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Tibi Designer Amy Smilovic Shows Us How to Get Styled

Noria Morales — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:00:49 PDT

Tibi is one of our favorite American contemporary lines, not least because designer Amy Smilovic always styles her collections - on the runway and in her lookbooks - in a way that has us coveting the entire look that very second. She has a knack for combining unexpected elements and colors that make an outfit look totally amazing. That's why we turned to her for tips on how to wear key pre-Fall pieces now, when it's hot, and later, when it cools down. We chose five irresistible pieces from Tibi's latest collection, and Amy showed us exactly how she would wear it. Click through to see her spot-on styling tips, and shop her picks to get the designer-approved look right now. And don't miss Amy's five essentials for getting through those transitional weather days when you just can't decide what to wear.

Diane von Furstenberg Says You Should Have as Many Duvets as Lovers

FabTV — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:47:08 PST

As if Diane von Furstenberg didn't have enough on her plate, she's decided to team up with Bloomingdale's to debut a new homewear collection on Feb. 28. We caught up with the designer during New York Fashion Week, where she showed us her vintage-inspired collection filled with her signature prints and unique artistic touch. DVF tells us her domestic secret when it comes to designing for the home and how many duvet covers you really need.

Alice + Olivia Designer Stacey Bendet Channels Modern-Day Auntie Mame For Fall 2011

FabTV — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:27:04 PST

At the Fall 2011 Alice + Olivia presentation - attended by style-setters Vanessa Hudgens, Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford, and Tika Sumpter - we spoke with designer Stacey Bendet about her newest collection, self-described as a modern-day Auntie Mame. The line still features the glamorous girl-about-town party dresses she's famous for, but also includes a few more mature separates. Watch our video to hear more from Bendet, including the surprise guest she hinted would spice things up at the party.

FabSugarTV: Interview With BCBG’s Max Azria at New York Fashion Week Fall 2011

FabTV — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:30:05 PST

At the BCBGMAXAZRIA show for New York Fashion Week - where Jennifer Love Hewitt and Taraji P. Henson were spotted - we caught up with designer Max Azria who revealed what trends are on the horizon, the hot colors to look out for come Fall, and big hair and makeup trends for next season. Plus, check out the full runway right here on FabSugarTV.

Fab Exclusive! Jenni Kayne Speaks Equestrian Chic For Fall

FabSugar — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:32:36 PST

Jenni Kayne is a quite force at New York Fashion Week. Her sharp cuts, feminine silhouettes, and cool girl aesthetic are always on my radar. For Fall, the LA-based designer brought equestrian chic to her sportswear. Striped blankets, mud cloth, and aged leather were reworked for the city. Utility played a big role - jodhpur shorts and boxy coats rocked my world. The sleek suede platforms were also designed by Jenni, and leather gloves added the final sporty touch. I caught up with the designer, and she told me about her inspirations, challenges, the difference between East and West Coast style, and what she wears to keep warm. Listen up.

Let's talk Fall 2010 inspirations.

Equestrian culture was a major inspiration. Ochre, British racing green, and mud brown feel like Fall in the English countryside.

What was the biggest challenge with this collection?

Timing is always a challenge.

Proudest piece from this collection?

The Mud Cloth Anorak. I love the versatility of it and the weightless quality of the silk.

To read the rest,

read more. What kind of woman wears your clothes? Modern women who value practical fashion. What's the main difference between West Coast and East Coast style? Style on the West Coast tends to be less buttoned up than on the East Coast. What are your favorite clothes to help keep you warm? My husband's socks and a Jenni Kayne fox fur vest. What are your snow shoes? Sorel Boots Don't forget to check out all of our New York Fashion Week coverage and follow my Fashion Week adventures on Twitter!

Exclusive Project Runway Behind the Scenes at 2010 Fashion Show: What's Fab

Luke Frydenger — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:58:27 PST

Spotted: Past Project Runway contestants Jay McCarroll and Christopher Straub behind the scenes at Project Runway Season 7 runway show. Of the ten contestants who showed their collections, McCarroll and Straub's top picks were Amy Sarabi, Jay Nicolas, and Ben Chmura. McCarroll talks about designer Alexander McQueen's last collection and his personal style.

Behind the Seams: Simon Doonan Barneys Book Signing

FabSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:22 PDT

Totals. Totally. Totes. Funny words from fashion's funny man, and Barneys creative director, Simon Doonan. Fab was lucky enough to catch Mr. Doonan on a sunshiny day promoting his new book Eccentric Glamour at the Barneys store in San Francisco. As you can see, he practices what he preaches wearing a Moschino jacket yelling the words "Good Taste Doesn't Exist" and a tie that whispers "Fashion is full of chic!" As Simon puts it, "These are all Franco Moschino-isms. He was a genius and a very innovative guy. Not bad for English as a second language." Enough said.

Simon was very calm, friendly, and, of course, witty, and was happy to spill some beans for yours truly. I left the store feeling super inspired to wear my wackiest things and throw all regularity to the wind. I guess Simon has that effect on people.

What jump started this book?

I was horrified by these two trends. One was the slut trend and one was the gun-shy celebrity. So between the super-conservative celebs, who were just wearing prom gowns, and the super-slutty woman, the regular gal on the street wasn't getting any inspiration. The answer is eccentricity. Glamour and eccentricity. It's about looking inside and not looking like everyone else. It's against conformity. If everyone else has it, you don't want it. When people tend to look the same, the It bag, the fake hair, the fake tan - it can make everyone look very similar. It's about working on your own look.

To read the rest of our exclusive interview with Simon and to see more behind the seams pics,

read more. Who are some designers you have your eye on? I think Phillip Lim is incredibly talented. The Rodarte girls are great. They've gone from being very avant-garde to a place where they're making stuff people cannot just admire but wear. Alexander Wang, the usual suspects. I love Scott Sternberg who does Band of Outsiders - I wear a lot of his clothes myself. My favorite book of yours is Wacky Chicks. If you were to do a sequel, are there any women you would add to your list? I would love to do Wacky Chicks Two. That book is now over five years old and a lot of the women in it are median ages, in their 40s and 50s, so there's a whole new generation of wacksters. Amy Winehouse. I strongly disagree with her drug taking - I mean it's insane - but when I was that age I was a mess, too. I think she's triggering a whole movement of eccentricity where people don't want to look like everyone else. She says it's groovy to look completely different and insane; she pulled that beehive out of no where and has her own look. She should be applauded. Because everyone was getting the Kelly Clarkson makeover, everyone ended up looking like pop princesses. What's that about? That wasn't what we were used to in music. We're used to Annie Lennox, Grace Jones, Siouxsie Sioux - provocative girls who all look different from each other. Debbie Harry! Yes! Hello?! Was there anyone on the Oscars red carpet that stood out to you? Tilda Swinton - she's interviewed in my book. Tilda's genius. I think it's sad that people can't step back and be like: well, that isn't my cup of tea. That whole idea of the fashion police has affected everybody, people have become hypercritical, it's very high school. Everyone's in a tissy about it, it's ridiculous. Instead of just saying, why not?

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New York Fashion Week, Fall 2008: Lyn Devon and Exclusive Designer Interview!

FabSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:00:22 PST

Lyn Devon is a new-found Fab friend who let us in on her inspiration and fabric-tweaking techniques at New York Fashion Week. She started her design house in 2005 where her artful designs have won accolades - including the 2007 Fashion Group International "Rising Star Award" in Women's Ready to Wear. Oh, and she previously worked at Zac Posen and Ralph Lauren. Fans include Sarah Jessica Parker, Mena Suvari, and yours truly. Take a look at her Fall collection: A futuristic approach to Medieval armor, and read all about it below!

Why don’t you tell me a bit about inspiration.

This season I started with armor. A warrior. An artful, independent spirit - which is always my muse. I really wanted to play with the idea of hard and soft and having these structural elements but keeping it feminine and really contoured to the body. I definitely brought it closer to the body this season. I was feeling sexy.

Which is your favorite look from the collection?

I’m really excited about the navy shirtdress. It’s simple but tailored to the body and has this interesting detail. We used this technique: We sliced away the fabric and then inserted borders underneath so if you look up close you see these slices, these different sections on the body. I love to play with lines on the body. This particular dress we encrusted with an armor of Swarovski crystals.

To read the rest of my interview and to see more looks from Lyn,

read more What about the fabrics and materials you used? I’ve used a stretch file that is really amazing because it holds shape very well. The A-line shape is one of the silhouettes I was working with, in addition to the very fitted silhouettes. I used a chinced wool that has this hard armor-like sheen to it but at the same time it’s really soft. This blanket wool that has a protective feeling. Some great jerseys and crepe wool, which allowed me to contour to the body but in an effortless way. It’s true: The clothes may be armor but they don’t look stiff. I always embrace effortlessness. There’s definitely that play of trying to create a tough elegance but always making it wearable and modern. What’s next?! I’m thinking Cuba - I might take a trip there. I want to keep it sultry and sexy. I just bought a book about Cuba and you’ll see something slightly less constructed. What one item of clothing should every woman have in her closet? Definitely a little black dress. The one from my Fall collection; it holds you in, you can wear it with boots or heels. That’s my little black dress of the season.

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New York Fashion Week, Fall 2008: Nanette Lepore & Fab Exclusive Interview!

FabSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:00:22 PST

Nanette Lepore's designs have always been popular with party-ready ladies and now I know why: Nanette herself is a fun-loving girlie girl. Check out my exclusive interview with her after a few words about her Fall collection . . .

What I loved most were the black and ivory pieces, actually. Lepore really knows how to use Chantilly lace and tailor a pant. There were some coats with serious character - a common theme throughout the New York shows - and some highly desirable knits. A fuchsia knit dress caught my eye backstage and on the runway. Her suiting always has a way of being sexy and '30s inspired dresses were classic, but modern. The Warhol-esque flower print was bright enough to stand out in a crowd but mellow enough to wear every day.

To read my exclusive interview with Nanette and to see backstage and runway pictures,

read more Have you done anything different with your Fall collection? What’s new and different is we edited the runway show down to 28 looks. It’s all about growing up and being mature about throwing out what’s not fabulous. That’s totally what I’m trying to do with my closet! I know, it’s so hard and I feel like I’ve done so many shows and I’ve finally achieved this point where I’m 20 looks fewer than I used to do. Because it’s so hard in life to know what’s good and what’s not good. So it’s really working through and jumping on ideas early enough that we only have the star ones. But the real idea behind the show is just going out and partying and being a fabulous, confident, sexy woman. Going to a cocktail party in a tiara and feeling good about yourself. But what I love about this collection is that there are lots of classics. There’s black and white tweed mixed with all shades of pink - from powder pink to fuchsia. Then big bold flower prints, which are anchored with Chantilly lace and velvet to bring them into a Fall feel. And pearls! Little bits of pearl beading and brooches. When I thought about the collection I thought these are staples for every woman’s wardrobe. The great high waisted pencil skirt, pretty Chantilly lace tops and bustiers, and pearls. And pink! What are your favorite pieces from the collection? The bohemian blouse with pearl beading, a fitted chiffon stripe dress that flairs really full at the hips with sequin edging, I love the little black dress – it’s a very pretty corseted silhouette, with a draped sleeve. Any new collaborations we can get excited for? We have a lingerie licensing we expect to sign very shortly. And we have new shops opening on Melrose in LA and in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Who are your fashion icons? I love going through and looking at anyone from the ‘30s - Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel. Currently John Galliano, his recent couture collection was unbelievable. I always love Gaultier because he has such a fun aesthetic to the way he mixes things up. And Prada too; she’s always doing something really interesting. What are three key pieces every woman should have in her closet? A high waisted pencil skirt, a beautiful evening coat and a sexy pair of feminine pumps.

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Hear What One Mulleavy Sister Has to Say and See Behind the Scenes at Rodarte

FabSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:00:22 PST

The Mulleavy sisters are on the rise, and after attending a Rodarte show for the first time, I now see why. Though Laura and Kate's designs aren't everyday wearable or affordable, they are art. And the sisters are evolving. One thing is for sure: Rodarte has found a niche. A fantastical world where women are feminine creatures who inhabit an otherworldly place. Intrigued? I caught up with Laura in the Lexus lounge after her show, and she spoke the creative speak of a designer in her element.

What are you feeling now that your show is over?

I am exhausted, excited, and happy. I was so nervous that last two days and I have no idea why.

More nervous than before?

Oh definitely. I think we were just so invested in it and it was definitely “us.” It just meant a lot for us to do this collection and get to a point where you grow and you can do more; it just felt different.

There were so many textures and colors in your collection. Let’s talk inspiration.

It started with the idea of Japanese horror films and Kabuki theater. Then we had the color red - how do you make red beautiful? Is it through orchids and peaches; do you use blacks, white, grays? And if you want to use all those colors, how do you balance it all? I felt like last season was a lot of watercolor pieces, but this season it felt like a movement of color too but in a stronger way.

To read the rest of what Laura has to say and to see Fab pre- and post-show photos,

read more What about your choice of fabrics? Tulle and mohair and silk tulle. Anything light and see-through. Organza. Or has a quality that it seems to be broken but it’s so sturdy. I love that. I am San Francisco-based, so I wanted to ask you about the Bay Area and your time at UC Berkeley. We grew up in northern California – Santa Cruz, Monterey - and then moved to southern California in high school. But we both went to Berkeley. If you can go to college, I would tell anyone to try to go to Berkeley. I had the most amazing professors. There was something about being taught by someone that was the best at their field. There’s something really amazing about that campus too; it’s really beautiful. At what point in time did you guys talk about becoming designers? We always wanted to be designers, but we never really talked about it. It was what we loved, but I never considered going to design school. I wanted to learn other things. Everyone has a different way of working. I think we work by trying to learn things and then seeing how it works. Can we talk about those Christian Louboutin shoes?! Oh yeah (laughs). You need a base, and if you can imagine something delicate, I can only see it going hand in hand with something harder and graphic. The heels were six-and-a-half inches, but I didn’t know they would be! We knew we wanted them high. We were very careful with the girls, and they were girls who could walk in them. We practiced a lot. They were excited.

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