FASHION's FAVORITE TWINS

Check out America’s famous twins at it again.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the former child actresses turned fashion designers, are launching a new juniors’ sportswear and accessories line for J.C. Penney.  The travel-themed line is called Olsenboye, with each collection highlighting a new city.
The mid-priced line features clothes, shoes and handbags priced from $20 to $50.
Fashion is not new for the sisters, who were television stars from infancy and grew up to have a quirky bohemian style.  They currently have high-end lines, such as The Row, which sells at Bergdorf Goodman, and Elizabeth and James, which sells at Neiman Marcus.  They even once had a line of girls’ clothes at Wal-Mart, though it no longer exists.
Items from the new line will be available for a limited time in select JC Penney stores and online starting Nov. 6, with a full launch set for spring 2010.  Let’s see if it lasts longer than the line at Wal-Mart.

(Source: Reuters)

LI-LO, WILL WORK FOR CLOTHES?

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Just months ago, Lindsay Lohan earned a prestigious position as an artistic advisor to fashion house Emanuel Ungaro — an honor soon dimmed by poor reviews of her first collection for the line with designer Estrella Archs at Paris Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Week earlier in October.

But according to FOX News, the prestige – and a mountain of free clothes – may be Lindsay’s only payment for the gig.

“Ungaro is not paying her at all to be a consultant for them,” a source reportedly close to Lindsay told FOX’s FOX 411 blog. “Her team is working to get Lindsay some form of payment from the fashion house, but right now they will only give her free clothes.”

A source also claimed to the site that Lindsay’s much-delayed musical career is on the rocks.

“Casablanca [Records] has suspended all further recording sessions of her album and put their working relationship with her on hold,” the source told FOX. “Lindsay was committed to making music and has been working on it for 16 months. She is going to go what she can to keep her music career going.”

However, in a Times of London interview with Emanuel Ungaro CEO Mounir Moufarrige on Sunday, the executive disputed the fashion accusations, telling the newspaper that Lindsay is being paid “quite enough” for her new position.

“It’s expensive,” he said.

(Source: China Daily)

THE DEMI- DEMISE

We knew when Ralph Lauren hit headlines over its photoshop controversy with model Filippa Hamilton, we wouldn’t see the end of such a saga, and here’s the proof: W magazine’s latest cover star Demi Moore appears to have had more than a little retouching.
According to reports, not only has the 47-year-old had more than her fair share of airbrushing for the cover as she poses in a Balmain SS10 dress, but her body has been replaced with someone else’s – 26-year-old Polish model Anja Rubik’s, to be precise.
Representatives from W magazine told Jezebel they “did not do anything unusual or out of the ordinary on Demi Moore for the photo on the cover of W. Demi is an extraordinary beautiful woman and we feel our cover reflects that.”
Call us old fashioned, but we’d probably count one person’s head on another’s body as unusual and out of the ordinary. Suspicion aroused when Demi’s left hip appeared mysteriously narrower than her left thigh – a case of clever lighting, miracle-magic or some serious retouching? It’s the latter, apparently, according to the magazine’s representative who said retouching was done in-house by Alas and Piggot’s – the photographer’s – staff. What a bizarre case of photoshop craziness.

YOU ALTER YOURSELF TO FIT VERA, . . .

New York – We all remember the infamous line from Bride Wars, the 2009 film, starring the gorgeous Kate Hudson and exquisite beauty of Anne Hathaway, clearly taught women, "You don't alter yourself to fit Vera, you alter Vera to fit yourself." After nineteen years of designing bridal gowns, Vera Wang is not in the business of creating something that fits the typical commercial mold. Vera is what I will be wearing one day when I get married, she just gets it to me. She understands that brides want to stand out and be unique. I love her fabric choice, silhouette, and grace she puts into every gown.
"I don't want to do that with bridal," said Wang after her latest bridal presentation in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 21. "You lose the essence of who you are."
Her Fall 2010 bridal collection epitomized why Wang is known for taking bridal to a high fashion, artistic level, creating gowns that could as easily walk down an haute couture runway as they could down the wedding aisle.
"I try to keep the vocabulary interesting," she said. "It's not a formulaic design process. It's all organic, about feeling it."
Her jumping off point for inspiration this season was Cecil Beaton's costuming and art direction for "My Fair Lady," the 1964 screen adaptation of the musical starring Audrey Hepburn. Juxtapositions of black and white combined with Wang's stunning sculptural fabric manipulations made this bridal collection feel strikingly new with a sophistication unsurpassed in the current bridal market. She created something that is edgy and new, yet with a kind of romantic touch that even the most classic of brides can appreciate.
"My idea of femininity is an artsy femininity," explained Wang, "never saccharine or girly. Always sophisticated."
Striking horsehair bows in black gave flourish, like a line drawing penned in black ink, to strapless gowns that had swirling pleats or overlapping bands, woven more tightly at the top then spreading out toward the hem like a loosely deconstructed basket. Asymmetrical raw-edged flanges on a mermaid gown looked like the swirls of a soft-serve ice cream cone and moved beautifully, gently rustling like prairie grass on a windy day. Another stunning effect combined Alencon lace with tulle manipulated to look like feathered fans. The white-on-white precision lines created as a result looked like bright white paint dots on an Impressionist painter's canvas.
Wang is never afraid to try a non-traditional color out in her collections, and her Fall collection featured an elegant black tulle ball gown with all-over petal appliques.
"I like to do a bride-wore-black dress every once in a while, a Truffaut bride," said Wang, referencing French New Wave filmmaker Francois Truffaut's 1968 film, "The Bride Wore Black."
Wang's dresses place a premium on the unexpected, always stretching her design vocabulary: Transparent layers hide and reveal the complexity of the design, with unexpected rosettes, smocking technique or hand-painted fabrics. With Wang, there is a form that emerges from formlessness, like a Rodin sculpture that carves out beauty from a slab of marble, creating something new yet celebrating the raw material in the piece - its humble origins.

(Source: Yahoo)

I HEART TOM FORD!

I heart Tom Ford. One of my first pieces of press, I was compared to this FASHION ICON. That was such an honor for me. Thanks Leah Garchik from the San Francisco Chronicle, she's the one who wrote the article. Ladies, listen up, he's designing a line for WOMEN!


TOKYO — Tom Ford is getting ready for his return to women’s wear — the only question now is when.

The designer, and now film director, finally acknowledged on the record he’s returning to the women’s arena and confirmed he and his longtime business partner and Tom Ford International chairman Domenico De Sole are on the hunt for financing.

Ford, in town to promote his new film, “A Single Man,” and make a personal appearance at his new men’s shop in the Isetan department store, said he plans to launch the Tom Ford brand’s first women’s collection “very soon,” although he declined to specify a date. Sources told WWD earlier this month that, depending on financing, Ford was eyeing a launch of a women’s line as early as fall 2010.

“Financing is extremely expensive right now, so if we find financing in the right situation we’ll be able to start [a women’s collection] soon. If we don’t, we may have to wait a while,” Gucci’s former creative director told WWD in an interview from a 50th floor suite of the Park Hyatt Hotel with an expansive view of the city skyline.

“You know it will take me 18 months when I start, because [I have] to hire the team, find the factories, put everything together and then get the stores ready so there’s a place for these clothes,” said Ford as he sipped a Coke Zero to overcome his jet lag.

Recent reports estimate Ford and De Sole are seeking $50 million or more to fund a women’s collection and that Credit Suisse is leading the process. De Sole, who is also in Tokyo, declined to discuss the financials of the privately held company except to state that Ford’s stores in Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul are performing strongly.

“We have the advantage of being a younger brand that’s in a growing mode,” De Sole said.

Ford contended his men’s wear label is outpacing most of its competitors in the recession and he’s optimistic the luxury goods market is on its way to recovery.

“Things are getting better every day in most places,” Ford said, clad in a black suit and a white shirt. “So I’m optimistic and this is something that I plan on doing for the next 30 years of my life, so if I have to wait another six months or a year [to launch women’s], it’s OK.”

In the meantime, Ford is holding court with his fans here in Tokyo. On Tuesday evening, he made quite an entrance at Isetan, turning up in a black Mercedes and posing as a crowd snapped photos of him with their cell phones. He then made his way upstairs to his recently opened shop-in-shop, where he autographed boxes of his fragrance.

The Isetan shop-in-shop, which opened in September, is Ford’s first store in Tokyo and his second in Japan. The designer said he hopes to open a freestanding store in Tokyo as soon as he finds a suitable location.

(Source: WWD)

MUST HAVE HANDBAGS- A/W 2009

SNAKESKIN. An edgy neutral? Believe it. Dangerously stylish exotic skins blend with virtually any look. Jessica Alba (left) shouldered a buckle-bedecked Tod's tote while Rihanna (right) carried a Devi Kroell hobo.

RUFFLED. Add texture to an unfussy outfit with a ruched or tiered leather tote. Julia Roberts (left) gave her all-black suiting separates a feminine spin with a gathered calfskin design, while Katherine Heigl (right) chose a purse with soft vertical ruffles.

STUDDED. Add instant edge to an autumnal outfit with a punked-out purse. Heidi Klum (left) rocked an oversize fringed tote, while Lauren Conrad (right) chose a pyramid-studded shoulder bag from Rebecca Minkoff.

SATCHELS. Classic equestrian-inspired bags transcend the stable when added to vintage-inspired print dresses. Both Claudia Schiffer (left) and Keira Knightley (right, carrying Prada) went the town-and-country route with their hardware-bedecked satchels.

OVERSIZED CLUTCH. No need to cut down on your evening must-haves when you're carrying a bag this large and in charge. Blake Lively (left) held on to a zipper-accented design, while Rachelle Lefevre (right) accented her red-carpet look with a suede envelope clutch.

 SILVER. Brighten up your fall wardrobe with mirror-bright metallic purses. Camilla Belle (left) carried a high-shine pocket-front tote while Beyonce (right) flashed a Dolce & Gabbana carryall.

CHAIN. Classic and tough, a heavy-link strap gives weight to day and evening looks. Diane Kruger (left) selected an artsy-craftsy embellished Chanel bag, while Kate Bosworth (right) carried a biker-inspired all-black design.

RICH. TAPESTRY. Rich tapestry, embroidery and old-world detailing give a faraway feel to a standout shoulder bag. Whitney Port (left) carried an ornate carpet bag from Gucci, while Rachel Bilson (right) upgraded her jeans and T-shirt with Jimmy Choo's patchwork of exotic skins.

LEOPARD. ake a walk on the wild side this fall with hot spots. Halle Berry (left) held on to a metallic clutch from Louis Vuitton, while Jennifer Lopez (right) got fierce with a Jimmy Choo hobo.


(Source: InStyle)

SPRING AHEAD: COLOR REPORT S/S 2010

"Now more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "Instead of re-inventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun."

Designers bring splashes of sunshine to the runway for spring 2010. Vibrant brights add a sense of excitement to the color palette, while practical neutrals provide a safety net for cautious consumers. “Now more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun.”

Spring and summer naturally evoke feelings of calm ocean waters and tranquil beach vacations in cool, vibrant, tropical Turquoise.

This soothing hue from the blue-green family conjures feelings of escape, especially when paired with Amparo Blue. With more warmth than the typical spring navy, this particular shade of blue is extremely appealing because of its brighter, more energetic attitude.

Like the scent of a blossoming flower, Violet lends a romantic air to the warm-weather palette. This intriguing purplish hue is a distinctive addition to any wardrobe.

Yellow has made its mark on fashion and spring will further this trend with gleaming Aurora. Reminiscent of the first glimpse of yellow as the sun begins to rise over the horizon, this shimmering, slightly greenish yellow adds a bold infusion.

Energy continues to surge throughout the warmer hues of spring, leading to provocative Fusion Coral. This inviting orange connects directly to tangy Tomato Purée, this season’s classic red. Pair it with Turquoise for a retro look.
Thoughtful, cautious neutrals provide a dependable backbone to the brights of spring.

Kick back and enjoy the bubbly luxury of Pink Champagne. This delicate, wispy tint is the season’s newest neutral. The melding of Pink Champagne, Tomato Purée and Amparo Blue is a refreshing take on the classic springtime combination of red, white and blue. Three additional neutrals round out the palette.

Tuscany, a warm beige hue, provides the perfect backdrop and works well as a solid base color with dynamic accents like Fusion Coral or Violet.

Dried Herb is the ultimate green neutral, pairing well with all other colors. Ideal for bigger ticket items, cool Eucalyptus is the eternal, practical gray. Choose this nuanced neutral and add brightly colored exclamation points in shoes, jewelry and handbags.

(Source: Pantone)