New Impression: 944 Magazine

 Have you seen the newly re-vamped 944 Magazine? If you are local to the hotspots of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, or Miami (all nightlife-centric places), or just browse their publication online, then you  may be familiar with 944 Magazine and its extensive coverage of whats happening in the nightlife scene. I would pick up the magazine on rare occasion, mainly to laugh at the many photos of party people who, in my opinion, should be at home in bed on a Tuesday night rather than at the latest shindig attended by Paris Hilton for the umpteenth time, but I am shocked and rather impressed with the new direction the magazine has taken. They have grown up. (Its about time). They have a new editor, who has moved the focus of the magazine from nightlife to lifestyle. Fashion is now front and center. Editorial is much more streamlined and stylized, and tells a story (somewhat). There are new stylists and graphic designers. The writing, well, there's writing. It has taken a new and better shape. Kudos! Check it out online or better yet, pick up an issue. They're still free and all over town. And, there's still nighlife photos for comedy sake...
Enjoy!
-fggofstyle

Eastern Trading Company: The Influence of Asian Designers

 What makes the fashion industry is its melting pot of cultures and nations, coming together to create these wonderful things we call clothing for our economic and sartorial consumption. It is a reflection of our own culture, I believe. We are a nation of diversity and a culmination of multi-cultures and generations. We as people influence each other constantly. So, it is no wonder that Asian designers are, in my opinion, the current driving force of influence in fashion today. This influence has been on a continual flux throughout the years but has reached a new apex in the past few. Don't mistake me, there have always been Asian designers in America, it is just that they now command a strong and much deserved presence on the International scene.

Coming of age in the 90s, I was treated to the fashion exuberance of Anna Sui, who for me broke the mold when it came to being ethnic and being successful in the fashion business. I was inspired by her efforts and loved her cool urbane "goth girl" chic, both in her personal style and in the great clothes she presented on the runway. Still working successfully today, Anna Sui continues to grow and push the envelope, and paved the way for the new kids on the block. Also like Anna, Vivienne Tam also set the stage. I remember going to the Vivienne Tam store in SoHo in 1995 and loving the shop and its expressive pops of color and  "Tam Dynasty" chic. She continues to influence others today as well. Her use of color and texture is indicative of this, and is one of the few major designers who is not afraid to use these tools to shape and evolve her collections, making them the hallmark of her design aesthetic. The Queen of the Wedding Dress, Vera Wang, solidified her influential place in the industry by working up through the ranks, starting in editorial work and then creating her own design business, focusing on gowns. Her designs became the epitome of specialty dressing, and you couldn't throw a stone at any wedding without hitting a Vera Wang dress. Today, she continues to dominate and influence the industry.

The NKOTB ("New Kids on the Block")--Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, and Thakoon--have been setting the fashion stage on fire with each successive season they present. It is this new garde that are sending waves of influence rippling through the industry.
Thakoon, for example, was featured in "The September Issue", and we can see evidently here that he is a new industry darling and being shaped as such by the major players of it (namely Anna Wintour). His use of simple and definitive shapes means he knows instinctively how to create design that is new and defining, yet classic.
Not needing so much of a helping hand is Alexander Wang, who's signature New Urban look (skinny pant, slouchy top, fitted leather jacket) has become fashion standard and is worn by EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. His new Spring/Summer 2011 Collection is so far my favorite of all shown during Fashion Week. It is fresh and minimal and is forward-thinking. He wanted to change the uniform he created and move it into a new arena, and I think he hit his mark perfectly. Aside from that, what Wang does in his design aesthetic is create futuristic yet classic shapes that really know how to blend with the body, rooted in American sportswear. His aesthetic is European, American, Asian: its Global.
Jason Wu has the distinguish of being a favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama. Having scored such an important (and prominent) client, he has solidified himself to the annals of American history, and contiunes to put Asian designers on the forefront. Mrs. Obama has worn Jason Wu time and again, and I'm sure its because he designs with an American woman in mind. Using color and fantastic draping, Wu creates designs that celebrate the woman.
New darling Prabal Gurung has come up in the ranks at an exponential pace. Also a favorite of Mrs. Obama, Gurung injects new uses of fabric and cut in his design aesthetic. Not afraid to experiment, Gurung does it with classicism and panache that lends his clothing to always be wearable and of-the moment.
Phillip Lim also is leaving an indelible mark on the fashion industry. His design aesthetic is fresh and clean and yet still directional, and very wearable. His Los Angeles store is a feast for the eyes and the sartorial haven as expected. His FNO  party last week was THE event to attend in Los Angeles, peppered with celebrities and Los Angeles style makers alike.

This influence can also be seen and felt by other Asian style makers in the business. ELLE Magazine's Creative Director, Joe Zee, has made that magazine into a true fashion source rival for Vogue, by injecting the magazine which much needed style and a fresh take on its design and presentation. Some of the best editorials in the past few years has come from ELLE. Not surprising since Mr. Zee brings a fashion stylist's detailed eye into the mix. And for me, ELLE has become the new Harper's Bazaar, or at least on par with the re-inventive Liz Tilberis years of that magazine. Two of my favorite fashion bloggers, Susie Bubble, and Jak & Jil's Tommy Ton, are also making their mark on the Asian influence game. Known for their individual style and irreverent viewpoint of fashion, these two bloggers sending ripples across the blogosphere with their mere mention of like (or dislike) of the sartorial persuasion, and their supremely self-indulgent fashion obsessions.

Influence is exactly what it is, influence. It is is the gasoline that fuels the creative machine. It drives us, as a people, and as creative beings forward. Influence not merely suggests but states itself into our thinking and shapes us to venture into new territory. Without it, I'm not sure if we would move forward.
I'm happy that influence has taken on an Asian shape. The new commercial market of mega-populated China is opening up this influence to a new generation as well. I'm sure this is only the beginning. And I can't wait for more.
-fggofstyle

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• Asian-Americans Climb Fashion Ladder (nytimes.com)

The New Center of Style

Fashion Week is under way for the Spring/Summer presentations in New York. The center of the fashion eye has sat for many years in Bryant Park, and I'm so happy that it has moved uptown (a bit west) to the fantastic Lincoln Center. In my opinion, this is the best and smartest move for the shows. It solidifies Fashion's place in the Arts, because it is Art.

Enjoy!

-fggofstyle

[video courtesy of the New York Times (www.newyorktimes.com), and was produced by Shayla Harris]

Michael Kors Fall 2010

I don't know what Mr. Kors was channeling when he came up with his Fall Collection but whatever it was, it was PERFECTION. This collection hit all of my Fall Fashion nails on the head: color (camel, gray, brown, green), texture (heavy knits, sheer, leather, fur), and luxury. This is how we should all look this season. Enjoy!
 -fggofstyle
  (video courtesy of www.fnetwork.com)

FNO: Fun Night Out and How to Do It Right

Its Fashion's Night Out tonight and its sure to be an eventful however way you choose to spend it. With the global shopping event making its sophomore turn this evening, retailers and the fashion world itself is pulling out all the stops to make sure fun and profit is the winning ticket this year.

With so many happenings going on, how do you work your night out? Tip #1--Plan it out. The best and most comprehensive lists I have found for Los Angeles events are at Refinery 29 and Racked. Listed there are the top events, with many of them sure to fill up fast.
This leads to Tip #2--Arrive early. The sooner you head out and hit the spots on your list, the easier it will be to get in and thru the register line and on to the next hot spot.
To help you thru, Tip #3--Dress "Shopping Appropriate" is key. Ladies should wear a tank top and leggings for easier fitting room try-ons. Guys should wear tank tops or a V-neck T shirt and briefs for the same reason. Keep the colors simple and neutral. Black is best. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a pair of boots and heels to get the full idea of how your items will look in their alternate incarnations.
With all of the party revelry  going on, make sure you follow Tip #4--Drink lots of Water and Snack, to avoid getting tipsy and falling into buyers remorse (or in LA, a DUI) from too much champagne. Believe me, the drinks will be flowing in the spirit of fun and of course, to loosen you up to open up that pocketbook. It's an old trick and it works. Tonight is also a great opportunity to check out stores you haven't had a chance to in your normal shopping behavior: Tip #5--Be Adventurous. Try and check out a few shops that haven't been on your shopping radar. This year in LA, shops in Venice's Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Feliz/Silver Lake, and the eastern stretch of Melrose Avenue are taking part in the fun. Be adventurous and peek in, you may find that extra special something in these neighborhoods, or your new favorite store.
Most of all: Tip #6--Have Fun! Wherever you are, be safe and do have fun.

I will see you out in the Fashion Wilderness...

-fggofstyle

Rockin' Night Out

Its the second time around for Fashion's Night Out, and this year, the shopping event stakes a bigger claim in Los Angeles. More retailers are taking part and throwing their own parties and events. Melrose Avenue will be rockin' a bit next Fiday night at the Salsa Fits My Life store. See the flyer attached and make sure to RSVP if you'd like to attend. It is sure to be fun!
 -fggofstyle

Behind the Scenes: Broncolor Photographers Event

Check out the behind the scenes video from the Broncolor Event that I took part in last month. If you've been wondering about how much fun (and work) goes into a fantastic photo editorial, check this out. I'm so proud to be an integral part of this monthly artistic event and am looking forward to the next one. What a great bunch of photogs, models, makeup artists, stylist (ok, shameless plug), and babies!!!



-feelgoodguru

Bright Young Thing

Yesterday marked the first day that Lola Leon, Madonna's prodigious young daughter, publicly blogged. As fantastic as this feat is, this is just a "quiet" announcement of her official arrival, in her own voice. I know for sure that this not the first or last that we will hear from Lola, but also that we all need to gird ourselves for her sartorial onslaught. As creative director of the Material Girl line, she's the hands and brains behind how Madonna's fashion foray captures us. And with the Mother of Reinvention as your Mom, there is no end to the source from which she gets to pull her style knowledge from. Just looking at her first post and her inspiration board for the collection, its evident what influences her (and us for quite some time) and what will drive the look and feel of Material Girl. As cute and kitschy as the line appears to be, I am interested in watching it develop and change form, like its young director will. Young. Fresh. Vibrant. Sounds like the future...
Welcome Lola, to the Fashion "Blognoscenti".

-feelgoodguru
(photo via www.blog.materialgirlcollection.com/uncredited)

Resort-ing to New Heights

The recent resort collection presentations have really set a brand new stage for fashion in the marketplace. With the major fashion houses actually paying attention to consumer need (and demand) of having product available in all seasons (and all markets) and presenting resort collections (or transition collections in retail), those of us sartorial minded beings get another whopping dose of fashion. My favorite pieces over the past ten years have all come directly or indirectly from the resort collections. What once was only available for the months before and after the holiday shopping season as "limited" release, Resort has grown to be its own fashion entity. It has become the "preview" of what we'll be wearing in the warmer months, as such, a prelude to Spring. Yet in the disjointed "fashion timeline", these collections are shown after we have had just a short time to process the Spring/Summer collections that are in the current markets. This could lead to fashion confusion or inspiration, depending on how you see it. In all my years in retail, I would always steer my clientèle to invest in Resort pieces as the special additions to their wardrobe because of their "inspiring essence". Resort pieces are different and unique because they merely come out to "play" in the designers' complete oeuvre.  And "playing is what one should be doing in Resort. These collection themselves are rooted in fun and fashion frivolity, but also in an edited and streamlined approach to wardrobing (ie travel clothes). In Resort, you want to be light and carefree. And what could be more fun..?

For a more in-depth and complete report on the Resort collections by the fantastic Cathy Horyn, please click here. There is also multimedia and a slideshow presentation of the collections of note.
Let them inspire you to play...

-feelgoodguru

Men's Fashion Week-Milan : DSquared2

I absolutely love the DSquared2* show, just presented at Men's Fashion Week in Milan.
It's theatrical, modern, and celebrates the return of the well groomed man, albeit as the quintessential  lothario/gigolo/bachelor type, complete with his latest seductive conquests at his side. Unlike the male models of recent seasons, the men cast here in DSquared's show are well...men: athletic, coiffed, and tailor made to wear Dan and Dean Caton's modern men's collection. Take notes, because this is how men should and will be dressing next Spring.
-feelgoodguru
(*video courtesy of T Magazine/NYTimes; photo credit: Alberto Pizzoli/Agence France-Presse-Getty Images)