New York Fashion Week - Spring 2011 Goes Nude

All the swirls of nudes and blacks whipping up New York Fashion Week is making me crave for cookies and cream ice-cream.

Just 5 years back, I would never have thought myself spending 30 minutes flipping through Herve Leger's collection. Back then, there were only a few things I looked for in "good designers" - "Dark", smart tailoring, and dramatic appeal. That's why my projects always revolved around John Galliano, Ann Demeulemeester, and the late Alexander Mcqueen.

But today, I can unabashly declare that I'm beginning to appreciate the likes of Herve Leger and Tory Burch.

The neutral shades along with beautiful line-works and carefully paired fabrications brought out the extra touch in his range of flowy dresses.

At the Spring 2011 fashion shows, Leger wasn't the only one going all-naturale. Marchesa displayed a range of well-draped tulle gowns while Jenny Packham did hers in embellished sheer fabrics.

From Herve Leger, Marchesa, Jenny Packham Spring 2011 collection.

Images from fashionologie

Topshop opens flagship in NYC but Where's Wally?

UK clothing retailer, Topshop, opens its flagship store in New York City on 2 April, with supermodel-fashion designer, Kate Moss gracing the ceremony.

designscene.net


Find out where's wally in this video:

Fashion Doll Barbie's 50th Birthday

1959

now?

Guess what?

It's Barbie's 50th birthday!

As a doll, Barbie has been through much accusations, law-suits, and controversies, even more than a real human-being; From sending the wrong signals to young girls on the nearly unnatural hourglass figure, to taking legal actions against Danish band, Aqua, for mocking at Barbie, to breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, Ken in 2000 - Barbie has indeed live it all.

This year, Barbie will be participating in her first-ever runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on February 14, 2009. For the very first time, we will witness 50 world-renowned fashion designers come together and showcase real-size, Barbie®-inspired looks at Bryant Park. In this monumental fashion celebration designers will celebrate the past, present and future of fashion, as inspired by Barbie® doll, first launched in 1959 as the "Teenage Fashion Model™."

The Runway show will be webcast live via Barbie.com.

Barbie will be receiving a birthday gift (we heard it's pink Pumps) from Christian Louboutin.

Some of Barbie's designer wardrobe from the past include Bill Blass, Oscar De La Renta, Dior, Carolina Hererra, Vera Wang, Zac Posen, just to name a few.

Image source: www.vogue.co.uk

Row 1 (From left): Bill Blass, Dior, Oscar De La Renta
Row 2: Vera Wang, Juicy Couture, Carolina Herrera
Row 3: Monique Lhuillier, Versace, Zac Posen

In Singapore, we too had our very own "Doll Me Up" exhibition in 2005, that showcased a pool of local designers' (Federick Lee, Daniel Yam, Frances Cheong) interpretation of the doll, as well as students' entries on the contest.

The exhibition was first seen in the Singapore Art Museum and later in Changi Airport.

Model of Singaporean blood goes topless for GQ Italy

Sports Illustrated 2008

Borned in Perth, Jessica Gomes is of Singaporean-Chinese and Portuguese heritage. She first made her major appearance in the Fashion industry after appearing in Sports Illustrated 2008.

Sports Illustrated 2008

If you find her familiar, that's because she was also the face in Diddy's Unforgiven Women fragance commercial, alongside other clothing brands that she had modelled before like Levi's, DKNY, and Victoria's Secret and electronics giant Motorola.

Jessica in GAP and P.Diddy's Unforgivable Women commercial

This time she appears topless in GQ Italy, a men-centric magazine.

It looked like she grew slightly thinner, but her unique pan-asian features will probably help her get to the top in the modelling industry.

At 5'9" tall, the 24-year-old is now residing in New York, pursuing every model's dream. With sheer determination, one day we shall see her on the covers of Vogue.

Michelle Obama - Inaugural dress

(This is probably the only time we get ourselves involved with politics...)

It wasn't Calvin Klein, neither was it Diane von Furstenberg.

The creative brain behind Michelle Obama's inaugural dress was Cuban-borned American Designer, Isabel Toledo, who is known as a master in geometric and pattern shapes.


The pale gold sheath dress (with matching long coat) was just perfect for the significant occasion. Without a doubt, the "shiny armour" complements her complexion impeccably and we love how the silhouette appears fashionable yet very graceful for a first-lady. Deliberate clash of emerald green pumps was a great effort by Mrs Obama to deviate from the often cliché styles of first-ladies.

Image source: Associated Press

This isn't the first time that Mrs Obama wore a number by the talented Parson Graduate.

In fact, Obama appeared at a New York City fashion world fund-raiser in a black outfit by Toledo last June.

Michelle Obama at Calvin Klein's fundraiser event in a tunic and palazzo pants from Isabel Toledo



And in case you're wondering, none of them made it.

Style Damsel - LA/ New York Fashion Week

So it was fashion week at SmashBox Studios and the Big Apple.

TV Celebrities and celebutantes are slowly making their way into SBS and Bryan park.

Just last week, we witnessed the first ever Lauren Conrad's collection - inspired by her recent trip to Paris -at the Mercedes-Benz L.A. Fashion Week. Her dresses are simple, and almost all ended off the same lengths. If you ask us, the collection lacks-lustre, an absolutely bore, and totally not worth your money.

You can't really call yourself "international designer" with these. We are not sure if she got the white ones from grandma's curtains.

Then we have the younger sister of the Hilton heiresses, Nicky Hilton. Who created a whole range of equestrian-meets-bondage co-ordinates that wasn't really the highlight of the day.
Yes, we all guessed it!
Sadly, everyone, even the media, had all their attention on her scandalous sister's new beau, Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. (and nothing on the runway)

Stop living in your sister's shadow!

Poor Nicky, even WE don't remember what her collection for Nicholai was all about.


Over at sixth avenue, Diane Von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Matthew Williamson, Bill Blass, Aussie duo, Sass and bide, and Style Damsel's very favourite, Zac Posen, showed of their next season's collection in an explosion of colors and flowy silhouettes.


At NYFW, it also means, the new season's winner of the Project Runway was announced. Victoria Beckham was the guest judge, and it was a close battle between Jillian, Rami, and Christian.

Jillian

Rami Kashou

But in the end, the 21 year old AIU, London graudate, Christian Siriano took home the coveted title and also US$10,000 for being the "fan's favourite".

We heard Posh Beckham had even asked him to design some outfits for her.
(Still, we love Rami Kashou for his expertise in his craft)

(read more on Project runway here)

Catch Project Runway season 4 on Starhub Channel 16, Fridays 11 AM!