Red Carpet Worthy

The best part of the Oscars, or any awards ceremony for that matter?--the red carpet. Unfortunately, this year's red carpet was disappointing for me. I wasn't wowed at all. My two favorite looks were without a doubt Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren for overall elegance. Nicole Kidman was breathtaking, although the huge bow on her neck reminded me of a 5-year old's birthday kitten. You can also check out the red carpet trend-watcher at Oscar.com.

Here are two of my favorite Oscar-worthy dresses from NY Fashion Week.

Marchesa



















Jason Wu



















Images courtesy of Style.com.

Love the Look: Glamour in Black and Blue

Some of my favorite evening dresses for Fall 2007 are in beautifully contrasted black and blue (and anything but bruisey).

Carolina Herrera's midnight navy and black: Notice the layers of organza and the amazing beading. Yet the shape is still slim and elegant.



















Zac Posen's matte navy and shiny black: Sweet, but the black taffeta gives it an edge.



















Oscar de la Renta's royal blue with splashes of black and canary yellow: I love the dramatic collar… Oscar knows glamour.



















Nathan Jenden's black-on-navy pattern: A little bit goth. Check out the zebra stripe Creepers!



















Erdem's two-texture navys with black to break it up: The most sexy-glam mini in satin and lace. The colors are dark but they really pop!



















Abaete's navy silk charmeuse with black accents: Even a simple shirt dress can be dressed up in a luxe fabric and some volume under the skirt.



















All photos courtesy of Style.com.

Brilliant: Why Doesn't the Devil Wear Gucci?

For great fashion advice: "Fashion is utterly subjective and quite frankly if you love it, then wear it, but there is a fine line between self-expression and utter cluelessness" or a good chuckle: "...there is definitely a gaping gulf between what designers think women should wear and what men would prefer women to wear. This is largely because fashion is dominated by gay male designers who don't give a hoot about what straight men will find attractive," I recommend the Telegraph fashion section's dry wit.

This particular feature led me to waste all morning on the Telegraph website instead of posting on this and other blogs.

"Furrowed brows, hoots of laughter and snorts of derision - yes, the bizarre world of London Fashion Week is upon us again and the male of the species is as incredulous as ever. Each day's coverage brings a fresh batch of outlandish, and often unwearable, designs - and with it more questions for women (to attempt) to answer. Clare Coulson provides three baffled Telegraph men with an idiots' guide to fashion." (from Telegraph.co.uk, 14/02/2007)
Read the entire Q&A.

Emerging Trends at NY Fashion Week

Project Runway finalist Laura Bennett tracks emerging trends at Fall 2007 Fashion Week.

Belabunda in 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Belabunda, the hottest and most unique swimwear line (in our humble opinion), made its media debut when the Simple Suit was featured on Bridget Hall in the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. For the 2007 issue, Belabunda was asked to design a piece just for the Memphis Rock and Soul shoot with model Tori Praver.


Watch the SI video here.



Shop Belabunda now.

Introducing Ouvrez La Porte

We're truly delighted to announce the arrival of a fabulous new label to Unsung: Ouvrez La Porte. We're huge fans of the collection's beautiful clean lines, retro-inspired designs and luxurious fabrics like silk charmeuse and lace. The talented Karen La Porte makes each piece in her Brooklyn studio. And lucky us, the studio is also a darling shop! Drop by and say hello, and let yourself get lost in the boutique's wonderful treasure trove of independent designer labels mixed with vintage pieces.

Ouvrez La Porte
105 Bond Street
Brooklyn, NY

Or
shop Ouvrez La Porte at Unsung now.

A Standout at New York Fashion Week

A lot of designers played it safe for their F/W 2007 collections. Dark tights and metallic babydoll dresses could be found at almost every show. That's why I was so impressed with Myself by Kai Kuhne (Kuhne was previously with the label As Four). His collection is classy and beautiful, but with unique, fun details that set it apart from anything else I saw.

Take this fur funnel-neck mini dress paired with knee highs and grey pumps:



















Or this ultra-textured asymmetrical dress with wide sleeves and long gloves:



















Or this gorgeous neutral piece with asymmetrical neck and chic hat:

Unsung Debuts: Gigi Favela Shoes

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when Monica Favela George walked into our showroom with a suitcase full of shoes. I know I take the shoe fettish to new heights but, unlike other questionable impulse buys I have made (the militant beret or the faux fur jacket reminiscent of JLo) my shoe purchases are always without regret. I love my shoes; I have an amazing collection--the kind that makes women at the semi-annual Bergdorf's shoe sales stare at my feet helplessly amid their piles of Loubutins and Chloes. So when Monica showed us the samples from her first collection of Gigi Favelas--a collection packed with color, textures and attitide--we were the first to place personal orders. Now they're here directly from Italy, and my addiction is sated for a bit. Quantities are limited, ladies, so get on our email list for a reminder about the Gigi Favela trunk show at Unsung on March 8.

The first pair of Gigi Favelas I acquired:

Indie Fashion Week: New York Couture

There were so many mouthwateringly beautiful things to command our A-D-D attention at New York fashion week, but nothing got our adrenaline pumping more than the off-tent indie fashion shows we attended at various venues around the city. One of the most fun and fabulous was New York Couture at the Grand in midtown. Loads of color and tulle are NY Couture staples. Add a heaping spoon of drag queens and a sprinkle of pompoms and ripped fishnets, and you've got yourself a show worthy of Betsey Johnson or Patricia Fields.

I really loved this dress.



















Short skirts and animal prints.



















Frilly underpants as outerwear. The jacket has trompe l'oeil lace. Fabulous.



















Attitude.















Piece de Resistance.



















Backstage bows. Designer Cassie Kogler is 2nd from left.

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends: Part 5

On the left, an adorable dress from Zac Posen's Fall/Winter 2007 collection. On the right, an adorable dress from Verrieres & Sako's Fall/Winter 2006 collection. I wonder which one is more affordable? (Unbiased Note to Readers: the quality and tailoring of Verrieres & Sako is high end. They have won Gen Art's Fresh Faces Award as Posen did years ago so you'll want to get your hands on some of their early pieces before you get priced out.)

Love the Look: Gloves

We were bad bloggers during New York Fashion Week with all the beautiful people in amazing outfits prancing around. We admit we fell victim to conspicuous consumption, and fall hard we did. However, we made sure to take notes on all the trends we loved (and didn't) so we could share them with you later (now). Our favorite accessories on the runways were gloves in all styles and colors. Gloves are one of the easiest ways to spice up an outfit because anyone can were them and fit is not an issue.

short and colorful at Marc Jacobs:



















fingerless driving at Abaete:



















long and sultry at Carmen Marc Valvo:



















super short at Costello Tagliapietra:

Studio: A Look Inside the Cutting Room

Whenever I talk to my customers about a particular designer--their philosophy, their inspiration, their drive, their dog/cat/turtle--I feel an instantaneous click. Suddenly, the designer is a real person who shares their (and my) interests, loves, fears and goals. I love sharing glimpses into a designer's life, especially as I get to you know you as customers, because it is just that personal aspect that I'm fascinated with, and those relationships I feel so lucky to have. Lately I've started taking photos of some of the studio spaces of the designers Unsung works with, so you can get an idea of what they do every day. I hope you enjoy this new feature (and feel free to let me know if you'd like me to focus on any specific areas).

It all happens here. Many designers have old-fashioned sewing machines that weigh a ton!
















Every designer has a place to keep clippings of things that inspire them.
















Spring looks taking form.

Gen Art: The New Garde

It was a cold and rainy night...

But despite the weather outside, the mood at Gen Art's 2007 New Garde show was hot and energetic. The massive space on 12th Ave. (The Waterfront) was the perfect setting for the designer installations. I loved this format--models "hung out" during the entire presentation while guests gathered around to view the collections. This was no easy feat, especially for the models for FORM, who stood for hours on 3+ inch lucite heels atop narrow inclining platforms.

Boutique darling Geren Ford showed her collection in a series of 3-sided rooms set up with everyday items. The models sat around reading, writing, lounging, chatting with each other and staring back at the crowd.


















At FORM, the feel was futuristic. This was my favorite installation, where I felt the vision was most focused: lines, shapes, function and form.


CHRISHABANA's fantasy-inspired prints were all about color. The kabuki makeup and contrasting bangs created and interesting effect.

Proenza Schouler for Tarjay: 1st Morning at Opening Ceremony

I was thrilled when I heard I could run up the street to preview the new Proenza Schouler for Target collection at Opening Ceremony instead of having to haul ass over to Brooklyn. I don't know how the crowds where at Target stores elsewhere, but even on the first day of NY Fashion Week it felt like everyone in Manhattan was inside the downtown boutique with me. Opening Ceremony was a bit tight for this event.

I should have known better--I received multiple reminders from a variety of e-newsletters the previous week--and each time I groaned with the realization that at least many thousand other peole were also being reminded. My expectations were realized--the feeding frenzy had begun:

Slow and steady wins the race. I managed to leave with some nice pieces, and nothing was over $50! I love a good bargain to pair up with my amazing indie designer collection.

New York Couture Show: Goodies, Hotties, Drinkies Galore!

Join in the celebration February 8, 2007 @ New York’s hottest nightspot The Grand located @ 41 E. 58th Street for New York Couture's Official Fashion Week Show and Party.

New York Couture splashes onto the scene in an array of vivid one of a kind signature pieces. Short frilly skirts, lace dresses and crop tops melt like a deluxe crayon box left in the sun.

Doors will open at 8pm with gift bags to the 1st 100 guests sponsored by: BUST Magazine, Venus Magazine, The Fashion Journal, MAC Cosmetics, Izze Sparkling Beverages, Working Girl Wines, Sea Breeze, Skin Milk, UTZ Snacks, and Crunch Gyms. Enjoy an open bar from 9-10 while DJ Boris spins the hottest tunes as anticipation for the Spring 2007 line begins. To top off the night there will be a special live performance at Midnight by Debbie (from Avenue D) and the Loconuts
For more information and to RSVP go to www.newyorkcouture.net.

Admission is FREE with flyer invite or RSVP on guest list. Email nycoutureguestlist@yahoo.com to be added to the guest list. OR, you can pick up flyers for the show at the following locations:

• Apollo Braun- 193 Orchard Street NYC
• Femme Fatale- 578 Driggs Ave Brooklyn, NY
• Patricia Field- 302 Bowery NYC
• Tahir- 75 Orchard Street NYC
• or print the flyer and bring it the day of the show