New York Fashion Week started with a bang last night as the annual amfAR New York gala event took place to kick off this season's festivities. The gala, which raises money for HIV/AIDS research, always see the best of fashion and entertainment come under one roof and as you would expect, the red carpet outfits were strong. Models were particularly on form last night. Joan Smalls looking incredible in a black Givenchy gown, Anja Rubik sported that much loved black and gold Gucci flapper dress and Liya Kebede broke the penchant for gowns by opting for this season's two tone trousers teamed with a white blouse.
Yesterday night saw Calvin Klein help ELLE celebrate their 18th annual ELLE Women in Hollwood Tribute and all eyes were on Elizabeth Olsen, as the young actress picked up the Calvin Klein Collection Emerging Star Spotlight Award for her upcoming role in 'Martha Mrcy May Marlene.
I've been critical of Olsen's fashion's choices in the past but wearing Calvin Klein Collection, naturally, she really impressed me at the event and the look was definitely the best outfit we've seen from her so far making her future red carpet appearances look promising. But she wasn't the only person wearing the brand as ELLE's Joe Zee and Robbie Myers were both wardrobed by the brand as well as celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Naomi Watts and Freida Pinto.
The event was also celebrated in the magazine too as the November issue feature eight different subscribers covers all featuring a selection of this year's honorees.
US ELLE sure know how to host a party. This weekend the magazine celebrated fall's 25 top cultural sensations at a cocktail event hosted by Robbie Myers in the Hamptons.
ELLE editors like Joe Zee and Anne Slowey minged amongst Kathy Griffin, Nicole Miller, Kelly Rutherford and Fabiola Beracasa.
This weekend saw Mary J Blige, Queen Latifah and Elle's Robbie Myers host the second annual Mary J. Blige honors concert held at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.
They say that all publicity is good publicity, and it seems Elle's editor-in-chief, Robbie Myersagrees. Reality television series The City has been barging its way into the Elle offices for quite some time now, and despite showing creative director Joe Zee hiring the somewhat incapable it-girl Olivia Palermo and showcasing Erin the 'power publicist' spending the majority of her time whining about said it-girl, Myers doesn't seem to mind.
"I think we are very aware it makes for interesting television," she explained, while Liz Gateley, MTV's senior vice president for series development backed her up. "Television is still the most powerful medium to get your brand out there" she proclaimed, "And I think Robbie is a smart enough editor to know the power of the medium."
Teen Vogue - who appeared on The Hills for quite some time - decided it was best to cut the contract as the starring girls got older, "As we were going into the fourth season, the girls were getting older. They were going to bars. They were meeting guys." Teen Vogue's Amy Astley explained, "And Teen Vogue is very wholesome", she continued, politely. Good job for The City, Elle isn't so 'wholesome', then?
Whilst daytime television isn't usually high on our list of priorities, Martha Stewart's talk show (aptly titled Martha) offers some fashionable entertainment this month, so we recommend you get your recorders at the ready with us, ladies. Today, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler will be conducting a live tie-dye demonstration, along with a presentation of their SS10 collection.
Tomorrow sees Robbie Myers, Elle director in chief presenting a live fashion show of up and coming designers with Martha, and finally this Friday, Vogue's Andre Leon Talley will join Martha to cook brioche with deviled eggs, and to promote America's Next Top Model, of course. So dust off that DVR, but check your local television listing as the show is syndicated.
According to sources, Robbie Myers and Joe Zee could be rubbing shoulders with Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington. Why you ask? If recent reports are anything to go by, Conde Nast's cut backs are not just about cutting budgets due to the current economic climate. They are said to be trying to buy ELLE from Hachette Filipacchi.
On Monday, CEO Chuck Townsend said: "The [McKinsey] review has led us to a number of decisions designed to navigate the company through the economic downturn and to position us to take advantage of coming opportunities."
Fashion Week Daily claimed that "industry insiders are buzzing about Conde Nast possibly acquiring Elle in its quest to fill their lineup with broader offerings," but nothing has been confirmed.
ELLE editor-in-chief Robbie Myers has everything to smile about. Not only has the magazine's circulation gone up after last years 'Stylista' and it's involvement with 'Project Runway', but also Forbes has announced that they have beaten American Vogue in advertising numbers.
So far in the first quarter of the year, ELLE beat Vogue by 14 pages, which is the first time this has ever happened. What effect this has, I'm sure will soon become apparent.
Starting second from far left: Joe Zee (creative director of ELLE US), Robbie Myers (editor-in-chief of ELLE US), Suzy Menkes (fashion editor of the International Hearld Tribune) and Glenda Bailey (editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar US)
