MEET MARIE-LISE!

New York based artist Marie-Lise Lachapelle draws from her artistic heritage and innate passion for creativity for her diverse jewelry collections.

Born and raised in the leafy suburbs of Montreal, she credits her parents for her artistic ambitions. Her entrepreneurial father is also a talented sculptor, and her mother is a painter and former high fashion model.

Marie-Lise's passion for jewelry design began in 2003, soon after moving to New York City. While working as a fashion stylist she started introducing her own creations, which quickly gained favor among celebrities, models, and fashion editors. She launched her first collection in 2005.

Marie-Lise continues to create innovative and stunning pieces. From her signature leaf and lacquered flower collection to her more delicate fine jewelry line she uses nature's most exquisite resources. Her pieces can be customized in sterling silver, gold vermeil, and 18-karat yellow, white, or rose gold. She uses natural semi-precious and precious stones. The combinations are endless.

She approaches each piece like a sculpture, taking from various eras and cultures. Marie-Lise gets her inspiration from the city, love, life, and her travels. She is constantly evolving and learning. Whether working on her own collection or designing original pieces for a client her aim is to create distinctive and contemporary art.

Visit: www.marielise.net

DON'T BE TICKETY-TAC, BUY THIS FIERCE READ!

NEW YORK — When you first saw Christian Siriano on the fourth season of "Project Runway,” you probably didn’t care much for him. The skinny guy from Baltimore had a crazy Flock of Seagulls hairdo and an arrogant attitude.

Christian Siriano

However, by the end of the season, his talent and his personality became the show’s best ever: He was the first (and only) person to win both the competition and fan favorite. Nearly two years since the premiere of that season, Siriano has staged three critically acclaimed shows during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and has launched partnerships with major brands.
He’s on tour promoting his new book, "Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self.” We caught up with Siriano on his way to his downtown studio.
Q: Aveda did the hair for your fashion show?
A: They’ve done the past couple of seasons. I love them. They’re the best!
Q: So why a book?
A: I guess when the opportunity came up right after the show, I thought it was really interesting. I knew that my book could be really visual. A follow-up to get everyone their fashion fix. I wanted it to be serious and fun.
Q: Define "ferosh.”
A: Being fierce is a state of being, not something you can become. It’s a high point of being a certain persona. Ferosh is a downgraded version of being fierce.
Q: Have you been watching Season 6?
A: I have watched a few episodes, but I’m not up to date. It’s hard to sit at home and have a night to yourself.
Q: They still say "fierce” and "hot mess” all of the time.
A: I guess so! All of my phrases are going. When Tim and I write each other e-mails, it’s all in there.
Q: What’s good about this season?
A: I think the talent level is a little bit higher than last season. I’m waiting for something amazing to be done.
Q: What’s the one thing women must buy for fall 2009?
A: A great amazing coat or jacket — you wear it every day anyway. It’s your look. If it’s special and ornate and unique, that’s amazing.
Q: What’s the one thing we shouldn’t wear?
A: With the economy, people are about pairing low-budget and high-end. For me, underdressing is the trend that’s not working. I don’t think (the poor economy) means you shouldn’t look your best.
Q: In your book, you say that you shouldn’t wear the identical look twice.
A: Mix what you have, as best as you can. That’s what makes you individual and makes your style. You learn from yourself.
Q: You’ve done a lot since "Project Runway.” What’s your goal?
A: To build my brand and make sure the clothing side of my company grows and develops. I’ve been doing accessories and things for other companies. But I want to have shoes and bags and jewelry and makeup all under the same brand. And in five years, I might be bored and join a circus.
Q: You’re going to have a new show on Bravo — what took so long?
A: I think having a TV show without anything to do on a TV show is boring. I needed it to have a strong background.

(Source: McClatchy-Tribune)

Read more: http://www.newsok.com/winner-of-project-runway-lauds-fierce-fashion/article/3413356#ixzz0Vg34TRgU

FASHION NIGHT OUT BIGGER IN 2010

NEW YORK — Fashion’s Night Out, the global shopping event that gave retail a much-needed kick last month, is due for an encore in 2010.

Today, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Vogue magazine, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Co. will unveil the return of the event on Sept. 9 — and the plan is to make the second one bigger and better than the first.

“The numbers are in, and it’s clear that Fashion’s Night Out was a tremendous success,” Bloomberg said. “Thousands of New Yorkers attended the events in all five boroughs, supporting the city’s retail and fashion industries, and helping a worthwhile cause. It’s sure to be an even bigger event in 2010.”

The first event, which took place Sept. 10, was widely considered a success. In New York alone, more than 700 retailers remained open until 11 p.m., and designers planned special personal appearances or events, with various spots around the city turning into major block parties.

“We were absolutely bowled over by the response to Fashion’s Night Out,” said Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. “It was only 15 minutes after the event began, and we were getting reports about lines around the block at stores throughout the city. It was wonderful to see people embrace this initiative, and we are thrilled that they wish it to return.”

CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg added, “To have designers in stores to celebrate and start a shopping season is the best idea for everybody. It creates excitement and lots of business.”

According to an independent study by ShopperTrak, foot traffic in stores jumped by 50 percent that night. Meanwhile, NYC & Co., the marketing, tourism and partnerships organization of the city, conducted a survey of 1,300 shoppers and concluded that 75 percent of them bought something that night. The survey also found two-thirds of those consumers visited stores they have never been to before, and 61 percent ventured out of their comfort zones, going to neighborhoods outside of their work and living areas.

“I think that when the partners planned the first one, it was pretty clear that it was going to be successful, but until we hit the streets that night, I don’t think we knew the extent of the success,” CFDA executive director Steven Kolb said. “As it went into the nights and days after, during fashion week, we talked to all the participants, and there wasn’t one person who didn’t immediately ask when we were going to do this again.”

In the weeks since Fashion’s Night Out, top retailers have been meeting with the mayor and city officials, seeking a repeat of the event and trying to devise strategies to spur shopping and tourism in the city year-round. Specifically for Fashion’s Night Out, some retailers are pressing to make Sept. 9 free of sales tax. There is also a proposal to stage a fashion show for consumers at Lincoln Center, where New York Fashion Week will be held for the spring 2011 designer collections for the first time, instead of at Bryant Park. The show would promote merchandise in the stores, not the next season’s.

It is expected to be challenging to get the required city and state approvals for making the day of Fashion’s Night Out tax-free for retail sales.

“There are a lot of state budget issues,” said one source. The mayor has been pushing for an increase in the sales tax and, recently, the state senate agreed to raise the sales tax by one-half of a percentage point to 8.875 percent, making it one of the highest rates in the country. However, the exemption on clothing purchases for $110 or less remains. The increase applies to the city’s portion of the sales tax, which when added to a state tax and transit tax lifts the total rate to 8.875 percent.

While retailers were pleased with the turnout at the first Fashion’s Night Out, several did acknowledge there was far more partying, gawking at celebrities and autograph-hunting than shopping. But retailers still felt the event did a lot to elevate the industry’s image and at least put some people in more of a shopping mind-set.

And there remains a groundswell of support for repeating the initiative. “I thought Fashion’s Night Out was a terrific event,” said Stephen I. Sadove, chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Fifth Avenue. “It generated traffic and excitement around fashion. It was very focused. It was never designed to generate huge sales, but I do believe incremental sales were generated by the event.”

Michael Gould, Bloomingdale’s chairman and ceo, concurred. “It was a fun evening and it excited a lot of people,” he said. “Like most things, the first time there’s great novelty to it. The second time, there has to be even more substance. We had incredible activity at Bloomingdale’s and a strong sales performance.”

(Source WWD)