The 5th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards

A couple weeks ago I had the fortune to attend the Fashion 2.0 awards. Since the launch 5 years ago, social media has changed drastically from something that brands never talked about to an integral part of marketing strategy and customer relations.

The Fashion 2.0 awards founded by the beautiful Yuli Ziv, the founder of Style Coalition and Fashion 2.0, are the first industry recognized distinction honoring fashion brands for outstanding achievements and communication strategies across a variety of digital media channels. When the awards first launched, DKNY's DKNY PR girl aka Aliza Litch was one of the only attendees and Foursquare was honored as the best start-up. Could we have dreamed then how much times would have changed? Today over 400 industry insiders helped celebrate the event at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. 

The awards were hosted once more by the ever charming Robert Verdi with legendary designer Zac Posen invited to give a keynote speech. After he ended his speech he attempted to take an audience wide "selfie" but ended up leaving himself out of the picture. Host Robert Verdi later corrected the error in good fun and soon the entire room was standing to be a part of it!

As for some of the winners, Marc Jacobs won big, sweeping awards for best Instagram and Twitter. Nordstrom won for the Best Pinterest. DKNY won for best online campaign with DKNY Draft. The campaign featuring both models and football players for the Super Bowl taught us in the words of pioneer Aliza Litch that "Models can't throw for shit". Acustom Apparel won for best start-up

Eva Chen was honored by Fashion GPS with the online Navigator award and rushed in a little late after being caught in a heated ping pong match with the Warby Parker boys. The Fashion Navigator Award took into consideration the fact that ambitious women are not just bossy, ambitious women can become the boss. Eva Chen exemplifies this modern attitude.

Fashion expert Jeannie Mai presented the Visionary award to the Warby Parker boys, while telling a touching story about how the brand changed the life of one woman who had a life altering ordeal in which she no longer had the confidence to go shop in public. The award celebrates not only what fashion can do, but what fashion can do for others.

The beautiful and charming Coco Rocha presented the evenings top honor for Top Innovator to ASOS as she shared how this year both the internet and herself turned 25. "For decades, industry standards dictated that models be seen and not heard. This model is one with an opinion, not seen but heard. If you have a loud voice, have something to say. Social media has given me a voice to be someone beyond just a face".

After the awards ceremony let out, everyone hit the cocktail reception for some in-person socializing. It was a grand night with red carpet glamor and beautiful people celebrating the digital world. I wonder how the awards will change and change again in the next 5 years!

Special thanks to photographer Ken Arcara for the bottom three images.

NYFW Spring 2014: Marc by Marc Jacobs

The Marc by Marc Jacobs runway show takes is back to the late 50s with it's neck kerchiefs, polka dots, bomber jackets, optical lines and pinstripes. The silhouette is the precursor to the 60s straighter silhouettes and shift type dresses rule the runway.

Suits of every kind found that way onto the runway in the form of traditional pinstripes, play suits and jump suits. Thanks to being layered with pinstripes and paired with sneakers the look remains casual. Linen, satin and sequins are all made casual too with the pairing over a plain white tee. Very fitting and youthful for the Marc by Marc customer.

Soft pastel pinks and baby blues are paired with their more vibrant counterparts of cherry red and marine. Neutral mouse beige, cream and black create a base for this collection.

Graphic color blocking continues and bold motifs like studded stars and lightning give the collection a dose of rock and roll.

Interestingly enough, every menswear outfit seemed to have a female counterpart. Is it a uniform vision for both men and women or a resurgence in the dreaded couple look?

Nevertheless the final results were refreshing and fun although nothing new under the sun.

70s Chic: Cynthia Steffe Spring 2011

The 70s are back in full swing this spring. Refinery 29 and The Fashion Spot have reported on this trend citing Marc Jacob's runway collection and others like Derek Lam, Jason Wu and Etro.

Another collection that comes to mind when I think 70s-inspired is Cynthia Steffe spring 2011.

Wide leg pants, pant suits


Tan-orange color scheme, geometric prints


Short shorts, halter necklines


One-pieces, one-shoulder cuts
Cynthia Steffe is a Sugar Rock Catwalk favorite as the line is perfect example of fem with a little twist (and they have the best sample sales). The spring 2011 collection is super wearable and definitely something I want to own. I like the flowy frocks, but I especially love the more structured separates like the leather shorts and jackets. And as always, I'm a fan of the prints and color blocking!

You can find Cynthia Steffe at retailers like Saks and Bloomingdales.

Marc Jacobs Soho on Sale: Now 70% off

Just wanted to share that clothing and footwear are now 70% off at Marc Jacobs Soho Store at 163 Mercer St! I managed to snap a couple pics, before the sales lady wouldn't have it! The shoes that I examined seemed to be sizes 37-39. Sale does not apply to accessories or handbags.

CFDA Awards Winners & Red Carpet Trends

The CFDA Awards last night celebrated designers and members of the industry across various categories. Congratulations to all the winners!

The CFDA Award Winners:
Marc Jacobs - Womenswear Designer of the Year
Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone - Menswear Designer of the Year
Alexis Bittar - Accessory Designer of the Year

The Swarovski Award (honors emerging talent):
Jason Wu- Womenswear
Richard Chai - Menswear
Alexander Wang - Accessory Design

L’Oréal Popular Vote Award:
Ralph Lauren

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award:
Michael Kors

International Award:
Burberry’s Christopher Bailey

Eleanor Lambert Award:
Vogue’s Tonne Goodman

Eugenia Sheppard Award:
Paper magazine’s Kim Hastreiter

Fashion Icon Award:
Iman

The Board of Director’s Special Tribute:
Alexander McQueen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So with it being such a designer-centric fashion affair you would expect that the fashion would follow suit but I found that most people took a safe approach to their dressing and black, white and silver were the dominant dressing themes.

Sparkling Sexy Black

Left - Michael Kors with Gwyneth Paltrow in custom Michael Kors and Fred Leighton.
Center - Lara Stone in Calvin Klein Collection and Fred Leighton.
Right - Molly Sims

Textural White Minis

Left - Amanda Brooks in Thakoon.
Right - Hana Soukupova in Marchesa.

Shining in Silver

Left - Constance Jablonski
Center - Donna Karan
Right - Whitney Port in David Meister.

Printed Columns

Left - Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen and Stephen Russell.
Right - Jessica Biel in Diane von Furstenberg.

Left - Diane von Furstenberg
Right - Tory Burch

Blush/Nude

Left - Linda Fargo
Right - Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs and Atelier Swarovski.

Left - Brooke Shields in J.Mendel.
Right - Maggie Grace in Notte by Marchesa.

Left - Alexis Bledel in Benhaz Serafpour.
Right - Carmen Kass in Michael Kors.

Statement Necklace

Left - Jessica Stam
Right - Sasha Pivavarova in The Row.

My Personal Favorite

Rachel Weisz in Jason Wu.

All images courtesy of WWD

Chance to Win Tickets to Marc Jacobs' Show

Marc Jacobs will be streaming his fall/winter 2010 show live for all to see. Those who RSVP for the online show at marcjacobs.com will be entered for chance to win 2 tickets to the show in New York on February 15th at 8pm. So go RSVP now and if you win, please take me with you!

And the winner is...CFDA Awards

WWD just announced the winners of the CFDA awards.

Congrats to sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte for winning Womenswear Designer of the Year Award!

Meanwile Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders and Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein Collection tied for the Menswear Designer of the Year Award.

And guess it was an amazing year for the Proenza Schouler boys and their PS1's, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez won Accessory Designer of the Year.

The Swarovski awards for emerging talent, meanwhile, went to Alexander Wang for Womenswear, Tim Hamilton for Menswear and Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry for Accessory Design. Yay to Justin who I met back in September :)

Anna Sui was honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.

Marc Jacobs, looking adorable with Lorenzo won the The International Award, for his work at Louis Vuitton.

Other awards went to First Lady Michelle Obama for the CFDA’s Board of Directors’ Special Tribute. While, WWD editor in chief Edward Nardoza was honored with the Eugenia Sheppard Award. GQ Creative Director Jim Moore took the Eleanor Lambert Award.