Fashion: Editors' Blog: Wmagazine.com

Editors Blog

Results for Fashion Category

Denim report: W staffers' favorite jeans

Wearing your jeans at work is not just a Casual Friday thing here at W. Although we're seeing the wider-leg styles here and there, we must admit that slim silhouettes—in a range of fits and washes—still have the edge around these parts. Here's what some of our fashion staff is currently feeling the blues for:

Treena Lombardo, Market Director, likes the Shane style from Genetic Denim in Silver (above). "Not only is gray my favorite color," says Treena of the slim-cut jeans, "But these are also super soft." $188 at Barneys.com

Accessories Assistant Sheena Smith calls J Brand pencil-leg jeans the "perfect basic jean." $158 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Our Bookings Editor, Rena Lazaros, is skinny jean devotee who says she cares mostly about the shade of denim. "Dark is key," she says of her favorite Levi's Low Skinny 531 jeans in Black Sheen. $69 at us.levi.com

Fashion Writer Jessica Iredale and I are in agreement about our favorite new discovery, Blue Notch denim (above). We like the washes, featherweight fabrics and fit. The denim comes from the same mill as Balenciaga and Chanel's denim. At Barneys New York.

We also checked with the guys on our team. Fashion Assistant Garrett Munce loves "The Skinny" jean from Current / Elliott. "Although I'm a tried and true Levi's and Diesel fan, I'm into Current / Elliott's ripped jeans for a more casual weekend look." Available at Bergdorf Goodman and Ron Herman.

Meanwhile, Accessories Assistant William Kahn is a fan of Acne denim: both the Lanvin Acne collection and the Acne "Stay" jean (above) in Skip wash. The Acne Lanvin pair, he says, is "a little more polished and with a higher waist." Available at Shop.acnestudios.com

By Rebecca Ramsey

November 20, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

jeans,
w staffers

Print E-Mail Feeds

A view from the line for H&M's Choo debut

The weather was grey and drizzly, but the line for the Jimmy Choo collection at H&M formed hours before the doors on Fifth Avenue opened at 9am this past Saturday morning. H&M employees gave bracelets with a designated shopping time to the first 160 customers. (In a brilliant customer relations move, they also passed out Krispy Kreme donuts.) Inside the store, there were huge Jimmy Choo-themed banners hanging from the ceiling as a live DJ spun. Said shopper Ann Eisfeld (below right), who hails from Germany and was standing on line with her sister: "I didn't expect the line to be so long! In Europe people are not as familiar with Jimmy Choo, except for those who watch Sex and the City." --Vanessa Willoughby

blog_H&M_girls.jpg

By W Magazine

November 16, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

Jimmy Choo

Print E-Mail Feeds

Un-shy eyewear: Gemela Amor

On Friday, we were treated to a very animated market appointment with Coco and Breezy, the 19-year-old identical twins behind the eyewear collection Gemela Amor. The Minneapolis natives who say have never been apart for more than 24 hours are the latest in a crop of experimental eyewear designers (think Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video) who've followed in the footsteps of cult eyewear innovators Mercura, all of whom can't resist studding, spiking or otherwise tweaking traditional eyewear. See their website for more information.

By Beitressa Mandelbaum

November 13, 2009

Utilities:

Print E-Mail Feeds

One-of-a-kind handbags at Art Basel Miami

For any designer, a botched job at the factory means untold headaches: a waste of precious materials, say, or a total revision of a store's (even more precious) order. Handbag designer Katherine Fleming (left), however, spun one such screw-up into an art-tastic triumph: after 20 of her python clutches got the wrong dye job, Fleming—a Miami native and former accessories director for Tory Burch—teamed up with curators at Art Basel Miami and offered the clutches to contemporary artists to play with. The results by sixteen artists will be up for auction starting November 30 at the designer's pop-up shop in the famous Moore building in Miami's Design District. "We told the artists that they don't have to function as bags anymore, they can just be art—they can can rip it up or do whatever. We wanted them to have total control," says Fleming, whose own (non-mussed) pieces have been snapped up in the last year by Jessica Seinfeld, M.I.A., Diane Krueger, and Rihanna.

Rendering of bag by Megan Marrin

Proceeds from the sales of the artists' creations (the reserve for bidding starts at $2,000) will go to the Bas Fisher Invitational, a non-profit founded by artists Naomi Fisher and Hernan Bas to support local artists in Miami (Fisher herself has modified a clutch with hand-ground pigment paint; another artist, Megan Marrin, created a shadow box around the clutch with discarded porcelain doll parts). Meanwhile, Fleming is busy plotting another collaboration for her April wedding: two of her best friends from Parsons, Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez, are taking care of the dress.

Katherine Fleming clutches

By Sarah Haight

November 12, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

handbags

Print E-Mail Feeds

Top drawer: One staffer's stash

Sure, most of us keep an extra pair or two of shoes at the office, but the shoe drawer of our colleague Meredith Homet, W's Fashion Sales Development Director, is another story entirely. We just wanted to share this shot of her shoe stash, crammed with pairs of Oscars, Pradas and Guccis. And this doesn't even count the five other pairs (including two pairs of black boots) under Meredith's desk.

Related post: A look into the W shoe closet (er, conference room)

By Jane Larkworthy

November 12, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

w staffers

Print E-Mail Feeds

David Byrne, scarf whisperer

Wedged between his bicycle evangelism and his multi-pronged art and music projects, David Byrne recently found time to contribute to a new charity initiative. Asked to provide a word that "holds meaning" in his life, which would then be translated into Sanskrit and stitched into a cashmere scarf benefiting underprivileged women in India and Nepal, the enigmatic Mr. Psycho Killer opted for "dust."

"It's simultaneously a reminder of our mortality and a humorous reference to the pesky undifferentiated matter that accumulates on our vast hoardings of stuff," explaineth Byrne, also noting the theory that a large percentage of the schmutz floating around town is actually human skin, a fact he finds both "sobering and slightly creepy."

Byrne isn't the only boy rocker d'un certain age who contributed words of wisdom to the scarves, which are handknit at Citta Himalaya Women's Center. David Bowie ("funk") and Sting ("resolve") are also on board, as are a few girl celebs, including Scarlett ("reuse") Johansson and Thandie ("surrender") Newton.

The scarves are $100 and available on Tonic.com.

By Dana Wood

November 12, 2009

Utilities:

Print E-Mail Feeds

Still holding a torch for young Baryshnikov, fat Karl & Princess Di

Last week, we paid a visit to Fenton/Fallon designer Dana Lorenz's new boutique-cum-showroom tucked at the side of Freeman's Alley on New York's Lower East side. For those not familiar, Fenton is Lorenz's line of luxury pieces, most created with her signature wrapping technique where many different elements—think pearls, chains, rope, mesh, spikes, crystals and stones—are twisted and bound for a sculptural effect. (It's sold at places like Colette in Paris, London's Dover Street Market, 10 Corso Como in Milan—you get the picture.) We recently got a look at the designer's spring/summer collections for both Fenton and Fallon (her simplifed, more graphic line at a lower price point) for 2010.

A lot of this is taking us back a couple decades, right?
Yeah, I looked to designers from when I was growing up, like Versace when it was Gianni, Lacroix, even old Ferre. From Versace, it was specifically the hardware-driven, iconic safety pin collection. From Lacroix, it was the pearl and semi-precious stone encrusted stuff. I'm obsessed with those collections! Remember when every model on the runway was an original supermodel? Before Karl had a 28 waist? [Laughs.] I love skinny Karl too, but, if the day ever comes when Alber is a size 0 in leather leggings I just don't know what I'll do.

And what about your ballet references? You call one series Robot Ballerina?
Yes—I remember being obsessed with Baryshnikov. With Robot Ballerina there's a ton of nude pearls and peach jade and agate mixed with almost white silver—so futuristic. But the color is like a ballerina slipper or leotard.

You source your trinkets from all over. Tell us about one of your latest discoveries.
Well, a plant hook in rose gold looks stunning.

Tell us about your new space—even the bathroom is worth talking about!
The first inspiration was Sigourney Weaver's townhouse in Working Girl. I just thought the scene where Melanie Griffith is snooping around admiring the Beidermeier desk with the Apple IIe computer on it was so funny. It was that clash of grown-up and punk kid I was going for. So I put Baccarat desk accessories next to a $10 phone, stuff like that.

Is there a cultural icon—dead or alive—who you'd like to have wear your jewelry?
Well, Michelle Obama has worn Fenton, and she is such an icon. As for celebrities who aren't alive, well, I would have given anything to see Princess Diana in my pearls.

The Fenton/Fallon shop is located at the end of Freeman Alley in New York City. (212) 477-1315

Related post: Our Top 10 Costume Jewelry Picks

By Beitressa Mandelbaum

November 11, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

jewelry

Print E-Mail Feeds

Because Chocolate + Jewelry = Heaven

Upper East Siders were bereft when Francois Payard's namesake eatery suddenly shut its doors this summer after the pastry chef's rent was hiked by a reported 50%. Fortunately, the maestro has returned to the UES just in time for the holidays, with a jewel box of a chocolate bar that opened last Thursday on the 4th floor of the Mauboussin jewelry store on Madison Avenue. Mauboussin, for those who aren't familiar, is the 180-year-old fine French jewelry firm where clients treat themselves (or their loved ones) to $300,000 diamond-encrusted bracelets. "The whole shop is all about chocolate," says the native Frenchman. "We display the pastries like jewelry, to keep to the theme of the jewelry of Mauboussin." It's much smaller than the beloved old Payard—and there's no real bakery, much less a bistro—but we'll take it.

Who's the clientele?
I think it's a nice place for ladies to hang out in the afternoon. Maybe they're going to buy a ring downstairs and have a cup of hot chocolate upstairs. We have five kinds of hot chocolate.

What are these "verrines" you're offering?
It's a cake that is built into a glass. They are time consuming to make because each layer is cut to fit the glass. You have to put the spoon all the way down to taste everything.

Any favorites?
One of the verrines has a very cool presentation: I think it's a little bit shocking. It's a white chocolate sponge, then a compote of cranberry and balsamic vinegar—don't worry, it's not shocking yet—and after that there's a dark chocolate creme brulee and a white chocolate sponge. There's a plastic syringe filled with the compote, so you can take a little more balsamic into your cake.

Did Mauboussin request you do anything in particular?
Alain Nemarq [chairman of Mauboussin] just wanted me to make one special thing for him because he loves something very, very dark, very French, like 75% chocolate—and he wants a pinch of salt in the dark chocolate. That's in the works.

Are you still planning to reopen your restaurant?
I'm still looking for locations, right now I have nothing concrete. Concrete for me is when I sign the paper. I'm still looking at many places but right now for the next two months I'm focusing on the chocolate bar.

Are you looking in any neighborhood in particular?
I'm very open—Payard was the Upper East Side but I love downtown too, sometimes. Right now there are so many places empty, so many bad landlords. Maybe I will find my dream.

Where do you like to eat yourself?
I may shock you—I love to eat vegetarian. I just met the people from Candle Cafe. I even did something very interesting with them: they asked me to go to Harlem and to teach some kids how to eat healthy. I did a pizza for the kids with red sauce and beans and tofu.

The Mauboussin shop and Francois Chocolate Bar are located at 714 Madison Avenue (at 62nd Street).

By Haven Thompson

November 11, 2009

Utilities:

Keywords

jewelry

Print E-Mail Feeds

A book I've been waiting for

I’ve long pondered the precise role of housecoats in the modern woman’s wardrobe. Chelsea collars, too—those have really kept me up at night. And I honestly can’t count the number of times I’ve stumbled over the core differences between warp and weft.

So you can imagine my glee when Fashion for Dummies arrived in all its bumble bee-esque, black and yellow glory. A joint venture between Today Show fashion correspondent Jill Martin and veteran Dummies author Pierre A. Lehu, the new book is basically tailor-made for any gal who might be tempted to slip an industrial-strength white bra under a sheer black top, or—gasp—wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes.

A key take-away from the book is Martin’s “10 System,” a fashion philosophy that involves ruthlessly routing the deadwood from one’s closet. In short, if a piece doesn’t meet a few key criteria regarding fit, condition, and “relevance to your current life,” it’s gone like the proverbial wind. Think the pullover or LBD equivalent of Megan Fox, in other words.

But don’t panic if you’re currently staring down racks of mediocre fare that clocks in at a mere 6 or 7 on the fabulosity scale. Per Martin, once you chuck it all, you can just head right over to H&M for a little restocking action. “A 10 isn’t necessarily a Donna Karan suit,” she says. Evidently not; Martin counts a ratty old college sweatshirt of her father’s as one of her most cherished items of clothing. (And it’s not from Harvard or Yale, if that’s what you’re thinking.) “It has paint all over it, and holes, and it must be forty years old,” Martin notes. “I love it because it makes me feel cozy.” Wait—I thought that’s what the housecoats are for.

By Dana Wood

November 10, 2009

Utilities:

Print E-Mail Feeds

Anna Sui's fuzzy FitFlop

One never knows where or when fashion inspiration will strike. Marcia Kilgore’s latest sartorial "aha" moment happened at the hairdresser’s. Earlier this year, Kilgore—founder of Bliss and creator of the hugely popular FitFlop brand of leg-toning footwear—ran into Anna Sui at New York’s Garren salon. Chatting with her old pal, Kilgore realized Sui would be a great match with FitFlop and asked the designer if she was interested in putting her stamp on a new style. “She had done those fantastic-looking boots with beading and pom-poms a few seasons ago, and they still stuck in my mind,” explained Kilgore. “I said, ‘Let’s do a big furry boot!’”

Sui agreed. “I was so excited because I had actually just bought a pair of FitFlops,” she said. “Everyone in our office had been sporting them and saying how comfortable they were.” The result is the Shakoha Boot FitFlop, which features a studded star on the front and tasseled ties. A limited edition of 1,500 pairs, are on sale for $195 each at L.A.’s Intuition boutique and on Net-a-Porter.com.