FASHION Magazine

Outside of the obvious rage of polka dots, studs, and stripes that we’ve seen everywhere so far this fall, we’re noticing something interesting: everyone wears Prada. All the time. Try to see how many show-goers you can spot in last spring or this fall’s wears in our snaps from New York and so far in Milan, it’s uncanny!

View the photo gallery »

Everybody’s goin’ surfing, and not just on the web. Ever since my shoot in Hawaii last week (watch for it in our upcoming Winter issue), I have surfing on the brain (in case you’re one of the very few who haven’t been the recipient of my shameless bragging or seen my surf pics as I […]

The post MFW diary: Blue-crushing for spring’s surf inspired offerings appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Ciao Milano! Our boy Lewis Mirrett arrived in Italy yesterday safe and sound, but alas, his bags did not. After a harrowing five hours waiting for his supplies to appear, his equipment showed up! Now we bring you the best of his first excursion: outside the Moschino show.

View the photo gallery »

At the gorgeous Villa Necchi, for an equally gorgeous Tod’s presentation. The sun is shining and it’s all I can do to keep myself from plunging into the pool (the same one featured in the Tilda Swinton film, I Am Love).

Viewing the collection over cappuccino with Derek Lam, Tod’s creative director, it’s remarkable to see how much he’s upped the brand’s luxe ante since he first began his collaboration in 2006. Spring is inspired by “the strength of Italian craftsmanship” and that’s quite apparent—from the bead- and precious metal– studded moccasins to the special-order gold-embellished bags. Colours vary from neutral tans, oyster, and dove grey all the way to citrus brights—as in a fringed-calfskin orange shopper. Juicy and delish!

In case you haven’t heard: Prada was hot! Flaming hot! Miuccia Prada knew she had us when she came out for her bow—a warm and knowing smile on her lips. And had us she did.

Before the show, would I have dreamed of desiring a satin varsity jacket with airbrushed flames shooting out the back? Not on your life. So why is it, hours after the show, I can think of nothing but? Such is the genius of Mrs. Prada—the ability to take something that could be cutesy or kitsch and subtly render it sublime. From the Styrofoam cars and auto-mechanic set, to the last flame-throwing needle-nose stiletto the spring collection was “Go Grease Lightning” through and through.

“Teal is the new neutral,” declares Holt Renfrew‘s fashion director, Barbara Atkin, outside the Max Mara show, pointing to her gorgeous new Givenchy bag. And she’s right. It’s my second day in Milan and I’ve already seen nothing but blue-sky bags cropping up all over town and scattered throughout the front row. Did everyone get the same memo?

Inside the tent, there was a different sort of blue—a pastel (think Ladurée macaroon) aqua that’s been spotted throughout the spring collections. Max Mara mixed it with delicate shades of sand and ivory in a sporty, minimal collection highlighted by racer-back, colour-block dresses, athletic-inspired knee-length leggings (move over Lululemon) and trim little ¾-sleeve, blouson baseball jackets.

Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone, the most infamous shopping street on the planet, was virtually shut down last night as Louis Vuitton opened its brand-spanking-new digs. Fashion Week groupies were out in droves, hoping to catch a glimpse of cult designer Marc Jacobs, in town to fete the opening of “Louis Vuitton: The Art of Fashion,” […]

The post MFW diary: Marc Jacobs was at last night’s Louis Vuitton Milan store opening appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Was it my imagination or did the maître d at the Charleston Restaurant light up when he saw me coming tonight, hugging me and my pasta partner in crime, Newsweek/the Daily Beast’s Robin Givhan, and proudly declaring “spaghetti rosa for you!”

One of the things I marvel about in Milan is the flawless service from a loyal cast of shopkeepers, hotel concierges, restaurant owners, and wait staff who lovingly keep the same job year after year, and have become my Milanese family away from home when I touch down twice a year. But enough warm and fuzzy. You want to hear about the clothes!

Coco Rocha is engaged to her boyfriend, interior designer James Conran. Congrats you two! [Oh So Coco]

Natalia Vodianova appeared as a fairy in yesterday’s closing ceremonies, part of the Russian presentation for the Sochi 2014 games. The presentation also included performers in bouncy glowing orbs.

Christian Lacroix (the label–the man himself cut ties with the brand) is teaming up with various labels to launch four new product categories in hopes to get their profits back on track. Expect to see eyewear, stationary, wood panels and home textiles over the course of the year and into early 2011. [Vogue UK]

A private funeral service for Alexander McQueen will be held today in London. A spokeswoman for the label said that a public memorial for the designer will take place later this year, and that right now the label is focussing on their Paris show in March. [The Cut]

Milan fashion week begins today and starts with a bang: Prada has announced that they’ll be streaming their show live. Go to prada.com at 1 p.m. EST to watch the show live. [Vogue UK]

H&M is launching an organic skin care line, hitting stores in April. In typical H&M style, no product is priced over US$8! [Stylelist]

Ralph Lauren is getting an earful for putting his iconic polo logo on the U.S. Olympic athletes’ uniforms—instead of the American Flag. [NYP]

It turns out that it wasn’t designers who were up in arms over Anna Wintour missing their shows at Milan fashion week, but Wintour herself. The fashion legend reportedly asked that the fashion week be shortened to three days so that she could attend all the shows, causing a stir in the Italian fashion world. The city’s mayor made a statement, saying: “Nobody, not even if her name is Anna Wintour, can take the liberty to do and undo our fashion calendar.” [WWD]

Josephus Thimister, who preceded Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga, has come out of hibernation. The designer presented a faux blood-spattered collection to mixed reviews at Couture Week on Sunday. [Fashionologie]

Grazia Daily was (publicly) miffed after having to watch the Christian Dior show through blogger Tavi’s enormous headpiece. [Grazia]

Alessandro Dell’Acqua is coming back to the runway after losing his line (and the rights to use his name) earlier this year. The Italian is presenting his new line, No. 21, at Milan Fashion Week in February. [WWD]