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Good-looking Gap

February 6th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in New York

Designer Patrick Robinson has moved hither and yon in the fashion industry. He worked for Giorgio Armani in Milan. Then he came to New York to design Anne Klein. Then he had his own collection. Then he was hired at Perry Ellis. Then he designed the Paco Rabanne collection in Paris. Then he did a small collection for Target. And I'm sure I have missed some pit stop along the way. Now he has turned up at the Gap, where he is the executive vice president of design. At long last, can it be? Has he found the perfect fit?

Dare I say "maybe"? Sunday afternoon I went to see his first Gap collection. He looks after both the men's and the women's collections and does all that other "visual" stuff that designers love to do and get all hot and bothered about when their bosses won't let them do it.


(Maria Valentino for The Washington Post)

The collection is filled with all the basic sportswear pieces you'd expect: jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts, camisoles, pullovers, etc. But it looks just a little cooler, more streamlined, a smidge more sophisticated. There are also shoes by Pierre Hardy for the Gap. I like the ones that remind me of the desert boots from back when desert boots were cool. Was that also when earth shoes were cool? Everyone was cooing over the faux shearlings. Don't call them vinyl! And Patrick was especially pleased with the sexier cargo pants and the wide leg pants in mattress ticking stripes.


(Maria Valentino for The Washington Post)

Of course, everything looked especially good because it was all layered and styled just so. Patrick will not come to your home and dishevel your t-shirt and dress you in that extra special way. Despite all the sexing up of the collection, Patrick says the prices didn't go up. Great fashion, he says, doesn't have to cost a lot. Ok, Patrick. Just remember that if you happen to turn up at Chanel one day.....

Famous Ducks in a Row

February 5th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in New York

Monday was one of the busiest show days. I might have set a personal record for the number of runway shows I managed to squeeze in - a whopping total of 10. Seeing too many shows in one day is like smelling too many different fragrances at the perfume counter. After a while, you just go numb. But leave it to Max Azria of BCBG fame to make sure that there was an entertaining bit of paparazzi mayhem to keep everyone amused. Azria keeps his front row stocked with young starlets - a gaggle of little starlets served up like bonbons.


Actress Jaime King, singers Joss Stone and Rihanna. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

Typically, I can only identify half of them because I don't spend enough time watching the CW network. But at his show Monday night, I did manage to identify Natasha Henstridge of the critically unacclaimed TV series "She Spies," Joss Stone (who was wearing shoes!), Fergie, who was showing off her engagement ring, Rihanna of "Umbrella, -ella, -ella" fame, a redheaded Rose McGowan of "Grindhouse" and that scary Brittany Murphy from "8 Mile." There were also a couple of blondes I simply could not place. Good times and free clothes were had by all.


Actress Brittany Murphy and her husband Simon Monjack. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)


Over at the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, an exhibition on Madame Gres opened. The designer is somewhat mysterious as she never indulged in the kind of myth-making pioneered by people such as Coco Chanel and that is carried on to this day. She was famous for her classically draped gowns that look thoroughly modern today. But the exhibit makes the point that classic doesn't necessarily mean timeless. The designer altered her work subtly so that it reflected each era in which she worked - from the '40s to the '70s.


Madame Alix Grès (1903 - 1993), France, ca. 1950. Cape-coat, grey and yellow plaid wool and mohair, The Museum at FIT, Gift of Doris Duke (Irving Solero)

Finally, I ran into Liza Minelli today. Literally. I ran into her. I was rushing out of the Halston show and she was having her picture taken. And well, I was so focused on the exit that I didn't see her despite the fact that she was wearing a bright red Halston frock. And before I could apologize, I got distracted by some guy I thought was her walker who turned out to be Christian Slater and I started having a kind of crazy '80s flashback. Dear Liza, so sorry. My bad.

Famous Ducks in a Row

February 5th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in New York

Monday was one of the busiest show days. I might have set a personal record for the number of runway shows I managed to squeeze in - a whopping total of 10. Seeing too many shows in one day is like smelling too many different fragrances at the perfume counter. After a while, you just go numb. But leave it to Max Azria of BCBG fame to make sure that there was an entertaining bit of paparazzi mayhem to keep everyone amused. Azria keeps his front row stocked with young starlets - a gaggle of little starlets served up like bonbons.


Actress Jaime King, singers Joss Stone and Rihanna. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

Typically, I can only identify half of them because I don't spend enough time watching the CW network. But at his show Monday night, I did manage to identify Natasha Henstridge of the critically unacclaimed TV series "She Spies," Joss Stone (who was wearing shoes!), Fergie, who was showing off her engagement ring, Rihanna of "Umbrella, -ella, -ella" fame, a redheaded Rose McGowan of "Grindhouse" and that scary Brittany Murphy from "8 Mile." There were also a couple of blondes I simply could not place. Good times and free clothes were had by all.


Actress Brittany Murphy and her husband Simon Monjack. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)


Over at the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, an exhibition on Madame Gres opened. The designer is somewhat mysterious as she never indulged in the kind of myth-making pioneered by people such as Coco Chanel and that is carried on to this day. She was famous for her classically draped gowns that look thoroughly modern today. But the exhibit makes the point that classic doesn't necessarily mean timeless. The designer altered her work subtly so that it reflected each era in which she worked - from the '40s to the '70s.


Madame Alix Grès (1903 - 1993), France, ca. 1950. Cape-coat, grey and yellow plaid wool and mohair, The Museum at FIT, Gift of Doris Duke (Irving Solero)

Finally, I ran into Liza Minelli today. Literally. I ran into her. I was rushing out of the Halston show and she was having her picture taken. And well, I was so focused on the exit that I didn't see her despite the fact that she was wearing a bright red Halston frock. And before I could apologize, I got distracted by some guy I thought was her walker who turned out to be Christian Slater and I started having a kind of crazy '80s flashback. Dear Liza, so sorry. My bad.

Red Dresses and Show Dogs

February 4th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in New York

My weekend was so filled with fashion shows, rain, fashion shows and rain that I'm not quite sure where to begin. How about with Heidi Klum? She was one of the celebrity models in the Red Dress fashion show on Friday morning. Celebs strut down the runway in red dresses to raise awareness of heart disease in women. There's a reason why Klum gets the big bucks to wear those Victoria's Secret wings. The woman has got legs that will make a dedicated runner, Pilates participant, kickboxer or cyclist weep with envy. Nothing but genes and the good Lord can create legs like Klum's. So pity the women who had to share a catwalk with her. The other celebs were real lookers, don't get me wrong. Molly Sims, Sara Ramirez, Ashanti: All fabulous looking women. But they're no Klum. No one should have to follow her. There should have been a blackout after she walked the runway, a pause of 10 seconds or so just to let that sight settle in. Unlike the other celebs, Klum didn't vamp. She just blew a few kisses and zipped back and forth down the runway. Klum vamping would have been too much. She'd have made everyone else cry. Klum held back. She used her powers for good.


Heidi Klum has legs like no other. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images for IMG)

Liza Minelli was in the show. She wore Halston, from the recently revived Halston line. I wasn't loving Liza's ensemble. But Liza has been through a heck of a lot so I was just happy to see Liza standing. Then she launched into "New York, New York." I desperately want to report that Liza was in fine voice. But I cannot. Liza was working hard. She was reaching down, way down, for those notes. But they were gone. Long gone.


Liza, not in fine voice. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)

As you might expect, people regularly bring dogs to fashion shows. You know, tiny Paris Hilton sorts of dogs. Pocketbook dogs. But at the Patrik Ervell show on Saturday afternoon, an editor from a very large newspaper based in the Big Apple walked in with a dog the size of Cujo. Its big tail was swishing to and fro, a rawhide toy clutched in its mouth.


At Patrik Ervell, no pocketbook pooch. (Robin Givhan)

Truth be told, the dog was better behaved than a whole lot of guests - including the pink-haired pixie who practically shoved me out of the way while I was backstage at the Tracy Reese show on Sunday. But I digress. Back to the dog. I love dogs. I've never met a dog I didn't love. But really, there should be a size limit for dogs at fashion shows. And if they're so big that they outweigh the vast majority of the models, then they should at least get their own seat.

Red Dresses and Show Dogs

February 4th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in New York

My weekend was so filled with fashion shows, rain, fashion shows and rain that I'm not quite sure where to begin. How about with Heidi Klum? She was one of the celebrity models in the Red Dress fashion show on Friday morning. Celebs strut down the runway in red dresses to raise awareness of heart disease in women. There's a reason why Klum gets the big bucks to wear those Victoria's Secret wings. The woman has got legs that will make a dedicated runner, Pilates participant, kickboxer or cyclist weep with envy. Nothing but genes and the good Lord can create legs like Klum's. So pity the women who had to share a catwalk with her. The other celebs were real lookers, don't get me wrong. Molly Sims, Sara Ramirez, Ashanti: All fabulous looking women. But they're no Klum. No one should have to follow her. There should have been a blackout after she walked the runway, a pause of 10 seconds or so just to let that sight settle in. Unlike the other celebs, Klum didn't vamp. She just blew a few kisses and zipped back and forth down the runway. Klum vamping would have been too much. She'd have made everyone else cry. Klum held back. She used her powers for good.


Heidi Klum has legs like no other. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images for IMG)

Liza Minelli was in the show. She wore Halston, from the recently revived Halston line. I wasn't loving Liza's ensemble. But Liza has been through a heck of a lot so I was just happy to see Liza standing. Then she launched into "New York, New York." I desperately want to report that Liza was in fine voice. But I cannot. Liza was working hard. She was reaching down, way down, for those notes. But they were gone. Long gone.


Liza, not in fine voice. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)

As you might expect, people regularly bring dogs to fashion shows. You know, tiny Paris Hilton sorts of dogs. Pocketbook dogs. But at the Patrik Ervell show on Saturday afternoon, an editor from a very large newspaper based in the Big Apple walked in with a dog the size of Cujo. Its big tail was swishing to and fro, a rawhide toy clutched in its mouth.


At Patrik Ervell, no pocketbook pooch. (Robin Givhan)

Truth be told, the dog was better behaved than a whole lot of guests - including the pink-haired pixie who practically shoved me out of the way while I was backstage at the Tracy Reese show on Sunday. But I digress. Back to the dog. I love dogs. I've never met a dog I didn't love. But really, there should be a size limit for dogs at fashion shows. And if they're so big that they outweigh the vast majority of the models, then they should at least get their own seat.

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