Fashion Funhouse Emporium

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

In case you forgot it was Valentines Day because you've been paying more attention to your other love, fashion, take a time out.  Did you forget this is the perfect day (and excuse) to go out and treat yourself to some luxury lingerie?

La Perla showed its Fall 2010 collection at Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York for Fall Fashion Week. Now, with separate lines La Perla, La Perla Villa Toscana, and La Perla Studio, each label has its own  signature look.

The La Perla name is an emphasis on femininity for the grown up women who want a more sensual ensemble. La Perla Villa Toscana is for the girl who prefers relaxed and refined, yet a little sexy. The new La Perla Studio is a metropolitan style for ladies who love comfy but luxurious basics.

Here are some pictures from the presentation. Take a quick look, but then go put some on!

The La Perla Line. Photos Courtesy of La Perla

The La Perla Villa Toscana Line. Photos Courtesy of La Perla

The La Perla Studio Line. Photos Courtesy of La Perla

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: Haute Hippie

Haute Hippie held its cocktail reception and private preview in midtown.  Designer Trish Wescoat-Pound founded the small line in 2008 after spending some time at Micheal Kors and Theory. As the name suggests, collection is a modern translation of bohemian elements. It's sold in finer department stores like Bergdorfs, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.

Colors

White, black, brown, jewel tone green...all over the spectrum.

Loved Looks

Collections of the past were more appealing to me. The feather skirts connected to simple white tanks originally peaked my interest in the line.  I was more into the individual pieces of the fall presentation than the entire looks worn by the models. The pearl and rhinestone "vest" was a unique piece as was the beaded bolero. Two leather jackets stood out, and an "Arizona" print dress caught my eye as well as the coral long dress.

Unloved Looks

For a line of its price point I think I was expecting to see a bit more expertise.  Some of the styling didn't work for me.  It was as if there should of been a few pieces removed from each model and just added to another girl to make a whole new look.  With such detailed pieces, adding a necklace, belt, jacket, scarf and booties was just too much. It cluttered the details of  the actual pieces.

This ball gown of a taupe/ nude underlining and black over lay was ill-fitted or perhaps it was the cut or long bodice. In theory, I understand what the dress was supposed to be, but didn't come off as such.

Music

It was hard to hear the music over the rumble of chatter in the room but I did hear  Bill Clinton's campaign song: Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop."

People and Scene

The presentation was held in a small room which the invitation called "The Haute Hippie Penthouse", though, it didn't seem like that was the case. It was rather a space suited for a small business. The votives of candles lining the halls and windows in the dimly lit room made it hard to see (and as you can tell from my pics) hard to photograph.  Every couple of minutes, I heard "Clink Clink"  which meant another guest had walked over the votives on the floor.  The small room was crowded with people that didn't seem to be there to view the collection but  take advantage of the cocktails, which was fine with me. I zipped in, took my pictures and left.

To Gift or Not To Gift

I guess if you really wanted something you could grab one of the many candles.  I think the girls who had to keep straightening and re-lighting would've appreciated it.

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: Irina Shabayeva

Irina Shabayeva has been in the fashion game long before her appearance on Project Runway.  She studied at Parsons before returning there with a batch of fashion designer hopefuls. While there, she won the Saga Design award and went on to study fur design in Denmark. She worked with Adrienne Landau as head designer after her graduation.

This seasons Fall 2010 show was inspired by "freedom and un-tethered journey of flight." Birds and angel-like wings were constant through out her collection.

Colors

Camel, Taupe, Black, White, Charcoal

Looks Loved

There is a certain stigma sometimes with reality television that makes critics not want to take the talent seriously. Perhaps it's the drama played out in public that distracts from the artist and their actual skill.  I admit, I was ready to blow this show off in fear that haute hounds would crowd the place looking for Hiedi Klum, Micheal Kors and Nina Garcia. Some young ladies might've wanted to get a glimpse of Logan. I missed the show I planned to attend and decided last minute to trek uptown to check her out.  I will tell you right now, Irina Shabayeva wasn't f*cking around.

The first look she sent down the runway was fur. While Im personally not a fan of fur, her pieces and looks showed that she isn't some reality show joke.  She's the real deal and she will be around for the duration.

She ended her show with intricate, full dresses.  They are the kind of dresses you want to see at a runway show. One short strapless dress was full-on feathers, another snow-queen dress, handmade with duck feathers and with what looked to be leather lattice wings (it was actually Tupperware material) topped off with a fox fur wrap.

Her leather pants, slinky tees and hand-beaded wing design wool cigarette leggings could fit right in with any rock-chic label at Barney's.

There's no doubt, when viewing this cohesive collection that it was well-planned and labor intensive.

Photos: See the entire collection on Coutorture via Getty.

Unloved Looks

As I mentioned, it's a personal taste of my own regarding fur.  However, I know people wear it and love it. In fact, the "stylish" people that seemed to be appearing on street style blogs have been draped in animals.  Alas, fur is Irina's thing.  I also have some reservations about the hand painted cloaks and jackets. While I think they are extremely cool and somewhat abstract, off the runway, the wrong styling on the wrong person might make it tacky.

We know Irina loves her over sized sweaters as well. I repeat the same sentiment as I said for the aforementioned.

Music

The show opened with a little bit of dramatic music a mix called "Feelin Good by Ines Project" a dance version of the classic Feeling Good by Nina Simone. Also boom and thump-a-tized: Amy  Winehouse "In My Bed."

People and Scene

Im not sure if Irina's people took a page from Rachel Roy in terms of how a presentation and runway should be, but the space was open and comfortable. Though there was a mess outside in the windy cold and no distinctive line, once inside, waiters served cocktails, the runway was low and visible even from my standing spot.  Irina's repeating theme of wings hung from the ceiling.  The crowed was a mix of buyers,  editors, friends, family and eccentrically dressed fashion people (like the guy in a long leopard fur and fedora--very pimp).

At the end of the show, there was an informal modeling session where everyone could take a closer look, snap pics and socailize.

To Gift or Not to Gift

When I first saw that the show was being sponsored by Tupperware, I didn't see the connection. Instantly, a vision of suburban house wives selling bowls and eating chips and dip in their living rooms came to mind.  Once I saw the gift bag with a large square container full of BeautiControl spa products, a Toshiba USB, and a plastic spray bottle, it made sense.  Look in any designer or stylist's closet and you'll see closets organized with various clear containers.

Tupperware not only provided the swag, but helped Irina out with some of the materials for her designs, including the jewelry.