Wed, 06/17/09 — 11:35:14 AM
>> H&M collaborates annually with a guest designer for every holiday season, and 2009 is all about Jimmy Choo. Founder Tamara Mellon has pledged to do a collection of shoes, bags, and accessories for both men and women — plus a range of women's clothing: "The perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!” The collaboration marks the first time H&M is working with an accessories brand, and will hit around 200 stores on Nov. 14. The shoes are expected to be limited to select stores and will cost from $60 for a pair of ballet pumps to $200 for a pair of boots.
Wed, 03/18/09 — 05:33:27 PM
>> One of Valentino Garavani's favorite models, Natalia Vodianova, missed the big premiere of his documentary; she was in London for the launch of the 2009 Fashion Fringe search for emerging British design talent — the UK's version of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award — instead. In celebration of this year's honorary chairperson, Donatella Versace, who flew in from Milan for the event, guests like Claudia Schiffer, Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders, and Jacquetta Wheeler were served "Donatella Delight" cocktails. Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet is also on the judging panel this year, as is Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon, who is overseeing the introduction of Fashion Fringe's first accessories prize. The four as yet unnamed finalists will show capsule collections during Spring 2010 London Fashion Week, and the winner — who in the past has been Basso & Brooke and Erdem — receive upwards of £100,000 for a follow-up show.
*image: source
Wed, 01/21/09 — 10:26:10 AM
>> First Lady Michelle Obama — soon to be Vogue cover girl, most likely shot by Annie Leibovitz — has been in position for a day and already made a couple of careers: those of Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu, who are now household names.
Both designers' looks were special-ordered through Chicago boutique owner Ikram Goldman, who is expected the advise the First Lady over the next four years — she also helped with Obama's choice of Jimmy Choo shoes and Loree Rodkin jewelry — and neither Wu nor Toledo were told their designs were for the inauguration. The two designers were on The Today Show this morning, talking color choice, fabric choice, and how they were "awestruck," in the words of Jason. And that's not even to mention how all of this will impact their sales — a Spring version of Toledo's dress will hit Barneys in March, retailing for $1,500.
Video: Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo on Mrs. O »
Tue, 01/20/09 — 09:45:43 AM
>> This morning, Isabel Toledo received an unexpected big boost in the national eye — Michelle Obama wore the yellow coat and matching dress Toledo specifically designed for her to the inauguration, paired with green Jimmy Choo Glacier pumps.
Toledo didn't know for sure that Obama would pick her designs — which thirteen people in her studio worked on over the Christmas holidays — until this morning, when she turned on the television. "We had no idea. We hoped she would wear something because she has bought Isabel's clothes before. We never know what's going to happen," her husband Ruben Toledo said. "It's just another shock, but a great shock."
The dress and coat are made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. As for the choice of color? "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” Isabel Toledo said. “I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody."
While she's long been critically well-received, Toledo has long flown under the radar, particularly since she was pulled from her acclaimed run at Anne Klein two years ago. She said this morning that she didn't even have a PR person to help bring her designs to Mrs. Obama's attention, so perhaps this turn of events will provide the bump she needs.
*image: source
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