Where's the "FEROCH"?: Christian Siriano, Fall 2010

It was hard not to be smitten with Mr. Siriano the first moment that he, and his fabulous hair, sauntered his way into Project Runway, Season 4. During Fashion Night Out in Fall 2009, I waited in line for my chance to see who I had been told was going to be Christian Siriano. 45 minutes later, to my total dismay, I learned it had been a hoax; a different Christian S-something would be making an appearance that evening. Finally, however, I got to see the real-deal Siriano from the white folding chairs on the sideline of his Bryant Park runway show.

As can be expected of Mr. Siriano, his fabric choice was impeccable, displaying soft, silky satins in rich saturated hues in combination with flowing, yet structured organza, and innovative metallic wool (with the exception of the dowdy wool that tainted his first outfits of the show). But while the divo trademarked to catchy adjective “fierce,” his Fall 2010 collection lacked the wildness that the word is generally connotative of. If fierce is a cheetah, Siriano’s newest collection is an ocelot--just tame enough to be domesticated. His line was grounded with feminine ruffles and looping gathers that were carried between separates, cocktail dresses, and the voluminous evening gowns that closed his show.

Looks from RTW Fall 2010
credit: Aisling Hunt, BC '13

The superb tailoring and graceful femininity of Siriano’s collection should not be over looked, however. Overall, the Project Runway winner had a couple of noteworthy pieces, but he certainly played it very safe; "wow"-factor of his past creations was nonexistent. Hopefully the daring divo will release his wild side once again for the Spring 2011. But don’t worry, Christian, you’re the still fiercest biatch on the runway.

P.S. - Don't forget to check out Christian Siriano for Payless to pick up affordable, yet fabulous versions of your favorite runway shoes!

Bubble-Gum Tough Girls: Alexa Chung for MadeWell

"I feel like I should be in the 1940’s, driving, on my way to the beach, with the top down," said fellow Hootette, Gabriella, about the new Alexa Chung for Madewell Collection. And I could not have put it in better words myself.

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Needless to say, I was enamored by Chung’s sultry-sweet line for the denim company. The cozy suite at the Bowrey Hotel was transformed for the evening into an inviting departure to a more innocent decade in American fashion. The collection embodied a perfect balance between conservatism and sex appeal. The models were clad in daring hemlines but bore no outrageous cleavage or exposed skin elsewhere. The sugary-sweet velvet baby-doll dresses and overalls (along with soundtrack of The Angels “My Boyfriends Back” playing in the background) evoked a guilty Lolita sensuality that not even Nabokov himself could achieve. Finally, pops of bright red accessories amongst the muted pallet were the cherry on top of Chung’s fall collection.

credit: Aisling Hunt, BC '13

Just like her clothing, Alexa Chung was quite a sweetheart. It had been rumored that Chung was not going to be in attendance at her own party, but within 15 minutes of it’s start Alexa came out, clad in her Madewell line, to enjoy the night with her guests. After a night of fancy with Alexa Chung, you can bet I will be first in line to get my hands on the line when it debuts in stores this fall.

Farah Angsana Fall 2010: Sequins and Furs, Oh My

About a quarter of the way through the Farah Angsana Fall 2010 show, my eyes were tired. I kid you not, there were so many sequins and sparkles on the runway that I had to blink a few times just to moisten my eyes. But then the inevitable happened: a deep plum gown appeared, and it was entirely devoid of sparkles. Accessorized simply with a slim black belt and a fabulous pink and tan fur muff, this was by far my favorite look of the show.

Credit: Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez CC'12

In their defense though, the sequins and sparkles were done very nicely, and I can imagine more than one of those creations floating effortlessly down the red carpet. Besides a bevy of structured separates in a raw satin, long evening dresses took center stage in shades of mustard, bright red, popping magenta, glittering navy, and forest green. Angsana brought life to the modern-day colored column dress by adding light chiffon capes that flowed outward from the dress, catching the wind and fluttering beautifully as the model sauntered.

Credit: Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez CC'12

Massively pouffy fox furs added the perfect glamor quotient to the sparkly dresses, giving a textural juxtaposition between the silky fabrics, the reflection of the sequins, and the rather pointy fox-tail ends. To those who argue that Angsana's ready-to-wear creations look like little more than a glorified prom or pageant dress, I do not disagree, but merely point out that they are at least glorified and expertly made unlike their department-store imitators.

Mourning McQueen: The Loss of a Genius

RTW Fall 2006, Fall 2009, Spring 2010

credit: style.com

Today the fashion world and people of the streets alike, mourn the astonishing loss of the paramount designer, Alexander McQueen. Known for his brilliant works of wearable art, McQueen set the bar for ready to wear and Haute Couture presentations internationally. McQueen first onto the fashion scene as the head designer of Givenchy until 2001 when he began to create looks under his own name.

McQueen never played it safe. Staying true to his own aesthetic, McQueen sent revolutionary artistic masterpieces down the runway each season from his debut, to his final show. He dazzled his audiences with embryonic flower suits, topped with stocking caps that turned what could have been a Jar-Jar Binks disaster, into a sleek and mysterious statement (Spring 2001). He stayed loyal to his London roots- always promising a show filled with outrageous volume, ornate headpieces, perfect layering, and fantastic colors. His Fall 2006 line pays homage to his homeland in smart tweeds paired with Elizabethan colors and opulent brocade that would have put the monarchy to shame.

Alexander McQueen was a true artist and designer, whose pieces can seamlessly transition from a museum display to the body. His designs required full-bodied confidence to dawn, but they also inspired every fashionista, closet couturist, and frazzled soccer mom to break out of her shell, to try something unexpected.

Alexander McQueen was, and most certainly still is, my Idol. He was my breath of fresh air in the fashion world’s unfortunate drift toward creative homogeneity. An artist and designer myself, his attention to detail and construction never ceased to amaze me. I got lost in each piece, my line of sight focused only on the seemingly infinite number of hand sewn tucks and pleats, the mysterious darting that structured the perfect fit, the architecture of each jacket, dress, ornament, as everything else faded away. I look to McQueen each time I thrown on a sequined vest or a daring cut and look in the mirror with doubt, but I am able walk out the door knowing that he may send me his blessings.

Although you may be gone from this world, you will never been forgotten by the fashion industry, your loyal fans, those whose lives you made brighter, or by me, who will idolize you for the rest of my life.

Thank you, Lee, for sharing your light, your art, and your life with us. For such, we will be forever grateful. Rest in Peace Alexander Lee McQueen, and my deepest condolences to his family. May only the best wishes find you on this day.

It's That Time of Year Again...Barneys Bonanza!

Credit: Nymag.com

Winter blues got you down? Maybe this will cheer you up: Thursday, Februrary 11th the Barneys Warehouse Sale begins and runs until February 28th.

For those of you who have never participated in this New York tradition, the Barneys Warehouse Sale is celebrated by fashion-conscious New Yorkers biannually in August and February. Barneys rents out a huge warehouse (at 255th west 17th st) and fills it with a jaw-dropping selection of beautiful clothes - all marked down! Each day the prices fall lower, but at the same time the selection becomes more paltry. The warehouse becomes a mad house as frenzied shoppers throw Manolo shoes and Marc Jacobs' clothes into their giant plastic garbage bags by the dozen, trying to beat the competition (and don't forget: it IS a competition). To get the true experience wait in line in the morning before it opens to be one of the lucky first people inside.

Note: There are no dressing rooms, only a few mirrors scattered about, so think about wearing leggings and maybe a camisole underneath your clothes to avoid voyeurs!

Open Casting Call for Models

We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to RSVP for the Facebook Event.

Classic & Quirky: Men's Fall 2010 Bags

At the men's Fall 2010 shows in Milan and Paris, it's safe to say that handbags were not the biggest concern of the designers. It's true, man-bags do exist in Europe but those strange little layered pocketbooks didn't show up on the runways; rather, the designers focused on a larger travel bag or briefcase for the fall.

Credit: GQ.com

Bottega Veneta's large croc briefcases provided the perfect backdrop to the casually cuffed jeans, ravishing double-breasted blazers, and cocky fedoras. The rigidity counteracted the texture in the outfits, whereas Hermès used the softness of their suede briefcases to balance the sharpness of their outfits, which would look quite at home worn by the famously chic Gossip Girl bad boy Chuck Bass. The suits were cut slimly, and the high level of craftsmanship was evident in both the rolling of the leather briefcase handles and the impeccable coat seams.

Credit: GQ.com

As for travel cases, Gucci was rather conventional, with a large square shape that resembled the Hermes HAC; a little too similar, I'd say. But the logo on the tote, far from an outlandish splashing of "G"s, was a subtle checkered shape that recalled prints from the early days of the Italian luxury house. Over in Paris, Louis Vuitton maximized their leather talents with a bevy of interestingly shaped cases to be worn on the shoulder. The bags lacked the quintessential LV logos, which was understated in the best, most refreshing sort of way, allowing the cut, shape, and leather of the cases revel in attention rather than relying on those two letters.

Credit: GQ.com

And then there was Prada. I'm sure you've seen a beautifully dressed man at some point who, pulling his hands out of his pockets, reveals them to be clad in the wildest print gloves imaginable. Mrs. Prada was certainly designing this collection for that very man, and showcased brilliant basics alongside utilitarian bags rendered slightly madcap with their psychedelic-in-a-computer-generated-sort-of-way patterns. Most fashionistas have one or more crazy bags stashed in their closets; fashionistos, please take note, and mix up your classics with a touch of spontaneous color and texture.