You've
got to love a guy who can spot a trend
from a mile away. Several times a
year the Fashion Group International
hosts a luncheon with the world famous
trend-spotter, David Wolfe,
Creative Director for the Doneger
Group. David always has the scoop
on everything, and his latest presentation
was no exception. Here's what he had
to say: Over designed, detailed and
heavily embellished - out; clean and
minimal - in; vulgar celebs - out,
stars with purpose – in; space
age, futurism, techno - in; retro
revisionist history - out; and denim
- resumes its rightful place as a
basic and not a fashion trend. According
to David, the only denim piece that
matters in fashion right now is the
dark, skinny jean. If, however, that
look doesn't work on you, don't wear
it!
David Wolfe and Michael Quintanilla
I'm
sure that by now you have read tons about
NorthPark Center's wildly successful Fashion
at the Park event, but I'm going to tell
you something you haven't read about before.
Of course I attended the great parties like
the Ferragamo cocktail reception and fashion
show on opening night and the dinner party
at Kenny Goss's after the
Neiman Marcus closing night gala, and of
course I saw the shows - Barneys, Carolina
Herrera, Nordstrom, and Oscar de la Renta
- all of which were first-rate, but here's
the really fun part. I went back stage after
the Oscar show to visit with Ross
Burton (Creative Director)
and Vanessa Dabich (PR
Director) from Lancôme (Lancôme
did all the makeup for the shows and is
a huge sponsor of The Fashionistas).
Everyone was busy getting ready for the
Vilebrequin show, which was coming up next.
You may or may not know that Vilebrequin
is a men's and boy's bathing suit collection.
You can imagine my reaction when I arrived
back stage and ran smack into 18 undressed
men! All the makeup artists were busy rubbing
Lancôme lotions on their bodies to
give them that "glow" and they
all commented on how much they loved their
job. Ross took me around and told me to
"breath in the testosterone" and
asked if I wanted to help with the lotion
application. Sometimes you have to view
things as if you are in an art gallery;
it's OK to look, but don't touch!
Yigal Azrouel and Shelly Musselman
Forty
Five Ten always brings us the latest
in fashion and throws fab parties
for their visiting designers. Last
week Brian Bolke
and Shelly Musselman
brought in the beyond gorgeously handsome
designer Yigal Azrouel
to celebrate "The First Day of
Spring" with a stylish cocktail
party sponsored by F!D Luxe. Over
100 Forty Five Ten devotees sipped
champagne and colorful cocktails and
munched on bites from the store's
T room while resident DJ Lucy Wrubel
kept the vibe going strong. Models
wafted around in Yigal's spring collection
while chic types like Naomi
Aberly, Deborah Scott,
Patti and Ken
Crews, Tracy Hayes,
Nancy Klompus, Steve
Wrubel, Cameron
and Bryan Stone,
Susan Posnick, Piper
Wyatt, Deborah
and Jack Gunter and
Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi
took it all in. The following day
Yigal was in-store taking orders on
his Fall Collection. Like Brian says,
they are clothes you want to put on
every day. Come fall, that's just
what I plan to do.
Allegra
Hicks is the designer behind the
eponymous luxury lifestyle brand that is
known around the world for its beautiful
textiles and prints. Allegra designs her
own fabrics, which she uses in her fashions
and interiors, both of which reflect her
eclectic, bohemian lifestyle. She opened
her London flagship store in 2003, recently
opened a boutique on Madison Avenue and
plans to open in L.A. this fall. The Fashionistas
were fortunate to be the first outside of
NY to show her collection (for those
of you who don't know this, I am the founder
of The Fashionistas). Marta
Brito Do Rio, VP of US Operations,
set up shop in my living room for a two-day
trunk show. There was plenty of spring/summer
stuff ready for purchase and several racks
of fall/winter things that could be ordered
for September delivery. Marta fixed up my
wine room like a chic little boutique for
the home design collection. My favorite
was a set of designer playing cards. A steady
stream of shoppers, including Jessica
George, Amanda Sterett
and Brooke Rydman who came
throughout both days and enjoyed some tea
sandwiches and a glass of wine while they
tried on adorable clothes. Ten percent of
the proceeds were donated to The Fashionistas!
