the lady in green

Ahh, I was extremely fortunate to score a seat at the Alexander McQueen (my favorite designer) fashion show at Milk Studios in NY on March 26 - a runway display of his gorgeous Autumn Winter 2008 collection previously shown in Paris on February 28. He continues to impress with his amazing silhouettes, luxurious materials and immaculate construction techniques. I wasn’t able to photograph my favorite pieces since security quickly made me put away my camera, but the collection can be seen of course on style.com. The models walked to the tune of classical string renditions of Nirvana songs, ending with a bit of Morrissey for the final walk.

I met one of the models after the show, who said that she had also modeled in the Paris show and met Alexander McQueen backstage, where he humbly tied the models’ shoes (which were beyond sexy) and politely sent them on stage - what a gentleman.

PETA animal rights activists stormed the show midway in, chanting “fur on your back equals blood on your hands” with posters and “bloody” hands to match. The audience (and security) were frozen in place for several long moments before the realization that the display was not part of the fashion show set in, and the protesters were escorted out.

Celeb-spotters should know that Marisa Tomei was in the audience in a bright satin cocktail dress. The starstruck elevator man assured me her voice in real life was exactly the same as in her films

I recently attended an event at the Soho store of Mieko Mintz, a Japanese designer who makes wonderful creations including a wide variety of apparel, accessories, and jewelry out of fabrics from all over the world, such as knitwear and vintage kimonos.

Meiko brought in Yukari Naganuma, licensed kimono instructor, for an evening of kimono dressing performances. Yukari amazed the crowd by dressing herself in a kimono in a mere 3 minutes, a process that normally requires the aid of someone else and usually takes 30 minutes-to-an hour!

The prina design house party was a lovely way to close out NY fashion week. They opened up their studio (pattern & sample making, production, marketing/PR for designers) for great food, drinks, a lovely crowd, and a display of muslins (toiles en francais - the versions of a garment that lead up to the final fit, style lines, etc.) of pieces shown during fashion week from the likes of Thakoon, Proenza Schouler, etc. As a couturier, I can always appreciate this detailed prototyping process and enjoyed that they left the notes to the sewers still pinned on the clothes (of course in Chinese so I could only guess what they said).

Being my first time living in NY during Fashion Week, I was delighted to be able to attend several shows. Richard Chai was fairly low-excitement - with a disappointing finale - the last three pieces were dresses in the same grey printed chiffon, in almost identical silhouettes. However, I adored this fabulous orange number!

The first NY show of Canadian designer Arthur Mendonça was well-executed. The models reflected diverse ethnicities, the clothes brought out a balance between soft femininity and harder-edged menswear, and Aldo came through with the footwear - sexy platform heels.

The House of Organic Sustainable Fashion Show showcased eco-friendly, yet fashion-forward, styles on the runway, and while the space was seemingly vacant at times, when filled, had a great vibe.
Pix are from Swedish Anja Hynynen’s collection. Other Scandinavian designers also showed collections, as well as New York-based Bahar Shahpar’s very wearable line. See Inhabitat has more extensive coverage.

I never mind attending trade shows or events at Gotham Hall - the seven-storied ballroom has much more ambiance than Javits or any other conference hall I’ve been to. I admittedly did not thoroughly peruse all the fabric shows this season, but I will highlight the trend seminar given by David Wolfe - Creative Director of the Doneger Group - at Prefab, the Supima Premium Fabric Show:

Several of the main ideas he presented for Spring 2009 are the following:

- “New,” instead of meaning never before seen, is most commonly meaning “reworked renewal” - recycling ideas that have already been presented, in a slightly fresh (or not) way

- An increasing focus on Art (perhaps replacing celebs in elevated status and influence on fashion); also a rise in Asian contemporary art

- More distinct style preferences that need to be catered to for each of the many generations from children to beyond the boomers

- Green as a main colour for Spring 2009 - well, it’s always in for me

- Trends that consumers will either choose to jump on board or ignore: exhibitionism - in the spirit of “bad” girls like Kate Moss, eco-awareness (duh, this should be integral), and increased influence from non-Euro-or-American cultures.

Divina of Fragrance Bouquet contacted me last fall to request a sample of the Tigresse perfume, and I gladly obliged. She wrote a lovely review of the fragrance on her comprehensive and eloquently written blog. I highly recommend Fragrance Bouquet to any perfume enthusiasts, for not only reviews of a wide variety of perfumes, from niche to mainstream, but also interesting background information, recommendations, and advice. Plus she often has drawings for free samples!

While the Tigresse site is being redesigned, feel free to contact me directly for more information about, to request a sample of, or to purchase the Tigresse perfume.

Thursday night’s launch party for So-Cal based, CFDA fund award winners Trovata’s “Shop-in-Shop” at the Manhattan Meatpacking District’s Earnest Sewn concept store was packed with attendees. Not sure if much of the Trovata collection was actually purchased during the evening, but at least the party was a good one! Hopefully shoppers will find their way back to the store to buy some pieces from the fairly reasonably priced selection of womens and menswear. A couple of my favorites were an asymmetrical wool jacket and sleeveless cashmere sweater.

The Earnest Sewn concept store is an interesting place to check out based on its visual merchandising alone, with its rustic lodge feel, Americana memorabilia, antique sewing machines and other equipment, antler racks, varying filament bulb display, etc. However, heeled feet beware - the thick wooden plank floorboards have huge gaps between them that present many opportunities for twisted or turned ankles. In attempting to show my fellow party patrons a cute button closure on a pillow, I fell victim to the gaps myself. But the pain soon went away after multiple drinks from their ample bar (hmm, Patron, sparkling wine, what else - had to try everything!). Although I guess if you can navigate the Meatpacking’s cobblestone streets in the rain in heels, then you’re braver than most anyway.

If you head over to the neighborhood, check out the small (in quantity of items) but significant (in savings) sale on accessories at Alexander McQueen, who happens to be one of my favorites. I picked up a fantastic pair of heels for a steal (thankfully foregoing wearing them that night, and thus preventing ruining them!)

Also on the same evening a block away was the Leo Kesting gallery opening, which featured the much debated, larger-than-life sculpture of Britney Spears birthing on all fours, by Daniel Edwards. I’ll let you Google that yourself if you’re interested in seeing it!

well technical issues have me redirecting my site to my blog for the time being. sorry about that. stay tuned and this may mean a redesign is coming sooner than later!

in the meantime, enjoy your Thanksgiving (if you’re in the US that is).
feathers are all the rage these days anyway!

roger vivier sandal and salvatore ferragamo bag from style.com

With all the buzz on June weddings, there have been several segments in non-bridal related media covering the wedding industry in the US. NPR’s Talk of the Nation had a segment that mostly covered the latest trends in weddings, such as the insanely inflated costs the industry imposes, couples paying for the wedding instead of the parents, incorporating non-traditional elements like replacing gift registries with charity donations, and the new wave of wedding dress trashing instead of preserving.

There were also some bridezilla stories shared by the Chicago Tribune’s “Ask Amy’s” Amy Dickinson, who seemed pretty fatigued with the whole bloody affair.

I didn’t hear the entire call-in part of the NPR segment, but of all the callers I heard, I thought it was pretty interesting that they were only men (mostly grooms-to-be)! I guess the brides-to-be were otherwise too consumed.

Then while cycling at the gym I caught a closed-caption glimpse of the Regis & Kelly show, and they were on about how the marrying age for first-timers is increasing (brides 27, grooms 29). They also mentioned how many more women were dating (and enjoying it) in their 40s than ever before - whether previously married or not. Go ladies!

Tickets are now available for the upcoming San Francisco Design Center event in which I am participating as a designer. This fundraiser always sells out, so get your tickets now!

Press Release

San Francisco Magazine listing

CoUtuRE: Celebrating Couture for the Cure
A fashion auction to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure
San Francisco Bay Area
July 27, 6 - 9 PM
Galleria
San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street near 8th and Townsend

Read more »