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
Tue, 09/16/08 — 12:28:58 PM
>> Although London Fashion Week is at risk of being squeezed out by New York and Milan next season — Diane von Furstenberg is in town to discuss the matter — Harold Tillman, chairmain of the British Fashion Council, had a more positive announcement to make last night.
Britain's largest-ever emerging talent fashion fund — modeled after the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund — is being launched, with backing from Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and Erin O'Connor, who is vice-chairman of London Fashion Week. The first awards will be given out next year — and considering the forward-thinking talent pool that comes out of London, I can't wait.
*image: source
Thu, 08/14/08 — 10:49:48 AM
>> INSIDER WIRE — You may not be able to buy style, but you can most certainly buy your way into New York Fashion Week — if you have an American Express card. For $250 a pop, you can choose two-show packages that include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang, or if you're feeling even more spendy, you can nab yourself a whole day at the Tents.
For those who protest at the notion of buying invites, rest easy — the money helps fund American Express's donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. [FabSugar]
