>> Model Update: Who's Walking, Who's Not —'90s Calvin Klein model Jenny Shimizu made a runway return, closing the John Bartlett runway on Wednesday — the designer told The Daily of Shimizu: "[She's] really a muse for me. She depicts the kind of woman that I'm dressing. It's no frills, no high heels, no beading, no ruffles." And Jessica Miller is also said to be coming back to the runway. Irina Lazareanu, meanwhile, should be in a couple of front rows, but she's not walking, save for the runway appearance she made for Fashion for Relief this evening. Ali Stephens, too, is only walking a few shows because she's "not the typical skinny — I have hips. I love my body but I’m not one of the girls willing to starve themselves for fashion, so I do what shows I can but I don’t, pressure myself to fit into the sample sizes." Stephens doesn't plan to go to Milan or London Fashion Weeks. [Style File, @nextmodelsnyc, Modelinia, @Modelinia, The Cut]
Girls on Film: Ali Stephens, French Revue de Modes
In this Halloween-inspired edition of French Revue de Modes, Ali Stephens shows off her fashionable crime-fighting abilities in a black and white editorial shot by Thierry Le Goues. With a hunky Batman by her side, Ali tackled the streets in an array of leopard print bodysuits, checkered frocks, avant-garde coats, and ornate LBDs. Of course, every sexy superhero needs thigh-high leather boots, statement belts, and slick leather gloves to complete the look. Oh, did you notice how Ali's big wavy hair and thick eyeliner is reminiscent of Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman? So rad. If only I could look this good on Halloween . . .
>> Ali Stephens, Irina Lazareanu Change Up Their Hair for the New Show Season — Caroline Trentini and Alyona Osmanova did it, now Irina Lazareanu and Ali Stephens have, too. Irina debuted a Tao Okamoto-like crop when she walked the Mikio Sakabe runway in Barcelona yesterday, and Ali Stephens's new polaroids show her blonder than before, with a shoulder-length cut. [Fashin, Models.com]
Fab Blab: Insiders Share Fashion Week Survival Secrets
Surviving and staying sane during New York Fashion Week is no easy feat. Trust me. Fashion insiders like designer Jason Wu, social and Phil Collins's girl Lily Collins, model Ali Stephens, and PR queen Kelly Cutrone, also know that very well. All four shared their secrets for surviving Fashion Week and all the craziness that comes with it.

Jason Wu
- In his bag: ChapStick, gum, cell phone, notebook, and a lucky charm from my dad that I carry everywhere.
- How he'll unwind: Have a mojito and catch up on Nip/Tuck.
Lily Collins
- In her bag: My phone, a touch-up mirror, my lipstick (MAC), and a camera so I don’t miss anything.
- How she'll unwind: A cup of tea, a movie, and looking out over Central Park and the city lights.
To hear from Ali Stephens and Kelly Cutrone, read more
First Look: Lily Cole in Rage; More Models Get a Chop Job
- Clip: Lily Cole as Lettuce Leaf in her new movie Rage [Fashionista]
- Ali Stephens cut her hair, to be debuted at Rag & Bone; So did Coco Rocha [Modelinia, Oh So Coco]
- Agyness Deyn is still performing with Five O'Clock Heroes for a secret show in London next week [Grazia]
- Erin Wasson will be at London Fashion Week, scoping out the talent [Grazia]
>> THE MODELIZER —Coco Rocha has finally landed back in New York after her break from modeling — she showed up at Saks Fifth Avenue last night to fete the store's new contemporary space, DJed it up with Ali Stephens, Daul Kim, and Tanya Dziahileva, and perhaps even met her agency's newest, much-buzzed-about face, Diandra Forrest, who was also in attendance. [Oh So Coco, Elite Clips, Papermag]
Abbey Lee Kershaw Faints at Alexander McQueen
>> The model who fainted at Alexander McQueen today has been identified as Abbey Lee Kershaw.
According to an eyewitness, "When she was coming to the end [of the runway], back near the [entrance] ramp, I could tell she was having difficulties, because her steps were getting shorter and shorter, they were more like baby steps. I was reading her face and I could see 'struggle' all over it and I was thinking, 'She's not going to make it'."
Abbey Lee fainted just as she was about to exit the runway, was helped backstage by two members of the production crew, and did not walk the finale. The cause of her fainting spell was thought to be the combination of the tight corset and high heels she was wearing; A person involved with the show blamed it on fatigue — Abbey Lee had been awake since 5 am. After the show, fellow model Ali Stephens confirmed that Abbey Lee was "OK," and apparently she left "on her own legs."
Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi's First Ferre Collection: The Reviews Are In
>> Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi had a tall order to fill for Spring 2009. Before Gianfranco Ferre passed in 2007, his architectural-based label had ceased to become relevent — as Cathy Horyn put it, "It’s been a while since anyone [has] paid serious attention to the Ferre name." So could the newly tapped designers bring it back to the forefront?
The general consensus says yes. Nicole Phelps of Style.com was pleased: "They deserve high marks for this outing." Cathy Horyn of The New York Times, a Aquilano-Rimondi fan, loved the effort, with one caveat: "The designers distilled the essence of Ferre in a new, eye-catching way. Now to just refine the elements a bit more . . . " WWD felt the same: "Aquilano and Rimondi have the right ideas, but what they need now is a little restraint."
Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune also echoed the same sentiment: "Not all the Ferré collection was approachable. Yet . . . the two designers created the clothes and the buzz that will bring fashion life back to Ferré." With another season under their belts, Aquilano and Rimondi could definitely hit the right stride at Ferre.
*image: source
Phillip Lim Sews Up Another Crowd Pleaser for Spring 2009
>> Phillip Lim created the mascot skirt of Fashion Week earlier this year — not kidding, I've seen it on at least one person every day this week — and if the attendance to his newest collection's presentation is any indication, Spring 2009 will be smooth sailing for 3.1 Phillip Lim — the Tent was packed to the gills with fans, including friends Richard Chai and Irina Lazareanu, both sitting front row.
Christian Louboutin designed ruffled heels for the collection, eliciting covetousness in many — in fact, the whole Spring 2009 season is about ruffles for Phillip. The treatment in some of the dresses and skirts reminded me of a tamed version of Marc Jacobs's Spring 2007 ruffles, but among the hazy smoke that hovered on the runway, the real standouts emerged — the stiff, open-edged zipper pieces, and the jewelry Eddie Borgo made for the occasion.
*image: source



