Posts for February 12th 2011

New York Fashion Week

Adam Lippes Serves Up Functional Fresh Pieces With a Twist For Fall 2011

>> "The starting point in designing every collection is the woman who wears my clothes," said Adam Lippes, post-show.
Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week: ADAM 2011-02-12 23:32:53

>> "The starting point in designing every collection is the woman who wears my clothes," said Adam Lippes, post-show. His ADAM collection, inspired by a recent visit to the National Museum of the American Indian, called out to the city girl, constantly on the go, working and loving life. Seventies-inspired utilitarian pieces like silk pleated skirts, wide-leg wool trousers, and delicate lace tops were given a fun twist with bold plaid prints and soft feminine hues. Meanwhile, ethnic print skirts, fringed-embellished hand-knit sweaters, and decadent soft mohair blanket coats hark back to Lippes’s main inspiration point. For eveningwear, the designer created sheer lace gowns and a punchier gold embroidered dress. This one’s definitely calling to what Lippes describes as the woman who wants to be “that girl”; especially when she’s accessorizing with geek chic glasses, scrunched socks, and Manolo Blahnik pumps.

Kanye West

Scott Sternberg Puts on First Runway Show, Complete With Rappelling Models, for Band of Outsiders’ Fall 2011 Collection

>> Scott Sternberg has a love of elaborate sets and cookies, and his first ever Boy/Band of Outsiders runway show involved both.
Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week: Band of Outsiders 2011-02-12 23:04:20

>> Scott Sternberg has a love of elaborate sets and cookies, and his first ever Boy/Band of Outsiders runway show involved both. Meyer lemon cookies were on every seat, thanks to David Chang's Momofuku Milk Bar (the chef was also in attendance, along with Kirsten Dunst — the brand’s latest lookbook model — Bee Shaffer, Kanye West, and Aziz Ansari, who wears the brand on his comedy tours); even Anna Wintour was spotted taking a bite. And then male models started rappelling 30 feet down from the top of the ceiling.

Thick knit sweaters, cropped plaid pants, fur scarves, silk print gowns, and slouchy fur beanies all pointed toward a grungy glamorous ski-inspired feel, while sharper looks, like a thin-wale corduroy suit, injected just the right amount of polish. A striped wool blanket poncho emoted the perfect sense of Winter cozy and semi-sheer maxi dresses were adorned with diminutive floral prints. Stylist Tina Chai topped off the look with chunky heeled hiking boots, pearls from Mikimoto, and pendants from Aesa.

New York Fashion Week

Prabal Gurung Goes Edgier, Dressier, and Gets Stronger for Fall 2011

>> Prabal Gurung had us at look number one — when Karlie Kloss stomped out in a brilliant red dress, sexy in its full party skirt and sleeve nonchalantly slipping off one shoulder.

>> Prabal Gurung had us at look number one — when Karlie Kloss stomped out in a brilliant red dress, sexy in its full party skirt and sleeve nonchalantly slipping off one shoulder. The designer says he was dually inspired by John Singer SargentA Parisian Beggar Girl and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations for Fall 2011, but really, it was about a simple challenge: "Can I do undone? . . . After such a long time of tight, short dresses constantly, I thought that was something so chic.”

Gurung returned to his dressier roots after last season's more sportswear-driven stint — there were textures galore (furs, sequins, intricate appliques and the like, which made for some expensive-looking pieces). But that's not to say that the collection was uber feminine; in fact, with its black leather moto gloves and leather lashings around the waist, it forayed into edgier territory than Gurung has tried in the past. Pink hair streaks (which have also been spotted this week on stylist and WSJ contributor Lauren Goodman and the model Charlotte Free) finished off the look, and evidence that the designer's star keeps rising came in both the caliber of model cast (Kloss, who walked Gurung's show for the first time, Constance Jablonski, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Liu Wen) and the number of editor-in-chiefs in the front row (including Robbie Myers, Emmanuelle Alt, and Anna Wintour, who was joined by Bee Shaffer).

New York Fashion Week

Quick Hits With . . . Waris Ahluwalia

>> We spent a quick minute with jewelry designer, actor, and shopkeeper Waris Ahluwalia after the Cynthia Vincent show last night.

>> We spent a quick minute with jewelry designer, actor, and shopkeeper Waris Ahluwalia after the Cynthia Vincent show last night. Listen up to what Waris had to say:

    What shows, besides Cynthia Vincent, are you heading to this week?

    I'm looking forward to checking out United Bamboo, Elise Overland, and Edun.

    Any Fashion Week vices?

    No — in addition to attending shows, I have to prepare for my first presentation this week.

    What about Fashion Week essentials?

    Trying to get sleep. I hardly get any at all, but I love it. I love Fashion Week.

    Favorite New York restaurants?

    They're always the same: Omen and Bar Pitti.

    What item in your closet are you wearing most right now?

    My pink suede loafers from Esquivel.

New York Fashion Week

Johnson Hartig Displays Cool Prints and Covetable Coats For Libertine’s Fall 2011 Collection

>> Libertine last showed in 2009 via presentation, and it's been since 2006 that the label has done a runway show.

>> Libertine last showed in 2009 via presentation, and it's been since 2006 that the label has done a runway show. But designer Johnson Hartig brought his clothes back to the catwalk today, with former Libertine design partner Cindy Greene (who left the label two years ago), Rodarte’s Kate Mulleavy, Thom Browne, and Meredith Melling Burke and her daughter Eloise (who happily snapped pictures of the whole event with her mother’s iPhone) all in attendance.

The collection was a welcome explosion of color — ranging anywhere from hot pink to yellow — and pieces like giant puff-sleeved tops, funky frocks, and bright three-quarter length coats all displayed Hartig’s inclination for a vivid Fall. A screenprint effect was splashed over tops, silk dresses, tweed overcoats, cropped trousers, and even tights. The rare times when color wasn’t present, Hartig turned to black and grey wool jackets adorned with gothic-inspired embellishments. To finish off the looks, eye-catching tights and an amazing colorful selection of colorblock platform booties — designed by Hartig himself.