Ladies Who Lunch: Toni Francesc Partners with NET-TRENDY.COM!

NET-TRENDY.COM

TU SITIO ONLINE DE MODA EXCLUSIVA

Only a month ago, I reported on the Fall 2011 Collection from Spanish designer Toni Francesc.  The video of the show, including an interview with the designer himself, prompted numerous inquiries as to where the designs could be purchased.

http://ladieswholunchtravel.blogspot.com/2011/03/ladies-who-lunch-toni-francesc-fall.html

Unfortunately, when I was asked this question, the answer was not so easy.  It is oftentimes difficult in the US to find innovative foreign designers in retail stores, leaving the purchases to the lucky few who can snag items while traveling abroad.  However, as the internet marketplace expands, so do our options!

Toni Francesc has recently announced that beginning with his Spring 2011 collection, his designs will be available on NET-TRENDY.COM.  NET-TRENDY.COM promotes fashion sales of designs exclusively Made in Spain, while collaborating with acclaimed designers and emerging designers to offer seasonal designs from their collections with guaranteed worldwide distribution!

From now on, wearing clothes created by Toni Francesc will be within reach of a few clicks.

Check out NET-TRENDY.COM to see Toni Francesc’s Spring 2011 offerings and bookmark them for when Fall 2011 becomes available!

www.ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Help Japan's Fashion Industry!

Tragedy can strike any of us at anytime!  The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan is so overwhelming that it is almost incomprehensible.  The road to recovery is going to be long as Japan cleans up, rebuilds and tries to return to normalcy.

While generous donations pour in from all over the world to help with the immediate needs of the country, the long term rebuilding of lives is just as important.  Keeping businesses operating is crucial to their survival and the future of all of Japan.

The Fashion Industry in Japan has been especially hard hit.  Due to the earthquake, Japan Fashion Week had to be canceled, leaving the country’s designers without the means to present their collections. The designers of Japan rely on international attention and orders for their survival.

Please click on the banner above to see the Web Collections from Japan and pass it on to everyone you know!  We can make a difference!

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Ladies Who Lunch: L.A. Fashion Weekend 2011 Part 1

After covering Fashion Week in New York and Paris, Fashion Week in LA is always a bit of a surprise.  A 7 year run with a Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios brought the type of fashion presentations that we are used to in other fashion arenas around the world, but when Mercedes Benz decided not to continue on in LA, Fashion Week lost its center and LA has been evolving and trying to find its way ever since.  The fashion show venues have moved about and usually align themselves with other art presentations, almost as if the LA crowd is too ADD to focus on fashion alone.  But then again, maybe that is what it is all about, showing fashion as art.

Mikey Koffman , founder of The Gallery Los Angeles and star of The Real L Word, had been influential to the production of Mercedes Fashion Week Los Angeles and continues to champion LA Fashion with the founding of L.A. Fashion Weekend at the Sunset Gower Studios.  Her commitment to the LA Fashion scene is impressive and L.A. Fashion Weekend has become one of the key venues that make LA Fashion Week work.

This was my second season covering events at L.A. Fashion Weekend and I must say that I have been impressed with the caliber and professionalism of the presentations.  It seems that almost all LA Fashion events have a quirky side to them and for L.A. Fashion Weekend it is the assemblage of multiple design houses in one show.  Although the concept of having a show that combined lingerie, handbags, men’s urban wear and red carpet gowns seemed a bit outlandish, Ms. Koffman managed to bring them together in an eclectic way that made for an enjoyable show.  As the show was so diverse, I will cover the show in two segments: 1 for menswear and 1 for womenswear.

So be prepared! Next up L.A. Fashion Weekend Womenswear!

www.ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Help the Earthquake Victims with a Japan Relief Tote

The Earthquake and Tsunami has devastated Japan.  They need assistance to get their country and their lives back together.

With the help of family and friends, Helene Ige of IGE Design has designed a tote for Japan Relief.  The fashionable tote is only $20 and 100% of the proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross to help in the effort to alleviate the suffering in Japan.

They also make great gifts!  Buy one today and tell everyone you know so that they can lend a hand as well!!

You can find the tote at:

http://www.shop.igedesign.com/product.sc?productId=34&categoryId=9


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Ladies Who Lunch: LAVUK Fall 2011

Presented at the ACE Gallery as part of Concept LA Fashion Week. the LAVUK Fall 2011 Collection by designer Natasha Gindin was received by an enthusiastic packed house.

Born in the former Yugoslavia and growing up in cities all over the world, Natasha Gindin brings the diversity of her upbringing to her designs.  Calling her LAVUK Fall 2011 Collection “Infinity”, she attempts to capture the present and move into the future at the same time.  Classic sportswear silhouettes were transformed into a line that is about being contemporary and easy to wear, while still making a fashion statement.

The color story is based on shades of grey with a reddish-orange and purple mixing in as full garments or as accents.  With silhouettes that are a bit deco inspired in their sharpness of line and the exploration of lines extending out into “Infinity”, the collection expresses a modernity that is futuristic and a bit reminiscent of 1960’s Pierre Cardin.  Some of the highlights of the collection are modern coats with contrast details and detailed seaming, dresses and tops with cut-outs that reveal contrast fabric beneath, a modern take on the shirt dress, and tops that play with cowl drapes.

The LAVUK line is created using eco-friendly sustainable fabrics and is made sweatshop-free locally in Los Angeles.  Additionally, a tree is planted through American Forests as part of the California Wildfire Releaf Program for every garment purchased.

Fashion with a conscience.  Becoming more of a concern to LA designers, LAVUK is one of the leaders of this movement like fellow designer Averi Bell of Chemline.  We can only hope that more will follow.

Video by Omri Escalante

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Ladies Who Lunch: Chemline Fall 2011

LA Fashion Week began with a weekend of runway shows and fashion/art installations hosted by Concept LA Fashion Week at the ACE Gallery in the Mid-Wilshire district.  Housed in an historic Art Deco building, the ACE Gallery is an interesting venue for shows, with its wide open spaces and attempt to mix fashion and art together.  To get to the runway space, you first had to pass through the gallery and make your way through art installations and performance artists, giving a buildup to the runway shows that would ensue.

The first show that I took in at Concept LA Fashion Week was designer Averi Bell’s Fall 2011 Chemline Collection.  A former costume designer for LA’s film community, Ms. Bell launched Chemline in the Fall of 2007.  Chemline is an apparel line that is inspired by Ms. Bell’s love for storytelling, combined with a love for the craftsmanship of garments.

Placing an emphasis on using materials that are eco-friendly and sustainable, the Fall 2011 Chemline fabrics are hemp, hemp silks, yak hemp blends and recycled poly with an emphasis on texture. The color palette for the collection was primarily black, white, grey, and shades of cream/off white, with a shot of a vibrant emerald green in the mix for a few outfits and as an accent on a black hooded jacket.

Silhouettes are sleek and modern with a remarkable attention to construction and details.  A very lady-like collection with scalloped hemlines, meticulous tailoring and the mixing of matte and shine fabrics give Chemline a sophistication that makes it stand out among other LA fashion lines.  A few pieces of note are the structured vests over blouses, a black cocktail dress with fabric streamers that connect to the ankles and a belted black gown with white shoulder accents and white godets at the hem.

Averi Bell’s Chemline Fall 2011 Collection accomplishes what she set out to do: tell a story.  And liking the story that was told, I will look forward to more of her storytelling in the future.

Video by Omri Escalante

www.ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Future Heretics Fall 2011

Style Fashion Week LA hosted the Future Heretics Fall 2011 show in the middle of a week of presentations that were as diverse as is the city of Los Angeles.

Future Heretics describes itself as a “premium-denim based street-wear line”.  But as the Fall 2011 Collection proved, the company has become more than that.  Talking about who his customer is, designer Brydon Lando says that there is something for everyone in this line and I agree.  If you pull individual pieces out of the line, they are very wearable and will appeal to a mass audience with nicely styled sportswear including jackets, knitwear, and outerwear pieces.

As shown on the runway, the line will especially appeal to a customer who is a little more cutting edge and particularly favors a rock star look.  The line has a decided edginess to it, giving it a character that sets it apart from other denim lines.  Mr. Lando said that a big inspiration for this collection was the idea of a gothic take on an explorer and this inspiration was evident in the styling of the garments.  Keeping with the gothic inspiration, colors for the line are  dark, favoring blacks and greys, with the occasional muted brown or maroon.  A few of my favorite pieces were made with denim changeant fabric, giving the line a muted, but noticeable shine.

The line was accessorized with jewelry by M. Cohen Design.  M. Cohen jewelry mixes metals, wire, and stones for a look that is perfectly in sync with the Future Heretics line, especially when they are layered.  Quickly becoming a favorite with celebrities like Johnny Depp, Mr. Cohen’s designs work well as individual pieces, but really gain full impact when worn in layered combinations.

The success of Future Heretics Fall 2011 line lies in its ability to provide key pieces with broad appeal, while maintaining an aura of rocker rebelliousness.  Myself not really the rocker type, I still was able to find numerous pieces that I would love to add to my closet.

Video by Omri Escalante

www.ladieswholunchtravel.com