fashionologie

fashionologie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:11:14 PDT

>> J.Mendel Scores Investment to Fuel Expansion -Until now, J.Mendel has been a independent, family-run business, but Gilles Mendel, the fifth generation designer for the brand, has just lined up an undisclosed, significant investment by Los Angeles equity firm The Gores Group. As part of the deal, Mendel, who describes his new role as “a substantial shareholder,” will remain the CEO and chief designer of the brand, and the investment will allow J.Mendel to continue expansion from its original iteration as a French fur house. In addition to the label's current offering of fur, evening gowns, and cocktail dresses, Mendel is considering categories like fur accessories, luxury outerwear, knitwear, suits, tops, daytime dresses, knitwear, as well as leather accessories, eyewear, and footwear. [WWD]

New York Fashion Week: J Mendel Spring 2010

coutorture — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:45:06 PDT

New York 09/14/09. WireImage

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Fall 2009 Fashion Week: Baubles, Baubles, Baubles

fashionologie — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:59:33 PST

>> Fall 2009 is jewelry's time to shine, judging by all of the collaborations debuting during Fashion Week. Besides Alexander Wang working with Paris Kain of AbraxasRex on "industrial," "animalistic" pieces, Bensoni commissioned Bing Bang's Anna Sheffield to do candy heart necklaces with pyramid pendants, Jason Wu enlisted Philip Crangi to add a "tough element" to his collection, Gilles Mendel and Subversive's Justin Giunta teamed up for chains and jewels to will appear on and worked into the J.Mendel collection, Eddie Borgo channeled his triangle obsession for Jen Kao, producing a sharp set of baubles - and he also working with Joseph Altuzarra. Not to mention a variety of other partners in jeweldom: Hervé Van der Straeten and Ruffian, Thakoon and Fenton's Dana Lorenz, DanniJo and Trovata, Roxanne Assouline and Brian Reyes . . .

Needless to say, the bijoux will be aplenty this season - especially because those partnerships are a good way to for jewelry designers get pieces out there without spending money - "You'll see a lot of collaborations going on with designers - like Irene Neuwirth is doing jewelry for Richard Chai - so you can see the talent at the same time," says CFDA executive director Steven Kolb.
*image: source, source, source

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fashionologie — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:58:54 PST

>> INSIDER WIRE -Narciso Rodriguez is joining the likes of J.Mendel, Yigal Azrouel, and Tommy Hilfiger in returning to the tents. For the past six seasons, he has chosen to show elsewhere, but for Fall 2009, Bryant Park is his venue. Perhaps he's aiming on having First Lady Michelle Obama, who's a fan of his work, as a guest, and wants the security the tents provide? They've had experience hosting former First Lady Laura Bush, plus Secret Service, last February, after all. [WWD]
*image: source

fashionologie — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:55:27 PST

>> INSIDER WIRE -Now that the New York Fashion Week dates have been pushed back to Feb. 13-20, the London Fashion Week organizers aren't the only ones feeling the time crunch. With the Academy Awards just two days after the conclusion of Fashion Week on Feb. 22, red carpet-friendly designers like J.Mendel, Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa, Proenza Schouler, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, L'Wren Scott, and Ralph Lauren - all of whom show on the last three days of Fashion Week - are going to have a doozy of a time getting samples from runway to red carpet for the big night. [FWD]

*image: source

fashionologie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:45:51 PST

>> INSIDER WIRE -In this money-crunching time, major designers are expected to scale back their Fall 2009 shows come February, whether by returning to the Tents or by exchanging their $100,000-$500,000 runway shows for presentations. Already, Donna Karan is downscaling her DKNY show to a presentation, and both Vera Wang and J.Mendel are looking at a runway alternative; more will likely follow suit. [WWD]

J Mendel Spring 2008

coutorture — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:16:43 PDT

J Mendel Spring 2008 Fashion Show

J.Mendel Fall 2011

fashionologie — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:08:08 PST

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2011 Spring New York Fashion Week: J. Mendel

fashionologie — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:49:27 PDT

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J. Mendel Fall 2012

Christina Perez — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:00:38 PST

>> Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, which Olsen twin sat front row? Both did, actually - but that's beside the point. Or is it? By now, Giles Mendel's J. Mendel line is just as known for its red-carpet gowns as it is for its signature furs, and two pint-size megastars perched beside the runway really hammers that home.

But on to the main event. For Fall 2012, Mendel said he was inspired by Gaudi's architecture in Spain, as captured in an old Helmut Newton-lensed editorial for Vogue. "I feel like it spoke to the DNA of the brand. There's the luxury of materials, rich textures and curves, which I see sliding over the curves of a woman's body." To that end, there was plenty of luxury to be found - and plenty of architecture as well. The former came in the use of cashmere, alligator, fox fur, and silks, the latter in sculptural draping and geometric cutouts. Separates and outerwear were sharply-tailored with plenty of feminine charm: belted leather jackets and decadent fur coats draped easily over soft wool suits, wide-leg trousers, and long-sleeve frocks.

And the gowns? No disappointment there. The styles were as varied as they were breathtaking, with plenty of elaborate detailing: there were flowing chiffons, dramatic slits, embellished deco motifs, and some very artful asymmetric draping. A dress for every mood - and every red-carpet queen.

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