FOOD FOR THOUGHT: TIM GUNN'S THOUGHTS ON FASHION!

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TIM GUNN AROUND WHEN I SHOP. AT LEAST I'LL KNOW HE'S BEING HONEST.

Tim Gunn is always known to give his honest opinions on what's working currently on the fashion scene. This fall season was no exception as he recently gave his thoughts on the current state of fashion to a New York newspaper. Here's what the fashion guru had to say: "I have to say that one of the things I love about fashion today is that there is something for everybody," says Gunn, whose day job is now the chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne Inc. "Whether you're a classicist, bohemian, minimalist - it's out there. And if you're exuberant and over the top, it's there for you, too."

I concur, oh wise fashionable one.

What's Hot and What's Not so Hot!
-The modern peacoat is a must-have item, especially in a vibrant colour or with a cinched waist. He also likes the look of a patent leather trench. "I've seen it in black, and it's stunning. I've seen it in white - I'm not a great fan of white - but Valentino and Michael Kors both did red, and I love the return of that." Gunn says.

-Gunn hopes the dress is here to stay. It provides so many options to women, he says, but it also is the easiest solution for day-to-day dressing.

-Tim won't go so far as to say he doesn't like the high-waisted pants trend, but he acknowledges it can be difficult for most women to wear.

-The round-toe pump is another item he's not so keen on. "It tends to cut you off. I'd stay away from that if I was a woman," Gunn notes.

-For men, he is a fan of the slimmer silhouette that's been adopted in recent seasons.

Less bulk is flattering on everyone, even men who think they're hiding a little bit of girth under an oversized jacket, he says.

But the shorter pant - a.k.a. flood pant - is taking modern menswear too far. "Who wants to walk around looking like Pee Wee Herman?"

I know I don't!

THE SCOOP: FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL'S NIGHT OF STARS

IT'S A BUSY, BUSY WEEK IN THE FASHION WORLD.
Thursday- Fashion Group International brought together stylemakers and the celebrities who wear their designs at the 24th Annual Night of Stars gala in New York City. The event was held at Cipriani 42nd Street, paying homage to the "Rule Breakers" for their contributions to the worlds of fashion, beauty, architecture and philanthropy. Awards were given to trend-setters such as: Jean-Paul Gaultier, Alber Elbaz and Hussein Chalayan.

FASHION HITS

Kerry Washington is never disappointing on the red carpet! The color and the ruffled texture make the dress timeless and ultra chic. And how about that clutch! Cute. Jane Krakowski is also looking stunning. I love the waist cinching detail in the middle. Classic look.

FASHION MISSES

Andre Leon Tally is a style ICON, but seriously could he not wait until the 31st to wear this?
And I LOVE Jennifer Hudson but the dress by Carmen Marc Valvo does nothing for her figure and the color looks like spray paint from Home Depot.

Alber Elbaz needs a stylist and quick. His clothing of choice does nothing for his size or height. His pants aren't the right shape or length. They make him appear wider and shorter. And the jacket buttoning at the middle? Bring even more attention to his waist. His armcandy for the evening looks semi-decent. I like Linda Evangelista's dress. Flashy and very 40's. Tilda Swinton on the other hand must be wearing Satin Bedsheets by Martha Stewart? I guess she was going for the short-lived toga dress trend. *shrugs.

THE JUICE: TOMMY HILFIGER OPENS NEW WOMEN'S ONLY STORE

NEW YORK — Tommy Hilfiger's first store devoted exclusively to women's wear opens today at 375 Bleecker Street here on a tree-lined block between Perry Street and Charles Street.

The store is expected to do between $750 and $1,000 in sales per square foot, on par with sales trends in the neighborhood, said Gary Sheinbaum, president of retail.

In the last decade, Bleecker Street has become a sought-after address for retailers and brands such as Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Intermix, James Perse and Mulberry have opened there. "The neighborhood attracts people from all over the city as well as international tourists," said Sheinbaum.

Along with the Tommy Hilfiger runway collection, the 825-square-foot store features the best of Tommy Hilfiger sportswear and vintage apparel and accessories chosen to complement the designer's products.

Trent D. Wisehart, senior vice president of creative services, said the new store provides a platform for selling runway designs deemed too forward for wholesale accounts. "Before, products were done for the runway, but it was hard to find a place to sell them," he said. "Now, we have a place."

The Bleecker Street store is considered a lab for new products and ideas. "We're looking into opening more women's stores," Wisehart said. Dual-gender stores in Miami and the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington are in the works.

"We are open to anything that helps us continue to elevate the brand," Sheinbaum said. "We're looking at other great cities in the U.S. and we are selectively considering some 'A' malls."

Hilfiger has had mixed success with U.S. company-owned stores. In 2002, the company said it would close 37 of its 44 U.S. specialty doors and it hasn't opened a store in New York since 2001. The Bleecker Street unit is the designer's third full-priced one in the U.S.

While the store incorporates familiar Hilfiger, American symbols such as the eagle and trappings of the upper-crust lifestyle depicted in advertising ensure there's nothing standard issue about it. "The theme was a jewelry box with clear, potent color," said Wisehart. "It has a little more of a quaint vibe."

Wood floors are painted glossy black and walls are a shade of Benjamin Moore Regimental Blue. Two chandeliers acquired from an estate in Connecticut are dressed with black shades. Black lacquer shelves are attached to walls with aged brass chains. Below the shelves, aged brass rods hold the garments. Items hanging on Lucite hangers are vintage.

The most expensive Tommy Hilfiger item is a beaded dress from the runway show for $450. In the vintage area, there's a lace bolero for $175, and a navy blue silk jacket for $375.

Vintage posters decorate the walls, a stuffed peacock holds forth in one corner of the store and a dress form, painted red, displays watches and vintage charm bracelets. Another Benjamin Moore color, Safety Yellow, provides a bright pop of color on shutters, the fireplace mantle and two large lamp bases made from old wallpaper rollers, which were used to print wallpaper.

A door at the back of the store leads to a boxwood garden with chili pepper plants and yellow mums. Embedded into the patio are grave markers. One, for a Harold J. Lofthouse, is dated 1882 to 1946.

Worn wrought iron furniture anchors the 450-square-foot garden, which will be used for "manicures and Champagne while people shop," said Sheinbaum. "It's just another element to make the customer experience special."

"Each season we will re-create the environment," Wisehart said, explaining that everything from the wall color to the furniture could change. "We're trying hard to create a sense of discovery and surprise." -ARTICLE COURTESY OF WWD.COM

Tommy Hilfiger's Bleecker Street Store

Photos Credit - WWD.com

FIRST BITE: FASHION WEEK DAY 3 !

FASHION WEEK DAY 2 RECAP:

Another great day of fashion I must say. I can barely wait for the pictures to be posted after each show, that`s how stunning the designs have been so far. My standout collections would go to Lela Rose (who also debuted her shoe collection with Payless) who's dresses & gowns were simply sleek and timeless. The color choices, fabric choices and cuts were all on point. I loved it. Carlos Miele had a sexy collection of dresses as well. (It must be the year of the dress?) Hotness. I also adored Bill Blass' collection. Another collection of gorgeous knee-length and floor-length dresses with amazing detail. Gorgeous. Gottex! This swimwear collection was beyond hot. It made me want to get back in the pool again, just to show off one of these fierce bathing suits. Loved it! Now on the flipside, there were a couple designers I was noticably disappointed with. Miss Sixty was the first out of the bunch. I was not impressed with this collection. I've seen Miss Sixty at previous Fashion Weeks and seen much better from Wichy. Badgely Mischka also disappointed me with their collection. At the Miami Fashion Week back in May, their gowns were mesmerizing so I was expecting way more from them. The designs this time around were rather plain.

PORTS 1961

VERA WANG

TRACY REESE

BEHNAZ SARAFPOUR

CHALKEN

FIRST BITE: FASHION WEEK NEW YORK DAY 2 !

Fashion Week Day 1 Recap:
Yesterday was simply a-ma-zing! The first day of fashion week was MAJOR! Nothing but great designs and concepts came from all the designers that presented. Of course, I had my favorites that stood out..one of them being Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. ! I was highly anticipating her collection because her style is ridic, so I knew her line was going to be fantabulous. Preppy Rockstar Mod was the look she went for, and it worked! I also adored the Marchesa gowns, they were to die for. Defining classic elegance at its best. My last favorite of the day was the BCBC Max Azria collection! As I flipped thru each picture, my mouth dropped wider and wider each time. The dresses were breath-taking. I loved how almost all of the dresses were paired with a lovely cinch waist belt, which is definitely the "in-look" right now. FIERCENESS.

RUNWAY HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S SHOWS (MORE TO COME AS THEY ARE RELEASED)

LELA ROSE

MISS SIXTY

BILL BLASS

All Photos Courtesy of nydailynews.com

FIRST BITE: FASHION WEEK NYC KICKS OFF TODAY!

Hello my beautiful fashionistas! Today marks a very important day in the world of fashion. Yes, it's the first day of Fashion Week in New York City showcasing all the Spring 2008 Collections! It's going on right now as I type this, lol. I can't explain how long i've been anticipating this week. It's like the Grammy's for fashion!

From September 5-12, New York City will be even hipper than usual with the onslaught of shows and exclusive parties for Fashion Week. A who's-who of designers and fashion icons are set to show their latest work, from Gwen Stefani's chic L.A.M.B. line as the Wednesday night kick-off to the plentiful work from big names like Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and the Nicky Hilton, just to name a few.

This season's fashion week will include a total of 64 designers showing off their spring 2008 collections in the tents at Bryant Park, while dozens more send their styles down runways at sites throughout the city. Attendance this year is projected to reach in the 100,000's over the course of the entire week. I'll be covering the best collections everyday so be sure to check back ! ;)

THE LOOK FOR TODAY = DRESS FOR SUCCESS!

Styles shown at today's opening shows were more loose and feminine than the ladylike, polished fall fashions now in stores. BCBG Max Azria showed sheer, flowy dresses while Abaete turned to '40s-inspired sheaths and halters for the collections shown at Bryant Park. Dresses have been a strong trend the past three fashion cycles, but what started with short, boxy shifts in the spring morphed into shirtdresses for fall. It seems next season's shape - at least in early shows - is a loose sheath, one that glides over an hourglass shape without sticking to it.

RUNWAY HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S SHOWS

YIGAL AZROUEL

BCBG MAX AZRIA

ALEXANDRE HERCHKOVITCH

ABAETE

T0NI MATICEVSKI

NAUTICA

L.A.M.B.

VENEXIANA





RAG & BONE

ADAM

NICOLE MILLER





MARCHESA




ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF

NYDAILYNEWS.COM & MBFASHIONWEEK.COM