Mexico Fashion Week: Day Four

As a part of Mexico Fashion Week, ELLE magazine has a runway collection that supports and promotes emerging designers from Mexico. This year from 12 finalists, Vianet Covarrubias was one of the two winners which her collection speaking for itself. The bold primary colors, Burberry-esque ruching and rounded structure of the garments made it a clear winner for day four.

Vespertine

Safety garments and fashion don't usually coincide, but designer, Sarah Canner is changing that with her new line of high-visibility, fashion-infused safety wear for women.

Perfect for wearing on your next late night bike ride or early morning run, these pieces will certainly get you noticed for all the right reasons.

For more info, go to Vespertine

Mexico Fashion Week: Day Three

While day three at Mexico Fashion Week delivered plenty of on-trend collections, the standout was Gianfranco Reni. Many pieces in his line resembled the work of Alexander McQueen and I'm guessing that has something to do with the fact that he interned under him for a while.

The collection entitled 'Womanimal' captured the essence of raw beauty taking inspiration from all types of creatures. The closing piece had the audience cheering and applauding as the hi-lo hem gown covered in white feathers finished off the majestic collection.

Mexico Fashion Week: Day Two

Our top pick from Day Two at Mercedes-Benz Dfashion Mexico was David Salomon. The fusion of brightly appliqued lace contrasted nicely against bold coloured dresses and jumpsuits to create a fusion of cultures and contrast.

Sneak Peek at Balmain's Diffusion Line

The world of fashion has anxiously been awaiting the launch of Balmain's diffusion line, which is priced considerably lower than the main collection. Inez & Vinoodh directed Abbey Lee Kershaw in the short video featuring the highly anticipated collection.

What do you think of Pierre Balmain's latest venture?

Windows at Bergdorf Goodman

This collector's edition, hand-bound book by ASSOULINE pays tribute to Bergdorf Goodman's legendary window displays. The department store windows are renowned for the artistry, detail and sly visual jokes and the book delivers the same visual punch. "We wanted to create a book on par with the windows themselves," says Linda Fargo who penned the introduction for the book.

Available for $650 at Assouline.

The New Yorker Festival

Now in its twelfth year and beginning September 30, The New Yorker will be hosting its well anticipated three-day festival. Discussions with writers, book signings, conversations about art, panels, movie streamings, and walks are just some of the exciting events that will take place throughout the city.

With so many events, we'd definitely recommend the following two: The first is the special panel “Bluth Family Reunion” with cast members Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter and creator, Mitchell Hurwitz of the successful TV show Arrested Development. The second is the guided tour by world acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, as he leads the audience around his first skyscraper at 8 Spruce Street.
For more information on the festival check out The New Yorker website: http://www.newyorker.com/festival

Elena Jaramillo

Mexico Fashion Week: Day One

Mercedes-Benz DFashion Mexico kicked off in Mexico City yesterday showcasing graduates from three universities and four other runway collections. Our highlight was Jorge Duque with standout pieces including his bold primary blue cape, hyper-acid prints pants and cut-out silk dress in ivory and coral.

Store Opening - Vans and DQM

We stopped in to take a look at the new Vans DQM General Store at 93 Grand Street in Soho. The store has a pared back feel with exposed brick walls, high ceilings and a wood and steel staircase. There is a carefully edited selection of photographs and custom made furniture which enhances what is a very contemporary meets vintage approach to the interior.

Vans DQM General Store is a collaboration between California based Vans and New York based skate shop and skate brand DQM. It’s a really interesting meeting of minds from the East and West Coast skate fraternities which has led to a refreshingly different store space. The shop carries exclusive co-branded DQM for Vans product, which extends the collaboration in a truly meaningful way for a skate centric New York customer, as well as an edited selection of separate DQM and Vans premium product for men, women and kids. At WGSN we are keen on meaningful collaboration, the fruit of which should elevate or bring new synergies and possibilities to how we approach and perceive each party from both a customer and business perspective. The Vans DQM General Store does just that.  It is definitely worth a look.

 

Lorna Hall and Elena Jaramillo

Kreayfish vs. Kreayshawn

Behold the latest viral internet sensation since Kreashawn. Meet Kreayfish (actor, Wendy McColmb), whose hilarious parody of internet viral sensation, “Gucci Gucci” is spot on, down to the very last rhyming syllable.

Shot in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood, the song pays homage to the world's best fish tacos.

Watch Kreayfish's spoof song, “Fishy Fishy” here.

Are butterflies back?

We spotted a few butterfly prints at the Coterie tradeshow on Monday, indicating a possible resurgence of the little critters.

Ti Mo, Coven and dress at Coterie

Nicola Formichetti's pop-up store in TriBeCa

We stopped by the press preview of BOFFO's Building Fashion installation last week to view Nicola Formichetti's pop-up store designed in collaboration with Gage/Clemenceau Architects.

QR codes: Function over Fun

QR codes were at the centre of a heated debate around whether social is a proven sales driver at shop.org, the e-commerce gurus' forum in Boston last week. They have their detractors, Bill Bass from Charming Shoppes, and their evangelists, Michael McCormick of Columbia Sportswear Co, to name but two.

On retail safari in Manhattan today we stumbled across two that resonated with the WGSN retail team not just because they had direct sales potential but because they were customer service orientated and above all USEFUL, a word not considered often enough by marketing teams when they set criteria for QR creation.

The first from Barnes & Noble is a code which lets students download and trial a textbook study aid. The second is from a realtor and provides a listing of all its weekend property viewings at the tap of the phone.

There is a lot of food for thought here for the unconvinced, for those that think their customer will never be “hot “ for QR codes. Who doesn’t want better service and life to be made a little easier? It’s about getting the recipe right for your customer.

By Lorna Hall

Live from the Coterie Tradeshow

We spent our Monday roaming the booths at the Coterie tradeshow in New York to highlight the best exhibitors this season. The full report will go live later this week, but in the meantime, here are some of the best items we stumbled upon.

Left-right, top-bottom: Twinkle by Wenlan, SONO drs, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Coven, Leila Shams and Kaal E Suk Tae.

Spirit of the Animal

I've currently been inspired by the mysticism of animal totem signs after a friend turned me on to a book called "Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small," by Ted Andrews. So when I happened to come across the line of Spirit of the Animal tees on www.bigcartel.com, I knew it was clearly a sign of an emerging trend.

Spirit of the Animal tees come in nine different hand-drawn graphic prints channeling your inner animal ranging from the ferocious panther to the fun-loving dolphin and my personal favorite, the wise old bear.

To see the full range of graphic prints, check out: http://spiritoftheanimal.bigcartel.com/

Marc Jacobs closes NYFW

New York Fashion Week comes to a close tonight, and what a better way to end it than with Marc Jacobs' Spring 2012 collection.

Our three favorite looks from the runway...

Jeremy Scott Spring 2012

Yesterday, we stopped by Milk Studios to check out Jeremy Scott's Spring 2012 collection. Scott stayed true to his usual ironic take on pop culture by merging futuristic rodeo goers with hillbilly Barbies.

The Look: Vamped-up 90s Western redux

Key items: A satirical series of classic 90s denim cuts with high elasticised waists, undone boxy waistcoats and vests, as well as fitted hotpants with denim fringe extensions. Cropped bustiers and ruffled off-the-shoulder tops worn over hip-hugging leathers; a willowy kerchief top with a jean pencil skirt; body-conscious knit dresses decorated with dangling trinkets; fluid shirt-dress silhouettes with oversized pockets

Colour: A hyperactive palette of stonewashed denim blues, babydoll pinks, reptilian green and black-and-white prints

WGSN Loves… Esquivel Shoes

There are shoe lovers and there are shoe connoisseurs, George Esquivel falls into both categories.

Having spent over 17 years designing and making shoes in a small manufacturing facility in Orange County, California, Esquivel became a 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, and is now a CFDA member.

His collection is always created by hand, one at a time without mass production, which ensures that every shoe is one-of-a-kind and made with the utmost care. The footwear aesthetic blends traditional, bespoke shoes with edgy silhouettes and brilliant pops of color. “I’m inspired when clean lines, rugged textures and unexpected colors come together to form the perfect shoe,” says Esquivel.

WGSN isn’t the only fan – Alexa Chung, Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Alicia Keys, and the bands Killers and Kings of Leon, are avid fans of the fall collection. Our top pick for autumn? The Women’s Wingtip with shocking red sole.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, Browns in London and online at NET-A-PORTER.