Avedon Inspiration

I've been meaning to post these for awhile because, well, I'm obsessed with them. The model cards that One Management created for their show package this season were not only genious, they were timely. The ICP (International Center of Photography) in NYC just finished up an enormous retrospective of Richard Avedon's photographic career (see my previous posting), and the set of model cards that One put out pays tribute to his infamous 1965 Harper's Bazaar cover. The bold colors and mod makeup are nothing short of captivating. Enjoy!

From top to bottom: Yrme Stiekema, Colette Peshekhonova, Charlotte Di Calypso, and Tasha Tilberg.

What Are You Lookin' At?

Who says t-shirts should be stashed come fall? This adorable tee is quite the looker (wink wink), and gives a basic staple a flirty upgrade. So just when we thought that bows were so over and overdone, think again. Minnie Mouse's favorite accessory won't be shipping back to Disneyland anytime soon. Spring 2010 runway shows like Milly and Marc by Marc Jacobs proved that for certain. This one just happens to land on your shoulder instead of your head. And you'll never be accused of avoiding eye contact.

Shop: White Jewel Face Tee, Alice + Olivia, $198, chickdowntown.com.

Countdown to Chloe!

If you've read the title, you already know what this post is about. But just for emphasis, let's reiterate. Chloe! Countdown! Less than a week to go! 'Til the s/s 2010 runway show in Paris, that is. It seems that I wait longingly....forever for this event to occur, which it does only twice a year (pre-fall and resort just aren't as fun!) But each time fashion week season rolls around, I am ever the more satisfied with what the Chloe girl is wearing, despite the many changes in creative direction that the brand has seen in recent years.

Since I first fell in love with the fashion house in 2005 (the moment fave Gemma Ward stepped onto the runway in that heavenly teal and blue silk cut-out dress below), the label has seen some interesting shifts. Pheobe Philo, who began working at Chloe in 1997 under Stella McCartney (another fave), succeeded the British designer in 2001 when McCartney was offered the chance to start her own label. At the helm of Chloe, Philo created the most effortlessly beautiful and feminine collections, and she always seemed to get the timing just right, innately sensing what women at that precise moment were desperately wanting to wear in order to feel gorgeous and cool, without trying too hard.

In 2006, though, Philo resigned after having a baby, and Paulo Melim Andersson came to take her place, presenting his first collection for the house in spring 2007 for the a/w 2007 season. While keeping with the flowy, effortless comfort of past Chloe collections, Andersson brought the brand in a new direction, with his own darker and more modern interpretation. And while Chloe remained a favorite throughout Andersson's tenure (if not on principle alone), I was beyond thrilled when Hannah MacGibbon stepped in as the newest Creative Director last year. Her fall 2009 debut collection was a step forward, at the same time as it was a look back to the Philo times. She put femininity back on the runway with extremely wearable pieces that celebs like Chloe Sevigny and Kate Bosworth pounced on immediately.

Maybe it's the fact that Karl ran the Chloe show back in its uber-cool moment in the '60s and '70s, or that the Chloe team and I seem to have a telepathic agreement on our favorite models of the moment (Sigrid Agren anyone?). From the amazing advertising campaigns season after season to the want-every-single-piece-and-can-actually-wear-it collections the house produces, there is something irresistible about the Chloe name. The spring 2010 collection debuts Tuesday, October 6th in Paris--you bet I'll be waiting eagerly on the blogosphere for my first glimpse at the collection.

Some memorable Chloe collections throughout my love affair with the fashion house:

Spring 2005

Spring 2006

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

Spring 2009

Fall 2009

Fashion Week Highlights

My pix from Phillip Lim, spring 2010.

I've been eagerly waiting my entire life (well, since I was like 10) to attend Fashion Week, so this past NYC Fashion Week for the spring 2010 collections was quite a milestone. And the good news is, I survived! I've never understood how editors can complain about Fashion Week being so tiring and all, but after witnessing the madness first hand, I'd say I'm a bit more sympathetic after the fact. But then again, it's Fashion Week, baby! Most definitely the best week of the year. Now that I've had the weekend to recuperate from the craziness and exhaustion, it's finally time to recap the highlights. Ok, here we go:

The ultimate highlight of the week was most definitely sitting front row at the 3.1 Phillip Lim show for AmEx cardmembers with bestie Courtney Peterson (see photos above). Andre Leon Talley and Linda Fargo hosted and did a Q&A with Lim on the runway before the show began. The collection was beautiful, wearable, and very versatile; looks ranged from a red lizard print trench to a pair of lavender, sequined slouchy trousers that could double as pajamas, to disco ball sequined shorts, to a machine washable red pant suit. The dresses Lim showcased were works of art in themselves; each a unique creation composed of some combination of lace, rhinestones, sequins, tight knife pleats, and leather panels. My favorite look was a metallic bronze disco ball of a dress (or was it a jumpsuit?) Either way, it was swishy, sparkly, and fabulous. The only misstep (literally) came when one of the models who had been struggling to strut in her heels the entire time, finally collapsed during the run of show. Not only that, but she couldn't get up, until another model finally latched onto her arm and practically carried her backstage. Yikes. And did I spot Erin Lucas from The City, sitting above the front row? Double yikes. But all in all, another great collection from Phillip.

So let's backtrack a bit. The greatly anticipated first-ever Fashion's Night Out was of course an amazing kick-off to the week. I started my night at the M Missoni store in SoHo where I mingled and snacked on one too many candy colored mini macaroons from Paris with the amazing StyleCaster crew and Kelly Bensimon who joint hosted the event. Bravo was there filming the party for Real Housewives and I was asked to sign a release form...eek! Praying I get cut out of the final edit. After several hours of champagne and shopping, we picked up and headed over to the Vivienne Tam store to celebrate the launch of Tam's newly designed HP Digital Clutch and to promote StyleCaster's live stream of the Vivienne Tam runway show. There was so much partying going on on the streets of SoHo that I'm not sure anyone was actually shopping. I mean, shopping under the influence? Never a good idea.

Earlier in the week, I also got to interview Ted Gibson, Bobbi Brown, and Nonie Creme from Butter London who is super nice and totally British (always have a weakness for the Brits!). And Ted Gibson is absolutely adorable. Loved sitting next to editor-in-chief of Style Republic Magazine, Brittany Law, at the Gottex show and StyleCaster's Jessica Karcher at Anna Sui. Watching Natasha, Lily, Sasha, Chanel, and Jess Stam walk the catwalk in person was beyond amazing--Natasha is just as fierce as I always imagined her to be! Oh, and the safety pin details at Vena Cava--LOVE.

Fashion Week Is Upon Us!

And you know what that means...

Today I stopped by the Jenni Kayne show and chatted it up with hair guru, Ted Gibson, who styles the fabulous 'dos of Angelina Jolie and Anne Hathaway to name a couple. I'm kind of obsessed with him and the adorable pink polo he was wearing.

On the list for tomorrow: Will be checking out the goings on backstage at one of my favorite up-and-coming labels, Vena Cava, and then it's off to celebrate Fashion's Night Out festivities! Do I sense a new holiday in the making?

I'll be party hopping between three events with the StyleCaster team, so come find me at Vivienne Tam, M Missoni, and Foley + Corinna, and give a shout out.

Here are the deets:

Vivienne Tam: 40 Mercer St. btwn Grand and Broome

M Missoni: 426 West Broadway, btwn Prince and Spring

Foley + Corinna: 114 Stanton St. btwn Ludlow and Essex

See you there!

An Ongoing Love Affair

With Erin.

At Home: Sally Singer

So of course this past Friday, my number one priority of the day was to get my ass to the theater for the most talked about movie of the year (in my mind), The September Issue. I even purchased my tickets online at 11 am that day to reserve my friend's and my spots. I've loved creative director, Grace Coddington's work for years (see Alice in Wonderland editorial previously), but I left the movie with a special newfound love for Grace as a person (more to come on this later).

Another surprising favorite, though, was Sally Singer, Vogue's fashion news and features director. She struck me as incredibly grounded, intelligent, and beautiful, and I was amazed at how down-to-earth she seemed for working at such a famous and fast-paced operation.

Above are some shots of Sally Singer's home in NYC, where I'm told she plays mom to five kids. Five! Her home is the perfect combination of New York Vogue-ish chic (see shoe/jewelry collection and grand staircase) and homey comfort infused with pieces you can tell she's acquired over many years and through various types of experiences (see family portraits and mantle knick knacks). Quite the eclectic mix, but anything but boring.

Photo Credits: The Selby

Blue Jean Babes

For the love of denim and its infinite possibilities. All photos via lookbook.nu.

Weekly Recap: August 17 - 23

THIS WEEK:

AnOther magazine hits the stands with multiple covers, including my fave Natalie Portman (see above) [StyleCaster]

The September Issue premieres at the MoMa. View the pics here! [VOGUE]

13-year-old Tavi, the Style Rookie, rumored to steal the cover spotlight of Pop's first issue under Dasha Zhukova [Fashionologie]

The dish on Rodarte's collection for Target and collaboration with Colette [StyleCaster]

Alex Wang is expanding into menswear for the "guy who doesn't think he's fashionable" [The Cut]

Zoetees has a new celeb designer: the one and only Gwyneth [Elle UK]

Ed Hardy's Christian Audigier to move forward with Michael Jackson's clothing line [The Cut]

Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone to wed soon, hopefully... [Page Six/New York Post]

Annie Leibovitz is in some serious trouble...financially [New York]

Dream of experiencing fashion week like it's a Yankees game? AmEx wants to make those dreams come true...at a price [FWD]

Agent Provocateur to debut new couture line during New York Fashion Week [FWD]

Scarlett Johansson replaces Gisele as the new face of Dolce & Gabbana's fragrance, Rose The One [CocoPerez]

Is Miss Piggy Marc Jacobs' latest muse? [Vogue UK]

Lara Stone goes brunette for Vogue Paris [Fashionologie]

Anna (Wintour, who else?) to visit Queens to sign T-shirts for Fashion's Night Out. For real. [StyleCaster]

From D.J. to designer- Mark Ronson collaborates on sneaker line with Gucci [The Cut]

Even Vogue staffers felt like insiders watching The September Issue [The Cut]

L.L.Bean gets a makeover [NY Times]

Finally, Christopher Kane's collection for Topshop unveiled [The Cut]

Jean Paul Gaultier stepping down from Hermès post fashion week [FWD]

Crushing On...Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

If you've spent your entire life growing up under the wing of a Vogue editor-in-chief, you're bound to turn out fabulous. And Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, daughter of French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld, is no exception. The French art director/socialite splits her time between Paris and New York, and her style truly exemplifies such. She mixes classic Parisian chic with a more urban New York aesthetic, which has made her a style icon for every American girl who wishes she had that innate French fashion sense. Of course it doesn't hurt that she has unlimited access to mommy's extensive designer-filled closet, either.

The other day, I came across this quote from Julia from an interview with the UK Times Online back in 2006. I found it extremely interesting, coming from her Parisian perspective. She says:

"Living in New York. I can dress pretty much how I want to and people are less judgmental than they are in France. In Paris, women have this very classic touch that perhaps some New Yorkers envy, but it is very, very conservative. People have such fun with their clothes here and they are open to new ideas."

Shall we say, the grass is always greener on the other side? I guess after all this time I've spent envying the innate stylish sensibility of the French, I should take a step back and appreciate the freedom that New Yorkers have in the way they express themselves through their sartorial choices. But I still wouldn't mind having the best of both worlds like Julia.

[UK Times Online]

Summer in Venice

Absolutely in love with this shot of Venice by The Sartorialist. The intense humidity in the city is making me crave a cooler summer by the sea, and what place more perfect to escape to than the Italian coast? My dreams may have to wait for another year or so, but for now I'll live vicariously through Scott Schuman's lens.

Phot Credit: Scott Schuman for The Sartorialist.

Maryna Maryna

Maryna Linchuck photographed by Greg Kadel, Numero, December 2008.

Sabine Pieper

And who says makeup can't be an art form?

Image Credits: Illustrations by Sabine Pieper.