It Doesn't Stick

Every season is seems like there is a new IT designer.  It kinda seems like this season's is Alexander Wang.  Honestly, I don't get it.

His Resort 2010 collection makes no sense.  Most of it doesn't even look good on the model, like these weird overalls.  Lets face it, these overalls have a bad case of the FUG.  Please don't wear them.  But, what makes the collection even weirder is that right in the middle of it there are suddenly a whole bunch of not bad cocktail and evening looks that really have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the collection.  Even though in the pictures the same girl is wearing everything, it seems that the evening wear is for someone else entirely.  It was just odd.  And uncohesive.  It just doesn't all stick together to form a cohesive, well thought out collection.  It really is too bad!

Picture from style.com

Time to Vote!

Okay everyone, TIME TO VOTE!  Please go to HERE and vote 5 stars on all of the garments!

I know, why should you bother?  Well, the voting is for a competition where the winning designer will be featured at the Las Vegas Fashion Week from September 3-5th.  The designer you are voting for is Devani Weaver from Phoenix, Arizona.  She's exceptionally talented and was the Scottsdale Fashion Week 2008 Designer of the Year.  Most of her work is one-of-a-kind and beautifully detailed.  Not only that, but she's incredibly nice and very humble.  She's on those up and coming designers that has real talent and with our help and votes can really make a name for herself.  In light of that, don't forget to vote!

Picture from ustrendy.com

Its Official!

Its official!  I will be speaking at Phoenix Fashion Week!  

Phoenix Fashion Week is October 1-3 2009 and will be at the Valley Ho resort in Phoenix.  Their website is rather uninformative right now so when the events get nearer I'll post a link where tickets can be had.

Okay, so I know my blog is about fashion in general, that is not what I will be speaking about.  I have been booked to speak about the Business of Fashion, particularly about some of the financial things that no one likes to think about like 401(k) stuff, disability insurance, etc... that no designer or boutique owner can be without but none of them like to think about.  

Picture is of Emily Brandle's show at Phoenix Fashion Week in 2008.  Picture is from http://bloggingprojectrunway.blogspot.com

Master of Fabric--the History of Fortuny

There are some things in fashion that are simply mythical.  One of the most notable of these is Fortuny Fabrics.  Every time I see them I immediately think of Lousie Brooks and Greta Garbo and their glamorous dresses!  The production of the fabrics began just after 1900 and their current factory opened in the early 1920s.  Ever since, their secret formula has been used to create some of the most fine fabrics in the world.

Mariano Fortuny was a Spanish designer who studied achlemy, art, science, music, architecture and history all over the world with a particular emphasis on Greek and Egyptian history.  Oddly, he also had an obsession with Wagner's music.  When he started his foray into fashion in 1907 he decided to open his own fabric production so that he could have access to the high-quality fabrics he envisioned his designs to be made of.  It even seems that neither World War managed to completely shut down his factory, either.

The processes that were and still are used to create these fabrics is still a trade secret and the Fortuny company still claims that no one has been able to exactly replicate their fabrics.  The factory is still using the same machinery and processes that were implemented by Mr. Fortuny himself.  Some of the processes that are known to be used are dying the fabric from the back and the use of dye chemicals from achlemy.  Regardless of what secret thing they do to make their fabric as wonderful as it is, what really makes Fortuny fabric really so wonderful is that it truly stands the test of time.  I'm inclined to say that no other designer seems to have as many surviving gowns from the first few decades of the 20th century as Fortuny and I think that is the true testament to the quality of his work.

Picture of Fortuny gown from http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/hispanicdesigners

Foot Fetish

One of the odd things about Prada is that for some reason over the past maybe 3-5 years their Resort collections are always their best of the year.  I have no idea why that is.  Maybe because Resort is really about dressing women for when they are out having fun and being themselves and that is what inspires Miuccia the most.  Frankly, I don't know.

Prada's Resort 2010 collection gives me lots to say.  It all boils down to the cold hard fact of I WANT IT.  They did themselves proud.  

The shoes for the collection are spectacular.  The ones with leather flowers are cute, feminine and wearable.  They are fun and would look equally well with a black dress as with a print skirt and comfortable top.  While they are close to the shoe collection that they put out under their MiuMiu label a few seasons ago, there has been enough tweeking with the shoes to where one could own both those previously made ones and these without feeling like it was simply deja-vous.  And, the nice thing is that they are aren't terribly trendy so they could easily be worn several years from now without it being an issue.  Now, that is something to be excited about!

Picture from style.com

Something to Paddle In--Tyr Swimsuits!

Yes, I know, many designers make all sorts of swimwear.  Some are quite cute, even.  But, when it comes to swimwear all I can say is DON'T SKIMP ON THE GOOD STUFF.

Nothing is worse than swimming in the ocean and a big wave hits you and well, you just gave all of the awkward teenage boys in the vicinity a free show.  Ugh.  From experience no designer seems to protect from such horrifying experiences.  

That would be why you buy Tyr swimwear.  The stuff doesn't budge.  It sucks you in so you suddenly have a magnificent shape.  It comes in reasonably fashionable patterns--the one pictured is cool looking and also creates a nice optical illusion that you are much thinner than you actually are.  And, it lasts all summer unless you swim as much as a high school water polo player.  I know, it isn't the most "cool" thing ever to buy, but you will seriously thank yourself when you go to the beach.  Seriously.

Picture from zappos.com

That Special Time Of Year

It is that most wonderful time of year--SALE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The summer sale season is in full swing now and due to the economic crisis a number of designers have really slashed their prices.  Right now on marni.com they have lowered prices by more than 50%.  The discounts are to the point where some dresses are only about $300.  Yes, that is right, $300 for a real Marni dress straight from the company.  The items that are still available there are actually some pretty good ones and not just the fugly ones that no one else wants.  Time to make the most of this most special time of year and stock up!

Picture from marni.com  

DIY Done Right--Libertine Rocks!

Okay, so for some reason it became popular to repurpose old clothes and make your own things in a sort of campy, tacky way.  I don't know if it is the whole green movement or what that makes people do this or if it something Kool-Aid started putting in their little packets of drink mix.  In general it isn't good.

But, the whole DIY I'm a hipster rockstar can be done and done well.  Probably the most well-known and celebrated for it is Libertine.  Libertine is made up of Johnson Hartig and Cindy Greene--one of them refurbishes used garments and the other screen prints and otherwise embellishes on them.  What makes them so good is that they actually do a good job of juxtaposing high-brow looks with Victorian and punk images to create something that is unusual but totally wearable.  And, most importantly, it looks like someone professional made it and you didn't just splatter paint it in your back yard.  

Libertine is oddly hard to find.  Barney's and Bergdorf-Goodman carry it and I'm sure that a variety of smaller boutiques do as well.  Just be sure that when you buy it that the tag doesn't also say "For Target" if you are looking for one of their hand-done pieces.

Picture from coutorture.com, of their Fall 2009 collection

Vacation Time!

A good part of the time Resort collections feel like they are simply composed of the stuff that was made for other collections that wasn't good enough to be shown but not so terrible as to be completely discarded.  Which is probably Resort is probably the most forgotten and least cared about of all of the "seasons".  

Marni's Resort 2010 collection feels like anything but things that should have stayed on the cutting room floor.  It is classic Marni--interesting pieces that you'll never have a fat day in.  Sure, there were no soul-stirring prints, but the cuts and colors were such that they really aren't "resort" pieces, but a whole collection of classic basics that could be worn year after year.  That is nothing less than a successful collection.

Picture from style.com

Kinda a Snooze...

Okay, so I know the CFDA awards are like the Oscars of fashion.  I get it.  They mean a lot and only really go to the best and the brightest.  Yep.  But, I can't help but be disappointed with this year's women's wear winners, Rodarte.

Yes, they make good stuff.  They are a designer label.  Okay.  But, they just really aren't that exciting.  Their stuff of overwrought and kinda unwearable.  Sometimes I think they've spent too much time living in their parents' basement.  It isn't that they are bad, far from it.  I think maybe what it is is that they need a few more years to really find their groove and make garments that make women jump up and down and scream.  Because, right now their garments make me keep on scrolling right on by.  

I do genuinely hope that they do really live up to the award and make fantastic things.  I guess I was just hoping that the award would go to someone who designs things that keep me up at night.  But, when I think about it, I can't really say that any American designer is doing that now...

Picture from rockthetrend.com

New Talent!

I know, I haven't been the best at updating this lately...

But, it is the season where new fashion talents are starting to emerge and put together collections to show the community!  One such person is Briana Linea who is going to be showing October 1st at Phoenix Fashion Week.  Her collection is going to be focusing on The Little Black Dress!  Briana is currently finishing up in fashion school and working on launching her fashion company called Briana Linea Fashions.  Her company is going to specialize in women's wear, both custom and ready to wear.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Her blog is: http://brianalinea.blogspot.com/