While many people headed to Barney's to see Tavi hit the karaoke with Karlie Kloss, even more went to Madwell's Fashion's Night Out offerings last night on the chance of spotting Alexa Chung. Fans of her collection for the brand can strangely thank the closure of Luella she revealed last night. "Once Luella closed down, I'm telling you, I was gutted," she said. "There was absolutely nothing to wear. So I just had to start making my own clothes".
Dolce & Gabbana celebrates Fashion's Night Out with Anna Wintour and Naomi Campbell
Anna Wintour's second go with Fashion's Night Out saw 1,000 stores around New York stay open late, with plenty of special events - and celebrity appearances - arranged to get shoppers in the mood to spend. For those who trekked around the city in search of stylish fun and maybe an Olsen twin or two, you know it was an ordeal. After the jump, a few of our highlights from the evening.
In only four years Jason Wu has got his designs into 150 stores and yesterday, he took another smart business move by launching his new accessories line featuring bags, shoes and glasses. Not bad for a designer who is still relatively new on the fashion scene.
For S/S11 Wu continued to work with tailoring. Joan Smalls opened the show in a white sheer blouse tucked into tailored trousers which accurately set the tone for the rest of the show. Said wide leg tailored trousers appeared throughout with a range of sheer blouses in black and white. A big white one in particular came with a double breasted blazer and navy blue tailored city shorts. But they were not all the same. Wu also showed polka dot styles to keep us interested.
Ladylike dresses in twill came strapless and belted and as the show went on, Wu experimented with bright colours on dresses and used floral prints on a draped skirt in pink and on a blouse styed with the same tailored trousers but in a high wasted style. Wu's signature cocktail dresses were as strong as ever but what took my eye the most was a white short suit teamed with a black top with a huge black bow and the tailoring on a white double breasted jacket that could easily be a dress.
Many designers are going minimalist on the runways this season, but not Georges Chakra. The opulent designer (showing in New York under his Edition Georges Chakra line) made red-carpet gowns that would be sure to steal a camera snap or two, courtesy of basket weaving, lame, a full treatment of jewels...take your pick.
While at times it was difficult to pick which direction the eye should go, there were real winners in the likes of a simple, curve-enhancing white shift dress and a pewter-coloured satin gown with a thigh-high slit. We hope that front-row attendees like Kelly Rowland and Beverly Johnson took note.
Although I hate to admit it, I'm an avid fan of 'The City' but not much of a fan for Whitney Port's outfit choices but she really surprised me in this white dress with structured detail on the hip. The reality star teamed the dress with subtle red lips and red open toe heels as she announced her new campaign with TRESemme at fashion week yesterday.
What do you think of her look?
Image via Style.com
Citing his inspiration as Miami Beach, Peggy Guggenheim and op art, it's clear that Peter Som is far removed from the issues he faced last year. In the lead up to fashion week last January the designer cancelled his A/W09 show due to Creative Design Studios pulling their financial backing but has since signed a licensing deal with an Italian company and is in a steady position. It became clear in his Spring/Summer 11 offerings that the designer is only look forward and is optimistic about the future.
"I was thinking about bringing joy to clothing," he told Style.com. "To me that's what fashion is all about," and that optimism showed. Prints and colour were everywhere. Floral dresses were styled over purple shirts with bright pink collars, floral shorts came with matching bra tops that could only be worn in Miami weather. Bright blue pinafore dresses appeared, as did a bright blue shorts with a multi-coloured printed sleeveless top. The collection was full of summer dresses all coming in a range of block colours and teamed with sky high Charlotte Olympia heels.
But if like me you usually stick to neutrals and need to take baby steps when it comes to colour, Som provided something for us too. Towards the end of the collection looks featured neutrals but styled with flashes of colour. A black ruffle mini skirt was teamed with a floral shirt with black buttons and a black collar and a white blouse and light blue skirt were given a flash of colour on an orange belt. To end the collection Som showed a series of monochrome looks such as a classic black shift and white draped dress with white and silver horizontal panels.
As usual, Leigh Lezark can do no wrong. She started of the fashion week month strong with this aubergine dress that sat just above the knee, teaming it with a black leather jacket and black heels. I'm not sure if I'm sold with the feathered necklace though but you might disagree.
What do you think?
Max Azria has an infatuation with the minidress, if his Spring '11 collection is anything to go by. The BCBG designer paraded a set of thigh-grazing styles down the runway yesterday, with white and pale grey allowing the silhouettes to speak for themselves. The result? A clean and effortless spring wardrobe for those ready to show a little leg.
Predominantly using free-flowing fabrics like silk and crepe, Azria made fluidity a priority. Even the occasional strapless jumpsuits seemed light and breezy. Pops of orange, pink and canary yellow injected even more youth into the collection, which we could see front-row guests including Alison Brie, Kelly Rowland and Poppy Delevigne snapping up for their wardrobes.
