Fashion Front Row with Kate Rodger

From Tuesday, 3 News Entertainment Reporter Kate Rodger and a discerning panel of guests will give you your daily fashion fix, bringing you a rundown of the highlights and lowlights of New Zealand Fashion Week in an exclusive web-only show.

Kate will be joined each day by Metro magazine’s fashion editor Rebecca Wadey. Rebecca has worked across all facets of the fashion industry over the past 15 years, from PR and Sales and Marketing to writing for publications including Australian Vogue and Fashion Quarterly.

On Wednesday, opinionated fashionista and WORLD offspring Pebbles Hooper will be in the guest chair. On Twitter, she is a force to be reckoned with – her acerbic tweets loved and loathed by thousands.

Friday’s panel will have an international flavour thanks to Pannee Ng, founder of Hong Kong’s leading English language fashion and beauty blog Butterboom.com. The site reaches over 78,000 readers each month. Pannee will be reporting on New Zealand Fashion Week for the blog, as well as searching for Kiwi designers to sell through the site’s online store.

Fashion's Night Out set for Sept. 6

Shopping centers, department stores and boutiques all over Southern California are gearing up for the fourth annual observance of Fashion's Night Out, the worldwide shopping event created by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour to stimulate sales in the fashion industry.

The designated night of special activities and promotions is Sept. 6. But those who act fast enough to purchase the limited tickets can attend an intimate pre-event dinner and private Barbara Bui fashion show Sept. 4 at Saam at the Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills. Tickets are $200 and can be purchased by calling (310) 246-5555. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the Art of Elysium, which encourages artists to dedicate their talent to workshops for children with serious medical conditions. The get-together, attended by fashion industry insiders and guests, is only a precursor to what Fashion's Night Out has in store.

A complete listing of events, organized by city and store or type of event, can be found at FashionsNightOut.com — and is far too extensive to be repeated here.

But here are a few notable things to know about what is — and isn't — happening in the greater Los Angeles area. (And if none of what follows is nearby, don't worry. Just about every major shopping venue in the greater L.A. area has something fun and fashionable planned.)

At the Beverly Center, traditionally an epicenter for the local festivities, Fashion's Night Out will be hosted by "Pretty Little Liars" star Lucy Hale.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will make a video appearance to kick things off at 6:30 p.m., introducing Vogue's West Coast fashion editor, Lisa Love. Later on, retailers' fall merchandise will be featured during fashion shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Kendall Jenner — who is the celebrity face of the Beverly Center's FNO marketing campaign — is expected to appear, along with her sister Kylie Jenner, Jaimie Hilfiger, Francesca Eastwood and Peta Murgatroyd.

Rodeo Drive will not be the circus-themed spectacle that it was last year, with a Ferris wheel and costumed stilt-walkers. "As the economy has started to recover, we have had to reprioritize our focus with limited dollars," said Rodeo Drive committee spokeswoman Ashley Wong. Instead of an overall, coordinated extravaganza, 30 to 40 stores are expected to host individual events.

Bottega Veneta, for instance, plans to introduce a new line of eco-friendly handbags, available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and Chanel will present a new Fashion's Night Out collection of matching lip and nail duos. The two retailers are among numerous labels with special merchandise created for the event.

Robertson Boulevard will replace Rodeo Drive's street party with its first official street celebration of FNO. An anticipated 2,000 guests will be treated to live music, art-inspired activities, surprise celebrity guest appearances and a chance to experience fall's latest trends as they stroll through the stores.

Santa Monica Place plans to step up with a roster of in-store events, including two beauty lounges. Entertainment onstage starts at 7 p.m., featuring a performance by "American Idol" contestant Stefano Langone and a fashion show hosted by Linda Immediato, style editor of Los Angeles magazine.

Farther along the coast, the celebration at the Malibu Country Mart is scheduled to be led by Gill and Jill Bumby, New York performance artists who famously rate guests' appearances on a scale from 1 to 10, issuing witty, typed-out, personal assessments of their style.

Malibu will pick up on last year's circus theme, with carnival-style red carpets and entertainment stations, including henna tattoos and magic shows.

The Alice + Olivia store in Malibu's newest shopping area, the Malibu Lumber Yard, plans to host an in-store party, featuring palm readings, manicures, hair-braiding stations and charm-bracelet design stands.

At Fashion Island in Newport Beach, more than 40 stores plan to host fashion and beauty events and giveaways as DJs keep music pulsing throughout the center.

Jillian Barberie-Reynolds, co-host of "Good Day L.A." on Fox Channel 11, and fashion designer David Meister are scheduled to emcee the night. At 5 p.m., Reynolds is to provide commentary for a presentation on fall's top trends, concluding in a runway show featuring Meister's eye-catching new collection of dresses and gowns.

South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa plans to feature a Chloe runway show at 6 p.m., along with special offers at more than 100 stores.

Rounding off the evening is West Hollywood's official after-party at the Standard on Sunset, complete with DJ. The party is slated for 10 p.m. to midnight, with a complimentary cocktail hour till 11 p.m.

Katie Holmes Showing at the Mother of All Fashion Week Venues: The Tents

Katie Holmes‘s first-ever New York Fashion Week show is buzzy enough, but it’s the venue that’s getting even more attention: the budding designer will reportedly show her Holmes & Yang clothing collection at “the tents,” Fashion Week’s premiere venue at the tony Lincoln Center.

Though designers are free to pick from a variety of venues for their runway shows — studios, theaters, libraries, even some outdoor spaces — the tents are considered Fashion Week central, a spot where heavy hitters like Diane von Furstenberg, Monique Lhuillier and Badgley Mischka show. It’s also where you’ll find celebs ducking into VIP lounges between presentations, hordes of fashionistas snapping photos and major fashion editors sitting front row.

“This is a big deal for Katie to show in the tents, under the full attention of the fashion editors and the glare of media scrutiny,” a source tells the New York Post. “They could have done a small show elsewhere, so this proves she and Jeanne are very serious about their business.”

In an interesting twist, Holmes & Yang is set to show the same day (Sept. 9) as Victoria Beckham‘s eponymous label, Grazia reports. Though the presentations likely won’t conflict — Beckham generally prefers an early-morning slot at the New York Public Library — one has to wonder if these two former besties are still fashion friends.


Holmes & Yang, co-founded by Holmes’s stylist, Jeanne Yang (above), and introduced in 2008, is a luxury label that sells mainly at Barneys New York. Looks below include a leather back cape jacket, $3,100 (left), a contrast back panel cardigan, $950 (center) and a contrast placket dress, $1,100 (right). “We want to create pieces a woman can wear over and over, and people won’t necessarily say, ‘Oh, you wore that last week,’” Holmes told ELLE.com of the line in 2010.

Stacy London to Host Fashion's Night Out with New York & Company

New York & Company, Inc.announces its annual participation in Fashion's Night Out on September 6, 2012 with special host, fashion expert Stacy London—renowned media personality and stylist of TLC's™  "What Not To Wear," founder and creator of Style for Hire, and author of The Truth About Style.

At the NY&C 58th & Lexington store, from 6pm to 9pm, DJ Scratch Academy will spin as customers shop and get unique, one-on-one expert style tips and fashion advice: Stacy and her team of experts from Style for Hire will individually style our customers, offer personal styling tips, and help create the perfect look from our Fall 2012 collection.

In addition, the first 100 customers who make a purchase during the event will receive a complimentary copy of Stacy's new book, The Truth About Style, ahead of the fashion pack—as the book will not officially be released until October.

Says Eran Cohen, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of New York & Company: "We're thrilled to give our customers at FNO the chance to be styled by Stacy, who will help them find the perfect look to fit and flatter each customer individually."

Stacy's favorite, personally-selected NY&C apparel and accessories—"Stacy's Picks"—will be featured in a designated area in the store for one night only, so customers at FNO will be able to see what Stacy recommends for the office to evening. "Stacy's Picks" of favorite NY&C styles will also be featured on www.nyandcompany.com for two weeks after the event.

To add to the festivities, champagne will be served, as well as macarons from fashion industry dessert darling, Dana's Bakery—not only delectable, but custom-styled to complement the NY&C Fall Collection!

High fashion stakes at Broome Cup

Just like the champagne flutes, the picturesque Broome race grounds were full to overflowing this afternoon with thousands of very happy – and well-dressed race-goers.

The fashion stakes were high throughout the grounds, but undoubtedly the place to be – and be seen, was in the Linneys music-themed marquee, where the bold and beautiful congregated around a gleaming grand piano. Under a huge, crystal chandelier, classic race wear ruled the day, although there were also quite a few flowing maxi dresses in vibrant and blooming citrus colours.

Broome local Min Dredge won Linneys Fashions on the Field with a geometric print dress by Country Road. Her shoes were also by Country Road, her headpiece by Christi Incerti and pearls by Linneys.

Broome Turf Club president Ron Johnston said it was evident the younger generations of Broome had endorsed Broome racing, and that their demeanour, dress and social respect was a credit to them and to Broome.

“It’s Melbourne Cup standard here in Broome,” he said.“We are proud of the way Broome and all our visitors here have dressed up to enjoy the pindan atmosphere, a bet and a few drinks.”

Mr Johnston said there had been something for everyone to enjoy, with a number of sponsors’ tents with live entertainment, fashion showcases by Perth Fashion Week, Linneys’ Fashions on the Field, dancing performances, and of course, races including the $100,000 Broome Cup and a $40,000 sprint.“We are on a peninsula with a beautiful ocean either side, among a great crowd who are all enjoying the fun, the sun and racing action – how could you not be happy at the Broome races?”

Especially happy were those who picked a winner. Broome jockey Colin Haddon rode the Marseillaise to victory in the Broome Cup. Prepared by top horseman Tom Pike, the son of Lonhro had been the dominant favourite for the race until running fifth in the Kimberley Cup earlier this month, but came out in front – lucky for some.Lindsay Youd of Perth had a win with Marseillaise and said it topped off what had been a brilliant day of racing.

Fashion's Night Out set Sept. 6 at Briarwood Mall

Briarwood Mall will host Fashion's Night Out, a celebration of style and beauty created by Vogue magazine, from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6 in Center Court.Fashion's Night Out is intended to celebrate the latest in design while contributing to a good cause.

Briarwood Mall Fashion's Night Out attendees can snag swag bags and prize giveaways, indulge in fashion, beauty and makeover treatments, sample food and drinks and watch fashion shows highlighting fall's trends.Models from John Robert Powers will showcase looks from Macy's, Aeropostale, Coldwater Creek, Eddie Bauer, Francesca's Collections, GAP, White House Black Market and more. Hoda Salameh, fashion editor for Styleline Magazine, will serve as the emcee.

Zingerman's also will host a Fashion Cake Decorating Contest. Shoppers can vote for their favorite cake, with the winner receiving a cake decorating class seminar valued at $500.All of the cakes will then be auctioned off, with proceeds benefitting the Simon Youth Foundation, a nonprofit that supports at-risk students.

Women Making Connections will also sponsor a charity auction table where attendees can bid on prizes, such as a flight over Ann Arbor from Solo Aviation.

Participating charities include: Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, Hospice of Michigan, Simon Youth Foundation, The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, United Way: Power of the Purse, Women Heart and the Women's Center of South East Michigan."Briarwood Mall is all about providing a superior shopping experience and offering consumers the very latest in trends," said Denise Murray, director of marketing and business development.

Anna Piaggi / Italian fashion editor known for unique style

Anna Piaggi, an oracular Italian fashion editor known for an endless array of eye-popping, wildly colorful outfits of the most peculiar combinations, ranging from vintage Patou to thermal mountain rescue coats to a uniform vest from late-period McDonald's, died Tuesday at her home in Milan. She was 81.Her death was confirmed by Italian Vogue, where Ms. Piaggi had created some of her most visually arresting and influential work.Owing to her vast knowledge of fashion history, as well as a personal wardrobe that included clothes spanning more than 200 years, Ms. Piaggi was often described as "the walking museum." Manolo Blahnik, who designed many of her shoes, once described her as "the only authority on frocks left in the world."

She was an eccentric editor in the mode of Diana Vreeland. But she was more often compared to the Marchesa Luisa Casati for her unbridled, theatrical awe-inspiring sense of dress. During a career that spanned more than five decades, Ms. Piaggi became as much a symbol of the embrace of high-fashion exuberance as the young and wild designers that she championed. She was a muse to many of them, most famously to Karl Lagerfeld during a particularly glamorous period of his success in Paris, in the 1960s and 1970s.As captured in Alicia Drake's book "The Beautiful Fall," Ms. Piaggi "was outstanding in her devotion to creating style." Traveling with Mr. Lagerfeld and his entourage, she would bring several trunks of clothing for a weekend: "vintage haute couture, antique jodhpurs from Chelsea Market, Edwardian bloomers that she had dyed jet black and a canvas cape that had begun life as a costume in Les Ballets Russes' first production of Stravinsky's 'Firebird.' "

Editors and photographers routinely waited for Ms. Piaggi to make an entrance at fashion shows, where she could be relied upon to create a spectacle, unless she was wearing an especially large hat. Then, she would watch the show from backstage, so as not to obstruct anyone else's view.Nevertheless, her appearance was unmistakable: the white-powdered face highlighted by a dollop of bright rouge painted on each cheek, eyes ringed in blue or black shadow, lips painted with an exaggerated cupid's bow and, often, a miniature clown's hat (usually by Stephen Jones) perched askew on her wave of blue hair. Ms. Piaggi claimed that she had not left home without a hat since the early 1980s.

A 2006 exhibition dedicated to her style, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, drew 4,000 visitors a week. The show opened with an accounting of her wardrobe: 265 pairs of shoes, 29 fans, 932 hats, 2,865 dresses, 24 aprons and 31 feather boas.
Ms. Piaggi was born in 1931 in Milan, according to Italian Vogue. In a 2004 profile in The Observer in London, she said her father, who was a manager and buyer for the department store la Rinascente, died when she was 7. Her upbringing, she said, was a bit conventional, "but it didn't last very long."While working as an interpreter at a press agency in the 1950s, she met the photographer Alfa Castaldi, who was a major contributor to Italian Vogue and who introduced her to the profession of fashion magazines. They were married in 1962 and worked together until Castaldi's death in 1995.

Scouting stores in London, Ms. Piaggi became acquainted with Vern Lambert, a fashion historian and a major dealer of vintage clothes, whom she credited with sparking her interest in collecting. When she met Mr. Lagerfeld, who was designing for Chloe, at his home in Paris, she happened to be wearing an important dress by Ossie Clark, which Mr. Lagerfeld immediately recognized. He began sketching her outfits over many years, and published a book of them.From 1981 to 1983, Ms. Piaggi was the editor in chief of Vanity, a magazine that developed a cultlike following. Many covers were illustrated by Antonio Lopez.

When Franca Sozzani became the editor of Italian Vogue in 1988, she said she wanted to create a magazine that was very quick at spotting trends, and hired Ms. Piaggi as a creative consultant. There she created free-form collages that often connected the unseen dots between fashion and cultural trends. The regular feature, called Doppie Pagine (or "double pages," or just "DP"), established a template for modern trend reporting by juxtaposing images of classical references with the current season's runway designs.As Ms. Piaggi described them in "Anna Piaggi's Fashion Algebra," a collection of her columns published in 1998, her double pages "have been for me like a dress taking shape." For her style, Ms. Piaggi was named to the International Best Dressed List numerous times and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fashion wins few medals in London 2012

Designer Giorgio Armani predicted that the London Olympics would be the most stylish ever, but fashion experts say there has been as much bad taste as elegance on display.From the Stella McCartney-designed British kit that omitted most of the red of the Union flag, to the US team's Chinese-made Ralph Lauren uniforms, couture has collided with controversy throughout the Olympics.

The opening ceremony offered up a riot of costumes and colours that gave a taste of things to come.The striking yellows and greens of the Jamaican team's kit designed by Cedella Marley, the daughter of reggae great Bob Marley, won many fans, while the Czech Republic's striking outfits provoked mixed reactions.Fashion journalist Carolyn Asome in The Times newspaper said the Czechs sported "the most hideous plastic blue boots known to mankind," while Hadley Freeman in The Guardian awarded them her fashion gold medal for the Games.

Even when the temperature went up on Thursday, Czech athlete Zuzana Hejnova donned her boots to collect the bronze in the medal ceremony for the 400m hurdles.The Mexican team added a ring of authenticity at the opening ceremony with their multi-coloured ponchos -- which Asome said were in keeping with this season's trends.Armani himself was roped in to design the outfits for his homeland, Italy.

The Spanish athletes were however the first to malign their own red and gold kits complete with go-faster flames, which were provided -- for free -- by Russian sportswear company Bosco Sport."It's not at all Latin, it's clearly more Eastern European," canoeist Saul Craviotto grumbled on his Twitter account, next to a photo of him trying on his uniform.Russia's 1980s football shirt-style outfits were also designed by Bosco.

The US delegation -- decked out in Ralph Lauren as they had been during the 2008 Beijing Summer Games and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics -- raised eyebrows with their very French-looking berets.But while the rest of the uniform looked patriotic enough there was a furore in the United States when it emerged ahead of the Games that the uniforms were made in China, stirring up an inevitable debate in this US election year.

For outfits worn during competition itself, the French won style points -- if not medals -- by bringing in luxury fashion house Hermes for their equestrian team, who wore navy and red blazers made of a special fabric to aid movement.The beach volleyball outfits of all the participating teams have attracted much attention for their sheer skimpiness, particularly in the sometimes British summer.

The Stella McCartney-designed vests for the British team received the "gold medal for riskiness" from L'Officiel, a French fashion magazine, for their variation on the Union Jack.McCartney -- whose father Paul of The Beatles fame performed at the opening ceremony -- had "clearly kept white and the blue as the dominant colours, minimising the presence of red, only using it on the shoes and collars," the magazine noted.

British athletes have kept quiet about their outfits, but during their biggest gold rush since 1908 many of them have been notably keep to drape themselves in a real Union Jack after their victories.Meanwhile the British opening ceremony outfits, consisting of white tracksuits with gold collars and armpit patches, attracted flak at home as they were produced by high-street brand Next.

Kardashian Kollection Adds Optical Line To Fashion Empire At Sears

Jupi Corp is excited to announce the newest addition to the Kardashian Kollection family - Kardashian Kollection Eyewear. Jupi Corp has collaborated with Inspecs USA, a design and innovation-driven global eyewear company, to manufacture the new collection of eyewear. Their latest business venture is targeted towards young, fashionable women who are budget-conscious but aware of the latest trends. The line hit stores in July 2012, offering both stylish optical frames and chic prescription sunglasses.

"It was only natural for eyewear to be the next product launch for the Kardashian Kollection brand. Our designs capture a wider clientele from those who are simple and structured in style to fashion risk takers. We're very proud and excited for this launch." said Bruno Schiavi, fashion designer and president of Jupi Corp.The Kardashian Kollection Eyewear is inspired by Kim's, Kourtney's and Khloé's unique individual styles, ranging from vintage boho to high glam. The optical collection will consist of five styles and will be offered in a total of nine different colors. Studded temples, tortoise shell, and leopard prints in retro shaped acetate frames will complement any signature style.

"Sears Optical saw the great success of the Kardashian Kollection in Sears stores across the United States and wanted to expand the Kollection into eyewear. Sears Optical partnered with Inspecs USA to create an exclusive eyewear line. The Kardashian Kollection Eyewear will be featured in both ophthalmic and prescription sun and sold exclusively at Sears Optical. The Kardashian Kollection Eyewear will officially be launched in stores and all parties involved could not be happier with the outcome," said Daryl Hammett, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Sears Optical, a division of Luxottica Retail.

The Kardashian Kollection Prescription Sunglasses will offer five prescription sunglass styles in 11 color options. Luxe-vintage styles include oversized cat eyes and retro aviators with pearlescent temples and funky HD animal prints.Kardashian Kollection Eyewear will retail for $139.99 for both optical and prescription sunglasses, and will be available at 300 Sears Optical stores nationwide.  Please visit www.searsoptical.com/kardashian for a complete list of store locations.

Neiman Marcus Debuts The Art of Fashion Campaign Featuring Photographer Erik Madigan Heck

Debuting nearly 20 years ago, The Art of Fashion was a revolutionary step for a retailer as the campaign was designed to feature cutting-edge fashion and provocative photography. Designer merchandise featured in the Fall 2012 campaign includes: Gucci, Valentino, Tom Ford, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Jil Sander, The Row, Etro, Akris, Alaia Paris, Proenza Schouler, Haider Ackermann, Burberry Prorsum, Lanvin Paris, Chanel, Mary Katrantzou, Jason Wu, Fendi, Lanvin Paris, Peter Piloto, Charlotte Olympia and Nancy Gonzalez.

Erik Madigan Heck is the youngest photographer ever chosen to shoot The Art of Fashion for Neiman Marcus.   Other notable photographers have included Richard Avedon, Arthur Elgort, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Lillian Bassman and Paolo Roversi.
"We wanted to pair up this season's exquisite fashions with a true creative visionary," said Eddie Nunns, Vice President, Neiman Marcus Brand Creative. "Erik Madigan Heck's work blurs the lines between photography and art, and through his illustrative approach he created stunning images that differentiate this campaign from any other."

In addition to the photography for The Art of Fashion, a trio of short films was shot and will be available at NMDaily.com. Two original Erik Madigan Heck prints from The Art of Fashion portfolio will be auctioned October 20, 2012, in conjunction with the Two x Two for Aids (2x2online.org), a 13-year-old fundraiser that has raised over $34 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Dallas Museum of Art's Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund. Watch for details in the next issue of the book.

Victoria Beckham: Fashion stole my smile

Victoria Beckham, a fashion designer, Spice Girls singer and wife of soccer star David Beckham, has long been made fun of by critics for rarely smiling in public and recently explained why she avoids it - fashion."I actually used to smile a lot in pictures," she told Glamour magazine. "I think I only stopped smiling when I got into fashion.  Fashion stole my smile! I've created this person. And I'm not saying that's not me, but I wouldn't say that's the whole me ... It's an armor that goes up."

Beckham, 38, made her comments in an interview published in the outlet's September 2012 issue. She graces the cover and also worked as a guest editor.Beckham had often maintained a stern look in professional press photographs even before she began her fashion design career in 2004.She often stood out in pictures that showed her alongside her fellow four Spice Girls, Gerri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Melanie Brown, who usually sported smiles and sometimes appeared goofy. Beckham's demeanor and chic fashion style earned her the nickname "Posh Spice."

The British pop star and designer lives in the Hollywood hills with her 37-year-old husband, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, sons Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, 9, and Cruz, 7, and daughter Harper, 1. Beckham also talked to Glamour about the prospects of expanding her family."I'd like everybody to be healthy and happy," Beckham told Glamour. "I'd like to be growing the business at a steady pace, and to be making more women feel empowered, beautiful, and confident. And I'd never say never about another baby. It's a juggling act - a career, family, a husband who's busy. But I'd never say never!"