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February 17, 2010

NY Fashion Week: Red stands out in a city of black

The last days of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York brought out fun street fashion. While there were plenty of trends, a pop of color, particularly red, caught my eye in a city of black on black clothing:

Photos by Joy Sewing A journalist waiting beside me for the Calvin Klein show had this incredible bag. She got it for just $120 at TJ Maxx. It was regularly $600.

Dorothy from Kansas would love these.

Crazy, huh? You should have seen his makeup.

Posted by Joy Sewing at 04:26 PM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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NY Fashion Week: Body shapers a runway secret?

I wear Spanx. Yes, I admit it proudly. I used to be that woman who discounted body shapers because I was small-ish and relatively toned. Then I wore one and it changed my life, especially the way I looked in dresses. So I proudly left Bryant Park for a few minutes to check out Spanx's new products. (The company usually makes a showing during Fashion Week.)

Men's Spanx, $58. A compression shirt that gives men lower-back support and keeps things smooth, especially when they're dressed up. I was told designer Isaac Mizrahi has been asking for Spanx for Men for five years.

Continue reading "NY Fashion Week: Body shapers a runway secret?"

Posted by Joy Sewing at 08:00 AM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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February 16, 2010

NY Fashion Week: Dog Day Afternoon

I took a break from Fashion Week to attend the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. I met a 200-pound Mastiff from Connecticut at the entrance, then I journeyed backstage where literally hundreds of dogs were being groomed and gussied up for the competition.

It was more crowded than any fashion show I've ever attended, and what I didn't expect was, well, the fashion - doggie style. Colorful ribbons, curlers and even hairspray were being used to make the prize-winning pooches look their best. I captured a few. First a poodle with its hair braided, then a bichon frise from Houston. Her name is Georgia, and she had her own hair spray bottle. LOL.

Photos by Joy Sewing Mommy, my braids are too tight!

Miss Georgia, aka "Pud"

Dog hairspray, seriously

Posted by Joy Sewing at 12:00 PM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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NY Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs starts on time, at last

Everyone at Fashion Week knows Marc Jacobs is notoriously late. If his show is scheduled to start at 8, he'll start at 9. So when the show started at 8 p.m. sharp, it caught many fashion journalists off guard.

I actually arrived just before 8 p.m. Plenty of time, I thought, to kick someone out of my seat and get situated for the show. Within minutes, models started walking the runway to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and people were left standing 10 deep trying to get a glimpse of the show. Because I'm no giant, my view was terribly limited. Here's what I got. I heard it was a great show.

Posted by Joy Sewing at 09:01 AM in On the Go | Comments (1)
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NY Fashion Week: Patricia Field, Diane von Furstenberg and other sightings

Patricia Field is the essence of New York. She's the red-haired stylist for Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Devil Wears Prada. She was just chillin' outside of the tents at Bryant Park, smoking a cig. Check out her boots.

Photo by Kevin Jeffries Witch or not?

Photo by Joy Sewing Her boots were made for walking.

Photo by Joy Sewing Diane von Furstenberg takes a bow.

Joy Sewing Rachel Roy's show had sparkle.

Joy Sewing Eddie Murphy's ex-wife, Jean, with daughter and designer Rachel Roy, center.

Posted by Joy Sewing at 06:00 AM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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February 15, 2010

NY Fashion Week: Is QVC taking over?

Before you turn your nose up at buying designer fashions on TV, take a another look at QVC. You'll see collections from fashion-forward heavyweights, like Isaac Mizrahi, Pamella Roland, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and Houston's own Chloe Dao. That's why QVC has made a huge showing this year at New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which continues through Thursday. The home-shopping network featured live broadcast of five designer collections of spring looks that TV viewers actually could buy now.

QVC offers designers a chance to reach the masses - 180 million cable and satellite homes worldwide.

Click here to see photos from Fashion Week.

And while most of the designers at Fashion Week are showcasing their fall looks, which won't be available until late August, QVC features spring pieces available now. As Rachel Zoe talked about her collection, a model walked the runway in her stylish red trenchcoat, which sells for $80. People watching the broadcast at home could purchase the coat right then. No wait, no lines.

Continue reading "NY Fashion Week: Is QVC taking over?"

Posted by Joy Sewing at 12:14 PM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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February 14, 2010

NY Fashion Week: Musing about it all

I love Mercedes-Benz Fashion in New York because there's always so much to muse about. Here goes:

I found a deal in the Best Western President's Hotel on 48th Street. It has a great bar, cool lounging area. I booked it before Christmas for a bargain rate.

I went to the Twinkle by Wenlan show. Solid collection of chunky sweaters and cozy knits. But not my style.

I saw photographers snapping photos of the lady in pink, but I couldn't figure out who she was. Then it dawned on me, Angela Simmons of MTV's Run's House.

I loved the Lacoste show. Great colors - burgundy with gray, green with yellow. It reminded me of the '80s, only better.

Of course, I had to make a run to H&M on Fifth Avenue. I found some great buys. I even told the manager we NEED an H&M in Houston. OK! Like she could do something about it.

I always get tickled to see my name on a chair. It's feels like pre-school in a weird way. Anyone takes my seat and it's on...

Posted by Joy Sewing at 02:00 PM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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NY Fashion Week: ARISE gives black models the spotlight

ARISE Magazine's African Collective Fall 2010 show.

New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week always leaves me a bit puzzled that so few models of color are featured on the runway.

Click here to see photos from Fashion Week.

The recent ARISE magazine's African Collective Part III fashion show proved there ARE black models out there and available for work. The show was an amazing display of some of the most talented models, like Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez (whom I met six years ago at Fashion Week in a bathroom when she was barely a teen), and Oluchi, wife of designer Luca Orlandi of Luca Luca.

This is the third season ARISE celebrated African designers at Fashion Week. The magazine was the first to do an entire runway presentation dedicated to designers from across Africa.

This season, the show featured Black Coffee, Deola Sagoe and Lion Cloth & Ashes, one of my favorites. I sat across from a powerhouse front row, including models Coco Rocha (my story on her runs Tuesday), Veronica Webb and Liya Kebede. I also spotted Bethann Hardison, one of the industries top model agents and advocate for black models, as well as Houston's Tracey Ferguson of Jones Magazine.

My only question: Why does it take a show dedicated to Africa to showcase so many black models?

I'm just saying.

Posted by Joy Sewing at 01:01 PM in On the Go | Comments (0)
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February 12, 2010

Guest Blogger: Lots of President's Day sales going on

AP

This Monday you can't throw a rock without being able to hit a sale. And there's something for everybody.

Bath & Body Works is helping the women of America smell great with finds on shower gels, body lotions, hand soaps and even candles.

You can save and extra 25 percent on all clearance items at Macy's. They also have a sale on furniture, mattresses and ... well, pretty much every department. Or you can go to their Web site for free shipping if you'd rather not deal with crowds like me.

Continue reading "Guest Blogger: Lots of President's Day sales going on"

Posted by Lana Khawaja at 01:04 PM in Sales Scoop | Comments (0)
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