FabSugar

Carine Roitfeld's New Favorite LBD of the Moment - Balmain!

FabSugar — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:00:06 PDT

It's no biggie when you and I repeat an outfit head to toe. But when the editor of Vogue Paris Carine Roitfeld does it, it's worth mentioning. It's by no means a fashion crime - remember when Victoria Beckham re-outfitted her favorite gray look in '07? - in fact, it's quite refreshing. She's found an ensemble she adores and she's sticking with it! The first time Carine wore her favorite Balmain Fall '10 LBD was at the Cannes Film Festival last week. And then she wore it again, in the same exact way with Alaia lace-up sandals and a gold necklace, at Louis Vuitton's London store opening this week. She has inspired me to take an outfit I love each season, and make it my signature. Has she inspired you, too?

Avedon For Breakfast

FabSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:50:22 PDT

I have always been an Avedon fan, but after viewing his new exhibit at the SFMOMA "Richard Avedon: Photographs: 1946-2004," I look at the iconic photographer in a new light. A raw, intense, emotional spotlight.

New York-born Avedon was an integral part of fashion in the '60s - you probably recognize Twiggy's hair and Dovima with elephants. These were from his decades as the staff photographer at Harpers Bazaar. He then delved into the zeitgeist of the turbulent '60s, shooting portraits of players in the sexual and intellectual counterculture movements; the Beatles, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Malcolm X, and Andy Warhol were all present in one room. One photo that had me mesmerized was a glimpse of Warhol's scar-ridden torso; it was provocative yet melancholy, further feeding into the artistic enigma that is Warhol.

Self-portraits of the late photographer were sprinkled throughout, showing his evolution from young gun to wise old soul.

One series in particular intrigued: "In the American West" (1980-85). While it was exciting to look into the eyes of famed writers, artists, political figures, and icons, it was the real people of our country - oil workers, a 13-year-old rattlesnake wrestler, drifters, carnies, waitresses - that evoked life, real humanity.

Avedon passed away in 2004 and this is the only US venue for this exhibition - the first major retrospective of his work since his death. If you happen to be in San Francisco July 11 to Nov. 29, be sure to eat some Avedon for breakfast, it is an utterly fulfilling, eye-opening experience. See some selections from the exhibit.

Good News Bears

FabSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:22 PDT

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

Vivienne Westwood's Bar Babes

FabSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:00:22 PST

Remember the fearless Ladies Who Lacroix? Well, they're back, and this time they hit the bars of NYC in the spirit of Vivienne Westwood. In their tailored trousers and skirts, plaids, leathers, brooches, and bustiers, they shimmied their way in style. They even picked up a pack of pirates (coincidence? Cue Westwood's pirate collection Autumn/Winter '92) along the way - fun! Our bar babes prove it's easy to channel fashion's rebellious bad girl; you just need some creativity and tropical drink umbrellas.

To meet the Vivienne Westwood Bar Babes,

View 12 Photos ›

Ladies Who Lacroix

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:22 PDT

You want some fashion die-hards, I'll give you some. A friend of mine who works in the fashion department at the NY Post started assembling her friends for "fashion dinners." It is what it sounds like. She picks a designer - the first "dinner" was Chanel - and the lassies dress inspired by the designer and meet for a fabulous meal. When she shared this brilliant idea with me, I said she had to take pictures of the next one. And who was the next designer muse?!

Christian Lacroix was the name of the game, and Lady Mendl's Tea Salon at the Inn at Irving Place was the place. As you can see, my girls did it up in pink, florals, lace, vintage-inspiration, headpieces, and frilly fun. Who was your favorite Lacroix lady? I can't choose, they are all fabulously festive. From Lacroix's Fall Couture collection to NYC party girls, the French couturier's joy lives. Stay tuned for the next fashion dinner!

To see more from the Fab affair,

What's Inside Lindsay Lohan's Massive YSL Bag?

FabSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:00:22 PDT

All weekend I tried to shake this image: Lindsay Lohan with a huge Yves Saint Laurent shopping bag. Yes, I am jealous, but I'm also darn curious. I am a devoted shopper and therefore always like to know what other people purchase. It's exciting. That said, my imagination ran wild trying to imagine what Lindsay bought. Rest assured, she wore her new red YSL platforms the next day. I knew she got shoes! If she got a bag, I may be hatin'.

Here's the fun part. I tried to imagine what I would buy if I could afford a YSL shopping spree. You may remember what Team Fab and PartySugar bought when the house's founder passed away. The Fall collection is razor-sharp and already arriving in stores. A couple gorgeous bags, a couple enviable shoes, and some not-so-basic basics would be my picks of the litter.

To see my YSL wish list,

Vogue Special Delivery

FabSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:00:22 PDT

Ding-dong, Vogue special delivery. Say what?! It's not every day one gets an urgent marked box from the fashion bible. Open, and find the hefty September issue encapsulated within a clear sleeve attached to handles. If you can manage to ignore the bewildering Keira Knightley on the cover, it's quite a cool gimmick. Since you probably can't fit all 798 pages in your handbag, no worries, just carry as-is. It's even protected from the elements - you know, PETA advocates and thunderstorms - with the vinyl overlay. In a dark time when fashion magazines are struggling to stay afloat, such shenanigans are sure to impress.
To see more of the goods,

View 8 Photos ›

FABTV: Fashion-able Double Kisses

FabSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:22 PDT

Exchanging double kisses is not only standard in fashion circles, it's a sign of sisterhood (or brotherhood, depending). It's like a secret handshake among best friends. Nordstrom's Fall Designer Preview reminded me yet again of this, so I thought I'd provide a tutorial. Before your video lesson, it's important to know that French, Italian, Armenian, and other Mediterranean cultures do double kisses even outside of fashion events. And, unless you've been doing it since adolescence, it's hard not to fear bumping heads with your kisser. My advice is not to think too hard about it and let nature guide you. But first watch the video for specifics. xx

Before They Were Stars

FabSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:22 PDT

My parents moved in college. Painfully, one Summer I had to go through all my adolescent memorabilia and clean house. I had years and years of fashion magazines and my mom was serious about downsizing seeing as how I didn't even have a bedroom to put my stuff in (boo).

My ADD went into full effect when I was cleaning out and I spent hours flipping through past issues of Vogue, W, Bazaar, The Face, ELLE and whatever else I consumed during my years of angst. Alas, fashion was/is my salvation so I could not part with these images. I decided to put my favorite ads and editorials in binders to preserve them.

Once in a while I flip through the binders to admire the pages of fashion circa 1990-2000. When supermodels reigned, Liz Tilberis was the Editor of Bazaar and grunge gave way to minimalism. Oh look, there's Diane Kruger modeling for Emanuel Ungaro before she was an actress, looking sultry as always. And Chloe Sevigny, right around her Kids debut, modeling for Miu Miu. The ever-evolving Drew also looking wonderfully alternative in a Miu Miu ad. Interesting how all three budding stars are Fab favorites.

Celebrity models are nothing new, but this is when it was.

To see Chloe Sevigny and Drew Barrymore modeling for Miu Miu,

View 3 Photos ›

Models Shake It For a Polaroid Picture

FabSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:22 PDT

Something about viewing go-see Polaroids of models seems invasive, but cool. It's almost like getting a sneak peek of your favorite models in the comfort of their own home, without tons of makeup, without all the serious posing. For those who aren't familiar with modeling jargon, a go-see is an appointment arranged by the model or her agency as an opportunity to interview with clients. Models are asked to keep their face bare and their clothes simple and form-fitting. That's because designers and magazine editors want to see the real girl, sans all the fluff. Here are a bunch of go-see Polaroids that cast a new light on some of your favorite models, including Gemma Ward (left), Erin Wasson, and Daria Werbowy.

Source