Shoot Day: Last Summer

Ok, ok. So this is from last summer. But it's really pretty!

Sneak Peek: Tracy Reese Fall '09

Tracy Reese will show her Fall 2009 collection on Monday, February 16 at 1 pm in Bryant Park, but here's a little preview:




"Inspired by post-impressionist portraiture, including the works of Vuillard, Van Gogh and Modigliani and their expressive use of color as a vehicle to convey mood, Reese combines pattern mixing and rich color combinations to create an eclectic fall 2009 collection.

Romance and understated glamour meet rustic chic, mixing raspberry plaids, pink florals and basil green argyles. Layering prints and patterns are key. Relaxed and slender silhouettes with menswear influences look chic when paired with spectator heels."


Jourdan Dunn would look amazing...

Sneak Peek: Rebecca Taylor Fall '09

Rebecca Taylor debuts her Fall 2009 collection on Thursday, February 19 at 1pm at Bryant Park, but here's a little preview:



"The Rebecca Taylor Fall 2009 Collection is inspired by imagery from Northern European fairytales. The palette is intense with pastel shades of field flowers and the Scandinavian sea; contrasted with deep hues of violet, beetroot and pomegranate. Soft oversized wrap coats are belted to emphasize the waist and are worn over cool ruffled blouson tops tucked into wide leg trousers. Ultra feminine languid tops and playful dresses inspired by 1940's bias cuts are embellished with artisanal metals that compliment the ethereal layers of luminescent chiffon. Chucky Lucite jewelry is layered to juxtapose the delicate fabrics."

I hope Jessica Stam wears this one...

!Spoiler Alert!

There's been a lot of buzz this year about the Oscars. The nominations are out, the office pools have started, there have been so many great films this year, so many critically-acclaimed achievements... But who cares? I just want to see the dresses!

Part of the pre-Academy Awards excitement is speculating about which stars are going to wear which designers. (Is Meryl Streep going for a couture gown this year to celebrate her many nominations? Is Angelina Jolie really going to wear another monochromatic column dress?) The selection and styling process is so secretive, that no one, not even the designers themselves, really knows who will step out in what until the Louboutins hit the red carpet and each fabulous dress unfurls from the depths of a limo.

But this year it seems that one nominee's dress has already been confirmed. There have been whispers that Kate Winslet will wear a custom creation from a friend, designer Ben de Lisi. The designer, who dressed Kate for the 2002 academy awards in a memorable assymetric red gown, has definite plans in the works. "It will be an exit-making dress," he said. "A dress that makes a high-voltage impact." He further hinted at a similar shape and shade to his '02 triumph. "With Kate it is about silhouette and color. Blondes look amazing in red."

Of course, Kate may surprise us all and step out in a mini from Balmain, but I'm willing to put money on Ben de Lisi. At least a fiver.

Sucker Punch

Keep an eye out for Jason Wu, the lately-made fashion phenom who designed Michelle Obama's Inauguration dress, on an upcoming episode of The City.

An industry source says that the young designer met Diane von Furstenberg and some of her employees (including Whitney Port) recently for lunch at her flagship store and offices in New York's Meatpacking district. It was only as Jason was on his way out that he realized the entire meeting had been filmed.

Did he sign the necessary releases for the film to air? We shall see...

Loving Liz, Lately

Isaac Mizrahi's first collection for Liz Claiborne officially launched today on lizclaiborne.com, and if you're bored at work, you should go there - right now!

The website is super interactive, featuring stories from the women who inspired Isaac's philosophy on style, plenty of video and moving graphics, and even a feature where you can ask Isaac to solve your personal fashion quandaries. Oh, and did I mention that you can also buy pieces from the line?

The collection, which runs from about $35 to $189, is modern Americana, full of muted neutrals with pops of plaid and color that look pulled-together, fresh, and fun. I'm dying for the khaki safari skirt and jacket, and I even overheard one InStyle editor say, "Liz Claiborne is my favorite new line for Spring!"

So click away, but do try to get some work done today.

Padma, Inc.

Isn't she talented? She's a foodie, a critic, a TV host, a writer (take a deep breath Mr. Rushdie, there's no comparison), and now apparently a jewelry designer. Padma Lakshmi has just introduced a self-designed jewelry line, not surprisingly dubbed "Padma," complete with a lookbook with shots of the jewelry and ... herself. While it is important to incorporate oneself, especially in a flailing economy like this one, is there a point where it crosses the line from smart business pratice to ego-stroking? I get the concept of branding and realize that what's happening here is the common path for cheesy celebrity-created fashion lines (Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton spring painfully to mind), I just find it a little offensive and coarse in connection to someone who purports to actually have taste.

The collection itself actually isn't half bad. I can pass on the bean-inspired pieces and the Indian-inspired handpiece that I bet you have to be Indian to pull off, but for the most part it's a well-designed line of modern, delicate, personal jewelry, especially the earrings. Here are some of the more outstanding pieces, including the earrings she wore tonight (top left) on Episode 11 of Top Chef: Season 5

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The collection, which will cost between $375 and $6,200, will be available at Bergdorf in May.