Industry Spotlight

Drew Altizer Photography "Everybody adores the San Francisco Ballet in Europe, it's considered one of the best ballets in the world!" Giambattista Valli explained when we asked what drew him to show his Fall 2011 collection for the annual San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show, adding "I thought it was the best opportunity to come to San Francisco, there is not a better opportunity than this to do a fashion show as a charity for a ballet."All the city's lovers of ballet and fashion...Read Full Story

(Getty)The Boy Meets Girl Spring 2011 show, presented as part of STYLE360's CARAVAN Express Your Love event (sponsored by Starbucks Frappucino), was a breath of fresh air. A two-song performance by current alternative chart-toppers Neon Trees ushered in a host of fresh-faced models, most of whom sported big smiles with their flirty, often military-inspired sportswear. Boy Meets Girl founder Stacy Igel, who recently sold a majority stake in the company to The Moret Group, told StyleBistro...Read Full Story

(Andrea Alberts) Janie Bryant, the genius behind Mad Men's costume design, has brought her '60s vision to Banana Republic for a fabulous new fall collection. Along with the BR team, Janie has modernized the era's iconic style with chic, wearable pieces in an affordable price range. Those expecting to see dated, vintage pieces can think again. Janie says, "The show is a period show and that is about creating a world that's in that time period, but I think the thing about this collection is...Read Full Story

(Getty) New York-based design duo Phillipe and David Blond already have a serious celebrity following, with an impressive roster of pop-starlets among their A-list clients: Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Miley Cyrus and of course Katy Perry have all turned to The Blonds when they've found themselves in need of serious sparkle.The Blonds have mastered the art of intricate and over-the-top corsetry, which is why their foray into Old Hollywood-inspired red carpet wear seems like a natural...Read Full Story

On Friday, Kimora Lee Simmons announced that she was no longer part of the Phat Farm family.The former fashion model explained that she would be devoting more time to her other non Phat-affiliated lines. Simmons stated, "It's time for me to move on and further expand my other businesses and create a new phenomenon. I adore all those who have faithfully been with me since the beginning. I'm forever dedicated to my family, fans, and customers. My inspiration has always come from the fabulous...Read Full Story

Kristin Cavallari shops at American Apparel in Hollywood, CA (Photo Agency) You may or may not have heard the news, but to say that American Apparel isn't doing so well would be an understatement. Amid falling stock prices, rising debt and talk of dubious accounting practices, the company has been subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for changing financial auditors. Bankruptcy and collapse are looming in the background!A series of bad business decisions have brought...Read Full Story

Raquel Zimmerman (Getty Images); looks from Alexander McQueen's Fall 2011 collection (ImaxTree) For those unfortunate souls who missed the Met's attendance record–breaking retrospective Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, the house has just unveiled its Fall 2011 campaign with plenty of the apocalyptic gorgeousness that McQueen made very much his own.Lensed by Brit photog David Sims, whose clients range from BCBG to Yohji Yamamoto, this new series of ads crowns catwalker Raquel Zimmermann...Read Full Story

Getty We have to (eagerly) await August 31st to get our hands on Karl Lagerfeld's Macy's collection, but we've got a sneak peek at the stylish and affordable goods! The 45-piece capsule collection looks sure to please a wide range of Macy's customers. While the bright and feminine looks don't scream Chanel, Karl's touch comes through in his crisp white collared shirt (styled, of course, with a chain necklace) as well as a sleek collared shift dress with a British school girl mood. Not to...Read Full Story

(Getty) Marc Jacobs (Bauer Griffin) WWD reports that Marc Jacobs is a frontrunner for one of the most talked-about positions in the fashion industry: Creative director of Christian Dior. The post has been vacant since the dismissal of John Galliano in February following allegations of anti-Semitism.The move might make sense: Jacobs' contract with Louis Vuitton is up quite soon, and he has one of the most bankable names in the business. Should Marc make the move, some speculate that Celine's...Read Full Story

(Getty) New York-based designer Yigal Azrouël has dabbled in footwear before, having collaborated with famed Swiss shoemaker Walter Steiger on two very exclusive designs for his Fall 2009 collection.Now it seems that Azrouël is making the push into men's shoes as well, with at least two pairs of hand-distressed leather styles ready to hit the runway next month during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Azrouël explained to Style.com that it was his inability to find the right pair of boots for...Read Full Story

Chatting with Giambattista Valli at Tuesday night's San Francisco Ballet Auxilliary fashion show, the designer let us in on some big news: Valli will soon make his haute couture debut!Then on Wednesday, it was announced officially that the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture has in fact accepted Valli into its storied ranks. It's notoriously difficult to get in, as designers have to prove not only design talent, but a mastery of the skills required to produce garments up to their standards...Read Full Story

Michael Kors and Brian Atwood (Getty) The beloved Michael Kors and his long-time boyfriend, Lance LaPere, made a visit to City Hall in NYC on Thursday to get their marriage license! The pair have known each other since 1990 and are planning to have a private, low-key wedding ceremony (famous last words!)."Lance and I are very excited to finally be able to have the opportunity to marry in our home state after many years together," Kors says of the happy union.Meanwhile, another designer...Read Full Story

(Getty) Does your smart phone coordinate with your evening gown? If not, you may be interested in this: The Versace Unique, a truly stylish cell phone, has finally hit the brand's U.S. boutiques.Style.com reports that the ceramic and lacquer-coated piece runs for about $6,500—unless, of course, you were hoping for gold-plating ($8,000). The brand's signature Medusa logo is embossed in the phone's calf-leather back and engraved into its metal body, and Donatella Versace fans will be...Read Full Story

(Getty) Kate Gosselin (Getty) Kate Gosselin showed impressive fortitude at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday evening. Not only did the mom of eight play into some major jokes at her own expense (Jimmy Fallon owes her big time), she also looked oh-so-elegant in a glittering black halter gown by Carmen Marc Valvo. Obviously, those elaborate Dancing With the Stars costumes did this woman no justice.Kate complemented the gown with a classic updo (her first, she admitted, since...Read Full Story

Watch the Burberry Spring 2012 runway live here on Monday September 19, 2011 at 8am PST / 11am EST. (Imaxtree)Burberry Prorsum has come a long way from its old, somewhat stodgy reputation as the British royals' purveyor of plaid and hunting garb—thanks in large part not just to the brilliance of creative director Christopher Bailey but to the hip young starlets who've lent their names to the brand (ahem, Emma Watson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley). These days, Burberry is the epitome of London...Read Full Story