fashionologie

Sophie Theallet Takes Home 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Win

fashionologie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:48:45 -0800

>> Last night, with the help of keynote speaker Alber Elbaz, who doled out gems on the perils of success - "It's like a bottle of perfume. You smell it, you don't sniff it or drink it" - Alaia veteran and Michelle Obama favorite Sophie Theallet took home the 2009 Vogue/Fashion Fund prize of $200,000 and a year of mentoring. Fellow nominees Patrik Ervell and Monique Pean were named runners-up, and received $50,000 each plus a business mentor.

In her speech, Anna Wintour said that in addition to the US, Italy, and the UK - which just started a similar talent-nurturing program - she just met with the French minister of culture about mirroring the contest there. "And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren't far behind."

Theallet Tweeted of her win: "my american dream comes true tonight thanks and much love to all of you!xox." Cathy Horyn, too, weighed in on the choice:

"The money and the mentoring will help Ms. Theallet because she needs to be able to offer more range in her collection, as well as expand her production options. She has such a distinctly feminine eye, and the skills, that I’ve often wondered why a big retailer doesn’t ask Ms. Theallet to design some blouses and summer dresses for them, using the store’s resources and manufacturing connections."

Videos of the nominees going through the competition and the awards ceremony last night can be seen here and here, respectively.

fashionologie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:42:09 -0700

>> Mario Grauso Moves from Nina Ricci and Carolina Herrera to Vera Wang -Mario Grauso, former president of Puig Fashion Group overseeing Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, and Carolina Herrera, where he was credited for forging the Renee Zellweger-Herrera red carpet relationship, has moved on to Vera Wang. He appeared at Wang's show last week, and will allow the designer to focus more on the creative side of her business while he reexamines her contemporary Lavender label, which is currently on hiatus, develops the label's shoe and jewelry businesses, and works to dress more celebrities on the red carpet. As Grauso put it, "Now there are two crazy control freaks making sure that everything is perfect." [WWD]

Fashion Week Tidbits: Marchesa Launches Handbags, Alexander Wang Is Thinking "Perv" for Spring 2010

fashionologie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:26:43 -0700

>> New York Fashion Week is a little more than a week away, and the tidbits are flowing freely - a compilation of the highlights from the past few days:

Launches

Marchesa is launching its first accessories - 28 clutches and evening bags (above); They will retail $995 to $5,000 and are made to coordinate with the mainline dresses. [WWD]

Peter Som is making his way back, Ruffian goes Picasso »

The September Issue Premiere: All About Anna Wintour

fashionologie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:57:50 -0700

>> Last night, Anna Wintour hosted a premiere of The September Issue (which opens Aug. 28 in NYC, Sept. 11 nationwide), and no one dared be late. Arrivals were scheduled to start at 7 pm, but Anna appeared and was joined (despite all the digs about her appearance she receives in the film) by September 2007 cover girl Sienna Miller promptly at 6:45 pm. Even Sean Combs and entourage, when realizing they were late, "sprinted across the lobby," the New York Observer reports.

Despite the general consensus that the film's true star is Grace Coddington, last night was all about Anna. Grace and Andre Leon Talley both avoided being photographed on the red carpet, and it appears that Vogue staffers were required to wear t-shirts for Fashion's Night Out (Anna's pro-shopping pet project) to the event. Grace did comment on her portrayal in the film, however:

I hate to say it, but true to life! A very annoying person. But it’s not really bickering. It’s a process you have to go through for the job we do and it just makes everything stronger. Whatever gets through is then very valid and very strong. I think they focused on me in the movie because I’m a bit more outspoken and because I don’t care about the cameras, I’ll say whatever I want to say and I won’t hold back.

Bee Shaffer, who attended in Proenza Schouler and reminded her mother to put on her sunglasses while on the red carpet (which Anna duly did), thought her own scene in the film was "so embarassing":

It’s funny because that was two years ago and I wanted to go to law school then and that’s basically all I’m talking about and now I don’t want to go to law school at all so . . . [I] still don’t want to work in fashion, that was never a possibility. Now I’d like to work in theater.

Marc Jacobs, who was apparently speaking with a French accent, had his own Anna tribute to share. "She’s a risk-taker unafraid of taking chances. She doesn’t suck up,” he said. “And she’s been very good to me on a personal level as well. When I was having some personal problems, Anna was always there for me. She’s very maternal and caring to people she cares about."

fashionologie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:47:50 -0700

>> INSIDER WIRE -A week ago, it was reported that Vera Wang might be doing the upcoming Fall season of Dancing with the Stars, but the designer says not so fast: "We haven't decided. They haven't and I haven't." She did inadvertently confirm that she had been approached for the show, however: "They approach a lot of people, not just me." [The Cut]

Vera Wang May Be Dancing With the Stars

fashionologie — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:05:38 -0700

>> It's all about TV these days: Elle just started filming for The City, Zac Posen is working on the early stages of a scripted show, the ladies at WhoWhatWear are developing a fashion news show with MTV . . . and now E! is reporting that Vera Wang has signed on for the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars, which premieres Sept. 21.

Although neither Wang's rep nor ABC would confirm the report, the casting is feasible - Vera trained as a professional figure skater and competed with a partner in the 1968 US National Championships before trying to qualify for the Olympics the same year. She also has experience designing the glitzy, tight outfits that are worn on the show - she once designed for figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan.

2009 Costume Institute Gala Arrivals Have Started!

fashionologie — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:10:20 -0700

>> It's official Costume Institute Gala time: Anna Wintour is already snubbing press in her black and white Chanel, Bee Shaffer has already had help navigating in her sheer navy chiffon Nina Ricci gown, and Andre Leon Talley who is wearing "20 pounds" of Roger Vivier jewelry, has already exclaimed "Goddess" upon sight of Kate Moss.

Gisele Bundchen has arrived in sequined Atelier Versace minidress - she says she picked it out herself and they had to make it two inches shorter for her. Meanwhile, Eva Mendes grabbed Amber Valletta's booty on the red carpet, and Shalom Harlow, Amber, Natalia Vodianova, Eva Herzigova, and Stella Tennant have made a red carpet block while they stop to exchange air kisses.

UPDATE: More designer and model pictures have been added to the gallery!
*image: source, source, WENN.com

2009 CFDA Award Nominees Announced

fashionologie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:29:41 -0700

>> The 2009 CFDA Award nominees have just been announced, and Marc Jacobs has already won an award - the International Award for his work at Louis Vuitton (he's nominated in two more categories). Last year's Swarovski Award winners, Rodarte and Band of Outsiders, have both been bumped up to compete in the respective major league categories, and 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund contenders Albertus Q. Swanepoel, Alejandro Ingelmo, and Jason Wu have all entered the Swarovski Award ring this year.

We'll have to wait until June 15 to see who wins what, but the ceremony might mark fashion's first Michelle Obama event appearance - she's being honored with this year's Board of Director's Special Tribute for her style choices and penchant for up-and-coming talent.

And now, the nominees . . . »

fashionologie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:14:36 -0800

>> THE MODELIZER -A year ago, WWD reported that one-third of the New York shows didn't employ models of color, but according to Jezebel's calculations, spots given to models of color increased six percent this season. Among those shows with the highest diversity: Oscar de la Renta, Victoria Beckham, Tracy Reese, Sophie Theallet; those using no models of color included: Julian Louie, Koi Suwannagate, Temperley London, and Vera Wang Lavender Label. [Jezebel]

*image: source

fashionologie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:20:47 -0800

>> INSIDER WIRE -All things aside, Peter Som seems to be enjoying his break from the Fashion Week grind - since he doesn't have to be stressing out and working on his finishing touches like usual, he's been hitting the shows - John Bartlett, Costello Tagliapietra, where he was laughing and chatting front row, and Prabal Gurung, to support his former design director at Bill Blass. Vera Wang, on the other hand? Not so lucky: Today, she was "a little bit crazed . . . because my favorite fabrics haven't even arrived yet. So far we're absolutely nowhere on this collection, I would say we're about 8 days away and nothing is working." [WWD, Style File]
*image: source