FabSugar

Celebrity Style: Lauren Conrad

FabSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:00:22 -0700

After The Hills aired last night, Lauren Conrad stopped by the MTV Canada studios for the live after-show. The soon-to-be ex reality star looked chic in a black leather mini skirt and a sheer white blouse. The white fringe scarf adds casual flavor while her black suede pumps elongate her legs. Lauren may be opting out of reality TV, but let's hope we continue seeing her cute style out and about.

Love Quotes Hand Knotted Fringe Scarf - $85.00	Porter Grey Mandarin Collar Blouse - $255.00
Urban Renewal Leather Mini Skirt - $58.00	Trinitie Raspberry Suede - $99.95
Rebecca Minkoff Rocker Bag - $330.00	Alex and Ani set of 5 - blue sea beaded expandable wire bangles - $69.00
Ettika Peace in Love Silk Wrap Bracelet - $80.00	Jennifer Zeuner Mini Hamsa Diamond Bracelet in Silver - $135.00
Zads The Ring Set - $18.00

Check out CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!

INFDaily.com

Celebrity Style: Reese Witherspoon

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:54:03 -0800

Reese Witherspoon's airport look is one of the reasons I love Fall. The season is all about bundling up in rich hues, and Reese nailed it. She fused black with purple and brown with refinement and ease. The actress also knows that cardigan dresses are the perfect way to simultaneously combine chicness and comfort. Thanks to her purple pashmina, brown riding boots, square sunnies, and gold jewelry, the look is cozy and cool.

Long Cardigan - $89.00	Love Quotes Scarf in Regal - $90.00
Frye Tina Campus - $388.00	Chloé 'Heloise' Square Sunglasses with Buckle Detail Temples - $290.00
ASSETS® by Sara Blakely® Terrific Textured Cable Twist Tights - Black - $9.80	R.j. graziano ball drop earrings - $20.00
Rachel Leigh Sweet Tooth Ring in Gold - $52.00	Metallic Serpent Watch - $8.50

Check out our new site CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!

Bauer-Griffin Online

The Donna Dish: "If You Can't Sleep in It, Forget It"

FabSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:50:22 -0700

The Donna Karan wisdom continues. After listening to her and Ken Downing at the Neiman Marcus event in San Francisco, I have a newfound interest in draping and defining luxury. Donna also mentioned Michelle Obama ("Michelle Obama is an icon") and emphasized the importance of jewelry when she spoke of her years collaborating with Robert Lee Morris: "Jewelry is important. Accessories are extremely important." Oh, and my favorite Donna quote? "Glamour - I forgot the word glamour!" Here's more Donna dish:

Donna on draping: She always makes her skirts wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. "Draping is how fabric wraps around your body and accents the positive and hides the negative."

Donna defines luxury: There is a difference between seeing something and wearing it, and to her, wearing is luxury. It's the difference of seeing and touching. This year was the most challenging year. It's important to not deny it and have consciousness about it. "I feel luxury is how we care for ourselves and other human beings."

To hear the rest, read more.

Donna on everyday dressing: "Do you have any idea how many outfits you can create from the same pieces?" Investment dressing doesn't go out of style. She loves it when she sees women wearing her older clothes today.
Donna and her fabrics: "Most of my fabrics are made in Italy with extraordinary technology." A cashmere knits collection is coming out soon; it's based on comfort and ease and includes all sorts of neutral colors.

View 9 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of Drew Altizer

Good News Bears

FabSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:22 -0700

Finally, some good news. If you have a subscription to WWD, you probably wake up every day to another company reporting negative profits. After months and months, it's quite the downer. True, rock-hard luxury companies like Louis Vuitton are keeping afloat, but how is everyone else doing? WWD surveyed top designers and retail executives, and the outlook was overly optimistic. If you need a pick-me-up or just want to be enlightened, check out my favorite quotes from the article.

Michael Kors: “The good news is in this crazy, terrible economy, I think people’s taste is getting better. They have to think about what they buy and they’re getting a more discerning eye because of it. There are no more shoes you can’t walk in, bags you can’t carry, dresses you can’t sit in. All of that’s finished. It’s like the beginning of Gone With the Wind, ‘This is about a time long, long ago.’ The handbag that’s so heavy I can’t lift it, the shoe I can’t get out of a car in, the dress I have to lean in - those are memories from a time that’s gone with the wind."

Karl Lagerfeld: "You have to have something very quality and fashion at the same time, and the names are the guarantee of all that. That’s why big names are important. That’s why it might be more difficult for smaller companies. Also, Chanel is beautifully run as a company. There are no debts. There’s no healthier business than Chanel."

To read what Marc Jacobs, Rachel Roy, Givenchy's CEO, and more are happy about, read more

Marc Jacobs: “The weather is beautiful. I’m in love. I’m engaged to be married. I’m working on building a new home, and working in the studio with Steven Meisel and Madonna on the next [Louis Vuitton] campaign. Then, I have two days of shooting with Juergen [Teller]. The Met is [tonight], which I’m excited about. I’m receiving a FiFi Award. Then, we receive the International CFDA award for Louis Vuitton. So, I kind of have really great stuff on a daily basis. I can’t find anything to be unhappy about at the moment."

Fabrizio Malverdi, CEO, Givenchy: “I’m just back from the Middle East. I went to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai, and it’s good to see that the atmosphere is not as depressing as in other countries. The energy is really positive. For Givenchy, we are opening new stores with the new concept we introduced a year ago [in Paris on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré]. The reaction to this new concept is really good, and we have an existing partner that wants to open stores based on it. Europe and Russia are suffering a lot, but in general, Givenchy’s women’s prêt-à-porter is going well. The sell-throughs are good. And if the customer has fun buying it, that’s the real success. We have to inject a bit of life, a bit of fun, and a bit of coolness in the market. That’s the reason why people are still buying.”

Stefano Gabbana: “First of all, we feel hypercreative, reactive, excited, and stimulated. Strangely enough, given the times, we feel good and feel the urge to experiment. I think this crisis has bought back many core values, and fashion has achieved a more human and traditional aspect, which we appreciate. Many superfluous elements have been wiped away and it’s OK if people buy less because they have too much of everything. It’s useless to have too much of everything. It’s like sitting down to a five-course meal when a plate of pasta will do just fine. This reevaluation to me is good news.”

Dries van Noten: “We just won the Fashion Institute of Technology’s 2009 Couture Council Award For Artistry of Fashion. I’m very proud of that. We opened the store in Tokyo at the end of March. It was a decision that was made at the end of October, so it’s not something most people think, ‘Oh, it was made before the crisis started.’ It’s still totally the right moment to do something like that, because it’s unexpected. Why not at this moment? It’s difficult maybe for a lot of people, but still, life continues. Shopping and buying fashion and fashion itself, are just parts of life."

Phillip Lim: “Good news - my plants in my garden are happy and about to bloom. My dog Oliver has recently learned to lay down - on command. I am more inspired, and my focus is clearer then ever! Life is good, as it’s really the simple things that I have come back to. It’s been a reawakening."

Karen Katz, president and chief executive officer, Neiman Marcus Stores: “The customer is still engaged. When we present her with the right trends, she is responding. For our storewide focus on a color, we settled on the color pink. Our customers are feminine. Pink has been perfect for her; she has definitely embraced pink. She’s also been buying anything with a feminine detail.

Diane von Furstenberg: “I think there was too much of everything, and I feel like the whole industry had to take a laxative. We just had too much s-t, and therefore there’s a cleansing thing that happens. All of a sudden it’s not so much about marketing as it is about product. We kept on saying, ‘Oh, it will sell, you know, it doesn’t matter,’ and now we’re not like that anymore. Now we’re just being much more careful."

Simon Doonan, creative director, Barneys New York: “Having been through a number of depressed periods, most notably the '70s, I find a lot of explosive creativity comes out of these periods. The punk movement in England came out of the terrible, terrible economic depression that hit England in the early '70s. A creative rage can come out of [hard times], which is an immensely productive thing and has a huge impact on fashion design and marketing.

Rachel Roy: “The good news is having the opportunity to create the secondary line [Rachel Rachel Roy] for this younger customer. It gets my mind off of designer woes and all the hardships of getting your designer clothes into specialty stores and department stores right now. It’s a fun project - it’s younger, it’s fun, it’s a bit edgy, and certain things could be a bit naughty that I can’t do in designer."

Source and Source

Fab Field Trip: The Yves Saint Laurent Exhibit at the De Young Museum, San Francisco

FabSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:08:52 -0700

Thursday morning, I was enlightened. Since Yves Saint Laurent's death this past Summer, the fashion world has been paying tribute and speaking praise. Perhaps one of the best ways to do both is to showcase an extensive collection of the artist's work. And so, the de Young museum of San Francisco gave me a sneak peek of Yves Saint Laurent's highly anticipated exhibition, spanning 40 years and 130 ensembles. The exhibit is open to the public Saturday.

The most special guest was there: Pierre Bergé, Yves's partner and business associate since 1961. Pierre spoke to a small group of local press and was humble and heartfelt. His words about Yves tugged on my heartstrings and got me really excited to view the exhibition. "Today is the first collection after his death." He referred to Yves as "one of the greatest of our time." He pointed out that "in our world women are more and more important" and Yves recognized that. "The collection is just a part of Yves's work," reminding us of the 5,000 plus YSL pieces that are preserved and kept in Paris. Can you imagine? He also called San Francisco "a beautiful city" and was proud to have the foggy city house such a collection. Side note: Pierre was wearing an Obama pin.

To read more about my enlightenment and to see loads of wonderful Yves Saint Laurent creations, read more

As a fashion journalist, I am aware of the importance of Yves Saint Laurent. But personally, I haven't had much experience with the house's clothes. Yves showed his last collection in 2002. Only now can I actually purchase pieces from the house, but today's pieces aren't touched by the originator. I have admired vintage YSL, but no, I have never worn an original Yves Saint Laurent. My enlightenment emerged upon viewing precious pieces from "Le Smoking," his homage to Africa collection, the famous Mondrian dress, and representations from his Ballets Russes collection. These were all familiar, as seen in textbooks and pictures, but in real life they are incredible.

The massive collection, curated in an organized yet unique fashion, made my head spin. Another realization was how many of today's designers draw inspiration from these ideas that were presented decades ago. I saw Giambattista Valli in a voluminous LBD, Armani in sleek beaded evening wear, Marc Jacobs in quirky party dresses, Michael Kors in jetsetting separates. YSL Haute Couture was presented through a glass display, and videos and runways shows played throughout. It was a YSL feast for the eyes.

While everything impressed, I had a few favorites I went back to admire a couple more times. First off, the body revealed collection of evening dresses. Yves pushed the envelope with revealing flesh, but he did so with taste. These are key examples. The Africana pieces were super fun; the intricate beading and the exotic cuts were stunning. This famous knit wedding gown made me chuckle. Lastly, his art inspired pieces were pretty magnificent.

This exhibit is both a proper homage and a destination for any fashion lover. On this spooky holiday, this Yves quote felt rather fitting: “My profession is the loving dialogue of this naked woman with all the magic spells of the wrapping of my fabrics.” Consider me spellbound.

View 43 Photos ›

Guess the Logo!

FabSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:00:08 -0700

Quoted from the beloved Carrie Bradshaw, it's all about labels and love. While others will delve into the topic of love, I'll preach on the other topic at hand. Are you a label queen? I admit, I have my share of label-encrusted goodies. Some of them are really nice and if you got it, why not show it off? With the onslaught of new visionaries, designers are creating memorable insignias to help them stand out from the crowd. Are you up to the logo challenge? Try to match the logo to the designer.

Question 1 of 6

Guess who recently added this crest to its logo collection?

Day One at Parsons, Project Runway, Season Five

FabSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:00:22 -0700

"Do I think it's pretty? No." The simple, but deep cutting words of one of our favorite Project Runway judges, Michael Kors - gotta love it. You've met the new batch of aspiring designers and now it's showtime. Project Runway Season Five premieres tonight! Everyone seems pretty wide eyed and excited, but we all know that will soon change. With short and sometimes not so sweet cameos from Tim Gunn, Heidi, Nina and Michael, my favorite part of this video is the faces. Faces of fear, relief, worry and shock, you know what I'm talking about. And I must say: Why is Kelly hating on Nina? She's not so bad, Michael can be just as scary. Enter quote at the beginning of this story.

Celebrity Style: Mischa Barton

FabSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:00:22 -0700

Mischa Barton and Juliette Lewis paired up and partied the night away at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Juliette opted for a sexy flapper look (Fab!), and Mischa wore a beautiful silk Roberto Cavalli floral maxi dress from the Spring collection. I love that she took such an exquisite gown and gave it a splash of hippie with the braided headband. Next time you sport a fancy dress, think of ways to incorporate your personality with unique accessories, even if they don't quote unquote, make sense.

Roberto Cavalli Floral watercolor print dress - $1,680.00	Metallic Braid Headband - $38.00
Merritt Pewter Leather - $139.95	Lenora Dame gold filigree bone cocktail ring - $31.00
Ted Baker Big Buckle Metallic Leather Clutch - $174.48

Source

Fab Read: The Black Dress

FabSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:00:22 -0800

We all know that black dresses are hardly just reserved for funerals anymore - they're wardrobe staples! In The Black Dress ($15), Dr. Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (my alma mater!), explores the zeitgeist of the black dress and how they've become timelessly chic.

The tome is filled with pages of iconic black dress images pulled from Chanel's collection, Audrey Hepburn's films, and more, plus quotes on the color black from writers, artists, and fashion personalities. Definitely one to check out - especially if you love your LBDs as much as I do.

Fab Finds of the Week: Scarf City

FabSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:00:11 -0800

They come in all different colors, patterns, and sizes, but scarves have two things in common: They keep your neck warm and look cute while doing it. Your Fab Finds this week show that you're as obsessed as I am - my scarf collection is definitely a force to be reckoned with!

The Fab Finder of the week is luvucharlotte, who found this eyecatching sequined scarf. Every week the Fab Finder I announce Monday morning will receive either a TeamSugar or FabSugar baby tee shirt. I thoroughly enjoy perusing your Fab Finds every week, so dare to be a Fab Finding trendsetter and you just might win a Sugar tee!

Antique Sequin Scarf - Accessories - Kate Moss - Topshop	Forever21.com, Checker Plaid Scarf
Lightweight Cashmere Scarf - Accessories - Women - JCrew.com	Women: Womens: Bias-striped scarf: Scarves: Hats, Scarves & More \| Gap
Macy*s - Women's - Charter Club Chenille Pencil-Stripe Scarf	www.dELiAs.com Plaid Scarf
La Marelle Scarf	Love Quotes Scarves - SHOPINTUITION

Kate Moss for Topshop Antique Sequin Scarf, found by luvucharlotte.
Forever 21 Checker Plaid Scarf, found by ThePerfectScore.
J.Crew Lightweight Cashmere Scarf, found by ehaizlip.
Gap Bias-striped scarf, found by alillee.
Charter Club Chenille Pencil-Stripe Scarf, found by glam sugar.
Delia's Plaid Scarf, found by ThePerfectScore.
La Marelle Scarf, found by emalove.
Love Quotes Scarves, found by jen22.