fashionologie

Karl Interviews Himself, Waris Launches a New Jewelry Line, and Rihanna Has a New Fashion Show

Christina Perez — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:16:22 PST

>>Those stories and more - here, in our daily roundup.

In honor of yesterday's Karl by Karl Lagerfeld launch, Net-a-Porter has released a video of the designer interviewing himself. [Fashionista]

Rihanna will cohost a new fashion reality show in which unknown designers will face off, Project Runway-style. "This show is here to discover those people and give them a shot. I’m looking for someone who can think outside the box, and who isn't going to give up at the first hurdle," the singer said. The yet-to-be-named show will debut on the UK's Sky Living channel this Summer. [Huffington Post]

A size 2 is a size 2 is a size 8? A look at why women's clothing sizes make no sense. [Slate]

Singer Beth Ditto has been tapped by MAC to create a limited-edition beauty collection, hitting stores this June. [Grazia]

Waris Ahluwalia - who has just released a fashion film starring Agyness Deyn - is debuting a new line of jewelry, which will be available in February on Moda Operandi. "It’s Boo by House of Waris, and it’s the word 'Boo' written, very simple, in script," the designer explains. [The Cut]

Halloween Costume Inspirations From 13 Fashionable Insiders

Christina Perez — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:30:14 PDT

>> Halloween is all about dressing up, so why not glean a little costume inspiration from those who make a living out of creating the perfect look - all year round? Here, we've asked 13 fashion insiders to share their favorite costumes from Halloweens past; click through to see Pamela Love, Chris Benz, Madewell's Gigi Guerra, and more all decked out in their Halloween finest. Plus, find out which designer got name-checked as having the best costume ever - by two different people - and which sweet treat tops more than one insider's favorite candy list . . . all here, in the slideshow.

And, don't forget to check out our gallery of Halloween costumes from even more insiders - including Marc Jacobs, Karolina Kurkova, and Alber Elbaz.

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An Up-Close Look at Waris Ahluwalia's New Scarf Collection; Plus, His Fall 2011 Jewelry

Christina Perez — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:22:31 PDT

>> It's no secret that Waris Ahluwalia is into craftsmanship. The jewelry in his House of Waris line has always been made using traditional techniques, with everything - right down to the chains on the pendants - fashioned completely by hand. It should come as no surprise then, that Ahluwalia's debut scarf collection employs that same dedication to history and artisanal techniques. Superfine cashmere is hand-loomed and hand-embroidered in a precise honeycomb "Kundun" pattern, handwoven silks and gauzy silk-cotton are batik-dyed, block-printed, hand-dyed, or silk-screened, and hems are all neatly finished by hand. It's not just the attention to detail or the heirloom fabrics that make this new collection of scarves so appealing, however - it's also the gorgeous color combinations and striking graphic patterns. Though meant to be unisex (or, as Waris says, "We don't believe in unisex, just more sex"), it's easy to imagine these pretty prints and super-soft fabrics evolving into a collection of dresses, skirts, and blouses. Waris's next project, perhaps? It's a suggestion the designer seems to have heard before, but if it's in the works, he's not talking. When pressed, his answer is a shrug, a wry smile, and a quiet: "I hope not."

Click through the slideshow for an up-close look at the first season of House of Waris scarves, available online now at Barneys.com, as well as at Barneys New York, Beverly Hills, Dover Street Market, and Colette. Plus, a look at the House of Waris Fall 2011 jewelry.

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Tiffany Partners with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund To Support Emerging Jewelry Designers

fashionologie — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:27:46 PDT

>> Tiffany & Co. has made a $1 million gift to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund: The resultant three-year partnership includes a one-time, $250,000 business development grant for one of the nine jewelry designers who has been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist since the competition's 2004 launch. These designers include Eddie Borgo, Pamela Love, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Monique Pean, Irene Neuwirth, Philip Crangi, Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta, Anthony Nak's Nak Armstrong and Anthony Camargo (who shuttered their line last year), and Dean Harris. Each designer has received an application for the grant, and a winner will be named this Summer. “As a leader in the jewelry industry, it is important to us that the next generation of talented jewelry designers is able to succeed in the face of the many business challenges they face,” said Tiffany chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski. “Partnering with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, this grant is intended to continue to develop jewelry as an important field of design.” [WWD]

Quick Hits With . . . Waris Ahluwalia

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:39:40 PST

>> We spent a quick minute with jewelry designer, actor, and shopkeeper Waris Ahluwalia after the Cynthia Vincent show last night. Listen up to what Waris had to say:

What shows, besides Cynthia Vincent, are you heading to this week?

I'm looking forward to checking out United Bamboo, Elise Overland, and Edun.

Any Fashion Week vices?

No - in addition to attending shows, I have to prepare for my first presentation this week.

What about Fashion Week essentials?

Trying to get sleep. I hardly get any at all, but I love it. I love Fashion Week.

Favorite New York restaurants?

They're always the same: Omen and Bar Pitti.

What item in your closet are you wearing most right now?

My pink suede loafers from Esquivel.

CFDA Inducts 26 New Members for 2010, Including L'Wren Scott and Sophie Theallet

fashionologie — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:20:18 PDT

>> Wednesday evening, Vera Wang moved almost all of the furniture out of her vast Park Avenue apartment to toast this year's 26 new CFDA inductees. “It may not be as big as Donna Karan’s loft, but I can fit you all in,” Wang said of her duplex, which she estimated was hosting 300 guests. Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee Ocleppo were impressed, however - The Cut caught them exclaiming: “It's amazing. The kitchen is sick. Our kitchen is like, a tenth of that size. That's like a restaurant kitchen.”

The new members include: Waris Ahluwalia - who said of the honor, “I feel like I almost should put this on my passport as my fashion visa. It's nice to make this baby official!", Steven Alan, Lisa Axelson of Ann Taylor, Lubov Azria, Shane Baum of Baumvision, Vicki Beamon and Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon, George Esquivel, Robert Geller, Gary Graham, Ulrich Grimm of Calvin Klein, Sang A Im-Propp, Anthony Keegan of Commonwealth Utilities, Adam Kimmel, Nikki Kule of Kule, Kimberly McDonald, Rebecca Minkoff, Bibhu Mohapatra, Juan Carlos Obando, Monique Péan, Monica Rich Kosann, Pamella Roland, Robert Rodriguez, L'Wren Scott, Shelly Steffee, and Sophie Theallet, who just moved into a new office space.

Vanessa Traina Talks Joseph Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, and Her Boyfriend in Intermission's Second Issue

fashionologie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:22:05 PDT

>> The second installment of Swedish magazine Intermission is jam-packed with interviews: Gaia Repossi, Isabel Marant, Joseph Altuzarra, Tabitha Simmons, Waris Ahluwalia, Victoire de Castellane, and Vogue Paris art director Johan Svensson among them - and all are translated from Swedish into English at the back of the issue.

John Scarisbrick photographed and Keegan Singh styled the two covers - one with Hanne Gaby Odiele, and the other Vanessa Traina, who inside talks to Stephanie LaCava about going to high school with Alexander Wang ("He used to cut up these vintage jeans and make us denim skirts. I still have them - and he’d make us T-shirts. We used to place orders every season with him."), consulting for Joseph Altuzarra ("Our relationship is different than most because Joseph and I are so close. As friends, we hang out at least four times a week."), and her boyfriend, Chad Muska ("I was with some girlfriends and he was with a friend of one of my girlfriends and we met at a restaurant one night in LA. That was eight years ago and it slowly evolved into a relationship. He’s a street skater. We live together in the West Village, but he also has a studio in Union Square. He’s always been into photography, but he’s been playing around with it a little more and doing some large-scale work, a mix of photographer and painting. I have his pictures hanging in our bedroom. It’s a photo series he did of Kate Moss manipulated and painted different shades of pink.").

A peek at the issue, out this week at Opening Ceremony and Colette, below.

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fashionologie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:21:40 PDT

>> Inaugural Fashion Incubator Designers Have Officially Moved In -The first twelve designers participating in the new CFDA Fashion Incubator program - including Prabal Gurung, Waris Ahluwalia, Sophie Theallet, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Justin Giunta - which provides subsidized studios in the heart of New York's Garment District, officially moved into the space, which apparently "looks much like a shopping mall, with glass-fronted showrooms on either side of a grand aisle," last week. Advantages include retailers being able to visit the designers all at the same time and proximity to their suppliers. “The amount of time we save, even if it’s running out for a zipper, is incredible,” said Mohapatra. [NY Times]

Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Justin Giunta Among Inaugural Fashion Incubator Designers

fashionologie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:58:25 PST

>> The CFDA Fashion Incubator, announced last October in partnership with New York City's Mayor Bloomberg, has its first twelve tenants. Among those named as part of the inaugural group of designers: Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Gemma Redux's Rachel Dooley, Grey Ant's Grant Krajecki, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Jolibe's Joel Diaz, Lewis's Alison Lewis, Public School's Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Ruby Kobo's Yuvi Alpert and Danna Kobo, and Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta.

The designers each received two-year leases on design studio spaces ranging from 800 to 1,000 square feet at 209 West 38th Street in Manhattan, with subsidized, below-market rental rates of between $1,500 and $2,000 per month. To earn a spot, the designers had to submit a business plan, show they had "substantive editorial coverage" and orders from high-level retailers, have been in business for over a year and a half, and be supporting a staff.

Get to Know the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees

fashionologie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:32:38 PDT

>> This year's ten CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists have just been announced - they range from the eco-conscious (Monique Pean, Alabama Chanin) to cobblers (Esquivel Shoes) to straight-up womenswear designers (Sophie Theallet, Wayne, Ohne Titel, Gary Graham). Anna Wintour noted, “We had very strong applicant pool this year, particularly among the jewelers" - here's looking at lucky jewelry nominees Pean and House of Waris. The winner and runners-up, who are bestowed with cash prizes and industry mentorship, will be announced Nov. 16 at the annual gala.

Until then, an introduction (minus menswear nominees Patrik Ervell and Simon Spurr of Spurr).

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