Author: KnowlesMalinda

Pratt Show 2013: Best Graduating Work in Art, Design and Fashion

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So this week I attended the Pratt Design Show 2013 in midtown to view work from graduating students. Again, unfortunately, later that evening my electronics were stolen so I don’t have my own photos to share as usual, but I did grab some of the student’s photos and met several design students with great work. Here below are some of my favorites.

Came across a few cartoon illustrators with some outstanding and not-to-mention pretty funny stuff actually. Logan Fitzpatrick and Jenni Ng made me laugh with their funky illustrations.

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In jewelry, I adored this necklace from Gabrielle Nicole Morris and loved work from Samantha Nania as well.

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Necklace from Gabrielle Nicole Morris

And, lastly, the Pratt Graduating Fashion Show had some great looks. Take a look at some of my favorites on the runway from Emma Hastil, Madeline GruenRaya Kassisieh, Catherine Young, and Jefferson Musanda.

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Sincerely,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Photo Credit: Jesse Lirola of New York Magazine

More Funky Street Style, Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Exhibition Punk: Chaos to Couture

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So I am so excited that this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Exhibition entitled Punk: Chaos to Couture is all about punk and funky street style. I’ve blogged about funky street style almost all year; New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013Versace’s Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013, and even created an amazing set of mix and match items for your every day (or night) funky street style. The punk and grunge look is what is now and if it’s not your style, you should try a piece or two and see what it feels like! If anything you can try a nice biker leather jacket or vest like the one I wore here.

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hermesgraffitihandbag_malindaknowlesnetI can’t wait to see what everyone wears at the Met Gala this coming May 6ModaOperandi will be live streaming the red carpet at 7 PM. They are also giving our readers the opportunity to pre-order looks straight off the red carpet from Anthony Vacarello, Balmain, Delpozo, Rodarte, Nina Ricci and Wes Gordon on May 7. I will be live tweeting and running around the city as usual. Get excited and check out Exclusive Punk Collection, I’m kind of loving these mohawk headpieces and Hermes‘ attempt at the graffiti trend with their new Kelly bag. They even etched “New York City” on there for us locals and NYC lovers.

Yours Truly,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

How Socially Responsible is “Socially Responsible,” Really?

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So, in light of recent events like 385 people dying in a poorly run Bangladesh factory collapse and the unrest that has resulted, I ask myself how socially responsible is socially responsible really?

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Lots of manufacturing companies these days want to call themselves socially responsible but are they really? Now we all understand that everyone is in business to make a profit. Popular consensus is that being “socially responsible” or “green” doesn’t always mix with running a profitable company, but I would have to disagree. Arthur Caplan, chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s medical ethics department says that “fashion companies had better be pretty green and socially conscious, because they’re very much about image,   …they’re selling products that induce guilt. Who needs all that high-end stuff? You’d better do what you can to make it guilt-free.”

GreenConsumers and shoppers are becoming more and more educated, aware, and even skeptical of so-called “organic” anything or “green” companies. For this reason, it is imperative that companies create policies and stick to them. According to University of Missouri 2011 research, consumers are willing to pay an extra 15 to 20 percent for truly socially responsible or “green” products so it just may be in company’s best interests to change their practices.

Most of us have seen the issues that some companies have had with their consumption of water and fertilizer in cotton production, chemical processing at plants, airway and environmental pollution, worker safety problems like the disaster in Bangladesh, and fair wage and child labor exploitation. So what to do about it? When shopping in-store or online, check the label for where the product was manufactured, its fiber content and also look for the brand’s information on their code of conduct or social responsibility policy. Most companies employing socially responsible international policies publicize the information and post it on their websites such as J.Crew and the PPR Group (Gucci, Balenciaga, McQueen, etc).

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Eila Mell Chats with Project Runway Contestants Regarding Her New Book at The National Arts Club

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This weekend I attended a discussion moderated by stylist David Zyla on Eila Mell’s new book Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion at the National Arts Club in Gramercy. Her new book about the Project Runway show talks about how the show started, developed and what the designers are doing now. Project Runway contestants Andrae GonzaloESosa and Viktor Luna joined them to talk about their experiences on the show, after the show and in the fashion world in general. Eila is the New York editor and on-air correspondent of fashionWATCH Canada and has written several other fashion books including New York Fashion Week: The Designers, the Models the Fashions of the Bryant Park Era.

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ESosa said that the biggest thing he learned from the show was to “follow his guts” and Viktor shared that he learned a lot about gossip in that “…whatever we put into the work is what we get back.” He continued saying that it was like the “real world…you don’t rest..[and]…you are always comparing yourself to them but you stay true to yourself.” They also shared how they are not able to keep or sell any of their creations on the show and that they are also not allowed to speak with family or friends unless it’s on speaker phone and on camera. Andrae shared that he had to ‘talk to’ the producer and throw a fit just to talk to his boyfriend.

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Eila and Viktor have collaborated on a new reality tv show called “No Wire Hangers” where Viktor gives fashion and tailoring tips to “…some really great people on the show.” They said that they hope to have a pilot by the end of the summer. ESosa received a 2012 Best Costumes TONY Award nomination for his work on Broadway’s The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and received the 2012 Lucille Lortel Award for By the Way, meet Vera Stark. He is currently designing Motown: The Musical and when asked about the difference between fashion and costume, ESosa said that “the biggest difference is that a costume is worn eight times a week and so it has to have longevity, but I still want my actors to look as good as my private clients.”

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After the discussion, we had some amazing gourmet cocktails from Pamela Wiznitzer, President of the National Bartender Association, Chef Alan Rodriguez who just opened Los Americanos and other mixologists. Best drink in my opinion was a berry tasting drink from Chef Rodriguez that featured egg whites!

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Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Boston Strong: T-Shirts for One Fund Boston

adidas_BostonStandsAsOne-421x421-1As a former Bostonian, Tufts University Alumna and yes, Red Sox (and Patriots) fan, I am proud of the way that the Boston community has come together after the bombing and hope that justice is served in the face of such an atrocity. This act of terrorism killed several people, injured over 170, and have left many still in the hospital unable to afford their new medical bills.

Students in the area began selling “Boston Strong” T-Shirts and now Adidas, The Celtics, Red Sox and more have all begun selling “Boston Strong” T-Shirts with proceeds going to charity. The Adidas Boston Strong T-Shirts are supporting the One Fund Boston Charity with 100% of the proceeds supporting victims of the bombing.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Borrowing from African Prints for Spring 2013

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So last year I picked up a dress that would fall under the “Tribal” trend and absolutely adore it. On brown skin, bright-colored prints look absolutely amazing. Now it seems everyone is onto the trend and we are seeing the prints everywhere. This “tribal” trend is really just borrowed from the beautiful and colorful African prints worn for centuries all over the African continent. And all of its regality, pomp and circumstance, and not to mention masterful headpieces have been noticed by the rest of the world and can’t be missed for Spring 2013.

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There are a slew of African and non-African designers to go to for these beautiful garments, I can’t even list them all, but I’m really liking Boxing Kitten and Peter Pilotto for some of these great prints. See below for more inspiration including an old African inspired photo of myself in a headwrap taken several years ago downtown.

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Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Loved Working in this Helmut Lang Suiting on My Birthday This Week

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So it was a very long day but I still enjoyed my birthday this week! I worked all day, attended the Fashion Group International’s Ready to Wear Trend Presentation, got a mani and pedi at Bliss Spa and then shot to class at night. Despite the hectic schedule, I managed to enjoy my birthday thoroughly and it didn’t hurt that I was wearing some beautiful Helmut Lang harem suiting pants, a beautiful Helmut Lang off white with a tinge of orange blouse and an amazing bra that took the cake for design ingenuity! Thank you Helmut Lang, it was incredible to wear all day.

My Helmut Lang Work Outfit

I love clothes that are professional with an edge to break the monotony of the every day grey shift dress and black heels. Yes, unfortunately it is not quite ‘hot’ in New York City yet but Springtime is definitely here and I absolutely adore this ensemble from Helmut Lang. If you have a fairly see through top, pair it with this well-designed razer back Helmut Lang bra to have a different ‘bra strap’ effect. They also have a great dress with the same color story and some amazing exclusive runway shoes for sale that I have my eye on (shown above). I’m just loving the Spring Collection!

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Sincerely Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Fashion Group International’s Fall/Winter 2013 Ready to Wear Trend Presentation

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So this week I attended the Fashion Group International’s Ready to Wear Fashion Trend Presentation with host Diane von Furstenberg and discussion panelists blogger Bryanboy, Fashion Consultant Julie Gilhart, Fashion Editor Ana Maria Pimental, Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Director Colleen Sherin and Beauty Director of InStyle Magazine Amy Synnott D’Annibale.

Between the video and panel discussion, there was a lot to be said about current Ready to Wear fashion trends. The presentation mentioned several interesting trends including what I’ve been talking about on the blog; art, graphic prints and pop art on garments like that of Tom Ford’s Fall 2013 Collection (shown below) and Mary Katrantzou Spring 2011 Collection.

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Also on the trend list, 3D fabrics and ‘touchy-feely’ quality like Commes des Garcon’s rose fabric manipulation in his Fall  2013 Runway Collection shown in Paris shown below. The presentation also touched on Marc Jacob’s nightwear to red carpet lingerie looking collection, hot pants and  the Chanel runway boots shown for Fall 2013 shown at Paris Fashion Week.

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It was noted that slouchy, comfortable and less rigid handbags like those from the Celine Fall 2013 Collection (shown below) were making the trend list.

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In an amazingly patterned arm sling, Diane opened up the panel discussion asking the question: “what is fashion?” She added that “anything goes” these days as you see people wearing high and low end, mixing it all together. She also said that “everyone is a stylist. Bryanboy answered that it was about comfort; “lifestyles are different now…women work insane schedules” so they need clothing that will go from day to night.  As someone that fits into that category, I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

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The conversation continued with comments about the future of fashion shows in the digital age, accessories on the runway, Yves St. Laurent’s Collection and John Galliano’s racist remarks. Diane brought up some major points including that shoes are really not accessories since a woman thinks about where she is going and if she will have to walk first before deciding the rest of her outfit. She also mentioned that 3D printing is big now and that if you don’t know what it is you will. When asked about the price of clothes going through the roof, Diane commented saying that her wrap dress “…was 86 dollars back in the day, now it’s about 400 dollars.” She explained that “things are different” and designers have more expenses. In the past, models would bring their own shoes to runway shows.

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Moral of the story is that there are definitely trends happening but it is true that seemingly “anything goes” these days and everyone is simply adjusting to the rapid pace of change with the advent of the digital world in which we are living.

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Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

 

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I’m Having a Curious George Moment: LED Lights and Mobile App Controlled Fashion from CuteCircuit

So yesterday I was reading that on the Today’s Show, tech expert Katie Linendoll came on to talk about her LED Light dress from CuteCircuit. I hadn’t heard of such a thing and was quite impressed. While the techies programming t-shirts and dresses for use with mobile apps, Twitter, Instagram and whatever else may be on to something great I was not that into the actual fashion of it all. But, maybe that will come down the line. For now, I’m just fascinated with the idea that you can ‘program’ your clothing and turn on a virtual light show with what you’re wearing.

Katy Perry in an LED Light Dress
Katy Perry in an LED Light Dress

I do wonder though how do you wash something like that? This is a trend that clearly has a lot of developing to do but for now, bravo to the tech geeks and folks at CuteCircuit for exploring such an idea. Check out the video from CuteCircuit below for their Pink and Black Haute Couture Collection for Summer 2013. Interesting is all I have to say.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles