Monday, February 28, 2011

Falling Prices In Franklin

The blogosphere was abuzz today with the news that country singer and actress LeAnn Rimes has dropped the price on her custom-built home in Franklin, Tennessee. Rimes and her husband, backup dancer Dean Sheremet, bought a 5.21 acre hunk of property in the gated Avalon community in 2006. The couple then built a 13,380 square foot mansion which they put on the market in 2009 for $7.45 million. The home has had few price cuts and is now listed at $6.249 million.

The home has four bedrooms and includes public rooms on a grand scale including formal living and dining rooms, an expansive kitchen, large den, home theater and a second kitchen with a stone back wall which is shown in the listing pictures. Although the outside of the house has a faux English country look, the inside is modern and urban. The master suite is done in gray and white tones with a dark hardwood floor and the master bathroom features marble floors and a glass shower that looks out over the property. We don't have too many pictures but the home is also said to have a yoga room and wiring to allow a music studio to be installed.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Christopher Kane; Douglas Booth

Fashion: Kane and able

He's been taking inspiration from SodaStreams, and Christopher Kane's prospects certainly couldn't be fizzier: having scooped the British Fashion Council's annual Fashion Fund award, the Scottish prodigy stole the show at London Fashion Week with his granny-chic crochet knits and sequinned sheer dresses adorned with liquid-filled plastic detailing. And lest anyone forget he has the commercial instinct to match his creative nous, today sees the Milan launch of his latest collection for Versace's revitalised diffusion line Versus – kan-ing it, indeed.

Face to watch: Douglas Booth

Douglas Booth More than the sum of his cheekbones, this model-cum-actor stirred nostalgia as an eerily convincing Boy George in Worried About the Boy, and will surely stir hearts as Christopher Isherwood's lover in the BBC's upcoming Christopher and His Kind.

Lexpionage: The F list, n.

The group of feckless celebrities who long ago gave up on promising careers to devote their time to pouting on Fashion Week front rows. Also includes the desperate progeny of genuine stars

Social networking: Match the tweet to the star

Keith Chegwin, Katie Price, Russell Brand; Josie Long

1. Wow who knew Justin Beiber hated abortion? Unbelieberble!

2. Huge thanks for the welcome backs. Sadly, I'm still getting tons of hassle, Again. I'll just ignore it & see how we get on. But THANK YOU

3. So jealous of Russell Kane's legs haha

4. Should we have sold weapons to a dictator who sounds like George VI trying to pronounce the name of a cartoon duck

Answers at the bottom of the page

App watch: Bump

Bump has come a long way since its birth a couple of years ago. What started as an ingenious way to share phone contacts – simply bump two phones together and the data is synced – now does the same for photos, music and apps, while a text-messaging service allows unlimited texts between fellow bumpers. Free from iTunes store

On the radar: Because some things are still worth getting excited about...

Festivals: Kapow Comic Con

Fanboys of the nation unite for this London variant on the famed San Diego festival. Launched by Kick Ass scribe Mark Millar and taking place from 9-10 April, it will run the gamut of geekiness, from Marvel to Misfits

Friday, February 25, 2011

The always uniquely attired beauty made her first public appearance

While we'd love to stay swooning over the wild bachelor party we're hoping Prince Harry will throw his big bro, there are slightly more death-defying matters at hand. Like, the fact that Kate Middleton has just been inducted into royal crowd surfing, and boating.

The always uniquely attired beauty made her first public appearance yesterday since announcing her engagement with Prince William in November.

So how'd she look?

Wearing feathers upon her head and a chic camel coat, Kate met with locals in North Wales, where she learned how to launch her first boat, thanks to future hubby and (we hope) the next King of England.

While the most scrutinized couple in the world gets their hands dirty together, guests are frantically preparing their own outfits and schedules for the wedding day, especially after all 1,900 classic gold-encrusted invites have been received (minus bad-girl Sarah Ferguson's).

But is Kate neglecting some big fans of hers?

There's a loon who thinks so!

Nineteen-year-old Estibalis Chavez has been camped outside of Mexico City's British Embassy for two weeks petitioning for one of those pretty invites to Kate and Wills' wedding.

The royal fanatic has been passing the time by painting portraits of the prince and soon-to-be princess, as well as giving out handwritten flyers reading: "Are they going to let me die just because they won't give me an invitation to the royal wedding?"

Is this woman a Twi-hard, or something? Extreme, much?

Well, turns out the royal couple knows about the starving girl, desperately vying to a royal place-card holder, but Buckingham Palace has released a statement that there are no more spots available.

Chavez told the Daily Mail she was born the day Princess Di died, and it is only right she attend Williams' wedding.

Might as well eat something, babe, 'cause Kate's got other plebian types on her mind:

John Haley, who drips brewstees at his joint Old Boot Inn in Stanford Dingley near Kate's hometown, will be a welcomed commoner amongst the royals at Westminster Abbey on April 29.

The pub owner said a new, pricey suit is in order for the shindig since he has nothing fancy enough for the occasion. Sounds like the perfect excuse to get your fashion duds in order, sir! Every commoner is pulling out the stylish stops for this one, trust.

Now, since we've already established everyone's getting tanked for this romantic spectacle, let's take an even trendier turn in royal news...

Hats off to you Philip Tracey, the lucky hat designer who will be making the headpieces for the royal wedding. And, we know Kate loves her hats. Guaranteed, she won't leave the palace without one.

The brilliant designer has created fantastic pieces for Alexander McQueen, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, and even Kate's future step-mum-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Corwall. No surprise there, Tracey must have been a hot topic of discussion during that secretive brunch the two went on just weeks ago.

Now, we just wish Ms. Middleton would spill on who's designing that fab dress of hers. We're still holding out for Victoria Beckham, who is supposedly set to be designing Kate's princess wardrobe post-wedding. But no word on the actual dress. Still, rumor has it the Beckhams received one of those invites. I mean, you have to invite your wedding-dress designer, right?

Either way, let's hope Kate stops at headpieces when it comes to following in the footsteps of Camilla, come nuptial time, and beckons on Mrs. Beckham to be her signature style muse, at the very least, for the most important day of her life.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Madonna's Daughter Cringes At Fashion Choices

Madonna's teenage daughter, Lourdes, cringes over her youthful fashion mistakes.

The 14-year-old starlet - who designs her own label Material Girl with her pop star mother - has revealed she often looks back on clothes she wore when she was younger and wonders what she was thinking.

She said: "I used to look at the outfits that I wore when I was 11 and I was like, 'That's really ugly.' I mean, I just thought I was the coolest kid ever and actually wasn't."

While Madonna loves to steal clothes from Lourdes' closet, the fashionable teen revealed her mother doesn't appreciate it when she in turn tries to borrow from her.

Asked if her mother steals her style, Lourdes replied: "She does actually, she wears my shoes a lot and she wears my accessories, and I go into her closet. I'm not supposed to take things without asking, but she's always taking things without asking. I mean, she gets mad at me when I take things without asking her, but. she has such amazing like clothes, so it's like kind of annoying sometimes."

Lourdes also revealed how her mother gives her clothing budget but she always tried to push it.

She said: "Obviously, there's a limit and my mom will get mad if I spend too much. She kind of says when you don't really need it, you don't need to go shopping. But I always end up kind of...pushing it."

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

As designers presented their fall 2011 collections last week

As designers presented their fall 2011 collections last week in New York during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, it was clear they have high hopes for the economy. It was back to luxe and away from the basics.

Tadashi Shoji, Carmen Marc Valvo, Badgley Mischka and Monique Lhuillier were among designers who showed stunning evening gowns and ensembles for after 5.

Carolina Herrera's evening separates also were elegant, but she applied the Herrera touch once again to ladylike suits and dresses.

Several collections gave a nod to the silhouettes and colors of the '60s and '70s. And some, Tory Burch for example, themed much of their collections to that era. Baby boomers in the audience related to the gauchos in Burch's collection. Diane Von Furstenberg also showed gauchos for next fall.

Here are some of the other looks that were seen in several collections:

Colors

Many designers went for bright hues, with Betsey Johnson leading the pack.

Favorites for fall include deep teal, bamboo, cedar green, midnight blue, camel and a variety of browns, as well as gray shades, from dove to charcoal.

Fur

Both faux and real, fur coats were popular on the runways, as were fur trims such as collars.

Mix of patterns

Don't be surprised to find up to five prints in one ensemble. Sometimes the pattern mix is subtle, such as two sizes of checks, but some designers combined splashy prints with subtle ones and everything in between.

Mix of textures

Chunky knits with nubby tweeds, smooth leather with lace and filmy silks with tweeds are a few examples of what you can expect to see this fall.

Color blocking

Chunks of color appeared in some collections such as Jill Stuart's dresses and several pieces from Narciso Rodriguez. But they weren't all bright hues. Several designers used the always-right black and white combination, as in Yeohlee's white jacket with black patch pockets and trim.

Red

Vivid reds jumped off the runway in many collections. Adrienne Vittadini sent veteran model Carol Alt down the runway in a red sheath.

Pant legs of every width

Full to narrow pants and some flares were in evidence, sometimes in the same collection. That was the case with Carolina Herrera. And very wide drapey pants from Luca Luca had luxurious appeal. Jumpsuits, another look that harkens to the '70s, also showed up in a few collections.

Hosiery

In many collections, sheer black hosiery replaced the ubiquitous black tights of this year. Textured and patterned tights were also worn, many times as an element of the mixed-patterns look.

Hemlines

Not surprisingly, some designers stuck with the mid-thigh skirt length, but the options of hems from just below the knee and some to mid-calf and longer were plentiful. Designers such as Nanette Lepore showed every hem length possible, from thigh-high to ankle length.

Prints of all kinds

From feminine floral prints to fabric that looked like it was painted with a very wide brush, prints were everywhere.

Accent on sleeves

So many fall shows in the past have featured sleeveless looks, but that was less the case for fall 2011. Sleeves are getting attention with lace, leather and fur trims, along with other interesting details.
Menswear looks

DKNY, Max Azria and Tommy Hilfiger all featured fabrics and styles inspired by their menswear collections.

Pleats

Accordion pleats showed up in several collections, including Vera Wang's. Bebe, a much less expensive line than Wang, featured flirty, short accordion-pleated skirts.

Capes

You won't have to be a superhero to wear a cape next fall. Several collections had them, including Adrienne Vittadini, Nanette Lepore and Luca Luca.

The extras

Boots will return next fall, especially ankle boots, many with tall wedge heels.

Leather gloves in black, neutrals and vivid colors such as red, pink and mustard will be worn for both day and evening.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Poulter thrives in social media

An exhilarating ice bath and soothing massage followed the next night, which, in turn, was followed by a dining experience that included chicken noodle soup, short ribs and mashed potatoes. The following morning gave way to a scenic reconnaissance mission at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in the hills north of Tucson.

"I find Twitter fascinating, to be able to give your fans what they normally wouldn't get at," Poulter said. "Hopefully I can go from 1.1 million to 3, 4 million people. It's just another challenge for me.

"It's crazy where technology —Facebook, Twitter and all that stuff — has taken us. It's only going to get bigger, so why not go with the ride?"

Poulter discovered how big Twitter is when he posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Prince Charles at last year's Ryder Cup. Poulter was unaware that his white Power Balance bracelet had popped out from under his tuxedo. Sales in the bracelets immediately spiked.

"You can't buy that kind of media exposure," said Poulter's agent, R.J. Nemer. "Ian didn't do it purposely. He didn't even know the bracelet was showing when he sent out the picture.

"He's so big on Twitter that his sponsor relationships have been impacted. Now, when we talk to a company, they will ask us if he will tweet about the product or the product's website. Ian doesn't do it to be a pitch man. He does it because he's authentic. He's very comfortable in his own skin, very comfortable sharing his thoughts, his experiences, his life, and I think people who follow him on Twitter sense that with him.

That includes holding contests on Twitter that result in prizes — clubs, clothing, tickets — given to his followers. And in Wednesday's opening-round match against Stewart Cink, who, by the way, has 1.2 million followers on Twitter, Poulter will wear an outfit picked by fans during the PGA Tour's "Dress Ian" campaign.

All of this social media hasn't gotten in the way of his golf game. Last year, in an all-England final against Paul Casey, Poulter earned his 13th win as a professional and first on American soil in a 4-and-2 victory. He has shined in other match-play events, especially in the 2008 and 2010 Ryder Cups. And he said his match-play prowess has had a positive effect on his stroke-play talents as he searches for his first major championship.

"I love the challenge of beating your opponent in 18 holes. I love the fact you are under pressure right from the get-go," Poulter said. "My game is in shape. I've been in the gym. I took the last two weeks off so I will be fresh. Hopefully, I will come out with all my guns blazing."

Monday, February 21, 2011

the Mittals move into fashion with Escada

Sitting in the ArcelorMittal offices in Berkeley Square, a marble and glass maze from where her father-in-law and husband run their business empire, she is adamant that rescuing Escada is no vanity project. 'This is not a short-term proposition for me. I feel a great responsibility, first to the 2,000 staff, and also to the brand, its heritage and its history.'

When it was put up for sale by the administrators, the Munich-based label attracted a huge amount of interest, with up to ten suitors making it to the second round of bidding. In winning the auction, for an estimated €100 million, including the company's debts, Megha saw off many established bidders. Among them was Escada scion Sven Ley and his glamorous British banker wife Zoe Appleyard. (To deepen the blow, Appleyard and Ley claimed to be friendly with the Mittals, both families having homes in St Moritz.) So how did a woman with minimal experience of luxury fashion pull off this coup? 'I was very committed from the start,' she explains. 'My goal is to bring Escada back to its days of glory and to make it have a significance and relevance again.' Megha promised to invest heavily in the label and, unlike Ley, said she would back the plans of the current management, led by chief exec-utive Bruno Sälzer. On learning that she had triumphed, some of the staff in Escada's Munich headquarters apparently wept for joy.

Today, dressed in a knee-length shift from the A/W 2010 collection (she only wears Escada and spent her own money filling her wardrobe with the label directly after the acquisition), it is hard to imagine a better ambassador for the brand. With her discreet diamond stud earrings, French manicure and glossy, raven blow-dry, Megha looks ravishingly polished. But even if she is the living embodiment of the ideal Escada customer, turning around the brand will not be easy.

Escada was founded in 1976 by Sven Ley's father Wolfgang and his late mother Margaretha, a former model who was the chief designer until her death in 1992. Named after a racehorse, Escada soon proved itself a winner, with Margaretha's colourful and intricate designs receiving critical acclaim and gaining devoted fans such as Brooke Shields, Demi Moore and Jerry Hall. It also became one of the most popular labels on the red carpet: 'Escada's history, heritage and DNA is steeped in glamour. Kim Basinger got an Oscar in Escada a few years ago [1998]; we always dress people for the BAFTAs and the Oscars,' says Megha.

But in recent years the label had gone into decline and Wolfgang Ley was forced out in 2006. Sliding sales and a rapidly revolving boardroom door led to mounting losses, with the company going €70 million into the red for 2007/2008. After bond holders rejected Sälzer's attempt to restructure its debts in August 2009, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy protection. Only a month earlier, it had unveiled its S/S 2010 collection at Berlin Fashion Week, with Diane Kruger in the front row. For even as the label struggled, Escada retained its red-carpet appeal, with Katie Holmes, Helen Mirren and Hilary Swank all remaining devotees.

Megha believes the brand needs to broaden its appeal in order to flourish, and wants to focus on 'key pieces' rather than imagining that her customers will buy top-to-toe Escada. Flicking through the lookbooks for S/S 2011, she effuses at every page. Her voice is deep and rich, her well-spoken accent betraying her privileged Indian childhood. 'With Escada's main line, the essence is elegance, glamour and femininity. We wanted to keep that essence but modernise the collection. So it's less formal, more relaxed. The cut is sharper, a little bit more masculine. The collection is more minimal, we've done away with a lot of the fussy detailing. Before, in a jacket, women wanted something more constructed, now they want softer tailoring. And now we have leather and a jumpsuit.' The clothes certainly have a younger vibe, with none of the stuffy ladies-who-lunch approach of the old regime.

One of Megha's earliest moves was to bring in the Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders to create a capsule collection for the second line, Escada Sport. The 20-piece collection, which includes handbags, will be in stores in October. Like Escada, Saunders, who will unveil his eponymous label's A/W 2011 collection at London Fashion Week tomorrow evening, is renowned for his use of colour. 'His aesthetic resonates with ours,' Megha says of the collaboration. 'There's a lot of colour in his collection, a lot of soft tailoring, it's very chic but also easy to wear; a good fit for what we are trying to do with Escada Sport.' Saunders describes his designs for Escada as 'colourful, feminine but [with] a youthful energy. Easy, smart day dresses, pleated skirts teamed with sweaters [and] blocking vibrant colours with playful, graphic prints.'

Under her watch, too, Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli (Leonardo DiCaprio's on-off squeeze) has been made the face of Escada's fragrance. Refaeli was in the front row of Escada Sport's show at Berlin Fashion Week last month, where she was introduced to Megha. 'She embodies youth and energy. All the right qualities that we want to
associate with Escada.'

While Megha's role is pri-marily financial - she sits on the board and is a brand ambassador for the fashion house - the clothing industry is in her blood. She grew up in Hyderabad where her parents have a large textiles business, making everything from cotton yarn to the finished garment. 'India has a great heritage for textiles, and I grew up in that atmosphere. We always had beaders and fabric advisors coming in and out of my mum's door.' She even worked for a short time at the family business before she married.

Megha's formidable drive, ambition and sharp business brain are traits she says she inherited from her parents. Although her family were very wealthy, she describes her childhood as 'simple and happy', with her parents encouraging her to focus on her studies. 'We had a very family-oriented life. My parents were very pro-academia, so life centred around school and the family.'

After attending a 'large, quite academically pushy' private school, Megha went to university in the US, studying finance and strategic management at Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton business school. 'I loved it. It was very international. I think you really got a very good sense of the wider world, especially coming from India. Also, I was alone for the first time, away from family, so it was quite character building. And I met my husband there,' she says, a smile spreading across her face.

She was just 17. Aditya, who was studying business and is a year older than his wife, had spent most of his childhood in Indonesia, where his father had bought a neglected steel plant shortly after Aditya was born. For Aditya it was love at first sight. 'I saw her and fell in love with her,' he has said. 'She saw me and hated me. It took me two years to win her over.' As I recite his quote, Megha's businesslike composure briefly evaporates, and she bursts out laughing. 'I think I was very focused,' she says carefully, before dissolving into high-pitch giggles again. 'I wasn't looking to get sidetracked by distractions.' She pauses. 'My first instinct was wrong and I obviously misjudged him very badly, let's put it that way.' Despite her initial misgivings, she finally realised the pair's similarities: while both are extremely driven, they also both believe that family is the primary concern.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

toddler-friendly restaurants

Fashion: Joined at the hip

The marriage of hipster actress Chloë Sevigny and hipster label Opening Ceremony is a union of fashion genius. Channel her distinct and urban wondrousness! Buy into a brand that can do no wrong! Even if you're too cool to care what the fashion pack are wearing, you'll fall in love with the print T-shirts and cutesy dresses in the range. Available now at Harvey Nichols.

Face to watch: Kate Tempest

Having made her name on the spoken-word scene, this searing south London poet/MC is set to whip up a musical storm as frontwoman of alternative hip-hop trio Sound of Rum. Their debut single "Slow Slow" is released a week tomorrow

Social networking: Match the tweet to the star

Jimmy Carr; Calvin Harris; Jonathan Ross; Jedward

1. Now the shower is flooding the bathroom!... Save the towels! They are meant to dry not wet

2. I've been eating a Creme Egg every day for almost 2 weeks now and I can confirm there has been no variation in quality whatsoever

3. I'm not even sure they're going to do a Radiohead Glee

4. What is it with Germans and canniballism?

Answers below

App watch #6: Confession

Too busy to go to church for confession? Then do it virtually, with this Papally approved app. The ecclesiastically themed interface features a handy sin tick-box feature, along with a "confessions walk-through" that allows you to input your worst offences – password-protected, naturally. £1.19 for the iPhone

Lexpionage: Firthaliser, n.

1. A bumbling Englishman who, once sprinkled over a production, will sprout gold come awards season.

2. A dangerous substance to women; causes hearts to flutter, may induce swooning

On the radar: Because some things are still worth getting excited about...

Theatre: One-on-One Festival

Series of "plays" involving one actor, one audience member – including Adrian Howells, who invites the audience to get interactive. Tickets, obviously at a premium, go on sale at 10am on Thursday from bac.org.uk

Music: Those Dancing Days

In these dark days of the Saturdays, this feisty Swedish indie-pop quintet are a girl group to cherish. For proof, we direct you to their hook-laden second album Daydreams & Nightmares when it's released on 7 March

Friday, February 18, 2011

Designers are feeling texture for next fall

Oscar de la Renta's patchwork coat in full floral, embroidered, striped, Jacquard glory told the story well Wednesday as New York Fashion Week headed into a final, furious stretch of runway shows.

Even for de la Renta's well-heeled woman, "It's all about little thrills," said Ken Downing, fashion director at Neiman Marcus. "Designers are inventing all these ideas of interesting fabrics."

It's not your usual mixed media as we saw last autumn. Now, Downing said, "It's hitting a fever pitch."

The heart of the J. Mendel house remains with fur, but the runway of Gilles Mendel was also dripping in luxe beading and appliques. No time for basics in the shoe collection he debuted. Too busy with black broadtail to the ankle, black suede to the knee and mocha-colored silk satin up the thigh.

A black, one-shoulder sheer by Michael Kors had ONLY the print as cover up top. His belted animal print coat in caramel is ready to be stroked.

Technique pleases Downing. It creates allure in the details. A sequined sheer scarf is a whisper in smoky gray as it teeters atop an updo on Donna Karan's runway.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

It was all there: glamour, luxury, color.

De la Renta isn't trendy, even if many of the trends that have made the rounds of the runways – texture, metallics, long layers and man-tailoring, among them – were offered here.

These clothes are for women looking for the special investment pieces that can be worn a lifetime.

He's particularly known for embellishment, embroidery and show-stopping eveningwear. Come fall, coats surely will be on that short list. Many were fur-cashgora combos and cashmere crocheted cardigans with fur hoods gave new life to a standby silhouette.

Daytime dresses were slim, some with a simple belt at the waist or a ruffle around the neck. He did not shy away from color: There were bright blues, greens and reds.

Options for black-tie include a sparkly midnight blue V-neck, long-sleeve gown with embroidered bursts that looked like nighttime stars. The belle of the ball didn't get a full length gown. She wore a gold floral-threadwork embroidered organza dress that hit below the knee.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

somehow always finds his place in current fashion

On Park Avenue in New York City on Wednesday, master couturier, Oscar de la Renta presented a collection that was simply opulent.  With over 45 years as a designer he is no stranger to luxury and de la Renta piled beautiful textures, patterns, and colors for New York Fashion Week.

Dominican-born Oscar de la Renta is never trendy, but somehow always finds his place in current fashion.  Many designers including Peter Som, Diane von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, and many others chose fur, feathers, and beautiful patterns...as did de la Renta.   His models wore fox-brimmed hats and were simply gorg in metallic and gold embroidered jackets.  The cashmere crocheted cardigans, also trimmed with fur matched the luxe setting.  Many of his dresses suggest ethnic Russian and Moroccan undertones, while the look is decidedly for a wealthier woman.

Was the collection extravagent?  Yes.  Was the collection over-the-top?  Always.  Do we want every single piece in the new Oscar de la Renta collection?  Umm...hell yeah.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Man Who Checks Coats

New York Fashion Week attendees wait in line at the coat check, which can hold up to 450 coats before workers must turn people away. The dominant color: black.
Jesse Steel has a bit of unsolicited fashion advice for the stylish attendees of Fashion Week: Ditch the black coats.

If the runway-watching crowds really want to make his day, they would also empty the pockets on their any-color-but-black coats of all important belongings before checking them with his fellow staffers at the coat check.

“When people lose their tickets they need to describe their coats — and I can tell you, half the coats in here are black Burberry,” Steel said from the back of the coat check area at Mercedes-Benz New York Fall Fashion Week. “And then people come back asking for their cellphone from their pockets, and it takes forever to dig everything back out.”

Steel, 23, is normally a golf pro who competes in tournaments. But he comes from a long line of coat-checking professionals, and this week he’s helping out in the family trade. His mother Betti started a checking company, called Hang It Up, some 25 years ago with her sister and mother. They now have contracts to provide staff at coat rooms all over New York City, including the ones at Lincoln Center.

Until Fashion Week ends on Thursday, Steel is consigned to 14-hour days of accepting coats in exchange for claim tickets. One perk: he had the chance to meet designer Betsey Johnson last week. Steel said she was really cool, but he doubts he will cross paths with any other big-name designers.

“I think they have someone carrying their coats for them,” he said.

Just like in the fashion shows themselves, there is a VIP section for special coats. American Express, which sponsors the coat check, has a rack at the front of the room for card holders.

Inside the tents, the space carved for coats to squat while their owners mingle is about seven feet across in most places, and it snakes into a corridor 60 feet deep. There is room for about 450 coats in total, and the check hits capacity three times a day, Steel said. Everyone involved seems to wish the space was a little larger.

“Once we max out we’re done, so we have to wait to swap out new coats,” explained Garvin Baptiste. The Trinidad-born coat checker works as a greeter at the Marriott Marquis when he isn’t at Fashion Week. Sometimes Baptiste sneaks a non-VIP coat onto the VIP rack just to make extra room.

“We just rush in circles, try to stay out of each others’ way, and try not to hit each other,” Baptiste said of the hustle and bustle in the back room of the crowded coat check.

Baptiste and Steel are constantly doing favors for guests. They’re not supposed to accept packages or bags, but Steel does it anyway since he feels bad watching people lug things into a fashion show. When one woman flung a box of shoes into the check room and took off for the bathroom without bothering to grab a ticket, Steal patiently waited for her outside of the ladies’ room.

Earlier in the week, a mother checked a — you guessed it — Burberry coat for her daughter, who would return later to claim it without a ticket. Steel told the girl to give him a secret password, and they agreed on the name of her dog. ”The daughter came up to me and said, ‘My dog’s name is Wellington,’ and I gave her the coat. Little things like that make this work,” he said.

The challenge for Steel, who is usually working with four other workers per shift, is dealing with the monotony of 14-hour days in such a tight space.

“It’s more tedious than difficult,” he said. “Tedious because I’m here every day. But the paycheck’s gonna be good, and no one does tedious things if they’re not getting paid.”

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

crocodile trim boldly framed the shouldlers

When I opened the program notes for the Dennis Basso Fall/Winter 2011 show, the first word I saw was “haberdashery.” So I knew we were in for something good.

But as the show progressed I quickly realized that one word couldn’t begin to fully describe the collection. The clothes I saw today at Lincoln Center communicated power, confidence and feline aggression–a conquoring lioness or snow leopard surveying her realm could hardly look more regal than Basso’s women did today.

In his opening notes Basso says the collection is an interpretation of men’s haberdashery. Indeed, several of his pieces were cashmeres woven into dresses, skirts, and jackets, and the hooded anoraks, flared vests and hand-embroidered chiffons all evoked that skill.

The furs were stunning: dyed Russian sable in smoke, khaki and graphite; lynx, kidassia, fox, broadtail and chinchilla in spice tones. Embroidered silk with crocodile trim boldly framed the shouldlers, head and waist; a hand-knit black cashmere halter top with embroidered evening skirt was the show finale.

Each of the 42 looks in the collection emphasised a greater point–the sillhouette–and to great effect. Halfway through the show I glanced over at the faces of front-row viewers and saw on them expressions of excitement and wonder. Several young women sat in open-mouth awe.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine lingerie; Simone Rocha; Patrick Wolf; The Big Sleep Out

Fashion: Pants to love

The words "Valentine" and "underwear" go together like "big screaming row", but you can avoid the usual red lace-trimmed arguments this year with Topshop's latest designer lingerie collaborations from London-based designers Richard Nicoll and Danielle Scutt. The former plays to the modern femme fatale, with sheer black and satin chiffon, while Scutt's woman is a frillier but no less feisty type in an animal-print bra or pyjama-stripe playsuit (below). They're in store tomorrow, priced from £45

Face to watch: Simone Rocha

She's the daughter of the famed fashion designer John, but Rocha's edgier, tailored couture speaks for itself. Expect her to make waves at next week's London Fashion Week, where she will head up the Fashion East show

Lexpionage: Torresian, adj

1. The state of being an inevitable disappointment due to circumstances beyond the individual's control; for example, not being worth the equivalent of 50 Bugatti Veyrons.

2. Looking better in blond than auburn

Social networking: Match the tweet to the star

Paul Daniels; Derren Brown; Jenny Eclair; Julian Clary

1 Is watching Glee meant to make you feel sick?

2 Spent last night finishing off my Dad. Been dying to say that since I started the painting. Today I start on mum

3 I shall go to bed now and let the jibes wash over me into the night

4 Yes even our steaks are tagged in South London that is how hard we are

App watch: Ethical buying

Consumers wanting to keep a green sheet can now call on this digital version of the Ethical Company Organisation's Good Shopping Guide, assessing the environmental, animal welfare and human rights records of products and services from teas (go for Yorkshire over Tetley) to travel agents. £2.99 for the iPhone and iPad

On the radar: Because some things are still worth getting excited about...

Music: Patrick Wolf

We can't get enough of "The City", the latest slice of stomping indie-pop from this criminally undervalued pop eccentric. Catch it at bit.ly/eE6mUQ ahead of the launch of his fifth album, Lupercalia, in May

Charity: The Big Sleep Out

Fancy getting an altruistic night's kip? The Big Issue Foundation is looking for 240 people to join it in a fundraising sleepover in London's Old Spitalfields Market on 18 March – you can register forthwith at bigissue.com

Children's: Dan Zanes & Friends

For a half-term excursion that won't have the adults sulking, this alt-rocker turned "kindie"– that's kids' indie – songsmith is just the ticket. He'll be playing at the Southbank Centre from 24-27 Feb (southbankcentre.co.uk)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

so strong in spring collections

It looks like that ’70s vibe, so strong in spring collections, will be sticking around at least for another season. Lubov and Max Azria must have been feeling it when they got to work on fall 2011 for BCBG.

Their runway was a menu of mocha browns and muted taupes, punched up with harvest gold and pumpkin orange. The only thing missing from that old 1970s kitchen palette was avocado green.

The silhouettes were classic BCBG, so fans of the brand – with shops in both Canal Place and Lakeside malls – will find lots to love in the flowy crepe dresses and chiffon tops.

But there were a few surprises, such as the drop-waist dresses with the handkerchief hems --  just the sort of thing a 1920s flapper would wear if she suddenly found herself in 1975 … or, say, 2011.

 

Friday, February 11, 2011

In celebration of beautiful, confident women

In celebration of beautiful, confident women, Diet Pepsi presents the taller, sassier new Skinny Can at New York's Fall 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Feb. 10-17.  The new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can, available to consumers nationwide in March, will launch with a series of fashion events and celebrations, including an art installation by fashion commentator, Simon Doonan, and collaborations with acclaimed designers, Charlotte Ronson and Betsey Johnson.

"Diet Pepsi has a long history of celebrating women through iconic fashion imagery seen in our infamous and historical campaigns, and we're proud to continue that tradition as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week," said Jill Beraud, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo.  "Our slim, attractive new can is the perfect complement to today's most stylish looks, and we're excited to throw its coming-out party during the biggest celebration of innovative design in the world."

As part of the festivities, fashion commentator, Simon Doonan, famous for his store window displays, will unveil a special collaboration at the Diet Pepsi Style Studio located at 362 West Broadway in New York's fashionable Soho neighborhood on Feb. 11.  Featuring Diet Pepsi's slim, attractive new cans and incorporating Jonathan Adler designs, the window installation is a unique fusion of fashion and art. Following the New York Collections, the window display will be viewable to the public for the month of February.

"I'm thrilled to be working with Diet Pepsi in creating a truly one-of a kind window installation ? one of my boldest creations yet ? that fashion insiders, tastemakers and the public at large can all enjoy," said Simon Doonan.  "Along with the element of surprise, one of the best things about fashion week is the chic-sexy confidence exuded by attendees and models alike, and I've incorporated both into the display."

'Get the Skinny' at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with Diet Pepsi

Diet Pepsi will also be front and center at Lincoln Center, teaming up with Charlotte Ronson, Betsey Johnson, Maybelline and offering onsite refreshment.  Stylesetters attending Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week can stop by the Diet Pepsi booth to 'Get the Skinny' on the latest trends and collections, including:

To celebrate Diet Pepsi's official sponsorship of Johnson's show, Betsey will give a sneak peek to an exclusive item and giveaway at the booth at 10:00 AM, Saturday Feb. 12
Charlotte Ronson has designed an exclusive T-shirt inspired by Diet Pepsi that will be given to attendees at her show and after party (to be held in the Diet Pepsi Style Studio in Soho).  The shirt will be on display at the booth starting, Sunday Feb. 13
In partnership with Maybelline, fashionistas at the Vivienne Tam and Max Azria shows will receive SuperStay 24 Lip Color, guaranteed to never leave an unfashionable lip mark on your Diet Pepsi
A special recreation of Simon Doonan's Diet Pepsi Style Studio installation will be front and center as guests enter and exit the runway venues at Lincoln Center
A live streaming Twitter board giving the up-to-the minute skinny on what's going on at the tents
Exclusive giveaways and sampling opportunities for passersby to indulge in and refresh with

In addition, to celebrate beautiful, confident women and offer refreshment across the country, Diet Pepsi Skinny Can is collaborating with the 10 fashion boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami, providing them with a custom "Skinny Can Fridge."  Thirsty fashionistas will get a complimentary Diet Pepsi Skinny Can while they shop in stores including Jeffrey, Intermix, Fred Segal, and Dash.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Kate Middleton deemed top fashion buzzword

Prince William's bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, has de-throned Lady Gaga as the top fashion buzzword for the fashion season that starts in New York on Feb 10, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Middleton, 29, who will marry the British prince on April 29 in London, soared as a fashion icon in November after the blue dress by designer Daniella Issa Helayel that she wore for the official engagement announcement sold out of stores within 24 hours.

Speculation is now rife in the fashion world over who will design Middleton's wedding dress, and what it will look like.

A survey by the Texas-based Global Language Monitor of fashion buzz words and phrases in print, on the Internet, and in social media, ranked Middleton the No.1. word for the upcoming season.

Singer Lady Gaga, known as much for her striking outfits as her hit records, was pushed into second place in the annual survey.

"Sheer" -- the trend for translucent fabrics -- came in third place, followed by "shirt dresses," and "sustainable style," reflecting a growing trend of clothing made of recycled fabrics.

New York fashion week starts on Feb 10, kicking off an international calendar of shows that includes London, Milan and Paris.

The words in the Global Language Monitor survey were chosen from the world fashion media, nominated by key fashionistas from around the world and tracked for their frequency and usage in English-speaking media outlets around the world.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

a transsexual making her modelling debut

The sizzle in Sao Paolo as it celebrates its winter fashion week has not been about the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen or even the American actor Ashton Kutcher, who have both had their catwalk outings. The brightest paparazzi pops have been reserved, rather, for Lea T, a transsexual making her modelling debut.

All of Brazil seems to be basking in the sensation that Lea T has suddenly become. Never mind that it first knew her as Leandro Cerezo, the son of a famous football star, Toninho Cerezo.

Modelling for the Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch, she set the critics alight, confidently strutting the deck in a black dress with frilly sleeves of black and yellow lace. Leaving the building later with her bodyguards she sparked a mini media riot.

For fashion aficionados the only surprise might have been that Lea T was wearing Herchcovitch instead of Givenchy. It was while working at Givenchy in Paris, first as an office assistant and then as a model, that she apparently first experimented with making her male-to-female transition, encouraged in particular by Riccardo Tisci, the creative director at the French fashion house.

Now, the fashion industry will be agog to see what happens next with Lea T, who is said to exude a femininity rendered exotic by a strong jaw-line and side-swept black hair. She has already made a small splash in Britain, appearing on the front cover of Love magazine kissing an elder-statesperson of the catwalking cosmos, Kate Moss.

If, as many speculate, she does a spin for Herchcovitch at her upcoming show at New York Fashion Week, which begins on 10 February, there may be nothing to stop her from taking Paris Fashion Week by storm in March also, if not for Herchcovitch then perhaps for Givenchy.

Lea T, 28, recently paid homage to Tisci and the encouragement he gave her. "One night, he encouraged me to wear heels to a party," she said in an interview. "We went shopping for these drag queen high heels and bleached my eyebrows. It was a revelation."

She stole headlines in Sao Paolo in the face of red-hot competition. Paris Hilton was expected there to model, and the red carpet was also being rolled out for Christina Aguilera, who has her own fashion brand to flog.

While Sao Paolo marked her catwalk debut, Lea T has already scaled the heights of magazine modelling, appearing nude in French Vogue as well as fully clothed in Italian Vanity Fair. She gave an interview to the latter, detailing the challenges of the physical gender transition as well as coping with the opprobrium of family and society.

But she had no regrets then, and after the sensation of Sao Paolo presumably does not today either. "The choice," she said, "is between being unhappy forever or trying to be happy."