Claim to Fame

Posted on: 9/17/2007 1:01:03 PM
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Alexis Phifer, the fiancée of music mogul Kanye West, is making her mark on the New York fashion circuit with her clothing line Ghita. The Ghita line features fun, red carpet worthy dresses in primary colors and flowing fabrics. The PVC detail on the mostly mini dresses added a futuristic touch.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of his album release, West and the entire family showed their support at her spring 2008 runway show on September 11th. Other A-listers in the audience included Nigel Barker and Veronica Webb, two staples at this year's fashion week. The event, hosted by Style360, an alternative showcase for nine handpicked up and coming designers, had all of the glitz and glamour of a Bryant Park show with gift bags from Henri Bendel and goodies from Sunsilk, Nikon, Max Factor and automotive giant Mercury. I really enjoyed the Ghita show and I cant wait to see Kanye's clothing line. Will this couple be the next Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons? Lets wait and see!

Click here to see the Ghita Spring 2008 Collection 

The South of France Circa Spring 2018
 
The Edwing D'Angelo spring 2008 runway presentation was by far the most fierce, fabulous and fashion-forward show I attended this year. The runway was star studded ­ literally, with Jaslene, Mel Rose and Nik, former winners and contestants of America's Next Top Model all walking in the show. The presentation, entitled Love Eclipse, was divided into three acts and opened with luxurious beachwear on bronzed bodies. The second section of the show entitled "Sunset" featured "mischievously chic" daywear in dove gray and chocolate brown. The "Moonlight" section closed the show with carefully tailored eveningwear for men and women, all in the brown, sliver and gray color scheme. Gift bag goodies, my favorite part of fashion week (besides the fashion of course), included items from Natural Body Bar, Marc Ecko, J Records, and Budweiser Select, the headlining sponsor.

-Nubia Murray

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Scene and Heard

Posted on: 9/11/2007 3:30:47 PM
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Music and fashion collided at Fashion Rocks. On the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall, celebrities of all walks shared their style sense and how music influences their own fashion choices.

R&B singer Mya joked about not reliving her 1990s wardrobe.
“Trends have definitely changed. I would dare not go to my closet and pull out what I use to wear and rock it now. Now it’s about a sexy heel and a thinner heel. I think what’s going to come back around is the 70s, the 80s, never the 90s.”

After Ludacris showed up in a 3-piece burgundy plaid joint, a smooth 50 Cent, whose album drops this week, kept the media laughing as he taunted other celebrities. 50 walked the carpet wearing a simple but sexy black velvet jacket and white-collared shirt. Nicole Richie showed off her baby bump in a flowing black & white gown while a thick Ashanti also opted for the classic colors. Alicia Keys was fabulous in a long dress and long locks to match.

Towering princesses Tyra Banks and Kimora Lee Simmons were glam as usual.

Gayle King escorted her daughter Kirby to the show. Saying she just likes to be comfortable and wears what looks good on her, Gayle explained, “I’m not a trend girl.”
 
Former supermodel Veronica Webb who co-hosts “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” on Bravo, acknowledged the power of fashion:

“Fashion has the power not only to build an image, but to break down barriers. Because people are judged on things that they don’t necessarily have to be judged on if they’re well dressed. I think you can command a situation if you’re well put together. People tend to trust you and think you know what you’re doing.”

Music icon Mary J. Blige knows she’s top notch with fashion. “Fashion has a lot to do with my image. From day one I’ve been setting trends from hair to everything so it’s a big deal when it comes to being in the music business.”

OK, for real, I needed headgear and body armor trying to get to Tracy Reese ’s show. Where did everyone come from at 11 in the morning!? Tracy Reese shut down Bryant Park. Once I two-stepped my way to–wait, where’s my seat?–standing room only, it was well worth it. With the vibrant colors, the smooth music, Reese really upped the ante for the rest of the designers for the week.

André Leon Talley said Tracy ‘designs for the woman who is not necessarily asparagus thin.” Backstage after the show Tracy, whose inspiration for the Spring 2008 collection was an exotic vacation, said Yep! ‘That’s true, I’m not extra thin and I want to be able to wear the clothes.’

We all do Tracy, we all do.

–Melody K. Hoffman

Photos: AP/Jennifer Graylock; Stuart Ramson

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Fashion Trends

Posted on: 9/10/2007 2:42:53 PM
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Okay so a whole week has passed and fashion feels like an absolute blur.
Yes, it's exciting to go to the shows, to be in the swirl of energy that is Fashion Week. And it's an utter grind.  Day after day, all day long, through the weekend, in the heat and humidity.  Hey, nobody said fashion was easy!

Thus far, I wanted to share what some of the trends are that we've been seeing.  My team and I haven't gone to all the shows, but we've seen enough                        
to get a good sense of the flavor.

* Feminine sexy dressing * Cloud colors in fluid fabrics * Sheer layered pieces * Puffy sleeves * Obi belts and all manner of other belting * Super wide leg pants and pencil thin pants * High-waist skirts and pants * Menswear influences on feminine looks * Shots of color on flirty dressing * Architectural swimsuits

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Stephen Burrows

Posted on: 9/7/2007 4:15:19 PM
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Before I even arrived at Stephen Burrows’ fashion presentation I received a call from Bethann Hardison who wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to miss it. She had just gotten off the phone with Andre Leon Talley who had told her that I should do a feature on this collection of Stephen’s because it is “so good.”
 
I was not disappointed. Stephen’s classic matte jersey was ever present with beautiful soft ruffles and a bit of patchwork.  Sexy, sweet, sultry silhouettes marked the collection.  Ruffles danced at the collar and hem, and even across the body.  What’s more, as always, Stephen Burrows delivered color—and lots of it.  Fuchsia, red, marine and aquamarine blue and more.
 
It was a delight to see—even more because Burrows has been doing his thing for more than 30 years! --harriette cole

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Angels and Accessories

Posted on: 9/6/2007 10:57:11 PM
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L.A.M.B. 
Gwen Stefani put on the hot show of the day.  She staged her presentation in the largest space in Bryant Park, The Tent, and it was filled to capacity.  There were plenty of front row folks getting their picture taken, but the highlights I spotted were Diddy and Eve, whose hair is blond and much longer than in the past. Diddy was relaxed in jeans and a tee shirt. He sat next to Stefani’s husband and baby, and enjoyed playing with the baby
until the show started.

What a show it was. With a giant backdrop of black and white and color photos and pumping house music, the models strutted out in a powerful collection of strong prints and completely pulled together urban girl chic looks.  Black and white was a predominant theme. Because Stefani has many licenses, she showed plenty of accessories: overnight bags in all kinds of prints and fabrications, head kerchiefs, big bold sunglasses (the white shades were among the best), chunky bangles, and amazing high heeled oxfords and pumps, plus sheer over the knee as well as knee high hose. 

The key looks included twists on the Catholic school girl with a little tie, super short plaid skirt and super high heels that she calls Kingston pumps, high waist shorts and skirts, empire dresses, shifts in classic checker and houndstooth patterns with a fresh spin—sequins covering the whole garment.

Clouds
Earlier in the day, I took in the show of Jason Wu, a young Asian designer who created an elegant collection of beautiful feminine dresses and evening gowns for REAL WOMEN.  The colors were very washed out—a growing trend this season.  I’m not quite sure how much I love the pallette, but I do think the colors will look good on brown skin.  Most of the models were very pale and they looked extremely washed out in dove grey, muted taupe and other cloud colors. 

Still, Wu’s collection was great.  The soft chiffon that was part of his signature signaled a return to femininity that made me smile!

Angels
Sears/Kmart.  Okay, we know that mass-market retailers are trying to get into the fashion game.  Target has brought great designers on board, including Patrick Robinson earlier this year.  Robinson moved on to The Gap. Can’t wait to see what he does there.

Sears and Kmart decided to put their foot in the game, hosting an informal showing of their spring lines at the swank Bryant Park Hotel, across the street from the Tents. Their big name designer is Jaclyn Smith!  (Remember her from Charlie’s Angels?) Turns out her line has been at Sears for about 20 years!

Anyway, the clothes were basic work wear and play wear.
Good in a pinch. Great for the pocketbook.  No trendsetting, though.

Anne Bowen. This show could be summed up in one word: “Hmm?!”  If you’re looking for fabulous beach cover-ups, Bowen delivered. But the silhouette of flowing blousy caftan that exposes la tout derriere doesn’t do it for daytime wear!

What was beautiful was a group of evening gowns and day wear in gold fabric—lame, silk and chiffon.  We love gold. It looks great on a range of brown skin tones and makes for a stunning entrance!

Nicole Miller. We already know that Miller’s clothes fit a woman well.  She does patterns better than many, and the silhouettes are consistently strong.  This season was no different.  Miller paraded a beautiful stream of dresses—soft pretty date frocks, more tailored dresses for work, and floating evening gowns.  Her full leg pants with cropped jackets were pretty, as were the blouses and jackets with bow detail.

Bubbles, Bubbles
Chris Han.  I really liked this designer’s clothes.  Easy drape-y day wear with a strong dose of sophistication. Again, lots of super soft cloud colors with chiffon and silk.  There were sky prints with birds floating in the background.  Looked good. But the way Han put the looks together was both sexy and smart.  Wide leg pants, soft ruffles on blouses. Shorts that weren’t too short (some of them anyway!).  The bubble skirt that was so popular last season is still here, this time really popular as a mini. The pencil skirt was the true winner, though. Just about every woman can wear that with confidence.

The makeup at this show was worthy of note too.  The models had on very minimal makeup with a shimmery dewy look around the eyes.  It looked good on the runway. We’ll see how well it works in real life.

It was a good day.
 
--harriette cole

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