It's as though Marchesa designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig have heard what we've all been talking about all these years. While the brand has always been a red carpet favourite, you can pretty much forget getting in on the action if you don't have pockets deep enough to pay the four figure starting prices. Thankfully, though, that will change with the launch of their upcoming affordable line and following on with that new accessibility, soon you'll be able to get the Marchesa smell too.
Last week WWD unveiled the bottle for their debut fragrance, Parfume d'Extase. 'Eveningwear evokes an emotion, and this scent does the same thing,' Chapman told the title. So if you think of iris, young violet leaves and freesia when you think of their gowns, you won't be disappointed, as they are the top notes that the fragrance includes. 'We didn't want anything too sweet. Georgina and I don't like perfumes that can smell sort of sickly, so that was very important when we were going through the process.'
Just when we thought that the line-up for the second season of 'Project Runway All Stars' was confirmed, today another change was confirmed.
In case you haven't been following Angela Lindvall, who hosted the show last season, made a surprise departure, which left many speculating that her exit wasn't entirely mutual. Since then Rosie Huntington-Whitely was brought on board as her replacement but recently it was revealed that the model dropped out of the show three weeks before filming was set to begin due to her filming commitments for Mad Max.
The latest change is the news that producers have secured supermodel Carolyn Murphy to take Huntington-Whiteley's place. Aside from that, everything else will stay at the same and Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman will return to the judging panel and Marie Claire's Joanna Coles will continue in her role as the designer's mentor.
Yes, you did read that correctly. Yesterday WWD announced that Marchesa's Georgina Chapman is designing a limited edition shirt for the NFL.
At present no information has been revealed about what we can expect the shirt to look like but what we do know is that it will be unveiled during the NFL's two weeks of kickoff activities in New York starting September 5.
While the partnership doesn't seem like the most natural collaborations, it is reportedly part of a big effort to appeal to the fashion crowd. 'We want to show that you can be a fan by what you wear to work, going to the gym or out at night girlfriends,' the NFL's director of apparel, Rihanna Madden, said in a statement. 'It's also a message of empowerment. It's your team - not your guy's team.' While that might be all well and true, I'm not sure how many women will want to go out socialising in a football shirt but hey, there's a first for everything. What will be interesting, though, is to see how Chapman's ultra feminine aesthetic will translate.
We all knew it already but today Marchesa designers Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig officially confirmed that they are working on a diffusion line. What we didn't know is the price range, which the pair confirmed as being from $150 to $750 and that's pretty good considering that their dresses generally start at the £2,000 mark. WWD reports:
"It's going to be under the Marchesa umbrella, but with a slightly different feel," [Chapman] said. "We have been so specific for such a long time, and the idea to broaden out to a different consumer, and to our same consumer as well. We haven't really looked at that market yet. My dream is to give Marchesa many facets, and that's just one of them."
There's no doubt that the collection will be a success. There aren't many accessible brands that deliver great occasion wear so the collection so there will definitely be a demand for the line. 'I am not really a traditional American sportswear designer, so I am hoping Marchesa will have something to offer that is very different from what's on the floor at present.'
While Marchesa may be loved by women everywhere, not many people can afford the hefty price tag that naturally comes along with their clothes. Compared to other luxury brands the high price points at Marchesa do make sense to certain extent. After all, far from offering up expensive jeans and t-shirts (hello Balmain), their collections don't often extend beyond bridal wear and red carpet worthy gown, which are generally things you would expect to shell out on. If new reports are anything to go by though, that's all about to change.
This morning WWD confirmed that the brand are in talks with LF USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Li & Fung, about launching a new contemporary line and while both parties are staying quiet at the moment 'an announcement could be imminent.'
The line is definitely a good step. In this current climate accessible lines are a proving to be a real earner for even the big brands so it was only a matter of time before Marchesa followed suit. The brand is so well known for glamour so I'm sure that women will buy pieces from the collection to try and tap into that spirit. How designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig will translate the aesthetic of the mainline onto an affordable collection is the challenge.
I never have anything bad to say about Marchesa. Their collections tap into the child in me that loves all things fairytale and it's a formula that continues to work well for them. As always, the fantasy element was present in their fall offerings and translated particualrly on the four dresses that closed the show that were big enough to make the cast of 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' smile. But it wasn't all drama and gowns, as designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig also sent out a selection of shorter styles that were beautiful but a lot more wearable.
Like Prabal Gurung, the collection played with contradictions and contrasts. The show started off in a while and gold colour palette with angelic lace embroidery and developed into darker looks like dresses in black lazer cut leather and lace.
Donna Karan, Queen Rania of Jordan, Sarah Brown and Arianna Huffington
Fashion leaders came together for a cause this week, as Sarah Brown joined forces with Donna Karan and Arianna Huffington this week to host the first-ever Women: Inspiration and Enterprise Symposium in New York. The goal of the event? To celebrate female leadership in business, all while raising funds for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.
A global patron for the alliance, Brown brought together a group of innovators ranging from Ashley Judd to Tavi to inspire other women from across the country. The event culminated in a rooftop fashion show featuring one-off gowns from women designers, including Vivienne Westwood, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa, and L'Wren Scott. Next step? Auctioning the pieces online for the White Ribbon Alliance.
To top it all off, Estelle made a guest appearance to sing a few hits, which left the model representing Chloe dancing her heart out. A bit of inspiration, some solid fashion and a chance to let loose - not a bad combination for an autumn night in the city.
