Monthly Fashion Round-up for June 2010

Accessorize

No. 1 –  Oprah Winfrey

No. 2 -  Beyonce

No. 4 - Lady Gaga

No. 6 – Britney Spears

No. 8 - Sandra Bullock

No. 10  -  Madonna

Top 10 of the 100 Celebrity List

1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Beyonce
3. James Cameron
4. Lady Gaga
5. Tiger Woods
6. Britney Spears
7. U2
8. Sandra Bullock
9. Johnny Depp
10. Madonna

Women ruled in the top 10 of Forbes‘ 100 Celebrty List, and they are among The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities.  Talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey took the No. 1 spot, and was followed by singer/actress Beyonce Knowles at No. 2.  Lady Gaga’s talent and individuality landed her at No. 4.  Singer Britney Spears has turned her troubles around and came in at No. 6.  Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock made the No. 8 spot, and entertainer Madonna is No. 10.  These women are not only powerful, but great examples of what passion and hard work can accomplish.  You can view the rest of the list here.

The Celebrity 100 [Forbes Magazine]

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe has announced plans to launch her own fashion line.  The news was not totally unexpected considering her passion for the perfect dress and beautifully crafted shoe.  Her design career started with her well-received line at QVC, and now she will give us The Rachel Zoe Collection.  “Subconsciously or consciously, my whole final goal — I don’t want to say final because that sounds very like it’s the end — but I would say my ultimate dream scenario was to be on the design side,” said Zoe. 

When asked about her seemingly meteoric rise in the industry, she responds, “I’ve been working my ass off for 15 years.”  Her reality show on Bravo gives us a wonderful view at just how much work it takes to be a celebrated celebrity stylist.  There’s no denying that she has a great eye for style, and for creating looks we all covet.  It took a little while, but The Rachel Zoe Collection is in the works and will be sold in boutiques, department stores and online.  You can slip into her designs when the line launches for the fall 2011 season. 

Rachel Zoe Will Have a Fashion Line – and Then a Child If Her Schedule Allows [The Cut]

Daphne Guinness is the proud owner of the late Isabella Blow’s collection.  The legendary fashion stylist had a wardrobe consisting of 50 Philip Treacy hats, a few John Galliano dresses and several pieces by her dear friend Alexander McQueen.  In total, Daphne Guinness has acquired a 90 piece collection that is worthy of display in a museum.  She intercepted a planned Christie’s auction scheduled for September to sell off  Blow’s wardrobe and photographs.  Photographs by Steven Meisel, Mario Testino and Karl Lagerfeld are also among her new acquisitions.  “It’s Issy – it’s her D.N.A., it should not be scattered to the four winds.  Like any artist, it should not be dispersed, but remain as a monument with people having access to it,” says Guinness.

Isabella Blow Collection is Sold [Elle UK]

Michael Kors delivered a Resort 2011 collection that was clean, simple and chic.  The designer was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CFDA Awards this week for his 30 years in the fashion industry.  He has consistently delivered inspired work and this collection was no different.  Neutrals in taupe, white and black with a splash of tangerine would describe the color palette.  I felt a vibe of the most sophisticated safari.  Animal prints were used as subtle accents for variety and visual interest.  The shapes and colors readily provides an air of simple elegance to collection.

The beautiful people came out tonight at Lincoln Center to hear the winners announced at the CFDA Awards.  There were very few surprises.  The big winner of the evening was Marc Jacobs for Womenswear Designer of the Year.  Take a look at the list of winners and nominees below to see if you agree with the outcome.

CFDA Winners:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Marc Jacobs

Menswear Designer of the Year: Rag & Bone (Marcus Wainwright and David Neville)

Accessory Designer of the Year: Alexis Bittar

Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren

The Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Jason Wu

The Swarovski Award for Menswear: Richard Chai

The Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Alexander Wang

The Jeffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement: Michael Kors 

CFDA Special Award Tribute: Lee McQueen of Alexander McQueen

The Eugenia Sheppard Journalism Award – Kim Hastreiter (Paper Magazine)

The International Award – Christopher Bailey (Burberry Prorsum) 

The Eleanor Lambert Award – Tonne Goodman (Vogue)

Icon Award: Iman

Nominees:

Womenswear Designers of the Year – Donna Karan, Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs

Menswear Designers of the Year - Michael Bastian, Tom Ford and Rag & Bone (David Neville and Marcus Wainwright)

Accessory Designer of the Year - Alexis Bittar, Proenza Schouler (Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez) and Marc Jacobs

Swarovski Awards For Womenswear - Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu

The Swarovski Award for Menswear – Simon Spurr, Patrik Ervell and Richard Chai

The Swarovski Award For Accessory Design – Dana Lorenz, Alexander Wang and Eddie Borgo

CFDA Special  Award Tribute – Alexander McQueen

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award – Michael Kors

The Eugenia Sheppard Journalism Award – Kim Hastreiter (Paper Magazine)

The International Award – Christopher Bailey (Burberry Prorsum) 

The Eleanor Lambert Award – Tonne Goodman (Vogue)

The Fashion Icon Award – Iman

Related Updates: CFDA Announces Fashion Awards Finalists

The Gap has a new limited-edition collection with 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners Sophie Theallet, Patrik Ervell and Monique Pean.  A new pop-store opened today on Fifth Avenue to showcase Theallet’s womenswear, Ervell’s menswear and Pean’s jewelry.  Last year the Gap collaborated with Alexander Wang and Vena Cava on a more casual khaki collection.  The womenswear collection has Theallet’s signature aesthetic of  fuller skirts, and includes silk dresses and T-Shirts made from jersey cotton and chiffon.  They are priced from $148 to $300.  Sustainable jewelry made from organic materials like watersnake skin beads, coconut shells and buffalo horns are also available.  Pean’s jewelry goes from $38 to $248.  Men will find white button-down shirts, cotton jeans and blazers from $188 to $248. 

Gap’s CFDA Collection Features Chiffon, Sustainable Jewelry [Racked NY]

Sarah Burton has been named the new creative director at the house of Alexander McQueen.  Burton has been with the fashion house since 1996.  Lee McQueen was a fashion visionary, and it makes good sense creatively to fill the position with someone who has worked closely with him.  The fashion house is own by the Gucci Group, and it is no stranger to the fashion business or to making good business decisions.  McQueen left a major void in his company when he committed suicide back in February.  His Spring 2010 collection was the design genius at his best.  Many will view the Spring 2011 collection with mixed emotions; there will be sadness because McQueen is no longer at the helm, and pride to see his legacy live on.  A thriving and successful Alexander McQueen would be the greatest tribute to the late designer.

Jean Paul Gaultier will leave Hermes after seven years at the fashion house.  The designer took the reins from Martin Margiela in 2003 to much acclaim.  Christophe Lemaire will be Gaultier’s replacement, and he is currently the artistic director of womenswear at the French label.  Lemaire will also leave his post at Lacoste, where he is creative director, in September after his Spring 2011 show.  Gaultier’s final collection at Hermes will be for Spring 2011.  The Fall 2011 season will usher-in the new creative director at the helm.  Hermes is not severing all ties, the company still retains a 45 percent stake in Jean Paul Gaultier’s namesake label.  JPG will continue as creative director at his own label for both ready-to-wear and couture.

Versace has combined luxury and technology to bring us the Versace ‘Unique’ phone.  It takes mobile phones to a whole new level.  We’re mainly referring to your choice of the 18K yellow gold frame or the 316L grade stainless steel.  Did we mention the sapphire crystal screen?  You might be tempted to keep this valuable jewel locked away for its protection, but it’s actually scratch-proof.  ‘Unique’ might actually be, well, unique.  Besides the glitz and glamour, it also performs regular phone duties.  That includes e-mail, a 5 megapixel camera and media player all on a 3G network.  The Versace Medusa head is also prominently imprinted into the phone to solidify the luxury experience.