Dishing on fashion: July 2007

Peter Som named to head Bill Blass label

Designer Peter Som is the new creative director of the women's division at Bill Blass. He steps into a post left vacant since earlier this year when Michael Vollbracht stepped down.

The position is something of a return to Som's roots. Early on in his career, Som, a San Francisco native, worked wtih Blass as well as in the design rooms of Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. Som introduced his own self-named collection in 2001.
Som says he will continue his own line in addition to heading the design team for the Blass label.
"My current focus is to evolve and modernize the brand by incorporating my own aesthetic while staying true to Mr. Blass' vision and legacy,'' Som said in a statement.

The Blass label is best known for tailored and elegant styles. Before his retirement in 1999, Bill Blass dressed socialites, stateswomen and celebrities … women he also called friends.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report

Carmen Marc Valvo dresses Saturday on QVC

Designer Carmen Marc Valvo has donated four of his silk jersey cocktail dresses from his ready-to-wear collection to be sold this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on QVC.

The Valvo dresses will be sold as part of a two-hour fundraising sale for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s 10th Anniversary of Super Saturday!

For the first time Super Saturday has partnered with QVC which is donating two hours of airtime for the event.

All net proceeds from the sale of the Valvo dresses will go to the OCRF.

Valvo, a colon cancer survivor, has become an outspoken advocate for early detection and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various cancer organizations.

So, tune in Saturday at 12:30 p.m. for your chance to snag one of these Carmen Marc Valvo dresses and donate to charity at the same time.

New Gap for Fall

Am I the only one who remembers the old "fall into the Gap" commericials? Well the Gap is hooked on the classics this fall.
A new fall ad campaign, photographed by the renowned Annie Leibovitz, will highlight artists and celebrities as part of the "Classics Redefined" campaign.
Must-have fall items to be featured include:

(shown at right) Short Sleeved Turtleneck ($39.50), modeled by actress Regina King

* Macintosh ($98), modeled by actor Forest Whitaker, Storyteller and Actor

* Little Black Sweater Dress ($59.50), modeled by actress Lucy Liu

(shown at right) Wide leg jeans ($59.50), modeled by rockers Ami and Yumi

*Deep V Sweater ($44.50), modeled by actress Selma Blair

* Soft Tailored Blazer ($88), modeled by designer Marcel Wanders

(shown at right) French Cuff Shirt ($39.50), modeled by choreographer Twyla Tharp

Ultimate Shoe Lover Contest

Do you have a shoe jones?
I mean, are you reeeeaaaaaalllly in love with shoes?
Well here's your chance to prove it. Shoe website Piperlime.com is partnering with renowned shoe designer, Bettye Muller to see just how much you love shoes.
Entries will be accepted through Aug. 14.

(At right) "Chelsea" boot by designer Bettye Muller
$540; www.Piperlime.com

An expert panel of judges will pick the five top essays. Then the public will have a chance to read the top essays and vote on them online.
And what will the winner get?
How about this? You get to design an exclusive shoe with shoe designer Bettye Muller.The show will be featured and sold exclusively on Piperlime.com for Spring 2008.

Here are the contest details:

1) The contest runs on the Piperlime.com homepage through Aug. 14.

2) The winner will be announced mid-September and will receive the following:

- All expense paid trip to NYC in October for a minimum of 3 nights (4 days) with airfare, hotel, airport transportation and meals provided.

- Roundtrip transportation to NY showroom to meet Bettye Muller and design shoe.

- One companion may accompany the winner on the trip and is included in the travel budget as well.

For more information go online at www.Piperlime.com

Future stars of the fashion world are...

Fashion lovers, remember these names and labels:
- Philip Lim
- Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders
- Erin Fetherston
- Nunthirat Koi Suwannagate of Koi
- Rogan Gregory
- Gabriel Asfour, Angela Donhauser and Adi Gil of Threeasfour
- Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava
- Victoria Bartlett of VPL
- Michael Bastian
- jewelry designer Philip Crangi

These are the 10 finalists for this year's CFDA/Vogue Fasion Fund award, perhaps the most pretigious award for emerging labels and designers.

The winner, to be announced Nov. 15 during the CFDA/Vogue 7th on Sale kickoff gala, will receive a monetary award of $200,000. The two runners-up will receive $50,000 each. The three recipients will also be assigned a mentor and receive a year's worth of manegerial guidance and support forma top industry executive.

Since the award was launched in 2004, it has quickly become a key indicator of the new "it" labels and designers. If you don't believe us just look at the list of past awardees:

2004
Winner: Proenza Schouler designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough.
Runners-up: Nicole and MIchael Colovos, then at Habitual
Alexandre Plokhov, of Cloak.

2005
Winner: John Whiteledge, Sam Shipley, Josia Lamberto-Egan and Jeff Halmos of Trovata
Runners-up: Derek Lam
Thom Browne

2006
Winner: Doo-Ri Chung
Runners-up: Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte
Thakoon Panichgul

Here's are looks from this year's 10 finalists:

Philip Lim

Band of Outsiders

Erin Fetherston

Koi

Rogan

Threeasfour

Vena Cava

VPL

Michael Bastian

Philip Crangi

Nordstrom beauty specials during Anniversary Sale

Fashion fans know the magic of Nordstrom's anniversary sale. The sale, which began today and runs through Aug. 5, offers fall styles at 30 percent off.
But what fashion fans may not realize is that Nordstrom also offers a lot of beauty exclusives during the sale including special sizes and packages of products from the 100 or so beauty lines it carries including Laura Mercier, Dior, Bobbi Brown and YSL.
Here's are some of the specials being offered at Nordstrom stores during the sale.

Jumbo sizes
Philosophy ($29.50 - $45.00)
Philosophy has created jumbo sized versions of four of their best-selling products including: Amazing Grace, Purity and Hope in a Jar.
and
Look for a special jumbo sized bottle of Kiehl’s Crème de Corp for $70.

Metallic Makeup Bags
Laura Mercier and She Uemura are both offering makeup collections in metallic bags for $65.

Color Collections
MAC and Chanel are offering exclusive color collections.

Gifts with purchase
Estée Lauder is offering a free gift (three little suede makeup bags with product) with any Estée Lauder purchase of $27.50.
and
Christian Dior is offering a free gift - a Cannage trio of pink makeup bags interlocked by a small wrist strap adorned with a D charm - withthe purchase of any two Dior beauty products.

Devi Kroell purses at Target

I'm constantly amazed by the big name designers who partner with Target. You can really find some great stuff at great prices.
Here's a great find.
Designer Devi Kroell has turned out a special line of purses and bags for Target. Kroell is known for her bags made from exotic skins such as python. But her Target line are all faux material. The limited edition line, priced from $19.99 to $49.99, will only be available through Sept. 30 (or when supplies run out).

Pieces in the line we loved included:

Shopper.
Available in anthracite and nude. $39.99

Faux Croc-embossed clutch.
Available in bronze and anthracite. $29.99

MAC product event at Nordstrom stores

Nordstrom's annual sale starts on Friday and runs through Aug. 5.
But the fun will start a little early at the MAC counters in Nordstrom stores, including those at Menlo Park and Freehold Raceway mall.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (July 19-22), shoppers can experience MAC's new Mineralize eye shadows. These shadows are billed as light-reflecting, slow baked and naturally shaded. Each shadow tin actually contains up to four shades baked together and provides a light shimmer.
The new shadows come in six different shades and retail for $16.50 each.
Of course MAC makeup experts will be on hand to show you how to use these new shadows.
To book an appointment or for more information call Nordstrom Menlo Park at (732) 603-5000 or Nordstrom Freehold Raceway at (732) 308-1117, ext. 1066.

Fashion Week - Miami Swim 2008

So, I'm guessing you didn't make it to Miami Beach last week for Fashion Week - Swim 2008.
Well lucky for you, we've got some of the highlights here for you.
Of course Miami Fashion Week is still rather small compared to the fashion fests in New York, Milan and Paris. And many major designers will present swimwear as part of their spring 2008 collections at New York's Fashion Week in September.
But here's a look at some of the latest hot looks in swimwear straight from the runway in Miami Beach. Look for these next spring.

Rosa Cha.
No one does swimwear quite as racy as the Brazilians. And the Rosa Cha line, designed by Amir Slama, is always one of the hottest shows at any Fashion Week.