All Entries Tagged With: "FASHION DESIGNERS"
Michelle Obama’s Designers Dominate Fashion Oscars
The Council of Fashion Designers of American conducted its awards ceremony that is the equivalent of the Oscars for fashion with a strong slant towards the designers who are behind many of Michelle Obama’s, the First Lady, fashion ensembles.
In fact, she was even honored with a special tribute for her often commented on almost perfect sense of style. However, Obama did not make an appearance at the event opting instead to accept the honor via a taped video message dressed in just simple pearls and a white shirt.
Several of the designers who work with Obama were nominated for women’s wear designs, Thokoon Panichgul and Jason Wu, but both lost the final award honors to a relative new designer Alexander Wang who is normally known for her rock club chic inspired wardrobes.
Obama’s personal favorite women’s wear designer Narciso Rodriguez has spent more time in the fashion world and was nominated along with Marc Jacobs for designer of the year but lost to the Roderte designers, Laura and Kate Mulleavy.
Other winners of the night included Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for the best accessories award, Ralph Lauren for the most popular award which is a new category that was voted for online by the public, Marc Jacobs for the top international designer honors, and the menswear award was a tie between Scott Sternberg with the Band of Oustiders and Italo Zucchelli with Calvin Klein.
Although First Lady Obama did not make an appearance, plenty of other celebrities were on hand for the largest night of fashion including Jimmy Fallon as a presenter, Jack White of the White Stripes as the presenter for the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Justin Timberlake.
Audrey Hepburn Still Setting Trends Today
Audrey Hepburn might have passed away a long time ago, but her legacy lives on, particularly in the fashion industry. She was not only a legendary actress, but also a fashion icon.
The simple grace and elegance of her manners made her one of the most beloved Hollywood leading ladies and also one of the greatest influences on fashion designers around the world.
Who can forget the trend setting over-sized sunglasses, the little black dresses, the colorful Capri pants and the flat ballet shoes that Audrey wore in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s? In fact, the sunglasses became so popular that wire frames, which were in vogue when the movie came out, became virtually extinct within a few years. And the black dress of course is a staple of any wardrobe, even today.
Audrey was also a trend setter in jewellery and makeup. She is famous for bringing pearls into the mainstream of fashion accessories. They say that fashion is a cycle, but it is hard to think of a time when her little black dress and pearls have ever been out of fashion.
Interestingly, the movie that started so many fashion trends was originally written to star not Audrey Hepburn, but Marilyn Monroe.
Unlike the curvaceous Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall, Audrey had a gorgeous, tall and elegant figure that fashion designers loved to dress up. She was always partial to simple and graceful cuts, turtle necks and trench coats, while staying away from bold prints and bright colors.
When it came to accessories, Audrey had a preference for colored scarves and wide belts – a trend that persists to this day and is as fresh as ever.
Emma Cook’s Influence Spreads Far Beyond London’s Fashion Scene
Emma Cook, throughout her long career, has undoubtedly demonstrated that she is one of the most influential designers when it comes to designing a season’s look. Of course, being a fashion designer, it might be argued that she is only doing her job.
However, it has rarely been the function of an individual London designer to lead the way. Milan and Paris can usually be counted to dictate the mood six months down the line, while London is more about idiosyncratic and individual expression. Cook is in the admirable position of laying claim to both.
Cook’s tribute to the Twenties line is a signature of the designer’s style. This season, she is not alone in retro bandwagon. She is in company of the highest calibre, with two international superstars of the fashion world. Balenciaga’s outstanding outfits, as shown in Paris, had noticeable tiers and dropped waists. The nod to the Twenties was also apparent in the Summer Silhouette collection of Marc Jacobs.
Interestingly, at Balenciaga this year, light was a central theme, with an emphasis on the interplay between light and the surface of garments. A similar idea also pervaded Prada, where shining gold was the hero of the Spring/Summer collection.
If status-driven, elaborate and dazzling clothes are the norm for the season, Cook’s designs has always been noted for their personal flavor and their homespun aspect. While the top-tier fashion designers and the fashion powerhouses might have employed the finest ateliers of the world, Cook’s is a small business and she relies on a handful of assistants and her own extraordinary powers of craftsmanship.
