By ManhattanMataHari Fashion Notes:
Behnaz Serafpour is best known for her modern dresses that ooze elegance and class, but the designer has begun catering to demands for more casual looks, branching out into some great fall separates and outerwear.
Key Look:
Metallic gold dresses in various fabrics and styles were the collection’s standouts pieces. Her fabulously structured wool blend outerwear were also sublime.
Silhouettes:
Serafpour wavered between her more fluid metallic pleated designs and her highly structured wool blends and lace dresses.
Textiles:
Textured gold, camel wool-blends, and delicate lightweight metallic pleated fabrics were supplemented by several stiff black lace numbers. There were also some nice belted leather and fur embellished vests, which are a nice departure from last fall’s “wookie” fur vests.
Scene:
The presentation took place at Ogilvy’s Chocolate Factory. Long draped panels were used to obscure the rotation of looks, with models alternating between being on display and hidden behind the panels....
It's getting kind of chilly now that temperatures are dropping to a seasonable range. Truthfully, we haven't spent a lot of time thinking about hats, gloves or cashmere but that is starting to change. There is nothing we want more than soft cashmere when the mercury drops below freezing.
The bright spot of this story is that it's already February, which means you can find the best deals of the season on the warm and cuddly stuff. The famous cashmere brand, White + Warren is hosting a three day online sample sale, where you can snag some major savings without stepping foot outside.
Shoppers of the online-only sale will find accessories and basics that are drastically reduced. We are seeing hats and gloves for $29, scarves starting at $89 and sweaters ranging from $49 to $99. In addition, cotton and wool sweaters will be priced between $29 and $99), outerwear for $99) and men's cashmere starting at just $89.
White + Warren was founded in 1997 with a simple mission--to bring quality cashmere to fashion-savvy women. The collection has expanded to include top-to-toe fashion items. Remember these top-to-toe discounts will only be online for three days and you must use this link to view the reduced goodies. Who knew shopping from home could be so much fun?
Fashion Notes:
If you're going to attend a Dennis Basso fashion show, make sure it's the winter collection. The man is undeniably the master of fur and the designer showed lots of it in his latest runway collection.We saw fur arranged in all types of ways-- horizontal, vertical and diagonal. So many beautiful shades of color makes you wonder why customers always go for black and brown. Perhaps a shot of orange for you next shrug?
Key looks:
Loved loved loved the sapphire chinchilla, which is a great alternative to black or brown
Textiles:
Fur and lots of it-- Russian sable, broadtail, ermine, lynx, chinchilla and Fox
Silhouettes:
Dazzling elegance topped with the richness of fur fur fur
Scene:
Joan Rivers, Kelly Bensimon, Susan Lucci, Ivanka Trump and Star Jones...
Fashion Notes:
For her latest collection Pamella Roland created a winter wonderland that was inspired by her days skiing in Aspen. The setting was perfect for her glamorous winter gowns and dazzling fur coats. We especially loved the unique wood prints that most people would suspect as a marble pattern.
Key looks:
Red carpet gowns including stretch twill draped dresses and gowns with icicle beading and tuille
Textiles:
Structured silks, metallics, fur and subtle jacquards
Silhouettes:
Definitive daywear and lux layering pieces were shown alongside cocktail dresses and sleek, flowing gowns for all occasions and red carpet appearances....
Fashion Notes:
The winter Fotini collection was based on the commanding strength of woman-- Cleopatra, Helen of Troy and Queen Nefertiti. Through a ranging combination of fabrics the designer created a capsule evening collection.
Key looks:
Black and silver lace cocktail dress
Textiles:
Chiffon with jacquard, leather lace and scaly and snakeskin jersey
Fashion Notes:
Marc Jacob's collection seemed as if it were cast from a fairy tale that bisected Marry Poppins and Alice and Wonderland. Fluffy top hats were the exclamation point of each outfit. This tale primarily consisted of playful proportions and a full range of texture and color. Overall, it is a season of fashion that wowed both the most critical fashion insiders and lovers of MJ.
Key Looks:
Perfectly fitted coats and chunky scarves tacked with oversized safety pins
Textiles:
Marc Jacobs used a wide variety of textures throughout the collection spanning from heavy knits, fine wool coats to metallic separates, hooped dresses and fur.
Silhouettes:
Almost every element in this winter collection seemed oversized, including the hats, scarves, pilgrim buckle shoes, bags and jackets.
Scene:
The magical backdrop, which was made out of large cutouts were as magical as the fashion. Artist Rachel Feinstein created an aura that only added to the fantasy of the fashion. You can watch the full fashion show here....
Fashion Notes:
With the red backdrop and black graphite runway, designer Reem Acra was setting the mood for a fierce show. The collection was inspired by feminine power and she did a fabulous job creating fearless female looks for evening. The show started out with leather outfits that accentuated all the beautiful parts of a woman’s body and then came a traffic of chic black dresses, followed by what she does best - striking evening gowns.
Key Looks:
Tweed jackets and pencil skirts, black dresses, sequined pocket lines and collars, form fitting gowns in sequins
Silhouettes:
Leather dresses that accentuate the curves, geometric effect (from embroidered lines), beautiful cuts and negative space created with skin-like fabric
Textiles:
Leather, silk chiffon, metallic
Overall impression:
Reem Acra really understands woman’s body and meticulously constructs her clothes for those who are confident to show off all they have, inside and out. It is obvious that her expertise is in creating embellished gowns that just float across the floor and turn heads
Chrissy Kim - business coordinator at Cosmopolitan Magazine and fashion blogger. Follow on her personal blog Needle and Fork...
Fashion notes:
Interestingly enough, Prete & Bruno was gearing towards something that was very similar to Reem Acra - the whole extravagant dressing for day to evening. Except the dup stuck to simplicity when designing their dresses. The inspiration was taken from historical beauties like Marlene Dietrich and Grace Kelly, who defined sophistication. Also, the models had a very Audrey Hepburn feel to them in their black dresses and Golightly's signature beehive up-do. The show was all about glamour and elegance.
Key looks:
Classic black with a touch of emerald green and gold, tweed jackets and pencil skirts to sequined and pleated gowns
Silhouettes:
Channeling the ladylike silhouettes - high waistline, flowing feminine gowns
