The Fashionable Matilda's Diary

Shopping: Shoe Woo Lands in Manhattan

2009-09-29T12:44:00.002-04:00

Shoe Woo, the concept shoe store owned by retailer Jones Apparel Group, will land in Manhattan Oct. 1 across from Bloomingdales' 59th street flagship. Shoe Woo sells shoes that encompass all the footwear brands of Jones Apparel, which includes Nine West, Enzo Angiolini and Anne Klein to name a few. It already operates two stores in the tri-state area, but this is the first store to open in Manhattan.

As if going into a Nine West store isn't enough, now you can shop from a dizzing array of shoes from the retailer's different shoe lines propped in boudior style cabinets. The Shoe Woo experience promised a "kid in a couture candy store" type of euphoria, where shoppers can try on shoes underneath a giant crystalized stiletto.

Check out the website and store preview video here.

Fashion Week Video: Michael Kors

2009-09-29T08:44:00.000-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Narciso Rodriguez

2009-09-29T08:42:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Video: 3.1 Phillip Lim

2009-09-29T07:55:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Review: Christian Siriano

2009-09-18T21:54:00.005-04:00

For risk of overexposure, it may serve well for reality TV show star Christian Siriano to temper down on putting his name on everything from shoes to makeup lines. Yet, after seeing his Spring 2010 collection, it is easily understood why retailers flock to him for a bit of his creative touches.

The Siriano runway is dominated with lush couture that are elegant and sophisticated. For such a young designer, Siriano created looks that were mature beyond his years. Yet, his looks exuded a vibrance which only a young designer could make.

Take for example his pairings of punky platforms with spiky heels with couture-like ball gowns (and the silk falle and gazar!), or an elegant pantsuit cut beautifully with a wicked strong shoulder.

It is no wonder why luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue recently installed some of Siriano's Fall 2009 creations on its design floor labeled "29 designers that defined style." To be included among the ranks of other design masters such as Oscar De La Renta, or Marc Jacobs (or YSL!), it is the biggest complement any young designers could receive. -- Edith Moy.

See a video of the show here.

Fashion Week Video: Christian Siriano

2009-09-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Lela Rose

2009-09-18T21:29:00.000-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Derek Lam

2009-09-18T21:28:00.000-04:00

Fashion Week Review: Rebecca Taylor

2009-09-18T21:26:00.000-04:00

The Rebecca Taylor woman is always a girly-girl with a romantic sensibility at heart. This season is no exception. Taylor sent down the runway a slew of chic, flirty looks that screams innocence and amour. It is a collection that will fair well with uptown girls who want to look at least ten years younger, or hip Brooklynites craving for a bit of a vintage look. -- Edith Moy.

See a video for the show here.

Fashion Week Review: Herve Leger

2009-09-18T21:15:00.001-04:00

How does one make a strappy bondage dress look new season after season? Such is the dilemma facing Herve Leger designer Lubov Azria. Yet, Azria surprises us with pretty renditions of swimsuits and flappy dresses that channel Azzedine Alaia. For Spring 2010, the Herve Leger girl is sexier than ever.

Azria, of the BCBG fame, sent down the runway some of the most amazing swimsuits we've ever seen. Everything is covered, but the strategic bondage gives the swimwear more va-va-voom than the skimpiest bikini. We took a liking to a bone-colored swingy dress that channeled early 80s Alaia, but we loved seeing a white skeletal dress that hugged the body at all the right places. And don't get us started about those wicked platform boots pairings!

Azria is at a crossroad with delivering three distinctive collections under the Max Azria family while maintaining the true spirit of the Herve Leger house (Max Azria bought the label from Leger in 1998). She did it well this season. We can see the beaded cocktail numbers being worn on red-carpet-stomping starlets, or the daring skeletal minis on socialites who want to show the paparazzi a bit of a sexy kick. -- Edith Moy.

See the video for the show here.

Fashion Week Video: DVF

2009-09-18T20:59:00.000-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Herve Leger

2009-09-18T20:58:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Rebecca Taylor

2009-09-14T08:19:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Tuleh

2009-09-14T08:14:00.002-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Custo Barcelona

2009-09-14T08:12:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Amenities: Hautelook Lounge

2009-09-12T11:10:00.002-04:00

With the end of the recession and the return of some degree of wealth, one of the nicest comeback for fashion week is the emergence of full-amenity lounges. Show-goers can bunk their tired feet in between shows.

One such sweet places is the HauteLook lounge, atop the Bryant Park hotel penthouse. The lounge is sponsored by a Los Angeles-based members-only web site offering limited sale event. Think Gilt Groupe but with a LA spin. VP Carlota Espinosa did a good job making sure the space is welcoming (they actually feed us! What a glorious return to see fashionistas eating.) and functional to promoters as much as possible. Over the course of five days, attendees would get a chance to hopnop with childrenswear designer Lucy Sykes for a special playdate, along with meeting cosmetic distributor Comptoir Sud Pacific who promotes organic fragrances from France. There are several press previews as well - Felix Rey and Alvin Valley to name a few.

We LOVE being pampered. Thank you for that Socal hospitality, and for giving us a space to chill in an otherwise hectic week! -- Edith Moy.

Fashion Week Video: Cynthia Steffe

2009-09-11T18:34:00.003-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Ports 1961

2009-09-11T18:33:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Yigal Azrouel

2009-09-11T18:30:00.003-04:00

Fashion Week Video: BCBG Max Azria

2009-09-11T18:28:00.001-04:00

Fashion Week Video: Twinkle by Wenlan

2009-09-11T18:22:00.002-04:00

Runway reviews will be forthcoming. But first here's the official first look of NYFW.

Video courtesy of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Fashion's Night Out: What to do, Where to go Part II

2009-09-08T11:45:00.000-04:00

Just as we staffers at the Fashionable Matilda's Diary are pondering what to do (and where to go!) for this thursday's Fashion's Night Out, here's additional suggestions from selective bloggers on where to go.

In almost all events, liquor is involved. We suggest pile up on the Chaser, plan accordingly and drink responsibly!

Coverage from the Shopper, click HERE.

Coverage from the Madison Avenue Spy, click HERE.

Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week: Schedule

2009-09-08T10:52:00.002-04:00

Despite a downsized economy and direct competition from downtown's Milk Studio & Mac fashion week, IMG's 7th on Sixth isn't allowing its designer line-up to shrivel in size. A host of old and new designers will be cropping up the Bryant Park tents for once last hoopla, along with a slew of familiar sponsors. (Starting next season, Fashion Week will be relocated to Lincoln Center's Damorsch park.)

Of course The Fashionable Matilda's Diary will be there to give you the latest on all the shows, runway reviews and videos. Check here often for our New York Fashion Week coverage!

For show goers, here's a printable version of the lineup.

Photo credit: Julie Yee.

More Activities for Fashion Night Out

2009-09-02T11:32:00.003-04:00

Culled directly from the company's press releases:

Jimmy Choo is pleased to participate in ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ in its New York stores with the following activities on Thursday September 10th:

Both New York stores- Madison Avenue at 64th Street and 51st Street at Fifth Avenue will remain open for late night shopping until 11pm with champagne and refreshments. Both stores will be selling ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ T-Shirt in support of the ‘National September 11th Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center’, with 40 percent of the proceeds directly benefiting the charity.

At Madison Avenue, the Autumn/Winter 2009 collection will come to life on model Angela Lindvall in a live photo shoot, styled by Tamara Mellon, Founder and President of Jimmy Choo, and shot by photographer Sean Thomas.

At Madison Avenue, Tamara and Vogue editors Elissa Santisi, Contributing Editor, and Filipa Fino, Senior Accessories Editor, will be on hand for personal styling consultation, advising clients how to incorporate some of the top seasonal accessory trends into their Fall wardrobes.

Jimmy Choo will also participate in ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ with events in London, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Tokyo and Delhi, as well as additional shopping events in Miami and Honolulu.

Movie to Watch: The September Issue

2009-08-27T12:26:00.006-04:00

Yes yes, RJ Cutler's real-life "Devil Wears Prada" documentary The September Issue finally hits the cinema starting tomorrow (selected engagements only). Vogue's Editrix Anna Wintour has been making her rounds of press by showing up in 60 Minutes and the David Letterman Show promoting the film (well, sort of). For those who has not heard of it yet, here's the official trailer for your perusal. Is this a must-see? Well, just by watching Andre Leon Tally screaming "It's a FAMINE OF BEAUTY!" might worth a trip to your local cinema.