Happy Birthday Bergdorfs!!! They Turn 111 With A Season Long Celebration!

The sleek, exquisite 9 story building on the corner of 58 & 5th, known to most as Bergdorfs, is turning 111. Why celebrate 111 years when you haven’t celebrated a birthday in years, since 1951 to be exact?  Bergdorf Goodman’s executives explain that the message is in the 1-1-1 of 111: Bergdorf’s being one store in one city, providing one singular luxury experience.

Bergdorfs  is planning the fete to end all fetes. As Linda Fargo, senior vice president of the fashion office and store presentation describes it, “It’s a top-to-bottom celebration including every floor, all the elevators, every hall, all 21 windows on the three sides of the women’s store, even lavender lighting. It’s a season’s worth of celebration. We’ve also got some surprises, including something dramatic for the Fifth Avenue facade.”

September 4th is the kickoff day, where there will be several permanent shop openings – one of which is The Row designed by the Olsen twins – and renovations along with an extended mix of activities, exclusive products and pop-ups through the fall season.

In planning this bash Bergdorfs reached out to many top designers, many of which made their mark at Bergdorfs, to design exclusives for the dazzling celebration. Over 100 designers responded from Alexander McQueen to Prada to Charlotte Olympia.

Michael Kors, who was discovered by then then-fashion director Dawn Mello as he was designing underneath another designer, created his first collection under his own name for Bergdorf’s. For the 111 celebration, Kors has updated that very first collection. Remember the suit Richard Gere made infamous in American Gigolo? For Giorgio Armani’s exclusive he has recreated the gray pinstripe pleated suit. Another designer who made his debut (2009) at Bergdorfs, Jason Wu created a full-skirted cocktail dress in vivid candylike colors that recalls his first dresses.

There’s also a commemorative book, “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman” (now there’s an idea) by Sara James Mnookin (Harper Design), a title lifted from the caption under an old New Yorker cartoon. Then there’s a documentary about the store with the same title featuring designers, shoppers and employees.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the celebration to end all celebrations with out a big private party at The Plaza. How do I get on that quest list?!!

1st Group from right to left: Carolina Herrera’s Double-Face Wool Dress W/Mink Collar, Dries Van Noten Parka W/Leopard-Print Rabbit-Fur Lining, Fendi’s Calf-Hair & Wooden Clutches, Charlotte Olympia’s Suede Wedge W/Silk Embroidery.

2nd Group from right to left: Etro’s Embroidered Wool & Silk Coat, Marchesa’s Silk Dress W:Goose-Feather Trim, David Webb 18-Karat Gold Black Enamal Onyx Cuff W/Diamonds, Jimmy Choo Suede And Beaded High Heel.

Jason Wu’s New Collaboration – Miss Wu

Jason Wu is broadening his horizon’s and his client base with his new hipper, diffusion line – Miss Wu, due to hit stores in Spring 2013. As he told WWD, “Instead of just doing ‘Jason Wu-for-less,’ the idea is to explore the other side of myself. I always see Jason Wu as my aesthetic, my design sensibility. Miss Wu is my personality. It was really fun to explore that facet of who I am – slightly more downtown, and with a more relaxed attitude”.

The collection will contain 40 pieces (at press time) priced from $195-$795, which may seem high but not in comparison to his name sake collection with an average price point in the thousands. Nordstrom’s has dibs on Miss Wu exclusively for a year after which Wu hopes to wholesale the collection to retailers worldwide.

Inspiration boards for the line are filled with ’60s icons like Jane Birkin, and with its printed shift dresses and striped tops, the collection certainly will have a modern, young aesthetic. No stranger to the success of lower priced collaborations (Jason Wu & Target was a smashing success) Wu wants to infiltrate the bridge fashion market, where edginess pervades, with his trademark femininity. “One thing that is rare in the contemporary market is more feminine, girlier clothes. It tends to be more hard-edged, or too young. I felt this is something that brings a little bit of softness”, he also told WWD.

Stay tuned for more info on Jason’s newest collection!

Target Meet Neiman Marcus, Neiman Marcus Meet Target

They may make an odd couple, but discounter Target and luxury merchant Neiman Marcus are teaming up on a limited collection spanning from fashion to sporting goods for the upcoming holiday season.

More than 50 products from 24 CFDA finalists, including  Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenberg, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Tory Burch will be available at both stores and on their websites starting Dec. 1 and runs until they sell out. Prices span from $7.99 to $499.99, but the majority of items will sell for less than $60.

The 2 companies are obviously aware of their differences, with Kathee Tesija, Target’s executive vice president of merchandising saying, “They’re high-end, and we’re mass appeal”. Target sells $25 dresses and generates almost half its revenue from staples like food and detergent, while Neiman Marcus has cultivated a reputation for expensive fashion, selling $1,000 shoes and $3,000 handbags. But, they have chosen to celebrate their commonality – they both love design!!

With the limited partnership both companies hope to grab a new segment of customers who are increasingly shopping around, checking out both higher and lower-price stores. Target, whose sales growth has been uneven since the recession, is seeking new ways to boost its fashion image. And Neiman Marcus, whose affluent customers are back to splurging, needs to step outside its comfort zone to stay competitive. By giving customers a reason to come visit their store for a first time, Neiman Marcus hopes they will discover it also sells more affordable items for under $100.

This time around in order to avoid more disappointed customers, like the ones they had when Missoni for Target sold out in ” the blink of an eye”, shoppers will be allowed to buy only a limited number of each item, though Target spokesman Joshua Thomas said the number hasn’t been set. Spread the wealth, sounds like a good idea!

New York Fashion Week — Fall/Winter 2012

New York fashion week, which started on February 16, is in a decorous state of mind with dresses out numbering pants on the runway and skirts descending to longer lengths. No where was that more evident than in my favorite collection, Francisco Costa’s Calvin Klein Collection. With Rooney Mara (fashion’s new darling) sitting front and center, she seemed to have embodied Franco’s whole collection and was most certainly his muse. The look had a sixties vibe with a somber color palette that was punctuated with vanilla and lipstick coral and oranges. The fabrics had real heft — shaggy alpacas and bouclés, meltons, leather and finely shaved shearling –that along with cinched in waists — achieved from belted waists and inverted darts above the midriff and pleats below it — kept the collection from feeling weighed down and lent it a voluminous air. The full pant, cropped above the ankle with deep pleats at the top of each leg, kept the silhouette firmly planted in 2012. The evening looks, in particular the dresses with a dusting of jet-black sequins over a mesh of leather, cut so finely that it fell like crepe were edgely chic and modern — perfect for Rooney Mara’s next red carpet appearance.

“Thoughtful, quiet, a little more sober,” is how Derek Lam described his new collection. Lam’s show too had a sixties vibe that was more accessible (not to be confused with better), and hit on the major New York Fall 2012 trends – fur and shearlings, leather, blood-red and full cropped pants. I adored the evening looks with the sequined cropped pants and leather top along with the Aran sweaters made from twisted nylon tulle worn over satin skirts. One or two of theses pieces is sure to be had by fashion obsessed style mavens everywhere.

Jason Wu’s collection, an unleashing of Chinese power woman from behind palatial wooden red doors, was best summed up by Vogue’s Sarah Mower as, ” wearing his take on the legacies of Chinese history: interpretations of militaristic Communist army-green/red uniforms, the rich brocades and embroideries of the Qing Dynasty, and the glamour of the thirties, as filtered through Marlene Dietrich’s movie Shanghai Express”.

Wu gave us some of the trend elements of fur (shaved mink) and blood-red color but the collection had a more sophisticated body conscious silhouette — pencil skirts and rigorously skinny pants and tight sheath dresses– with a lush, opulent feel captured in the gold-embroidered capes and the epaulet dress with shaved black mink embroidered onto the front. Definitely Jason Wu’s most dramatic collection yet.

Top group — clockwise from top left: Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Collection,Calvin Klein Collection, Derek Lam, Derek Lam and Calvin Klein Collection.

Bottom group — clockwise from top left: Derek Lam, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Jason Wu, Jason Wu and Jason Wu. All photos from Fall/Winter 2012.

Finally, Jason Wu For Target February 5!!

Once Michelle Obama wore Jason Wu’s gown to President Obama’s inauguration his fame skyrocketed and he became a designer household name. Jason is the next major designer to collaborate with Target on a capsule collection that hits the stores February 5th and ends it’s run March 6th — though we’re betting the goods won’t last but a few days. Jason, known for his feminine, whimsical style full of clean lines had this to say to the New York Times, “My goal was not to duplicate anything from my main collection. Instead I designed completely new clothes and accessories that reflect my taste and have a voice of their own.”

The collection is anything but trendy, and the word is the fabrics are of sturdy stock, keeping these pieces in your closet for a good long while. But, at a price point starting at $19.99, with the bulk of the line ranging from $59.99 to $69.99 they would be a bargain if only around a season or two. Styles consist of dresses, button down blouses with skirts, shorts worn with knit tops, a trench coat, scarves and a variety of handbags. We are coveting the sheer paneled top and matching floral skirt and the pale pink button down crepe blouse and pink/black print skirt.

If the Missoni sale is any indication of how fast Jason’s collection will fly off the shelves then be prepared to get to Target before the stores open at 8:00 am. This collection is a slam dunk!

See the complete lookbook on Target Style’s Facebook page and let us know what you’ll be lining up for.

Fall 2011 Trends

FALL 2011 TRENDS

BORDEAUX &  PLUMS – Wine colors, purples and violets.

COLLAGE – Mixing together of different patterns and fabrics.

COLOR – Bright colors continue in geometric patterns and color blocking

FURS – In natural and bright colors.

LADY CHIC – Lady-like styles featuring pointy toe pumps and hand-held handbags.

LEATHER – Styles in other than jackets and coats & in a multitude of colors.

PARKAS – In a  variety of fabrics.

POLKA DOTS – From big to small.

60′S – 70′s styles are still trending but the 60′s influence makes a strong presence.

TUX’S – The tuxedo jacket worn casually and tuxedos in various fabrics.

More to come on each individual trend in future post.

Top set of photos  – Clockwise from top left: 1  Bordeaux & Plums – Diane Von Furstenberg, 2  Collage – Dries Von Noten, 3  Color – BCBG Max Azaria, 4  Furs – The Row.

Bottom set of photos – clockwise from top left: 5  Lady Chic – Jason Wu, 6  Leather – Chole, 7  Parkas – Rag & Bone, 8  Polka Dots – Stella McCartney, 9  Sixties – Burberry Prorsum, 10  Tux”s – Isabel Marant.  All photos are from Fall/Winter 2011

The Met Gala – “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”

The Met Gala, the fashion world’s biggest party, took a sentimental journey inward celebrating the opening of the new exhibition “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”—a look at the life and work of the visionary designer. Savage Beauty is on display now till July 31, 2011 at  The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In his honor, the museum was decorated like a beautiful, romantic English garden with heather and wildflowers lining the great staircase, towering trees and hedges sprouting from the halls, and pots of garden roses and peonies haphazardly placed among glittering votives on rustic wood tabletops. There was even a replica of a 30 foot oak tree in the Great Hall, reminiscent of those on McQueen’s property in Sussex.

Lady Amanda Harlech, in black Chanel, offered, ” Where else does one see this much McQueen all at once? “British weddings, funerals, and AngloMania”—a reference to the 2006 Met Ball, the only one McQueen attended. His date then was Sarah Jessica Parker, who walked the carpet this year in a dress from his Fall 2005 collection. “Reluctant to be social” is how she described her friend. “He didn’t genuflect in the traditional way,” she added.

Some of the other attendees wearing McQueen were Daphne Guiness, sporting head to toe feathers with her trade mark aplomb, Gisele Bundchen, in a scarlet strapless satin gown with a voluminous train Naomi Campbell in a white, ornate fringed gown and Karen Elson wore the gold McQueen gown that she originally walked the Paris runway in 10 years ago.

Perhaps Madonna summed it up best when she paused along the stairs to offer her take on the departed man of the evening. “He was kind of shy. But he had a naughty side to him,” she stressed. And what if he was here for the little carpet ride that began with Friday’s royal wedding and was in full flight this night? Madge had an answer for that one, too. “He’d say something completely politically incorrect and just breeze through.

Besides McQueen the night was full of beautiful dresses designed by many talented designers, Stella McCartney and Calvin Klein Collection making the strongest showing.

Clockwise from top left: Ashley Olsen in Vintage Christian Dior and Van Cleef & Arpel Jewelry, Liv Tyler in Givenchy Haute Couture and Fred Leighton Jewelry, Karen Elson in  Alexander McQueen, Diane Kruger in Jason Wu and Van Cleef & Arpel Jewelry, Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection and Platt Boutique Jewelry, Amber Valletta in Stella McCartney and Fred Leighton Jewelry.

The Best Of The Fall/Winter 2011 Collections Part 1- New York & London

Now that the Fall/Winter 2011-2012 collections have been shown in all the fashion capitals, the clothes have been packed away, the models have jetted off to the Caribbean Islands and the designers have collapsed: we thought we would take a look back and share our highlights of the season.

In New York our two favorite designers were Donna Karan-whose graceful draping and soft tailoring along with her muted color palette of dove grey, powder blush, creamy beige and taupe, combined to capture a feminine sophistication and quite elegance. Karan’s use of fur, especially in an oyster taupe coat and fur-lined gloves added a delicious richness to her collection.

We loved Jason Wu’s “ baroque meets sportswear” theme and how consistently it was laced throughout the show; whether it was the ladylike dresses he is famous for or the edgier straight leg and tailored jacket ensembles. Every piece in the collection is wearable and classic enough to be around for years.

In London our two favorite designers were Burberry Prorsum- whose predictable plaid fabrics were met with a juxtaposition of fanciful furs and belted tailored jackets and Erdem-whose bold silk pieces and water-color prints were often seen layered with lace details and overlays.

Now that the Fall/Winter 2011 shows have come to an end, we can again turn our focus to Spring and what to wear now.

First row: Donna Karan Fall/Winter 2011, second row: Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011, third row: Burberry Prorsum Fall/Winter 2011, fourth row: Erdem fall/Winter 2011.

It’s Oscar Time

All the women nominated for outstanding actress in a leading role are talented, beautiful women who we would like to congratulate.  With the Oscars just six days away, the nominee’s decision of what to wear must be made and we would like to add our two cents.

Annette Bening and Nicole Kidman, the more veteran nominees of the bunch,will look amazing no matter what  but here’s what we would like to see them wear when walking the red carpet. Above, for Annette Bening, we choose Jason Wu from his Fall 2011 collection- lighter than what she wore to the globe, simple and feminine. Below, for Nicole Kidman, we selected Elie Saab from his Spring 2011 Couture collection-a sexy and feminine silhouette that will highlight her ivory skin and gorgeous red hair.

The New Kid On The Block-Spring’s Wide Leg Trend

On first glance, the wide-leg pants may seem too exaggerated; after all, we had just become attached to our skinny pants. Now this!

But  if you stop and take a moment, we think you’ll see how refreshing they are.  A shot out to the 70′s, mixed with either a crispness, for a more classic look, or a flowing palazzo or relaxed linen for a more casual look.

Keep the skinnies- we think they will be around for a while. But to mix thinks up, try a pair of wide-leg pants. Variety is the spice of life and isn’t that what fashion is all about?

Clockwise from top left; Jason Wu Navy Wide Leg Pant  http://www.jasonwu.com, Diane von Fustenberg Simca Wide Leg Pants $298.00 http://www.dvf.com, ASOS Olive Palazzo Pants $72.00 http://www.asos.com, Level 99 Eden Linen Trouser $118 @ Chelsea Brentwood 11704 Barrington Court Los Angeles, CA 90049, Alice & Olivia ‘Erica’ Wide Leg Pant $,Blue Tulip Print Wide Leg Trousers $92.00 http://www.topshop.com   ,