Fashion Funhouse Emporium

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: Charlotte Ronson

If you didn't recognize her famous last name, you would still know why she is a fashion designer. She's been at it since 2000.  Charlotte Ronson knows her target crowd and has a signature style that is both recognizable and affordable.  Staying in the contemporary market when her fame and talent could launch her into a luxury only line is only what makes her more admirable.

This past year she launched I heart Ronson for JC Penney and the cool kids rejoiced.

Colors

Bright blues, bunt orange, black, white and one pop of hot pink.

Loved Looks

It is Fall fashion week so of course there will be coats.  The camel coat's stand up collar had a heart shape in the back.  Her floral, flowing mini dress is 70's hippie chick with a dash of tough.  The silks, lace and velvet fabrics gave an extra flavor to everyday, wearable pieces. Last, who can resist suede over-the -knee boots: comfortable and sexy.

Photos:Imaxtree via New York Magazine.com. Click to see entire collection

Unloved Looks

There's an epidemic out there. Please, we need your help. Celebrities and young girls everywhere do not have bottoms to wear. They have see -through skirts, tights, underwear and even high boots to cover up as much as they can, but still, they are left with out pants.  Just one skirt or one pair of shorts can help. If you call now to sponsor a young lady and we will send you a picture of them wearing bottoms thanks to your generous donation. Stop this tragic, unfortunate affliction from continuing.

Music

There is no doubt that Charlotte Ronson is a music lover. As the tents filled, old funk and disco, including the Bee Gees played.  When the show started, the soundtrack seemed to include her entire collection of classic rock (which I rather enjoyed as an alternative to dance mixes).  Paul Simon, The Doobie Brothers, Carly Simon mixed into Life in the Fast Lane, Led Zeppelin, and Heart.

People and Scene

The usual fashion celebs were there: Ally Hilfiger, reality show star Whitney Port, Solange Knowles. But, the strangest appearance so far occurred here. Matt Dillon was sitting front row. Its especially odd to me since I met him once a few years back though mutual friends. He seemed mild-mannered and not at all the type of guy who would want to attend a fashion show.  Maybe he was friends with the designer?  Perhaps shopping for a new girl friend? Who knows.

Speaking of mild-mannered, which I usually am, waiting in line for this show had me ready to throw down. The tents were madhouse of people shoving, pushing and calling out their supposed affiliations in attempts to get through security.  One guy kept badgering security saying he was from The Today Show. He sneaked past, got thrown out, then appeared at the beginning of the line again.  The security guy was once again staring at his desperate, "Today Show" correspondent face. Finally. the bouncer said "Dude, look, you gotta get out of here! Don't make me call other people over here!"

As the 15 minute wait went on, a drunk guy and his girlfriend shoved up behind me. They kept saying out loud "Gawd, I cant believe how hard it is to get in a fashion show!" Apparently not hard enough. The guy slapped me in the back. I turned, gave him a look.  A few minutes later he shoved me and grabbed the back of my coat.  I asked him to stop politely. When security finally started letting people in, he launched into me, knocking over the girl beside me. Then he proceeded to grab my coat again as he tried to plow through the bungee rope.  That's when I told him I was going to elbow him in the throat if he touched me again.  I should add that I just broke my digital camera screen by catching it with the corner of my razor sharp elbow, or "elbow of doom" as my boyfriend calls it.

Once inside it was funk-a-delic and smooth, I sat patiently and waited for the show.

To Gift or Not To Gift

There were some Zone Perfect Indulgence bars. I ate all four of them when I got home, which I don't think is the actual intention of meal replacement bars. I was hungry.  Hard Candy dropped some eyeliner, mascara and-what-Silver Glitter in the bag. It got all over my black coat when I took it out.  Please don't tell me glitter is back.  I gave a hot pink OPI nail polish to the girl in the seat next to me since someone stole her bag.  Tresemme provided mousse and "dry shampoo" (which I would surely need after the ten cigarettes I would be smoking after I got the hell out of there)  And a coupon for a free "lady parts" wax.

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: Alexander Berardi

At the Altman Building off of 6th Avenue, Alexander Berardi showed his second show at New York Fashion Week.  Raised in New York, he worked with Kenneth Cole and studied at Parsons.

Colors:

Black, white, red, purple, navy

Looks Loved

After his first Spring show, I have to be honest and say that I wasn't expecting to be dazzled. However there were a few hits on his runway this season.  A floor length white sequin  dress with a draped neck is red carpet ready.  His velvet tuxedo was swank, though it wasn't quite fit to the model properly. The rosette suspenders were especially cute, but again were ill-fitted. I would've liked to see them just a bit tighter. The looseness made them loose a bit of their luster.  The polka dotted cummerbund that accompanied them was overkill and looked like a hula hoop on the model. I was temped to run out onto the middle of the runway with pins, tape and my sewing kit.  "Hold on a sec....[pin tuck tuck pin] okay. good. go" But I would rock that tux after a trip to the tailors.

Unloved Looks

Some of Alexander Berardi's designs teeter on the brink of looking as if they are sold in Forever 21. The parade of looks and the level of skill shown were so incoherent, from gowns, to baby doll dresses to tuxedos. He does show some promise with a few pieces here and there, over all, this is an example of someone who needs to work with more top designers before launching into his own line. With such and over saturation of fashion designers, it doesn't make sense to put on a show until Berardi finds his way. I swear I saw the same white and navy piped trim shirt dress in his Spring show.  I  had many of dejavu moments, going "wait, that is the same polka dot 20's style skirt and jacket as last season?"

I heard the voices of Micheal Kors, Nina Garcia and Hiedi Klum saying things like " you need to know other designers" and "we question your taste level." This red dress reminds me of the Rosette Valentino bag, only made into an entire dress.

Music

Dance beats typical of the runways including Frances by Pheonix and Siman Moble Disco.

People and Scene

There was way more of a turn out than last seasons show. Ally Hilfiger showed up front row.  A crowd of over-booked standers (including myself) waited to fill in empty seats. A young guy dressed in a black blazer patrolled the seating. He was instructed to let standers in ten at a time. I was near the front of the line. He strategically picked out people from the crowd, and by passed me his first three counts.  He said " I need you to wait here."

Now, I know a site called Fashion Funhouse Emporium is not on the top of anyones priority list and I will take standing. I know my place in the world of fashion. The seating boy kept looking over my head as if he was granting entrance to some meat-packing district club, looking for only the "hot" people. He had a point if that was the case. But still, AKWARD?!  Though, I have a purpose for being there. Its my job to see what is out there for my boss and to write for my blog. My intention was to find a place where I could see, even if it was on the other side of the room, where no one seemed to be standing. If  I wasn't trapped in a circle of pushing fashionistas, I would've left the scene.

In the words of Chuck D of Public Enemy - "Don't Don't Da Dont belive the hype...."

To Gift or Not To Gift

Nothing but a hard time.

News of Alexander McQueen's death broke yesterday around 10am. Since then, the industry has commented on this shocking news, his McQ Presentation at Milk Studios here in New York  was cancelled and his public relations department began calling back samples.

Alexander McQueen was an innovator and true artist.  A source of inspiration to fellow designers, a trend setter and even copied, not many could match his wild, imaginative world of fashion.

I've featured his clothing and accessories in layouts here on this site, from the red bird dress to the recent collection of metal infused industrial pumps.  Since I started working in fashion, I've had a picture of a model in his red butterfly headpiece on my wall. Just this week I walked by his store in New York and snapped a picture of his spring  armadillo shoes.

He was a visionary who makes keep wanting to do what I do. To me, he was a designer who pushed the envelope and bravely made a statement with his work in times when everyone is afraid to say, do, or write the wrong thing, in fear of pissing off the "wrong people." He created art rather than just clothes.. Its not easy to mix the business side with creativity, but McQueen was a master.

There will undoubtedly be a void in fashion without him.

It makes no sense to keep repeating what others have wrote. Here are the stories and sites across the web.

Alexander Mc Queen

Coutourture

CNN

Daily Mail

Guardian UK

Huffington Post

Independent UK

Mc Q

New York Magazine

New York Times

On the Runway

People

Style.com

Telegraph UK

TrendHunter

Vouge UK

Wikipedia

WWD