Fashion Blog

Here’s a round up of where there’s some good old American ca-ching fireworks around town this weekend:

 

-Saks is down to 60% off everything.

-Barney’s is 60% off, but on Thursday, July 9, goes to final markdowns - 75% off. This is when it’s extremely wise to buy up anything that resembles the styles of the fall - anything black or eighties looking, any blazer-style jackets, anything metallic or lavender.

-Vince has 40% off everything now - sweaters, sleek stretchy pants. These are basics and can be worn forever, and small stores don’t go to markdowns as frequently.

And have you noticed the fall 09/10 clothes are creeping into the stores windows already? Barney’s Beverly Hills has fall Lanvin in their windows now (an amazing collection, check the pic here, and Neiman Marcus on Wilshire has a full on red display of red dresses from fall.

Our hint: buy the summer clothes on sale that look like the fall clothes on sale.

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We got this cute fushcia box in the mall, and were anticipating something fun and festive - when we dug inside, and found a weird tan rubber piece - sort of like a slice of pear - on a comb. This, friends, is called “Divado.” They are referring to it as “retro chic hair inserts.” Uh-oh, we REALLY are back in the fifties now. It adds “volume” to the hair - whether it’s a pompadour pulled back front, or a high crown, it is interested into your scalp, and you pull your hair over it, to create a bird’s nest effect. Of course, it was invented by a Southern woman - Brandie Park - who looks in the photo like she’s proud of having a weird rubber piece on her head. We know Southern women are obsessed with big hair and all - “the bigger the hair, the closer to God” - but this is pretty out there. If you want to have a laugh or are just curious, go to www.divadohair.com. And if you want to order one, don’t blame it on us. We warned you. Sure, big hair if fun - in a photo session. This is probably a good device for a hairdresser to keep in their bag.  Merle Ginsberg

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Designer Barbara Tfank started the week by designing a dress for Adele’s Sunday night Hollywood Bowl concert last week. She even made a new coat for the British singer as a birthday gift, before Adele left L.A. to go back to London. It was black, red and green floral tweed - so sixties.

 

Next, Tfank had her L.A. swank apartment shot by Elle Décor, for the October issue – it was redecorated by the designer herself, in her own vintage fabrics. Keep an eye out for that.

 

 

Now, her satin belted black coat for White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers – who wore it to a Creative Coalition forum in New York – has been voted Number 2 Best Look of the Week by Vogue.com. This is a big honor, considering that Michelle Obama is Number 1 (in Rachel Roy), and Blake Lively in Number Three in Roberto Cavalli. Cameron Diaz is also on there, in Oscar de la Renta, and so are Kate Moss and Jemima Khan (in Azzedine). The whole theme was belts and the waist – belts have been hot for three years now, and we’re happy they’re not going away. Any woman with a waist is happy to show it off!

 

 

We can’t wait to see Tfank’s spring 2010 collection in New York in September. Her dresses and coats are so chic and wearable, and can be worn by a woman of any age or career.

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Every year, Elton John holds an amazing charity ball at Windsor Castle, with the jewelry line Chopard, to contribute to the Elton John Aids Charity – in traditional tails, white ties and ladies in gowns – and – yes, tiaras. There’s always a host of English celebrity royalty on hand – this year, Elizabeth Hurley, Hugh Grant, Erin O’Connor, Geri Halliwell, Damian Hurst – and Justin Timberlake performed, which is pretty amazing. However, it happened last week, just as news broke of Michael Jackson’s death, and the whole ball turned into a memorial and a lot of tears for Michael’s passing.

Still, we thought we’d look on the bright side, since there were a lot of amazing gowns and looks at this affair. Our favorite was Kate Beckinsale’s pale pale lavender strapless hourglass gown – she always looks amazing, the LA transplant loves that fishtail hem – but we can’t trace who made it. It looks like Reem Acra to us. Contrast that with Lily Allen’s insane white lace get up and white bob wig – is she trying to be Lady Gaga? It’s not going to work, that’s for sure. She’s more like the new Amy Winehouse of fashion.

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Remember how the Emmy’s had a number of different reality stars open the show and host it last year? And what a total debaucle it was? Even the ratings reflected it.

Well, that will NOT be happening this year, because Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Emmy show on September 20th – and don’t forget, the nominations will be in exactly two weeks from today – July 16th. Harris is of course the star of CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” (and CBS, the highest rated network on tv right now, is airing the Emmys this year), but two gigs he did this year on tv outside that show proved what a terrific host he’s capable of being:

- hosting “Saturday Night Live” so brilliantly
- hosting “The Tony Awards” beautifully last month, with singing, dancing and great comic timing
- NPH is this year’s Ellen de Generes! This bodes well for the Emmy Show

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Bruno has always been ein trendsetter, says the new press materials on the movie. Despite mixed reviews from Variety and other early outlets, Universal presses on with pushing the movie – hard – toward a giant opening weekend, which it will probably receive. They’re telling us you can follow Bruno on Twitter,  with entertaining bon mots, like “Do not try to have sex in a fire, just because it looks cool.”

Here’s some new pics from the campaign. We wonder how Sacha Baran Cohen top this. But clearly, it’s all about the box office now.

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Here is the look from Shakira’s new single called “She-Wolf,” that will be out July 13th – this is a still from the video for the song, shot by Jake Nava. Shakira’s new smooth Britney Spears-looking hair is by Kim Kimble, who does the locks of Beyonce’, Mary J. Blige, Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, and Vanessa Williams. Shakira wrote the new song with John Hill of Santigold, about a metaphorical she-wolf. The full album will be out in October from Epic Records.
Clearly, the Britney look sells, right? –

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We have birthdays and anniversaries - so do stores! And these days, getting people IN the store - with whatever excuse or party - is the name of the game. The 3.1. Phillip Lim store on Robertson, just south of Santa Monica Boulevard - and the first designer store to go that far north on Melrose, opening it up for others to follow - will celebrate its one year on the block with a big party on July 15th. The charity The Art of Elysium is involved (THE hip charity these days, lots of celebs involved), and the cool band The Duke Spirit is going to play. So the fashion crowd has at least one fun event to look forward to this summer!

Let’s hope a lot of the Phillip Lim fall collection is on hand by then - fall 09 was one of Lim’s greatest collections, very sixties London with a bit of Temperley thrown in - lots of black and whites, some Biba style prints, and then pinks and violets and greys and blacks. It looks like clothes Brit divas Adele and Duffy might wear - with phenomenally reasonable prices.

No wonder Phillip Lim is doing so well, when other designers are seeing sales stagnate.

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You gotta love Rihanna. Just on her way to the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York - a super hot spot for drinks or dinner - she’s in a black mini, stillettos, and this killer sharp tailored white jacket with black detail - and white gloves!!!!!!! Was this an homage to Michael Jackson? The whole outfit does have a slightly military feel, chic as it is. The girl’s workin’ a fall look in the summer in New York City. Instead of going beachy-hippie chick, she’s going uptown punk chic! You GO, girl. Now that’s fashion forward.  - Merle Ginsberg

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