story and photos by Sandy Ramirez
In the 172 years of it’s existence, Tiffany’s had never once hosted a fashion show on their main floor. On April 5 th, 2009, the final day of presentations during the New York Bridal Market Week, Carolina Herrera showed her Fall 2009 Bridal collection, in conjunction with the unveiling of a spectacular new engagement ring personally created by the designer. … Continue Reading
story and photos by Sandy Ramirez
Back in 1985, Amsale Aberra was a bride in search of a dress. She wanted something simple, modern, understated and elegant. Unfortunately, like many brides before her, all the pieces she found were the typically overdone gowns more suited to a stage performer than a bride. Unlike most other brides, however, Amsale was not going to settle. She was determined to rectify the situation. One classified advert, a sketchbook, and a few seamstresses later, Amsale succeeded. … Continue Reading
story by Sandy Ramirez
photos by Sandy Ramirez, Ron Adar, and Freda Henry
Adam Lippes is the designer behind ADAM, a label which showed its Fall 2009 Collection on Valentine’s day here at New York Fashion Week.
story by Sandy Ramirez
photos by Sandy Ramirez, Freda Henry, and Charles Beckwith
Thursday night, after a long week of relatively little fashion excitement, we were shocked by what was perhaps the best show we have ever seen during any New York Fashion Week in memory.
For the Zac Posen F/W 2009 Collection, accompanied by the the neoclassical pieces of Stravinsky and Holst, played live in a special arrangement with five full size Steinway grand pianos aligned down the center of the runway, the likes of Alek Wek, Chanel Iman, Natasha Poly, Sasha Pivovarova, Catherine McNeil, Lily Donaldson, Heidi Mount, Iris Strubegger, Hannelore Knuts, and Coco Rocha paraded out wearing clothing befitting the era in which this music was written, one of the greatest ages for fashion the world has ever seen, La Belle Epoque. … Continue Reading
story and photos by Sandy Ramirez
Wednesday night, Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan premiered their label’s Mackage F/W 2009 collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in The Salon at Bryant Park. “Mackage,” a named derived from a mispronunciation of the french “maquillage” (make-up) by Eran’s young niece, is a label that was itself born in school children’s day dreams. While in elementary school in Montreal, Eran and Elisa used to sketch together and dream of being fashion designers. They always hoped to show in New York. Now, that dream is normality. … Continue Reading
story by Charles Beckwith and Cameron Carpenter
photos by Freda Henry, Sandy Ramirez, and Charles Beckwith
It has been more than a year since Heatherette dropped off the fashion radar, and New York Fashion Week has just not been the same without their shows. Now, beloved former Heatherette duo frontman Richie Rich is back in the game with a solo label that he has bestowed with his own playful moniker.
The Richie Rich F/W 2009 show opened to great anticipation for a few hundred adoring friends and fans in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel’s uber-glitzy Grand Ballroom with two well-chosen musical acts and a par-for-the-course bizarre showgirl-boys violin rock ballet performance that worked up audience excitement to a fever pitch.
story by Cameron Carpenter
photos by Sandy Ramirez
Malan Breton’s F/W 2009 Collection was not his usual runway show, but an evening walk-around presentation in an art space. The 4,000 sq. ft. Eli Klein Gallery played host to the designer’s latest thread pageant. It was a fun affair attended by an eclectic crowd who were very receptive to the work and seemed to enjoy being able to get close enough for the far better viewing of the skilled young clothier’s fabrics and seaming than one is given parked in chairs five rows back along a catwalk. … Continue Reading
story by Freda Henry and Charles Beckwith
photos by Freda Henry and Adrianna Favero
For last fall, Carolina Herrera produced an array of stylish looks that seemed inspired by the leisure of English hunting parties and 60’s uptown girls. Models paraded out onto a bright runway with feathers literally in their caps, clad in double breasted power vests, and wearing riding boots obviously meant for strutting.
This time, no such affectations. Clean lines, elegance held close to the body. Braiding and silk cascade gracefully to a far more conservative tune, with elegant embroidery providing inborn detail.
story by Freda Henry and Charles Beckwith
photos by John Pringle
Either Marc Jacobs’ PR machine is on a celeb-free diet, or everyone was over in The Tent at Bryant Park for William Rast. Whether the paparazzi-magnets showed up not, the color and detail sure did, in this skillfully-executed collection. … Continue Reading
story by Darrah Leffler
photos by Sandy Ramirez
Venexiana LTD, of New York and Venice, and their inspired designer, Kati Stern, did not disappoint at the Venexiana Fall 2009 gala in The Salon at Bryant Park.
For being relatively new to the set, having launched her line in 2004, Stern certainly commands rapt attention with her innovative takes on classic looks.
This season’s collection, which we are told was influenced by Barbie designs down through the years, would indeed make any woman feel like a living doll. Stern’s designs “wow” in a way that allows the wearer to be playfully girlish, yet empowered as a woman, supported by both strong tailoring and softened lines.
Despite the efforts of the animal rights activists gathered in force out front, Stern sent rock-n-roll elegance down the runway with furs flying.
story by Darrah Leffler
photos by Adrianna Favero
Seoul to New York dynamic duo Andy & Debb presented to a packed house at The Salon in Bryant Park on Saturday night, with admirers and buyers angling for an opportunity to view the new Fall 2009 Collection. … Continue Reading
story and video by Charles Beckwith
photos by Freda Henry
The Telfar runway show at Saint Mark’s Church in New York’s East Village is a low budget, high creativity show, defined by its surroundings.
When asked why he holds his show in the East Village, Telfar replies simply, “that’s just where I’m at.”
Black, gray, navy blue, and camel tan were the foundation colors. Jump suits and mens’ skirts were the standout statement pieces, and the man had zippers on everything. There were some interesting inserts of jewelery matched with a few looks. It is a classic punk East Village rush in the high gloss of New York Fashion Week.
Here is a video clip with some backstage still shots and all the runway looks:
story and photos by Darrah Leffler
French-Armenian New Yorker Loris Diran shows a classic sense of style in his Fall/Winter 2009/2010 “Armor” collection.
With his evident “Luxury as a lifestyle” concepts, Diran’s “Armor” designs seriously suit up the wearer for just that. In both his men’s and women’s designs, which he folds into a single show, Diran does not play to the fears of the fashion or politically meek, using combinations of tweeds, lambskin, angora, fur, and a slim classically “chic” outline for the entire collection.
This collection includes such instant favorites as the Cashmere Tee and Tweed Corsets while putting together looks that easily allow the use of such phrases as “Bolero Jacket” and “Samurai Pant” in the same sentence. A combination of deep tones and neutral shades along with natural fibers and materials for these designs make these sleek looks eminently wearable in the long-term.
Though subdued for a nod to Couture, the Loris Diran Fall/Winter 2009/2010 “Armor” collection is undeniably eye-catching.
Over 8,000 industry insiders get monthly updates from modaCYCLE International Fashion. If you want to get a note every few weeks about the new articles and editorials, send a message to updates@modaCYCLE.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. We don't sell or share this list with anyone.
You can also follow @modaCYCLE on Twitter for live updates.
Or connect to our 
RSS feed.
Tia’s strong sense of shape and texture came through once again this season, with menswear-influenced looks rearranged into feminine forms. Leather hats looked straight out of Amelia Earhart’s locker, and some Lamé dresses stood out completely on the runway.
Johnny Wu, as it turned out, is a master pattern maker who helps a lot of emerging and established designers bring their rough ideas to life, and he does it right in the middle of Manhattan, as one of the many small businesses still holding on in shadow of what was once New York’s largest industry, the garment business.
In this article, guest writer Karine Bloem from TheDigitalistas.com explains the past and present of Dutch fashion, and gives insight into what is happening with Amsterdam International Fashion Week.
Way’s influence can clearly be seen in her designs, featuring throwback patterns to ’40s Art Deco in Manhattan and Chinese motifs of good luck koi fish and even a dragonfly. The clothes themselves were intensely wearable and all featured hand-treated fabrics.
Here is a preview of some of the shows we are covering in London. Lovely.
