Behind the Seams: The Academy of Art University Fashion Show

We're always looking for a fashion fix in our lovely city of San Francisco. We just attended the Academy of Art University 2008 fashion show, which celebrated the blood, sweat, and tears the fashion students have endured at the Academy. The event brought out a mixed crowd of students, SF socialites, local press, and noted fashion designers, John Galanos and Ralph Ricci. I was quite impressed with the promising young talents and the collections were not too shabby.

To read more about the Academy of Art University fashion show and to see more runway pics, read more.

The show consisted of 17 collections from some of the top fashion students in the school with individual themes for each collection. My favorites were Ronnie Escalante Jr. and Alyssa Prentice (picture 1 and 2 above), who displayed utmost originality and beauty in their designs. Ronnie's collection was filled with decadent gowns fit for the red carpet and Alyssa's modern-lux creations left us wanting more. We weren't the only ones that felt that way because they were awarded a prestigious internship with Ralph Ricci — congrats!

The men's collections were another highlight. The designs were fun, modern, and I loved the amazing leather jackets!

All together, the show was a lot of fun and it was refreshing to see new talent on the rise. I also got a chance to see America's Next Top Model alums Chantal and Eugenia looking Fab and strutting their stuff on the runway.

Source: fabsugar.com

Hotel Bondi Swimwear collection launched at Australia Fashion Week

The Hotel Bondi Swimwear collection has launched at Australia Fashion Week, cementing the importance of beachside attire in a multi-billion dollar industry.

More than two dozen half naked Bondi babes strutted down the catwalk today during one of the week's most-hyped events.

But for the designers and buyers in attendance, it wasn’t just about the beautiful bikinis and the women wearing them — it was also about the dollars.

Australia Fashion Week founder Simon Lock said the event was more than an opportunity to see beautiful clothes and sip champagne.

"At the core of this event this is basically a trade event, the most glamorous, sophisticated and sexy trade event you'll ever come across," Mr Lock said.

"We're hoping that this year our export sales will be in the order of $250 million. It's quite a significant contribution."

More than 150 designers have flown in from overseas for the week to see more than 100 designers showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Some notable international buyers include teams from Barney’s New York, Harrods and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

The Hotel Bondi collection is the work of designer Damion Fuller, who says the brand has come to represent everything there is about the famous beach.

"We have a very simple message, we love bikinis and we love Bondi. All of our prints you saw today, every print has a different Bondi story," Mr Fuller said.

Fuller shrugged off the stereotypical image of a Bondi babe with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"A typical Bondi girl, she's Japanese, she's Brazilian, English, she's everything. Thanks to the eclectic nature of Bondi she's both completely international and totally unique," he said.

Source: ninemsn.com.au

Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s line, modesty impresses LFW audience

After mesmerizing the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) audience with his creative brilliance, renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee tugged at their heart strings when he made his entire team walk the runway with him. Seated in the front row were bigwigs like Vidya Balan, Rahul Bose and Nawaz Singhania but the sensitive designer pulled his workforce from behind the stage and persuaded them to walk the ramp.

“The credit for all my success goes to them. All of them do all the things together, they are the heroes and believe me I am a tough boss,” Mukherjee told IANS.

Commenting on why celebrities didn’t walk the ramp for him, he said: “It is a fashion show, clothes are its stars. If Bollywood actors walk the ramp the focus shifts from outfits to them. Stars should be sitting in the front row and not walking the ramp.”

With dull old clothes - shirts, skirt, kurtas, dupattas, churidars - hanging on criss-cross ropes above the ramp and ladders left here and there, a depressing ambience was created.

“Because recession is going on in the West, a depressing ambience was created,” Mukherjee said.

Aptly titled Sanctuary, Mukherjee’s collection saw a variety of outfits with designs being borrowed from countries like Russia, France, The Czech Republic, Chile, Uzbekistan and India.

“There was no motivation this time. I just jumbled up things and rolled out the collection. I thing every designer goes through an evolutionary phase when he goes beyond the inspiration factor. I like playing with Indian silhouettes to interpret the West,” he said.

Mukherjee’s palette had a riot of colours - red, green, black, white, ivory, beige, blue, orange, blue, magenta, to name a few.

Fabrics like brocade, satin, silk, cotton, velvet, organza net, jersey, appliqu

Source: thaindian.com

Maidenform and AMERICAN INVENTOR are Bringing Sexy Back in time for Backless Spring Fashions

Backless fashions are all the rage this spring! From special occasion to ready-to-wear, designers are including sexy backless styles in all of their spring collections. But who can really wear these fashions? Most women today are in desperate need of bra support! The first ever Breakthrough Backless bra by Maidenform® is here in time to offer women all the support they need this spring.

Thanks to the ABC's hit reality series “American Inventor” -- from “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America, Simon Cowell's Syco Television and Peter Jones TV Ltd. - our fashion worries will soon be over. Originally created by runner-up contestant Elaine Cato, the new Maidenform Breakthrough Backless Bra is the first product ever to be brought to mass market. This new foundation features a completely backless construction with silicone wire channeling that prevents slippage. Now women don't have to shy away from the latest backless fashion trends and can feel sexy, feminine and supported - all at once!

A born entrepreneur and single mother of two, Elaine Cato was not afraid to put her invention to the test. Like the producers and judges on “American Inventor,” Maidenform immediately saw the undeniable promise of her creation, working diligently with her to bring the design to fruition and later to mass market. Today, the Breakthrough Backless Bra, armed with Elaine's concept, has created an undergarment aimed to perfectly round-out every innerwear wardrobe.

The Breakthrough Backless Bra features light-weight microfiber fabric that is soft to the touch, with seamless molded foam cups that deliver smooth shaping under clothes. Combined with a two-way stretch technology, the bra provides a maneuverable fit with excellent flexibility. Designed with the full-figured female in mind, the bra allows women with even large busts to flaunt their sexy backs like never before!

“During the warmer seasons, women crave those backless styles,” says Norah Alberto, Maidenform's Senior Style Director. “To help these women bare their back for spring we are launching the new Breakthrough Backless Bra which delivers the perfect complement to everyone's bra closet and is the answer to so many women's style dilemmas.”

The Breakthrough Backless Bra is available at retail locations nationwide at a suggested retail price of $32.00. As with all Maidenform® bras, the Breakthrough Backless Bra is guaranteed to deliver the ultimate in everyday comfort, contemporary style and fabulous fit.

Source: Businesswire.com

Gold Coast lingerie wows Paris

FROM Lyon to Las Vegas, Gold Coast lingerie designer Sally Jones is fast conquering the intimates world despite being little known in Australia.The 48-year-old has been working on her self-titled label for almost four years and last month hit the jackpot – being asked to show her latest collection at the Ultra Fashion Lingerie Show in Paris.

Gallery: Sally Jones lingerie

The global benchmark for haute couture in lingerie, it was a coup for the designer who operates out of a small factory at Burleigh Heads.

"Basically the press in Europe will use those photographs for the next season in magazines and all sorts of promotional material," Ms Jones said.

While assembling the collection was stressful, her designs were a hit with the 850 parade guests and she is now in negotiations with some of the biggest names in lingerie worldwide.

"We've got our foot in the door with China, which is probably one of the biggest boosts for our business at the moment," she said.

She is also in talks with prestigious Paris department store Galeries Lafayette.
But Ms Jones said her dream was for greater recognition at home.

"You go to Japan and people know the label, you go to France and people know the label, and America, but in Australia I still get asked, 'I haven't heard of you, where are you stocked?' " she said. "The only place that we haven't got our products where I'd really like to is David Jones or Myer."

Source: Queensland Newspapers

Madame introduces "The Rock and Roll" collection for Christmas and New Year

The party season is on with Christmas on us and new year just around the corner. Madame, a brand synonomous to women fashion wear encapsulates its ever-changing sense of style with an exquisite collection of party dresses that further echo the luxury rock and roll feel of the Fall/Winter collection currently in store.

The party collection is bursting with an array of must have items from pretty and soft dresses, sparkling jewellery and chunky knits, all of which will create the perfect Party wardrobe. It comprises of Tunics, Twin Sets, Woollen Tights and Formal Leg Wear accented by studded accessories.

Knitted Torsos provide the Madame users a shimmer of elegance thus making them stand apart the crowd while keeping them warm. A chic mix of blended fine wool and lurex spells magnificence. The vibrant shades of Maroons, silver, gold and bronze, with hints of rich burgundy, shiny black_& Pearly White are in for the season.

Detail is everything, from a finely studded silver tunic, to a luxurious Black and silver dress ornated with pearls. while classic brown top include a knitted mandarin-style studded with stones.All to the shimer are the gleaming accessories like silver, bonze and golden belts.

Akhil Duggar, Creative Head, MADAME comments: "Madame offers a wide range of ramp to road fashion to its valuable customer. We are always sensitive to their needs. As I wanted to keep this range very fun and youthful, there are lots of playful touches which are perfect for the party season.”.

Source: Indiaprwire.com

Prada Vernice Sfumata Pump

Prada's accessories are always one of the first brands I look at in style.com's accessories preview. Afterall, Prada's accessories are always the sales force behind the brand and they're usually copied by all the other high street brands (thus Prada's accessories almost always form part of the new trends.)

The first time I saw this season's Prada's shoes, I thought err... I hated the gradient colour theme (more so for certain colours like green and black than others,) and I wasn't really into the whole leg-warmers-with-heels trend because realistically, I'm not going to even try that.

But when I was wondering around Barneys in LA, I couldn't resist trying on a pair of one of Prada's FW07 runway shoes, the Vernice Sfumata Pump, which to us normal people, are commonly known as the gradient-coloured pumps. So I tried them on and wow, I loved them! I instantly felt like I was sucked into the world of artistic, intellectually glam world of Prada.

I especially liked the thick, black, elastic strap in the front. I was wearing a flowery skirt that day so it didn't really match my outfit but I imagine it would look absolutely amazing with black pants -modern, sleek and creative. Sigh, now I'll probably spend the next few months admiring these shoes online everyweek.

Source: iamfashion
Image credits: www.saksfifthavenue.com, www.prada.com

Hong Kong : Fair to feature watch & clock design competition winners

The world's largest fair of its kind, the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, takes place September 5-9, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with a dazzling range of timepieces from all over the world, the fair will feature the winning entries of this year's Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition.

Chan Wing Tak's Skin Dial Watch took the open category Championship, with its Lifestyle Culture theme. His design incorporates a hollow case encircled by 12 LED lights; time is displayed by the light projected on the skin of the wearer. "I joined the competition because I love designing new products, especially something not thought about before," said Mr Chan. Mak Tsz Wah and Chan Fung Yin were the runners-up.

The student competition, under a Dream of the Future theme, was won by Chau Pei Shan, a design student at the University of Central England in Birmingham (UCE). Runners-up were Tang Ho Pan of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), and Chan Kar Him of UCE.

Yellow Ribbon Action, the name of Chau Pei Shan's winning design, was inspired by the yellow ribbons protestors put around their arms, symbolising "peace, hope and love". The timepiece is both an elegant necklace and a watch. Ms Chau also won the student Championship three years ago.

"The Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition works to enhance the design and quality of Hong Kong-made watches and clocks," said Jerry Tsang, Co-Chairman of theFair Organising Committee. "We received more than 300 entries for the competition, which shows that design plays an increasingly important role in the industry."

The world's largest fair of its kind, the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, takes place September 5-9, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with a dazzling range of timepieces from all over the world, the fair will feature the winning entries of this year's Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition.

Chan Wing Tak's Skin Dial Watch took the open category Championship, with its Lifestyle Culture theme. His design incorporates a hollow case encircled by 12 LED lights; time is displayed by the light projected on the skin of the wearer. "I joined the competition because I love designing new products, especially something not thought about before," said Mr Chan. Mak Tsz Wah and Chan Fung Yin were the runners-up.

The student competition, under a Dream of the Future theme, was won by Chau Pei Shan, a design student at the University of Central England in Birmingham (UCE). Runners-up were Tang Ho Pan of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), and Chan Kar Him of UCE.

Yellow Ribbon Action, the name of Chau Pei Shan's winning design, was inspired by the yellow ribbons protestors put around their arms, symbolising "peace, hope and love". The timepiece is both an elegant necklace and a watch. Ms Chau also won the student Championship three years ago.

"The Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition works to enhance the design and quality of Hong Kong-made watches and clocks," said Jerry Tsang, Co-Chairman of theFair Organising Committee. "We received more than 300 entries for the competition, which shows that design plays an increasingly important role in the industry."

Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Indian, Pak designers showcase bridal collection

Indian and Pakistani designers put wedding wears on display during the three-day annual fashion exhibition that began here today with the theme 'Jashn-e-Azadi' (celebration of independence).

As the wedding season approaches, the exhibition aims to exploit the market by bringing the business community into direct contact with the buyers, besides offering to the consumers a plethora of choices for the wedding plans.

Henna designers, wedding planners, photographers and make-up artistes are showcasing their skills at the event, seen as part of moves to give thrust to cultural exchange between the two countries.

Among the designers who transcended the borders to participate in the expo are Aiesha Varsey, Shahla Rehman and Farida Qureshi, who would showcase fashion prevalent in the sub-continent, especially in bridal wear, incorporating ethnicity and contemporaneity.

"The exhibition draws more than 100 exhibitors every year from India and Pakistan. With the onset of the marriage season, the eighth edition of the exhibition is slated to be a grand success," International Trade and Exhibitions India Pvt Ltd (ITE) Director Kiran Sharma said.

She said the event also aims to provide a platform to aspiring designers and artists from the industry, adding that US-based buyers have already placed orders with several participants.

"We have also taken the show to other cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ludhiana as well as to overseas locations in Bangkok and London," she said.

Organised by the ITE India Pvt Ltd, the designers displayed trousseau collection of accessories, jewellery and gifts.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

White shirt takes on new appeal

IN YOUR CLOSET: They could be the next big names in the fashion industry -- Thakoon, Doo.Ri and Rodarte are all considered important up-and-comers ---- and here's your chance to add their look to your wardrobe without breaking the bank: They've each designed three unique interpretations of the classic white shirt for Gap.

Doo.Ri's Gap items include a shirt with a scarf draped at the neck, a tailored camp shirt and a loose shirtdress; Rodarte's are a sleeveless blouse decorated with bows, a trapeze-shape sleeveless top and a voluminous minidress with pockets and bows; and Thakoon's are a bow-tie blouse with short, puffy sleeves, a short shirtdress with puffy sleeves and a tiered hem, and a belted shirtdress.

"My take on the project was to build a boy meets girl attitude into the pieces," said designer Thakoon Panichgul. "The shirt has feminine elements like pintucks, ruffles and hemstitches built into it, and the dresses have a boyfriend's shirt element in the top portion, while the bottom has a feminine play with a built in skirt and the other looks as if you tied another white shirt around your waist to make a skirt."

Top models Stella Tennant, Liya Kebede and Carmen Kass star in the ad campaign for Gap Design Editions that was shot by top photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoosh Matadin.

Another player in this project is Vogue magazine, which features all the white shirts ---- paired with ballskirts ---- on a fold-out cover of the May issue. Gap has only been featured on the cover of Vogue twice before, once in 1992 when Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer, among others, wore white shirts and white jeans to celebrate the magazine's 100th issue and in 1988 for Anna Wintour's first cover as editor in chief.

The new white shirts serve as an awareness initiative for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which supports new American design talent. Panichgul, Doo-Ri Chung, and sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte all participated in last year's Fashion Fund competition, and Chung was the winner.

Julie Alonso, senior director of public relations at Gap, says the retailer gave each designer the material, the buttons and then said, "Go!"

"I was blown away with what they did with a white shirt," she told the AP.

She added: "The white shirt is something we're famous for in our 38-year history. It's the perfect item for every closet. We thought consumers would be interested in the twists the designers gave it.

"The collection, which retails for $68-$88, is in select stores and on Gap.com. Click on Women, Shirts, Design.

-- Another high-fashion name reaching a broader audience this spring is Patrick Robinson, formerly the designer at Perry Ellis and Paco Rabanne. He is the latest designer to participate in Target's Go International program, which brings limited-edition collections to the mass retailer.

"The collection I designed for Go at Target captures bohemian chic with just the right dose of wit, color and lightness," Robinson said in a statement.

Items include a white off-the-shoulder gauze dress with floral details, a poet blouse, a mesh blouse with satin details ---- and a lot of tiny bikinis.

Source: nctimes