viernes, 20 de agosto de 2010

Austin Fashion Week Update: The Party Continues” y 9 mas

Austin Fashion Week Update: The Party Continues” y 9 mas

Austin Fashion Week Update: The Party Continues

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 04:00 PM PDT

Austin Fashion Week should be officially renamed to Austin Fashion Fest. Like other festivals held in the city, this week long event spans prime neighborhoods, transforming storefronts and sidewalks to venues, stages, and now, catwalks.

Choice sponsors, such as the locally crafted Tito’s Handmade Vodka have assisted Austin’s most stylish in forming new, helpful connections and in fending off the constant 100 degree temperature. The combination of live music, trunk shows, in-store socials, and local talent cultivates an intoxicating collaborative energy completely unique to this city.

Last night, what began as a small storefront soiree quickly turned into a full-on rock concert fronted by none other than the very designer showcasing his collection of chunky, covetable, and bad ass chains.

The store? Buy Definition. The designer/rock star? Tyler Reed Cochran of Via Christa and Johnny Credit. An alliance of this capacity is exactly why Austin Fashion Week should be officially renamed Austin Fashion Fest: a week long style extravaganza bringing together community, fashion, and music through creative merchantry.

Originally functioning as an online exclusive storefront, owner and merchandising genius Esti Choi has swiftly brought Buy Definition to South Congress, complete with a diverse showcase of collections ranging from the ultra obscure to the hip staples. The space also functions as a perfect platform for the city’s most stylish talent to come together and celebrate their creative endeavors.

Last night’s event kicked off with a Via Christa trunk show. Via Christa is a delicate, yet raw, hand-crafted collection of chains and accessories. It exudes an Edwardian heirloom feel. Tyler fuses “elements of the macabre” with “found objects and recycled materials” in an effort to “reincarnate the past by binding it with the eroticism of the present.”

Mission accomplished. But the night didn’t stop there. Truly a man of many talents, Tyler and his band Johnny Credit took the stage and rocked out with a custom couture microphone and a shoulder pad nothing short of amazing.

You can indulge in both Buy Definition and Via Christa online, and while you’re at it, check out Johnny Credit!


Laurel St. Romain is a milliner and writer living in Brooklyn, NY. You can see her hats on Ilovefactorybk.com and read about her life on Alltomorrowscostumes.com.

Street Style: Simona’s Simple Stripes

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 03:30 PM PDT

Name: Simona

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

What is your favorite restaurant in NYC? Well, for sushi, I love Yama.

What is your go-to beauty product? Kiehl's Moisturizer

What is your favorite Disney character? Mickey Mouse

What was the last good movie you saw? Inception

What are the most prominent colors in your wardrobe? Black, grey and beige–lots of neutrals.

Where is your top from? H&M

Where is your bag from? A vintage store.

And your watch? It's a Casio watch I got on Ebay.

**All Photos by Ashley Jahncke

How Much Did the Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular Cost?

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 03:00 PM PDT

Dan DErrico for Target

Last night, Target took over the southern façade of the Standard as well as the surrounding blocks to put on what they called “The Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular.” And spectacular it was.

In a dazzling and dizzying display of music, lights, dance, fashion, and, above all, wealth, Target put on a 20 minute show perfectly suited to the ADD-generation. A meticulously choreographed dance routine synchronized to a light show played out across 155 rooms, set to an original score recorded with a 30-piece orchestra and 10-member chorus. If that wasn’t enough, models in Target collections (no William Rast) walked on scaffolding in front of the hotel at the same time. All this amidst protests over Target’s controversial $150K donation to business advocacy group MN Forward who supports Tom Emmer, a Republican candidate for Minnesota governor who is outspoken against gay marriage. (Protesters were on hand holding signs that read “Bigot” using Target’s bulls eye logo as the “o”).

My first thought as I took in the spectacle of Target’s “spectacular”: “Does this mean the recession is over?”

Dan Derrico for Target

The production was massive. The entire side of the Standard was transformed into a flashing disco floor with dancers in each square. At one point dancers contorted to form branches and leaves of a tree that stretched through floors, the windows lit up green around them. Later, curtains were drawn and back lit to set the scene for a burlesque-style tease that only revealed dancers from the waist down. On and on it went. It was an amazing show.

More impressive was the cost of it all. One source estimates the cost of the event at around a million, easy. So we roughly broke down the cost of last night’s Target fall fashion spectacular (minus the private party at the Standard’s biergarten):
- 155 Standard Queen rooms at $295 (their cheapest rates) = $45,725
- 66 professional dancers at around $2000 a dancer (this rough estimate from MSA Talent Agency who reps 20 of the dancers who performed in the show). Dancers rehearsed on a 20,000 square foot sound stage for nine days prior to the show. = $13,200
- 20 models at around $1000 each = $20,000
- Scaffolding structure that held the runway show: $35,000 plus $10,000 for lighting
- Shutting down Little West 12th Street plus security: $100,000
- Celebrity service for Mary-Louise Parker and Penn Badgley at $1000 each for car service, $50,000 each for a 45 minute appearance = $102,000
- 156 LED lights at around $20 each = $3120
- Programming, equipment and labor for lighting = $50,000
- Original score = $35,000
- An estimated four days of recording at $3000 per day with a 30 piece orchestra and 10 member choir = $12,000
- 30 musicians at around $1800 each = $54,000
- Bleachers for viewing = $15,000
- Red carpet (step and repeat plus lighting) = $10,000

TOTAL = over $500,000

Dan DErrico for Target

Fashion’s Night Out: Under the Radar Events We’re Excited About

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 01:57 PM PDT

The FNO buzz is out of control, with retailers worldwide throwing lavish parties and bringing out the big guns to attract shoppers. While Bergdorf’s and Barneys’ bashes are the most elaborate, not everyone wants to stand in crowded rooms shuffling for fun.

Here are some of the best smaller events that are sure to be a blast. There’s everything from DVF’s high tech bash to Kiki de Montparnasse’s kinky party to yoga at Adidas for those who just want to relax.

New York

DROOG, a luxury design store, is opening its doors to the public for FNO. Belgian designer Christophe Coppens will be featured in a special preview of his Winter 2010-2011 hat collection, while some Droog designers’ works will be featured at the Cooper Hewitt Museum that week.

Get kinky at Kiki de Montparnasse for FNO. They’re having live music, champagne and aphrodisiac tastings, private romance salons, and an Erotic Portrait Booth, all sexy fun in the name of fashion. Models will also show off Kiki’s latest designs.

Get your groove on with karaoke, cocktails, and Kiehls. The beauty bigwig is hosting “Karaoke Karnival,” with prizes, food, and plenty of drinks.

If you’re feeling technological, head to the DVF and HP Experience Lounge, at DVF’s gallery on 14th and Washington. Hosted by Refinery 29, the space will featured fashion installations, the newest HP products, and a "Fall Favorites" photo booth featuring DVF items curated by Refinery29's editors.

In case fashion isn’t really your thing, Adidas is hosting a yoga class for the first 40 people who sign up. You’ll get a free yoga mat and much needed relaxation in the frenzy of FNO. You can also enter to win a stay at The Fairmont Hotel and a one-on-one session with yoga master Elena Brower.

Back in SoHo, BAPE is hosting a Sanrio x Baby Milo pop up store offers special merchandise for guys and gals, plus a special KiD CuDi item for sale. Expect lots of cute stuff you want and lots of fun.

London

Liberty has a ton of fun activities planned for FNO. Manolo Blahnik and Yasmin le Bon will be there, showcasing Blahnik’s line for Liberty, including candles, cushions, umbrellas, stationery and bow ties. Liberty’s FNO window display will be given away as a prize, including goods from Manolo Blahnik, Benoit Missolin, and J Brand. British Vogue editor Emma Elwick will also be in the store, giving a lesson on scarf-wearing, while Richard Nicoll is upstairs styling customers in his AW10 collection and handing out signed goodie bags.



First Look: Mulberry for Target, Via Gilt Groupe

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 12:08 PM PDT

So, we know you’re excited for Mulberry’s Target collection, which is debuting on Gilt tomorrow. In fact, you’re so excited that we’re betting Gilt Groupe is going to be full-on bombarded at noon EST by eager shoppers.

We got our hands on images of five pieces, all priced under $50. Enjoy, and good luck tomorrow!



Topshop’s Philip Green Doesn’t Pay His Taxes; But is He Actually Breaking the Law?

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 10:58 AM PDT

Topshop’s Philip Green is one of the richest men the world, so it’s a bit irksome that he’s managed to avoid paying personal taxes on the monstrous dividends he receives from retail conglomerate Arcadia Group each year.

Some British politicians believe he owes the government £300m (or about $470 million), according to UK newspaper The Guardian.

But has he really done anything wrong?

Technically Green’s wife–who lives in Monaco–owns the company, which means she gets paid the dividends. In Monaco, she can legally avoid paying taxes on those dividends.

So while it’s annoying that this really, really rich guy doesn’t pay the taxes that most of his peers pay, it seems that he may not be breaking the law.

Do you think Green’s loophole is legit? We’ll keep you updated on what the UK government decides.

Snap Poll: Which LOVE Cover Will You Buy?

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 10:29 AM PDT

As much as we'd like to collect all eight Fall 2010 covers, LOVE is $17.99 per issue. Which means we’ll probably buy one, maybe two, if we’re feeling flush.

I want Lauren Hutton. Leah is after Ms. Perfect. And Steff is obsessed with Alessandra. Which one will you choose? Click through to see each rendition of this autumn’s LOVE.



Fashion News Roundup: More September Covers, Alexa x Madewell, & All About Erdem

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 09:30 AM PDT

Alexa Chung talks Madewell: Get the scoop on Alexa Chung’s collab with Madewell: she sketched, she’s planning to wear flats for fashion week, and her hair is “rubbish.” {Refinery 29}

Maid Marion: Vogue Paris all important September cover revealed! It’s Marion Cotillard looking très dramatique. {Vogue Paris’ Twitter}

Get to Know Erdem: SHOWStudio’s newest fashion interview features floralist Erdem Moralioglu. Be prepared for some extreme close-ups. {SHOWStudio}

Hair, There, Everywhere: The blondes vs. brunettes battle continues, this time in Paris with an exhibit at the Cinémathèque Française in October. Exploring the cultural preconceptions of hair color and style, the exhibit features essays, films, and interviews all about the color debate. {T Magazine}

More LOVE: Two more LOVE cover’s are on the web, Kelly, “The Sweetheart” and Sienna, “The Pin Up.” But, I always thought Sammi was “The Sweetheart.” {Models.com}

Lauren Santo Domingo’s Online Trunk Show Startup Has Already Raised $1.15 million

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 08:46 AM PDT

We’d heard rumblings last month that Lauren Santo Domingo was launching an online trunk show business. According to a Form D filed recently, that’s very true.

In fact, Trunk Show Inc. has already raised a $1.15 million venture capital round, led by New Atlantic Ventures, a firm that usually offers seed money to young companies. Their investments typically run between $500,000 and $5 million.

Trunk Show’s concept is simple: The site will livestream fashion shows, and members–we’re assuming it’ll be by-invite-only–will be able to order looks almost immediately, straight from the designers/manufacturers. We’re also assuming some designers will offer a 10-30% discount, given that most designers offer a small discount at their trunk shows.

Santo Domingo’s partner in this thing is Aslaug Magnusdottir, who used to work for Marvin Traub at TSM Capital.

If this is executed well, it could be freaking amazing. The concept takes the best of Net-a-Porter and Gilt Groupe and combines them into one powerhouse that could further democratize fashion.



Life With I Love Factory!

Posted: 19 Aug 2010 08:07 AM PDT

There’s no denying the millinery world’s sudden hold on fashion, as well as broader pop culture. From Mad Men to Gaga, hats and headpieces are everywhere. I feel like we’re constantly finding new milliners we like, new headpiece concepts we’re intrigued by, and new ideas about how to incorporate them into our wardrobes.

That’s why I was so excited to spend some time with Brooklyn-based millinery I Love Factory. Duo Christopher Garbushian and Laurel St. Romain have designed hats for a ton of celebrities (including the aforementioned Lady) over the last two years. They’ve also received plenty of editorial attention, from Japanese Nylon to Teen Vogue to Tavi, who wore their cone hat in Pop. I Love Factory’s pieces have even appeared on Gossip Girl.

Garbushian and St. Romain live in this magical apartment/work studio in the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. They call this space the Tree House, and as you can see from the images, it’s a pretty spot-on descriptor. Living and working in one spot is pretty difficult, but Garbushian and St. Romain have managed to be roommates and business partners by creating a space that’s open and inspiring.

Hats!

From the framed still of the tights and shoes Proenza Schouler’s Fall 2008 runway to Grey Gardens-inspired paintings created by their ex-intern, Scummy, it’s a wonderland for hat makers, that’s for sure.

(PS, my questions are bolded, Laurel’s answers are in plain Roman style, and Chris’ answers are italicized.)

Fashionista: First of all, this is really yummy, with the blueberries…
Laurel: I love blueberries and champagne, or strawberries and champagne.

It’s really good… let’s start with how you guys met.
Chris: We met through mutual friends, actually. I was on tour at the time and I came home for…

Fashionista: What were you on tour for?
Chris: I was working on event marketing promotional marketing and I was traveling around the U.S. So I was in New York only for like a couple of weeks at a time and one of the times that I came home, Laurel had just recently moved here to New York and she was hanging out with a group of people that I knew and she knew them from Texas. I knew them from other friends. And that’s kind of how we met. We met through them pretty much. We got introduced and we were kind of like friends instantly.
Laurel: We made out the first time we met.
I think we did.
We could never do that now, though.
Yeah, I mean, now we don’t do that… We were both crazy. At the time, that we met, I was like a crazy party kid.

How old were you, like 21?
No, no, this was maybe like three years ago. It was kinda recently.
That’s so crazy. I thought you’d known each other for like ten years.
We met a little before, but you [to Chris] left in between. So it was like I knew you, and you knew me, but we didn’t get to hang out until you came back.
And for the first year, it was only when I was back that we’d see each other. But yeah, that’s how we met.

And how long was it before you guys decided to do something together?
I knew that she was really creative, and I’d seen a lot of stuff she’d done when she was living in Austin. And I really liked it, and I wanted to do my own thing. We had talked about it for a while.
We were in a Bob Dylan concert in August of 2008. And maybe it was Bob Dylan; we just wanted to do something.

Did you make out after that?
(Laughing) No, we’d already stopped by then. That was only in the beginning.
Let’s see…When that happened, it was the end of 2006, when we first met, and by the time we’d figured out we wanted to start I Love Factory, that was the Bob Dylan concert in the summer of 2008. So that was a ways after.

Chris, you collected hats growing up. Laurel, did you collect hats as well?
I didn’t. I had no interest in hats whatsoever. Until recently.
What’d you want to do before that? Were you a designer, or…?
I originally wanted to do interior design. I always loved that

I can see that, from this place.
Yeah. I love that. I wanted to do more than decorating even, just interiors like the actual set-up of interiors…like, where’s the kitchen going to go, where’s the bathroom going to go. I don’t know, I kind of got sidetracked by aesthetic things. And I did want to do clothing design, but I feel like a lot of people are doing that right now. If I was going to do it, I wanted it to be something really special. But I just don’t really feel there’s a market for it right now.

And Chris, did you always want to do hats?
I can honestly say that yes, I was always collecting hats since I was really young, but I never had any idea that you could become someone who made hats. The word wasn’t even in my vocabulary yet. I really had no idea.

Tell me the story of how you came up with the name I Love Factory.
We were sitting on this couch, but at the time it was facing this way and the TV was over here—
Which was the worst setup.
…And she had kind of just moved in, pretty much. And after we went to that Bob Dylan concert, we were like, "We’re going to start something. We’re going to start doing headpieces and hats, we’re going to start making things."
Because we made them just for fun, just to go with my outfits when we would go out. Like, a big giant heart, or just something stupid. We were like, "Let’s do that, but let’s do it right."
We need a name, we have to have a name, and we couldn’t think of anything. We were naming, like, cruise ships. Like one of the names we thought of was "Purple Majesty."
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