Fashion Face-Off with Ashtiani & Caitlin Power

During this year's Toronto Fashion Incubator New Lables competition, it was really a choice between local designer Golnaz Ashtiani and Calgary-bred leather wonder woman Caitlin Power. Both collections, so strong and so different, were in line to claim either first or second place.

Ashtiani won that round, while my money (and interest) was riding on Power. I've since written about the prairie girl a few times, and I've come to admire her craftsmanship and vision, secretly making it up to myself that I'd felt she'd been robbed of the proper win. So when the two went in on a show deal together, with a history as top contenders in a national fashion competition, it was probably the most successful pairing of designer shows (both as one event, and two separate collections) since The ShOws last week. Its a smart move, and cost effective, allowing both to showcase their efforts and attracting audiences with a two-for-one deal. And neither lady disappointed. But in true fashion form, you be the judge of that based on the evidence of this fashion face-off.

Designer: Caitlin Power
Founded: 2010
The story: Power designs in structures. Using mostly leather, she crafts interesting shapes that flatter without looking funny. She's new to the city, having moved here just last month to fully pursue her dream of being a legit designer. She's going places, with a range of pieces that serve as a testament to her craft and skill, with and without leather. Her spring/summer 2012 is based on what she calls "Primal Futurism," with hints of Blade Runner, Star Trek, and Flash Gordon. It's an interesting idea, and works for a very specific girl.
The best: A boxy white leather dress
The better: A beige wool/silk cut-out dress with leather front panel
The verdict: Strong and streamlined. As usual, Power knows her strength and works with it, not against it

Designer: Golnaz Ashtiani, Line: Ashtiani
Founded: 2011
The story: Ashitani studied in the U.K. and interned for fashion houses after graduation before returning home to launch her label, starting with a fall/winter collection produced in April. For spring/summer 2012, the Toronto native was inspired by the '60s, drawing inspiration for movies like Roman Holiday. Her line is feminine, and subtle in its statement, instead focusing on elegant dressing while remaining timeless, not trendy. Her precise craftsmanship and delicate materials make the line look far beyond its years.
The best: A violet jumpsuit in silk charmeuse
The better: A pistachio one shoulder cape dress in silk
The verdict: While it's likely I'll always be a Power fan, Ms. Ashitani has changed my mind indefinitely as the one most deserving of the TFI New Labels crown

Kate Moss the opposite of glamour: Calvin Klein

He opened up about why he made the decision to use her.

"The reason for Kate [Moss] and this whole group of women I found that someone named 'waifs' was because before that, a lot of women were getting breast implants and doing things to their buttocks. It was getting out of control. I just found something so distasteful about all that," he explained.

"I wanted someone who was natural, always thin. I was looking for the complete opposite of that glamour type that came before Kate."

Klein discussed his beginnings in the fashion industry including his first job designing coats and suits. His boss was a "nightmare" who would be grumpy until midday and criticise anything he drew.

He eventually fought his way to the top, and is proud of all he's achieved. He knows he'll probably be remembered for his iconic underwear, something he's come to terms with.

"My second wife Kelly worked with me in the design studio for a long period of time and she was greatly responsible for us doing underwear. I still wear it. And I wear other people's underwear, too, because I want to check out the competition," he said.

"[My daughter Marci] was quoted in Time or Newsweek to something of the effect of, 'Every time I go to bed with some guy, I'm looking at my dad's name on their underwear'. I said to my psychiatrist at the time, 'I don't think that's very funny'. And he said, 'Lighten up'."

In 2003, Klein hit the headlines when he behaved erratically at a Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden. He entered rehab shortly afterwards, and it's something he's happy to talk about.

The 68-year-old has struggled with addiction but insists too many people use such a problem as an excuse for bad behaviour.

"I struggled with addiction and lots of people do. That was really a shameful, horrible moment. It had nothing to do with work. I've done enough therapy and enough work on myself.

"Addiction is not caused by stress on the job, even though lots of people in the fashion industry have suffered from the same problem.

"It's not about the work," he said. "It has more to do with your childhood and lots of other things. You're always in recovery. You're always aware that this is something you don't want to do, whether it's drugs, sex, food. There are lots of addictions."

Ethical Fashion Show Berlin in ‘ewerk'

Ethical Fashion Show Berlin which will held at ewerk, Wilhelmstrasse 43, D-10117 Berlin on the date of 18 to 20 January 2012.

Sustainable lifestyle meets international trend when the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin makes its debut during the coming Berlin Fashion Week. To be held for the first time as an independent event, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin will present street fashion and casualwear made using sustainable methods in the heart of the Germany fashion metropolis. The 1st Ethical Fashion Show is being organised by Messe Frankfurt and will take place at the ‘ewerk’ in downtown Berlin from 18 to 20 January 2012.

Thereafter, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin will be held biannually as a future and quality oriented event during the Berlin Fashion Week. The distinguishing features of the new fair will be an in-depth understanding of the modern, urban lifestyle, a sure taste for good design and a high level of quality among the green labels on show.

Street fashion and Casualwear
“The Ethical Fashion Show Berlin targets visitors and exhibitors who regard ecology and ethics as essential aspects of modern life and position themselves in the middle of the fashion market with modern street fashion and casualwear”, explains Magdalena Schaffrin, the co-founder of the GREENshowroom Berlin who is organising the show on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. “The common denominator for exhibitors, visitors and the organisers is the philosophy of visionary, sustainable and social fashions.”

With the ‘ewerk’ event location, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin has found an authentic home in the heart of the German fashion metropolis. As an established venue for fashion events, ‘ewerk’ is distinguished by high functional and aesthetic standards. The individual character of the brands being shown will be underscored by the special atmosphere of coolness and glamour. Situated in the central Berlin-Mitte district, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin is well linked to the main locations of the Berlin Fashion Week and thus embedded in one of the world’s biggest events for fashion and lifestyle.

GREENshowroom rounds off the centre for green fashion
Together with the GREENshowroom, the fair for sustainable highend fashion, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin represents a new, powerful focal point for the international green fashion scene. The Ethical Fashion Show Berlin in ‘ewerk’, the GREENshowroom in Hotel Adlon Kempinski and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Pariser Platz will be linked by a shuttle service on all three days so that visitors can move quickly and comfortably between the individual venues.

The GREENshowroom in the Hotel Adlon Kempinski made its debut under the direction of Messe Frankfurt during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin last July and, as the biggest event for green fashion in Berlin, was a great success. Numerous trade visitors, journalists and guests saw the presentations of 40 fashion labels with sustainable high-end fashions, accessories and lifestyle products.

Knee High Boots

IF you weren't sure about OTK boots (over-the-knee, for those who really didn't get involved), don't worry, the knee-high boot walks firmly back into our lives for autumn/winter 2011-12.

Less of a mouthful and easier to wear, knee-high boots are chic with a midi skirt, great over jeans and ideal with oversized cashmere.

SEE THE TREND ON THE CATWALK

The perfect accompaniment to autumn's Sixties styling, take your cue from Yves Saint Laurent and Jaeger London and team with retro ladylike silhouettes. At Prada, snakeskin boots were paired with graphic-print pinafores and playful accessories.

If you only buy two things this season, make it knee-high boots and a great coat - then wear them together for instant winter chic.

DISCOVER THE KNEE-HIGH BOOTS TO KNOW

Breakfast at Tiffany’s 50 years on

On a deserted New York street at daybreak a yellow cab pulls in on Fifth Avenue in front of a shop called Tiffany & Co. To the melodic tunes of violin, draped in a full-length black Givenchy gown, kitten heels and noticeable pearls, a lady steps out of the cab. Her vulnerable shoulders argue with the dark armoured sunglasses, but her perfected topknot signifies her status. High status, of course.

Holding a croissant and coffee, she glides to the shop window and, just like that, has Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

One of the most memorable opening scenes in the history of cinema, this Hollywood classic still lies fresh in our minds. And that is something of a feat given that today marks 50 years since Breakfast at Tiffany’s first lit up the silver screen.

One of the original cinematic romantic comedies, it was also a cinematic outing that changed the way women looked at fashion, accessories and, most importantly, their jewellery.
Fashion blog / Fashion events / Fashionable culture
Breakfast at Tiffany’s 50 years on

written by Shitika Anand

On a deserted New York street at daybreak a yellow cab pulls in on Fifth Avenue in front of a shop called Tiffany & Co. To the melodic tunes of violin, draped in a full-length black Givenchy gown, kitten heels and noticeable pearls, a lady steps out of the cab. Her vulnerable shoulders argue with the dark armoured sunglasses, but her perfected topknot signifies her status. High status, of course.

Holding a croissant and coffee, she glides to the shop window and, just like that, has Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

One of the most memorable opening scenes in the history of cinema, this Hollywood classic still lies fresh in our minds. And that is something of a feat given that today marks 50 years since Breakfast at Tiffany’s first lit up the silver screen.

One of the original cinematic romantic comedies, it was also a cinematic outing that changed the way women looked at fashion, accessories and, most importantly, their jewellery.

breakfast at tiffany's fashion

Holly Golightly became an aspiration for some women – during the 1960s and still to this day. The anxious and carefree Manhattan callgirl, or “the authentic American geisha” as Truman Capote would refer to her as, was also a ‘lopsided romantic’ at heart, and had a wardrobe of an independent stylish woman.

Since a majority couldn’t invest in a personalised wardrobe from Hubert de Givenchy, they opted for more affordable pieces. Hence, giving birth to the term, ‘luxury on a budget’.

When pearls were worn with a black dress, the aforementioned scene was referred to. If a lady used a classy cigarette holder to smoke, Holly Golighty’s quirky panache was remembered.

Personally for me, it was after the fifth time I watched the film on an international flight that I felt a little closer to Golightly / Hepburn. I was given a sleep eye cover and it was blue in colour. I couldn’t contain my excitement. It wasn’t silk, neither did it have protruding eyelashes, but it was still my lousy attempt at living the Golightly lifestyle. Investing in elbow-length black gloves was next on the bucket list, but safe to say, it failed miserably.

The point is, most every woman has at one stage of their life done their bit to get a bite-size taste of a fashion icon who believed in the power of accessories. Despite her distressed and poor living character, Breakfast at Tiffany’s Golightly experimented with hats and hair. From pigtails to a puffed-up do, every style was effortless. If there wasn’t a wide-brimmed hat to camouflage the locks, then a headscarf gently tied under the chin did the job. The presence of button earrings or a subtle necklace outshone her ensemble, but her jewellery was predominantly pearl-laden. After all, as Golightly admonished: it’s tacky to wear diamonds before you’re forty.

Whether it’s Coco Chanel we have to thank or Holly Golightly, the black dress became both a safety blanket and a staple. The confirmation of its authenticity and honesty was understood after cheap rip-offs of the original Givenchy dress flooded the market. But either way, it all pointed towards one direction, women wanted to look like Holly or Audrey – whichever suited their fancy!

More than her played character, Audrey Hepburn became a glamourised icon whose manufactured aura created a dazzling illusion for women. There was so much admiration for this woman of style and substance that she herself knew how to reach out to her fans.

Apart from the character-centric fashion, over the years, Breakfast at Tiffany’s pop culture energy has sparked a dozen of things: lyrical inspiration, household merchandise and a muse for dress-up parties.

But more than anything, it was an escalated universal status for American jewellery house Tiffany & Co. It would be ignorant to state that the film deserves an entirety of credit for the company’s popularity. But in the capitalist society we’re in, the marketing tool of attaching a famous name to a brand is certainly not an ingenious thought. There’s a very clever purpose. 
Holly was “crazy” about Tiffany’s, Tiffany’s was deluged with exquisite jewellery – there’s nothing that could possibly hold women back. 
The blue box became a dream, or perhaps, a luxurious asset for women.

With all the visual culture that surrounds us today, it’s inarguable to find the resonance of iconic images from the past have more effect on our daily lives than actuality of the present. The evidence of this is seen in the adaptation of classic Hollywood glamour on the red carpet or re-enacted in photo shoots.

The sheer quantity of glamorised images is overwhelmingly large, but finding a comfortable spot for Breakfast at Tiffany’s in today’s times wasn’t so challenging.

It’s been 50 years and women are still awed by Holly Golightly’s impeccable style and glamour.

A movie so powerful that it doesn’t require a trailer, a review or even an introduction, it’s only wise to carry on the unwaning legacy for the next 50 years.

Bake-Off Contest from Pillsbur

The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest has added a new ingredient to its recipe for cooking competition success! To add to the excitement of the contest, Pillsbury has asked three former contestants from a top fashion design reality show to compete in a “Runway Challenge” and help design the official apron to be worn by finalists as they compete for $1 million at the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest.

Althea Harper, Kara Janx and Carol Hannah Whitfield have each designed an apron to potentially be worn by the 100 finalists on the contest floor at the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest finals which take place March 25-27, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

The three designs will be posted on the Pillsbury Facebook page on Monday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. EDT for individuals to vote which design should become the official 45th Bake-Off® Contest apron. Voting closes on Monday, Oct. 17.

“Since the first Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest in 1949, the official contest apron has been a hallmark in every contest,” said Onju Sturlaugson, Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest Manager. “We’re so excited to have top designers on board to help create this year’s apron and know our 100 finalists will wear it with great pride.”

The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest announced the final 100 home cooks who will compete for $1 million at the finals March 25-27 at the Peabody Orlando Hotel. The group’s creative original recipes beat out tens of thousands of recipe entries to earn the chance to compete for the grand prize. The list of 100 finalists is available at website.

The final 100 recipes for the 45th contest will be available in January 2012 on website. On March 26, the 100 home cooks will compete in four categories—Breakfast & Brunches, Entertaining Appetizers, Dinner Made Easy and Sweet Treats—side-by-side at 100 GE mini-kitchens at the Bake-Off Contest finals. Working in secrecy behind closed doors, a panel of food experts will taste the recipes prepared by the finalists and select the contest winners.

Mac Duggal Show features new Spring dress collection

The new spring collection of the latest dress and gown for the upcoming season were recently unveiled. The elegant designs were showcased at the Mac Duggal Spring 2012 Fashion Show at the AmericasMart in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This is an opportunity to unveil the long-awaited new spring styles," said Chicago designer Mac Duggal. "We have an exciting and fresh new look for proms, pageants, couture and wedding parties."

Using his more than 25 years of creative expertise, the designer has created styles in elegance for celebrities, socialites and up-and-comers for television, movies, pageants, weddings and other special occasions. His prom dresses, ball gowns and evening wear are soon to set the trends for spring.

One of the featured collections in the fashion show was the Sugar Collection, which has special designs for girls ages 5 through 15 who are entering pageants or participating in wedding parties.

The spring fashion show was a chance for Mac Duggal, LLC to display the designer's new offerings for 2012 in a unique setting. The spring dresses will soon be available in select boutiques.

Fashion Report Card: Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor is probably one of the few filmstars on the newbie block in Bollywood who can survive without a dedicated fashion stylist.

 The delicate boned diva owns and applies grey matter to her wardrobe, comes up with sometimes severe, sometimes waif-like, sometimes eclectic, sometimes Parisian chic ensembles and carries them off with equal aplomb, and with her high wattage smile, sometimes superb, sometimes shocking shoes and strappy bags.

Simply gorgeous. Sonam breaks the mould of the 'short dresses and ironed tresses' brigade and gushes forth like a sheer Greco Roman delight. Her body language spells languid ease together with her perfectly accentuated cheekbones and collarbones.

Natty yet nymph like. From her smoky eyes to the fine detailing on her crisp white jacket to her immaculate black heels, Sonam Kapoor looks every bit the cat's whiskers, poured into the black pants. Super stylish.

She dares to be different. Sonam delights in a fleeting peach creation teamed with a loose lace jacket. Slightly messy hair, gentle smile, lazily looped handbag. Wish the undereye concealer had worked its magic though

Near ethereal in her traditional avatar, she perfects the traditional greeting, swathed in powder blue and pearls. Alluring!

Great hair. Not-so-great lipstick. Lousy accents in shoulder zips and clumped up gold trinkets. Maybe you could have tried zapping away those pouches under your eyes too, darling. And yes, the skirt and the wicked witch's pointed shoes do nothing to rev up the style quotient of this ensemble.

Pretty. Simple. Pretty simple. Sonam's choice of scarlet lip colour revs up the otherwise sedate and marmish dress. Oh no! You're way too young to cavort in boring greys, blanched pastels and dull hues. Gift yourself the vivid hues, darling. The shoes manage to up the style quotient a bit though. Just a lil bit.

10 Spring Fashion Trends 2011 We Love

The days following New York Fashion Week are always somewhat schizophrenic. The dust is barely settling from all the shows, the taxis, and the very late nights, and we're already wondering what's to come from London and the rest of the shows on the horizon. But what NYFW does that none of the others do, is lead the way for all those big ideas that anchor the season. The New York collections come first, so we naturally applaud all our favorite designers—from Phillip Lim and Jason Wu to Rag & Bone and Marc Jacobs—for making all of these bold declarations first...and so beautifully. So, herein lies our list of the spring fashion trends 2011 that made the fashion week shows so unique and iconic. And if you're like us, you'll want to start giving some of these looks a whirl right now...those high-waisted wide-leg trousers and the dolman sleeve? We're on it.

1. The Re-Return of the Wide-Leg Trouser - For some of us, the high-waisted, wide-leg trouser will never really go out of style. So, when we saw it popping up on practically everyone's runways - the sidewalks outside the shows, included!-we knew these '70s-inspired bottoms were back with a vengeance. And Marc, Tory, and Tommy all fashioned them to perfection.

2. A Zest For Orange - Rich mango, persimmon, ripe pumpkin-however you slice it, bold orange was one of spring's sweetest color trends. And whether paired with white at Marc Jacobs or with bad-girl booties at Chris Benz, this intense shade feels fresh once again.

3. Futuristic Militaristic - We have to honor Victoria Bartlett for planting the seeds of this trend when she first launched her line VPL in 2003. And this season, a venerable army of otherworldly whites, straps, and harnesses all pointed to a more ethereal, somewhat abstract take on the more traditional military trends of seasons past.

4. A Full Skirt Moment - The mini craze that has swept closets and women's gams for the past few years has slowly given way to longer hemlines (could that century-old connection to a conservative economy be true?). But spring's skirt obsession wasn't so much about restraint as it was about elegance and sophistication. And the styles we spotted at Marc Jacobs, Suno, and Band Of Outsiders were nothing short of serious statements themselves.

5. The All-Day Pajama Party - We're not sure how practical it is, but we really, really loved all the many plays on pajama dressing, from Karen Walker's sleepy-time head-to-toe look to Suno's slouchy dotted silk trousers.

6. The Old-School Halter Neck - Something about the many appearances of gorgeous halter-necks and unusual necklace-like cinching methods reminded us of a certain someone's mom from her very glamorous summer days spent by the sea in Ibiza. Almost universally paired with long, languid summer gowns, this little detail yielded lots of impact.

7. Another Study In Neutrals - Maybe it's Phoebe Philo's influence at Céline permeating everyone's mood-boards, or perhaps it's just the chaotic energy out there in the world that's driving designers to simplify their palettes, but spring was no stranger to neutrals-especially those warm and soothing shades of sand, camel, and ivory all nicely framed with dark swipes of black.

8. Long and Longer - Again, instead of showing more skin-during a season that loves a lot of it!-designers like Prabal Gurung, Rag & Bone, and Tommy Hilfiger all chose to show less with lots longer skirt and dress lengths. Skimming the floor with knee-high slits or sheer fabrics, these ankle-grazing styles gave the season a much more grown-up, almost serious appeal.

9. The Prettiest Chartreuse Ever - No shade seems to garner as much controversy as chartreuse. No, it's not for everyone, but thanks to Miuccia Prada back in the day, we're occasionally introduced to this somber green shade in surprisingly chic ways. And such was the case this season, when designers like Rodarte, Jason Wu, and VPL all ventured into chartreuse territory with abandon...and wonderful results.

10. Dolman Sleeves, Please - Blouses have been gravitating to fuller, boxier, cropped cuts for some time now, so it was no surprise to see so many designers playing around with even fuller silhouettes and classic dolman sleeves. Some of the blouses we saw referenced vintage surf hoodies, while others felt very modern and almost evening-like. Our favorites: Yigal Azrouël and Vena Cava, who managed to give this typically casual piece an old Hollywood sophistication. We loved!

Source: http://www.refinery29.com

Sexy Irina Sheik Hot photo shoot for Rampage Clothing brand

Iconix Brand Group Inc announced its Rampage brand's new Fall 2011 multi-media marketing campaign with international supermodels 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl, Irina Shayk. This marks Shayk's first season as the face of the contemporary brand.


Irina Shayk commented, "I was very excited to shoot this campaign because such iconic supermodels have worked with Rampage before me such as Bar Refaeli and Gisele Bunchen." Shayk added, "Rampage's fall collection is beautiful and sexy - it has everything you need to transition your outfit from day to night."

Dari Marder, Chief Marketing Officer, Iconix Brand Group commented, "We are very excited to be working with Irina Shayk for our Fall campaign. She defines the Rampage woman which is sexy and sophisticated. She has the ability to look effortlessly glamorous which is portrayed in the new campaign."

View more Irina Sheik Images