The Fashion Industry

Image: Betsey Johnson

Love this Evening Midnight Express Strapless Rouched Dress by Betsey Johnson. If you happen to have those little saddlebag type hips (keyword here being little), the ruffles should hide them nicely. This dress  comes with sequined belt, has a center back zipper and boning in the bodice for support. The color is called grape. Price-$395.00.

Source: Betsey Johnson

Image: WWD

A bevy of starlets came out to celebrate the launch of Piaget’s Paris-New York Limelight collection Thursday night. The party, co-hosted by Vogue, was held at 620 Fifth Avenue in a Rockefeller Center penthouse. While the brand’s glittering and expensive baubles were on display inside, everyone gatered on the venue’s outdoor grassy patio. “Do you think I can get past security and just sneak up here on my own sometime?” asked an awed Zoe Kravitz. “I’ll bring a tent and camp out.”

Becki Newton, who recently relocated to Manhattan to shoot her show “Ugly Betty” seemed content in the concrete jungle. “I bought my dress right over there,” the actress said, pointing down Fifth Avenue to the Gucci flagship. “Everyone here has been saying, I can’t believe you actually own the dress you’re wearing.’ But why wouldn’t I want to?”

Source: WWD

Image: Reuters UK

Mr. Blackwell, the fashion maven who has been issuing his annual “Worst-Dressed” list for 48 years, is in a coma after falling at his home, his partner and manager said on Thursday. Richard Blackwell, 85, has been at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles since Saturday.

Blackwell has issued his “Worst-Dressed” list for 48 years, and it has become watched around the world as much for his quips about the stars’ fashion as for who made the list. Last year Blackwell, often considered the bane of Hollywood celebrities, named Spice Girl Victoria “Posh” Beckham the worst-dressed star and said: “in one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty ‘Posh’ Beckham can really wreck-em.”

In the No. 2 spot was soul singer Amy Winehouse and just behind was diminutive actress Mary-Kate Olsen who, he said, “resembles a tattered toothpick trapped in a hurricane.”

Blackwell had his own clothing line for 35 years and was a costume designer who worked with Hollywood stars such as Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell.

Source: Reuters UK

Image: WWD

Christian Francis Roth, a fashion designer of the early 90s is back. Roth plans to make his return with a contemporary spring collection called Francis by Christian Francis Roth, inspired by those dreaded high school cliques.

Once called “Seventh Avenue’s latest wonder boy” by WWD, the designer is back with his spring collection. Roth calls his new inspirations “Gangs of New York,” and has divided it into high school cliques. The “Afterschool special” category features print dresses and plaid patchwork, while “Twill Seekers” represent Upper East Side prepsters with their logoed polos.

Source: WWD

Image: unleashingideas.org

After her clothing line was pulled yanked from the Los Angeles’ Kitson stores, “The Hills” star Lauren Conrad is going to get a second chance to show us her fashion design skills. The 22-year-old has been chosen to design a couture gown for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards trophy girls who hand out U.S. television’s top awards.

“When the show approached me, I was so excited,” Conrad said in an email to Reuters. “I love designing dresses and I can’t wait to see my own designs on the Primetime Emmy Awards. The dress will be elegant yet simple with a Lauren Conrad Collection vibe.”

A newcomer to the fashion scene, Conrad’s clothing line received less than favorable reviews at this year’s L.A. Fashion Week. Fraser Ross owner of the Kitson boutiques even described sales of Conrad’s line as “lackluster” to New York magazine.

The choice of Conrad appears to be a statigic move by the Emmy producers in an attempt to capitalize on her celebrity status. “The Hills” is MTV’s highest-rated show, and Conrad appears regularly on the front pages of celebrity gossip magazines.

When asked what the gowns will look like, she wrote: “You’ll just have to wait until Sept. 21 for the finished product.” The Emmys will be given out during a nationally televised ceremony in L.A. on Sept. 21.

Source: Fan Fare

I love these shoes with just the right amount of gold. Of course you’d have to have really great ankles to wear them. By Georgina Goodman I believe. I need a bigger closet!

Here’s a cute handbag by Isabella Fiore. I especially like the little bow and scalloped edge trim. You can find it at efashionhouse.com.

ISABELLA FIORE designer handbag cream leather lil bow monique bag. Soft lambskin leather with intricate woven details and stitching. Measures approximately 19 W x 11 H with a 5 inch depth. The strap measures about 18 inches long with an 12 inch drop. Zip top closure. Fully lined interior one zippered pocket and multiple open pockets. Dull brass hardware finish. The Bow has a dog leash clasp and is removable. The Isabelle Fiore metal and leather fob is attached. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Image: Pocket Picks

Two major brands will be coming onto the designer lingerie scene this spring. Donna Karan Intimates will be relaunching its lounge, play and sleep wear and Emporio Armani Underwear is coming to the U.S. for the first time with its collection of intimates.

The spring-summer 2009 collection is aimed at major stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, and will also be sold at 12 Emporio Armani boutiques in the U.S.

The women’s intimates line features four groups, all named after flowers: Gardenia, which is based on feminine, everyday comfort; Camelia, offering basic colors and fashion shades linked to the ready-to-wear collections; Tulipano, a contemporary group in basic styles and fashion colors, and Lila, featuring an eclectic range of colors and prints. Anchored in lightweight and intricately designed lace and double-ply stretch mesh and tulle, special treatments include allover printed Emporio Armani logos, double strap treatments with minibows and hardware like the Giorgio Armani flying eagle logo.

“I am very pleased to finally offer the American woman the opportunity to wear my underwear designs,” said Giorgio Armani. “While researching this market, my main goal was to satisfy the specific needs of the American woman: comfort, fit, quality and, above all, great design and functionality.”

Source: WWD

Image: Neiman Marcus

It’s always nice to have a little something in your jewelry box to go with that perfect dress… or perfect tee shirt and jeans. This Judith Ripka Garland Pave Cuff is the ideal piece to to add a little glitz to any outfit. Award-winning designer Judith Ripka creates jewelry that is meant to be worn everyday whether with casual wear or evening dress. It’s made of 18-karat yellow gold set with Pavé diamonds; 3.675 total carat weight. Cost for this bit of bling, $17,900.00. It’s almost better than having a man on your arm.

Image: Nordstrom

Well not really, but this looks so much like a hospital gown, I couldn’t resist. A straight-cut silk crepe shirtdress with looped off-center tie has banded cuffs, silk lining and hidden front zip closure. I doubt there are any hospitals that could fit too many of these in their budget. Cost:$2500

By the way, if you just can’t wait to get your hands on this dress, you can pre-order it from the Fall 2008 collection at Nordstrom.