Fri, 09/04/09 — 12:15:40 PM
>> New York Fashion Week is less than a week away, and the tidbits are flowing freely — a compilation of the highlights from the past couple of days:
Double (or Triple) Duty Presentations
- Gareth Pugh confirmed that he will be showing a video directed by Ruth Hogben on Sept. 13 to "set the mood for [his] catwalk show that will take place as usual in Paris." After the private showing, he'll screen the short film in public nearby — get your name on the guest list via MAC's Facebook page. [Style File]
- Temperley London is taking their interactive Spring 2010 multimedia presentation on the road for the second time, starting in New York Sept. 15 before evolving in format for London Fashion Week and then again in Paris, where it will become an exhibit. The film aspect, plus stills and a behind-the-scenes cut will be readily available online on Temperley's new website.
First look at Yoko Ono for threeASFOUR, and Karl Lagerfeld's attendance status answered »
Fri, 05/01/09 — 05:24:39 PM
>> IN PRODUCTION —It turns out Alexander Wang isn't the only one doing khaki jackets and chinos for this year's CFDA-Gap collaboration after all: Vena Cava also pitched in a couple of dresses and variations on chinos — Racked got the first looks. No word (although it's likely) on whether more designers are involved. [Racked]
UPDATE: The Alexander Wang-Gap photos have turned up — including one the motorcycle jacket — as well as pictures of a set of hats, which are likely done by milliner Albertus Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus (Wang was the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Award winner, Vena Cava and Albertus Quartus the runners-up). [Racked]
Thu, 02/05/09 — 05:30:11 PM
>> Fall 2009 is "the make or break season" for small designers, according to Eric Wilson of The New York Times. Stores are reducing their orders by 20 percent or more for Fall, and some are already trying to cancel their Spring orders, which puts small businesses, especially those without independent financial backing, in a tenuous position. Basically, Wilson points out, "The more stores that close, the more designers will follow." And in show season, the cost of samples and putting on a show doesn't help with the strain.
"We're just trying to survive." »
Tue, 01/13/09 — 04:50:57 PM
>> INSIDER WIRE —Are bold prints in Alexander Wang's future? As part of his CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund win, he's been paired up with Diane von Furstenberg and DVF president Paula Sutter, who will serve as his business mentors for a year. Runners-up Albertus Swanepoel and Vena Cava were paired up with Andy and Kate Spade, and Gap's Patrick Robinson and Theory's Andrew Rosen, respectively. [Vogue UK]
*image: source
Tue, 11/18/08 — 10:24:42 AM
>> For its fifth anniversary, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund went with the obvious choice, naming Alexander Wang the recipient of $200,000 plus a year of mentoring last night. Vogue favorite Vena Cava and a less expected choice, milliner Albertus Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus, were both named runners-up and will receive $50,000 plus a business mentor. The night's keynote speaker, John Galliano, and his date Charlize Theron were seated next to Anna Wintour and presented the top honors to a teary-eyed Alexander Wang, who said his thank yous onstage as John Galliano rubbed his arm in comfort.
Top hats seemed to be the order of the evening — Julie Gilhart and John Galliano each sported one, the latter with a daisy chain, and Agyness Deyn had on a squished version — while carrot pants and one-shouldered dresses also received numerous nods. Plenty of models are already back in town from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Anne Vyalitsyna came with Costello Tagliapietra, Maryna Linchuk with Rag & Bone, Doutzen Kroes with Irene Neuwirth, and Arlenis Sosa Pena with Rogan.
*image: source, source
Fri, 11/14/08 — 05:09:50 PM
>> The CFDA has been busy lately, discussing the possibility of sponsoring sample sales for designers who don't have enough resources to do it on their own, commissioning books — including a fashion-related cookbook, and announcing an upcoming three-year partnership with Mattel. But Monday night, we'll learn which of the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nominees will take home top honors, $200,000, and business advice, who will score one of the two runners-up titles and the $50,000 that comes with them, and who will try again next year.
The first award was given in 2004, with top honors going to Proenza Schouler; since then, Trovata (2005), Doo.Ri (2006), and Rogan (2007) have taken the top prize, and the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Philip Crangi, Rodarte, Thakoon, Derek Lam, and Thom Browne have all been runners-up. Without doubt, the winner generally has name recognition — and is in favor at Vogue — but tends to not be the biggest name in the group (i.e. Rogan over Phillip Lim last year).
So who will take all? »
Wed, 10/15/08 — 01:25:32 PM
>> Before the winner is announced Nov. 17, a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nomination will get you a piece of the twenty-page spread with Caroline Trentini in the November 2008 issue of Vogue, plus an invite to last night's celebratory cocktail party, hosted by Anna Wintour, of course.
But it's not all fun and games — the party doubled as part of the judgment process. Each of the ten nominees were assigned a different species of butterfly, a L'Oreal eye-color palette, and an evocative word as inspiration for the custom creation they made for their assigned dates — sounds a little Project Runway, no? Or maybe that's where Project Runway got the idea . . .
Alexander Wang brought Zoe Kravitz in a "barely-there dress," the Vena Cava girls dressed Raquel Zimmermann in a gown, Jason Wu paired Leighton Meester with a ladylike frock, Richard Chai was on a double date with Coco Rocha and Jamie Johnson, Swaim and Christina Hutson created an Obedient Daughters look for Chiara Clemente, and Alejandro Ingelmo put Lake Bell in some serious gladiators.
The designers presented their dates and creations to the judges, and then enjoyed the party. Alejandro Ingelmo was even caught taking down Coco Rocha's number . . .
*image: source
Sun, 09/07/08 — 07:57:13 AM
>> Yesterday, Vena Cava debuted a new shoe collaboration with Via Spiga during their Spring 2009 presentation — four styles to go along with the collection's Egyptomania theme, involving odd skins like monkfish and salmon. Perhaps most fun was the way Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai chose to present — in their quirky Vena Cava way. The models wore them, of course, but they also piled a whole bunch of pairs together and then labeled it like an art piece in a museum: "Vena Cava in collaboration with Via Spiga. Untitled, 2008. Monkfish, salmon skin, cowhide, metal findings."
Fri, 09/05/08 — 07:30:25 AM
>> INVITATION ONLY — The boys from Shipley & Halmos and the girls from Vena Cava have partnered together to do some serious partying — or so the invitation to their joint after party would have it seem. The two duos posed for a tongue-in-cheek photo series featured on the invite that includes pizza, beers being shotgunned, a few beer bongs. [Material Interest, The Pipeline]
Tue, 08/26/08 — 11:42:09 AM
>> Where there are opening ceremonies for the US Open, there is sure to be an Anna Wintour appearance. Last night was no disappointment — she joined Oscar and Annette de la Renta at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens (wearing one of her favorite Oscar dresses, natch) and even stood to clap when Roger Federer was announced.
Oscar wasn't the only designer taking a breather from Spring 2009 preparations: David Neville and Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava, and Sari Gueron were all also in attendance.
*image: source
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