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Derek Blasberg

Alexander Wang Fall 2010: Wall Street, Wang-Style
Diane Von Furstenberg

Alexander Wang Fall 2010: Wall Street, Wang-Style

>> Despite the vast concrete-floored warehouse space waiting inside Pier 94 to house Alexander Wang's guests, they all had to pass through a single set of double doors at the entrance yesterday, causing quite the crush, particularly because a burly security guard took up a large part of the entryway, allowing VIPs like Dasha Zhukova and Fabien Baron pass on his right, while everyone else had to go to his left.
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>> Despite the vast concrete-floored warehouse space waiting inside Pier 94 to house Alexander Wang's guests, they all had to pass through a single set of double doors at the entrance yesterday, causing quite the crush, particularly because a burly security guard took up a large part of the entryway, allowing VIPs like Dasha Zhukova and Fabien Baron pass on his right, while everyone else had to go to his left.

The crowd buzzed with excitement; after all, Wang has come a long way in a few short seasons — to the point that a major magazine's accessories editor had to ask stylists to stop using one of his shoes, the lace-up sandal boot from Spring 2010, which had become ubiquitous, in all of their shoots.

Tavi Gavinson emerged from backstage, Fashion Television camera crew in tow, and took to laughing with and interviewing Lauren Santo Domingo, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, and Derek Blasberg. She took her front row seat, and the stadium-style lights went down and then up, revealing opener (and closer) Natalia Vodianova, hair shellacked over one eye, as she walked along the long black background, giving the audience a prolonged view in profile, before turning to give them a closer look.

Wang, like fellow young designer Jason Wu, felt the need for a turning point in his brand this season, hence a focus on a more tailored silhouette in the form of deconstructed pinstripe suits: Wall Street, Wang-style.  But there was also a strong element of late-'90s goth: the models wore black backpacks with fluttery floor-length tails, 5-inch high chunky-heeled mid-calf boots in velvet or brown with burnished yellow toes (which they had trouble turning in), pleated mini-skirts with tuxedo tails in back, and mid-thigh leggings which belled out over their shoes.  There was even some chenille and a black leather trench thrown into the mix.

Big on collaborations, Wang worked with stylist Karl Templer and Linda Farrow sunglasses each for the second time, the latter producing bug-eyed shades worn over the models' hair, and Gaia Repossi for jewelry.  In addition to Natalia, Freja Beha Erichsen and Snejana Onopka made their runway debut for the week; Agyness Deyn and Jessica Miller, ready for a comeback, also took a turn.  The designer's CFDA-appointed mentor Diane von Furstenberg was front row, smiling during the finale, along with her CEO Paula Sutter, whose appearance raised a few questions about investment potential (DVF has a stake in Nathan Jensen's line).

Wang decided to forgo an after-party this season after last season's gas station-set rager, but fret not; last night, he told WWD with a grin: "We're planning something big for September."

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Richard Chai Goes Glunge for Fall 2010 Love Collection
New York Fashion Week

Richard Chai Goes Glunge for Fall 2010 Love Collection

>> For the second season in a row, Richard Chai chose to send his secondary line, Richard Chai Love, down the runway rather than his main line.
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>> For the second season in a row, Richard Chai chose to send his secondary line, Richard Chai Love, down the runway rather than his main line. "It just made sense," Chai explained to Style.com. "I want to nurture the [Love] business. The women's collection is already established."  Another thing established: the gray-washed boots from Timberland Chai paired with his looks this season had quite a few fans even before they hit the runway — during fittings, the models were all asking to take them home.

Chai's close friend Phillip Lim sat front row chatting with Poppy Delevigne, Harley Viera-Newton, and Derek Blasberg, while on the runway, Meghan Collison made a return with a lighter head of hair; Liu Wen, meanwhile, sported a few chunky strips of reddish blonde on the back of her head. Long knit skirts, turned down waistlines, and cozy scrunched fingerless gloves added a taste of grunge to the collection, promptly counteracted by the glamour of shimmery tops and bits of fur.

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Photos of Interview's 40th Anniversary Party
Celebrity

Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party

Storm, what storm? It takes more than a little snow to stop some of NYC's best from partying the night away.
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Photos of Interview's 40th Anniversary Party

Storm, what storm? It takes more than a little snow to stop some of NYC's best from partying the night away. Following the Chanel Rouge Coco dinner, models, celebs, and fashion folk kept the night alive at Interview Magazine's 40th anniversary issue party at the Hudson Hotel’s new club, Good Units. "I can remember when this hotel opened, but I've never been down here," said Naomi Campbell. "I love it, though. I love the dancing — it reminds me of the eighties." Derek Blasberg, Kate Bosworth, and Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez sure look like they're having a fine fashion moment. Check out the rest of the partygoers!


Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan

Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party! Behind the Seams: Interview's 40th Anniversary Party!
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Calvin Klein, Rodarte, and Alexander Wang All Livestreaming Shows
Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein, Rodarte, and Alexander Wang All Livestreaming Shows

>> All the top tickets in town are jumping on the livestream bandwagon.  First, Marc Jacobs announced his 500 person, front-row only show would be open and shown live to the public via the Intertubes a couple of days ago, and today, Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, and Rodarte have all announced they're entering the ring this season as well.The Wang and Rodarte shows will both be presented live on Nick Knight's Showstudio.com, with Wang's debuting at 5 pm EST on Feb.
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>> All the top tickets in town are jumping on the livestream bandwagon.  First, Marc Jacobs announced his 500 person, front-row only show would be open and shown live to the public via the Intertubes a couple of days ago, and today, Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, and Rodarte have all announced they're entering the ring this season as well.

The Wang and Rodarte shows will both be presented live on Nick Knight's Showstudio.com, with Wang's debuting at 5 pm EST on Feb. 13 and Rodarte's at noon EST on Feb. 16.  Calvin Klein, meanwhile, will broadcast their women's show on calvinkleincollection.com and Facebook at 3 pm on Feb. 18.

So what does all this livestreaming mean for the future of Fashion Week? »

Donatella Versace

>> Donatella Versace Has Bodyguards Assist Her in the Toilet —Anna Wintour has a set of bodyguards who hold up a flashlight on stairs for her so she doesn't trip in her heels, but Donatella Versace takes it one step further.
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>> Donatella Versace Has Bodyguards Assist Her in the Toilet —Anna Wintour has a set of bodyguards who hold up a flashlight on stairs for her so she doesn't trip in her heels, but Donatella Versace takes it one step further. Apparently, at Oi Fashion Rocks in Rio de Janeiro in late October, Donatella had bodyguards "holding her dress up for her in the porta-potties," reports Derek Blasberg.  See the two gowns she wore to the event here. [V Magazine]

Alber Elbaz Serves Up Cocktails and Cocktail Dresses for Spring 2010
Paris Fashion Week

Alber Elbaz Serves Up Cocktails and Cocktail Dresses for Spring 2010

>> Spring 2010 is a party for Alber Elbaz: tables were erected in the middle of the runway pre-show, with bow-tied waiters offering up puff pastries and fruity frozen cocktails with umbrellas as salsa music played in the background.  Lanvin paper fans were placed on every seat.
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>> Spring 2010 is a party for Alber Elbaz: tables were erected in the middle of the runway pre-show, with bow-tied waiters offering up puff pastries and fruity frozen cocktails with umbrellas as salsa music played in the background.  Lanvin paper fans were placed on every seat.

With a neon chandelier as backdrop, Elbaz, who just recently returned from Argentina, served up jumpsuits and colorful pouf cocktail dresses — some accessorized with one glove.  The collection, Elbaz said, was crafted almost entirely from man-made fabrics, and called it a look of "new minimalism." The elborately bold jewelry will surely be clamored for.  As Style.com's Derek Blasberg put it, "If you judge a designer by the level of applause at his finale, Alber Elbaz is the best."

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Giorgio Armani

>> Armani, Versace Supposedly Had Bidding War Over Megan Fox —  When Victoria Beckham declined to renew her Emporio Armani underwear ad contract earlier this month, rumors went around that Megan Fox was signed to replace her.
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>> Armani, Versace Supposedly Had Bidding War Over Megan Fox —  When Victoria Beckham declined to renew her Emporio Armani underwear ad contract earlier this month, rumors went around that Megan Fox was signed to replace her.  But now, Derek Blasberg reports: "Word on the casting couch is that [Fox] is taking over the [Armani] fragrance campaign for Beyonce, AND the fashion campaign also. This, after a Fox bidding war with none other than Versace." [Derek Blasberg Twitter, Derek Blasberg Twitter]

The Last Two POP Covers for Dasha Zhukova's First Issue, Plus More Inside Details
Karl Lagerfeld

The Last Two POP Covers for Dasha Zhukova's First Issue, Plus More Inside Details

>> The first issue of POP under Dasha Zhukova's guiding hand hits newsstands tomorrow at $8, with two international newsstand covers, each with a 50/50 split run, of Style Rookie's Tavi, plus a 500-copy limited-edition hardback cover by Ed Ruscha (below, left), and a limited subscriber's cover of Cicciolina for the Baltic States (below, right).
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>> The first issue of POP under Dasha Zhukova's guiding hand hits newsstands tomorrow at $8, with two international newsstand covers, each with a 50/50 split run, of Style Rookie's Tavi, plus a 500-copy limited-edition hardback cover by Ed Ruscha (below, left), and a limited subscriber's cover of Cicciolina for the Baltic States (below, right).

“The new Pop launches at an exciting turning point in fashion, where the possibilities and potential for creativity are almost overwhelming,” Zhukova told WWD. “The new era is more fluid than ever before; one where teenage girls in Chicago, fashion editors in Paris, street photographers from Berlin and bloggers everywhere . . . redefine the fashion landscape.”

Fake Karl, Jen Brill, and Mark Borthwick are all involved »

Valentino Goes "Radical" in Black for Fall 2009 Couture
Valentino

Valentino Goes "Radical" in Black for Fall 2009 Couture

>> Just as editors privy to a preview hinted yesterday, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's second couture outing — for Fall 2009 — was heavy on the black, lace, feathers, and gothic look — "radical," in a word, for Valentino.
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>> Just as editors privy to a preview hinted yesterday, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's second couture outing — for Fall 2009 — was heavy on the black, lace, feathers, and gothic look — "radical," in a word, for Valentino.  As Elle's Joe Zee put it, "Not one piece of red in sight. It's a new day at Valentino. Hell, there was barely any long. Just wisps of fabric with bows and frills." 

The show took place in an old convent, with the runway featuring moving images of smoke projected on screens. Philip Treacy contributed shredded veils especially for the collection, and though reception to the designers has been tepid in the past, initial reaction seems positive.  Says Style.com's Derek Blasberg: "Ok, it was good. But so black! . . . Methinks [Valentino] would be proud."  And Joe Zee: "Attention Hollywood starlets: Please wear short to your next red carpet. And please call Valentino for it. Short has never looked so chic."

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Fashion Mourns Michael Jackson
Givenchy

Fashion Mourns Michael Jackson

>> Just today, Swarovski announced that they were going to clothe Michael Jackson head to toe for his "This Is It" tour kicking off next month — his costumes and sets were to feature over 300,000 crystals, in 53 different shapes, 43 different sizes, and 27 different colors.  In April, The Imagist reported that Balmain stylist Emmanuelle Alt "would weep" if Jackson allowed Balmain to do his tour costumes because she was "100% obsessed" with him — a fact reflected in Balmain's flashy runway pieces.Jackson had catapulted himself back into fashion's eye in recent months after he was spotted in a number of different Balmain looks — no doubt courtesy of Emmanuelle Alt — and a favorite gold studded Givenchy jacket.  At the news of his death this afternoon, an outpouring of reactions — some incredulous — came from models, editors, and designers alike — those from a few, below.
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>> Just today, Swarovski announced that they were going to clothe Michael Jackson head to toe for his "This Is It" tour kicking off next month — his costumes and sets were to feature over 300,000 crystals, in 53 different shapes, 43 different sizes, and 27 different colors.  In April, The Imagist reported that Balmain stylist Emmanuelle Alt "would weep" if Jackson allowed Balmain to do his tour costumes because she was "100% obsessed" with him — a fact reflected in Balmain's flashy runway pieces.

Jackson had catapulted himself back into fashion's eye in recent months after he was spotted in a number of different Balmain looks — no doubt courtesy of Emmanuelle Alt — and a favorite gold studded Givenchy jacket.  At the news of his death this afternoon, an outpouring of reactions — some incredulous — came from models, editors, and designers alike — those from a few, below.

"This is unbelievable..."