FASHION RIO: DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

WGSN highlights the two strongest collections at the second day of Rio Fashion Week.

Inspired by "the Dolce Vita" and seaside resorts, maxi lengths and shift dresses were seen in navy, red and yellow colors. The quintessential Totem prints were also seen this season, but in a more toned down, sophisticated way. Taking over the styling on this collection, Yamê Reis added a fresh breath of air to Totem.



Salinas is the face of the girl from Ipanema - really colorful and laidback, and that is exactly what the top models of the runway were: Isabeli Fontana, Aline Weber, Bruna Tenório, Ana Claudia Michels, Viviane Orth and Daine Conterato, were playful and vibrant in a Salinas collection inspired by Rio songs. There were a lot of prints, but also black, grey and white from the Copacabana sidewalk mixed with bright tones on retro shapes.

Helmut Newton, Polaroids

Legendary photographer, Helmut Newtown amassed quite a collection of test Polaroids during his exceptional career. Luckily for us, Taschen unveils a sleek, hardcover book titled Helmut Newton Polaroids featuring over 220 pages of never before seen images.

Compiled by his widow, June Newton, readers are allowed a "privileged and rare chance to see tests from a selection of his greatest shoots over a period of decades," and this collection "captures the magic of Helmut Newton photo shoots as only Polaroids can".

This fine art photography book promises to inspire and engage at a bargain of only $59.99. We're sold.

Available exclusively at Taschen.

FASHION RIO, SUMMER 2012 RTW

Fashion Rio started yesterday with 29 brands showcasing their spring/summer 2012 collection.

The theme of the 19th edition is Tropical Universe. For this season, 4 beachwear brands return to Rio runways - Blue Man, Lenny, Salinas and Triya. Also, Herchcovitch, 2nd Floor, and Ágatha debut in Rio. “The new brands have a fresh DNA, that suits the mood of Fashion Rio,” says Paulo Borges, Creative Director of both Rio and São Paulo Fashion Week. Alessa, Acquastudio, Melk Z-Da, Patachou and 2nd Floor showed last night to packed runways.

Patachou was inspired by art déco styled Biarritz building in Rio and presented graphic prints with yellow, black and white with turquoise and purple accents.

On the 2nd Floor runway, bleached blue denim was the big hit. Diffused floral prints in black, bright blue, pink and yellow colors were also present in a strong collection for the Brazilian youth market.

Fancy Footwork

If you didn't already guess, Kobi Levi is not your average shoe designer. Although each piece is delicately handmade, his shoes are designed to be as durable as a normal pair of Louboutins. We had a quick chat with Levi to find out more about his fancy footwork.

Where do your ideas start?
An idea can just "pop up" in my mind, or I can choose a theme or concept to work on and design with related images. I start with 2D sketching, on the computer and/or by hand. I sketch various angles, and different versions on the design to look at what I feel shall continue to the 3D stage. Then, I start to develop the technical tooling for the first pair: lasts, insoles, heels, upper pattern, then make a test.

How long does one pair take?
The first pair - for each new design - is the most difficult one and can take up to a month.

Do you make a few or just one unique pair?
Mostly I make one pair, but lately I have made some custom orders.

Have you designed shoes for any customers we might know?
Lady Gaga wore my "Double boots" in her "Born this way" video. It was so flattering to be included in "Gaga's World”. Gaga and her style team have so much fun with fashion and it was absolutely great to see my design there.

What are you working on next?
I'm not revealing details about upcoming creations, as the effect is much better when you see all at once in the complete pair.

Matt Groening x Commes des Garçon

It was over tea in Japan where the Matt Groening and Comme des Garçon collaboration blossomed. Rei Kawakubo – founder of CDG and noted fashion designer – approached Matt about using one of his shows, and immediately he assumed it was The Simpsons. Rei, in fact, meant Life in Hell; Groening’s 1977 comic strip based around Binky and Sheba (think Ren & Stimpy meets The Simpsons).

I made my way to the launch party at the Comme des Garçon boutique here in New York to witness the by-product of these two artistic mavens. The result? A playful collection with signature Groening cartoons, kitschy text like “If we lived in a small town we wouldn’t have cultural opportunities like this,” and a cameo appearance from the familiar CDG heart logo.

Shop Smart In L.A. This Memorial Day Weekend

With retailers slashing prices and offering exclusive savings, it’s hard to navigate the real steals from the fake deals. For a little clarity and peace-of-mind, look no further than the sales below to get the most bang for your buck.

1. Vanessa Bruno Summer Sale: Expect girly dresses, billowy jackets and some great contenders for the perfect summer sandal. The sale begins Wednesday, May 25 and runs through Sunday. Please call 323.655.5310 for a complete listing of store hours. 8448 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles CA

2. Levi’s One Day Sale: Be prepared for limited edition pieces including jeans and other apparel offered at well below retail value. The highly anticipated sale is only on Friday, May 27th from 9am – 5pm making early arrivals a must.
Cooper Building, 860 South Los Angeles Street #315, Los Angeles CA

3. Western Costume Company Spring Cleaning Sale: From vintage feather boas to distressed leather jackets, this sale has something for everyone. Need a teal sequined dress? Consider it found. Angling for a decent pair of spats? Look no further. The one day sale is on Saturday, May 28th from 8am to 2pm. 11041 Vanowen Street, North Hollywood CA

4. Intermix Memorial Day Sale: Up to 50% off designer labels including shoes, apparel, accessories and outwear from this popular Los Angeles boutique. Please call for store hours. 310.860.0113
110 Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles CA

Etymologie: Anthropologie's new Tumblr

Launched yesterday, Anthropologie's new Tumblr, entitled Etymologie, is dedicated to words. The headline explains: "A word is chosen and off we go: what does it conjure, how do we relate? and what does the word really, truly represent?"

Each week, the retailer's staff, friends and customers choose a new word and then contribute inspiration pieces that represent what the word means to them. Today's word, "Roam," is expressed though a Bangladeshi postcard, Brooklyn-based footwear brand shout-out, original photography, hand-written poems and art exhibits. The Tumblr also includes a "Glossary" section to archive past words and a "What We're Reading" section, which will include some of the brand's other favorite Tumblrs.

Though Anthropologie is not the first retailer to break into the world of Tumblr, I think the brand has truly nailed it. Using inspirational photography, artists, music and words to start a conversation with customers, they are further developing their brand message though a personal, interactive user experience.

http://anthropologie.tumblr.com/

Kardashians x OPI

As the Kardashian empire continues to expand from clothing to credit cards, perfume and shoes, the reality moguls - Kim, Khloe and Kourtney are at it again with a line of nail polish in collaboration with Nicole by OPI.

Ever since the nail polish brand’s super-successful sell-out collaboration with Justin Bieber, it only seems fitting to continue with the celebrity-based collaboration line. While the Kardashian colors haven’t been revealed yet, Kim tweeted “...just think glitz and glam!” With that indication, I have a strong feeling there will be lots of hologram and bright metallic sparkles for some major finger bling. What do you think their new colors will be?

We love…TenOverSix/LA Eyeworks Vic Glasses

The end of this month marks the unofficial kick-off to summer, complete with holiday travel plans, backyard or rooftop bar-b-ques and selecting the perfect pair of shades.

TenOverSix, the fashion forward accessories boutique and L.A. Eyeworks, the signature indie eyewear company has teamed up to create their exclusive “Vic” frame collection. The plastic sunglasses have an iconic 60s Wayfarer silhouette with a soft 80s color palette featuring saffron, shell pink and tortoise.

The uni-sex style works flatters nearly every face type and easily transitions from brunch to beach attire. “This style is for the person who can put an outfit together and have confidence, not for the person who has to wear this label and that,” said Gai Gherardi, co-founder of L.A. Eyeworks.

Priced at $230, the collection is available for a limited time only and is carried at L.A. Eyeworks and TenOverSix .

Make Music Pasadena

Mark your calendars on June 18, music fans! For those who haven't heard yet, Old Town Pasadena will be hosting Southern California's largest free music festival, a.k.a Make Music Pasadena. Running in its fourth year, it offers a pretty awesome line-up with over 25 confirmed acts including Best Coast, Ra Ra Riot and The Morning Benders.

The all ages, all day free event will have several stages set up along Colorado Blvd. and the surrounding areas. And for those interested in jazz and classical music, those musicians will be representing, too!

For the full current line-up, go to http://www.makemusicpasadena.org/

MINAS TREND PREVIEW

Starting with the spring/summer 2012 season, Minas Trend is a preview of what to expect at Fashion Rio and São Paulo Fashion Week happening later this month. 19 brands will preview their collections from today until Saturday.

For the 8th edition opening, 31 brands presented a special event created by fashion designer and Minas Trend curator Ronaldo Fraga. Under this edition theme, Oxygen, Ronaldo chose different looks from the various collections and built an amazing show with all the anticipated summer trends.



We're expecting white as a key color, vibrant palettes with monocromatic or color blocking effects, lots of texture, as well as the quintessential Brazilian mix and match stripes and sheers.

Teen Night at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

For one night a year, Southern California teenagers take over the museum for an "extravaganza of art, music and so much more."

The ninth annual event, held on Saturday, May 14 from 7-10pm, is inspired by the current exhibition Art In The Streets and will have live music by local bands and DJ's, local and international student art exhibitions, art making activities and of course, refreshments.

Admission is free - just be sure to bring your guardian waiver available for download on www.moca.org.

90s suits are back

While researching vintage swimwear for an upcoming report, I noticed vintage stores were increasingly stocked with one piece swimwear styles from the previous decade. Typically, I see a lot of 60s-80s swimwear stock, but this shift shows a sign of resurging interest in 90s swim. The extreme high leg, low scoop neck and back and barely-there seat coverage encompassed the key silhouette of the time.

Certain pieces immediately bring back memories from trends of the previous decade - Baywatch, excess glitz, and the apparel industry's craze over blue-green plaid. It will certainly be interesting to see how the 90s are re-interpreted for beach this time around.

For the full "Southern California: Vintage Swim Inspiration" report, check back on www.wgsn.com early next week.

Afingo Fashion Forum Los Angeles 5-5-2011

The Afingo Fashion Forum returned to Los Angeles yesterday with four dynamic panels.

The opening panel “Ready to Launch Your Line?” was moderated by Melissa Magsaysay (Fashion Market Editor, LA Times) and gave attendees practical advice on how to effectively make the leap from “sketch to sales”. Pamela Protezel Scott (Designer and Creative Director, Ella Moss) gave solid advice about avoiding the financial pitfalls and how to properly position a fashion line for success.

“Sustainability & Philanthropy” moderated by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff (Founder, Eco Stiletto) was ripe with attendees wanting to make fashion forward clothes using ethical business models. Jesse Kamm, a Los Angeles based designer, provided insight on how to be socially responsible without sacrificing style.

WGSN’s own Associate Retail Editor, Andrea Bell, moderated the “Red Carpet Culture” panel, which discussed the ever-growing importance of celebrity culture to the success of a fashion label. Panelists included Sari Anne Tuschman (Editor-In-Chief, Los Angeles Confidential magazine, Lori Tesoro (Vice President, HL Group), Ezra Woods (stylist), Taylor Jacobson (stylist) and Melanie Bromely (West Coast Buereau Chief, US Weekly).

Some key takeaways from the panel include:

1. Celebrity Seeding is Key – Technology allows for a fashion label to go from unknown to household name with the click of a paparazzi camera. Buy gifting a celebrity, the label has a higher chance of getting the much-needed national attention to gain exposure, thus driving sales.
2. Seed with Caution – Designers should be selective with their seeding ensuring that the celebrity is on-brand and authentic with the label. A spokesperson/brand ambassador that lacks likeminded style may have a negative effect on the fashion line.
3. Hire a Professional – A long term R.O.I for a fashion brand is hiring a good PR team or celebrity seeder. With numerous publicity companies offering various price packages, nearly every designer (emerging to established) can find a way to work with a public relation companies.

The last panel, “West Coast Style” was moderated by Shaun Tomson (Former Pro Surfer and Founder of Solitude Sportswear) and featured the West Coast’s influence on global fashion. Jon Warren (Creative Director, Vans) gave key insight on how to translate California’s lifestyle into apparel.

Please visit www.Afingo.com for full forum details.

Amoreira vintage in São Paulo

Amoreira (Mulberry, in Portuguese) is a new gift shop in São Paulo that evokes memories from the past through modern design, making use of recycled and reused materials. Bikes, books, vinyl, furniture and porcelain products bring customers back to a simpler time, now lived only though photographs.

The store space, designed by architect Flavio Rogozinski, is airy and bright, creating a peaceful and relaxed shopping experience. The store features a cafe with products from NEKA Gastronomia and Cafe Gourmet Pessegueiro, as well as some imported products from Argentina, Finland and New Zealand.

Amoreira

Rua dos Macunis, 510

Alto de Pinheiros, São Paulo

Brazil

Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty

This morning I got the opportunity to preview the retrospective of the late Alexander McQueen's work in Savage Beauty, on view at the Met from this Wednesday May 4th through July 31st.

The designer's quote "I am a romantic scizophrenic," opened the show, and set the tone for an overwhelming collection of gowns, suits, capes, bodysuits, accessories, shoes and headpieces. Illustrating how McQueen was able to see beyond the physical constraints of clothing, the show focuses on the other-worldliness of his women and the juxtaposition of wonder and terror that his designs exude.

What struck me most was McQueen's ability to marry hard and soft. For example, his famous black duck feather dress from his autumn/winter 2009/10 collection, pictured above, shows the overtly feminine defined shoulders and nipped in waist of 1950s couture, while referencing the ominous characteristic of the Raven in Romanticism. McQueen's tartan pieces, both nationalistic and tough, mix with lace and tulle for a punky Anglo elegance.

The exhibit also features a plethora of Phillip Treacy's hats and Shaun Leane corsets, which often acted as the finishing touches for McQueen's eccentric and performance-based runway shows.