I love nothing more than when fashion, television and film collide. Though Ive been working in fashion for the past four years, a little known fact is that I came to New York to work on film--with my 8mm black and white film school movie in hand. My first job was as a Wardrobe Production Assistant on a horrendous indie flick dubbed the "Latino spoof on Charlie's Angels." Hey, I didn't write or create it, I just schlepped booty shorts and Lycra dresses.
So in anticipation of all the weird, wackadoo fashion I hope to see some crazy exhibitionist fashionistas wearing, Enjoy Rachel Welch dancing in this space-age bikini.
I wonder if metallic will be on trend this spring?
Thanks to YouTube User KSRothwell for posting this video.
I'll be cramming some new blogs here very soon. There are good things to come. September Issues, Weird Fashion Stories of August, and yes, I know Lanvin is collaborating with H&M. You can read my commentary on that soon, but that's not what I meant when I asked if there would be a Lanvin diffusion line. No. Certainly not.
Of course there will be New York Fashion Week coverage from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Lincoln Center, Milk Studios shows, and off site as well.
For Twitter updates, you can follow the blog at Amber_Stolec. I will be adding the hash tag #ffemporium and #nyfw in case you miss anything!
Last, become Fashion Funhouse Emporium's Follower here OnSugar! Its on the right side of the page. You don't even have to leave the page, you lazy asses.
There are plenty of new faces, or at least collections I should be familiar with. I'm both scared for my feet and body with 10 hour days in heels, but I'm also excited and hope to see some spectacular designs. Lets just hope I don't hit a wall (literally) like last season.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is approaching quickly. Like past seasons, the tents will compete with Milk Studios shows and other off-site locations. Fashion Funhouse Emporium's credentials as a legit source of coverage have finally been approved. Yay! I suppose this means I can officially talk about who I want to check out with some "street cred!"
Here are the women's designers showing at Spring 2011 fashion week that I am curious to see. Good, bad, and in between, this is what the shows are all about.
This New York based fashion designer has two past collections on her site. This season, she'll be showing at Lincoln Center. When I checked out her collections, I see potential from this Central Saint Martins grad, yet there is some question to who she wants to be as a designer. Her pieces range artsy, structural suits to very basic looking ready to wear. I'd like to see her go full throttle,with Galliano couture, if she's really not focused on selling as her biography states. We need some more craziness at New York shows.
I am familiar with Jenny Packham's lacy and ultra feminine luxury wedding collections from when I worked at In Style Weddings. Of course, I'm ready to see what this British designer (also a Central Saint Martins alumni) will send down the runway for ready to wear again this spring. Her past couple of collections showcased red carpet ready dresses, which isn't too much of a stray from matrimonial gowns. So far, she's a bit of an edgier Carolina Herrera, keeping with the high end evening wear aesthetic.
Another Brit on the New York scene, this designer's past collections have been pretty basic geometric influenced body conscious dresses. He's worked with some heavy-hitters, like Jean Charles de Castlebajac and Giles Deacon. He's even designed accessories and clothing for Miss Madge, Madonna to you others. It will be interesting to see this guy evolve, hopefully away from Alexander McQueen/ Balmain style dresses and into his own signature.
So I'm not only giving preference to the British designers this season, enter Seoul, Korea's Parkchoomoo. This designer has been around fashion for a while. Her family owned a children's apparel company in Kimje, in the southern part of the country. She opened her first retail store in 1988, but since then has had a mostly Asian following. With a less rigid Calvin Klein simplicity, and little less fear of color, she's not about getting better, for shes already established. She's about taking over a new market. I'd like to see what she has in store for the US.
She's trying hard to shed her Project Runway affiliation and become a force in fashion. Last season she crept quietly on to the runway with an off-site show that showed off what she can do with a little financial backing from Tupperwear. I'm assuming this year, she may not be sponsored by the plastics company since she's no longer a newbie. But it is my guess that lack of petroleum based synthetics will not hinder her. With the imagination showcased last season, as long as she keeps to her own without compromise, she'll be around for more than 15 minutes of reality television fame.
Sigh. In the early 90's, an angst teen could chant along with "Dear Daddy, I write you, in spite of years of silence....You cleaned up, found Jesus..." In 2010, the kids can buy Weezer's plaid button downs, silk screened tops and hats, enter a contest at Pac Sun (which incidentally used to have the full word "Pacific" in its store title when us kids used full words) and win a chance for the band to play at their school.
Weezer, now with band members well into their late 30's, early 40's even recorded new songs specifically for the collaboration. We can expect more lame tracks like "Island in the Sun?" Well it is sold at Pac Sun! The line launches on September 10th. Yo Gabba Gabba, you have some competition.
Oh well, I suppose this is very much like my generation's infatuation with Ramones tees. Though "Chinese Rock" and "Beat on the Brat" had a bit more edge.
While many designers leaned towards lady-like lace and velvet on the runways for fall, the downtown girl got just as much attention. Along with leather and as always, plenty of black, designers from Marc Jacobs to Thakoon put a twist on our classic military and/or grunge inspired boots.
While some of these combat boot styles aren't quite suitable for battle, they aren't too sweet for the street. Style tips: fold them over and throw them on. Wear them high and tuck into a pair of jeans, add with tights and a skirt or even revive those Docs from the grunge days with a printed floral dress.
Cynthia Rowley is not afraid of getting boo-boos. Her recent Fall 2010 runway show showed she was itching to put an edge on her usually vibrant and whimsy womenswear. Some editors yearned for her bubbly signature styles.
Through out her career she has always been willing to take a risk including a past collaboration with Target. Recently she's ventured into designer Pampers, to Simplicity Group girl tools and even bridesmaids dresses. Her latest fun collaboration with Band Aid proves she's not letting go of that whimsy side.
The designer patterned sequins, rhinestones, and chains on the bandages for women who would rather use a cut for attention than cover it up with a clear or skin toned alternative. The gem stone patches are especially cool and realistic looking. Great for fashion girls like myself, who are always bloodying fingers when unpacking boxes or running over toes when dragging trunks.
Photo courtesy of Cynthia Rowely.
Remember when your parents would kiss your scraped knee and make it better? Maybe these are the adult way to entice significant others to do the same.
More good can come of your purchase as well. One dollar from every sale goes to Design Ignites Change, an organization which teaches students to create solutions to social problems through creative design.
Julia Roberts/Elle's September issue. Photo: Alexei Hay
When I heard about the nocturnal blood sucking pests at Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Victoria Secret in NYC, it didn't seem that surprising. After all, one would expect all sorts of nasty things to spread throughout college campuses, and those are the types who buy from those stores.
*Itch, Itch*
Then, I read this via Twitter:
"Omg I think a bedbug fell out of a bag from Elle the other day and I killed it. I'm freaking out." #cant #fashionhypochondriacs
Adam Levine of Maroon 5 has always been one of those guys that Ive looked at and thought "Im not sure, he's kind of alright." But today, here, I declare my decision. Dork.
Another celebrity is claiming to have a pashion for fashion as reported on bloginity.com.
But wait, is it so dorky to be working with his father Fred....awwwwe. Hes a family man. Who doesn't like a family man?
It turns out that his Dad has been in the business of clothing for 30 years, running boutique chain of shops called M. Fredric in Southern California. Not only does the place sell clothes, but the website states that they are not all about the bottom line: "M.Federic supports the American Cancer Society and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and is known as a 'retailer with heart.'"
Dammit! Do gooders and their sort of hot son! I guess much like that song "This Love" which I find myself silently singing along against my will every time I hear it on the loud speaker at some store I don't want to be in, I will be secretly rooting for Adam Levine and his range of jeans, tees and easy leather jackets.
Adam adds in WWD: "I collaborate on and approve every single piece of clothing in the line. It’s not just hawking out something because I’m in a famous band."
Since the Dickie has fallen out of fashion, its time for a new modern version. Enter Cami Secrets! I saw this commercial last night and was not at all tempted to buy, for I was too busy staring at this woman's jiggling jugs.
See, the boob o'meter warning scale as this commercial points out, is high, medium, and low. Creepy boss and cheap date, you get none, thanks to the "secret" stuffed in this lady's top like a napkin at a dinner party.
I'm not sure when a kelly green synthetic fabric top is ever in fashion, but "its just not right" at the office. The Cami Secret clips to your bra, which is apparently easier than tugging at your shirt all day.
Or you could just wear proper office attire.
THE ARCTIC TIE
Yes, the August heat can be so brutal, especially here in New York City. What to do? Channel your inner cow girl!
How this product works: soak the Arctic Tie in cold water for 20 minutes. Then "magic" crystals hold the cooling coolness for like-- well it doesn't say. But it absorbs up to 10x the amount of water than any old towel you'd wrap around your neck and you can do it with style!
Its like an Arctic chill built into Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." bandanna. Wow.
THE PERFECT FIT BUTTON
Can't crack down on the KFC double downs? Are you not worried about the camel toe that will show is you still try to stuff yourself into too tight jeans like an over-packed suitcase? Would you rather not spend money on buying your kid new pants, though he looks like he woke up as Tom Hanks in "Big"? Then this product is for you.
Since sewing a button is seeewwww hard (heh) just add one of these fake buttons on to your pants and commence the squeezing!
But wait, there's more! You get some sort of shoe box too if you order now.
YUDU
"Settling for run-of-the-mill t-shirts that don’t express the real you?" Celebrities are not the only ones that can have their own brands these days. Not with the Yudu (get it you-do?) Its your own personal silk screen machine that you can use in your kitchen. Great for teens that can't get enough of Facebook bullying. If you think "Sasha is slutty slut bag" then put it on a t-shirt for you and all of your friends.
Do you love sharing every aspect of your life, but are finding that posting Twitter and status updates are not getting a far enough reach? Well, wear it on your sleeve, literally! "Billy Doesn't Want to Live in a Nanny State." Ah, no he doesn't!
Perfect for every political, religious and moral view point you want to share. I mean, who shouldn't have their own screen printer, right?
My official Mercedes Benz Fashion Week accreditation is still pending, as it seems the Lincoln Center move is also an excuse to be more selective. Regardless, with all the off-site and independent shows going on, I'm still planning on bringing some coverage whether I'm cool enough for another season with an "official" lanyard. So, with out further commentary here is what I want to see for Spring 2011--though fall 2010 is just hitting stores now.
MIK CIRE BY ERIC KIM
Photo via Twitter - MikCireNews
Mik Cire by Eric Kim blew me away with the fall collection. There was something so smooth and effortlessly cool about his men's collection. Kim, who's also the former CEO of Monarchy, launched last fall with leather spats, knit hats and button down shirts with East Village cowboy vibe.
I can't wait to see what this innovative menswear designer will send down the runway for next Spring. Just a note for Eric Kim, more leather spats!
Photo via Twitter - MikCireNews
SIMON SPURR
Photo via Simon Spurr Facebook
With some pretty powerful names on his resume, including Yves St. Laurent and CK Calvin Klein, Simon Spurr launched in 2006. This past fall he showcased some very sleek menswear and made it okay for men to wear red and purple. Trench coats with a dropped waist, classic three piece suits and a hint of color, here's to hoping to see more gentlemen on the runway this spring.
Photo: Simon Spurr Facebook
BILLY REID
Photo: GQ.com
Launched in 1998, Billy Reid was welcomed with praise. In 2001, Billy won the prestigious CFDA Perry Ellis award. Though due to economic difficulties he was forced to shutter his business. Though, in 2004 he came back with a very personal aesthetic in which he refers to as " American, classic, sturdy, heirloom, Southern."
Though, piece by piece, his collection is full of basics that fit any guy's style. These tough, ultra cool tall boots are among my favorite pieces from the fall 2010 collection. And I'm not alone in the appreciation of Reid's collection. He made into the top ten designers to be part of the CFDA Fashion Fund.
