ALEXANDER WANG – Fall/Winter 2013-14 Collection – New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

From catwalks to red carpets, German-born actress Diane Kruger has become a head-turner in the world of celebrity style. Always perfectly and effortlessly poised, this fashion darling never disappoints, even when she makes a daring wardrobe choice. Kruger launched into view with her role as Helen in the 2004 film Troy. She quickly added to her success in the National Treasure franchise and then in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.

Before becoming an actress, Kruger was an aspiring ballerina-turned-model. The grace and style she learned from those professions show up not only her acting, but also in her incredible fashion sense. Like a canvas, primed for creation, Kruger has a proven track record of bringing daring yet classic style choices to every red carpet event. She stunned in a gown by Jason Wu — one of her favorite designers — with a thigh-high slit at the 2011 Met Gala and floated through the 2012 Cannes International Film Festival closing ceremony in a tri-colored plaid ballgown, complete with bustle and train. At the Chanel haute couture show that same year, the actress wore a cornflower blue denim short-sleeved shift from the house’s 2013 resort collection paired with spiked Christian Louboutin flats, Frenching the look with a black newsboy cap.

When it comes to Chanel, Kruger has referred to Karl Lagerfeld as a father figure and mentor in her life. They share a German heritage and a deep love for fashion, particularly couture, which she has called the “ultimate art form of fashion.” After a leg injury dashed her dancing dreams while studying at the London School of Ballet in Germany, she moved to Paris at age 15, where she met Lagerfeld who took her under his wing. After more than a decade of modeling, appearing in ad campaigns and editorials for Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Dior and Vogue, Kruger switched gears and pursued a career in acting. Favoring Chanel for many of her red carpet appearances, Lagerfeld himself designed the white feathered couture gown she wore to the Cannes Film Festival’s premiere of Troy.

A rarity in Hollywood, the starlet has a knack for dressing herself and does not employ a personal stylist. “I come from fashion and who knows better what I like than myself,” she told British Vogue in 2011. Her unique approach often finds her in nudes and neutrals, wavy hair loosely pinned and never overdone. She believes in tailoring her style to the event, yet her style MO also allows her to take risks.

She was sporting Balmain before Rihanna and Beyoncé, notably rolled into the Condé Nast Movies Rock party in Los Angeles in a black Christophe Decarnin embellished mini dress and at the premiere of Inglorious Basterds donned another daring mini and peep-toe Louboutins. Turning heads at the 2012 “GQ Men of the Year” event in a white Cushnie et Ochs creation, the midriff top and narrow band of white fabric running from the skirt, around her neck and back down, swooned the hearts of the fashion elite. Her look was completed with a black Vanessa Bruno jacket, strappy Jimmy Choo shoes and multicolored Jason Wu clutch.

Constantly appearing on Vogue.com’s “10 Best Dressed” list, Diane Kruger is one to look to for classic style that can rock out or sweetly delight.

Born in Detroit, Michigan to French-Chinese parents in 1964, Anna Sui was impressed by a story of two successful Parsons School of Design graduates, and mimicking their efforts, she made her pilgrimage to New York City to attend Parsons. While attending Parsons, she befriended legendary photographer, Steven Meisel and assisted him on shoots. After graduation, she landed a job with sportswear company Glenora in 1981. While working there, Sui and a friend set up a booth at a trade show where she displayed five designs.

Her pieces were purchased by Macy’s and Bloomingdales, and she received an advertisement in The New York Times, which led to her immediate departure from Glenora. With a mere $300 in savings, she worked out of her apartment over the course of 10 years. She took odd and end design jobs, and every penny she made went into her business.

Two influential friends, models Naomi Campbell and Linda Evengelista, convinced the designer to do a runway show in 1991. Paying her friends in clothes, she presented her first collection at a small venue in the trendy Meatpacking District. The collection showcased timeless designs that transcended eras with cultural and historical inspirations, and the complete head-to-toe collection, caught the attention of buyers and the media. The show was triumphant and catapulted the Anna Sui brand name.

Sui’s designs have developed into a global brand complete with footwear (Ballin), cosmetics, eyewear, accessories, fragrances, dolls and collaborations with Target and Samsung. Her products and collections are available in 300 stores in 30 countries and more than 50 clothing and beauty boutiques internationally.

Sui continues to create designs that have the perfect balance of the girl next door with an edge. Her various lines have drawn the attention of notable celebrities such as Christina Ricci, Cher, Naomi Campbell, Sofia Coppola and Courtney Love. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent in 1992 and the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Time magazine named Sui one of the top five fashion icons of this decade.

As the luxury brand approaches its 158th anniversary, what greater way to remain cutting edge than to recruit three of the industry’s most new found fashion advocates? Miroslava Duma (fashion editor), Elin Kling (fashion blogger) and Hanneli Mustaparta (model turned photographer) teamed up for Louis Vuitton’s “Small is Beautiful” campaign. The Spring/Summer 2013 advertisement, shot in Paris, features the fashion enthusiasts showcasing the label’s latest mini icon collection with attention-grabbing hues and charming titles. The collection is sure to be a triumph for the fashion inspired.

By Malaika Woods

Photos Credit: Stuart Weitzman/Mario Testin

Exuding simplicity at its finest, supermodel and fashion icon Kate Moss serves as the latest face for the Spring/Summer 2013 Stuart Weitzman campaign. With a colorless background, the undeniably, striking Moss flawlessly makes a bold statement in simple basics: collared shirt, white blazer and sleek body suit, casually styled to showcase a precise combination of femininity and masculinity. Photographed by world renowned photographer Mario Testino, the black and white ads feature knee high gladiator inspired sandals, mirrored pumps, a lady like t-strap stiletto and a chunkier flat rendition.

How did you feel when Rihanna hand-selected you as one of twelve fashion designers competing on her Bravo reality television show, “Styled to Rock?” 

It was amazing and surreal. I couldn’t believe it was happening until I was actually shaking Rihanna’s hand, and even then, I was waiting for someone to wake me up; I think I still am.

You hold degrees in fashion design from both Howard University in Washington, D.C. and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Did your FIT education differ greatly from Howard? 

Yes, they were very different. At Howard I earned a 4-year Bachelors of Fine Arts degree and had a full college experience. I was an athlete; I wrote for the paper; I partied; I hung out with cute boys; I made honor roll; and I graduated cum laude. At the Fashion Institute of Technology, I attended the one-year graduate program. I ate, drank, and breathed fashion nonstop. I did not sleep, I did not party, and I did not do anything except work. I lost friends, I lost weight, and my boyfriend hated me. The only people I saw were other students in my program. It was intense and I loved every minute of it. I learned so much. I loved and benefited from both programs for different reasons. The only thing I would have done differently is to have spent at least one year abroad.

You have over 15 years of fashion design experience from companies such as Catherine Malandrino, Emanuel Ungaro, Calvin Klein and Juicy Couture. As is the dream of most fashion designers, you then launched your own collection. What made you decide to venture out and launch your label at the time you did? 

Working for other companies is essential because you gain experience without having to worry about actually running your own business. A young designer working for other brands is similar to a doctor completing his or her residency before opening a practice or a background singer getting experience before venturing out on their own. I’ve spent the last 15 years paying my dues. Now I am ready for my solo. This is why I did the show “Styled to Rock.” It was a stepping stone for me to start paying my dues in the next realm.

As we all know, inspiration can come from anywhere. What generally influences your collections? 

Most of the time when I’m inspired, I feel like I’m just a vessel and the garments design themselves. Sometimes I wake up at 3 am with some of the best design ideas I’ve ever had and I just can’t explain it. Generally speaking, it comes from within.

What was your greatest challenge when first launching your label? 

The greatest challenge when launching a label is the initial funding. A former boss told me early on that to start a fashion line, you will need an initial investment of $100K to $200K. I thought she was exaggerating, but, as it turns out, she was right. Since the economy tanked, all costs to the fashion designer are due up front. Before, you could get financed by the manufacturer but manufacturers now require payment before production. The designer doesn’t make money on orders until after the product has been delivered, which means the designer is responsible for the cost of creating the garments, without getting paid first. Fabric, trim, materials, patterns, and all the little details add up pretty quickly. Additionally, the less product you produce, the more expensive it is. Ironically, a manufacturer will charge a small emerging designer like myself much more to create garments than they would for a major business like H&M, even though they have much bigger budgets and can afford higher prices. Meeting minimums can make things extremely challenging, and the cost is quite often astronomical.

Speaking of funding, you are involved with a wonderful program called KICKSTARTER, which helps creative people fund their own projects. Describe how the program is helping you raise money to produce your Spring 2014 line that you showed at New York Fashion Week this past September with much praise. Also, describe how people who pledge money can benefit.

Kickstarter is great. It is part of the social phenomenon developed over the last few years called ‘crowdfunding’ which is essentially where folks like you and I can actually help fund new inventive products and business ideas that we love. It can allow the inventors and creators to stay independent by securing their own funding. Contributions start at $1 and go up to however much the contributor is willing to contribute. Individually a $20 or $100 contribution may not do much for a whole business, but collectively it adds up with the idea to reach a goal set by the creator of the project. The project’s creator only receives the funding if he or she reaches the goal. This is great because the creator sets the goal at the minimum amount of funding needed to complete the project and if that minimum amount is not met, the contributors don’t end up wasting their dollars and they don’t get charged anything. Kickstarter must approve the project and has several rules in place to protect the backers. It’s amazing, because you are a part of creating something brand new! You get behind the scenes insight, you can communicate directly with the founder, you can sometimes pre-order the product and you are actually a part of this new venture. This is really neat if it’s something you enjoy or believe in. The absolute best part about it all is that Kickstarter makes the creator come up with rewards for different levels of contributions that are unique and specific to the project; rewards that you can’t just go out and buy in a store. The rewards tend to get more elaborate and crazy exciting the more you contribute! It’s very entertaining, and we spent a lot of time coming up with fun and unique rewards for my campaign. My campaign has been set up to help me get backing for the pre-production of my line, which will allow me to get the collection into stores. We are almost at the halfway mark and have about two weeks to go! Now is the perfect time to get onboard Team Ebony. It’s an exciting time to be a part of something that is fresh and new.

For more information or to contribute to Ebony’s campaign, go to: http://kck.st/1bixtJN  

What advice would you give an aspiring fashion designer trying to launch his or her own collection?

The best advice I can give any creative person is to be as much a businessperson as you are an artist.  Be smart about whom you trust, and budget wisely. There are tons of people out there looking to take advantage of artists who only focus on the creative aspect; one of your most important jobs is to look out for you.

What is your design philosophy and signature look? 

I focus on five elements when I design. I call them my five favorite ‘F’ words: Fit, function, fabric, flattery and femininity. Can I add ‘fun’ to that?  My brand is distinctly feminine, forward-thinking fashion for today’s ever-evolving contemporary woman. It focuses on flattering fit, premium materials, combining and contrasting prints, textures and novelty detailing. My signature look is feminine, contemporary cool.

What historical and current fashion designers have had a major influence on you and your craft?  I am inspired by designers whose spirit and energy celebrate being a woman in all her feminine glory. Some of my favorite designers include Diane Von Furstenburg, Georgina Chapman for Marchesa, Dolce & Gabbana, Kiki De Montparnasse, Ingwa Melero and Betsey Johnson.

Your designs have been featured in major publications such as Elle magazine and Style.com and are sold in stores across the world. You have also dressed several celebrities. Who have you dressed and how did these collaborations evolve? 

Several celebrities have worn garments that I designed based on their own personal taste and preferences because I did not directly collaborate with them or their stylists.  Some of them include Kimora Lee, Malin Ackerman, Julianne Hough, Holly Madison and Lana Del Ray.  There may be more, but I just haven’t seen them yet!

Philanthropy and the fashion industry go hand-in-hand, as we see with the onset of charities such as “Dress for Success.” You have recently initiated another great charity project “The Joint Dress Initiative” which also works with “Dress a Girl Around the World” charity founded by Rachel Eggum Cinader.  What is the mission of the project?  Please explain its cause.

I discovered the “Dress A Girl Around the World” charity a long time ago when I wanted to give back in a way that was more meaningful to me than money. At the time I wasn’t working, but didn’t want to use that as an excuse for being complacent. I conducted research and discovered this charity, and then reached out to Rachel. She responded enthusiastically. The way the DAGATW charity works is that they offer the public free patterns for little girls’ dresses on their website. These patterns can be downloaded and made out of a pillowcase. The person sends the sewn dresses to DAGATW and DAGATW hand delivers them to poor families in countries around the world who struggle to afford food, clothing and shelter. They also deliver the dresses to homeless and abuse shelters. Each season that I create a collection, I will also design a limited edition little girls dress collection exclusive to DAGATW. I send them the designer patterns, which they make available on their site for a small fee (a donation). The dresses may be sewn by the public and submitted. I also send this pattern to a fashion education organization; right now I am hoping to be working with the United Colors of Fashion (UCOF), another charity that works in guiding and teaching inner city youth interested in the design industry. The patterns are used as an educational project for their sewing classes.  The students make the dresses (under the guidance of experienced fashion professionals) for the charity. The dresses are sold and auctioned off at special events with all of the profits going back to the project. I am thrilled to share that I just signed up Fabrics.com as our official fabric sponsor! They will be donating the fabric for the students to make the dresses. It’s all very exciting for me, not only is it the first charity project I’ve ever put together and organized on my own, but it is so near and dear to my heart to be able to do something that can get the fashion world and our youth involved in giving. We welcome anyone who wants to be a part of this project!

What three things can’t you live without?

My running shoes, a pencil, and a notebook.

Describe what the ultimate perfect day would be like for you. 

A 2-hour Thai massage, anything active and exhilarating, doing an activity where I get to enjoy nature and socializing over cocktails with my friends.

Ebony’s website: http://ebonywhitenyc.com/

ALEXANDER WANG – Fall/Winter 2013-14 Collection – New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

A tropical theme set the mood for the Spring 2014 Prada men’s ready-to-wear collection. Heavily print driven looks took to the runway, whether peeking out from underneath a jacket or shown as the main piece. Refined Hawaiian, rainforest foliage, flora and fauna, beach sunset, 1950s graphic, and 1940s pinup girl prints were seen in darker tones on long-sleeve, button-down tops, sweaters, and silky, slouch jackets, as well as on briefcases, suitcases, and weekender bags. They were paired with various trousers, both pinstriped and solid. Silky boxing shorts were shown in a bright turquoise and also in black.  Silhouettes were relaxed, pants were full, blousons were plump, short sleeves were layered over long sleeves, and double-breasted jackets were left unbuttoned. 

An unexpected feature of the show was the infusion of  twelve womenswear looks that mimicked the menswear prints shown mostly in dresses, some embellished with crystals, and available as part of the resort collection.

The set played just as important of a part of the collection itself and was artfully decorated with palm trees, a sunset, water, and helicopters, suggesting a tropical resort meets war zone feeling and was given the title, “Menacing Paradise” by creative head Miuccia Prada. The audience sat in a blue pit that imitated water, as models paraded around them.

The color palette featured neutral shades of grey, mahogany, burgundy, brown, and teal. Sneakers and loafers were worn with socks that slouched down toward the ankle, and were shown in solid or two-tones, both with and without laces. Sunglasses were straight out of the 1970s and were tinted in retro yellow and red shades. Belts were striped in various colorways and hung down loosely over the pants. For women, accessories included clutch and weekender bags in various prints and chunky jewelry.

Born in Paris in 1963, this high-heel designer slipped into the shoe business after seeing a sign that prevented women from wearing stilettos in the African and Oceanic Museum of Art. The image of the dramatic pair of heels on the sign influenced him, and he later used that image as inspiration for his own sketches.

Louboutin often skipped school to peruse flea markets or attend cabaret shows, and when he was kicked out of school at 16, he started to work with the prominent Parisian cabaret, Folies Bergère, where he had the opportunity to make shoes for the dancers. He landed a job in 1980 with famed shoe designer, Charles Jourdan. Over the next three years, he freelanced for fashion houses Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. He also spent time working with Roger Vivier. His experiences with Jourdan and Vivier helped equip him with the necessary tools to launch a successful brand under his own name. He opened his premier store in Paris in 1991 and he quickly became a favorite of celebrities and illustrious public figures.

His first admirers and customers included Princess Caroline of Monaco and Madonna. He has revamped the stiletto with a flair for sexiness and poise. Known for his exoticism and design details that feature feathers, bows, jeweled straps and whimsical prints, his most recognizable emblem, is the “Sammy red” sole of every heel.

Louboutin deciding to add the red sole — at the last second using red nail polish — as a statement for one of his seasonal collections, and kept the color as his customers continued to request it. Louboutin became a household name thanks to references in popular culture and continued to expand his brand, opened his first U.S. store in 1993 in New York City’s Upper East Side. 10 years later, he ventured into designing handbags to complement his legendary shoes.

Men were able to purchase red-soled shoes in 2011, when he launched his first men’s collection. The same year, the shoe designer was caught up in a red clash with Yves Saint Laurent (Saint Laurent Paris). Trademarking his signature red-soled shoes back in 2008, he filed a lawsuit against YSL for trademark infringement after a red-soled shoe appeared in its cruise collection.

In 2012, the judge ruled in Louboutin’s favor as exclusive owner to the rights of the red-soled shoe, and YSL could continue to sell shoes with red soles as long as the rest of the shoe was made in the same color. The Louboutin brand is nowhere close to losing its stomping speed, as of now the luxury brand has more than 42 boutiques worldwide and sells 600,000 shoes annually. Taking a stab at the beauty world, he has teamed up with Batallure Beauty LLC to launch Christian Louboutin Beauté set to be released sometime in 2013.

Citing the Holly Hobbie doll’s layered patchwork clothing as a reference point for resort, Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy’s creative director, realized his inspiration by adding a ruffled peplum effect to a variety of silhouettes. This included a gabardine trenchcoat, a chocolate brown leather top that was paired with a printed tapered skirt, and a denim dress — all executed to perfection. His photo prints stunned and were seen in two floral options, as well as in a spectacular floral confetti burst. “It was so full of print, which is becoming a sign of Givenchy,” Tisci said to WWD. “I wanted to develop that, and deliver a collection that was part Gypsy and dolly.” The outcome was both.

Opening looks included various white lace ensembles (a particular standout was the corset dress worn over pants), which led up to a neutral trench with a floral lined collar and lapel — offering a hint of the colorful prints that followed. We then saw a green and pink floral printed strapless dress shown over slim pants, the same print in a jacket and pant combination, a floral print dress covered with a leather bomber jacket, followed by numerous peplum looks, and ending with a black jacket and a black, oversized, flared out pant for evening.

Collars and cuffs were completed in combinations of sparkling crystals, mother of pearl, obsidian (volcanic glass formed as an igneous rock), and onyx. Just stunning! His color palette consisted of white, taupe, navy, black and gold and he played with a variety of fabrics, including cotton poplin, leather and textured lace, presenting a brilliant, wearable collection. Strappy white, black and printed pumps with concaved heels and peep toe ankle boots in white lace, black leather and various prints (the same used in the apparel) finished the looks.

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Born in 1957 and raised just a few miles from Rimini, Italy — a town famous for its impeccable shoe manufacturing, Giuseppe Zanotti created his first collection with 15 employees, including a jeweler and an embroiderer.

Today, more than 350 people work on his collections. Modernizing traditional silhouettes, Zanotti produces more than 400,000 pairs of shoes annually.

As a young designer, he freelanced at the fashion houses of Valentino Garavani, Christian Dior, Roberto Cavalli and Gianfranco Ferré.

Zanotti opened his first boutique in Milan, in 2000. Since then, stores in New York, Dubai and Paris have opened, totaling 50 stores globally. Footwear News, a publication by WWD, awarded Zanotti Designer of the Year in late 2000.

Ranging in prices from $500 to $3,000 a pair, Giuseppe Zanotti footwear is esteemed as luxuriously crafted shoes. Crystals, pony-hair and metal embellishments appear on sandals, booties and pumps as staples of the brand. Zanotti continues to manufacture styles that are casual yet sensual with a wide array of heel structures.

Zanotti has collaborated with Chopard, model Anja Rubik and rapper Kanye West and has designed for Vera Wang, Thakoon and Balmain. In 2010, he won the “Prix d’Excellence de la Mode” from Marie Claire International for Best Footwear Collection.

The first men’s collection was presented at the Pitti Uomo menswear trade show in June 2012, solidifying the designer’s influence in footwear design. Giuseppe Zanotti Design has since branched out to include handbags and accessories.

ALEXANDER WANG – Fall/Winter 2013-14 Collection – New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

November 14 – November 15 Thursday Friday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm 11:00 am – 7:00 pm fall / winter merchandise for women now up to 90% off retail prices we have been restocking daily    HELMUT LANG   now 30% off everything t-shirts now $28 sweaters now $56 blouses now $63 bottoms now $35 – $91 dresses now $84 – $126 blazers now $70 – $140 outerwear now $210 leather jackets now $280 above prices reflect the 30% off markdown prices are rounded up to the nearest dollar

Hugo Boss’ Spring/Summer 2013 campaign translates a breath of fresh air into sophistication and leisure. The stills feature models Liu Wen, Toni Garn, Edita Vilkeviciute and Gabriel Aubrey. Photographed by renowned photographer Mikael Jansson, this advertisement will surely leave you pining for warmer climates.

By Malaika Woods

Photo Credit: Versace/Mert and Marcus

Photographer team Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot shot fashion supermodels Kate Moss, Joan Small and Daria Werbowy as they gracefully portray modern day goddesses in the Versace Spring/Summer 2013 campaign.

Inspired by the annual music festival, Coachella, (which takes place in an expansive California desert) Mert & Marcus recreated their sandy version in London.

Each model is accompanied by a male counterpart, or counterparts in Moss’ case. One of the toughest feats as a model is to stand out when photographed alongside multiple subjects. Moss pulls this off like a triumphantly.