This season's little black dress comes in as many varieties as ever but this time around they're rendered with mesh. Whether you're going for the power babe, body-con Alexander Wang look or something more demure and geometric like Acne's version you can pretty much find what you want. We especially love this look with dewy, minimal makeup and bare legs--it certainly makes the old LBD routine seem fresh again.
>> Peter Som has had a tough past six months, between the fallout at Bill Blass and the pull out of his eponymous lines' investor. Two weeks ago, he wasn't even sure if he was going to be able to pull anything together for Fashion Week, but he's succeeded in producing something for Fall 2009 — a capsule collection of 16 looks, which he will be showing at private appointments.
Peter's not alone in his misfortune this season — for various other labels, big and small, Fall 2009 isn't panning out so well either. Some, like Peter, have had to cancel their runway show in favor of showroom appointments (Sari Gueron) or lookbooks (Francis by Christian Francis Roth, who just tried to stage a comeback last season). Some are just plain nixing their shows (Benjamin Cho, Hanii Y, Sue Stemp, Rubin Singer).
Poor newcomer Mikhael Kale had to cancel his show because his samples were damaged during shipping; he's remaking the collection for press and buyer appointments in two weeks' time. Italian knitwear label Malo, designed by Alessandro Dell'Acqua, is totally missing in action, even though it always draws Carine Roitfeld and Franca Sozzani front row. And Patrick Robinson has postponed Gap's presentation until April. Here's to hoping the news only gets better from here.
*image: source
Our newest network partner, also currently featured in our exclusive Coutorture editorial 'A Night At Maxim's', is the lovely designer, Sue Stemp. Stemp will bring to our network her knowledge and experience as a contemporary fashion designer thriving in New York. Stemp's blog curates her lively adventures in design which include everything from exclusive events to karaoke nights with friends (like, uh, Doo Ri). Also, captivating are those glimpses from the 'backstage' vantage point, the moments that can only being captured by the designer herself (not the press, nor her friends). This week, Stemp captured the birthday party of Alexander McQueen, which started at Waverly Inn and finished at Beatrice. To see more from the party, check out Stemp's blog, we guarantee you'll recognize a few people.
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An original photo editorial for Coutorture.com. Photographer Alex Norden, Fashion Editors Megan Zanke and Julie Fredrickson, Styling Sue Stemp, Makeup Megan Zanke, Models Caroline West and Leslie Wilson from Elite Model Management.
Maybe you haven't shaved your legs, maybe your planning some laying-in-the-grass time, or maybe you just feel like having some extra fabric floating as you stride. The maxi dress appears every season (sometimes abundantly so ) because the shape compliments many body types and many activities. Although this season, everyone's screaming about other trends and patterns, the maxi dress has definitely made more than one appearance. Here are our favorites, by Twinkle, Chris Han, Sue Stemp, and Yigal Azrouel.
As disco mania sweeps through the nightlife destinations of New York's hippest drink swillers, the Sue Stemp S/S 08 collection provides the outfits for the cause. This collection, in all of it's 1970's boheme glory, looks like it will be a solution to the ninety degree heat/desire to wear something other than a Uniqlo t-shirt problem. Stemp, a social, fun gal of her own accord, recently showed us around her studio and gave us a peek at the inspiration behind her A/W 08 collection. Sure it's a new season, but we suspect to see her aesthetic shine through, as she draws upon pop-rebels like Serge Gainsbourg for her next round in '08.
Last week, we met with English designer Sue Stemp for a pre-fashion week interview and tour of her studio. This will be the sixth collection for Sue Stemp, who is known for her English boheme sensibilities and New York know-how. This season, Stemp draws inspiration from the famous restaurant, Maxim's, for its art nouveau interior and its social scene in the 1970's.
