The Fashion Informer

Isaac Mizrahi Celebrates QVC Line

The celebrity and fashion worlds collided last night at New York’s Stage 37, where a party was held in honor of Isaac Mizrahi’s new QVC collection, which makes its official debut next month and includes everything from tartan throws and bow-bedecked china plates to chocolate crust cheesecake and banana nut loaf to, yes, clothing and accessories, all of which retail in the wallet-friendly range of $32 to $300.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Mary Louise Parker, Ugly Betty’s Mark Indelicato and Michael Urie, Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford, 30 Rock’s Katrina Bowden, Entourage’s Alexis Dziena, Veronica Webb, Mira Sorvino, Anne Heche, Paz de la Huerta, Gretta Monahan, QVC host Lisa Robertson and fashion insiders Marc Bouwer, Catherine Malandrino, Fern Mallis, Lauren Ezersky, Glenda Bailey, Glamour.com’s Susan Cernek and Mary Lou Luther all came out to help Mizrahi celebrate his latest venture (which is not to be confused with his own eponymous collection or the collection he designs for Liz Claiborne New York, the latter of which is also slated to be sold exclusively on QVC).

“I think it was a very smart licensing agent who got the call and decided to approach us on behalf of QVC and, of course, the minute we heard the letters Q-V-C we jumped because I think it’s the way of the future, I really do,” Mizrahi told The Fashion Informer when asked how the collaboration came to be.

“It’s my opportunity to reach out to a customer and say I really believe in this,” he added after stopping to greet Behind the Velvet Ropes/Better TV host Lauren Ezersky and dish about her hot new man.  “And after that the chips fall where they may.  But as long as I have the opportunity - without the intervention of merchants and stores and this and that - to reach out the customer, then I will actually be able to learn from them.  And I’ll be able to sell clothes and sell products.”

Although the evening was billed as Isaac Mizrahi Live!, save for a few handbags carried by Mizrahi’s design team, none of the QVC merch was displayed in person.  Instead, said products were on full view – from the aforementioned baked goods to Mizrahi’s own personal favorite item (a scarf bearing the likeness of his beloved dog, Harry) – on the walls of TV monitors, vintage and high def, that had been set up around the room just for this purpose.

“It’s good, right?” crowed Isaac while watching the crowd watch the videos – some of which had been shot on Super 8 to be purposely scratchy and old-looking – while downing champagne and sliders.

The rest of the world will have to tune in to QVC on December 5^th - 7^th to get a glimpse of Mizrahi’s hotly anticipated debut. 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

Ruben Toledo on Fashion, Art and Staying Inspired

Ruben Toledo, fashion illustrator extraordinaire, took to the stage at FIT’s amphitheatre Thursday night for a wide-ranging discussion that touched on his editorial and commercial work, his ongoing – and constant - collaboration with his wife, Isabel, and the series of book covers he just illustrated for Penguin Couture Classics.

Said covers – for reissued versions of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter – were the jumping off point for the hour-long conversation organized by the Museum at FIT and moderated by Penguin Classics editorial director, Elda Rotor, which ended with a spirited Q&A and book signing, with both Ruben and Isabel chatting at length with students, fashion world colleagues and fans (including The Fashion Informer’s resident illustrator, Lana Frankel).

Calling himself a “really, really bad student” who nonetheless loved to spend time “hiding out” in the library of his New Jersey high school, Ruben said he’d always loved reading and that the same narrative that drew him to books informs the way he approaches his art: “It’s all about storytelling.”

Getting the chance to illustrate the Penguin Classics covers was, for him, “the perfect marriage of literature, art and fashion” and, indeed, the covers display both modern and period-specific styles, along with hand-drawn fonts, which Ruben rendered while Isabel read aloud to him from each of the three books – none of which he had read before.

Noting that the heroine of The Scarlet Letter is a seamstress – “I loved that!” – Ruben said he had originally wanted to do an A to Z of sins on the cover, “but there wasn’t enough room.”  He also gleefully confided that Wuthering Heights was his favorite of the three books because “it’s the most twisted and perverse story.” (But then what would you expect from a guy who grew up loving monsters, horror movies and anything “dark and spooky.”)

After recounting how he and Isabel met as Cuban immigrants in their New Jersey high school and the early days of their respective careers (which are so intertwined that there is no way to tell the story of one without mentioning the other, and which you can read more about here, here and here), Ruben scrolled through a slide show of his now-iconic work, which encompasses ads, catalogs and window installations for Nordstrom, Barneys and Target; illustrations for Chanel, Missoni, Fendi and Louis Vuitton; exhibits at the Museum at FIT and London’s V&A; mannequin design; postage stamps; posters and countless magazine editorials for Details, Paper, Visionaire, The New Yorker, Interview and many international editions of Vogue (but not, alas, American Vogue, as “they’re a bit too safe”).

The gregarious painter explained that he enjoyed doing things like window displays and magazine ads because “fashion illustration is democratic and I like that.  A lot of people don’t go to museums to see art, but everyone has an opinion about fashion,” and added that when he first began illustrating the work of designers in the ‘80s, he was told that what he was doing was not, in fact, fashion illustration but art – an idea he summarily rejects. 

He and Isabel spoke of the need to maintain the purity of one’s voice and vision in the face of passing trends and commercial concerns, with Ruben advising the students, in particular, to “stay in your own little bubble and your own little world.”

“It’s ok to not know about everything in the world and to be ignorant about some things if you’re nurturing the world inside,” he said, stressing that it’s this interior, intensely personal world that fuels one’s imagination and allows for a unique point of view that ultimately becomes the artist’s (or designer/writer/musician’s) inimitable creative signature.

He discussed his many inspirations, from his friends to the streets of New York to different types of music (admitting he becomes fixated on a particular song or genre – from classical to Afro-Cuban – and listens to the same thing, ad nauseum, until the illustration it inspired is finished). “It drives me crazy,” said Isabel with a laugh.

Ruben revealed that his long-delayed book, Fashionation, will finally be published by Karl Lagerfeld’s 7L imprint next year (there’s also an accompanying Toledo-directed film of the same name, but no word on when that will be released), and the audience learned that he is also on board to illustrate covers of Penguin Couture Classics 2010 reissues of Jane Eyre, Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Gray.  He also mentioned that he recently designed textiles for Vanity Fair lingerie, but that the finished collection will only be sold in Spain and Italy (not fair!).

But the most exciting news of the evening (for this audience member, at least) was the revelation that Isabel – who once worked for Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute - has archived all of her designs and her husband’s illustrations from the beginning of their careers to the present.  “She won’t let me throw anything out!” cried Ruben in mock dismay.

We’re already imagining the crazy-inventive Isabel and Ruben Toledo Museum that could be borne of such a treasure trove of unbridled creativity (think of the immersive experience that is the Dali Museum in Paris as filtered through the prism of this insanely prolific couple, with his whimsically fanciful illustrations, installations, mosaics and mannequins surrounding her intellectually rigorous yet always wearable designs).  The mind boggles.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

CFDA Launches Designer Cookbook at Saks

Diane von Furstenberg and Saks Fifth Avenue's Steve Sadove hosted a party to celebrate the launch of Assouline's American Fashion Cookbook, which features recipes and illustrations from more than 100 CFDA fashion designers.  We were on hand to cover the event and to try designer dishes whipped up by the folks at Café SFA. Delish!

 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Paul Smith and Rag & Bone Celebrate British Cool

Monday night was all about cool British style in New York, as witnessed by the Paul Smith event at Barneys (wherein Sir Paul was "probed" by Simon Doonan) and the official opening of the Rag & Bone store in Soho, which drew fellow Brits Sienna Miller, Tabitha Simmons and Craig McDean.  You can read all about both parties at VOGUE.COM.

  

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Betsey Johnson's Fashionable Bash

New York's National Arts Club honored Betsey Johnson with a Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement Award Tuesday night, and we were on hand to celebrate the occasion.  Read all about at VOGUE.COM.  

Isabel and Ruben Toledo Talk Art and Fashion at FIT

If you didn't make the Ruben and Isabel Toledo talk at FIT last night, you can read all about it here.

Fashion's Night Out Recap

So, better late than never (right?), here are some of Fashion's Night Out shots.  You can read our complete coverage over on VOGUE.COM. 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Mulberry Hits the Books

Mulberry hosted a party to celebrate the launch of British fashion photographer Chris Craymer's lovely book, Romance (which the handbag company also helped publish) on Thursday night at their Madison Avenue boutique.  Below, a few snaps from the soiree, and you can read about the party in detail over on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Derek Lam Storms SoHo

Derek Lam opened his first Manhattan store in SoHo last night - designed by architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA (aka, the duo behind the New Museum of Contemporary Art) - and Crosby Street was closed for several hours during the opening party, which attracted the likes of Anna Wintour, Phillip Lim and Rihanna, among others.  Below, a few photos from the party. You can read our complete coverage on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Topshop Arrives in New York (Finally!)

Some snaps from Tuesday's opening night party.  You can read our full coverage on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Barneys Celebrates Burberry's Christopher Bailey

 

Barneys New York hosted a champagne-fueled party Monday night to celebrate Christopher Bailey's spring/summer collection for Burberry Prorsum.  

Co-hosted by Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick and Barneys menswear honcho Tom Kalenderian, the shindig drew PYTs from both sides of the Atlantic, including Mary-Kate Olsen, Tara Subkoff, Leigh Lezark, Katie Lee Joel, Poppy Delavigne, Celerie Kemble, Emma Snowdon Jones and Byrdie Bell, to name a few of the people who swarmed the third floor menswear department to congratulate Burberry's always-charming Creative Director, who'd flown in just for the occasion.  Read all about it over on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

Vera Wang Celebrates Soho Store Opening

Vera Wang opened her first ready-to-wear boutique in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood - showcasing her designer collection and Lavender line - and last night was the kick off party, which functioned as a mini-reunion between the Vogue-editor-turned-designer and her former colleagues, with Anna Wintour, Meredith Melling Burke and Virginia Smith stopping by to pay their respects, the last with her hubby, Gap designer Patrick Robinson, and their adorable son in tow.  

When asked how she managed to keep the quality of her recently-launched Kohl's line, Simply Vera Vera Wang (with which we have something of an obsession) so high, Wang said, "I work hard at it.  I really do.  I don't just sign my name off to anything, and I think of what modern girls want and how modern girls dress. That's what important to me.  That's who I am.  Not only as a designer, but as a person - as a woman and a consumer."

And how did she came to choose Soho as a location for her first ready-to-wear flagship - worlds away from her two Madison Avenue bridal boutiques?

"I thought it was the perfect place for our ready-to-wear and Lavender, near people I admire like Prada and Marni and Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu and whoever else is around the block!"

You can read more about last night's event over at Vogue.com.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Marc Jacobs Chairs Housing Works Fashion For Action Sale

Just in time to sate your holiday shopping needs comes Housing Works Fashion For Action sale, which is being chaired this year by Marc Jacobs and features his-n'-hers discount designer goods donated by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, John Bartlett, Steven Alan, Donna Karan, Band of Outsiders, Michael Kors, Jack Spade and, yes, Marc Jacobs (among others), all at recession-friendly prices.  A Diane von Furstenberg dress, for instance, retails for $400 but will be $145 at Fashion For Action sale, while a Libertine rhinestone-embroidered hoodie is marked down from $1995 to $475.

The annual event kicks off with a high-profile opening night gala on Thursday, November 13th at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea, followed by a three-day public sample sale at Housing Works Thrift Shop on West 17th Street, with all sales going to benefit people living with HIV.

Below, a little preview at some of the yummy merch that will be available, including a buttery soft Converse by John Varvatos leather jacket, a Tadashi jersey gown, a sweet Mayle dress and a sequin Pa-tou-tou clutch bag (just the thing for that schmancy New Year’s Eve bash!).

Visit Housing Works for more info, or go here to purchase tickets to the opening night gala.

 

Photos courtesy Housing Works

 

 

Calvin Klein Turns 40

No, not the designer, silly goose, the company!  Read our coverage of the stylish CK shindig, which took place last week on New York's High Line in a custom built John Pawson gallery space, over at Vogue.com.  

Isabel Toledo's FIT Fete

The Fashion Informer is back from vaca and will hit the ground running with Fashion Week coverage starting tomorrow.  But today, let's take a moment to celebrate one of the most beloved designers in New York:  Isabel Toledo.  

A true iconoclast, Toledo has always marched to the beat of her own drummer, designing sculptural-yet-practical clothing since 1985 and eschewing the frenzied runway show scene since 1998 (the year of her last formal show).  

Much like Azzedine Alaia, Madeleine Vionnet and Clair McCardell - all of to whom she's been favorably compared - the Cuban born couturier revels in the craft and artistry of fashion design. Hence the Couture Council's Artistry of Fashion Award bestowed by the Museum at FIT, which was presented to Toledo Wednesday at a glittering luncheon at New York's Rainbow Room, emceed by Simon Doonan, in front of an audience that included designers Narciso Rodriguez, Philip Crangi, Lela Rose and Justin Giunta, retailers Julie Gilhart, Michael Fink and Linda Fargo, and editors from every major fashion mag.  

"She's a self-described perfectionist, purist and modern-day romantic," said presenter Andre Leon Talley from the podium.  "I always tell Ruben and Isabel, with no irony:  I want to be like you when I grow up."

You can read more of our coverage of the event at Vogue.co.uk.

Til tomorrow!

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

  

CFDA & Swarovski Snaps

A few outtakes from Monday night's CFDA Awards and Swarovski pre-party, Sunday night at Norwood.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

CFDA Celebrates American Fashion

We'll post photos from the Swarovski soiree and the CFDA Awards gala later today.  But in in the meantime, you can read all about our adventures - and complete coverage of the evening's winners - on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Met Museum's "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Preview

Tonight, of course, is the annual Costume Institute benefit gala starring super Hollywood heroes like George, Julia, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

This morning's press preview was an affair for mere mortals, who rubbed elbows with fashion superstars Giorgio, Anna and the like. Here, a few shots to tide you over til the exhibit officially opens on Wednesday, with additional coverage posting on Vogue.com tomorrow morning.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Gap Unveils Designer White Shirts

Some snaps from the Gap launch party celebrating their second annual Design Edition collaboration with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists. This year's designers are Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, Philip Crangi jewelry, 3.1 Phillip Lim and ThreeAsFour, all of whom were on hand to toast the project, as were about a dozen other designers. You can read more about the party on VOGUE.COM.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Picture This: "Fashion Illustration by Fashion Designers" Book Party

A few snaps from the style.com party for Laird Borrelli-Persson's new book, "Fashion Illustration by Fashion Designers," which was reviewed here on The Fashion Informer.

Held in the penthouse of the aptly-named Glass Houses in Chelsea, overlooking the Hudson River, the soiree drew some of fashion's brightest talents - many of whom contributed to the book - including Doo.Ri Chung, Phillip Lim, Richard Chai, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone, Jessie Randall of Loeffler Randall, Chris Benz, Thom Browne, Mark Badgley and James Mischka, Bryan Bradley of Tuleh - even "It" girl Agyness Deyn turned out to fete Borrelli-Persson, one of the nicest people working in the biz. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden