The Fashion Industry

Image: AOL Small Business

I don’t like western wear but that’s not what this is about. Rockmount shirts have been worn by everyone from Elvis Presley in “Love Me Tender” to Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain.”  The founder, Jack Weil was born in Evansville, Ind., and came to Denver in 1928. And here’s what’s so fascinating. Mr. Weil is 107 years old. At 107, he still goes to work every day and is the oldest CEO in the world.

Rockmount has kept its headquarters in the same brick building where it all began in 1946 on Wazee Street in Denver’s Lower Downtown. Belts, cowboy hats, colorful ties and the ever-popular shirts adorn the first floor. When Mr. Weil celebrated his 100th birthday, city officials changed the name of Wazee Street to Jack A. Weil Way.

you can visit Rockmount Ranch Wear here

Source: Associated Press

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: Celeste’s Smorgasbord

What the heck is this? I think my Aunt Ruth has a pot… I mean hat… just like this one with a philodendron in it.  This woman is pretending to look so chic. Do you suppose she knows that’s a flower pot on her head?

Image: Petside

The catwalk was actually  a catwalk on Thursday when show cats dressed in everything from an Elvis costume to a sequined satin dress were strutting their stuff at New York’s Algonquin Hotel.

The feline fashion show unfolded in the dining room where Dorothy Parker presided over famously catty Round Table literary luncheons in the 1920s.

Thursday’s show benefited an animal welfare group and honored Matilda, the Algonquin’s resident cat, who just turned 13.

She is the hotel’s ninth cat since the tradition started in the ’30s, when actor John Barrymore dubbed a bedraggled stray Hamlet.

Source: AP

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: Pamoyo

A German fashion label has come up with a unique idea to make its designs and patterns available for free on the internet. Pamoyo, based in Berlin, are publishing their designs on their website under a Creative Commons license. This is a a major departure for the fashion industry, where companies usually keep their designs closely guarded with patents.

The Pamoyo website allows users to download A4-sized PDF files of the raw designs, to create and alter in any way they see fit.

According to Cecilia Palmer, one of the company’s chief designers:

“Everybody’s free to use [the designs], as long as they attribute us as the source,” “If they make new works based on this, they must publish them under the same Creative Commons license. People can also contribute their own ideas to the designs, potentially being able to sell clothes they have designed through the company.

“Part of our philosophy is not to be a one-man band, but to involve the creativity of other designers into the label. I would really love it if one of our designs gets worked into something completely new and comes back to be part of our collection.”

Their first pattern, a shirt from the Styled With Heart collection is available on their site now. It’s going to be interesting to see where this goes. You can check it out here.

Source: BBC

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: 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.

Image: Neiman Marcus

Here’s the perfect dress… if you like your silk sheets tied in knots that is. This  pure silk sour green dress from Burberry has an all over knotted detail, jewel neckline and short sleeves. Obviously you’ll need a pencil thin figure to wear this as the knots and folds are going to add bulges to your bulges.  Made in Italy, this dress can be found at Neiman Marcus and will set you back $5995.00. I think I’ll pass. I need to put gas in the car this week.