The Fashion Informer

Hirotaka Floral-Inspired Earrings

We just did a piece on these Flora Exotica Hook earrings  by Tokyo-based designer Hirotaka (inspired by a hook orchid and lantern jasmine) for Vogue.com.  Oooh, purty.


photo courtesy Hirotaka

KOZA Debuts at W Hotel London

The Fashion Informer (that would be me) just did a piece for Vogue.com on the debut of the Koza: Goods of Leisure's style-meets-substance travel collection at W Hotel London.  Sweet!

photos courtesy KOZA

Jessica Robinson's Wings of Desire

I recently did a piece on Jessica Robinson's Angel Wing Choker, which benefits Artists For Peace and Justice (the Haitian relief charity founded by Oscar-winning producer, Paul Haggis) for Vogue.com.  If you have $25,000 to spare, this diamond-studded 18k gold beauty can be yours.  Not feeling so flush?  Not to worry. Robinson has a simplified (non-diamond) version that goes for a mere $3,860.

photo courtesy Jessica Robinson

Goodnight, Lincoln Center

A fitting close to New York Fashion Week, with our final Vogue.com reviews for Rachel Roy, Vera Wang, Jen Kao, Juan Carlos Obando and Reed Krakoff, our reviews of Mara Hoffman, W Hotels Global Glam, Tess Giberson, Mandy Coon and Frank Tell for WWD.com, and our Rue La La blog coverage, all of which we've loved doing.  We'll be back on Tuesday with more on the fall shows. Enjoy your weekend.


photo by Lauren David Peden/The Fashion Informer

The Fashion Informer on Vogue.com

TFI has been covering the New York shows for Vogue.com UK this week, as always, and you can find our reviews of Nima, Vena Cava, Wayne, Tess Giberson, Costello Tagliapietra, Doo.Ri, Cynthia Rowley, Opening Ceremony/MM6, Cushnie et Ochs, The Row and Chado Ralph Rucci (for starters).

We'll be posting additional Vogue.com reviews in a day or two.  Stay tuned...

Kinder Aggugini Meets America at Macy's

Italian-born, London-based designer Kinder Aggugini may not be well-known (or, at all  known) among American shoppers, but that's about to change.  Aggugini—who was head designer at Versace and ghost designer at Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Paul Smith, Calvin Klein and Costume National before launching his own label in 2006—has been tapped to create the first in a series of designer collaborations for Macy's recently revamped Impulse department, which will be available in upwards of 400 stores nationwide beginning on February 15th, at prices ranging from $40-$140, with specialty pieces, like a cropped black leather jacket, topping out at $300.  

The Fashion Informer covered the collection's launch party at Grammercy Park Hotel for Vogue.com (read about the party, which Alexandra Richards DJed, here).  And until the merch—which is definitely the best high street designer collaboration we've ever seen, quality-wise—hits stores next month, enjoy a sneak peek, below.

  

photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Happy 15th Birthday to Vogue.com UK!

Long before American Vogue's website was even a glimmer in Anna Wintour's eye, British Vogue was cementing its reputation as an early adopter by launching Vogue.com UK way back in 1996, under the tutelage of editor, Dolly Jones.  Today, Vogue.com UK boasts over a million visitors each month, and their Twitter feed is closing in on 126,000 followers. 

To celebrate, Jones & co. asked some of fashion's finest to choose their favorite Vogue.com UK* memories.  Kate Moss shares her 15 favorite Vogue covers (only one of which stars her), Donatella Versace chooses her 15 favorite women (from Charlize Theron to Gisele Bunchen to Hilary Swank), and David Downton shares his 15 favorite fashion illustrations.  

Elsewhere, Paul Smith weighs in on his favorite artworks, Diane von Furstenberg waxes eloquent on her favorite iconic women (from Mother Teresa and Ingrid Betancourt to Coco Chanel and Oprah Winfrey) and Henry Holland dishes on his favorite pop icons (yes, Cher and Madonna made the cut.  No, Lady Gaga did not.)  Alexander Wang shares his favorite cheap NYC eats (Thai food features heavily), Tom Ford weighs in on the 15 things every man should have (a sense of humor, tweezers and a crisp white shirt top his list), Claudia Schiffer unveils her favorite fashion shoots (including one German Vogue cover, shot by Mario Testino, that could've been the inspiration for French Vogue's 90th anniversary cover), and Amanda Harlech dishes on her 15 fashion milestones (from customizing her school uniform to discovering Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's SEX boutique in the Seventies).

But wait, there's more...from John Galliano, Naomi Campbell, Sass & Bide, Anya Hindmarch, Giles Deacon, Dolce & Gabbana, Christopher Bailey and Victoria Beckham, to name a few.  So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Vogue.com and get in on the 15th anniversary fun! 

*The Fashion Informer has been New York Correspondent to Vogue.com UK since 2007.

images courtesy Vogue.com UK

Longchamp's LOVE Bash

Love was in the air Tuesday night—and on the walls—at the Longchamp soiree in honor of super stylist and LOVE mag editor-in-chief Katie Grand.  Longchamp's Madison Avenue boutique had been decked out with covers from the mag's recent "Gorgeous" issue (Gisele! Agyness! Alessandra! Rosie!) and while the Misshapes spun tracks, the fashion and celebrity crowd (Proenza Schouler! Missy Rayder! Tabitha Simmons! Uma Thurman!) arrived to pay their well wishes to the woman known affectionately as "Katie Grand-a-minute" for the rates she commands.  You can read more about it at Vogue.com.  Below, a few snaps from the evening. 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

New York Fashion Week Spring 2011, Days Seven and Eight

And they're off...to London. But first, our wrap-up of the final days of the NYFW spring/summer 2011 shows for Vogue.com, including 3.1 Phillip Lim (love!!!), Marchesa, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi and Calvin Klein. 

See you next season!

  

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

New York Fashion Week Spring 2011, Days Five and Six

As we count down to the last days of New York Fashion Week (whew!), here are our Vogue.com reviews of Halston, Marc Jacobs, Rachel Roy, Vera Wang and Rodarte.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

New York Spring Fashion Week 2011, Days Three and Four

As promised, here are our Vogue.com reviews for Cynthia Rowley, Tess Giberson, Juan Carlos Obando, Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders, Victoria Beckham, Lela Rose, Tom Scott, Diane von Furstenberg and Staerk, along with a smattering of our (decidedly unprofessional) photos. 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

New York Fashion Week Spring 2011, Days One and Two

While we usually post here every day during NYFW, this season got a little out of hand, what with covering the shows for Vogue.com.  But things have calmed down a little (whew!) so here's a recap of what The Fashion Informer's been up to since last Thursday, with a report from the Couture Council of FIT luncheon celebrating Karl Lagerfeld, and reviews from Vena Cava, Cushnie et Ochs, Jen Kao, Daniel Vosovic, Costello Tagliapietra, Esquivel, Julian Louie and Doo.Ri, for starters.  Enjoy!  And stay tuned for more reviews shortly.

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

New York Resort 2011 Round-Up

The Fashion Informer has been running around this fair city of ours (that would be NYC) taking in resort 2011 shows uptown (Oscar de la Renta), downtown (Lela Rose) and everywhere in between (Donna Karan, Chris Benz, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang) for VOGUE.COM.

Below, a few (admittedly not very good) shots of a few select shows.  For more complete coverage, head over to VOGUE.COM.

Photos by The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

And the CFDA 2010 Award Winners Are...

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Marc Jacobs

Menswear Designer of the Year: Rag & Bone (David Neville and Marcus Wainwright)

Accessories Designer of the Year: Alexis Bittar

Swarovski Womenswear Designer: Jason Wu

Swarovski Menswear Designer: Richard Chai

Swarovski Accessories Designer: Alexander Wang

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Kors

International Award: Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Board of Director's Special Tribute Award: Alexander McQueen

Fashion Icon Award: Iman

Eleanor Lambert Award: Tonne Goodman, Vogue

Eugenia Sheppard Award: Kim Hastreiter, Paper

Popular Vote Award, sponsored by L'Oreal Paris: Ralph Lauren

Congrats to all winners and honorees!  You can read our in-depth coverage of the cocktail party and CFDA Awards ceremony at Vogue.com.  And some snaps from this evening...

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

Zac Posen's Design For Living

Zac Posen has turned his fashionable eye toward interior design.  Specifically, the interiors at 16W21, the soon-to-launch glass luxury tower in the Flatiron District, where apartments go for upwards of $2 million.  

Here, a sneak peek at the Posen-designed model duplex, which you can read more about over on Vogue.com. 

 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

 

The Fashion Informer Returns

We've been a bit remiss in posting, but that's because we've been doing stories on LOFT, Me&Ro's Robin Renzi, Alexis Bittar's fall 2010 jewelry collection, the latest London designers and Doo-Ri Chung's idea of a perfect Sunday, along with covering Rodarte's FIT talk and the Met gala/exhibit for Vogue.com.  

 

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFDA 2010 Nominees and Honorees Announced

The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced the nominees and honorees for the 2010 CFDA Awards, which will be given out at the annual Lincoln Center gala on June 7th.  We wrote a more detailed report of the party itself (held at newly-re-elected CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg's Meatpacking District studio)  that you can find at Vevant and at VOGUE.COM. Here's a quick rundown of the winners and nominees.

Womenswear Designer of the Year

Marc Jacobs

Alexander Wang

Donna Karan

Menswear Designer of the Year

Tom Ford

Michael Bastion

Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone

Accessories Designer of the Year

Marc Jacobs

Alexis Bittar

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Swarovski Womenswear Designer

Joseph Altuzarra

Prabal Gurung

Jason Wu

Swarovski Menswear Designer

Simon Spurr

Richard Chai

Patrik Ervell

Swarovski Accessories Designer

Eddie Borgo

Dana Lorenz of Fenton Fallon

Alexander Wang

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Kors

Eleanor Lambert Award

Tonne Goodman, Vogue

International Award

Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Fashion Icon Award

Iman

Eugenia Sheppard Award

Kim Hastreiter, Paper

CFDA Board of Director's Special Tribute Award

Alexander McQueen

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 - Day Eight

So the last day of New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and with it shows by Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi and Calvin Klein, where they had real models (of the individualistic Stella Tennant/Kristen McMenamy/Freja Beha Erichsen variety), along with the usual interchangeable modbots.

We were also supposed to have attended the Vogue & Norsdtrom Quicktake: Rodarte art opening party at the Cooper-Hewitt last night, as well, but inertia and exhaustion took over once we got home and, well...next time, Kate and Laura!

The good news is, our camera was recovered (from, errr, ummm, right under our desk where we'd dropped it last night).  So new blurry photos are yours to enjoy!

 
Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 - Day Seven

And on the seventh day, you-know-who created style.  And so it was at Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Reed Krakoff, Anna Sui, Brian Reyes and Proenza Schouler.

And had we not lost our camera (nooooooooooo!) we would have photos to share. But, alas, we did. So, alas, we do not.  

We do, however, have a chic new manicure, thanks to Ginger + Liz at Robert Verdi's "Future of Fashion" Luxe Laboratory, a Fashion Week swag-fest designed to relax frazzled editors by plying them with food and free shit. We're here to report that it works. 

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 - Day Six

How is it possible for one person to attend and review up to nine* shows in one day?  Caffeine, adrenaline and a serious love of fashion.  How else to explain our willingness to ping-pong around town to take in Vera Wang (in The Tents at Bryant Park), Rodarte (West 21st Street), Matthew Ames (Milk Studios in the MDP), Marc by Marc Jacobs (the Lexington Avenue Armory), The Row (West 36th Street), threeASFOUR (back to Milk Studios) and Narciso Rodriguez (up at the Tents, which ended the day the way it began).  Are you as tired from reading that as I am from doing it?  But it was all worth it. See for yourself:

Photos © The Fashion Informer/Lauren David Peden

* Apologies for not making it to Derek Lam and Jason Wu for TSE.