Fashion and the Steal

Fashion Events & News

Matthew Williamson - Three Cities with Three Muses

British Fashion Designer Matthew Williamson made time to party with his favourite muses in London , LA and New York.

He celebrated his recent ‘Designer of the Year’ award at the Genlux Brit Week in LA with US-based presenter Cat Deeley, who stepped in to present the designer and long time friend with his award. Wearing a signature printed cocktail dress from his new A/W range, Matthew commented that ‘Cat epitomises the laid back glamour that is quintessentially LA’

He moved swiftly onto New York, where he celebrated the launch of an exclusive caftan, created especially for premium vodka brand Belvedere, with the hot model of the campaign and NY DJ Leigh Lezark (who happens to be gracing the cover of Turkish Vogue this month).

Next, in celebration of Pink Grapefruit, the newest addition to the popular Belvedere Maceration range, Leigh sported a limited-edition piece was ‘inspired by sultry summer evenings.

"... who I choose as the campaign model because of her unique style which I have admired ever since we met"

Finally, Williamson touched down in London, where he spent the night with his original muse, Sienna Miller. Sienna wore the beautiful Gold foiled twist dress (right) from the A/W10 runway collection. The evening started with an intimate party in his Mayfair flagship store. They were later joined by the actresses’ sister Savannah where the trio partied on at Sketch ... there was even some dancing on tables until the early hours.

Havaianas in the City

Havaianas, the world’s most stylish and comfortable flip-flop, is bringing soccer fever to New York City this summer.

Starting on June 11th, the commencement of the world’s largest soccer tournament will start in South Africa. To commemorate this event, Havaianas has partnered with hip New York soccer bars to sponsor a series of screening events for fans to enjoy the games and give them a chance to win a pair of the limited edition 2010 Team flip flops ... FYI - There are 17 Team flip flops available. You can get them for $24 at their website Havaianas.

Locations and Dates:

Felix
340 West Broadway: June 11th, 17th & 25th

Novecento
343 West Broadway: June 12th

Loreley
7 Rivington St.: June 13th

Eight Mile Creek
240 Mulberry St.: June 13th

Via Dei Mille
357 W Broadway: June 14th

Sweet & Vicious
5 Spring St.: June 15th

Woodwork
583 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY: June 25th

Miss Favela

57 South 5th St. Brooklyn, NY: June 25th

Hot Designer Sales

Gucci

This is fresh news straight from the Gucci camp ... Gucci's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection Sale starts tomorrow, June 1st. To look at the beauties and/or shop the sale, go to: Gucci

DSUK - The June Sales Event

DSUK sample sales take in young, cool labels and sell them alongside treasure from Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.

DSUK has it all! Beautiful iconic signature Summer pieces from Fashion royalty Vivienne Westwood, deconstuctive genius in Martin Margiela, Italian heavyweights Valentino, Prada, D&G, pretty Summer prints from Allegra Hicks plus a host of the best British boutique brands around.

They're staged in London and Brighton - The 30 Best Places to Buy Luxe for Less - The Sunday Telegraph "Stella" Magazine - January 2010

June's Event Details:

Thursday 24 June 2010, 12noon - 9pm

Venue: Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, SW3 5EE

Tubes: Sloane Square

Buses: 49 or 211

VIP PREVIEW HOUR

Exclusive VIP tickets for the June Sale Event go on sale Tuesday, 1st June at 11am GMT. Be sure to visit website to grab your VIP tickets and get a goodie bag worth £75 (It will include a designer bikini worth £120, plus an assortment of other goodies, a glass of bubbly and a first-chance preview peep & purchase the most amazing stock on sale!). But there's only a handful of VIP tickets, so don't delay! Go to: DSUK

First Sex and the City 2 Look

Here's the first Hot Sex and the City 2 Look submitted:

Thanks Anne-Marie for your fabulous submission ... from Ascot!

You and anyone else who shares their fab Sex and the City 2 Look (jpg files only), movie review or description of a favorite scene in the movie will automatically be entered to win a $50.00 gift certificate at Billion Dollar Babes.

Just email me your entry at email me your submission.

The winner will be announced Friday, June 18th. The entry deadline is 11:59pm EST, Thursday, the 17th.

Sex and The City 2 Mania

A marathon of the "for TV" Sex and the City shows was on TBS Saturday ... of course, even with editing, it was still for mature audiences and started at 9pm. The fabulous premiere and after party was last night.

photo courtesy InStyle.com

You can find something about the movie on any hot site these days ... For example, InStyle has mulitple photos of the stars in designer dresses (for the premier and after party) plus a quiz to see which character you are.

I admit I was very surprised to discover I fit Carrie ... I preferred Miranda's style in the first movie - but still love Samantha's "This is who I am, and if you don't like it ..." brassiness.

I'm just reflecting on how much this show and both movies have affected our culture. It's equivalent to the Oscars ... Just like Halle Berry made Elie Saab a household name, Manolo Blanik can easily trip off the tongue of any fashionista or "wannabe".

This cult favorite has inspired many to go fab and nurture their inner diva whether going for drinks, hanging out at the local pool or even to the movies - just think about how many dressed up to go to the first movie's opening.

I always loved Carrie's closet - I've been on a mission to have a closet full of things I love to wear and purge the space-wasters. But I admit I didn't limit it to the closet. I added two ceiling-to-floor racks - for more of a designer's/retailer's creative studio feel ... incorporating my clothing as part of my decor (This seemed natural as I love the idea of creative expression in fashion and decor.).

Sex and the City is a movement. It's a force to rival Barbie ... Everyone is trying to buy in on the action, from Macy's to gyms.

GenArt Alumni Host ShopNYC Event

I received an invite to a Hot Insider Event in the City. As usual, I had to share the info with you. I love that it's a shopping event that features three GenArt Alumni. Check out the invite below (Just click on the invite to see the details):

Enjoy!

Ever Crave Custom Shoes

Well you'll want check out Selve ... A European company offering fine footwear & accessories for women and men.

Tap into your creative spirit. Select from their fine fabrics to custom design your signature shoe. You also can choose the heel height, lining, sole and accents.

Right now is the perfect time to check out Selve ... They're having a sample sale.

ITALIAN LEATHER

SAMPLE SALE

(Through end of May)

up to 65% off

Samples include Men's & Women's

SHOES, BOOTS & ACCESSORIES

For additional information and to view their collection, go to: Selve

New Designer at The Helm of Aquascutum

There is new blood at Aquascutum. Joanna Sykes has been named the new Design Director for the line's Women's, Men's and Accessories divisions.

A Central Saint Martin's grad (with 1st class honours), Sykes designed for Giorgio Armani and Alberta Ferretti before she started her own line in 2007. She was also awarded the British Fashion Council's New Generation Designer support (twice).

You can expect to see Sykes' special influence on the brand in the 2011 shows. She plans to combine her talent for creating understated clothing and accessories, with subtle details and unconventional sexiness, with the label's legacy ... An unconventional use of fabrics and beautiful tailoring. You'd never think it but this fashion-foward label has been around for over 150 years. It's roster of famous customers included Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Greta Garbo and Humphrey Bogart.

Victoria's Secret Pink teams with Yankee Mark Teixeira

Victoria's Secret Pink has a new store in New York City. VS Pink will be teaming VS Pink Model Chanel Iman with the two-time All-Star Mark Teixeira (He's also won the Gold Glove & Silver Slugger Awards three times) to introduce the latest additions to the VS PINK MLB collection.

The Pop-Up Shop will open on May 18th at 1:30 - 4:00pm.

There's also a Meet & Greet, which starts at noon ... The first 75 people in line will have the opportunity to pose for photos with the duo and receive a coupon for a free VS PINK Yankees tee with any MLB purchase from the store.

The Pop-Up Shop will be located at:

565 Broadway (at Prince Street)

Events in the City

Here are two NYC Events you'll want to know about:

Tibi Sample Sale

Starts tomorrow (Sorry for the short notice, but I received this at the "11th hour"), at:

The Coolture Showroom

409 West 39th Street

Street Level

Wednesday: 1- 6pm

Thursday & Friday: 10am - 6pm

Saturday: 10am - 4pm

Beauty.com & AtHisBest.com Summer Stock-Up

Friday, May 21^st & Saturday, May22^nd

Everyone who walks by the Beauty.com and AtHisBest.com Summer Stock-Up will get a “scoop” from the oversized beauty and grooming “pools” (one for women and one for men) filled with thousands of must-have beauty products, all for FREE.

They literally have THOUSANDS of samples from all of the top brands including Bare Escentuals, Schick, tarte, Anthony Logistics, Oscar Blandi, Stila, Mission, GO SMiLE etc.

Experts like Tony Sosnick from Anthony Logistics and Peter Thomas Roth (from Peter Thomas Roth J) will be available, throughout the day, on both days to give personalized one-on-one consultations.

Friday, May 21^st

Peter Thomas Roth; Stila; Borghese; Zeno; BareMinerals; Caudalie; tarte; Origins; Anthony Logistics; Somme Institute; Too Faced; Korres

8am – 7pm at 59^th Street and Fifth Avenue (in front of the Apple store)

Saturday, May 22^nd

Jane Iredale; Somme Institute; Mission; BareMinerals; Darphin; Origins; Korres; Urban Decay; Pop Beauty

10am – 6pm at 13^th Street and Ninth Avenue (in front of Soho House)

The Luxury Industry - It's Just Not the Same

We all knew the recession hit all industries. Fashion was definitely not immune to the economy ... stores and magazines closed, designers pulled themselves out of fashion weeks, etc.

I was especially shocked and saddened to hear that Gen Art, the original promotion organization for emerging artists in fashion design, film and music, has closed.

The economy not only affected how labels valued/approached advertising, budgets and promotion, but it also influenced the global market position of a brand.

Brandz reports that even the most wealthiest consumer spent differently - felt the need to justify purchases:

"At all price levels customers were more discriminating, and not just because they had less money to spend. They sought unusual items, adding the personal and unique to the calculus of value.”

Brandz Top 10 Luxury Brands (They all stuck to the timeless investment, heritage image - Increased sales in Asia also helped quite a lot):

Louis Vuitton
Hermès
Gucci
Chanel
Hennessy
Rolex
Moet & Chandon
Cartier
Fendi
Tiffany & Co.

I did write about this in February '09: Redefined Economy: Birth of Savvy Luxe. It's nice to have data to support your theories.

New York Sample Sale: Be & D

Be & D Sample Sale

Up to 75% off
Handbags, Footwear and Small Accessories

Samples Include:

Original Garbo Satchel

Orig Price: $895, Sample Sale: $275

Kan-Kan Portfolio

Orig. Price: $595, Sample Sale: $200

Wristlets

Orig. Price: $295, Sample Sale: $50

Kan-Kan Sandal
Orig. Price: $595, Sample Sale: $175

Tuesday, May 25^th - Thursday, May 27^th

9am-7pm

35 West 36^th Street

10^th Floor West

NYC

Transportation: B D F V N R Q W @ 34^th Street/Herald Square

Cash & all major credit cards accepted

For more information please contact: info@beandd.com

Fashion Event

Jamie Wolf Jewelry at Barney's

Jamie Wolf is a former ballet dancer (for 10 years) turned jewelry designer. She combines luxe with utility in her designs. Barney's is hosting a Trunk Show of handmade collection (see the invite below for details).

Fashion News & Events

Paris Vogue to Release A Runway Edition

The editors at Paris Vogue will print a special issue of the Fall/Winter 2010 runway looks ... straight from runways of London, Milan, New York and Paris. The runway edition will be available May 5th.

Only Hearts Annual Summer Sample Sale & Montana Ave Street Fair

Shop for playful underthings and shamelessly romantic inner outwear from Only Hearts. Up to 80% off of sexy lingerie, flirty summer frocks and more from Huit, Scanty, Castaner, Elle Macpherson, LA Made, Myla at a ridiculously great deal! A special treat for shoe lovers – up to 80% off of lovely shoes from Carmen Ho, 80/20, Frye & Birkenstock.

Thursday, May 13th – Saturday May 15th*
10:00 am – 6:30pm

*Street Fair on Saturday*

Sunday, May 16th
12:00 – 5:00pm

Only Hearts
1407 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Saks Celebrates Emerging Designers

Saks hosted a night to celebrate emerging designers Thursday, April 30th, at the Witney Museum.

Hosts included: Devon Aoki, Valerie Boster, Amanda Hearst, Chanel Iman, Margherita Missoni, Dalia Oberlander and Martin Dawson

Designers included Christian Cota, Doo Ri Chung, Erdem Moralioglu, Prabal Gurung, Roberto Rimondi and Tommaso Aquilano.

Notable attendees included: Bettina Prentice, Annie Churchill, Kate Schelter, Julie Henderson, Eugenia Gonzalez Ruiz-Olloqui, Zani Gugelmann, Lisa Anastos, Maggie Betts, Emma Snowdon-Jones among others