Gap Design Editions

Gosh, word sure spread fast about the new CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund designer white shirts and jewelry huh? I went to my local Gap last night to check it out and they were already running low on stock. Well, overall I felt a little underwhelmed about the shirts (priced at $78 – $88) by Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, and Michael Bastian. This Cut-out dress by Three AsFour is cute. The jewlery by Philip Crangi is um…different, but they are not my style. What do you think? Weigh in on them.

Comme des Garçons for H&M

Comme des Garçons autumn/winter 07/08 (left) and spring/summer 2008 collections

The Japanese fashion brand, Comme des Garçons, one of the most avant garde in the world, founded by Rei Kawakubo, is to join forces with the high street chain, H&M. This collaboration has come as such a surprise to the fashin world. I think this one will be the most interesting one yet since all the designers and celebries of previous collaborations are definitely much more mainstream. Kawakubo will design a women’s and a men’s collection, as well as a capsule range of pieces for children. Also included will be an exclusive unisex fragrance and accessories. The collection will be launched in November. Can’t wait to see it.

(Source: telegraph.co.uk)

Botkier for Target

According NY Post, “Target is partnering with renowned accessories designer Monica Botkier to launch a limited-edition handbag collection, Botkier for Target. This collection is the fifth handbag launch in a series of limited-time-only accessories designers at Target. The Botkier for Target collection will be available at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com July 21 through Sept. 14, 2008.” No photos yet. But I hope the bags will look like these fabulous creations.

Botkier ‘Gladiator’ Patent Leather Metal Tipped Tote $695 by pre-order.

Botkier Lita Clutch $350

Botkier Stevie Satchel $650

Botkier Stevie Hobo $675

Costello Tagliapietra – their meaty paws and delicate dresses

If you haven’t heard of a designer duo Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello and their label Costello Tagliapietra, don’t be surprised. I didn’t either until I read about them in this article in NY Post. They don’t look like fashion designers, do they? It’s funny how we always have pre-conceived images in our minds how fashion designers should look when in truth that has no bearing in their ability to make beautiful clothes. Costello Tagliapietra’s dresses are truly exquisite and elegant, and they are made by two guys who look like lumberjacks. Even Costello says, “I still don’t understand how we do these delicate dresses with such meaty paws.” The writer of the article and various fashion insiders wonder why they aren’t more famous, after all they were disvered by Vogue, beloved by Madonna, displayed at the Met. The boys themselves don’t know why. However, I’m sure their huge success will soon arrive.

“Their current intern – coincidentally, they say – looks exactly like they do: a burly, bearded young man in jeans, a flannel shirt and suspenders, more rustic lumberjack than refined couturier.” Don’t you just love that?

(Source: nypost.com)

Nordstrom’s new ad campaign

This is Nordstrom’s new ad campaign, which will break in March issues of Elle, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. What do you think of these?

“The Seattle, Wash.-based retailer has evolved its iconic Ruben Toledo illustration-centric advertising campaign of years past to incorporate the lens work of acclaimed fashion photographer Ruven Afanador in brilliant three-dimensional form.

Toledo painted 20-by-30 foot walls to create a series of arresting, surrealistic, black-and-white sets that bear the Cuban artist’s signature whimsy and of-the-moment aesthetic that has made him the sought-after illustrator he is. The creative process on-set was so explosive, in fact, that at certain points, Toledo felt himself inspired to paint directly onto the models’ faces and bodies as Afanador captured the high-fashion spirit through his images.”

“It’s one thing to say that fashion and art go together and to show it by putting a model in an art gallery,” said Linda Finn, executive vice president of marketing at Nordstrom. “We knew we didn’t want to do that and we knew Ruben’s artwork needed to be more than just a backdrop. Instead, what Ruben and Ruven came up with truly fused art and photography. The art became the environment–transcending the very idea of a backdrop. The result truly exceeded our expectations.”"

Continue reading the article on fashionweekdaily.com.

I’d LOVE to be there in person!

So, I have the opportunity to go to Fashion Week, thanks to Sarah and Julie (thank you darlings!), to attend Project Runway designer Victorya Hong‘s debut show on February 1st! Imagine my excitement when I got the invitation! But I can’t go *cries*. I know you are going to scold me for giving up such a great opportunity. I really really want to go, but living far away from NYC and having a day job has its downsides when it comes to going to Fashion Week in NYC. But I’ll have my eyes peeled for the show and will pass along the pictures for you guys.

By the way, did any of you buy her winning dress when it went on sale at Steve & Barry’s? I really hope so! You know we don’t have Steve & Barry’s here. Send me pictures of the dress if you bought it

Keira Knightley and Atonement – a perfect marriage

A UK poll by high street chain Superdrug has found Keira Knightley is Britons’ beauty icon for 2007. I’m sure the movie Atonement has something to do with it. Have all of you seen the movie? Isn’t it just a beautiful picture? Keira Knightley looks divine in it. Don’t you just love the emerald green dress she wore?

From the Press Association: this dress has been voted the best film costume of all time! It even beat out Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in The Seven Year Itch and Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany’s! That’s something.

Watch Isaac

I can’t wait for this! Isaac Mizrahi’s going to be on his own website Watch Isaac in 2008 with daily episodes, talking to you about everything from making your ass look smaller to paying your mortgage. Don’t miss it. By the way, he doesn’t like sheer pantyhose and thinks they give women bologna legs. Totally!

Max & Chloe Shopping Party

A girl’s gotta have some bling and handbags. I wish I could be in NYC for the Max & Chloe Shopping Party on December 13! You girls in NYC should totally go! Fine jewelry from Sydney Evan, M2 Designs, Anna Corinna and Goldenbleu bags and selected fashion jewelry featured on Max & Chloe website. And they will serve champagne, cocktails and cupcakes!

Discounts of 30-60% off

RSVP ONLY. E-mail ashley@maxandchloe.com to RSVP

Thursday, December 13
5:00pm – 9:30pm

122 W 26th St
(btwn 6th an 7th Ave)
Suite #603
New York, NY

How can they be this clueless?

I’m sure by now you have heard about Fashion chain Zara pulls swastika bag. It’s pretty amazing that the company didn’t even do any research before the bag was distributed all over Europe and North America. How did the person who said “hey let’s put the swastika symbol on the bag” get past the design approval?!

Net-a-Porter launches Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

In an effort to bring women together all over the world to support a worthy cause, NET-A-PORTER.COM, in partnership with The Council of Fashion Designers of America/CFDA Foundation Inc., is launching FASHION TARGETS BREAST CANCER ® (FTBC) WORLDWIDE. This year-long initiative will feature a series of limited-edition FTBC branded products by some of the world’s leading international designers, for sale exclusively at NET-A-PORTER.COM, to raise breast cancer awareness as well as fundraise for FTBC.

NET-A-PORTER kicks off this global program today with the launch of an iconic FTBC WORLDWIDE polo shirt designed exclusively by Ralph Lauren. Buy one now for £55/€80/$75, and all net proceeds will be donated to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer ® WORLDWIDE, where they will benefit local breast cancer charities around the world in support of the on-going global campaign to find a cure.

Plus, visit NET-A-PORTER’s dedicated FTBC “store,” featuring need-to-know facts about breast cancer, unique merchandise, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the FTBC ad campaign, featuring the Ralph Lauren-designed polo shirts worn by top models.

This is a great cause! Spread the word

Gap’s new ads

(Twyla Tharp, Forest Whitaker and Lucy Liu are among the celebrities shot in black and white by Annie Leibovitz for the latest Gap advertising campaign.)

Seems like Gap churns out new ad campaigns every 5 minutes, but not many are successful. Gap Tries a Somewhat Old-Fashioned Campaign. ‘This fall, Gap will try to atone for such missteps. It is eschewing television ads in favor of a print campaign shot by the photographer Annie Leibovitz, who took black-and-white portraits of famous and semifamous people — like the comedian Sarah Silverman and the actors Forest Whitaker, Lucy Liu and Liev Schreiber. All of them are wearing the type of traditional garb that made Gap such a closet staple (and, the company hopes, of the type people can actually see themselves wearing). The tagline: “Classics Redefined.”

Other faces of the campaign are the actors Selma Blair, Regina King and Ken Watanabe; the musicians John Mayer and Puffy and Ami Yumi; the choreographer Twyla Tharp; the designer Marcel Wanders; and the filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, who won an Oscar for directing “An Inconvenient Truth.”’

(Source: nytimes.com)

Reese Witherspoon for Avon

Avon’s really stepping up to the plate lately. It’s no longer just for housewives or soccer moms. Reese Witherspoon has been named the first ever Avon Global Ambassador. The company sees Reese a role model and inspiration to millions of everyday real working women.

And this fall, Avon and Cynthia Rowley will introduce the limited-edition Cynthia Rowley for Avon Fall 2007 Color Collection. Rowley is the first fashion designer to team up with the beauty brand. I’ll be very interested in seeing what the collection looks like.