FIT Holds Annual Gala at the Museum of Natural History Dennis Basso and Dr. Joyce Brown The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) held its Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday April 3rd at The American Museum of Natural History with cocktails beginning at 6:30 PM. The theme of this year's black-tie event was "Innovation in Sustainability" celebrating FIT's commitment to preparing the sustainable design and business pioneers of the future. Host Amber Valletta This evening which was held to benefit the FIT Foundation which provides scholarship funds to students and develops new initiatives was or ..read more

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“Fooled-Ya!" Thom Browne is the master of 'fooling' the eye Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear Photo: The Impression  In honor of April 1st, April Fools’ Day, I wanted to revisit one of my favorite techniques, trompe l’oeil, which literally translates to “fool the eye”. Of course, that’s just only one of the many ways designers fool us – wink, wink- but enough said! Vintage Piero Fornasetti Umbrella Stand The art of creating the illusion of a 3rd dimension originated as a painting technique in Greece and Rome and has been used decoratively in home furnishings throughout the ages. This Teste Antiche ..read more

The Launch of Victor dE Souza Lipsticks Victor dE Souza Photos Rhonda Erb Click images for full size views It‘s an age old dilemma. If a lipstick is long lasting, it makes your lips feel dry. If a lipstick is moisturizing, it slides right off and is practically nonexistent after a few hours. Couture designer, Victor dE Souza, would appear to have found a solution to the problem with his new line of lipsticks that launched this week at the Cos Bar in New York City. The Cos Bar Although this is the first foray into the cosmetics industry for dE Souza, makeup and beauty are in his blood. “My ..read more

Ken’s Downing’s ‘American Dream’: Make Retail Great Again! Ken Downing Photo: Neiman Marcus  As senior vice president and fashion director for Neiman Marcus, and one of the most seasoned, passionate and outspoken voices in fashion and retail, with a HUGE customer following, Ken Downing has always been on a mission to make retail great. On Monday, after 28 years of working at the famed store, he will take his vast knowledge and experience and put on a new hat: creative officer of Triple Five Group, the Canadian developer known for combining retail and entertainment at humongous centers such a ..read more

Lunch with a Legendary Rock Band's Biographer David Browne & Diane Clehane I’m back! Oh, how I have missed the gang at Michael’s and my weekly lunches with the fashionable, fascinating and fabulous crowd. Walking through the door at 55th and Fifth today felt like a long-awaited homecoming (Thank you to everyone who let me know I was missed). I was happy to see that the dining room was filled with the usual assortment of famous faces, media mavens and machers. I jumped right into the deep end. While waiting for my lunch date to arrive, I spotted Kathie Lee Gifford as she sailed by on her ..read more

Exploring the Not Too Distant Past & the Future of Jewelry at MAD Magnetized 3D phosphorescent brooches Photos Laurel Marcus - click images for full-size views It’s been 20 years since we thought the world would be ending – remember how we feared everyone’s computer would glitch, flights would be suspended mid-air and all manner of chaos would ensue. I’m still grappling with how all that time passed – now throw this exhibition at MAD into the mix. Interpreting conceptual Y2K jewelry for someone born, shall we say, pre-internet, is terrifying. Holographic Smiley Jewelry Even Sotheby’s ..read more

Dress Me Up, Dress Me Down: Crazy Mixed-up Clothes for a Crazy Mixed-up World Prada Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear Photos: Vogue.com  There is no question that if you had to hang fall 2019 on a theme, it would be the renewed love affair with tailoring and haberdashery, and an overall dressed up mood. But there is a flip side to every coin and fall runways were all over the place and often contradictory. Sure, there were collections that were the epitome of chic in a straightforward traditional way (Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent, Brandon Maxwell, a nominee for the 2019 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the ..read more