Legendary Sunglasses Reborn

Persol is a brand long linked with class and style, as is legendary actor Steve McQueen. Now the Italian eyewear maker is celebrating the actor by re-launching its iconic model PO 714, first popularized by McQueen circa 1968. The new limited-edition (only 10,000 will be hand-crafted and sold) PO 714 shades feature the return of the blue lens, a favorite of the actor’s, plus a folding closure at the back end of the temple arm. Persol’s distinctive mark, the Supreme Arrow, serves as a functional element enclosing the hinges, and the Steve McQueen signature will be embedded in the temple arm, as well as on the glasses’ stylish leather case.

A campaign will feature McQueen in a series of three classic shots, portraying him back in the ‘60s sporting his trademark Persol shades. The re-styled version of the glasses will be sold in select Sunglass Hut stores starting in October. With their limited availability, these specs are designed for those who truly appreciate excellent craftsmanship and quality, and for sunglasses aficionados and collectors who want to own a piece of fashion history. So if you want to exude style, class, and a bit of old Hollywood glamour like Steve McQueen, act fast. Check out www.persol.com for more details.

Threading Orbs

Thierry W Despont has transformed a collection of his paintings into eight monumental tapestries that will be displayed at the Marlborough Gallery in Manhattan for all to gaze upon, starting this Friday (September 23).

Despont, who holds a Master’s in Urban Design and City Planning from Harvard and is a graduate of the Ecole superieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, began a love affair with tapestries as a child in France and expanded that passion through his restoration of Clayton, the Frick family mansion in Pittsburgh.  He took his traditional medium of painting nebulas, celestial bodies, and planets on wood panels or mounted copper, and using contemporary jacquard looms, translated these visions into woven tapestries that seem to glow with light.

Despont remarked:  ”I like to think of my orbs as floating in space, and tapestry, with its three-dimensional aspects, is a fantastic medium for them…I am fascinated by our universe filled with billions of galaxies, of stars and planets, by the idea of being drawn into space and floating away.  The tapestries display this poetic notion of floating with these orbs, as the light bounces off softly…People are drawn to them.  In the studio, every visitor wants to touch them.  It is an emotional force; they exert their own kind of gravity.”

When:  September 23-October 23, Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Opening:  September 23, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Where:  Marlborough Gallery, 40 West 57th Street, NYC

For More Information:  212.541.4900

Fashion History on Net-A-Porter

We love incorporating fashion into our design sensibilities, and there’s no better way than through fashion photography. That’s why we were excited by the e-mail we just received, alerting us to Net-A-Porter’s newest venture.

The online retailer will upload five limited-edition portraits of the world’s most stylish women captured by legendary fashion photographers, making it possible to own a piece of fashion history tomorrow. Titled “American Woman,” each portrait will be sold exclusively on Net-A-Porter.com, which has produced a limited run of 30. Buy each separately, or invest in the box set.

The women included are:

Screen siren turned princess Grace Kelly, shot by Jean Howard in 1954.

Former fashion editor Babe Paley, shot by Horst P. Horst in 1946.

Society beauty C.Z. Guest, shot by Cecil Beaton in 1953.

Jacqueline Bouvier, shot by Richard Rutledge in 1951.

Seventies icon Ali MacGraw, shot by Bert Stern in 1962.

Smythson Steps Out For Fall/Winter 2010

Smythson’s leather goods have always been drool-worthy, but its four new Autumn/Winter 2010 men’s collections are giving us pangs of desire, with flawless accouterments that are just as pretty on the inside.

Crafted in small artisan factories in Spain and Italy with extreme attention to detail, the latest collections cater to a diverse range of styles and personalities with a multitude of different leathers, finishes, and colors.  The Savile, with its strong business focus; the Arlington, with its vintage vibe (inspired by Smythson’s designs from the 1900s); the softer, more contemporary Gresham; and the Nappa’s broad range of wallets and accessories are all linked by the common theme of classic, clean, elegant, and timeless work.

Swarovski ELEMENTS: “22 Ways To Say Black”

Swarovski ELEMENTS, the American Cancer Society, and Phillips de Pury & Company have tapped 22 of the fashion industry’s most notable names, plus some talented newcomers, for a special social media pitch that combines two things we truly love: fashion and a worthy cause.

Working toward the common goal of finding a cure for cancer, Swarovski and crew have debuted the campaign “22 Ways to Say Black.” Toward this effort, Donna Karan, Fendi, Armani, Diane vön Furstenberg, and others have designed 22 one-of-a-kind little black dresses adorned with sparkling Swarovski crystals.

On September 20, all 22 frocks will be auctioned off at a sure-to-be fabulous event at the New York gallery of Phillips de Pury, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and La Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer in France.

To learn more, visit: www.swarovski-elements.com or the Facebook page.

Take a closer look at the dresses:

Ivanka Trump On: New York Fashion Week

My love for fashion week was only tested a few times this week while running in pointy-toe heels all over town getting ready for my collaboration with Carlos Miele for his Spring/Summer 2011 runway show. I’m sure that by now all PinkMemo readers are well-aware of the amazing fascinations that walked the Carlos Miele runway this past Monday at Lincoln Center. You might also be aware that all the models were bejeweled in Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry!

Working with Carlos’ aesthetic of vibrant colors and prints was an innate fit for my classic yet modern jewelry. Long black onyx earrings anchored whimsical chartreuse printed gowns, large diamond cocktail rings brought hints of glamour into easy-going silk shorts and tops and feather-dusting diamond earrings swung dramatically on the run way topping sheer red-carpet-ready gowns. My favorite pieces from Carlos’ runway were all the sheer ones – lining for me please! But I’m very interested to see which A-list celebrities will dare to bare on the red carpet in Carlos Miele S/S 2011. Breathtaking!

My morning (the day of the Carlos Miele show) started with an intimate breakfast with international editors in town for NY fashion week conveniently (read: strategically) located at Trump International Hotel – a few steps away from the fashion tents of Lincoln Center. I met with busy international editors in town for a quick coffee and croissant to discuss our global expansion plans for the jewelry line all over Asia, Middle East and other regions.

It’s amazing how the weather changed right on point – literally a few days before fashion week. And thank god for that because I don’t think I could handle the heat wave any longer! Hello, Fall!

Ivanka Trump

If Eve Wore Clothes She’d Wear Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011

Monique Lhuillier’s Spring 2011 collection was inspired by a dream about a beautiful girl running through her own Garden of Eden.

Thus the “Eden” theme reigned throughout the designer’s unveiling. Lhuillier avoided black this time around, using only bright, feminine colors and prints. Full, floral, Oscar-worthy gowns flowed down the runway in green and red apple tones. Lhuillier even used subtle snake-patterned chiffon to represent the serpent that seduced Eve into eating the forbidden fruit.

Gold beaded pieces shimmered like the sun’s rays, and my personal favorite was a classic white knee-length corseted lace dress—perfect for a low-key wedding.

Stars such as Emma Roberts, Alexis Bledel, Brad Goreski, and Perrey Reeves were in attendance.

Experience the Tension and Effervescence of The Day Before

Not able to make it to the tents this fashion season? French documentary filmmaker Loïc Prigent, the genius behind Signé Chanel and Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton, is pulling back the curtains on some of fashion’s biggest runway presentations.

Last fall, Prigent documented the 36-hour frenzy leading up to shows for Sonia Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Proenza Schouler, and Fendi.  Now, see the preparations for the Fall 2010 shows of Diane von Furstenberg (who lovingly fits models while performing yoga), Versace, Alexander Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Nina Ricci, and Jeremy Scott in six one-hour episodes.  Distilled from more than 40 hours of video footage per designer, the episodes show each of the brands’ creative processes, model fittings, struggles, and the teams of stylists, artists, and seamstresses behind the collections.

In the US, each episode will be screened multiple times on the Sundance Channel in September and October.  The boxed set of Season 1 is available on DVD through Amazon.com.  Like a cashmere cape, it’s an investment of lasting value, despite evolving trends.

New York Fashion Week: Carolina Herrera, Jenni Kayne, Alexandre Herchcovitch, and Marc Jacobs

Carolina Herrera looked to Eastern Asia for inspiration. Korean influences such as wide-brimmed hats, obi-style belts, botanical prints, and kimono-wrapped jackets appeared throughout her collection. Known for creating breathtaking gowns, the designer did not disappoint. There was something for everyone and every occasion, showing both sleek and voluminous red-carpet-worthy selections, from vibrant (hibiscus, aster, and lime) slim-fitting floor-length dresses to lavish crystal-embroidered fils coupe organza and floral jacquard gowns in subdued shades.

Carolina Herrera gowns on the runway

LA-based designer Jenni Kayne’s refined-yet-edgy sportswear clients include Hollywood starlets such as Rachel Bilson and the Olsens, and we can see why. From a stretch-lace mini with khaki dolman jacket to a chic white-palette shift dress, this collection conveyed simplistic style for day or night.

Simple yet statement-making look from Jenni Kayne

It was mostly monochromatic at Brazilian-born designer Alexandre Herchcovitch’s show on Monday. Color-coordinated hair, lips, sunglasses (produced by Mykita), and towering platform heels accessorized the futuristic collection that focused on form and color, inspired by artists Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman.

Head-to-toe hue at Alexandre Herchcovitch

There is no show quite like that of Marc Jacobs. All eyes were on the runway as the trendsetting designer took the ’70s reference to a new level, reflecting on the days of disco and Jodie Foster’s turn in Taxi Driver. Sheer flowing dresses and jumpsuits, wide-legged pants, shiny satin shorts, and colorful knit separates (in shades of beige, brown, gold, plum, red and orange) set the tone of the season.

Seventies Chic at Marc Jacobs

Top Secret Tom Ford

Under this past Sunday’s gloomy glow, Tom Ford’s return to women’s fashion with an ultra-secret show at his Madison Avenue boutique was like a beacon of light.  It was an intimate affair, with only 100 editors in the audience and one lone house photographer, Terry Richardson.

Ford Narrated in old-movie style, introducing his diverse models as “many of the world’s most inspirational women.”  Celebrity models, such as Beyonce, Julianne Moore, Lauren Hutton, Daphne Guinness, and Rita Wilson, and Modeling icons like Marisa Berenson and Chanel Iman walked the runway in Ford’s glamorous frocks, offering proof that his clothes make all women look fabulous while fortifying his classic message:  ”Looking good, looking chic, looking right is worth a little effort.”  The collection was glamorous yet authentic, and included gowns with silk fringe, leopard pantsuits, corsets with hammered gold under peek-a-boo gowns, laced knee boots, and seamed black stockings.

According to model-turned-musician Karen Elson, “It may be my favorite fashion show ever.  The audience was happy.  The women were all so happy.  Every kind of woman was represented and we all felt as gorgeous as we’re ever going to look.  I’m in heaven.  It was so intimate, the way a fashion show should be.”