FASHION Magazine

Wearing contact lenses in my dry-as-a-desert office makes my eyes look fiery red and irritated by the end of the day. It there a makeup trick to detract from this hideousness? I recommend taking a scientific approach to your beauty regime and look to the colour wheel for inspiration. Tints that are completely opposite on […]

The post Afternoon beauty fix: Conceal irritated, red eyes by opposing them on the colour wheel! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Just like we used to obsess over trading and braiding colourful strings, nowadays we’re pretty obsessed with Venessa Arizaga’s woven line of jewelry. Channelling the schoolyard whimsy of friendship bracelets but updating them for grownups, Arizaga makes colourful pieces that are blasts from the past that manage to look wholly modern.

Working with Tuleh and Zac Posen after graduating Parsons The New School for Design in 2003, Arizaga was inspired to handcraft colourful pieces following a trip to Puerto Rico. For fall, Arizaga’s collection nods to the late ’60s and early ’70s, offering a range of crocheted materials in contrasting colours that make up the bulk of the pieces. Browns blend with pinks, oranges, and yellows to form items with intense hippy appeal. Not to head too far back in time, bracelets and necklaces are kept current with strange charms (including Russian dolls and skulls) as well as timeless pearls. The look is fun, a bit cheeky, and made for a confident wearer.

Fans can purchase items at venessaarizaga.com. Gift-givers beware, though: unlike old-school friendship bracelets, these are pieces you won’t want to give away once you’ve tried them on.

View the collection »

The Met Gala, the annual celebration of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s summer Costume Institute exhibit, is loosely known as the Oscars of fashion. This year, models of the moment, editrixes, big-deal designers, as well as fashion-crowd approved pop stars and actresses flocked to the famed red steps in the name of Alexander McQueen, the subject of this years exhibit entitled Savage Beauty. While the designer’s famed creations didn’t dominate the carpet quite as we had hoped (but more on that later), there were lots of juicy bright hues (Zoe Saldana and Ginnifer Goodwin), ladylike lace (Rihanna, Taylor Swift), anything-but-basic black (Christina Ricci, Ashley Olsen, Stella McCartney), and plenty of glitzy gowns (Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Kruger) to feast our eyes on.

As for our faves? We loved Diane in her up-to-there Jason Wu gown, and Liv Tyler in her breathtaking feathered Givenchy couture. And you?

Vote and view the looks after the jump! »

Back when Aja Singer and Anna Zeman were new-found Parsons grads, the Toronto and Seattle natives banded together to fill the gap between high-end and the everyday. Five seasons later, the two have clearly defined their New York-based brand, Alex & Eli, as the answer to virtually every wardrobe dilemma a twenty-something girl about town might have. With a combined resume boasting apprenticeships at the likes of Zac Posen, Carolina Herrera and Rodarte, its no wonder that the fairly young brand has got such strong vision. While others may design with pure fantasy in mind, Singer and Zeman just get it.

Both having studied science in their undergraduate years, the designers were inspired by Star Trek when creating their fall collection. Blending those far-out references with the duo’s yen for tailoring, the collection comes off as flawlessly relaxed and firmly planted in reality. As soon as we got our hands on the fall look book, we had no choice but to find out more from the horses’ designers’ mouths.

Stars like Christian Ricci, Jon Hamm, Laura Linney and Paul Haggis all came out to attend the 2010 New York Stage And Film Winter Gala. Ricci donned an ombre mesh Zac Posen dress paired with Yves Saint Laurent patent leather pumps. While the silhouette of the dress is definitely sexy, what’s your verdict on the ombre? Cast your vote after the jump.

Fashion’s future and past went head-to-head, back-to-back yesterday and it was no contest. Both Zac Posen and Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga took fashion classics and turned them on their ear.

Saturday
While you lovelies were brunching and cocktailing over the weekend, I’ve was hard at work celeb-spotting at the Lincoln Centre (I spy: Carmen Electra, Kristin Bell, J. Lo, Bradley Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris, Aisha Tyler, Kelly Osbourne, Kimora Lee Simmons, Chris Bosh, Rebecca Romijn, Christina Hendricks, and so on, and so on), crossing Manhattan several times a day to attend the shows and trying to avoid the dreaded fashion week blisters that come with this job. Happily, Saturday was a sunny day in every way.

Blue skies and Lacoste first up on the schedule.  Creative director Christophe Lemaire nailed his version of sporty chic (lots of white, sleeveless polos, perforated short shorts and graphic prints) before heading off next season to Hermès.  Was the orange carpet rolled out at Lacoste simply a cheeky way of jumping onto the saddle, so to speak?

“The cover dress was very pretty but wouldn’t go over my arse,” says US Vogue‘s October cover girl Carey Mulligan. “Sample sizes are very, very tiny. I’m actually wearing a towel around my waist and the bottom is clipped up because I couldn’t fit.” [Vogue UK]

Tinsley Mortimer opened the Richie Rich Spring 2011 fashion show last night, while Ellen Degeneres closed the show in a silver suit, small hat and blue fingerless gloves. [Huffington Post]

The house of Alexander McQueen is considering suing Cadbury for using an image of their 2006 hologram of Kate Moss in their ads. The question is, why would Kate Moss make us want to buy chocolate? [Racked]

First, he won Swarovski Accessories Designer of the Year at the CFDA‘s, and now Alexander Wang‘s got himself a new New York apartment. The Tribeca one bedroom was previously owned by former New York Times Style editor Holly Brubach, and cost him a modest $2 million. All in all, a good week for Alex. [New York Observer]

It’s a good day for Canadian fashion, The Bay has just announced its place as a partner in the National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts (ANDAM) Fashion award. “Partnering with ANDAM is a huge stride for Canada as a fashion authority and resource,” said The Bay’s fashion director, Suzanne Timmins. The ANDAM Fashion award is the world’s largest international fashion prize. Two of this year’s finalists include Canadians Mark Fast and Calla Haynes. The competition is open to fashion designers of any nationality under the age of 40 who plan to show and develop their collections in France.

According to Forbes’ Highest Paid Model list, Brazilian beauty Gisele Bündchen rakes in more cash than any other model. Interestingly, the order of this year’s list is identical to last year’s. Coincidence or copy and paste? [The Cut]

A 13-minute film noir starring Agyness Deyn has just been released. Titled Mean To Me, the short flick is set in the 1930s with vintage-style gowns courtesy of Zac Posen. [StyleList]

Although Naomi Campbell reportedly struck again (sorry for the pun), no legal action will be taken. The supermodel was questioned by the NYPD after allegedly slapping and punching her driver, and slapped with a harrasment report, which doesn’t have any penalties or subsequent charges. [Vogue UK]

Jessica Stam is designing a capsule collection for Macy’s. While it’s hard to get excited about yet another collaboration, the fact that Stam is one of our favourite models does have us looking forward to the results. [StyleFrizz]

Lily Allen is taking her career path in a different direction and moving into to fashion. Her sister and the former singer are starting a vintage clothing project called “Lucy in Disguise,” which will launch at the Vintage at Goodwood festival in the UK in August. [The Cut]