Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Spring Trends 2010: Menswear Inspired

amberMS — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:29:06 -0800

At work, its been all about spring trends for magazines, videos and advertisements. It's because of this that I proabably blurt out "minimal dressing" or "boho-chic" in my sleep. Since spring is on the brain (though it is not at all on mother nature's) I thought I'd start giving my readers a heads up of what to save up for this spring.

I love menswear, but with a slight feminine touch. I'm girly, but I also have a rough side which is why this trend works for me. Personally, I think these classic pieces that will work year after year.

1) Ralph Lauren Rugby, pincord jacket and trousers,http://www.rugby.com/

2) Mellow Yellow, canvas lace up booties,http://www.monshowroom.com

3) Opening Ceremony, ruffle front blouse, http://www.lagarconne.com/store/index.htm

4) Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, floral fedora, http://shop.shoerepair.se/

5) 3.1 Phillip Lim, flat front trouser, http://www.lagarconne.com/store/index.htm

6) ASOS, waxed messenger bag, http://www.asos.com/

Emporium Style: Halston, Just Like Mom Used to Wear

amberMS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:30:17 -0800

When I was a little girl, my grandma had a picture of my Aunts and my mom on top of her giant wooden console television. It was my Aunt Darlene's wedding, if memory serves me correctly. I used to stare at that picture. In this photo, my mom, who wasn't one to dress up in her later years, was wearing a long sleeve, rust color floor length deep v-neck gown. I don't know for sure if it was Halston. Mom wasn't into labels, but it sure was reminiscent of the classic Halston disco dresses of the 70's. Combined with her long parted in the middle hair, wooden platform heels (which I wore as part of a Halloween costume as a teen, but now wish I still had) she looked so beautiful to me. I haven't seen that photograph in years, but I looked at it so much, its permanently in my mind.

With the Oscars coming up, and in honor of my mother, I decided to put together a layout of both vintage and current Halston.

Roy Halston was said to be the first designer to see the potential in licensing himself. Like Diane von Furstenberg, he learned that over saturation and handing over your business can have its down sides. In 1984, he was fired from his own company and lost the right to sell clothes under his own name. That doesn't mean he didn't create an unforgettable and highly identifiable aesthetic. Jackie Kennedy's pill box hat at the 1961 inaguration--that was Halston. And that long silky dress that I mentioned above was Halston's signature.

The label was revived in 2008, with Versace designer Marco Zanini as creative chief and the line had mixed reviews. This past season, Fall 2010, Marios Schwab stepped in to face the same criticisms. Sarah Jessica Parker was just added to the roster as creative director and president and it was announced today that Halston will give its men's label another go. Still, the long classic gowns stand out among any of the newest attempts to create "a new classic."

1) Vintageous 2) Netaporter 3) Posh Vintage 4) Memphis Vintage 5) Swank Vintage

6) Rusty Zipper

Walmart Aint Hiring No Womens and Louis Vuitton Sues Hyundai Claiming Brand Dilution

amberMS — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:12:26 -0800

Who's Suing Who in Fashion and Retail

Wal-Mart Gits Her Dun!

Associated Press- Wal-Mart will be paying out $12 million to settle a suit claiming sex-discrimination in their Kentucky distribution center. Along with the pay out, the company says it will make changes to its hiring practices.

As reported by the Associated Press "The EEOC filed a class-action suit against Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart in 2001, alleging it hired 18 to 25-year-old men instead of women for jobs in the warehouse and routinely told applicants that order-filling positions were not suitable for women."

Save money, live better, but don't you weak womens come here lookin' for no job! Yall should be dressin in unattractive chinos and fair isle sweaters, teachin yer kids how to paint team kellers on their faces and cookin up sum frozen pizzas fer your husbands during the big game.

And here I was, thinking they've entered into modern times with their Max Azria/ Miley Cyrus collaboration. It's just like me, a woman, always thinking about fashion.

No Ballers, Just Sanitation

Businessweek- Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesy filed a lawsuit this week against car-maker Hyundai for using a Big Louie-style logo on a basketball during Hyundai's Superbowl commercial entitled "Luxury." To ad insult to injury, the ad taunts riches for all.

LVMH is claiming "Hyundai’s conduct is likely to both dilute the distinctiveness and tarnish the reputation of the LVM marks,”

The first car I ever owned was a Hyundai, so I can sympathize somewhat with the luxury house's concerns.

However, not counting the unlicensed usage on houses, cars and even bongs featuring gold "L's" atop luscious chocolate brown, the actual brand itself could be doing a well enough job on its own of "dilution."

Photo: Louis Vuitton via NY Mag

Exhibit A, Louis Vuitton's spring 2010 handbag for just under 2 grand is, well, a LV branded Hefty Cinch Sack. As mentioned before, here on this very blog, head designer Marc Jacobs has reached such an untouchable level success in the fashion industry that he is either f*cking with us by saying "suck it, poor people," or perhaps he's making a genius statement about the very hand that feeds him--and feeds him well. Though I haven't found an official record of Mr. Jacobs net worth, he recently purchased a townhouse in New York City worth over $13 million.

In LVHM's very own annual report, they claim "Excellent Resilience in a Global Crisis" and site total revenue of 17,053 million euros in 2009. According to my Google currency converter, that's $23,257.91 million in US dollars.

Before you go attaching a handle to a garbage bag and sporting it around town, don't consider this just another frivolous lawsuit. Some experts think it could fly.

Fashion and Beauty News Round Up: Vagazzling, Distraught 80's Parents and Simon Doonan Plots

amberMS — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:05:22 -0800

New York Fall Fashion Week is over so its back to the shenanigans for Fashion Funhouse Emporium.

I miss cruising through the news and once you read this week's Sunday Comic's you'll know why. Though, some things are better left untouched. Literally.

NO.

Photo via The Luxury Spot

The Luxury Spot - Apparently Jennifer Love Hewitt wasn't joking when she said she bedazzled her little Love. Bryce, a blogger over at the Luxury Spot chose not to ignore this "new craze" that falls right in line with bum hole bleaching and other things that only strippers, porn stars, hookers and Lady Gaga should do.

No. No. No. No. Oh my god. No.

While the blogger/ investigative reporter says she'd never wear Ed Hardy, just because your bejeweled beaver is hidden, doesn't mean it's not just as heinous as the tattoo laden jeggings. Undoubtedly this is the equivalent of wearing Ms.Claus lingerie at Christmas time, or red bra and panties in general. I want to forget I ever heard of or saw any of this.

I've glued sequins on my kitchen chairs, pearls onto shoes, but there are some places glue should NEVER go.

Don't blame me. I just report the news, people.

OH, SIMPLER TIMES!

Photo via Vintage Ads

Jezebel- The ladies over at Jezebel found a vintage ad for an ABC After School Special that tackled the horrific issue of when your kid comes home dressed like a punk.

First off, I call bull-shit on this kid being a true punk. I don't think Hot Topic existed in the 80's, but this boy didn't even have the gull to shave his head for a proper Mohawk, rather, leaving him with a "faux-hawk."

It seems compared to now a days, a spikey hair kid in leather pants is relatively tame compared to your daughter going out getting her who-ha studded with rhinestones, forgoing pants for a sheer pair of panty hose and a bra top.

Finally, I scoured the internet and could only find one copy of this program. Take a look at what "punk" looked like in an After School Special. The audio buzzes, but if you can get over that, its BRILLIANT.

You could just turn the sound off all together and check out the reasons why late eighties hair should never be in fashion again.

the day my kid went punk from locky loo on Vimeo.

NOT SO FAST FASHION

Photo via WWD

WWD- Following a public relations nightmare for the quick trend H&M, the retail chain announced their first ever "sustainable line." As told to WWD, “We want to reduce our impact on the environment. We thought of this as being progressive. Given our theme for spring, it became a natural tie-in and we said, ‘Let’s do it all sustainable.'"

On March 25, recycled and organic material clothing will be sold in its own section of the store amongst the heaps of soon to be trashed trends de la creme.

I suppose it's a start.

IT'S ON LIKE VUITTON!

NY MAG - Simon Doonan is tired of competing with kids for his front row seat at fashion shows. He will do what he has to do to make sure he's not bumped, even if that means disguising himself as a tween blogger.

What is the fashion world coming to when the creative director of Barney's has to hatch a diabolical plan to remain in a seat with high visibility. It seems like a logical decision: the creative director who influences buying decisions of a well known luxury department store or a thirteen year old kid who covers the Paris couture shows with "30 Rock" quotes?

WELCOME, NAOMI

The Independent - Naomi Campbell realizes there's a world outside her and decides to tell the world that she now realizes there's a world outside her.

She said she has quietly worked for charities for years. She can't be quiet about it anymore since she is now planning to use her super powers for good --and no longer for evil.

Fall Fashion Week 2010: Fashion Funhouse Emporium's Condensed Report (M-Z)

amberMS — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:56:51 -0800

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

For fear of my last report being too long for the face-paced world of the web, I decided to finish fashion week coverage in two parts, alphabetically. Here is the last of the shows I was graciously invited to attend.

If I forgot a designer and I was on your list, feel free to email me and complain. Yell at me IN ALL CAPS!

Nanette Lepore

Colors: Valentines day all the way....vibrant reds, pinks. Add blues, orange and black

Collection Vibe: Nanette Lepore has a knack for the bo-ho, living color sophisticate style. I was a bit thrown this season in a good way as she does structure with a bit more edge. Think Stevie Nicks meets Audrey Hepburn.

Trend Spotting: Velvet, Military

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Rebecca Taylor

Colors: Neutrals

Collection Vibe: Following a Spring line of color and floral, her fall line goes a darker. Just add animal prints. It's 1940's screen sirens who love the pants suits like Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn.

Trend Spotting: Suiting

Stand Out Look (This is a biased pick as I love the wide leg pants)

Click here to view the full collection

Ruffian

Colors: Black, blue, gray

Collection Vibe: Militant mixed with 1980's "Working Girl" with Melanie Griffith with a few looks for after work...and the designers were inspired by the Hubble telescope photos for the prints. Still, I drool over the classic Ruffian, like the look below.

Trend Spotting: Plaids, suiting, leather

Stand Out Look

Click to view the full collection

Spurr

Colors: Neutrals, brighter blues, pastel colors

Collection Vibe: Classic and tailored basic menswear with pattern and color twists.

Trend Spotting: Suiting

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Staerk

Colors: Black

Collection Vibe: Camilla Staerk has a thing for black leather. The collection is toned down dominatrix with an office job.

Trend Spotting: leather, fur

Stand Out Look

Click to view full collection

Timo Weiland

Colors: Green, blue, red, neutrals, black

Collection Vibe: Mod Squad infused into current London street style with some looks reserved for a cool cocktail party.

Trend Spotting:

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Toni Maticevski

Colors: White, black, gold, off-white

Collection Vibe: He's working the way onto the red carpet with gowns and embellished evening wear, cutting out the more casual pieces show for the Spring 2010 season.

Trend Spotting: Embellished

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Tracy Reese

Colors: Black, grey, neutrals, blues

Collection Vibe: A woman dressing women in comfort with style. It's practical as in where there are short sleeves, Tracy added arm warmers, jackets and scarves.

Trend Spotting: Fur, embellishments

Stand Out Look

Click to view full collection

United Bamboo

Colors: Black, grey, white and one dash of bronze

Collection Vibe: Again, 1940's old Hollywood styles but with a darker twist

Trend Spotting: velvet, suiting

Stand Out Look

Click to view full collection

Victor Glemaud

Colors: Yellow, red, brown blue

Collection Vibe: Sporty prep casual with prints. LL Bean and Opening Ceremony had a love child and named it Victor.

Trend Spotting:

Stand Out Look

Click to view full collection

Walter

Colors: Black, brown neutrals

Collection Vibe: Your average easy going contemporary line.

Trend Spotting: Leather

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Yigal Azrouel

Colors: Black, gray, red

Collection Vibe: How to look put together and chic with minimal effort.

Trend Spotting: Leather, minimalism

Stand Out Look

Click to view full collection

Fashion Week Fall 2010: Fashion Funhouse Emporium's Condensed Report (A to L)

amberMS — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:19:29 -0800

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

I have been swinging my job as a stylist assistant for a very busy awesome stylist and trying to be the sole editor of Fashion Funhouse Emporium.

Due to work, over-lapping shows, a smack to the face from the wall in my apartment building and just plain tiredness, I haven't been keeping up with the blog the way I'd like to. So I decided to give a sort of condensed, sort of half-assed report on the rest of Fall 2010 runway shows.

It seems that Coutorture did a great job keeping up with photos. And as always, Style.com and New York Magazine have full collection photos.

You just won't get my insightful commentary on the scene--which actually may be a blessing.

By the way, where did the term "half-ass" come from? My mom used to yell at me when I did chores without full effort, like the kitchen: "Don't half-ass the dishes!" Dictionary.com says that the origin of the of the phrase comes from "perhaps a humorous mispronunciation of haphazard."

Anyway, here are the shows that haven't been covered on the blog as of yet! Enjoy!

A Detacher

Colors: Cobalt Blue, army green, brown, gray, pink

Collection Vibe: Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Annie Hall all wrapped snuggly in a wool blanket under the stars. It's slightly grunge, almost Western, definitely bo-ho with tailored sophisticate.

Trend Spotting: Velvet

Stand Out Look:

Click to view the full collection

Alice + Oliva

Colors: Black, gray, blush-pink

Collection Vibe: Alice and Olivia is known for their fun, party-girl clothing. This season is no different with ruffles, short skirts and sequins.

Trend Spotting: Leather

Stand Out Look:

Click to see full collection.

Andy and Debb

Colors: Black, Brown, grey, pink, metallic bronze and one white piece.

Collection Vibe: A favorite of mine, this under-rated husband and wife team creates minimal and lady-like with unmatched creativity compared to other lines in its price point.

Trends Spotting: Leather and Fur.

Stand Out Look:

Click to see full collection

Band of Outsiders

Colors: Gray, and primary colors, neutrals

Collection Vibe: Their niche is for the art school students who've graduated into the adult world. It's "I don't give a funk what you think...but I kind of do." Grabbing faces such as Jason Schwatzman, Marisa Tomei and Kirsten Dunst for their campaigns, the Fall 2010 collection continues to cater to this clique.

Trend Spotting: Fur, Suiting, Preppy

Stand Out Look:

Click to see the full collection

Billy Reid

Colors: Neutrals

Collection Vibe: Clint Eastwood meets Sigmund Freud and a random British dandy. The models who showed the collection sometimes scared me. They would cause me to cross to the other side of the street if they were coming my direction.

Trend Spotting: Suiting, Leather

Stand Out Look:

Click to View Complete Collection

Binetti

Colors: White, red, yellow and black

Collection Vibe: Donatella Versace meets "Dynasty" era Joan Collins, and then Chole Sevigny stops by the party for a bit.

Trends: Embellishments

Stand Out Look: (This was hard. They all stood out...not sure if that's such a good thing.)

Click to see the full collection

Brian Reyes

Colors: red, orange, yellow (no green) blue, violet, black, grey and brown.

Collection Vibe: Brian Reyes' flow is minimal. Yet, with this collection, he adds graphics and color done in simplicity. Reyes takes risks with the Calvin-esque aesthetic, sometimes working and sometimes not.

Trend Spotting: Fur, Minimalist

Stand Out Look:

Click here to view the full collection

Elise Overland

Colors: Black, red, navy blue, burnt orange

Collection Vibe: Inspired by a video a friend sent of an open heart surgery, Elise was "inspired by the lush layers of texture and rich glossy colors of the heart." Still, this collection does not stray away from her signature, rock n' roll sophisticate.

Trends Spotting: Leather, fur, velvet

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Halston

Colors: red, orange yellow (again, no green) blue, purple, grey and black

Collection Vibe: The 70's born label's rebirth showed scaled back silhouettes, in-your-face color and just a touch of embellishments. Though, the best pieces were the classic Halston long dresses.

Trends Spotting: Minimal, color, fur, leather

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Isaac Mizrahi

Colors: White, black, yellow, green and orange

Collection Vibe: Kept lady with flair Issac's runway always shows his versatility as a designer. It's a slight stray from his Issac Mizrahi for Target, which became the start of high-low designer collaborations. Yes, I'm calling him the God Father of the movement.

Trends: More fur and leather. Color, Lady-like, embellished

Stand Out Look:

Click to view the full collection

Karen Walker

Colors: navy blue, gray, burnt orange

Collection Vibe: Prep School Sophisticate Boho made over by the flamboyant drama club kid

Trend Spotting: Again with the fur, suiting, velvet, embellishments

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Liefsdottir

Colors: pink, black, ivory

Collection Vibe: Feminine, vintage with an edge of sensual burlesque.

Trend Spotting: Ruffles, Fall floral

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Lorick

Colors: Green, neutrals, black

Collection Vibe: She dresses in 1930's vintage and hangs out at the library. The Internet is for chumps. At night she hits up an old haunt that used to be a speakeasy during prohibition, where kids now talk about old literature and how current movies, books and music are "for the birds."

Trend Spotting: Velvet, Lady-like, embellished

Stand Out Look:

Click to view full collection

Fashion Funhouse Emporium Covers 'The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week'

amberMS — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:41:07 -0800

The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week Fall 2010

by Jamar Graham

I was sent by Fashion Funhouse Emporium to cover 2nd bi-annual The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week, February 14-17( the same week as the official New York Fashion Week)

Covering the Green Show’s was an interesting feat. I was coming into this project with a open mind to see if ethical and ecological fashion design can change my feelings towards actually purchasing it. My editor wanted to know if it was "going to be more of the burlap-looking shit and organic cotton tees with "peace" scribbled on them?"

My idea of eco-fashion is shopping thrift. For me, that’s saving the planet.

As with any “Fashion Week,” there is good and bad and that’s no exception for The Green Shows. Boxed in a small venue in the East Village, the purpose of this show is to promote the design and consumption of fashion made from organically grown fabric, and that it did.

The organization pledged to locally recycle all materials used in production,locally compost all possible foods, products, and compostable materials, donate all reusable goods to charities and organizations after use, work with local vendors for production to limit the carbon footprint, and use alternative energy sources whenever possible.

This started with the air-conditioning. There was none. It was my only complaint about The Green Shows.

Opening night started with designer Gary Harvey, proponent of using secondhand clothing and thrift as the fabrications for his one-of-a-kind couture-esqe dresses. Highlight of his shows included a denim dress made from forty-one pairs of Levi’s 501’s, fourteen gray hooded sweatshirts transformed into a skirt and top, twenty organic cotton slogan t-shirts donated by Katherine Hamnett fabricates a dress, and his perhaps his most statement look was a dress made form 30 copies of the "Financial Times" newspaper.

Photos courtesy of Statepr.com. Click here to see full collection

Vaute Couture (awful name, no?) offered a more fun colorful alternative to eco-fashion showcasing outwear made from a new alternative fiber Primaloft ECO. The brand also introduced knits in the form of tanks, scarfs, and off--the-shoulder tunics. Cute and fun was the aesthetic of this collection.

Photos courtesy of Statepr.com. Click to view full collection.

Sonja den Elzen, designer for Thieves showed a very “on trend” collection inspired by the urban nomad. The collection featured black on black, combinations of texture; including recycled leather, hemp, and bamboo, finely draped jackets, ruched mini dresses, leather detailing, and and great hand in tailoring and construction. Rugged and tough is what Thieves had to offer.

Photos courtesy of Statepr.com. Click to view full collection.

Deux fm showed what seemed to be the classical and feminine side of eco-fashion. Clean, simple, and lots of red lipstick; great dresses draped and wrapped around the bodies of the models, as well as structured little jackets to compliment the simpleness of the jersey wrap dresses. Cute touches were added by cinching the looks with bow-tie belts that could possibly be worn as headbands. Comfortable and clean was the statement here.

Photos courtesy of Statepr.com. Click to view full collection

About the Author: Jamar Graham studied fashion at Parsons School for Design and Davis College. He worked as a visual merchandiser, designer, trend forecaster and stylist assistant. He makes things out of other things like these hippie designers. He likes cats and eats Lucky Charms. He uses semicolons where they don't belong. His blog is better than mine. To read more of Jamar's real work head over to The Summer After Parsons and TrendLand.

The Blonds- Runway Fall 2010

amberMS — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:05:36 -0800

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: The Blondes

Your mall-shopping cousin from the mid-west may not know of The Blonds. But if you're say, um....Brintey Spears, Rihanna, Fergie, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Christina Augilerra or Dita Von Teese, not only have you heard of the bleached top duo, you've worn their creations.

Phillipe and David Blond are the design team behind the label that is synonymous with the flamboyant and over the top glam. They started their label around 2004 with their specialty being hand made intricate corsets (which can take 4-8 weeks to create) and evening gowns. Though, they may not rule out the idea of creating ready to wear.

Colors

Is shiny a color?

Loved Looks

I planned on having fashion week off to go to shows and cover for this blog. But as it goes in the world of freelance stylist assisting, when I get called to work I must go. I was dead tired after a good ol' 10 hour day of picking up garment bags, emailing press requests, and packing trunks but there was no way I would skip out on seeing the Blonds.

From what I knew already, I knew to expect intricately and painstakingly embellished works of art worn on the body. Phillipe and David delivered and then some.

The collection was inspired by a cult movie called The Lair of the White Worm.

The show started off with Phillipe, incognito. In a gorilla suit. Burlesque style strip tease.

Photo via Zimbo

Photos via The Blonds Facebook. Become a Fan!

Unloved Looks

One could argue that The Blondes are costume designers rather than fashion designers. To me however, The Blondes are true haute couturiers, which seems to be missing from fashion design in America. Therefore, I can't say there were looks I didn't love. Were there designs I wouldn't wear? I would say yes, however, you're reading the words of a girl who wore knee boots, a t-shirt and jeans and enjoyed lurking quietly in the back row at a show and crowd of endless creativity. Would I love to own a studded corset hand made by the design duo? Shit yea. It could just live on a mannequin in my office where I could look at it and be inspired.

I think the "fashion" world needs to pay more attention to The Blonds, since they, and designers like them is where it all begins.

Music

F*cking crickets as show -goers entered the venue. Awesome. You could actually hear instructions given to the models on how they should walk...like "hard." If you own a white noise machine, then you own a piece of The Blonds show soundtrack. When the show started, in came the club music featuring sounds like "Have Mercy on Us" by the Bloody Beetroots

People and Scene

Drag Queens galore such as Amanda Lepore in all her Jessica Rabbit come to life glory. A guy in Swarovski crystal Mickey Mouse ears, Another in pink football shoulder pads over top a sequin shirt--to summarize anyone that had a hot glue gun. The usual famous eccentrics showed up front row such as Miss Jay Alexander, Jay Manuel, Patricia Field and her fire red hair, and Adam Lambert wearing a claw glove. I spotted a dude in just every day clothes (khakis and a button down) exiting the show. What a freak! The crowd was anyone who wanted to look and those who wanted to be looked at.

The energy was intense. It was the way you'd hope a fashion show would be. At the end of the show the entire audience gave the designers a well deserved standing ovation. I can't say that I've ever seen such a response in my three years of attending shows.

To Gift or Not to Gift

I laughed out loud at the stripping Gorilla. What more can I ask for to end my New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 adventures.

Busy Busy Bee

amberMS — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:48:46 -0800

Hi!

I will be back tomorrow with the rest of New York Fashion Week coverage! My postings have been derailed due to my little nose injury and I've been working (my boss has three jobs going at once this week! Whew!)

The Blonds show was insane, so stay tuned for formal coverage!

Until then be sure to check out the next issue of BlackBook Magazine, where I assisted on a shoot with a really cool band (hint- the singer is also an actress) and this cool Arab fashion magazine where my boss is the US Correspondent Fashion Editor.

PASHION MAGAZINE

PASHION ON FACEBOOK

Rachel Roy Presentation - Fall 2010

amberMS — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:53:55 -0800

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010

Designer: Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy's Fall presentation was held at Cedar Lake Studios in New York this past Sunday. Ms. Roy started off as an intern at Rocawear and rose through the ranks to be come creative director. He starting point in the industry far cry from the designs of her own namesake label. Her creations usually have a touch of vintage and are beautifully tailored.

In August 2008, she teamed with Macy's to bring her designs to a contemporary market with Rachel Rachel Roy.

Colors

Light grey, black, metallic golds, eggplant, browns, taupe, popping turquoise and berry.

Loved Looks

Two eras in time melded to create the Fall collection: Ancient Egypt and the turn of the 20th century. Rachel Roy definitely has a trademark, that being her tailored cuts mixed with modern trend-setting slouchy loose pieces You can normally count on her for those Katharine Hepburn/Lauren Becall 40's wide leg trousers, which I personally love. However, I didn't see them this season. Frown. Though there is an air of 40's glamor in her dresses.

All photos via style.com. Click to see the full collection

Unloved Looks

Ooooh Rachel. This is taking the underwear as outwear too far. Call me a prude, but I don't like the way the pattern draws my eyes right to her naughty parts. I don't think this piece would've lost its allure if there was a silk contrasting slip underneath.

Music

Is it bad that I was drawn into the crowd and really didn't pay attention? Bad Blogger! Dance-ish though.

People and Scene

I mentioned it before, but I think Rachel Roy's way of presenting her collection should be the ideal for Fashion Week. There are four "mini" shows with a few minutes in between on a low, visible runway in a comfortable setting where everyone, not just lowly bloggers, are standing. If you miss the first parade of models on the catwalk, you have three more chances to catch them. Not only do they walk, but all of the models stand on the runway together at the end. Its a perfect opportunity to get up close, see the fabrics,shapes, snap pictures and take a second look.

I want to commend Rachel on her model casting as well, like last season, she includes all ethnicities. All women are beautiful, not just doppelganger Barbie doll blonds and Rachel Roy showcases this.

To Gift or Not to Gift

What I love about Rachel is her interactions on social media. Once I sent her a Twitter telling her I want to see wide leg pants for Rachel Rachel Roy. To my suprise, she responded. She also "tweets" quite frequently with pictures and descriptions of her work. It's like she's taking everyone who's interested on her journey with her. I think that's the gift!

Rachel on Twitter

Rachel on Facebook