Sweet Mama Style

Exhibition and Symposium Explore Legacy of Work Wear in American Fashion

2010-02-04T19:37:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK, NY.- In celebration of the launch of new graduate programs in fashion at Parsons The New School for Design, the school will present Workwear, an exhibition and symposium that explore the legacy of work wear as a uniform for success in New York. The exhibition will be on view February 8 through March 5 at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons, with a symposium featuring leading fashion critics, designers and scholars on February 13.

"New York fashion remains closely aligned to the idea of dressing for business, expressed as a visual form of acumen and a fitness for purpose," said Shelley Fox, Donna Karan Professor of Fashion Design at Parsons and the director of the new MFA in Fashion Design and Society. "Postwar constructions of New York as a fashion capital have traded upon representations of the workplace where professionals were successful, efficient and economical in their dress. It is only fitting that new graduate programs in fashion should begin by exploring this rich seam, since these values continue to inform contemporary fashion."
This fall, Parsons is launching two graduate fashion programs, the first in the school's history: a Master of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and Society, initiated through the support of Parsons alumna Donna Karan, and a Master of Arts in Fashion Studies. Building upon Parsons' expertise in design education, and the legacy of The New School in the social sciences, these programs are interdisciplinary in nature, placing fashion in a contemporary, global context that recognizes its significance as a cultural, social and economic force.
The exhibition will feature both iconic and cutting-edge work that engages the themes of Workwear. This includes a 1986 film installation of Donna Karan's iconic Seven Easy Pieces, a modern system of dressing for women where a handful of interchangeable items together create an entire wardrobe; and Boilersuit by Savile Row tailors Norton & Sons in collaboration with Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, a modern utility outfit that accumulates patches as mementos of the wearer's life.
In addition, Workwear will feature a newly commissioned film by the fashion label Boudicca, which contemplates a future workforce powered by motion-capture, green-screen technology; a mascot installation by British communication designers Rebecca and Mike, which features iconic American brands such as Dunkin' Donuts, The New York Mets, and Taco Bell; Paul Fejos' silent film masterpiece Lonesome (1928); and the installations Uniform and Office Workers by Shelley Fox in collaboration with Spiewak, the manufacturer of uniforms for the NYPD, MTA and other agencies.
A symposium on February 13 will explore the themes of work wear from historical, cultural and sociological perspectives, and will include work from an unpublished photo essay by Walker Evans, as well as discussions with fashion historians, critics and designers such as art critic Vince Aletti and designer Zowie Broach of Boudicca.

2010-01-12T21:51:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK, NY.- Heidi Klum has been transformed into 1,000 little pieces in Editions Ricordi’s newest limited-edition puzzle, Couture Banquet. The puzzle features a stunning photo of the supermodel captured by 'Fashion and Celebrity' Photographer Ruven Afanador. Creating an imaginative way to experience and enjoy another stunning editorial of Heidi, Editions Ricordi turned the image originally taken for 'Vogu,'' Spain into tiny little jigsaw pieces. Just in time for the holidays, the puzzle comes in a silk bag and handmade wooden box with a red velvet interior, and retails for $490.
The "Couture Banquet" image shows a colorful, courtly feast scene. Certain elements in the artwork’s background, such as the skull and eggs, symbolize a ritual ceremony. Amid the explosion of colors, there is an alluring Heidi Klum portraying multiple archetypes of femininity - a moody mistress, seductive vamp and modern witch. The magic and mystery of a woman trapped by an eccentric outer world has been a main topic of Ruven Afanador’s photography art.
Ruven Afanador, known as the most internationally successful Colombian conceptual photographer, started his career in Milan in 1987 and won the award for Best Photographer of the Year in Paris in 2001 for his unique mastery of imagery and composition. He has been publishing and showcasing his artwork in major fashion magazines, galleries, and museums around the world, such as Throckmorton Fine Art, Forma and FotoMuseo. He is also the author of the acclaimed art books 'Torero' (Stemmle, 2001), 'Sombra' (Merrell, 2004), 'Seven' (Fuzzi, 2006), and the most recent publication - 'Mil Besos' (Rizzoli Int, 2009). Now, Ruven Afanador explores a new amusing way of approaching his art – composing his image onto a jigsaw puzzle.
The puzzle is released by Editions Ricordi, a worldwide leader in Fine Art publishing. As part of a limited edition of only 1000 masterpieces, each puzzle is numbered and signed personally by Ruven Afanador. The puzzle is wrapped in a luxurious silk bag inside a hand-made wooden box with a red velvet interior. The puzzle measures at a stunning 70x100 cm (24x36 inch) and is apt to be framed. Its jumbo size pieces are printed on high-quality art paper with a velvet back side, which are enhanced by the golden glitter dust that covers Heidi Klum’s beautiful dress.

Starch gives young designers – and Lebanese fashion – a boost

2010-01-11T10:22:00.000-05:00

From the Daily Star

Beirut's Daily Star is reporting that "the time is ripe for aspiring fashion designers in Lebanon to launch their careers, thanks in part to a newly launched program that gives up-and-coming artists the chance to hone their skills.
Graduates in design have long faced difficulties getting a career started and breaking into the highly competitive fashion industry. However, last November, a new program was launched with the aim of providing young artists with valuable business and networking skills that empower them reach their career goals.
Starch, a non-profit organization, was started by the Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz in collaboration with Solidere.
The project aids local designers in developing, launching and promoting their fashion careers. Every six months, Starch chooses

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Ralph Lauren

2010-01-10T23:11:00.000-05:00

How to squeeze into a dress for special events

2010-01-10T23:01:00.001-05:00

Whether you’re an Oscar nominee or a new mom with an upcoming high school reunion, these tricks will get you into that va-va-voom dress without splitting the seams

Michael Kors

2010-01-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

Ebony Fashion Show falls victim to recession

2009-08-19T19:06:00.003-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

After more than 50 years of showcasing the highest caliber of fashion in the industry to mostly African American audiences, organizers of Ebony Magazine's Fashion Fair traveling international fashion show have canceled its fall 2009 installment.

Handbago Launches New Website for Handbag lovers

2009-08-04T13:33:00.001-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Catering to the handbag enthusiast, Handbago.com launches a new website focused on "All Things Handbags".

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Developed with the handbag enthusiast in mind, Handbago.com launches an online community and catalog website that caters to handbag lovers everywhere. The site features an extensive catalog of current, past and upcoming collections from world-renowned handbag designers as well as up-and-coming designers. Members can search handbags by type, color, price range, celebrity and designer. Handbago also provides users a wide range of content including designer handbags, handbag blog, celebrity handbags, handbag trends, fashion, events, sales and exclusive interviews.
"Our vision was to create a user friendly resource and online community focused specifically on handbags," says President, Kristina Moreno. "Handbago showcases designer handbags, the people who make them, the stores who sell them and the celebs who wear them. There are a good number of blogs and shopping sites dedicated to handbags, but none of them combine the power of an online handbag catalog with an active community that allows members to rate designer handbags, create reviews and comment on editorial. Handbago provides the ultimate online handbag experience, not only for Fashionistas but for everyone who carries a bag."
The site launches this month at http://www.handbago.com/ and is open to all users. Membership is free and those who join will have extended community privileges including rating handbags, reviewing handbags and commenting on editorial.

Hong Kong Refocuses on Design as Exports Drop

2009-08-04T12:43:00.001-04:00

Image by Michael McDonough via Flickr

Hong Kong aims to be Asia's fashion center, but the Chinese territory has seen a big drop in clothing exports as the global economic crisis drags on. Now, the government is stepping in to stimulate the local fashion industry.
Hong Kong's Fashion Week features the usual parade of models on catwalks showing the latest designs, many of which end up in stores worldwide a year later. But as the global economic crisis lingers, exports of Hong Kong fashions are down more than 75 percent for January through April, from a year ago.
Felix Chung is chairman of the Hong Kong Apparel Society. He says that in the past, Hong Kong was a manufacturing center, but factories moved north to mainland China where costs are lower.
"All the manufacturers are changing their business model, from traditional manufacturing to design and manufacturing," said Chung. "They decided Hong Kong is the only city that has the ability to be the Asia Fashion capital."
Hong Kong's twice-a-year fashion weeks are mostly trade shows - bringing buyers and sellers together. In cities such as Paris and New York, fashion weeks are crammed with runway shows - where high-priced designers show off their work to celebrities and fashion journalists as well as to buyers.
To reinvigorate the fashion industry, the Hong Kong government says it will spend $1.3 million on promoting city's creativity.
This includes putting on a reality TV show centered on a design competition, similar to the popular U.S. show, Project Runway.