"Morange"

Yes, it's more orange!  Maybe next week I'll move onto something in the green family.  Color of the week?  Might be fun.


I guess I've been feeling this color for a while and it's not just a sudden or fleeting affair.  I realized that I have had a few storage boxes for magazines and miscellaneous items in pumpkin orange for several years now.  I really love how this color works with grey or white interiors.

Bigso of Sweden: available at Sam Flax

Then, I remembered the orange lip color that I envisioned for my first collection (Spring 2011) and after searching high and low, I found the perfect shade at M.A.C.  They cleverly called the lipstick, "Morange."

M.A.C. lipstick in "Morange" color. 

model, Cynthia Kirchner in my Spring 2011 show wearing "Morange" M.A.C. lip color

And then there is my silk double knit dress with shell shoulder detail.  It wasn't just the buttery softness of the fabric that appealed to me, but also the color.

my spun silk double knit draped dress

Last but not least, let us not forget Alexander McQueen -- ever.  I adore the simplicity of this piece.  It works perfectly without fuss or muss.  A color blocking masterpiece.

Alexander McQueen, Resort 2009

Photo: Style.com via Marcio Madeira

Okay, now that I have written two posts about pumpkin orange, I'm over it!  Hahaha.  I'm so jaded.  Hmmm, jade, now that's a nice color...

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: I just came across this amazing kitchen designed for the one and only, BETTE MIDLER!!  I had to ask interior designer, Mary Douglas Drysdale if I could post it and she graciously allowed it.  Thanks Mary!  Visit her web site to check out more of her beautiful work.

"A Little More Orange Kitchen!"

Mary Douglas Drysdale, Interior Designer

McQueen For A Princess: Sarah Burton Steps Up

Trumpets, crumpets, pomp and circumstance.  Finally... the dress revealed.  For the first time in a long time, my gut instinct was correct.  Princess Catherine chose to wear McQueen. 

Photo: Getty via Daily Telegraph

Sarah Burton took over as creative director last May, shortly after the great designer, Alexander McQueen, hanged himself.  Burton was under a tremendous amount of pressure and millions of eyes across the world were on Kate... and her dress.  Burton delivered.  The dress was appropriate and quite suitable for a princess; lace covered up Kate's sinewy arms and athletic shoulders.  Her pretty and naturally made-up face was visible through the sheerest of sheer veils, a perfectly fitted bodice whittled down her already slender waist and the back detail was marvelously folded and draped without becoming too heavy.  Well done Ms. Burton.  And well done Ms. Middleton -- pardon me, I meant, Princess Catherine.

What Comes Around...

For those of you who guessed when the sketches in yesterday's post were done, the answer is 1992!!  They were actually done while attending F.I.T., so they were basically school projects/assignments.  Kristin, from the fantastic blog K_Line was pretty much spot on with the date.  Congrats Kristin!

Tribal Inspiration: my sketch from 1992 & Louis Vuitton runway, Spring 2009

In design (at least in fashion), pretty much everything has already been done.  Clothes have existed, well, since forever.  It's not like we've never seen a pair of pants before or a blazer or shirt, so nobody is exactly inventing anything at this point.  The only thing designers can do is come up with new and interesting ways of interpreting apparel whether it be through silhouette, fabric, details and trim or avant-garde variations.

Woodgrain Leggings: my sketch, 1992 & Alexander McQueen runway, Spring 2009

It makes sense that styles recycle and if we think we are seeing something new, chances are, we're not.  I'd like to say that I was really innovative back in 1992, but the reality is that somewhere, somehow the concepts in these sketches got into my brain from another source.  The sketches are just the result of my interpretation.  I guess the same can be said for Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Narciso Rodriguez -- unless I allow myself to believe that all three of them were influenced by my school projects!  Ha!

Cut-Out Eye Caps: my sketch, 1992 & Narciso Rodriguez runway, Fall 2009

 

"Oh my God, they stole my hat idea!"

London Remembers McQueen

London Fashion Week started off with a tribute to the late British designer, Alexander McQueen who committed suicide last week shortly after the death of his mother. British coroners confirmed this week that McQueen had hanged himself. McQueen is being honored during London Fashion Week with a wall of remembrance set up in the same tent in which the shows are being held. Hundreds of messages were posted and after fashion week is over, the notes will be collected in a book and given to McQueen's family. A minute of silence was also observed before the first show commenced.

PPR chairman, Francois-Henri Pinault confirmed that the McQueen label will carry on. His final collection will be finished by his assistants and is expected to be shown early next month in Paris.

The Week That Was

TGIF?  Not this week.  Thank God it's Saturday sounds more like it.  Early in the week, New York braced itself for a massive blizzard that ended up dumping nearly ten inches of snow on our bustling city.  OK, so Fashion Week would be messy and there would be a lot of people wearing very fashionable snow boots.  Not the worst thing that can happen, right? 

Central Park looking pretty before the melting began

On Thursday, just as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week got underway, shocking news of designer Alexander McQueen's death rocked the tents.  The 40 year old British visionary apparently took his own life just days after his mother Joyce's passing.  We are all still trying to digest this tragedy that has left a huge void in the fashion world.

A smiling McQueen

Last night, the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics took place in Vancouver.  A moment of silence was observed for the young athlete who lost his life in a practice run on the luge earlier in the day.  Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia (the country, not the state!) lost control and was thrown from his sled, hitting a steel pole at 88mph.  The 21 year old was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Olympian Nodar Kumaritashvili sets up for his fatal practice run

For the first time ever, I'm looking forward to Monday! I'm hoping for a brand new week free of drama and tragedy.

McQueen, The King

Alexander McQueen - Fall 2009

New York Fashion Week got off to a somber start yesterday. News of British designer Alexander McQueen’s apparent suicide left us devastated and dumbfounded. At only 40 years old, the cutting-edge fashion genius had already established himself as one of the most influential designers working today. During his brief but brilliant career, McQueen was honored with numerous awards including British designer of the year and International Designer of the Year. The controversial McQueen pushed the boundaries of fashion with his eccentric vision and his elaborate, theatrical shows. He was fearless and bold and he made no apologies. The creative world has lost an icon.  R.I.P. Alexander.

McQueen: Resort 2010 (left), Resort 2009 (right)

Left: Pre-Fall 2009, Right: Spring 2010

Left: Fall 2002, Right: Spring 2007 (I snapped this photo at the Museum at FIT's "Gothic" exhibit in September, 2008