When I first saw the Alvina Valenta bridal collection by Victoria McMillan, I immediately thought of the novel Les Liaisons Dangereux by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, about amorous games and affairs between eighteenth century French aristocrats. On a closer examination, I thought that her gowns could be real-life wedding dress adaptations for a Disney princess. Could you see the Little Mermaid wear this to her wedding?

Continue reading "Fashion PR: Bridal Gowns Alvina Valenta by Victoria McMillan" »

There is a fashion trend that has been peeking out here and there this past year--celebrities wearing gowns down the red carpet that look very similar to a wedding gown. Have you noticed this too? Ever since we dumped the cliche of not wearing white after labor day, it sort of became the segway to allow this trend to emerge.

My question is, can it be easily translated to everyday people going to events without being asked if they are getting married? Do you automatically think "bride" when you see gowns like this worn for events other than on the wedding day? 

Continue reading "Fashion Trend: Wedding Inspired Formal Dresses" »

In today's economy, we are look for bargains for all our wedding needs. The question remains, how do we find designer wedding dresses for great prices? Alita Graham, a popular and affordable wedding gown designer collection, is exclusively available in the most celebrated boutique in New York, Kleinfeld Bridal. Many brides have made the pilgrimage to the famous Manhattan boutique in search of the one-of-a-kind perfect dress for their perfect day. For Kleinfeld, the Alita Graham bridal collection has not held back, featuring beautiful flowing white couture gowns for brides-to-be. My favorites being her princess ball gowns in lace and organza, they are sure to have heads spinning in the aisles.

Continue reading "Fashion PR: Alita Graham Wedding Gowns" »

So you want that fairytale wedding? I'm not talking about the kind you always dreamed of as a child where you practically float down the aisle to the man of your dreams. I'm talking an actual Cinderella-esqe wedding where your wedding gown is inspired by the beautiful gowns of Disney Princesses both past and present. I know that as a young girl I admired the femininity of Snow White and Cinderella's beautiful clothes and now Kirstie Kelly has translated that for nostalgic brides in a modern form through a childhood staple--Disney.

Continue reading "Fairytale Wedding: Kirstie Kelly for Disney" »

While there is justification for the city being called the concrete "jungle," there isn't any justification for well-suited business men who carry hiking backpacks.  Briefcases--if you're out there, we miss you!

As a fellow commuter, I understand the challenges of carrying a heavy load, but that doesn't mean I've sacrificed fashion for function.  You won't see me strapping on a Jansport anytime soon regardless of the laptop, binders and extra shoes I often travel with as I traverse Manhattan. 

Continue reading "Men's Accessories: The Business Backpack Blunder" »

Mark Badgley and James Mischka have been bling-focused in recent design ventures for their label, Badgley Mischka, especially when it comes to their bridal line.

Nominated as a “Top 10 American Designer” by Vogue, Badgley Mischka has turned out some wonderfully glamorous wedding gowns this season that would make even the biggest bridezilla ‘ooh and ahh’.  

Their general message is “40s Hollywood Glam” with the slinky silhouettes and a healthy dose of encrusted appliqué. It’s their balance between elegant simplicity and just enough of the flash bride’s want for their “look at me” moment that truly impresses me.
 
Bridal gowns aren’t the only the only thing that seems to turn glam the moment this pair touches it.  A costume jewelry line, and now a few watches, has been birthed from the house and they are as equally stunning as the apparel.

So whether you decide the design team is the right fit for your wedding day dreams or you simply want to channel that 40s Hollywood glam through a Badgley Mischka accessory, the jewels are yours for the taking.

Tags: Fashion PR

Any bride-to-be knows that their wedding gown is a piece of art that makes for the centerpiece for their big day. There are so many things to consider when choosing the perfect gown to reflect your personality and that to me lies within the details. Pierce Mattie recently attended the WeddingChannel Couture Show at the InterContinental-Barclay Hotel which showcased Spring 2009 bridal gowns from some of the top brands in the industry. Simone Carvalli was one such brand in attendance and Pierce was able to capture the intricate details of her couture wedding gowns up close and personal.

Continue reading "Simone Carvalli Couture Wedding Gowns: It's All in the Details" »

Anne Hathaway told W Magazine in their October issue that she "spent a week in shock" over all of the improprieties that ex-boyfriend and Italian Real Estate developer, Raffaello Follieri, has been arrested for, and while that certainly may be grounds for the blues, I'd like to advise Ms. Hathaway to please step away from ugly blue dresses such as the one she was seen wearing at the London premiere of Rachel Getting Married this past Monday.

Continue reading "Fashion Disaster: Anne Hathaway Has Got the Blues" »

So you're getting married?  Congratulations! What is the most important decision you will make in the coming months? Your dress, of course!  Immediately you wonder what the authority on bridal fashion, Vera Wang, has to offer.  Whilst navigating through her chicly clean site, you notice a tab "Partners." That is when you remember Vera has recently pulled an Isaac Mizrahi and designs a private label for the discount store Kohl's.

Continue reading "Simply Vera Wang; Does This Shift Her Position in the Bridal Industry?" »

What makes an off-price retailer so much fun to frequent? The mystery of “How did this <insert brand name here> White Linen Size 6 Dress end up here and in my lucky hands!”  Mystery no more ladies and gentlemen, I present to you three off-pricers who are mass communicating the way in which they acquire their inventory as way to improve their image.

Three major off-price retailers, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Burlington Coat Factory, have all approached brand communications with a similar goal: to educate the consumer on how the brand labels end up in their stores at lower prices than traditional retailers.  Through this approach they glamourize the process by showing well-dressed buyers the consumer might have previously only associated with a high-end retailer.

 TJ Maxx Website

Marshalls Website 

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are from the same parent company so it only makes sense they share the same campaign ideas.  Both have new commercials with the basic story line- buyer for high-end retailer goes too crazy ordering a brand name item, TJ Maxx or Marshalls takes the item off their hands at a lower price, end result—you get to buy the item at their stores for less than the department store selling it.  The idea here is to debunk the popular belief that off price retailers only get defected or off-season merchandise.

 Burlington Coat Factory Website

Burlington Coat Factory responded with its own take on this approach.  A brand new commercial aired this week personalizing their Senior Fashion Director.  She explains the reason Burlington gets high-end labels and sells them for less is only because she agreed not to mention the designers names in advertisements.  Again, educating the consumer to prove the merchandise you will find at Burlington might very well be at a high-end retailer at the same time but at regular price.

Are these efforts in direct response to the economic climate? Do they make you more confident in the trend worthiness of the merchandise at these retailers? Does it take away from some of the reasons you enjoy shopping at an off-price store?

Right here in New York there is this fabulous fashion brand called Hayden-Harnett, have you heard of them? If you haven't, then I advise you to definitely read up on them and if you have, then you know that their fall collection is nothing short of fabulous!

Mood & Overview:

The line was inspired by the contradiction of the natural and unnatural, the man made vs. the natural world--vivid color welling up from an inky, dark background. Metallics and slick patents are used for emphasis and pops of texture and unexpected color. Prints are inspired by nature and folk weaving, but then reworked digitally to read as modern, almost ghostly. The overall mood for silhouette in both apparel and accessories is about versatility and low-key luxury...all items are intended to transition easily from day to night. The design is inspired by both art-deco and primitive design as it would exist in hybrid for a modern world.

Apparel materials and silhouettes:

The apparel line is made from mainly natural materials such as wool, lamb and silk crepe de chine. The silhouette is more tailored and reserved this season reflecting the current desire for order and discipline in an uncertain world. The overall look is feminine and eclectic, but very smart. I love dresses for their versatility. The outerwear line has grown quite a bit to include some fresh new silhouettes. The new scarf prints perfectly compliment the overall look of the season (didn't we say that scarves were so in?!)

Accessory materials and silhouettes:

The accessory line is made from finely finished leathers that best compliment the mood of the season. Our ever popular James Dean Brazilian cow leather is worked into silhouettes that range from fringed hippie-luxe to tailored and ladylike. They are going heavy on distressed, exotic and mirror metallics for a deco inspired feel with emphasis on clean lines and utilitarian shapes to offset the glamour. Patents are featured on bags with color blocking and oversize hardware for a modern, clean feeling that has unexpected color...the overall read for the patent colorblocking is quite neutral and wearable. Hardware is still very important, but the overall silhouettes for accessories is much more clean, but highly detailed.

When asked which handbag would be most popular this fall, Ben Harnett, CEO of Hayden-Harnett told me,

The Clara Flap Bag is extremely popular for Fall 2008. The versatility of the Clara is second to none, with its utilitarian shape in luxe patent leather color block, featuring our new oversized art-deco leather-inset signature lock."

Fashionistas--be sure to check out www.haydenharnett.com. They are also social media fans (as are we!) so pop by the following profiles to see what they are saying:

Hayden-Harnett on Facebook
Hayden-Harnett on MySpace
Hayden-Harnett on Twitter
Hayden-Harnett blog

And while I have your attention, here's some inside scoop--they are adding shoes and swimwear in Spring 2009!

The press is rapidly becoming aware with the fashion design of Princess Sirivannavari, who is now number 16 on the Forbes list of the "20 Hottest Young Royals." Sirvannavari's style is creative and young, displaying a beautiful balance between traditional clothing from the Orient and modern fashion from the West.

Her Spring 2009 collection is characterized by diversity. On the one hand there is quite a bit of mysterious black--a touch of glam rock--with a lot of ingeniously decorated soft leather, patented leather and tight, short outfits abundant with lace and interestingly worked fabrics. However, the theme is also bohemian-ethnic in style with exuberant, original materials decorated, among others with strings of beads, fringes, frills and lace all in warm, intense colors.

The hair styles this year created by top stylist Olivier de Vriendt for hairXpression by Balmain Paris (a Pierce Mattie PR client), formed a perfect match with the fashion presented. During Paris Fashion Week, de Vriendt served as Chef de Cabin for Balmain Hair and he closely collaborated with Princess Sirivannavari to create a look which pays tribute to Thai cultural traditions but also a look that would be considered super hot if coming from New York.

Be sure to check out our Beauty PR blog for the hair looks from this show and our main blog for my co-worker's insight on what it was like backstage. To see all of the images from this runway show, check out our Flickr profile.

Everyone is All Wrapped Up in the Year’s Biggest Trend: The Scarf

Forget about season-long trend ownership, the scarf has been the must-have accessory of the entire year—and its prominence has just begun.  Its immense popularity transcends climates of the weather and economic kinds.  Beach-goers wrap one on in the 85-degree weather in the Mykonos while women still show up in droves for an Hermès sample sale in New York amidst less than prosperous economic times.

Once reserved for the sole purpose of keeping warm, the scarf now enjoys neck time at any temperature.  Whether we can thank swanky Europeans or hip-hop artist Kayne West is up for argument, but what isn’t questionable is the proliferation of the lightweight scarf regardless of a warm weather forecast.  I promise it is rarely chilly enough for the traditional use of a scarf for Lauren Conrad and company in LA.

As we all know, we are on the verge of some of the most trying times in our economic history, but that didn’t stop thousands of “bargain” thirsty New Yorkers from waiting in long lines at the Hermes sample sale this past week.  Quotation marks are necessary around bargain because even at a discounted price—Hermes remains unattainable by the masses.

What was the hot ticket item of the sale? The classic Hermès scarf of course (above are two pictured for the NY Times).  One might argue that the Hermes silk scarf has always had a cult-like following and its gravitational pull has nothing to do with the current popularity of scarves in the mainstream.   Do you think the popularity of scarves in general helped women migrate from the financial district to the Chelsea sale despite the possibility of them losing their jobs in the very near future? Or is Hermès that much of a legacy that consumers will simply do anything to get their hands on the rolex of scarves? How brand-concious will we remain during this time of economic hardship?

For those of you playing it safe in this time of uncertainty, you needn’t break the bank for a great scarf.  I happen to love my H&M-bought scarves just as much as my one Hermes silk beauty.  To incorporate über popular tartan into your everyday wardrobe, pick out a scarf in the Scottish pattern.  And if you have some more money to play with, don’t be afraid to invest in a nice scarf, as the trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Source: NYTimes

Photo Credits:bet.com, nytimes.com, forever21.com, nordstrom.com, shopbop.com

Welcome to 'New York Fashion Week 101' Spring 2009

In the wake of New York Fashion Week, I am ever grateful of the wonderful world wide web for being almost as good as an all-access credential hanging around my neck for all the different shows.  I was glued to style.com all week whenever I wasn't able to actually attend certain Fashion Week festivities.

Yes, it is a majorly helpful tool to have media access faster than ever before, but it can also overwhelm even the most avid fashionista.  Since I did an unhealthy amount of catwalk stalking myself, I am here to give a list of ten things you need to know in order to sound like you are of front row status.

1. Calvin Klein's 40th Anniversary Bash: All though the designer himself wasn't in attendance for the homage of his 40 years in the biz, plenty of A-listers were.  Guests partied in an extravagant three story stucture (which was torn down the very next day) in the High Line park in West Chelsea.

2. Diane Von Furstenburg: Models, complete with their flowing flower head bands, swept past audience members just after they had pushed and fought their way to the front row.   It's Diane dahling.

3. Marc Jacobs: It wouldn't be fashion week without everyone talking about his fabulous showing.  Marc nodded the 19th century this year in his own way.  This is a show worth viewing for yourself.

4. William Rast vs. J. Lindeberg debaucle:  One of the hottest tickets all week was the William Rast collection shown at The Roseland Ballroom.  There was a great deal of confusion, though, as editors thought they were going to see J. Lindeberg's offering (the Justin Timberlake -and friend- label's new design partners).  Even those that knew it was the William Rast meets J. Lindeberg deal left dissapointed as Justin didn't perform as expected.

5. Fashion Rocks well...rocked!: Sorry MTV VMAs, the performance-stocked Fashion Rocks special that aired on CBS in the middle of fashion week was much more entertaining and came off much more polished than yours did.  Fashion industry leaders attended and music industry leaders performed.  Great concept executed flawlessly once again in their fifth year of presentation.

6. Wintour and SJP play Politics at Runway for Change: Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker appeared during this Obama effort to tie politics to fashion.

7. Marc Bouwer skips the tents:  Instead of forking the average $100,000 for a Bryant Park extravaganza, Bouwer decided to do an online only show this season that was broadcasted on his website.  Lydia Hearst was one of five models to walk the virtual runway.

8. Style 360 brings light to new talent:  While the big guns showed at the tents (sans Bouwer) fresh fashion talent was showcased in this week long event including Abi Ferrin, and Walter.

9. W Magazine's Lounge: Rubbing shoulders with bold-face names while plucking champagne off passing trays was the W lounge in a nutshell.  This was the place to hang out in between collections at the tents morning, noon and night.

10. and finally the after party: The hot spot for the "after the show party" this season was 1 Oak.

There you have it.  Now you can impress your friends and colleagues with your fashion knowledge and you didn't even have to do the style stalking yourself.  You're Welcome! If you feel like I missed something crucial, please--don't hesitate to leave it in a comment.

Watch out New York Fashion Week, there’s a new girl in town and she’s ready to take on the city with her southern charm.  I had the privilege of attending (and going backstage at) the Spring 2009 Collection for Abi Ferrin, a promising Dallas native with a great vision and immaculate execution. The show was a part of New York Fashion Week Spring 2009 Style 360. The Elle fronted event highlights fresh design talent through runway shows that parade past a retailing suite of “innovative” brands.  The event is enjoying its fifth year of success.

The recipient of the 2007 Stanley Korshak and the Dallas Fashion Incubator “Texas’ Next Top Designer” was visibly nervous for her New York debut showing.  Ferrin donned her own kimono-like piece that subtly flashed her midriff each time she lifted an arm (which was every other second as the designer was totally hands-on as she spun around the dressing area.)  This flash of skin said sexy woman, but the material-- tweed and the lining, red satin, said power female.

This duality existed in perfect harmony in her Spring 2009 line in which Abi herself deemed empowering to women.  Her day pieces resembled the feminine power structure from her corseted tangerine shorts to her structured yet utterly feminine jackets.  An Abi Ferrin woman then strips hourglass-stressing daytime garments away to reveal a free and flowing feminine silhouette like the white number shown below that made me want to get swept off my feet to get married immediately.

Abi and her new team are steadily climbing the fashion ladder.  Abi went from designing pieces for herself as a hobby to now having a small team working towards a larger label.  The show was a great success even despite that a last minute incorporation of a thin blonde member of the Ferrin design team who stepped in for an absent model.  Here’s to seeing Miss Ferrin and her team do their thing in the future. 

*Photo Credit: Elle.com