many stars have an obsession with this American designer. Jacobs dazzled his audience this year with mismatched prints, funky shoes, and of course, stunning complete looks. His show also featured interesting hats only Jacobs could pull off.

The star-studded crowd was treated to a funny-house type of runway with mirrors running down the middle of it. Models strutted in every color and every color and pattern combination imaginable. Tailored menswear inspired pieces were matched with feminine skirts and accessories. Big bangles, chunky necklaces, and all the other accessories in between indicated these would be the big trends this Spring. Obviously with stars like Kanye West, Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, and Jay Z being huge fans of Jacobs line, he needs no advertisement (although the lady Beckham is the face of his campaign). If these stars have any say in it—Marc Jacobs is sure to become and even bigger success than he already is.
-Kelsey Bristow


New York Fashion Week; Spring 2009 Marc Jacobs Collection-Shop Marc Jacobs Fall Styles at NORDSTROM

Bing Bang's Big Monday: Gossip Girl and Marc Jacobs

Sweet Heart Necklace, Bing Bang by Anna Shelffield

We're taking a little break from the shows and parties to focus on what the models and stars are wearing! On Monday night at Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 fashion show, model Helena Christensen was spotted wearing the "Sweet Heart" necklace designed by none other than Bing Bang by Anna Shelffield.

Nailed Heart Necklace, Bing Bang by Anna Shelffield

And, Gossip Girl star Vanessa (played by Jessica Szohr) also wore the designer's "Nailed Heart" necklace which aired Monday, September 9th, the same night as Marc's show.

Be sure to visit our main sites, www.factio-magazine.com and www.runwaytoretail.com.

New York Fashion Week: Jordache

It’s always fun to check out a denim line’s more casual fashion show. On Monday night, Jordache brought a very retro vibe to the Metropolitan Pavilion, complete with skintight denim and “Billie Jean” remix.

The girls sported big hair, red lipstick, patent pumps and gold jewelry against their electric body suits and high-waist jeans. There were silver bandeaus, sleeveless jumpers, tie-dye logo tees with bright pink acid-wash skinny jeans. To the delight of the audience, all the male models were shirtless, sporting straight-leg and carpenter skinny jeans in dark washes.

We especially liked the edgy black and grey denim with side zips, the slouchy off-the-shoulder tees, and the high-waist skirts. But the show stealer was the “Litewear” at the end: a series of tees each with one lit-up word spelling “You Got the Look” as each model strutted down the runway.

The Metropolitan Pavilion is the headquarters for LIVEstyle Entertainment and HFM U.S.’s Style360 fashion week. Keep checking back for reports from more Style360 shows!
-Grace Bahk

Make sure to visit our other sites www.factio-magazine.com and www.runwaytoretail.com.

New York Fashion Week: Alexandre Herchcovitch

The Brazilian infiltrated New York City's Fashion Week with a collection that was a very interesting and complex mix of feminine and masculine. The feminine elements came in soft chiffon and ruffles and the masculine came in military inspired pieces. This softness contrasted with harder military elements made for a very thrilling and surprising show. However, it's still up for debate how wearable Herchcovitch's styles will be this spring.
-Kelsey Bristow

New York Fashion Week: Tracey Reese

Tracey Reese's show made us feel like we were attending a garden tea party. Pastel colors, soft silhouettes, and beautiful flower appliqué galore, Reese's collection exuded sophisticated femininity. Soft pink, lavender, peach, and cream dominated the pieces, but were nicely offset by splashes of darker hues like magenta and black. The collection's dresses and skirts dazzled and will be appealing to a wide range of women. But, as it usually does, Reese's outerwear stole the fashion show. Stunning trench coats made us excited for Spring to come, so we can go about town looking chic and ready for the elements. All in all, Reese's show was as pleasing to the eye as its pieces will be on women this Spring.

-Kelsey Bristow

New York Fashion Week: Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera always puts on a good show, and this year was no different. For Spring 2009, Herrera included a color pallet of black and white interjected with bright, bold colors. There were lots of reds, yellows, teal faille trimmed in tweed, and a marigold photo print.

Instead of embellishments, Herrera opted for lots of ruffles this year with a cocktail hour silhouettes. There were short Watteau-back jackets in duchesse satin, paired with very slim pants that were cropped several inches above the ankle. You couldn't help but notice the amount of dresses that strutted down the runway. They ranged from mille-feuille chiffon party frocks and corseted silk colque to sleek, glossy black raffia.

The standout outfit was a beaded, liquid jersey column in white with a black gabardine jacket slung over the shoulders.
-Katherine Mingey

New York Fashion Week: Proenza Schouler

For Spring 2009, Proenza Schouler has decided to go for a much tougher look. Their collection is very reminiscent of the 1980's and includes everything from big shoulders and high-waisted pants to parachute silks and jumpsuits. Behind Proenza Schouler is the design-duo, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. Last year they sold a portion of their company to the Valentino Group and it showed with their new collection of accessories that included round sunglasses and 'fuzzy bedroom slippers' in the form and heels. Their models strutted down the runway wearing blouses and coats with cape-like sleeves, jumpsuits for day that were worn belted over sheer, sleeveless button-down, and jumpsuits for night that had a variety of silver and black white bugle beads stitched into them.
-Katherine Mingey

New York Fashion Week Spring 2009: Peter Som

Peter Som has the uncanny ability to simplify an outfit while emphasizing one essential part of the look. Whether it is the shoes, belt, silhouette, or the pattern, Som effortlessly creates pieces that nicely complement the focal point of the outfit.

The outfits consisted of mostly resort-wear clothing, such as cocktail dresses and light shorts and skirts. Som mixed textures such as organza, tweed, and linen to create pretty looks without becoming stiff. The color scheme of the collection consisted of all shades of oceanic blue, light tan, sheer crimson, and blush-toned peach that worked together to create a blithe ambiance throughout the collection.

The collection started off with light beige spring dresses accentuated with belts and hints of light blue. As the neutral color scheme remained dominant in the first portion of the show, Som presented light-weight dresses and skirts that were strikingly blue and coral, reminiscent of colors found in the coral reefs of the ocean. The show concluded with black floral print on the feminine frocks that were innocently romantic while retaining an air of sophistication, true to Som’s nature.
-Grace Yu


New York Fashion Week; Spring 2009 Peter Som Collection-Shop Designer Fall Styles at NORDSTROM

New York Fashion Week: Hervé Léger by Max Azria

With subtle geometric pattern placement and delicate colors that would make spring proud, Hervé Léger’s Spring/Summer 2009 by Max Azria captured the essence of the label with a healthy balance of symmetry and asymmetry throughout the collection. The skin-tight bandage dresses that have been gracing Hervé Léger’s runways these past few seasons were amplified with small blasts of bright colors and shapes. The collection consisted of subtle adjustments to the classic Hervé Léger silhouette of tight strips of stretchy fabric. The dresses were kept short this season and still managed to embrace each curve of the models skinny frames. This season, Max Azria designed leather jackets that complemented the shape of the dresses. The last third of the show consisted of equally tight swimwear. Like their dressier counterparts, the swim suits were strips of stretchy bandage fabrics held together with straps that looked like the dresses, but with much less fabric.

There were many celebrities in attendance marveling at the new collection of bandage dresses and swim suits waltzing down the runway. Maria Sharapova was wearing one of the brand’s signature dresses like a second skin while Joy Bryant enjoyed the collection from the front row.
-Grace Yu

New York Fashion Week: Unconditional

Hurricane Hanna screamed loud and clear this weekend that she has no regard for fashion, and Fashion Week fought back determinedly to stay on schedule. So it’s no surprise that Philip Stephens bravely faced the gloomy residue Saturday morning when he presented his Spring and Summer ’09 collections on the rooftop of the Maritime Hotel.

The wet, downtown trek to Chelsea definitely proved worthwhile. The theme of the show was “Bed Peace,” a nod to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 “Bed In” peace protest. Stephens’ presentation was set in the living room and bedroom of the penthouse where models lounged casually, their clothes and soft expressions echoing the theme’s celestial mood.

The clothes are demure and simple: an array of neutrals and soft, moving fabrics. For the women, there are ruffled high-waist minis, luxe gray cardigans with intricate beading, layered flowy dresses in peony and white with ribbon sashes. For the men, there are deconstructed blazers, cutoff shorts, light hoodies, loose gray slacks with high-waist button detailing, and sheer tees that say “Bed Peace” and “Hair Peace” in block letters. We especially loved the little accents, like the knit cap with dog-ears and the laced work boots for the men, the high-necked ruffles and velvet-flowers accessories for women.

Unconditional has always been about simplicity and wearable, urban chic, and Stephen’s latest collections bring his signature London style to New York with ease and understated flair. The line already boasts a devoted cult following, including celebrities like Madonna, Cameron Diaz, David Beckham and Jude Law.

Definitely an up-and-coming designer to watch! Unconditional sells in over 100 boutiques worldwide. Visit www.unconditional.co.uk for more information.
-Grace Bahk

New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose

Lela Rose has been in the press lately as the designer behind First Daughter Jenna Bushʼs wedding dress, but for this season as weʼve seen on the runways she has opted for prints with interesting shapes, using very bright colors mostly inspired by African tribal wear. Her collection mostly consisted of sporty inspired separates, featuring royal blue short shorts worn with a printed cropped jacket and a metallic gold vest to round up the look. The collection was simply chic and lovely.
-Desiree Masiela

"I Love Italian Shoes" Accessories Exhibit

Even between shows, the tents are packed with energy and action, and Friday afternoon was no exception. The Italian Trade Commission and the Association of Italian Footwear Manufacturers invited the fashionably elite for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to celebrate the opening of the “I Love Italian Shoes” accessories exhibit.

The exhibit showcases a sample of renowned footwear designers’ most creative handiwork for men, women and children, and honors the Italian tradition of fine craftsmanship and quality leather. Each displayed shoe portrays incredible sophistication through its construction and small flourishes of intricate detail.

On Friday, the glass-encased shoes on the floor included Oscar de la Renta, Moschino, Sergio Rossi and Manolo Blahnik. Other featured brands include Aldo Brue, Fornarina, Artioli, Ballin and Claudia Ciuti.

"The Italian footwear industry set new standards in design, quality and innovation,” said Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner and North America Executive Director, in a statement. “Designers and manufacturers are a step further, and that has put Italian footwear in the vanguard."

The exhibit will be up throughout Fashion Week, so be sure to squeeze in some browsing time for the latest in footwear innovation while you’re running from show to show!
-Grace Bahk

New York Fashion Week: Diane Von Furstenberg

Another stunning collection by Diane Von Furstenberg for her recent collection at New York Fashion Week. Her show was dazzled by a large crowd of starlets. Among the stars who attended her show were Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez, Venus Williams and Eva Longoria. For this fall, Diane took a brilliant take on the print and floral trend by using flowy fabrics with bold hues which were a great combination. The palettes were bold with carmine pinks, bright reds, oranges, berry, yellow, white cotton. The style was more rock chic with a '70s vibe to it. Her collection spoke volumes as it was loud, not like last season where she used more of the darker shades. Her collection was more suited for the busy everyday women who likes to look stylish and chic. She featured long, flowy printed dresses which is a must-have for this season with few tailored pieces like white pant suits. We have also seen more of the oversized bags on the runways.
-Desiree Masiela

New York Fashion Week: Yigal Azrouel

Soft sixties music opened the Yigal Azrouel women’s 2009 Spring runway show. With sleek, slicked-back hair, the sophisticated young women wore the draping, flowing fabrics, fitted to perfection in just the right places! Chic dresses in a muted pastel palette of layered but clingy silk jersey knits floated down the runway. The collection was a dazzling display of elegance and seduction, with each piece being extremely wearable for the right occasion.

Complex and intricate design details, delivered a sophisticated, sexy, flirty and fun collection for the most confident women! We left the show with new and modern ideas for a chic twist on layered detail in custom bedding, table linens, and throw pillows.
-Susan Maxwell of Suz Maxwell

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