Cynthia Rowley’s business was launched in 1983 when no one had a clue what her designs had to offer. In fact, she held her first fashion show in her apartment. Although no one of importance made a cameo, she was determined to get her designs in the public eye. She succeeded! Her company grew since then to include not just clothing but, accessories, bedding, dishes, cosmetics, and much more. She has become a style icon and has partnered with a number of companies which include Target, Band-Aid, Half-Gallary, and Roxy.  Her company is based in New York City’s West Village.

Glamour and class coincide for Cynthia Rowley’s spring 2014 collection. As every fashionista knows, one of the most important facets of ensemble are the shoes! Each outfit was paired with strappy opend-toed pumps in an array of colors. This paring contributed to the seasonal attributes of this collection. Hawaiian/tribal prints were used on a number of pieces. Dresses with long hemlines, high-waisted skirts with midriff matching tops, and horizontally ribbed fabrics were among the beauty this collection has to offer. Airy summer fabrics served as the palettes for her beautiful designs.  Oranges, pinks, greens, blacks, and whites were the staples in this collection.

I predict this collection will be on everyone’s wish-list this Christmas! Congrats Rowley, you’ve done it again!

The 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) hosted their annual awards yesterday, November 11, 2013, at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, New York. These awards are known to myself and my fellow fashionistas as “the Oscars of fashion.” The CFDA is a non-proft trade organization founded by Eleanor Lambert in 1962. Diane von Furstenberg serves as CFDA’s current president and Steven Kolb is the CEO of the organization.

Bravo’s Andy Cohen served as the host of this year’s awards. Dressed to the nines, Hollywood stars and esteemed international fashion designers strutted the red carpet and were among the eager audience for the evenings festivities.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund helps to publicize emerging designers launch their careers in the fashion world as well as set up a number of community service campaigns.The  winner of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which was presented by keynote speaker Tom Ford, were Doa-Yi- Chow and Maxwell Osborn of Public School.  The winners of this award were presented with $300,000 to further their label and a yearlong mentorship from a seasoned member of the fashion business. The runners up, Juan Carlos Obando and Marc Alary received $100,000 towards the production of their label as well as a yearlong mentorship.

The evening was full laughs and commemorations for those who made major achievements this year in the realm of fashion.

The Winner of the 2103 CFDA Awards are as follows:

INTERNATIONAL AWARD: Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy

THE FOUNDER’S AWARD IN HONOR OF ELEANOR LAMBERT: Oscar de la Renta

ACCESSORIES DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: Philip Lim for 3.1 Philip Lim

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S TRIBUTE: Colleen Atwood

MEDIA AWARD (IN HONOR OF EGUINA SHEPPARD): Tim Banks

SWAROVSKI AWARD FOR MENSWEAR: Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School

SWAROVSKI AWARD FOR ACCESSORIES: Pamela Love

SAWAROVSKI AWARD FOR WOMENSWEAR: Erin Beatty and Max Osterweis

MESWARE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: Thom Browne

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, for Proenza Schouler

GEOFFREY BEENE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Vera Wang

“Is Art Fashion? or Is Fashion Art?”

When we think high fashion or haute couture there is one name in particular that comes to mind: CHANEL. Although there are a number of other pristine haute couture designers, Chanel remains the most timeless and classic.

For their Spring 2014 collection Karl Lagerfeld released a very colorful design collection. Bright colored tweed dresses, coats, and skirts are a must for next spring! Rainbow patterns reminiscent of modern art are a staple in these designs. A number of the looks were paired with necklace with two large pearls in the middle, which mimicked a set of headphones. As far as footwear was concerned, each design featured knee high socks in either white or black with a correspondingly colored shoe. To accentuate the clothing each model’s hair was styles in a flared bob. Rainbow eye makeup was painted on the models, which adds to the modernly artistic feel to this collection.

Lagerfeld’s inspiration for this collection was to create an everyday look that was also elegant and inspiring. Instead of leaving art to be merely hung on a wall to be admired, his intention was to be able to feature it in day to day activities. The different types of fabrics featured in this collection range from lace and tweed all the way to sleek metallics. This collection truly has something for everyone’s taste, while sticking to the Chanel standard of class and elegance.

Chanel can be purchased at or any Chanel boutique or the company’s online website. Bravo Karl Lagerfeld on an excellent and innovative spring collection!

The Diva is back!

After a long lavish vacation, the Diva is back to critique and inform her readers on the newest trend of haute couture for the upcoming 2014 season! Be on the prowl for my newest posts, fashionistas!

This spring  PUNK: Chaos to Couture will be featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit was put together by The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum. This exhibit will only be in town from May 9 to August 14, so make sure you don’t miss this! Pieces  by all the major labels will be featured. The exhibition is designed to analyze the impact the punk rock movement has on haute couture. Garments from the 1970’s along with recent pieces will be presented in the exhibit.

This is a Spring 2013 don’t miss!

Style Is Nothing Without Personality, Carrie Bradshaw Would Know

Labels, love, and the city that never sleeps.Debuting in 1998 on HBO, Sex and the City became a national phenomenon. The show appealed to women of all ages. Sarah Jessica Parker was cast in the staring role of the character Carrie Bradshaw. Carrie is a typical “thirty-something” year old woman with a knack for fashion and witty banter. Fashion plays a huge part in the show.  Patricia Field, the costume designer for the show and the two movies that came after, worked hard to achieve the iconic fashion status Sex and the City holds. The show showcased various haute couture designers, which boosted their popularity among women of the era.

All the major designers are mentioned in the show especially Manolo Blahnik. Carrie is always seen wearing expensive footwear, that she can’t afford on the salary of a columnist. Her style is very outlandish. She likes to take risks in her wardrobe. This is why she is one of my personal style icons that I look up to. Her outrageous outfits let her personality and non-traditional ways shine through. This shows that style and fashion are are not just about looking good. Along with that, style allows one to express themselves.

“I like my money right where I can see it… hanging in my closet.”- Carrie Bradshaw

“I see myself as an arbiter of taste.” – Vera Wang

What girl doesn’t dream of getting married in June at The Plaza? In lieu of the approaching “wedding season” (June) I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite pieces in Vera Wang’s Fall 2013 bridal collection. Vera is the go-to-girl when picking a wedding dress. Her designs are elegant with a modern edge. She even features colored dresses and has stated that her favorite is a black wedding gown. Talk about going against the grain! For me I am more of a traditionalist. White gowns are more of my style.

My number one pick in Vera’s Fall 2013 collection was the Lisa gown. The detailed beading on this bodice of this gown along with the big bow are incredible. The way the fabric gathers on the bodice make the dress look very rich. The chiffon tank straps are very original. The lower back pairs well with the sweetheart neckline to create a sexy look. The puffy skirt ties the gown together and give the dress a princess feel. Every bride should feel like a princess on her big day and this dress will do exactly that.

The mermaid Lillian gown comes in as a close second for me. This is the perfect dress for a woman with a long torso. The subtle floral print on the top half of this gown is stunning. The plainness of the gown allows for bold jewelry. In my opinion a large statement sapphire piece would be the perfect addition to this elegant look. The dress and the necklace takes care of the “something new” and “something blue” on your wedding day. The ruche at the bottom of the gown is exquisite and very detailed. If you take a close enough look at this gown it will take your breath away.

The one-shouldered Laura gown rings in as number three. The ribbed bodice paired with the one shoulder embellishment gives a funky edge to an otherwise classic gown. The simple back strap was ingenious. The lace over lay on the puffy skirt is extremely elegant. No necklace can be worn with this gown due to the one shoulder design, it would simply be too distracting. Large crystal or sapphire earrings would definitely add glitz to this already beautiful gown. This gown is one of a kind.

All of these gowns are available for a closer look on Vera Wang’s website. There is also a link to make an appointment for a fitting and price consultation.

 

“I know what women want. They want to be beautiful.” -Valentino Garavani

Valentino is an Italian clothing designer that was founded by Valentino Garavani. The brand gained it’s popularity in the mid sixties. Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor were frequently caught sporting pieces from the brands various collections. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli are the current creative directors of the brand and work from the company’s headquarters in Milian, Italy.

In March of 2013 Valentino unveiled their Fall 2013/2014 collection. The pieces represented an intriguing oxymoron. They were very conservative but with a seductive edge. High necklines were featured on every item. Though the necklines were high the hem lines were quite the opposite.Lace was a key component in executing the look. Blacks and whites were the primary staples in this season’s color palette but the occasional blue, red, and floral print popped in.Each model’s hair was styled in a long braid that draped over their left shoulder. T-strap pumps with ankle socks or patent booties were the prominent styles of shoes that strutted on this runway.

Most of the collection boasted a “spiritual” feel. The collection almost resembled that worn by a conservative church girl. Of course, the above the knee hemlines were too short for such a statement to be completely valid. The collection allowed women to realize that they don’t have to show skin in order to be sexy. These pieces are available for purchase from Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, any Valentino store, or the company’s website. Looks from this collection range anywhere from $1,000 to a whopping $9,000.

Prada or Nada?

We’ve all passed by the vendors selling knock off designer items for a fraction of the real price. This seems like a dream come true, especially on a normal person’s budget.Most of us have given in and made this purchase and passed the item off as an authentic product. So what’s wrong with that? What’s the matter if I’m not really stealing? What we fail to realize is that this is in fact stealing and is considered a crime. Maybe we are not stealing an item but an idea.

Copying another person’s design and selling to make a personal profit violates various copyright infringement laws. The designers own the right to the specific pattern and design. The people manufacturing these items are stealing intellectual property from the original designers. They are not giving back any money to the designers, as department stores do. It’s simply unethical to buy or sell such products.

Many people justify this selling and buying by saying it is unethical for designers to mark up their merchandise so high that the average person can’t afford to pay for it without spending three weeks salary. In the end, it is the designers choice to price the product the way they see fit because they designed it. It is the consumers choice to purchase or not. Part of the reason these products are in such high demand is due to the exclusivity of the product.

The knock off product you are purchasing probably won’t last you too long. The reason why the original products are priced so high is because of quality, not just the name. Knock off bags tend to break very easily when filled with heavy items. Knock off clothing doesn’t hold up in the wash. Knock off jewelry tarnishes and stones fall out. So, is all even worth it in the end? My answer is no. A better alternative to paying the outrageous prices is going to a consignment store, you never know what you may find. Tokio 7 in New York City and modaqueen.com are home to many authentic discounted designer products.

Just some food for thought when you pass by the vendors that line the streets to New York City….

“Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them.”-Marc Jacobs

With his innovative and imaginative sense of style Marc Jacobs founded his self-titled brand. The first collection ever launched by the Marc Jacob’s brand in 1986. Since then his brand has skyrocketed in the numbers of consumers. Jacobs was also appointed as head designer for Louis Vuitton in 1997. He has been awarded several times including, in 2010 in Time magazine’s Time’s 100  and Out magazine in 2012 as the “50 Most Influential Gay Men and Women in America.”

The Fall 2013/2014 collection was illuminated through the yellow glow from a sun featured behind the models as they strutted the runway. This created a dreary gray tone for the collection. At the end of the show all models appeared once again and light were turned to a normal setting. The collection revealed an array of colorful designs. This Wizard of Oz-esq presentation earned Jacobs much praise.

Sequins, metallics, and fur; oh my! These fabrics adorned the stage and glistened when the lights were adjusted. Models featured short pixie hairstyles to accentuate the pieces and make sure all aspects were visible. Greens, browns, blue, grays, and the slightest hint of red, represented by a hat and a sweater,  were the staples in this collection. Marc Jacobs is carried by most major department stores. As always the collecton is avaliable on the brand website. The pieces rang from$1,500 to $9,000.

Great Job Marc Jacobs! Thanks for the imaginative collection!