Fashion

Lest our four-legged friends suffer in this economic downtime, there are the luxurious promises of Haute Diggity Dog. Started by Pamela Reeder and Victoria Dauernheim, the Las Vegas-based company offers doggie pillows and chew toys with cheeky names such as Chewnel #5, Chewy Vuitton, Barkney’s Credit Card and Christian Loubarkin stuffed shoes. Considering our curbed shopping habits, living vicariously through  “Scruffy” is the new recession chic. Bark on. Continue…

The fashion weeks have finally finished up, pigeons are cooing and the sunshine is just poking through the winter clouds. Sure the Fall collections said toughen up, but for the moment, we’re thinking tennis whites, prepster chic, and a breath of bohemian fresh air. If tough times have told us anything, it’s to enjoy the moment and no better way to celebrate than with the season of renewal. Here are some of our favorite picks for Spring chic. Continue…

At the Gen Art LA Fashion Week, which showcased only three designers, Society for Rational Dress stood out in a gladiator-influenced collection in the massive Coliseum-like setting of the L.A Theater. Unlike the more somber shows of the season, California-native Corrine Grassini kept it positive, with upbeat music providing a backdrop to the laid-back versus edgy cosmopolitan pieces. Contrasts such as a chain vest over a dropstitch knit sweater or an asymmetrically-placed leather belt neckline on a soft, flowy Grecian silk dress added visual interest to the collection. Continue…

Sjobeck is made for its locals: Californians and anything laidback-luxury. For Fall ’09, women’s designer Lani Lupton said she took inspiration from her surroundings,namely Malibu and its upper-class California lifestyle. Lupton also wanted the looks to go from beach house party to a special event. For the label, that included incorporating Native American and cowgirl influences, with blue ranch-style checkered shirts and raw denim. Not sure what a full on Native American headdress has to do with SoCal, but the easy jersey pieces would probably look good lounging by a pool and then a pool party. Continue…

Green and lean, sisters Chrys and Linda Wong debuted eco-conscience fashions via their New World collection using only veggie leather, veggie fur, organic cotton and bamboo fabrics. Raised in both Queens and California, the designers’ The Battalion appealed to green devotees on both coasts. Continue…

A rock and roll moto-chic crowd showed up for relative newcomer, Skin.Graft, for their LA Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009 Collection. Designers Jonny Cota, Cassidy Haley and Katie Kay’s pulled their inspiration from “neo-Victorian royalty and overly tarnished motorcycles smashing into each other at high speeds.” In the design trio’s hands, this turned out to be exaggerated silhouettes with shoulder pads, fur, zippers and ornate detailing that went along with the embellishment trend. It was 80s rock all over again, but the tweaks on the classic motorcycle jacket with leather ruffles and a delicate collar was all their own. Continue…

After the past couple of seasons of girlish fun (think bright pink patent satchels and up-to-there pouf skirts), Miuccia Prada has brought Miu Miu around to a more sophisticated turn. Channeling the sexpot energy of film heroines, double-breasted wool coats had low curvy necklines and louche tops opened to reveal nude brassieres. The underwear as outerwear theme continued throughout with sheer silk blouses, but had a grown-up tension when paired with slim calf-length skirts. The undressed feel of the lingerie-inspired pairings stood in relief to a few skirt suits with masculine jackets as if to say a woman can have her work and have fun too. Continue…

For designer Wolfgang Joop, it was time to go back to the fundamentals–well at least in the school of Russian Suprematism, an art movement founded by Kasimir Malevich that was based on fundamental geometric forms. Blouses took on squares and jackets featured beautifully constructed shoulders. Joop also used several graphical prints, namely flowy dresses in stripes and checks. Continue…

Backstage at the Elie Saab show was a calm oasis compared to frenzy of the seats outside. The designer was cordoned off in a private section with two bodyguards and a personal champagne server. Jessica Stam was calmly reading Kurt Vonnegut on the hair stylist’s chair, and Chanel Iman took pics of friends and hammed it up for the photogs. Continue…