Fashion Week is coming into its eventful final shows, and it seems like the keywords for today's looks were "vintage pretty." We saw lots of styles inspired by Old Hollywood, slicked-back flapper hair, and even a touch of '60s techniques. It's all eminently covetable, so take a look.
>> Last night, Maria Cornejo, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra, and Monique Pean were named the inaugural winners of the CFDA & Lexus Hybrid Living Eco Fashion Challenge.
Each had to demonstrate a commitment to ecologically responsible design, with a minimum of 25 percent of their collection produced in an environmentally-friendly manner: Pean uses recycled gold and sustainable buffalo horn; Costello Tagliapietra creates fabric dyes in an eco-friendly way; and Cornejo employs sustainable manufacturing practices and uses fabric like cupro, which is typically discarded during the production of cotton. In turn, each was awarded $25,000 from Lexus to use toward their Fall 2011 presentation in February.
The other 2010 finalists included Alabama Chanin, Behnaz Sarafpour, Libertine by Johnson Hartig, Marcia Patmos, Organic by John Patrick, Slow and Steady Wins the Race by Mary Ping, and Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta.
>> Francisco Costa, Maria Cornejo, and Yoehlee Teng touched on everything from model casting to celebrity dressing to eco fashion last Thursday night at the Cooper-Hewitt museum in New York as part of the “Voices in American Fashion” panel, moderated by The Washington Post's Robin Givhan.
Costa, who is known for his unique show casting, voiced one vision for a Calvin Klein show that he hasn't yet fulfilled — street casting. "I wish to be able to just go into the streets and just start going. As a concept, I would love to do that someday."
Cornejo rebutted: "I have to say, the first show I did in New York, I did have all real people, only one model, and it bombed. The editors do not want to see the clothes on real women. It's more exciting for them [to see the clothes on models]. They want to be able to say: 'Oh, I shot her last week.'"
Both designers agree, however, when it comes to using young models »
Are you thirsty for more 2010 Pre-Fall action? You know I am. This time, heavy hitters such as Alexander Wang, Chanel, Rachel Roy, Narciso Rodriguez, Burberry Prorsum, and Michael Kors showed us what Fall in the new decade means to them. Furry vests, streamlined trenches, cropped pants, and pretty prints were all present to keep us warm and svelte during cold months. This Diane von Furstenberg ensemble is on the top of my list. The moody print dress, draped shawl cardi, and beanie combo captures the very essence of my girlie spirit.
As we approach the holidays, I'm on the lookout for original party looks. Eva's wink may not be up to par, but the slick tuxedo-inspired look she wore to the 2010 Pirelli Calendar cocktail reception in London was beyond Fab. She dressed up her slight harem pants with delicate sandals, a draped white top, and a velvet blazer. Feminine details like a black lace peekaboo bra and radiant art deco earrings are suave touches. A jolt of red satin via her clutch is holiday-tastic.
Check out CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!
>> The meteoric rise of Jason Wu — he has tripled his sales appointments for his sold out, yet-to-be-unveiled Fall 2009 collection — shows what an influence Michelle Obama can have on a designer. But Wu doesn't just have Obama to thank — he never actually interacted with the First Lady, but rather with Ikram Goldman, owner of Chicago boutique Ikram, and Obama's gatekeeper to the fashion industry.
In fact, none of the designers who have made clothes for the First Lady have had any direct contact with their White House client — all commissions, measurements, bills, and other directions have been mediated by Ikram, causing something of a controversy; the clothes that Obama has worn recently are predominantly from designers that Cathy Horyn points out, "Ikram sells and ultimately stands to benefit from" — Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, and Mario Cornejo.
