Donatella Versace doesn't do anything by halves so it was no suprise that the launch of the Versace x H&M collection in New York last night was a swanky affair.
Pier 57 in Manhattan's Meatpacking District was taken over and transformed into a huge runway space to show off the limited edition collection to guests including Blake Lively, Uma Thurman, Oprah Winfrey, Sophia Coppola, Alexander Wang and Jessica Alba. As reported, Prince and Nicki Minaj both hit the stage to perform at the after-party after sitting front row at the show.
“It was the perfect evening, so glamorous and special," Versace said today. "I loved celebrating the launch of Versace for H&M here in New York, an iconic city in which to showcase this iconic collection. Now I cannot wait for it to finally reach stores and be available to the world." When interviewed last night, H&M's creative director, Margareta van der Bosch, couldn't be any more complimentary about the retailer's partnership with the brand. “Donatella Versace has taken us at H&M on an incredible journey since she began designing the collection for us earlier this year, and last night’s fashion event was the perfect culmination," she explained. "She has given us the essence of the Versace brand, and last night that came to life with a magical catwalk show that we’ll never forget.”
Oprah Winfrey sure knows how to throw a party. On Wednesday she hosted a huge event for an evening with Ralph Lauren at New York's Lincoln Centre and as you would expect, the guest list reads like a whose who of the entertainment and fashion industry.
Guests include Diane von Furstenberg, Jessica Alba, Naomi Watts, Uma Thurman and Prabal Gurung. The best looks of the night came from Kerry Washington who looked beautiful in a black gown with gold halter neck detail and 20s hair and Camilla Belle in a figure hugging black gown with sheer detail along the neckline.
A big event wouldn't be complete without at least one wardrobe malfunction, and Jessica Stam was a prominent victim at Monday's Met Ball. When she put on her slinky Rachel Roy dress at 6 p.m., it split up the back - leading to some last-minute stitching before red-carpet time. Other guests were all across the board with their outfits of choice, and hopefully with slightly less complication.
The evening's co-host, Oprah Winfrey, opted for custom-made Oscar de la Renta, while Anna Wintour picked Chanel, since she admits about Karl Lagerfeld, "whatever he says, I obey." Shockingly, no one picked Armani - normally a staple - but Sarah Jessica Parker was proud to debut her first Halston Heritage gown, for which she now serves as president. Erin Fetherston, now a guest designer and creative consultance for Juicy Couture, created a Bespoke Juicy Couture velour gown for her appearance.
As for the guys, Marc Jacobs went casual in a baseball cap, and Hamish Bowles and Ralph Lauren wore jeans. Noted Bowles: "It's the first time I wore jeans since I was 19." Welcome back to denim.
And Lady Gaga? She might have skipped the night's red carpet, but she wore a black Prada shawl-collar tuxedo inside to practice for her musical set. At least she's keeping it chic.
When supermodel and ex Victoria's Secret angel Tyra Banks launched her talk show, 'The Tyra Banks Show', five years ago, her main aim was "to give young women the 'girlfriend' they want to hang out with and the role model they need". At the time, it had been created to replace the 'Ricki Lake Show' and was intended to offer a daytime talk show for younger women. The show has gone from strength to strength since its inception, so much so that Ms Banks even bagged another Daytime Emmy Award earlier this year for Outstanding Talk Show - pipping the likes of Dr Phil to the post.
Despite the success of the show, Banks has decided that the time has come to bid farewell in order to focus on other projects. She explained: "This will be the last season of the The Tyra Show...I've been loving having fun coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past five years." Already busy with the America's Next Top Model franchise, Banks has now decided to turn her hand to film production and has recently set up Bankable Studios, her New-York based production company. It would seem that Ms Banks already has a celebrity following in the form of filmmaker Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, who are both said to have supported the move.
While this year's co-chairs included Justin Timberlake, Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss, it isOprah Winfrey and Gap’s Creative Director, Patrick Robinson’s turn at the Costume Institute's next exhibit at the Met in May next year – which is entitled " American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity."
The collection, which will include pieces designed by Coco Chanel, Madame Grès, Charles James, Jeanne Lanvin, Edward Molyneux, Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Madeleine Vionnet, among others, will consist of approximately 75 outfits - many of which haven't been seen by the public in decades. Coming from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection, the haute couture pieces were transferred to the Met in January and will be on display there from May through August in 2010.
